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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has paid a glowing tribute to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his untiring efforts at promoting peace and development in Ghana.

He said since his ascension to the golden stool 20 years ago, Otumfuo had demonstrated greater commitment to the development and promotion of education, health, sanitation and peaceful coexistence among all Ghanaians.

President Akufo-Addo gave the commendation at the Akwasidae Kese durbar of the chiefs and people of Asanteman to climax the 20th-anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the 16th occupant of the golden stool.

Hundreds of people from within the country and outside it thronged to the Manhyia Palace to pay homage to the Asantehene, who sat in state in a splendid Kente cloth.

President Akuffo-Addo commended Otumfuo for particularly helping to bring lasting peace to Dagbon, which had resulted in the selection and enskinment of a new Yaa Naa for the people in the area.

He asked the Asantehene to continue to lead his people to chart the course of development, peace and prosperity not only for Asanteman, but Ghana as a whole.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on his part commended all the five Presidents he had worked with since his assumption onto the golden stool 20 years ago.

He said his efforts at promoting peace among the Asante people and other tribal groups in Ghana was to ensure that all Ghanaians lived in peace and unity in diversity to promote development in all parts of the nation.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu appealed to the President, former Presidents, elder statesmen and political party leaders to work together to curtail the current state of rancor, bitterness and animosity that had characterized the political discourse of the nation.

He said unity in diversity was what was needed now to ensure that all Ghanaians put their hands on the wheels of development to reduce poverty, disease and under development.