Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of the overlord of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has revealed how she and her husband met for the first time.
She said the Asantehene spotted her when she was tasked to do a ‘vote of thanks’ at a ceremony in Kumasi some 22 years ago.
At a birthday dinner for His Royal Majesty to celebrate his 74th birthday, Lady Julia, in a chilling narration which left the King teary, reminisced how the Asantehene refused to leave the programme despite the prompting of his courtiers, when the rains had started coming.
“When I came to Kumasi, as the Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer of Ecobank Ghana, I was tasked with giving the vote of thanks for the inauguration of the first branch of Ecobank in Kumasi. He tells me that he was mesmerized, that at the end of the ceremony, even though it had started to rain, he refused to leave, despite the prompting of his courtiers. He made sure he found out who I was and how to get in touch with me before leaving the event grounds,” Lady Julia recounted.
She continued that, “that evening, I was summoned by my Managing Director, the late John Arkah, to dinner at Otumfuo’s residence. Little did I know that I was auditioning for the role of a lifetime. And here we are, 22 years, 22 wonderful years later, and many beautiful children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and an amazing extended family, including Nananom and Nanahemaanom.”
Lady Julia expressed gratitude to the mother of Otumfuo, the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, and the current Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, for their advice and guidance throughout their marriage.
“Special mention must be made of my late mother-in-law, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, Asantehemaa, who blessed me with this wonderful husband and many, many conversations filled with advice and love, a tradition that has been continued by the current Asantehemaa, my sister-in-law, Nana Konadu Yiadom III,” she expressed.
She also expressed gratitude to her husband for the good years and fulfilling a wonderful life he promised her. According to her, her expectations have been exceeded.
“Sweets, these years, together, have been truly exceptional, and I continue to pinch myself daily to remind myself that this is not a dream, but indeed the wonderful life you promised me when we first met.
“You have exceeded my expectations, and I pray that the good Lord blesses you with many more years to continue your reign and to be the amazing father, husband, grandfather, and patriarch that you are to us all,” the King’s wife prayed.
