Asantehene alive in South Africa
Rumours that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is dead, are completely unfounded. The Asantehene is expected back home from South Africa on Tuesday, February 5, 2014.
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A close aide of the Asantehene, Kantinka Dr Kwame Donkor-Fordwor, told the Daily Graphic Wednesday that he had been in touch with the Asantehene’s household in South Africa and said there was no truth in the rumour that had gained currency in the country since last Sunday.
Checks by the Daily Graphic indicate that Otumfuo Osei Tutu went to South Africa on January 14, 2014 on a private visit and at the same time to conduct business on behalf of the Asante State.
Our sources said the Asantehene had engaged with South Africans and Ghanaians in South Africa on a number of issues on the development of Asanteman in particular and Ghana as a whole.
Rumours of the Asantehene’s ill-health and demise became viral on the social media among Ghanaians, both home and abroad, since last weekend but close aides of the Asantehene have stated that there is no cause for alarm and that the rumours be dismissed.
Rumours of the death of prominent people in Ghana have become common on social media and in media circles in Ghana in recent times.
Not too long ago, it was reported that former President J. A. Kufuor had died during a trip abroad.
In 2007, it had been rumoured that the Asantehene had died. And in an apparent attempt to quell rumours of his demise, he had toured projects under construction in Kumasi to show he was very much alive.
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In a related development, the Asantehene is expected to address the opening session of the 54th annual general conference of the West African College of Surgeons at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, on February 24, 2014.
A statement issued by the Manhyia Palace said Otumfuo Osei Tutu would be the royal guest of the week-long conference and also host the delegates to a reception at the palace.
It said more than 600 surgeons of all sub-specialties from the sub-region would attend the conference, to be held on the theme, “Strengthening Systems for Health Service”.
It quoted the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Peter Donkor, as saying that representatives from surgical societies from the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, including 10 presidents of those societies, would attend.