By Thomas Nsowah Adjei
The Manhyia Palace will hold a grand durbar in Kumasi to commemorate the hundred-year anniversary of the return of the Asantehene Otumfuo Sir Agyemang Prempeh from Seychelles Island.
The Asantehene surrendered to the then British soldiers who marched to Kumasi with the objective of burning the city into ashes and subsequently destroying the Asante Kingdom if the king had refused arrest in 1924.
The King was subsequently arrested and taken to the Elmina Castle for one year and later to Freetown where he spent another two years before being sent to the Seychelles Island.
Addressing a news conference in Kumasi to outline the programme of activities, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace, Lawrence Prempeh said the President of the Seychelles Wavel Ramkadawan and Prime of Eswatili, Cleopas Delamini are expected to be guests of honour.
Also, to be present would be a 24-member delegation the families of the late King Prempeh.
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to be at the durbar as well as many dignitaries. Mr Prempeh said the durbar will be preceded with a symposium at the Manhyia Conference Hall.
The anniversary will be climaxed with a Thanksgiving Service at the Anglican Cathedral.
The sermon will be delivered by the visiting Seychelles Prime Minister, who is an Anglican Church Pastor.
Mr Prempeh appealed to the public especially political party representatives to refrain from turning the durbar grounds into a political rally as the Palace is neutral to partisan politics.