Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, on Sunday sat in state to receive homage at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi as part of activities to mark Akwasidae. People from all walks of life were at the palace to be part of the great festivity. The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of Interior and Mr Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment were among the dignitaries that went to Manhyia to grace the occasion. Others were, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of Ghana @ 50 Secretariat, Lieutenant-General J.B. Danquah, Chief of Defence Staff, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive and Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Adu-Poku, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander. Chiefs and other royal families including members of the public clad in black and white cloths in happy mood danced to Kete, Adowa and Fontonfrom; traditional dance, before the arrival of the Asantehene. Glaring at the Palace were diplomats and tourists who resistibly took photographs of the Asantehene and people displaying the cultural heritage of Asante. It was all culture at its best as horn blowers blew their horns with multi coloured umbrellas fluttered all over the Palace to give meaning to the festival. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was treated to rhythmic appellations, which he listened in an attentive mood as the palace remained quite. The Vice-President supported by Dr Nathelda, Consular General of Thailand presented some drinks to the Asantehene. Many other individuals, groups and organizations and the ministers also presented some drinks, sheep and cash to Otumfuo. The West African Tourism Transport Union donated 10 million cedis to the Otumfuo Education Fund and assorted drinks. The Alumni of Mensah Sarbah Hall of University of Ghana also presented one million cedis to the Fund, assorted drinks,'T' shirts of the Hall and a painting of Mensah Sarbah while Pro Savings and Credit and Loans Bank also presented 10 million cedis to the fund and assorted drinks to Asantehene. When the Asante Students Union and State Boys' school, Old Boys and Girls Association appeared to greet the Asantehene and introduced themselves, he used the opportunity to speak on the importance of education. Oumfuo Osei Tutu said education was the backbone of the survival and development of any nation and urged them to continue to encourage students to take their studies seriously. The Asantehene said he was prepared to support all their endeavours to ensure that education was really improved to enhance the socio-economic and political development of the country. Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the end of the day as custom demanded distributed drinks to the chiefs and dignitaries who were at the palace. Source: GNA