Asantehene Plans to Talk to German Prez About Technical Support For A/R Suame Artisans

The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, intends to engage the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to seek support for Suame artisans in the Ashanti Region.

His Majesty made this known to the Ambassador, HE Frederik Landshöft, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

The visit was to formally introduce himself, pay his respects to the Asantehene and inform His Majesty about the scheduled visit of the German President.

He told Otumfuo that the focus of the visit was to deepen cooperation in TVET and academic sector at large.

“Our head of state is going to pay visit to Ghana. On 4th November, he will spend time in Kumasi. It will be an honour for him to meet with Your Majesty.”

Responding to it, Otumfuo said, “I look forward to meeting him.”

The King further talked about his desire to court technical support for the artisans stationed at Suame.

He said this had become more necessary as the artisans have been allowed a new space to develop into an artisanal hub.

“We would also look and talk about Suame Magazine… I think there is a support they need from Germany. It’s all for these artisanal mechanics. They can be good engineers in Germany. They can design cars and manufacture. If I am able to set the place up, then we can get German engineers to train them here. My attention had been drawn to that and German Cooperation is being sought for that. When the President comes we will talk about it.”

The King testified of their ‘ingenuity’ and craftsmanship to the envoy.

“There is a field of mechanics and different kinds of cars they repair. They are able to manufacture scarce spare parts with their ingenuity.”

His Majesty affirmed that support for them would mean creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed Ghanaian youth.

“That’s the kind of people I want support for. It will create employment and livelihoods.”

Cooperation Not Handouts
While welcoming the new envoy, the Asantehene laid bare his expectation for cooperation in various sectors of the economy.

He affirmed that the country needed international partnerships not grants to develop.

He emphasized, “We have gotten to a point we don’t need handouts but cooperation. That is what we need and will inure to economic development. In the past there was cup in hand to beg. I don’t think its necessary now. Cooperations is what will bring development.”

“During your duty tour we will count on you to continue the relationship that has been built by your predecessors. Ghana is a very peaceful country and democratic… What we are looking for are investments, partnerships and economic development especially for SMEs.”

The King outlined viable sectors of the economy which could be used to create partnership between Ghana and Germany.

“Technical support and technical cooperation. After the war, Germany adopted Technical education. That can be employed for the middle level. We will encourage you to let us have that cooperation that will inure to the benefit of Ghana. We have the universities churning out many students so there is the available human resources. If we are not very careful to create employment, it might get out of hand. The public service is not able to absorb them all so middle level training will help and thereby need for cooperation.”

Otumfuo also suggested environmental and agricultural partnerships.

His Majesty also conveyed his intention to set up a committee to help the embassy to identify viable areas for cooperation.

Story by Hajara Fuseini