Otumfuo Marks 74th Birthday With Glittering Ceremonies
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrated his 74th birthday in style on Monday, May 6, with two events characterised by impressive displays of grandeur.
In the morning, the King attended a birthday thanksgiving service at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral, and crowned the day with a dinner party at the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall at the Manhyia Palace.
Attendees
At the dinner were the Asantehene and his wife, Lady Julia, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Teiku Tsuru II, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, former Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, Sir Sam Jonah and others dignitaries.
Guests were treated to performances from Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Tagoe Sisters, Touareg Band, Evangelist Diana Asamoah, Pat Thomas and Amakye Dede.
Thanks
The Asantehene thanked all his guests for gracing his birthday dinner. “I can survive in this position with your prayers,” he told the gathering, and also called for prayers for his supportive wife.
Otumfuo, supported by the wife, cut the royal birthday cake.
‘How I met Otumfuo’
Narrating how she became the wife of Otumfuo, Lady Julia said, “ I met Otumfuo 22 years ago when I was in charge of legal affairs at Ecobank. Ecobank was inaugurating a branch in Kumasi and Otumfuo was in attendance.
I was asked by my managing director to give a vote of thanks. After I spoke, and after the event, Otumfuo waited and made sure he found out who I was and how to get in touch with me before leaving the event grounds.“
She continued,”Later that evening I was summoned by my managing director to a dinner at Otumfuo’s residence. Little did I know I was auditioning for a role of a lifetime.”
Thanksgiving service
Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Otumfuo narrated how his royalty was kept away from him in his childhood life by his mother the late Asantehemaa Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi Ampem, and his late uncle, the late Asantehene Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II.
He said his mother was contemplating divorce with his father Boakye Dankwa because he was womanizing but Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh kicked against the idea because he had not gotten what he was looking for in their marriage. “So my mother continued the marriage and when I was born, my uncle was happy that he had gotten what he wanted,” he said.
He spoke about his schooling at Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School, as well as later developments before he became Asantehene. “If we are thanking God today for how far he has brought me we should know that in the beginning, my family didn’t want me to boast about my royalty status so it was hidden from me. I was not pampered. I was trained and cultured for today’s tasks and responsibilities way back because they knew what was ahead of me right from my childhood.”
