The President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday lauded Otumfuo Osei Tutu II King of Asanteman in the Ashanti Region and labelled his decade reign as 10 years of positive and exemplary leadership. He cited the immense support the King is providing in the areas of education and health in the country and said "Otumfuo deserves our commendation."
President Mills made these remarks when he joined the people and chiefs of Asanteman in the Ashanti Region to celebrate the climax of the 10th Anniversary of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The presence of peoples from across the world at the durbar, he pointed out is an eloquent testimony of the fact that the Asantehene has touch the lives of many and is a unifying factor.
President Mills used the occasion to encourage Ghanaians to ensure a united front, saying, "We must always remember that we belong to Mother Ghana."
The President was among guests made up of foreign and local dignitaries, including four former African Heads of State, who gathered at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to add more colour to the occasion.
They included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, former President of Botswana, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra-Leone, and Ghana's former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu on his part said the celebration is to recognise African civilisation and demonstrate to the world that Africa has a great culture and traditions. It is also to remind the people that traditional leadership has important role to play in modern governance and the socio-economic development of the people.
The Asantehene appealed to the African Union (AU) to give formal recognition to traditional institutions since most of them are playing significant roles in governance and socio-economic progress of the people.
Invited guests also present were the Spanish Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Ghana's Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, Sir Gabriel Igbenedion, Esama of Benin, Nigeria, Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
