Date: May 7, 2026
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has shared a remarkable revelation about the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, claiming that the revered traditional ruler symbolically endorsed his future leadership long before he became Ghana’s president.
In a broadcast interview with Pure FM to mark Otumfuo’s birthday celebration, Mr. Kufuor disclosed that the King bestowed upon him a special stool—a gesture he believes foretold his eventual rise to the presidency. According to the former president, this act carried deep traditional and spiritual weight, reflecting the Asantehene’s confidence in his destiny.
“Otumfuo knew I would become president someday, and that is why he gave me a special stool,” Mr. Kufuor stated during the interview with Dr. Kwame Adinkrah.
In Akan culture, a stool is not a mere piece of furniture; it symbolizes authority, leadership responsibility, and legitimacy. To receive such an honour directly from the occupant of the Golden Stool, Mr. Kufuor explained, represents an exceptional degree of trust and recognition.
The former president went on to praise Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as a monarch with extraordinary spiritual presence and global statesmanship. He noted that the Asantehene commands respect wherever he travels, blending tradition with modern diplomacy in a way that has elevated both Ghana and the Asante Kingdom internationally.
Beyond personal symbolism, Mr. Kufuor also credited the Asantehene with playing a key diplomatic role during a critical moment in Ghana’s economic history. He revealed that Otumfuo personally intervened with the President of the World Bank and officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to advocate for Ghana’s controversial decision to adopt the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative in 2001. That support, he said, helped put Ghana on track to successfully complete the programme, creating fiscal room for major investments in infrastructure, health, education, and poverty reduction.
The interview was part of a special broadcast celebrating Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has been widely recognized for his contributions to peace, education, health, cultural preservation, and national development since ascending the Golden Stool in 1999.
