Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Hosts Grand Christmas Durbar at Manhyia Palace

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Hosts Grand Christmas Durbar at Manhyia Palace

By: Justice Baffour Awuah | Managing Editor, DailyWatchGH.com

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, hosted a grand Christmas durbar at the historic Afia Kobi Park within the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, bringing together Nananom, palace officials, courtiers, and subjects from across the Asante Kingdom.

The annual Christmas durbar, which has become a key fixture on the Manhyia Palace calendar, provided an opportunity for the Asantehene to interact with his people, reflect on the year under review, and promote unity, peace, and cultural heritage during the festive season.

The colourful ceremony attracted a distinguished gathering of political leaders, traditional authorities, institutional heads, and representatives of organisations closely associated with the Manhyia Palace. The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyeman-Boadi, attended on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, reaffirming the strong collaboration between traditional leadership and government in the region.

Also present were former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, former Kumasi Mayor Sam Pyne, and the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, alongside other senior party officials and public servants.

Adding to the international and cultural significance of the durbar was the presence of the representative of the Tuareg Chief in Ghana, who joined the gathering to pay homage to the Asantehene and strengthen bonds of friendship between traditional authorities beyond Ghana’s borders.
Various departments and institutions under the Manhyia establishment also participated in the durbar, demonstrating their loyalty and support for the Golden Stool.

They included staff from Opemsuo Radio, Bodukwan Multi Fruit Processing Factory, the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, the Manhyia Palace Museum, Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, the Manhyia Land Secretariat, the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, and the Manhyia Police Division.

Clad in traditional regalia and festive attire, Nananom and palace officials took turns to pay homage to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, while cultural performances and displays of Asante customs added colour and vibrancy to the occasion.

The durbar served not only as a celebration of Christmas but also as a reaffirmation of the Asantehene’s enduring commitment to peace, development, and cultural preservation. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II continues to use such gatherings to strengthen unity within the Asante Kingdom and encourage collective responsibility toward development and social harmony.

The event concluded amid expressions of goodwill, seasonal cheer, and renewed pledges of loyalty to the Asantehene, as Manhyia Palace once again became a focal point of tradition, leadership, and celebration during the Christmas season.