Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has donated an amount of ¢500,000 for the establishment of an Oguaa Education Trust Fund in the Central Region.
The Fund will be used to support the underprivileged in the city to fulfil their academic aspirations.
It comes after the Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II informed His Majesty about plans to establish an education fund to support education in his territory.
At the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Fetu Afahye and the 25th Anniversary celebration of Osabarima, Otumfuo announced the donation highlighting that education in Cape Coast must thrive since it credits itself as a torchbearer of formal education in the entire Gold Coast.
His Majesty is therefore of the firm view that Cape Coast should be foremost in educational advancement in Ghana.
“Education started in Cape Coast. Trade started here and factories sprung here first before it infiltrated all other parts of the country. Since education started here, Cape Coast must lead in education and so should it be in trade.”
He urged residents and natives of Oguaa to rise to the aid of the city to salvage it from underdevelopment and give it a new face.
“Unity in this course will give Oguaa a befitting face. I plead with all to assist Oguaa in development. Omanhene told me about plans to set up an education fund as part of his 25th Anniversary. Today, I donate a seed money of ¢500,000 for its establishment.”
Otumfuo further urged all Ghanaians to support and donate adding that “education started here and must do well here”.
The gesture of the Asantehene left Osabarima dumbfounded as he confessed he was not anticipating it.
“Your gesture has left me speechless. You are a discerning friend. I have realized this all this while we have been friends but it has been affirmed even more today. You are a genuine friend. God bless you.”
He further committed himself to judiciously using the fund and providing a periodic update on its utilisation.
“I will give you a periodic report on how the Fun runs. I assure you that it won’t be misapplied. We will use it for the intended purpose.”
This brings to GHC1 million the amount of donations His Majesty has publicly made in support of education funds of different ethnic groups in Ghana this year. It may be recalled that in June 2024 Otumfuo gave out GHc500,000 to the Ga Traditional Council for a similar cause when he visited the Greater Accra Region for a durbar by Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II.
The 2024 Fetu Festival took place at the Oguaa Jubilee Park in the Central Region on September 7, 2024.
Present were Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson, the Founder and Leader of the New Force, Nana Kwame Bediako, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII.
Source: Manhyia Palace
