At the celebration of his 74th birthday Thanksgiving on Monday, May 6, 2024, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, revealed that he was not immediately introduced to royalty upon his birth.
He explained that his uncle, who was then the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, sent him to stay with a relative far away from the palace.
Additionally, despite gaining admission to Prempeh College, his uncle insisted he attend Sefwi Wiaso, where he could be closely supervised by a disciplinarian.
Reflecting on his childhood, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II recounted being under the watchful eye of a disciplinarian until he ascended to the throne of the Ashanti Kingdom. He acknowledged his uncle’s foresight in recognizing something unique in him.
“My mother wanted to leave my father even before I was born but my Uncle insisted on her staying because he needed a boy. After giving birth to me, my mother insisted on leaving and it was okayed by her family. When I was born, my Uncle ensured that I left the Palace and stayed with a relative. Until recently, I thought this relative was my big brother.
My mother used to visit us just like she was visiting her brother and nothing else. Sometimes, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom came to visit us and I will be serving him but I didn’t know I was royalty. Even when I got admission to Prempeh College, I wasn’t allowed to go. Rather, I was taken to Sefwi. My Osae told me there was a disciplinarian in Sefwi so they took me there until I finished Secondary School.”