Otumfuo’s arrival shakes Kumasi

THE IMMENSE popularity of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in the Ashanti Region, once again came to bear when he arrived at the Kumasi Airport yesterday.

Scores of people from all over Kumasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region, converged at the airport to give a befitting welcome to the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool.

The Asantehene, who commands a lot of respect and authority in the country, had stayed in London and South Africa for his annual holidays for some months now.

News about the arrival of Otumfuo, widely known as ‘King Solomon’, had spread like wild fire and as expected, it attracted scores of jubilant people to the Kumasi Airport.

There was spontaneous shout of joy when the King, who has about 70 powerful paramount chiefs under his jurisdiction, disembarked from a private plane on Sunday.

Wearing a sublime-looking suit and shoes to match, the Asantehene, from his body language, was highly impressed about the level of love and affection being shown to him by his subjects.

The Asante King was officially welcomed back home by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, who was supported by other top government officials in Kumasi.

Otumfuo, who arrived from South Africa with his grand nephew, Ing Nana Poku Agyeman and other dignitaries, went round the tarmac to greet the people around.

Among the people that welcomed him back home included prominent queenmothers and chiefs in Asanteman, military and police personnel as well as other people.

The Asantehene, who smiled throughout, even displayed his traditional dancing skills on the tarmac for some few minutes, attracting spontaneous applause from the crowd.

Interestingly, most of the people were seen racing after the Asantehene’s convoy all the way from the Kumasi Airport to the Manhyia Palace, a sign of their love for Otumfuo.

THE NEW PUBLISHER also gathered that there was merrymaking at the Manhyia Palace throughout the night as other prominent people visited the place to welcome Otumfuo.