King Mswati III of Eswatini has arrived in Kumasi to meet with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as part of his ongoing four-day state visit to Ghana.
The Eswatini monarch was welcomed to the Ashanti Region by a delegation from Manhyia Palace led by Nana Otuo Serebuo, the Juabenhene, alongside members of the Regional Security Council.
The visit to Ghana’s traditional capital follows King Mswati III’s diplomatic engagements in Accra, where he held bilateral talks with President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House on Tuesday.
During the welcome ceremony in Kumasi, regional officials emphasised the Ashanti Region’s strategic importance in Ghana’s trade and industrial landscape, highlighting its readiness to play a leading role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.
“The Ashanti Region, with its strategic position in trade and industry, stands ready to lead in this transformative agenda,” regional officials said, underlining the area’s commercial significance.
Local leaders used the occasion to highlight potential collaboration opportunities between Eswatini and the Ashanti Region, particularly in culture, education, and tourism sectors.
The king’s itinerary in Kumasi includes a formal audience with the Asantehene at the historic Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Ashanti Kingdom. He is also scheduled to engage with the National House of Chiefs during his stay in the region.
The meeting between the two monarchs represents a significant moment in traditional diplomacy, bringing together rulers from Southern and West Africa to explore common ground and mutual cooperation.
King Mswati III’s visit to the Ashanti Region underscores the importance of traditional authority in African diplomacy and highlights Ghana’s rich cultural heritage as a cornerstone of its international engagement.
The Eswatini delegation’s presence in Kumasi also reflects growing recognition of the role regional centres play in continental trade and cultural exchange, beyond national capitals.
Officials described the visit as an opportunity to “build the bridges that unite Africa,” emphasising pan-African solidarity and cooperation between traditional institutions across the continent.
The king’s engagement with Ghana’s traditional authorities adds a cultural dimension to his state visit, which has focused heavily on economic cooperation and trade partnerships under the AfCFTA framework.
