Former President John Agyekum Kufuor last Friday launched an Endowment Fund aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the projects and programmes of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation.
The Fund is currently targeting GHc10 million, but expected to invest ₵50 million over the next five years, to finance all the Foundation’s programmes and projects.
The occasion also marked the Silver Jubilee of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation on April 25, 2025 as part of activities marking the 26th anniversary of the enstoolment of Barima Kwaku Duah, as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, under the stool name – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
On April 26, 1999 Otumfuo was enstooled as the King of the Asante Kingdom and occupant of the Gold Stool, succeeding the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu is widely regarded as a pillar of peace and an agent of change and championed promotion of peace, education, health and economic development, among other things.
A year after his enstoolment, the Asantehene established the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation to give meaning to his ideals, values and vision, and thus improve on the lives of Ghanaians through the implementation of the projects and programmes in the areas of Water and Sanitation, Health, Culture and Heritage, Education and Entrepreneurship.
Over time, Otumfuo expanded the vision, initiating transformative projects across various sectors under different umbrellas until 2009, when he formally consolidated all interventions into the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation.
The Foundation can boast of supporting the education of hundreds of thousands of Ashantis and non-Ashantis at both secondary and tertiary levels.
It is currently building a 700-bed girls’ hostel for Sefwi Wiawso Senior High School, the King’s alma mater.
In 2013, Otumfuo secured a scholarship package for Ghanaian students to study at the University of Memphis, USA.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that thousands of students had received full scholarships, with an additional 650 young people benefiting from support packages that covered school fees, accommodation, stationery and transportation.
“Our beneficiaries have come from every region of Ghana.
While the numbers speak volumes, what moved me most were the personal stories behind them. Stories of children who once faced a future of despair, but are now teachers, doctors, engineers, and responsible citizens,” he remarked.
Highlighting the achievements of the Foundation, the King pointed to educational infrastructure and said through the support of the World Bank, over 740 school structures were built and renovated across the country, including the construction of 46 classroom blocks, the re-roofing of dilapidated buildings and the donation of over 980,000 desks.
He further said over 1,000 school children received essential supplies, ranging from textbooks to mathematical sets, exercise books and computers.
His Majesty expressed gratitude to the Foundation’s past and present Board of Directors and acknowledged the vital contributions of partners, donors, staff and volunteers while the Foundation’s partners were presented with citations for their unwavering support in advancing the Foundation’s mission and community impact.
Otumfuo Hiahene, Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, the first Black Orthopaedic Surgeon to be named a full Professor, and chairman of the Board of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, said the initiative would enable the Foundation to meet the growing demand for scholarships.
“We are inundated with requests for scholarships and infrastructure support and improvement in health facilities and this is the only way we can achieve economic stability”, he noted.
Donors to the Fund were grouped into Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond categories, based on their contributions and honoured with certificates and plaques.
Bronze contributors included; Unijay, All-Star Insurance Limited, YOA Global Education, Fidelity Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Atlantic Bank, Asanko Ghana Limited, SIC Insurance Plc, Zongo Nkosuohene, Kyidom Fekuo, Akwamu Fekuo, Kronti Fekuo, Benkum Fekuo and Rejjio Construction Limited.
Silver sponsors (GHC200,000) included; AMC Development, Edusei Foundation, Living Grace Limited, Special Group of Companies, Jubills Specialist Foundation, International Community School and Hon. Owusu Akoto Afriyie.
Gold sponsors (GHC300,000) included; Hia Stool Council, ECOBANK Ghana, Asante Professionals Club, Nana K. Gyasi Company Limited, Ashanti NPP Caucus, Medimafo Herbal Clinic and COA Research and Manufacturing Limited.
Diamond sponsors (GHC500,000) included: Attachy Construction Limited, Coral Reef Innovation Ghana and JP Trustees.
Dignitaries at the launch included Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Juabenhene Nana Otuo Sereboe II, Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to Ghana, Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu (the first Board chairperson of the Foundation) and Alhaji Yussif Ibrahim, a Business tycoon and Philanthropist.
