26 Years of Otumfuo — Lessons Ghana Must Not Ignore

Today, as the Golden Stool celebrates 26 years under Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the reflection cannot end at the gates of Manhyia. It must stretch into every corner of Ghana.

For what the Asantehene has built in a quarter of a century is not just a legacy for Asanteman — it is a case study for a country that often struggles with leadership, accountability, and purpose.

Otumfuo’s story was never about grabbing attention. He never needed to trend to matter. From the day he swore his oath in black cloth, he made it clear: leadership is not noise, it is impact.

While others chased titles and applause, he focused on results — education, healthcare, peace, diplomacy.

Without sitting in Parliament or wielding political office, he made his influence felt in boardrooms, villages, international conferences, and homes.

What lesson lies here for Ghana? That real power is not in slogans or manifestos. It is in the quiet, consistent work that outlives the headlines.

Another lesson is the dignity he brought to his role.

In an age where leadership often crumbles under the weight of greed, Otumfuo’s reign reminds us that trust is earned — not demanded.

He kept the Golden Stool above partisanship. He never allowed the institution to be dragged through the mud of political rivalries. That restraint is rare, and it is powerful.

Perhaps the most profound lesson is his relationship with tradition and change. Where some see tradition as a cage, Otumfuo saw it as a platform.

He modernized without westernizing. He adapted without erasing. He reminded a new generation that you can speak English fluently and still bow respectfully to your ancestors. You can innovate without forgetting who you are.

Today, Ghana must ask itself: if the Golden Stool could reinvent itself without losing its soul, why can’t our politics? Why can’t our national development reflect both our pride and our progress?

As we honour 26 years of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, we must honour more than a monarch. We must honor a philosophy — one that says leadership is a duty, not a prize; culture is a foundation, not a museum; and greatness is built quietly, steadily, year after year.

May his example continue to challenge us all.

Long live the King!

Long live Asanteman!

Long live Ghana!

Story by Adwoa S. Danso