Meet KNUST Chancellor, His Majesty Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, Asantehene

The 16th Asantehene is Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (King of the Asante). On April 26, 1999, he ascended the Golden Stool. He is a direct descendant of Osei Tutu I, who established the Asante Kingdom.

The youngest of Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II’s five children. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was born on May 6, 1950, and was given the name Barima Kwaku Dua (Queenmother of Asante). Barima Kwaku Dua was mentored by his uncle Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, who had been installed as Hiahene in 1952, when he was a young child.

Oheneba Mensah Bonsu, therefore, ensured that Barima Kwaku Dua benefited from a childhood of careful grooming in Asante traditions and statecraft.

The young Royal was given his Secondary Education at Sefwi Wiawso Secondary School in the Western Region of Ghana where his guardian was Nana Kwadwo Aduhene II, Omanhene (Paramount Chief) of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area.

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Barima Kwaku Dua returned to Kumasi in 1969 and enrolled at the Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School.  He then moved to Accra in 1971 and was admitted at the Institute of Professional Studies, Legon for a course in Accountancy.

Two years later, he travelled to the United Kingdom and continued his Accountancy Studies at the Kilburn Polytechnic.  He later attended the University of North London where he read Human Resource Development and Public Administration.

By the time he returned to Ghana in 1989 to establish his own business, Transpomech International (Ghana) Ltd., he had behind him a wealth of experience which he had gathered working as Senior Consultant with Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company of Toronto; Finance Officer at the British firm Oxon, in London; and as Personnel Administrator at the Manpower Services Commission attached to Brent Council in London.

The Asante Kingdom and Ghana as a whole applauded Barima Kwaku Dua’s nomination to succeed his late brother Otumfuo Opoku Ware II as Asantehene. His innate serenity and brilliance, which instantly engenders devotion and spurs motivation in those around him, helped him reach the Golden Stool. He grew up believing that traditional leadership is based on the ability to bring people together, mend fences, heal wounds, and inspire people. He learnt the principles of respect and sensitivity in dealing with both his peers and subjects. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is currently the chancellor for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.