President John Mahama has opened up on his long-standing relationship with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, revealing that their bond dates back to their childhood days in Ringway Estates, Osu, Accra.
Speaking when the Asantehene paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House on Monday, Mr. Mahama recounted fond memories of growing up opposite the home of Nana Aduhene, where Otumfuo also spent time during school holidays.
“Our relationship goes back to when I was a child. I was a little boy growing up in Ringway Estates, Osu, and my father’s house was directly opposite Nana Aduhene’s house. Nana Aduhene’s children—Kojo Botsuo, Kwame Nkrumah and others—were our friends,” he said.
Mahama also revealed that Ato Ahwoi and Kwame Ahwoi were part of Nana Aduhene’s extended family and frequently visited the estate, adding to the vibrant environment.
“There was another of Nana’s children who came to spend holidays—we used to call him ‘Kweku Kweku’. It turned out that he was Otumfuo,” he recalled.
He noted that Otumfuo and the older boys would often send him and his peers on errands. “They were a bit older than us, so they used to send us to buy ice cream and all kinds of things for them,” he said with a smile.
Mr. Mahama said he was surprised years later when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was enstooled, believing at the time that he was from Sefwi.
“When I became a minister and they were enstooling the next Otumfuo, I said, ‘But this is Aduhene’s boy—he’s from Sefwi. How does he become the paramount chief of the Ashantis?’”
He explained that Otumfuo had been deliberately placed in the care of the Omanhene at Ringway for royal grooming. “Apparently, his uncle sent him to be groomed as a king. That’s why he used to come to Ringway on holidays,” he said.
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