Kumasi (Ashanti), 22 March '99 -

Togbe Dagadu, President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, is to lead a delegation of chiefs from the Volta region on Wednesday, March 24, to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to mourn with Asanteman on the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second, Asantehene. Heads of communities and people of Volta region descent resident in the Ashanti region will join the delegation. The Reverend S.K. Fugah, chairman of the Voltarian Co- ordinating Council (VCC), announced this at a forum of the VCC held at Amakom in Kumasi at the weekend to discuss their participation in the programme drawn by Asanteman for the burial of the late Asantehene. Rev Fugah stated that their active involvement in the burial was crucial since the late Asantehene was a loving father to all, irrespective of background and origin. He noted that that quality of the Asantehene made it possible for most Voltarians to comfortably settle down to establish productive enterprises in the Ashanti Region. Rev Fugah acknowledged that the Asantehene's death had dealt a blow not only to Asanteman but the entire nation, adding that his role as peace- maker and loving father would forever remain with all and sundry.