Why Joining Golfing Was A Difficult Decision For Asantehene

The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has shared the hurdle he went through to become a golfer 26 years ago after his brother-in-law ushered him into the sport.

According to His Majesty, it was just a few months into his reign and the custodians at the Manhyia Palace tried to restrain him from playing due apprehensions about his safety and security.

“Twenty-six years ago, when I first went to the golf course, a brother-in-law of mine introduced me. It was a difficult decision because I had been only two or three months {on the throne} and there was no way the old men in Manhyia would allow me to go to the golf course.”

“They couldn’t accept that they would leave me alone there. They weren’t sure about the security. It took me time to convince them that that was the only way I would survive. They had to send some old men and linguist to follow me to see whether it would be safe for me to play.”

The Asantehene said it took his mother, the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II to convince them to accept it.

His Majesty at the Dinner and Dance night to celebrate the Telecel 68th Asantehene Open Golf Championship on June 14, 2025, openly declared his love for golf.

His Majesty said it was the only moment he was able to sneak out of the Palace.

“I enjoy golf. That’s what keeps me away from the Palace. That is the only way I can sneak out of the Palace. When I come back, I’m a prisoner there. Every morning, I look forward to playing golf. I see so many beautiful people there that I meet.”

One of the benefits of the sport, Otumfuo said, was keeping him young.

Tournament
With the annual tournament, the King affirmed his commitment to sustaining it.

“I inherited it. I have made sure it survives, and we will continue to let it survive.”

He therefore expressed gratitude to the Royal Golf Club, Telecel Ghana and all other sponsors for their support to see the tournament thrive.

Leading Sport
Further in his speech, the Asantehene promised to make golf a leading sport in Ghana.

This, he said, had begun in his home, where he is relentlessly persuading one of his granddaughters to join it.

Meanwhile, Otumfuo said his wife and all his kids play golf, adding that it gives him pleasure.

“I will do everything to make Golf a leading game in Ghana.”

Championship
The two-day competition saw golfers from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe participating.

Vincent Torgah emerged winner of this year’s tournament.

Awards
At the dinner at the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee House, sponsors and golfers in various categories of plays were decorated with awards.

Among the awardees was Opemsuo Radio.

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/