Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is 66 years old today

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is 66 years old today, Friday May 6.

The revered King of the Ashanti kingdom who was born Nana Barima Kwaku Duah, is one of five children. He ascended the Ashanti monarchy on 26 April, 1999, to succeed the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

He is the youngest child of Ashanti Empress Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa (Empress mother of the Empire of Ashanti).



His father Nana Kwame Boakye-Dankwa was from Kantinkyere in Ashanti and was also the Brehyia Duke of Ashanti. Nana Kwame Boakye-Dankwa died on 1 January 2002, in Kumasi, Ashanti.

Osei Tutu has six children. His father had other offspring from other marriages, including Yaw Boateng, Kwaku Duah, Kwabena Agyei-Bohyen, Afua Sarpong and Ama Agyemang (Kumasi, Ashanti), Fredua Agyeman Prempeh, Nana Kwasi Agyemang Prempeh and Nana Kwasi Boachie Gyambibi (Kumasi, Ashanti).

Emperor Asantehene Osei Tutu II's name at birth, Nana Barima Kwaku Duah, is the name of the Ashanti emperor's paternal grandfather.

At a meeting with the Asanteman Council in the early days of his enthronement as Asantehene, he summarised his intentions as follows: “Our predecessors engaged in inter-tribal wars, fighting for conquest over territories and people.

“Today, the war should be vigorous and intensive against de-humanisation, poverty, marginalisation, ignorance, and disease. Chieftaincy must be used to propel economic development through proper lands administration, through facilitating investments in our communities, and through codification of our customs and traditions, making it impossible for imposters to get enstooled and creating unnecessary situations for litigation.”



Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com