Otumfuo contributed to restoring peace to Côte d’Ivoire – President Ouattara
President Alassane Ouattara has paid tribute to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for the assistance he gave to Côte d’Ivoire during the country’s civil war.
Although, he did not give details of the assistance, the 82-year-old Ouattara, who is in his third term as President said, His Majesty’s support helped in bringing peace to the country.
The Ivorian leader gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
President Ouattara, who was in Kumasi to witness the President’s Cup match between Ivory Coast’s ASEC Mimosas and Ghana’s Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which was played yesterday and also take part in Ghana’s 67th Independence Day celebration today, took time off to pay homage to Otumfuo.
He was accompanied by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
High esteem
In his speech, delivered on his behalf by the Ambassador of Ivory Coast to Ghana, Assielou Felix Tanon, the Ivorian President extended his deepest respect for the King, saying, “I hold Otumfuo in high esteem.”
It was the first visit of Mr Ouattara to the Manhyia Palace since he became President.
“President Akufo-Addo invited me to the Independence Day celebration and asked that I watch the game between Kotoko and ASEC with him in Kumasi which I accepted due to the friendship between President Akufo-Addo and I. This is what has brought me here today,” he said.
Mr Ouattara was the internationally recognised winner of the disputed 2010 election when the then President, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to concede defeat. A political standoff was followed by a brief civil war in which approximately 3,000 people died and an estimated 1.3 million people fled their homes in the country.
Others delegation members
Other personalities who accompanied the Ivorian President to the Manhyia Palace were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah; Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Stephen Boateng; and Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).
