President Kohler praises Ghanaian culture

Kumasi, Jan. 12, GNA - Visiting German President Horst Kohler has praised the Ghanaian culture and said the country was very rich in terms of its cultural heritage.

He said even though Germany had culture and tradition, it could not compete with the splendid culture of Ghana, especially that of the Asanteman.


President Kohler stated this at a colourful durbar organised in his honour by the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday.


The durbar, which was attended by chiefs of Asanteman, who were dressed in rich Kente clothes amidst traditional drumming and dancing, also attracted thousands of people both old and young to the Palace. President Kohler said since culture was the way of life of the people, there was the need to discard bad ones.


He said 93not anything that is old is better and also not anything that is new is better", adding; 93it is only things whose values are clear that can influence the future".


President Kohler said as a result of the world getting closer, cultural diversity was being lost.


However, he said cultural diversity was one of the most important riches on earth and thanked the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for offering him the opportunity to get deeper insight into the Asante's tradition and culture.

The President said the trip to Ghana had been of immense delight to him and expressed the hope that it would further deepen and strengthen the friendship between Germany and Ghana.


Otumfuo Osei Tutu whose address was read by the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, thanked President Kohler and the people of Germany for their continued assistance to the development of the country.


He said the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Germany had progressively evolved into a partnership characterised by mutual respect and shared values.


Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Ghanaians would continue to count on the support of the Government and people of Germany to nurture and maintain their young democracy by supporting them in the areas of agriculture, mining, industry, eco-tourism, technology transfer and education.


He mentioned the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Neoplan Assembly Plant in Kumasi and the support for the Manhyia Palace Archives as some of the numerous project, which the German Government had initiated in Asanteman and said the visit was going to open the floodgates for future collaboration and cooperation to help the people in deprived communities.