A mammoth enthusiastic crowd from the Asanteman enclave besieged the Kumasi airport in the evening of Tuesday to witness the arrival and welcome Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene from New York City in the United States of America (USA).
All the streets in the city hub, from where the King' statue is located leading up to the Manhyia Palace to the airport, were also blocked, with some of the residents lined up on walkways and street shoulders to wave welcome to Otumfuor.
The dignified Asante Monarch was invited to participate and address the United Nations General Assembly, in the earlier weeks.
Hours before his arrival, the motley crowd including traditional rulers, religious leaders, Zongo community leaders, political figures and corporate heads, Market women and other teeming Kumasi residents, were already at the airport.
Sounds of traditional drums mixed with thunderous shouts from the excited crowd, held in a suspense for hours to see the king, filled the air as the aircraft carrying His royal majesty, the Asantehene touched down at the airport.
Their excitement went into a high gear when they sighted the much-awaited King in a black designer suit descending from the aircraft, the crowd gave the security personnel deployed to the airport a hard time as they tried to control them as each person tried to catch a glimpse of the King.
Touted as the first occupant of the Golden Stool to be accorded the high honour to address the UN General Assembly, the king looking hale and hearty waved to the cheers and made some graceful traditional “Adowa" dance moves to the sound of the rhythmic traditional drums.
Prior to his coming, a group calling itself Protectors of Traditions and Asanteman, which arranged the event, disclosed that all manner of people were expected to meet and welcome Otumfuor who made Asanteman, Ghana and Africa in general very proud during the U.N Assembly's address at the United States of America.
Speaking for the group, Esther Nana Agyemang, one of its leaders, disclosed that though political players were invited, no party colours or paraphernalia would be entertained.
Barimah Asumadu Sakyi, Director of the National Cultural Centre, who was present at the welcoming ceremony disclosed to the media that Otumfour was indeed a hero worth to be celebrated.
He described Otumfour's gesture during the UN address as a true reflection of bravery, truth and the pride of Africa.
"He was called not only to witness the programme in the New York City, but was asked to deliver a speech; and truly, he delivered to make impact in Africa and the world as a whole", he said.
Source: GNA
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GHANA CONSTITUTION CONTAINS PROTECTION FOR ALL PERSONS INCLUDING CHIEFS AND CHIEFTANCY INSTITUTION. THE FREEDOM TO ASSOCIATE TO A POLITICAL PARTY DOES NOT GIVE ANYBODY THE RIGHT TO ATTACK THE IMAGE AND DIGNITY OF OTHERS. THE ATTACK ON TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION BY POLITICAL PARTIES IS GETTING OUT OF HAND. IT APPEARS TO BE INTENDED TO BREAK DOWN THE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ONCE UPON A TIME THERE USED TO BE KINGS IN ALL EUROPE AND ASIA. THE RISING OF SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST GOVERNMENTS LED TO THE WIDESPREAD ATTACK AND ELIMINATION OF SOME TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THOSE REGIONS. IT IS HOWEVER JUSTIFIED TO CLAIM THAT THE COLLAPSE OF OLD TRADITIONS DID NOT BRING ANY HELP TO THOSE SOCIETIES. WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT UNITED KINGDOM, NETHERLAND, JAPAN AND OTHER PLACES WHO PROTECTED TO MAINTAIN THE OLD CUSTOMS STILL BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM THEIR EXISTENCE. RECENTLY, WE HAVE WITNESSED SEVERAL ATTACKS ON TRADITIONAL LEADERS AT ATTEBUBU, MANHYA AND KYEBI. THESE HAPPENINGS, THOUGH NOT THE FIRST IN GHANA, ARE NOT ACCIDENTAL. IT LOOKS LIKE A CALCULATED EFFORT TO TARNISH THE IMAGE OF THE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IT IS TIME NOW FOR THE TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES TO RESORT TO THE LAWS OF THE LAND TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND AND DIGNITY. IF THEY DONT DO IT NOBODY WOULD DO IT FOR THEM, BUT IF THEY DO THEY WILL GET OUR SUPPORT. IT IS NOW COMMON FOR PERSONS OF AL KINDS OF FAMILY BACKGROUND TO INSULT A CHIEF WITHOUT ANY PROVOCATION PROVIDED THEY PUT ON A PARTY T-SHIRT. THEN WHEN THEY GET CONDEMNED THEY PRETEND TO APOLOGIZE ANYHOW WITHOUT REMORSE. THE HABIT OF INSULTING TRADITIONAL LEADERS TO APOLOGIZE TO THEM SHOULD NOT BE ENTERTAIN TO BECOME A CULTURE IN OUR SOCIETY. CHIEF IN GHANA MUST BE UNITED TO DEFEND THE TRADITIONAL HERITAGE BEQUEATHED TO THEM. NOBODY WOULD DO IT IF THEY DONT DO IT THEMSELVES. THE APPOINTMENT OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSON AS MINISTER TO CHIEFS WAS INTENDED EITHER TO EMBARRASS THE CHIEFS IF THEY ACCEPT IT OR TO CAUSE DISAFFECTION FOR THEM. IF THEY WERE TO COMPLAIN.
Y3wura me Otumfour ! I'm proud to be a royal villager than an educated slave
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE GIVE THANKS TO GOD. IT WAS VERY DISTASTEFUL WHEN MAHAMA AND HIS CRONIES IMPUGN THE VERACITY OF SOME STATEMENTS IN THE BRILLIANT SPEECH DELIVERED BY ASANTEHENE AT THE UN. HOWEVER, THE CRITICISM CHALLENGED MANY TO LOOK FOR THE SPEECH TO DISCOVER ITS HIDDEN TRUTHS AND WISDOM . THE CRITICISM GAVE A WIDE PUBLICITY TO THE SPEECH AND THE ENTIRE INVITATION OF OTUMFUO TO UN. THE BEAUTIFUL ASANTE CULTURE OF GHANA WAS ELEGANTLY SHOWCASED TO THE WORLD BODY TO A VERY HIGH EXTENT. IT REVEALED WELL THAT GHANA AND AFRICA MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE TO THE MOON BUT WE HAVE A CULTURE TO SHOW TO THE WORLD. ASANTEHENE ON HIS RETURN RECEIVED A MASSIVE WELCOME WITH GREAT FANFARE MORE THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE ANNOYING REMARKS BY NDC COMMUNICATION MACHINERY. NDC MIGHT HAVE WISHED THAT THEIR ACTION COULD HAVE STOLEN THE GLORY OF THAT UNPRECEDENTED DIGNITY ACCORDED TO ANY TRADITIONAL LEADER OF AFRICAN AT WORLD STAGE. CONTRARY, THEIR ACTION CREATED A PLATFORM THAT EXTENSIVELY SCRUTINIZE THE SPEECH TO DISPLAY THE BEAUTIFUL ASANTE CULTURE BY OTUMFUO. THE HUGE FANFARE AT HIS WELCOME BECOMES JUSTIFIED AND ADMIRABLE.