24 November 2024 | Foreign Affairs.
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour and a pleasure to be here today. I bring with me greetings from the people of the Republic of Seychelles to the people of the Kingdom of Ashanti.
Let me again express my sincere appreciation to Your Majesty, King Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu, and the people of Ashanti for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality that my wife and I as well as my whole delegation have received since our arrival in Kumasi.
I take note that the year 2024 is an important one for the people of Ashanti. Not only is the Kingdom of Ashanti commemorating the 100 years anniversary of the return of King Prempeh 1 from exile in Seychelles but 2024 is also the 150th anniversary of the Third Anglo -Asante war of 1874 known as the Sargarenti war.
Your Majesty, this year you are also commemorating the silver jubilee of your enstoolment. On behalf of the people of the Republic of Seychelles and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate Your Majesty on your silver jubilee.
Your Majesty,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Seychelles and Ghana formally established diplomatic relations in October 1988 but historically, the bonds of friendship between the two countries can be traced back to the exile of the late King Prempeh 1 to Seychelles from 1900 to 1924. The special relationship between Ghana and Seychelles therefore originates here in Kumasi.
I am pleased that I am personally here this week in Kumasi. For me, this visit is not only to partake in the celebrations of the return of the late King Prempeh 1 from exile but it is giving me the opportunity to better understand the Ashanti people, their culture and their history. Through this, I will be able to better understand the late King Prempeh, the man he was and the sacrifices he made for his people and for his kingdom.
For me, therefore the commemorating is also a time of reflection of the past but also of the future.
Your Majesty,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Seychelles and Ghana have a long history of cooperation in the cultural field. This is mainly due to the historical connection between the Ashanti people and the people of Seychelles.
Earlier this week, as part of my Official Visit to Ghana, the Memorandum of Understanding in Cultural Cooperation was signed between Seychelles and Ghana. I am confident that through this MoU, the Seychelles National Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts will continue to work closely with representatives ‘from the Ashanti Kingdom to further explore other collaborations possible in this field.
I am pleased that the Seychelles National Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts was able to work closely with Mr Kwame Acquah, our Honorary Consul in Ghana and representatives from the Kingdom of Ashanti in organising an exhibition in Seychelles recently commemorating the 100-year celebration of the return of King Prempeh from exile.
To further honour the legacy of King Prempeh 1, a project has already started to reconstruct the church in Seychelles where he was baptised.
To further reinforce the cooperation and historical ties, proposal for a twinning programme between Kumasi and the Les Mamelles where King Prempeh I lived and I have already spoken to the member of Parliament for the district and work has begun for the conceptualising tourism information boards to be installed where King Prempeh I lived in Seychelles.
Apart from the field of culture, I am confident that Seychelles and the Kingdom can also look at other fields of collaboration such as tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
I Thank you.
