Asante Legacy Symposium Charts Path for Youth Empowerment and Cultural Renewal
The spirit of unity, heritage, and innovation filled the atmosphere in Kumasi on Friday, August 29, 2025, as the Asante Youth Association (AYA) hosted the maiden Asante Legacy Symposium. The event, themed “Inheriting Greatness: Strengthening Asanteman Through History and Youth Consciousness”, brought together traditional authorities, academics, political leaders, entrepreneurs, and young people to reflect on the future of Asanteman.
In a powerful address, Prof. Dr. Otchere Addai Mensah, former Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), urged Asanteman to build a future where tradition and modernity reinforce one another.
“Asanteman has always been more than a kingdom. It is a sacred entity carefully nurtured by our forefathers and entrusted to us,” he said. “We must preserve its legacy while equipping the youth with the tools to confront new challenges such as unemployment, cultural erosion, and environmental degradation.”
Prof. Addai Mensah highlighted the need for youth-driven leadership, not as a replacement for elders, but as a partnership between wisdom and energy. “The youth see from a different vantage point. Their creativity, digital skills, and entrepreneurial spirit must be harnessed to drive progress in agribusiness, innovation, and cultural tourism.”
Welcoming participants, Dr. Ronald Ofori Anane, President of AYA, explained that the symposium is the beginning of a larger vision that will culminate in the Asante Legacy Awards in two months.
“Too often, we wait until our heroes have passed before we celebrate them,” Dr. Anane said. “This gathering is a call to action — to honor our legends, to inspire our youth, and to remind ourselves that Asanteman’s story is still unfolding.”
He emphasized four objectives: honoring heroes past and present, engaging the youth, reviving Asanteman’s economic might, and uniting all stakeholders irrespective of political affiliations. “Our greatest modern challenge is disunity and apathy. We must stand together under the Golden Stool and protect our heritage.”
Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, encouraged students to embrace technical and engineering careers, stressing that Ghana’s transformation lies in innovative education and discipline.
Other speakers included Lawyer Obiri Boahen, P.V. Boateng Dadson Jantuah, and other distinguished sons and of Asanteman.
The symposium ended with a resounding commitment: to build an Asanteman where culture inspires progress, where youth become job creators, and where unity ensures a vibrant legacy for future generations.
