Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II is the sixteenth Asantehene, king of the Asante people and traditional ruler of the Asante Kingdom in Ghana. He was enstooled on 26 April 1999, succeeding his uncle Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, and is the custodian of the Golden Stool, the sacred symbol of Asante unity and authority.
He was educated at Sefwi-Wiawso Secondary School and Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School, and later studied at Institute of Professional Studies in Accra, where he studied Accounting. Prior to his enstoolment, he worked in the private sector in the United Kingdom, building a professional career in accounting and management.
Since ascending the Golden Stool, Osei Tutu II has overseen a period marked by institutional strengthening of traditional governance, peacebuilding, and development-oriented initiatives. He chaired the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, which played a central role in resolving the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, culminating in the restoration of peace in 2019.
He is the founder of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, which focuses on education, health, and youth development, and has supported hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across Ghana. He also serves as Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
His reign has been marked by periodic milestone commemorations, including the 20th and 25th anniversaries of his enstoolment, reflecting his influence within Asante society and Ghana’s contemporary traditional governance system.
Early life and education
Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II was born Nana Barima Kwaku Duah on 6 May 1950 in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Gold Coast. He is the third son and youngest of five children of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa. His father Nana Kwame Boakye-Dankwa was from Kentinkyere in Ashanti and was also the Brehyia Duke of Asante. Nana Kwame Boakye-Dankwa died on 1 January 2002, in Kumasi, Ashanti.Osei Tutu II was named after his paternal grandfather, Ohenenana Kwaku Duah, Brahyiahene, of Kentinkyere in the Atwima district.
His siblings include Nana Ama Konadu, who is the 14th Asanteheemaa, as well as the late Barima Kwabena Poku, Barima Akwasi Prempeh.
When he was about five years old, Otumfuo moved into the royal household of his uncle, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, the Hiahene, enstooled in 1952, as early preparation for his future role.
He had his elementary education in Kumasi and in 1964, went on to the Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School where he obtained his 'O' Level and was taught by the late Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso, Nana Kwadwo Aduhene II who was a cousin of Otumfuo's guardian uncle, Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, Hiahene. He also attended the Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School for his A level, completing in 1969. He studied Accounting at the Institute of Professional Studies in Accra where he studied accounting and business related courses.
Nana Barima Kwaku Duah continued his education in the United Kingdom, enrolling at the Polytechnic of North London, where he earned the Diploma in Management and Administration. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university at a ceremony at the Barbican Centre on 11 January 2006.
Career before enstoolment
Prior to his enstoolment as Asantehene, Nana Barima Kwaku Duah pursued a professional career in management and business. After completing his studies, he worked in Canada, where he was employed by the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company in Toronto between 1981 and 1985.He later relocated to the United Kingdom, where he served in a managerial capacity as a personnel and training manager at HPCC Stonebridge Bus Garage Project, in the London Borough of Brent, gaining experience in human resource management and organisational administration.
In the late 1980s, he established Primoda Financial Services Limited in the United Kingdom located on Kilburn High Road, North-West London, a firm that operated in the financial services sector. Following his return to Ghana, he founded Transpomech International Limited, a company involved in engineering and industrial services.
His professional background in finance, management, and corporate administration contributed to his administrative outlook prior to his enstoolment in 1999.
Reign as Asantehene
Enstoolment as Asantehene
Nana Barima Kwaku Duah was enstooled as the 16th Asantehene, taking the regnal name Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, on 26 April 1999, following the death of his uncle, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. His enstoolment marked the continuation of the Oyoko royal lineage, from which the rulers of the Asante Kingdom are traditionally selected.The enstoolment ceremony took place at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi and followed established Asante customary rites. As Asantehene, he became the custodian of the Golden Stool, the sacred symbol of Asante unity, authority, and sovereignty.
His ascension to the Golden Stool initiated a new phase in the leadership of the Asante Kingdom, with a renewed emphasis on traditional governance, development, and engagement with the modern Ghanaian state.
Role as Asantehene
As Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II is the traditional ruler and cultural head of the Asante Kingdom, one of the most influential traditional states in Ghana. He serves as the custodian of Asante customs, institutions, and symbols of authority, including the Golden Stool, which represents the unity and sovereignty of the Asante people.He presides over the Asanteman Council, the governing body of the Asante Kingdom, which is composed of paramount chiefs from the various Asante traditional areas. In this capacity, he provides leadership on matters relating to customary law, chieftaincy affairs, and dispute resolution within Asanteman.
Under Ghana’s constitutional framework, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II performs a non-partisan role, as chiefs are prohibited from active party politics. His responsibilities therefore focus on traditional governance, mediation, and cultural leadership rather than political administration.
Beyond his customary functions, the Asantehene engages with state institutions, civil society organisations, and international bodies on issues relating to education, development, peacebuilding, and cultural heritage. He is widely regarded as a unifying figure for the Asante people in Ghana and in the diaspora.
Anniversary commemorations
Milestones marking Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II’s reign have been observed through commemorative events highlighting his tenure as Asantehene. In 2019, activities were held to mark the twentieth anniversary of his enstoolment, reflecting on his leadership and the role of the Asante monarchy within contemporary Ghanaian society. The commemorations included traditional ceremonies, public lectures, and cultural events held in Kumasi.The main anniversary celebration took place on 21 April 2019 and coincided with Akwasidaekese, a major Asante ceremonial durbar held at the Manhyia Palace. The event was attended by President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Ashwin Adhin, Vice President of Suriname, as well as traditional rulers and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions. Torgbui Sri, the Awomefia of the Anlo state who served as the special guest of honour was also in attendance.
In 2024, the silver jubilee of his reign was marked with a further series of activities organised by the Asante Traditional Council and affiliated institutions. The commemorations focused on themes of cultural preservation, development, and peacebuilding. A durbar was held on 12 May 2024 at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing participation from traditional authorities, government officials, and international delegations.
Environmental protection
In July 2019, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II announced his devotion to protect the water bodies of the Asante Kingdom. This would involve the planting of 2.5 million trees around Lake Bosomtwe and would cover 400 hectares. This would aid in improving the ecosystem, cushion climate change and enhance environmental awareness among the communities around the lake. The tree planting initiative is a collaboration between the Oheneba Poku Foundation and Manhyia Palace as well as the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Water Resources Commission, the Ghana Tourism Authority, UNESCO, the District Assemblies of Bosome-Freho and Bosumtwe, and the Lake Bosomtwe Community Resources Management Areas, which is an NGO are the other stakeholders.Otumfuo Lottery Game
The Asantehene has joined forces with the National Lottery Authority and is preparing to launch the Otumfuo Lottery Game. This is a fundraising initiative to support the Otumfuo Charity Foundation. In May 2019, a working committee that composed of members of the National Lottery Authority, the State Enterprise Commission and the Asante state's governance team, presented a report to the monarch for approval. The National Association of Private Lotto Operators and Agents in Ghana expressed their preparedness to embrace the game so its objective would be achieved.International engagement
In August 2019, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II celebrated Akwasidae with members of the Ghanaian community in the United Kingdom during an official visit. The event was attended by community leaders and dignitaries, including Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Papa Owusu-Ankomah.On 19 July 2024, Osei Tutu delivered a keynote address at the British Museum in London on the theme "Asante Culture and Heritage" to mark his silver jubilee as Asantehene.