The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has charged the Ashantis and Ghanaians in general to shake off their dormant lifestyle and put their creative minds to action.

He noted that even though the Ghanaian is inherently creative and enterprising, these have been allowed to remain dormant or applied differently.

The Asantehene was speaking at a colourful grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Ashanti Kingdom at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to climax a two-month celebration of the 15th anniversary of his coronation.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II indicated that his heart bleeds about the recurring stories of Africans, including Ghanaians who perish on the desert or high seas in search of greener pastures.

This “waste of human talents”, Otumfuo remarked, “is a blot on the conscience of Africans”.

The Asantehene therefore wooed desperate youths planning to embark on such treacherous journey to stay home. Ironically, the grass is greener here in Africa and Ghana in particular, he advised.

“We can make if we try; home is where the glory is,” he revealed.

However, he pointed out that making it here may not come on a silver platter but “no matter the challenges we have no choice but to stay and pull ourselves from” the challenges because countries such as China succeeded when they tried.

“Glory of Africa is the glory of Ghana; the glory of Ghana is the glory of Asanteman,” he said of the ripple effect in seeing to the success of the continent.

Most creative minds cannot bring their creativity into fruition without the needed capital, he remarked, and appealed to banks to help people with creative ideas especially those venturing into agriculture which is the mainstay of Ghana’s economy.

The theme for the anniversary is: "Rekindling the spirit of creativity, innovation and enterprise through traditional leadership.”

The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II observed that the inbuilt talents of most Ghanaians have been allowed to stay in a state of hibernation for far too long.  He therefore challenged all to rekindle that spirit of creativity, innovation, enterprising to give the true meaning of the battle cry of the Ashantis  - Asante Kotoko, Wukum Apim  Apim beba.

The anniversary was graced by local and foreign dignitaries including President John Mahama, former presidents J.J. Rawings and John Kufuor, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.