AsanteheneAt27: Akwasidae Today Marks Otumfuo’s 27-Year Reign

The Manhyia Palace today, hosts a grand edition of the Akwasidae Festival at Dwabrem, an event that also marks the 27th Anniversary of the Enstoolment of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The celebration on April 26, 2026, has drawn chiefs, royals, and citizens from across Asanteman and beyond.

The Akwasidae Festival, observed every six weeks on the Asante traditional calendar, remains a sacred occasion dedicated to honouring ancestors and reaffirming allegiance to the Golden Stool.

The significance of this festival was underscored at the Asanteman Council meeting on April 20, where Baffour Kantankrankyi, Otumfuo Kyeame, announced preparations for a landmark celebration reflecting both the festival and the Asantehene’s 27 years on the Golden Stool. He also called on chiefs across the kingdom to attend with their full retinues.

Ahead of today’s durbar, Manhyia Palace hosted a high-profile “World-Meets-In-Ghana” Executive Dinner Ball on April 24, 2026, organised by E ON 3 Group and partners in honour of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The dinner transformed the palace into a convergence point for royalty, governance, and global business leadership, drawing former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Sir Sam Jonah, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, Alan Kyerematen, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga, Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and several captains of industry.

International royalty was also present, including the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his wife, Olori Atuwatse III, alongside the Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, Sir Sam Jonah described the Asantehene’s reign as one defined by the pursuit of peace, suggesting that over the past 27 years, he has “mined peace” through dialogue, moral authority, and reconciliation rather than conflict.

He also linked Otumfuo’s support for education to a long-term strategy for sustaining peace across generations.

The Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko, highlighted the relevance of tradition to development, noting that cultural institutions like Akwasidae continue to create opportunities for diaspora engagement and investment.

The Olu of Warri praised the Asantehene’s leadership, describing him as a unifying figure whose influence extends beyond Ghana, while also expressing solidarity between the Warri and Asante Kingdoms.

In a message read on his behalf, President John Dramani Mahama commended Otumfuo’s role in national peacebuilding, particularly in mediation efforts such as Dagbon and Bawku, describing him as a national asset whose influence transcends Asanteman.

The Asantehene, in his own remarks at the dinner, called for a renewed global commitment to peace, warning that instability anywhere in the world affects all nations. He also urged Ghana to embrace a more responsible political culture, calling for reduced hostility and greater accountability in public life.

He further challenged citizens to take greater responsibility for national development, stressing the need to move beyond blame and instead focus on opportunity, enterprise, and productivity. This message formed part of his broader “Build Ghana Now” call, which encouraged investment, risk-taking, and stronger private sector participation.

The evening also featured the unveiling of commemorative items, including a gold coin box containing a 24-karat gold coin bearing the Asantehene’s image, alongside a documentary showcasing his peace initiatives.

Other items such as gold bars, artworks, and a commemorative wristwatch were also presented as symbols of his legacy.

Gold medals were further presented in honour of former Presidents John Dramani Mahama, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and John Agyekum Kufuor for their respective contributions to peacebuilding and national development.

As the Akwasidae Festival is observed today at Manhyia Palace, it comes just days after the high-profile dinner in honour of the Asantehene, together marking a week that reflects deeply on leadership, tradition, and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s enduring role as a custodian of culture and a global symbol of peace.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso