Kumasi, Aug. 25, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has declared his willingness to intervene in the La Cote d'Ivoire's crisis if necessary to bring lasting peace to that country.

The Asantehene said he was deeply disturbed by the current situation in the La Cote d'Ivoire and was, therefore, prepared to play any role that could help restore peace in the country.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu announced this when a delegation from Cote d'Ivoire led by Mr Amon Tanoe Emmanuel, the Ivorian Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The 84-member delegation from the municipality of Treichville in Cote d'Ivoire are in Kumasi to take part in the first-ever Ghana-Ivorian Week celebration, which is currently going on in Kumasi.

Two Ivorian Ministers, Madames Clotille Ohuochi in-charge of Solidarity, Social Affairs and Handicap and Peuhmond Jeanne, in-charge of Women and Children's Affairs and the Mayor of Treichville, Mr Francois Amichia, are among the delegation.

The weeklong celebration is part of activities to cement the sister-city relationship between the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Municipality of Treichville.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu announced that, he would send a special message to the Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo on the issue and find out if he (Asantehene) could play any role to bring the feuding parties to the negotiating table.

He said some Ivorians traced their ancestry to the Golden Stool and that, there was the need for him to ensure that peace prevailed in that country.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said, La Cote d'Ivoire was greater than any politician in that country and urged the people not to allow politics and politicians to divide them.

He called for unity among the people and urged them to work together to bring peace and harmony into the country.

The Asantehene said the sister-city relationship between Kumasi and Treichville was an attempt to bring the people of the two cities, who were traditionally brothers and sisters together.

He thanked the delegation for the visit and pledged that he would support efforts aimed at strengthening the relationship between Kumasi and Treichville.

Mr Tanoe expressed the gratitude of President Gbagbo, Government and the people of Cote d'Ivoire to Ghanaians, especially President Kufuor for their tireless efforts to restore peace in La Cote d'Ivoire. He said even though the international community had shown interest in solving the crisis in that country, Ghana had demonstrated true commitment and brotherliness to bring the crisis to end.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, KMA Chief Executive, said the sister-city relationship would unite the people of Kumasi and Treichville to promote neighbourliness and trade among the people.