Otumfuo Joins List Of Prestigious St Augustine Cross Awardees

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the recent recipient of the Prestigious St Augustine cross.

The last to be awarded the cross was the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The cross is an award of merit given by the Archbishop of Canterbury and awarded to members of the Anglican Communion who have made significant contributions to the life of the worldwide Communion, or to a particular autonomous church within Anglicanism.

It is the highest award within the Anglican Communion.

Otumfuo was awarded the St Augustine cross as recognition of the King’s consistent support for the course of the Anglican Church and the whole nation of Ghana, His Grace Justin Welby noted.

The award was presented by the leader of the Anglican Communion worldwide when he paid a duty call on the King at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

His visit to the Palace was on the sideline of the 18th Plenary meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council taking place in Accra from February 11 to 20 this year.

In his speech, he said, “within the Anglican Communion, the highest award we give is the cross of St Augustine who brought the gospel to England in 597.”

Alongside the cross, a citation was presented to the King.

“It is a huge and honourable honour to offer you this award and the citation.”

Reading some of the achievements of the King he said, he has maintained a lively and strong relationship with the Anglican Church in Ghana and the Anglican Communion worldwide since the ascension of the throne.

He continued, “His Majesty has generously provided support and guidance to the Church which have had a tremendous impact on its growth and development. A most needed notable example is the establishment of the Anglican National Secretariat in Accra. His Royal Majesty’s considerable support and involvement in the political and cultural life of the nation of Ghana have helped bring many many benefits.

“In particular, His Majesty established the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation which seeks to solve problems in five areas aiming to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Education, health, sanitation, clean water and entrepreneurship. His Majesty also supported the Otumfuo Education Fund, Otumfuo Community Reading Challenge, the Otumfuo Mobile Learning Project, the Otumfuo Mobile Dental project, the Otumfuo Teachers Awards and many others.”

On his part, Otumfuo expressed his immense gratitude for the honour- in the award and the visit.

“{For me } To sit in Kumasi and be recognised in Lambeth Palace with this honour, all that I {can} say is thank you very much with a deep sense of gratitude.”

He said, “I’m also mindful that authority and power should not be used to abuse people or threaten people or be used as the be-all and end-all. I always remind myself that I am here to serve these ones that are here; What benefit can they get from where I sit? That is what informs me to come up with policies and directions that will inure to their benefit.”

He further assured of his continued support for the Church.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was accompanied to the Palace by the Primate and Metropolitan Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa, Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, Bishop of Tamale, Dennis Bukari Tong, Bishop of Ho, Mathias Mededues, Bishop of Kumasi, Oscar Christian Amoah, Bishop of Cameroon, Thomas Dibo Elango, Bishop of Wiawso, Kwame Kyem-Amponsah, Suffragan Bishop of Accra, George Kotei Neequaye, and Bishop of Liberia, James Selle.

Also were Bishop of Koforidua, Felix Odei Annancy, Bishop of Sekondi, Bishop Alexander Asmah, Bishop of Dunkwa-on-Offin, incoming Bishop of Gambia, Obed Baiden, Bishop of Sunyani, Festus Yeboah Asuamah, and Bishop of Oguaa, Victor Atta Baffoe.

Source: opemsuo.com