Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is to be given a special traditional burial and funeral rites by Manhyia in line with the highest traditional title bestowed on him by the Ashanti Kingdom.
In recognition of his service to humanity, Otumfuor Osei Tutu, conferred on Mr Annan, the title “Busumuru” the highest traditional title in the Ashanti Kingdom.
Busumuru, is the name of the Golden sacred Sword, the highest Sword of office used by the Asantehene to swear allegiance to the Asante Kingdom.
The Sword can only be held by Asantehene’s custodian or by himself.
According to a historian of Manhyia Palace, Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka, the late UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan ought to be given a special burial rite typical of the ones given to Kings of Asante in view of the Busumuru title given him.
“As for that [special traditional burial & funeral], as tradition demands, all cost, it is a must; For bestowing the title Busumuru on him, it is a must. His funeral, no matter what, belongs to the Ashantehene,” Sarfo Kantanka told Onua FM.
Mr. Annan is the first and only person in the Asante Kingdom to have held that title.
“Ashanti has bestowed upon its illustrious son a precious title and the highest title in the Ashanti kingdom to his son Kofi Annan and so it can be likened to a statesman who has served the state hence mandatory that at all cost, Ashanti Kingdom would give him a state burial,” he explained.