Grand gathering to climax the celebration of 15 years of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II enthronement which took place at the Baba Yara Stadium exhibited the colourful and rich Ashanti and Ghanaian culture.
Royalty, elegance and spectacular cultural display was the scene as thousands of people across Ghana and beyond including politicians, captains of industry, finance and traditional leaders thronged the place to share in the joy of the event.
The stadium erupted into a frenzy as the Asantehene, resplendent in richly designed traditional cloth, adorned in gold ornaments and carrying a shot gun rode in a palanquin and under big multi-coloured umbrellas to the durbar grounds.
He was accompanied by a large retinue of Paramount Chiefs, Queens and attendants, amid the throbbing of the “fontomfrom”, “kete” and “mpintin” drums.
“Kwadwomfuo”- praise-singers, sang and shouted appellations extolling the exploits of the King, punctured by intermittent clattering of the executioners’ sod.
He then sat in state in full regalia and received homage from the dignitaries.
President John Dramani Mahama and his predecessors, Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, and spouses were on hand to add to the significance of the day.
Also present was former Nigerian leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo and other dignitaries from Ghana and other countries.