Kumasi (Ashanti), 3rd May ?99 ?

Forty-one organisations and individuals were honoured on Saturday night for their immense contributions towards the burial and funeral rites of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, last month.

The awards were presented at a Royal State Dinner-Dance held in honour of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The occasion was also used to launch the Ashanti Regional Tourism Development Fund. Nine media houses including, the Ghana News Agency, Graphic Corporation, New Times Corporation, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and Ghana Television(GTV) were among those honoured. Crystal TV and all the four FM Radio stations in Kumasi also received awards.

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, receiveda special certificate for his unique role in the burial rites while the security agencies were honoured for the excellent security they provided during the period. The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, who was the Nwisiahene at the period, also received an award for the meticulous preparation and peaceful performance of the burial rites of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

Companies that received special awards wereGuinness Ghana Limited, Ghana Breweries Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ashanti RegionalCo-ordinating Council, Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), and the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC).

The others were Metropolitan Insurance Company, Social Security Bank Limited (SSB), the Trust Bank, Merchant Bank, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), MEGASTAR, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Milicom Ghana Limited.

The rest were POP Pres, State Insurance Corporation (SIC), Voltic Ghana Limited, BAMSON Company, Cashpro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Ghana Airways and the Bank of Ghana (BOG).

Daasebre Osei Bonsu, who launched the Tourism Development Fund, recounted the efforts made by Mr Yankah since his assumption of office and said it augured well for tourism in Ashanti and said there was no gainsaying that Ashanti abounds in tourist attractions, particularly in the chieftaincy institution.

The regional minister said the Regional Co-ordinating Council would hold two conferences ontourism very soon.

One of the conferences will be specifically on Lake Bosomtwe while the other will be on theTourism Development Plan.

He expressed satisfaction that, at least for the first time, the private sector had shown interest and was responding to the call to help in the development of tourism in the region.

Mr Mike Gizo, the Minister of Tourism, gave the assurance that his ministry would collaborate with the Asantehene to promote tourism in the region.

He recalled that Otumfuo Opoku Ware was given the accolade "Tourism Personality" and said the honour conferred on him was in recognition of his majestic comportment and personification of authentic Ghanaian traditional culture.

Mr Gizo said, additionally, his practical efforts at achieving peace and understanding among his people were attributes that reigned supreme in tourism development.