The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has expressed his dissatisfaction with the handling of development projects in the Ashanti Region during a courtesy visit by the World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa to the Manhyia Palace on January 10, 2025.
His remarks highlighted his frustrations with political leadership and called for pragmatic solutions to accelerate progress in the region.
“I don’t know what is delaying it, but the project office should be here,” the Asantehene stated firmly, his voice carrying the weight of the people’s concerns.
“We shouldn’t be running projects here when we have the office in Accra. The project unit should be here, and the project coordinator must also be resident here, so that at least the stakeholders, the district assemblies, will be able to coordinate to know how it goes. So these are issues that I want us to look at properly to fruition.”
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His call to action underscored a pressing need for decentralization and local accountability. For Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, centralizing project management in Accra only adds unnecessary delays and hinders the effective implementation of developmental initiatives in the region.
The Asantehene’s concerns were not limited to logistics. He also expressed broader disappointment in Ashanti politicians, highlighting what he sees as their failure to prioritize the welfare of their people.
“I cannot depend on the politicians for my development. I don’t want to depend on them,” he declared, a statement that resonated with many who feel let down by the political system.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II went further, advocating for a collective approach to development that transcends political interests.
“In terms of development, if we have the infrastructure, everything will be fine. I don’t want to depend on politicians, so let’s have a social contract and then we do it,” he urged, emphasizing the need for a partnership between citizens, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders.
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