Asantehene unveils plaque in memory of Prempeh

From Christian Akorlie, GNA Special Correspondent, Freetown
Freetown, April 27, GNA The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Wednesday unveiled a commemorative plaque at a house in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where the late king Agyemang Prempeh I, stayed in exile for four years.
King Prempeh was deported to the West African state, to break the resistance of the Asante Confederacy to British colonial rule, before being sent to Seychelles to deny him access to his visiting subjects from Ghana.
Ghana's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere said the ceremony on No. 9 Howe Street, was a demonstration of the rich bond of ties that existed between Ghana and Sierra. It also signified the resilience of Asantes to defy all odds and emerged victorious in their anti-colonial struggles.
Mr Amihere said nothing could defeat the collective will of a united people concerted in their action for a purpose.
The Sierra Leonean Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Mohammed Lamine Kamara said the ceremony was a further demonstration of the heritage that bonded the two countries.
The Asantehene visited the Maroon Church founded in 1808 by freed slaves from Nova Scotia Canada, most of whom were believed to be taken as slaves from the Gold Coast.
The Church has maintained its rich African cultural tradition. Otumfuo also visited the stands of the Association of Ghana Industries at the ongoing Sierra Leone International fair, as part of the commemoration of the 44th Independence anniversary of Sierra Leone.