Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll was born on the 6th of May 1950 at the Auntie Thelma Maternity Home at Ashtown in Kumasi. Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll is the youngest of the five children of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem ll. His father, Nana Kwame Boakye Dankwa is from Kantinkyire in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of Asante.
Nana Boakye Dankwa was otumfuo Brehyiahene of Kumasi. In his formative years, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll lived with his paternal uncle, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu in Kumasi. Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll had his primary school education at St. Joseph R/C primary school at Ashtown. He completed his primary education at State Boys middle school at Bantama. In 1964, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll enrolled at Sefwi Wiaso secondary school. At Sefwi Wiaso he lived with his uncle friend, the late Omanhene of Sewfi Wiaso Nama Kwadwo Aduhene ll. From Sefwi Wiaso secondary schools he continued and completed his secondary education at Osei Kyeretwie secondary school (OKESS) in Kumasi. Before his tertiary education, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll taught for some time at Asawase L/A primary school in Kumasi. He studied accountancy at the Institute of professional studies(IPS) now the University of professional studies(UPS) at Legon Accra. From IPS He travelled to London UK to enrol at Northwest London university where he studied Human Resources, management and public administration. After his studies, he worked with Mutual Insurance Group in Canada. He returned to the UK in 1982 to work for a while. In 1989, he returned to Ghana to establish his own company called Transpomech International (Ghana).
As a young man, Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll took a lot of interest in the cultural and traditional affair as well as sporting activities with football and golf. On April 26th 1999 he was enstooled as the 16th occupant of the Gold stool after the demise of his brother Otumfuo Opoku Ware ll.
ENSTOOLMENT.
On the 26th of April, 1999 scores of people thronged the Manhyia Palace in the Kumasi Kingdom to witness the enrollment of Barima Kwaku Dua as the 16th occupant of the Gold Stool with the name Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll.
OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II PILLAR OF PEACE.
In 2019 Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll the Asantehene was invited by the United Nations to deliver a special keynote address on the *Culture of peace* this was a recognition of the Kings significant role in the promotion of peace and stability in Ghana. Otumfuo was widely praised for the extensive work he did towards the resolution of the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis. In 2019, the African premiere leadership award recognises Otumfuo and gave him the Pillar of peace Award.
FACILITATOR & DEVELOPMENT AGENT
Since 1999 otumfuo has Championed the development of the Asante Kingdom and Ghana as a whole. He has masterfully navigated the dual role of development agent and philanthropist. As a development agent, he was instrumental in.
(a) Redevelopment of the Anglo Gold Asante Obuasi mines.
(b) Redevelopment of Kejetia central market project.
(c) On his coronation, The Asantehene launched several development initiatives that included an educational fund, a foundation to support people affected and infected with HIV AIDS and a partnership project with the world bank to develop deprived communities in collaboration with traditional authorities. However, in 2009, Otumfuo saw the need to consolidate all of the initiatives into a foundation. The reason was to enable him to exercise overall control of funds and ensure judicious use of all resources for the achievement of the individual aims and objectives of each intervention. Thus, the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation (OOTCF) is the brainchild of the Asantehene established as the main developmental agency. The OOTCF is a registered not for profit, non-governmental organization in Ghana.it is an umbrella body that consolidates and expands all development initiatives launched by Asantehene. Its purpose is to undertake and promote the development agenda of the Asantehene that seek to improve life for their people of Asanteman and Ghana in general.
*EDUCATION*
The first development focus of the foundation is Education. Its selection as a key area of the foundation’s development effort stems from the passion The Otumfuo and Asanteman council has for education but more importantly his belief which is in agreement with development experts that education has a pivotal role to play in the development of Nations.
*Achievement*
scholarship scheme Direct financial support to needy persons to start or continue education through the Otumfuo Education Fund was the first activity to be instituted. The Otumfuo Education Fund has taken different forms since its interception over the past 22 years. Beneficiaries of the scheme who are all from other ethnicities in Ghana are selected through various means including nomination by traditional authorities, accreditation by religious and community leaders, advertisement followed by an aptitude test screening as well as directed by Royal nomination by Otumfuo.
Over the past 22years, 25,746 have received a full scholarship, 276,224 have received some form of financial support ranging from, bursaries for part payment of fees, accommodation, stationery, clothing, transportation and airfare as well as admission fees, examination fees.
The majority of the beneficiaries are mostly from deprived areas of the country and is made up of 68.5%males and 31.5%females. Although the scheme aims to support the education of individuals at all levels, the focus in the past 12 years is geared towards support basic to secondary education. As of the end of 2017, 74.8% of the beneficiaries were in junior, senior high schools, teacher and nursing training schools., 21% undergraduates and 4.1% postgraduate. Besides the direct financial support, the schemes have been involved and facilitated the preparation and admission of 98,000 potential scholars into various levels of education.
ASSISTING GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE
Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll has also played a significant role in assisting various government initiative and programs. The most significant contribution of Otumfuo to the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo administration has been the negotiation of the release of $174 million from the World Bank to support education in Ghana. Otumfuo also lobbied for the sitting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFTCFTA) Headquarters in Accra.
Health
58 health facilities in Ashanti, Ahafo and central Regions received infrastructural support in the form of construction of patients wards, renovation of staff accommodation and outpatient departments and furnishing of completed wards 3 health facilities have received a donation of 24 seater Benz car 27 health facilities in Ashanti and Bono Ahafo have received various items including consumables, equipment and patients bed 657 communities have benefited from continuous health and educational promotion programmes with the support of the world bank and Ghana health services Health Advocacy Campaigns played a leading role in prevention and control of HIV and Aids, malaria, Tuberculosis, Expanded programme on immunization, Buruli, ulcer, cholera, and Cerebrospinal meningitis in Ashanti, Ahafo, central and western Regions Otumfuo Dental mobile projects provide direct dental care services in communities with support from Smile project the USA, reached out to 98,500 school children over the past 5years.
Source: Ashantibiz
