Asantehene informed of funeral of former Ivorian President Konan Bedie
A delegation from the Boule ethnic group of Côte d’Ivoire has officially informed the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of the passing of former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie, and the dates for his funeral.
The delegation, made up of seven paramount chiefs, led by Nanan Attoh Yapi III, also included family members of the ex-president, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs,and a member of the royal family and MP of Sakassou, Kakou Gervais, Mansa Ndia.
Bedie died in August, 2023, aged 89. His will take place from May 19 to June 2, 2024.
The Boule
The Boule ethnic group is an Asante tribal grouping that migrated from Nsuta in the Ashanti Region to Côte d’Ivoire in the 18th Century.
Supreme King
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Nanan Attoh Yapi III walked Otumfuo through the period of Mr Bedie’s illness to his death. “He was the son of Otumfuo and so we had to come here and make it known to him. Additionally we recognize Otumfuo as our Supreme King. Here we stand representing the eight million members of the tribe,” he stated.
Togo
The delegation also sought the permission of Otumfuo to go to Togo to inform a section of their family that settled in that country after migrating from Ghana.
Assistance
Giving the green-light to the delegation with regards to the organization of funeral, Otumfuo promised them of his assistance in that regard. He told them never to forget Asante, their true home.
Profile
Henri Konan Bedie was President of Côte d’Ivoire from 1993 to 1999. Born on May 5, 1934 in the village of Dadiékro, in the centre of the country, he rose through the ranks rapidly.
In the 1960s he joined the “father of independence,” Félix Houphouët-Boigny, in the PDCI-RDA, which was the sole party at the time. Aged only 26, he became Côte d’Ivoire’s first ambassador to the US and Canada , and was later made the Minister of Economy and Finance at age 32.
In 1980, he became president of the National Assembly, a position he held until 1993, when Houphouët-Boigny died. In October 2020, Henri Konan Bédié, led an official delegation to Manhyia Palace to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene.
