Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 13 July 2002- Madam Pamela Bridgeuter, Ambassador of the United States to Benin, has commended Ashantis for preserving and protecting their culture. She said Ashanti Region and Kumasi continue to be of historical significance to African-Americans and people of African descent in the Diaspora.

Madam Bridgeuter was speaking when she and a group of African-Americans from North Carolina, USA, led by Professor Kwabena Asante, called on the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Ernest Kwarteng in Kumasi on Friday. Madam Bridgeuter, was a member of the group that was on tour in Ghana to trace their roots. She praised Ashantis for their historical gallantry and culture, which had endeared them to the hearts of many American tourists.

The Regional Co-ordinating Director described Kumasi as city with a unique culture, which respected and was hospitable to tourists. He appealed to them to encourage their peers to invest in Ghana and the region in particular.