The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will mark his 76th birthday with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 10, 2026, the Manhyia Palace has announced.
Although the King will turn 76 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the official celebration has been rescheduled to Sunday to accommodate traditional observances.
The announcement was made by Otumfuo Kyeame Baffour Kantankrankyi during an Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace on May 4, 2026.
Purification Rites Take Precedence
Explaining the shift in date, Baffour Kantankrankyi noted that May 6 coincides with Fofie, the traditional sacred day reserved for purification rites in Asante custom.
As custodian of Asante traditions, the Asantehene will observe the rites on his actual birthday.
“In line with custom, His Majesty will perform the necessary purification rites on Wednesday. The public celebration will therefore be held on Sunday,” the Kyeame told the Council.
Order of Events
The May 10 celebration will begin with a thanksgiving service at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi at 9:00 a.m.
The service will bring together Nananom, clergy, other dignitaries and the public to offer prayers for the Asantehene’s life, health, and reign.
A dinner will follow later in the day at the Manhyia Palace for invited guests.
The event is expected to draw paramount chiefs, queenmothers, and dignitaries from across Ghana and abroad.
Invitation to Nananom
Baffour Kantankrankyi urged all paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs, and queenmothers to adjust their schedules and be present to honour the Asantehene.
“Nananom are kindly requested to make time to join His Majesty as he gives thanks to God for adding another year to his life,” he said.
Otumfuo has further directed the Office of the Asantehene to begin advance preparations and dispatch formal invitations to Nananom and other distinguished guests.
The annual birthday thanksgiving has become a key fixture on the Asante calendar, reflecting the King’s personal faith and his role as a unifying figure in Ghana and beyond.
Reign
Born Nana Barima Kwaku Duah on May 6, 1950, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ascended the Golden Stool on April 26, 1999, as the 16th Asantehene.
His Majesty’s 27-year reign has been marked by initiatives in education, health, peacebuilding, and cultural preservation.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com