Thai Princess visits Manhyia Palace

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, on Monday organised a durbar at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi in honour of the the Crown Princess of Thailand, Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Princess Sirindhorn, who is in Ghana to participate in the 12th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), went to Kumasi on Monday to pay homage to the Asantehene.
She was greeted with churns of tunes from the fontomfrom drum at the palace where the Asantehene sat in state and received homage.
Speaking on behalf of the Princess, the Thailand Ambassador to Ghana Mr Witthaya Bhoosuwan noted that the Princess was in country to share with UNCTAD participants the experiences of Thailand in using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a tool in enhancing education.
Thailand is noted for excelling in the usage of ICTs as a tool in enhancing education.
The Princess said it was the hope of Thailand that its experiences in ICTs could be adopted and used in Africa to enhance education adding that there was the need for countries to meet and discuss how development could be extended to other countries.
She said it was her first time of visiting Ghana and was appreciative of the warm welcome and hospitality extended to her and her entourage and prayed for an improved relation between Ghana and Thailand.
Princess Sirindhorn said she decided to visit the Asantehene upon her arrival in Ghana since she had heard about the King.
The Princess said she was happy to learn about the efforts the Asantehene was making towards education with the setting up of the Otumfuo Education Fund and presented an envelope, containing an undisclosed amount in support of the education fund.
She also said she was happy to learn that Asante’s were very proud of their culture.
Speaking on behalf of the Asantehene, Nana Gyamfi Ababio, Asanteman Adontehene said the reputation of the Crown Princess had reached very far areas and that the Asantehene was aware of the efforts of the Princess in promoting education in Thailand.
He said Asanteman constituted a cradle of culture in Ghana and that there was the need to reckon that culture was an indispensible part of development.
The Asantehene said it was his wish that culture would be brought into meaning with modernity and called for the need for the relationship between Thailand and Ghana to be strengthened to bring about economic and cultural development.
Otumfuo presented the visiting President with an expensive non-washable kente cloth (Akyempim Sika Foturo), whereas the Crown Princess also presented a gift to the Asantehene.