Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, today, Sunday, 6 May 2018, turned 68.
The overlord of Asante has been King since 26 April 1999 following the death of his predecessor Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.
Known in private life as Nana Barima Kwaku Duah, he is the youngest of the five children of the late queenmother Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.
He is credited for creatively intertwining tradition with modernity by mobilising his subjects to partner government institutions in uplifting the people.
His educational fund, known as the Otumfuo Education Fund, since its inception, has benefited over 5,000 students at various levels of education. His health fund provides financial and material support for the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, glaucoma and other eye diseases, Buruli ulcer as well as the eradication of guinea worm disease.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been nicknamed King Solomon after the wise king of Israel for his sapient counsel in solving challenging problems including several land and chieftaincy disputes in the Asante Kingdom. He has extended his wise counsel to governance and has over the years contributed immensely in finding lasting solutions to political differences between some of the past and present presidents of Ghana.
ghanaguardian
