The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been presented with a honorary award at the maiden Africa Premier Leadership Awards in Kumasi.

His Royal Highness received the ‘Pillar of Peace’ accolade for the tremendous role he played in leading the committee of eminent chiefs to re-establish peace to the Dagbon traditional Area after 16 years of a bitter chieftaincy dispute. His immense contribution to the peace and stability of Ghana was not also left out.

A citation accompanying the Asantehene’s award said in part: “As Chair of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs that was charged by the then President John Agyekum Kufuor to find a lasting solution to the then seemingly intractable Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, your unparalleled skills in negotiation, arbitration and conflict resolution resulted in the amicable resolution of the age-old chieftaincy crisis that brought peace to the Dagbon people.”

The Award was designed to recognise Africans who have outshined in their areas of endeavor, the Africa Premier Leadership Awards were instituted by an Accra-based Ghanaian business solutions provider, the E ON 3 Group, in collaboration with the International Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights (CIPDH Africa).

 Accepting the award, the Asantehene revealed that nothing was more significant than instituting peace in the Dagbon crises and the resumption of operations of Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

"Sixteen traumatic, agonising years had finally ended and brothers could look in each other’s eyes, not in hate but in love, once more," he said of the Dagbon crisis.

The Asantehene said he shared the honour of the award with the other members of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs.

“If society recognises our effort, it is only right that we share the honour with all participants — principally my two brothers Eminent Chiefs, the Nayiri, Naa Bohogu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, and the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa Suleman Jakpa, who combined wisdom and customary knowledge and sustained our efforts,” he stated.

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He also acknowledged the inputs of political, religious and civil society leaders and, most of all, the parties in the dispute to end the crisis.

An array of dignitaries from Ghana and the African Diaspora attended the ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on December 29, 2019.

They included former President John Agyekum Kufuor, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen; the Chairman of the Council of State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II; the wife of the Asantehene, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, and the President of the Africa Premier Leadership Awards, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta.