Kumasi (Greater Accra) 6th July ?99

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, on Monday appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through the Canadian government to suspend the intended sale of its accumulated gold to support deprived communities.

The Asantehene made the appeal through the Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, Mrs. Janet Graham, when she paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The Asantehene said Ghana as a gold producing country stands to lose when the market is glutted with gold.

He said being a traditional ruler of Ashanti, where gold is produced in large quantities, he has the moral responsibility to ensure industrial peace and the welfare of the people.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Ghana is proud of the trade links between her and Canada and in the fields of technical education and cultural development.

He expressed the hope that the cordial relations would grow from strength to strength.

Mrs. Graham expressed her appreciation for the warm reception accorded her and commended the Asantehene and the Asanteman for the way and manner the burial of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II was organised and the peaceful installation of the new Asantehene.

The High Commissioner said her government would continue to assist Ghana especially in its socio-economic and educational programmes, stressing that she would do well to sustain the relations existing between the two countries.

Touching on the gold issue, Mrs. Graham said the issue is under discussion and said she hoped a solution would be found to the problem.