Otumfuo Osei Tutu II marked his 16 years on the Golden Stool as the Asantehene with a well-attended church service on the Seychelles Island on Sunday.

The solemn event took place at the St Paul’s Church, Victoria in the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles where King Prempeh I was baptised as a Christian.

King Prempeh was exiled to Seychelles Island by the British in 1900 as the European country tried to extend its territory from the coast to the Asante kingdom.

The service, which was in two parts, was also used as thanksgiving for King Prempeh I who died in 1931 at the age of 60 in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is on the Seychelles Island at the invitation of the government of the host country in connection with this year’s annual Carnival International de Victoria.

He attended the historic church service on the day which exactly marked his sixteen years on the throne in the company of several Asante chiefs and servants.

Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism and Kojo Bonsu, Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), were also in attendance.

Preaching the sermon, the Rt. Rev James Wong Yin Song, the Fourth Bishop of Seychelles, stated that Christ is still alive.

He, therefore, admonished mankind, whom he described as sheep, to always seek the face of God in times of tribulation since He is ever ready to save them.

Special prayers were said by the congregation for Otumfuo, who was elegantly dressed in black and white cloth with gold ornaments to match.

Communion was served to Otumfuo and other selected top dignitaries, including the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Serebuo and Apagyahene, Nana Owusu Afriyie.

Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Ejisuhemaa; Manwerehene, Baafuor Ossei Hyeaman Brentuo VI and Nana Atta Poku Agyeman, Grand nephew of Otumfuo, were present at the service.

Mary Prempeh, the granddaughter of King Prempeh I, who is currently residing on the Seychelles Island with her four children, also graced the occasion.

Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Serebuo, in a tribute, expressed gratitude on behalf of the late King Prempeh I to the people of Seychelles for their love and support during his (Prempeh’s) stay in the country.

He said Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was also thankful for the warm reception accorded him by the people, noting that the king would forever be grateful to them.

The St Paul’s Cathedral Church of Victoria presented a special book to the Asantehene for visiting it.

Otumfuo at the tail end of the service was led by the leadership of the church to inspect pictures of King Prempeh I, including his baptism pictures in 1904.

The Asantehene later in the day celebrated his 16 year anniversary with a traditional programme at Palm Seychelles, a plush area on the mountain of Victoria, with the family of King Prempeh I and some selected chiefs.

Otumfuo was expected to climax his short stay there with a historic visit to the house of King Prempeh I on Monday.

He would also lay a wreath at the cemetery where the famous Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Ejisuhemaa, was buried before he returns home.