The occupant of the golden stool Otumfuo Osei Tutu II turns 70-years-old today May 6, 2020

The most revered Monarch of the Asante Kingdom ascended the throne on April 26, 1999 succeeding the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

Nana Barima Kwaku Duah as known in private life, is the youngest of five children of the late Queen Mother Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II (1907 – 15 November 2016).

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is known for integrating tradition with modernity. His reaction to the challenges facing the modern Ghanaian chief cannot be far-fetched as he was the first Ghanaian traditional ruler to declare his intentions towards meeting the challenges of the modern Ghanaian chief.

Osei Tutu II (born 6 May 1950) is the 16th Asantehene, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Ashanti in Ghana. By name, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the founder of the Empire of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I

Early life

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was born on May 6, 1950 and named Barima Kwaku Dua. He is the youngest of the five children of the current Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II. His father was the late Nana Boakye Dankwa, Brahyiahene of Manhyia Palace who hailed from Kentinkyirem in the Atwima District of Asanti. Barima Kwaku Dua came under the tutelage of his Uncle, Ohene Mensah Bonsu, the late Hiahene.

He started his primary in Kumasi and continued at the Sefwi-Wiawso Secondary School in the Western Region. Whilst at Wiawso, his guardian was the late Nana Kwadwo Aduhene II, Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso.

In 1969, Barima Kwaku Dua returned to Kumasi and continued his secondary education at the Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School for the two-year G.C.E. advanced Level programme. On completion of the programme, he moved to Accra in 1971 and enrolled at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) at Legon for a course in Accountancy.

After two years study at the IPS, Barima Kwaku Dua left Ghana for the United Kingdom and continued Accountancy studies at the Kilburn Polytechnic. Therefore he studied at the University of North London, where he read Human Resources Development and Public Administration.

On completion of his studies, Barima Kwaku Dua worked as a senior Consultant with the Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company in Toronto, Canada. From Canada, he returned to the United Kingdom and was admitted into membership of the British Institute of Personnel Management in 1985. He also worked as Finance Officer at the British firm of Oxo in London, and as Personnel Administrator at the Manpower Service Commission attached to Brent Council in London. He returned to Ghana in 1989 and established his own business, Transpomech International (Ghana) Limited.

On February 25, 1999, his immediate predecessor, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the then King of the Asante Kingdom “went to the village”.

Under Asante custom, a new king is only enstooled after the burial of the departed king. There have been times in Asante history where succession disputes have led to protracted civil wars in the Kingdom. However, the period in the case of the enstoolment of Barima Kwaku Dua was the shortest in the annals of the Kingdom. This derives from the overwhelming support and universal acclaim he enjoyed from the chiefs and people of the Kingdom even as a ‘young man’.