The world needs leaders like Otumfuo Osei Tutu II – Sam Jonah

Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sam Jonah, says the world urgently needs leaders like Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to promote peace through dialogue.

Addressing guests at a high-level gala in Kumasi marking the Asantehene’s 27th anniversary on the throne, Sir Jonah highlighted the global relevance of the traditional ruler’s leadership style.

The event, held on April 24, 2026, at the Manhyia Palace, brought together political, traditional, religious, and business leaders to celebrate the Asantehene’s enduring influence.

Sir Jonah pointed to Otumfuo’s 2019 address at a United Nations high-level forum on the culture of peace as evidence of his international impact. He stressed that traditional authorities remain vital in shaping modern governance systems.

“Traditional leaders are not relics of the past but potential architects of peace that the modern world desperately needs,” he stated.

He warned that the current global order is facing increasing pressure, citing ongoing conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions across different regions.

“We live in troubled times. Ukraine bleeds, the Middle East burns. Tensions have fractured the architecture of the international order built at great cost by previous generations,” he said.

According to him, the Asantehene’s approach to leadership offers a practical alternative to conflict-driven politics, grounded in patience, dialogue, and moral authority.

“In this room is a man who has spent 27 years demonstrating quietly, persistently, and effectively that dialogue, patiently sustained, is stronger than any decree, and that moral authority in the service of peace can achieve what no army or court can,” Sir Jonah added.

The gala attracted several high-profile personalities, including former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiamah, and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.

The celebration was organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office in collaboration with E ON 3 Group, underscoring the Asantehene’s broad appeal across governance, business, and cultural spheres.

Source: 3 News