Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has staunchly asserted that no endeavor aimed at sidelining or disparaging the Asante Kingdom will prevail.
He emphasizes the enduring resilience of the kingdom, which has withstood the trials of time, including two unwarranted British-led wars in antiquity aimed at eradicating it.
During a gathering at the Manhyia Palace, marked by both somber reflection and hopeful reunion, Asante chiefs, led by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, expressed a resolute spirit.
This occasion, dubbed ‘Kuntukuni Thursday,’ saw chiefs from across Ghana donning black attire in solemn remembrance of the devastation inflicted upon the Asante Kingdom during the Sagrenti War.
Recalling the historical aggression, wherein the British Army, under Major-General Garnet Wosely’s command, launched a brutal assault on Asante, laying waste to its capital, Kumasi, and plundering its treasures, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II acknowledged the sacrifices made by Asante warriors, including the loss of thousands of lives, including prominent leaders like Bantamahene Baffuor Amankwatia.
Despite echoes of past conflict reverberating through the air, the day also marked a symbolic return, as seven looted artefacts were repatriated from the Fowler Museum at the University of California, USA.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, presiding over the ceremony, called for unity amongst Asantes and highlighted the kingdom’s indomitable spirit in the face of adversity.
Asserting the preeminence of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II underscored its longstanding existence predating the formation of Ghana and its unparalleled influence in Ghanaian politics and beyond.
He issued a rallying cry to uphold the legacy of valor and resilience passed down by ancestors, urging the youth to eschew vices like drug abuse.
Additionally, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II announced ongoing efforts to secure the repatriation of 32 artefacts currently housed in the British Museum, signaling a continued commitment to reclaiming the cultural heritage of the Asante people.