Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, will mark his 76th birthday with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
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.
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, queens, and dignitaries.
Explaining the shift in date, Baffour Kantankrankyi noted that May 6 coincides a 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.
Born on May 6, 1950, the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool has reigned as the Asantehene since April 1999.
His Majesty’s leadership has been defined by efforts to preserve Asante heritage while promoting development in education, health, and peacebuilding both within Asanteman and Ghana.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com