Book on Ashanti history authored by Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II launched; Energy Minister buys copy for 200,000 Cedis

Fifty-four years after the death of the 14th Asantehene Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, a book he authored titled “History of Ashanti”, was launched in Kumasi on Tuesday.

Edited by Professor Tom McCaskie, a professor of Asante History at the Centre of West Africa History, University of Birmingham, UK, the book provides a long historical account of the great kingdom of Asante by a ruler of that society who reigned from 1931 to 1970.

The book is, without a doubt, a very important document for historians of Africa. It has too, a much wider resonance at the present time, with the Asante voice speaking directly to all those across the globe who claim ancestral links to the African continent, and who are still engaged in the struggle to define, to strengthen and to assert their identities in a world that long discounted the value, or even the existence, of their historical experience.

Launch
The launch , which took place at a symposium commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 3rd Anglo-Asante war popularly known as the Sagrenti war, garnered attention at the event, with massive patronage of the auction.

More than 100 copies of the book were sold with more copies due to go out on sales in the coming days. In attendance was the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Biggest price
The Minister of Energy and MP for Manhyia South, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who was present at the event, purchased a copy of the book at the biggest price of 200,000 cedis.

Other purchases
Other purchases included the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, 100,00 cedis; the Minister of Sanitation, Dr Freda Prempeh, 50,000 cedis; the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, 50,000 cedis; UNIJAY Company Limited, 100,000 cedis; Osei Kwame Despite and Ernest Ofori Sarpong,100,000 cedis each; CEO of Angel Group of Companies, Kwaku Oteng, 100, 000 cedis; Nana K Gyasi Construction Limited,100,000 cedis.
Others were, Joshob Construction Limited, 50,000 cedis; Tepahene, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, 10,000 cedis; Fiaprehene and Vice-Chancellor of the Ghana Communications Technology University,10,000 cedis; Esumejahene, Odeneho Okyere Kusi Ntramah, 20,000 cedis; Offinsohene Nana Dwamena Akenten II, 30,000 cedis; Manso Nkwantahene, Nana Bi Kusi Appiah, 50,000 cedis; CEO of AnC Mall, Dr Andrews Asamoah, 50,000 cedis.