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17.10.2014 Regional News

Asantehene Makes Historic Visit To Ancestral Home Of Okomfo Anokye

By Mark-Anthony Dagyenga
Asantehene Makes Historic Visit To Ancestral Home Of Okomfo Anokye
17.10.2014 LISTEN

Awukugua (E/R), 17, GNA-Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has paid a historic visit to Awukugua, the ancestral home of the legendry priest, Okomfo Anokye, who co-founded the Ashanti Empire in the 17th century.

The Ashanti King also visited Okomfo Anokye's shrine which contains some historical and mysterious edifices such as a large rock on which the priest carved a game of oware with his heels, among others.

The visit marked the first time an Ashanti king has ever made to the land of Okuapeman since the 1600s and it was a joyous and remarkable moment for the thick crowd of the people of Okuapeman, especially those from Awukugua, who thronged in to welcome the Otumfuo.

Welcoming the Otumfuo at a grand durbar, which also formed part of his 40th anniversary of enstoolment, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, the Okuapehene, expressed elation for his historical visit to Okuapeman.

He remarked that the visit would remain monumental for posterity.

Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa said the visit was also timely because it came at a time when all chiefs in Okuapemnan had united to pay allegiance to one paramount stool, after 20 years of rivalry.

In his acceptance speech, Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed gratitude to the people of Okuapeman for their massive reception and praised the chiefs for smoking a peace-pipe among them.

He impressed upon all the chiefs to help each other to promote development through chieftaincy and to use the institution to impact positively to the lives of their people.

“We can hold all kinds of big and expensive durbars, if we do not do anything to develop our traditional areas and the lives of our people, then we do all that in vain,” he said.

Otumfuo reiterated the relevance of the chieftaincy institution and urged the youth to pay homage to it.

He urged queen mothers to maintain their role of instilling moral lifestyles among the youth and guiding them to live upright so they do not depart from it.

Otumfuo urged all to endeavour to eliminate filth in their environment to ensure proper sanitation for healthy living.

Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister who graced the occasion, urged traditional authorities to continue to build a strong cultural institution to promote development in the country.

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