THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned Ghanaians against reading meaning into his request to the World Bank for assistance to undertake development projects and programmes in Asanteman.

He dismissed allegations that the Kufuor Administration is behind the moves to get the financial assistance, explaining that he initiated the moves long before Mr Kufuor came into office.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu indicated that he even discussed them with former President Jerry Rawlings when he was in office.

The Asantehene stated this when the Saudi Prince, Alwaleed Bin Talal Abdulaziz Alsaud, the world's fifth richest man, honoured a pledge of US$100,000 to support the Otumfuo Education Fund.

Prince Alsaud made the pledge during a recent investment tour he undertook to the country and which took him to the Manhyia Palace to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene.

The donation was sent through the Saudi Embassy in Ghana.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu observed that it is the duty of chiefs to bring development to their people and that Manhyia will go all out to solicit assistance for Asanteman in particular and Ghana as a whole.

The Asantehene said he had personally held discussions with the World Bank President on the financial assistance, and so it is not true that it is the NPP government that is engineering the discussions.

He stressed that what he intends doing with the World Bank assistance is in the interest of the country as a whole and not for any political party, adding that nobody should impute any wrongdoings into the whole affair.

The Asantehene said Ghana is greater than any political party and said people should seek to know the truth in matters of such nature before drawing conclusions.

He said that during Prince Alsaud's visit to Manhyia, they held discussions on what Manhyia is doing to help the development of the nation and his host lauded the efforts.

The Asantehene said the Prince assured him that he would definitely come back to assist.

He commended the Prince for his support. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. S. K. Boafo, presented the cheque for the donation at the Manhyia Palace on behalf of Prince Alsaud.

Mr. I. K. Gyasi, Executive Secretary of the fund, who received the cheque expressed, appreciation to the Prince and gave assurance that the donation will be used for its intended purpose

During the Prince's visit to Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu conferred on him an honoured citizen of Asanteman and also invited him to become a director of the Golden Development Holding Company (GDHC) established for the development of Asanteman and the nation.