The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II last Saturday welcomed the President of Malta, H.E. George Vella and his wife, Miriam Vella to the Manhyia Palace.
The courtesy call on Otumfuo formed part of President Vella’s three-day working visit to Ghana.
The visiting President was led by the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng.
The visitors were welcomed at the Kumasi International Airport by Otumfuo’s Hiahene, Nana Prof Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, who escorted them to the Manhyia Palace, where they were treated to a typical and undiluted traditional welcome into the Manhyia Palace.
At the Kumasi Airport, the President and his entourage were ushered by traditional performers and presented with a bouquet by a flower girl adorned in full Asante traditional regalia.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his wife, Lady Julia Osei Tutu made a presentation of Kente fabrics to the President of Malta and First Lady, Miriam Vella during the visit. The First couple were aided to don in the fabric the traditional way.
The delegation included Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Secretary to President of Malta, Ms Rosette Spiteri Cachia, Malta High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Jean Claud Galea Mallia.
H.E George Vella had earlier toured the HopeXchange Medical Centre, a medical facility established by the people of Malta in Kumasi during the visit.
The health facility specialises in female cancers, HIV/AIDS, malaria, craniofacial malformations, ophthalmology and neurology.At the hospital, he was presented with some traditional paintings.
