President John Mahama has shared a personal story of his early childhood friendship with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, revealing a long-standing bond that dates back to their days at the Ringway Estates, Osu.

During a courtesy visit to the Jubilee House by Otumfuo Osei Tutu on Monday, June 2, President Mahama offered a rare glimpse into his formative years, painting a picture of neighbourhood camaraderie and unsuspecting connections to future national figures.

“I was a little boy growing up in Ringway Estates, Osu, and my father’s house was directly opposite Nana Aduhene’s house,” he recalled. “Nana Aduhene’s children—Kojo Botsuo, Kwame Nkrumah and others—were our friends.”

Mahama explained that Ato Ahwoi and Kwame Ahwoi, now well-known political figures, were also among those who frequented the neighbourhood as part of Nana Aduhene’s extended family.

“They used to come on holidays from school and spend time there,” he said. “There was another of Nana’s children who came to spend holidays—we used to call him ‘Kweku Kweku’. It turned out that he was Otumfuo.”

He fondly remembered that as the younger boys, they were often sent on errands by their older peers.

“They were a bit older than us, so they used to send us to buy ice cream and all kinds of things for them,” Mahama said with a smile.

Surprised at the Stool

Mr Mahama also recounted his surprise years later when Otumfuo Osei Tutu was enstooled as the Asantehene, following the passing of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II.

“When I became a minister and they were enstooling the next Otumfuo, I said, ‘But this is Aduhene’s boy—he’s from Sefwi. How does he become the paramount chief of the Ashantis?’”

He explained that it was later revealed to him that Otumfuo’s uncle had sent him to be groomed for kingship at a young age, which explained his frequent holiday visits to the Ringway residence.

“Apparently, his uncle sent him to be groomed as a king. That’s why he used to come to Ringway on holidays—because Omanhene was the one looking after him,” Mahama explained.

A relationship rooted in time

Mahama said his long-standing relationship with Otumfuo goes back to these formative years and was shaped not by politics, but by a shared childhood and mutual respect forged in those early days.

“Our relationship goes back to when I was a child,” he said simply.