SPEECH BY OTUMFUO OSEI TUTU II, ASANTEHENE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAOUD OF SAUDI ARABIA, TO MANHYIA PALACE ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2003.

Honourable Regional Minister,
Nananom, -
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have the greatest pleasure in welcoming Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saoud of Saudi Arabia today, to Kumasi, the capital of Asante Kingdom.

This being your first visit to Kumasi, Nana Hemaa, the Chiefs and people of Asanteman, and all who are gathered here this morning, join me in saying a hearty "AKWAABA" to you and your entourage.

We hope that your visit here will mark the beginning of a warm, friendly, and mutually rewarding relationship between yourself, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ghana, and for that matter, Asanteman.

Prince Alwaleed, We have followed with keen interest your accomplishments in the fields of international business as a very successful private entrepreneur, and are particularly happy to note your interest and activities as a philanthropist in the promotion of education, the general development of your people, and civil society.

As traditional rulers and leaders of our communities, We also have a commitment to the promotion of education and the health needs of our people. Our commitment in these areas derives from our firm conviction that these are the two most powerful catalysts for the growth and development of any community or society. It was in line with this commitment, that one of my first initiatives on ascending the Golden Stool was the establishment of a non-profit charitable organization, the Otumfuo Education Fund. The objective of the Fund is to provide financial and other material assistance to needy but brilliant students who would otherwise not enjoy the right of formal education, as well as meet the physical infrastructural needs of various educational institutions.

Assistance and support from the Fund have benefited students within Asanteman, and beyond its boundaries, in institutions across the country. We are happy to acknowledge the encouraging support that our Education and Health programmes continue to receive from friends and well- wishers from all over the world.

We therefore wish to take the opportunity of our meeting here today to invite you to join me and the Otumfuo Education Fund in advancing the cause of education throughout the length and breadth of this country.

To support the economic development of our people, We have caused to be established a Golden Development Holding Company to mobilise funds from the Ghanaian community, both local and abroad, to promote private enterprise to create wealth within the community and employment for the youth. With the wealth of knowledge and expertise that you have acquired through your operations in the world market place, We wish to invite you to be an "Honorary Member" of the Board of Directors of the Golden Development Holding Company, to bring your expertise to bear on the decisions of the Board.

Prince Alwaleed, in commemoration of your visit to Kumasi, We have pleasure in conferring on you the status and privileges of "Honorary Citizen of Asante".

Again, We wish you a hearty welcome to Kumasi. We hope you will carry with you fond memories of your visit here.

Thank you.