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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Il, Friday, paid a historic visit to the birthplace of Okomfo Anokye at Awukugua in the Akuapem North municipality in the Eastern Region. Okomfo Anokye was a renowned traditional priest who played a major role in the establishment of the Ashanti Empire in 1700. The visit was in recognition of the enormous contributions the late priest, whom the Asantehene described as being �what has made Asanteman what it is today after 400 years of its existence�. With the visit, the Asantehene becomes the first King of Asante to pay homage to the birthplace of Okomfo Anokye. The visit, which lasted a little over an hour, attracted a large crowd of residents of the area who thronged the streets to acknowledge the presence of the Asantehene. The Asantehene, accompanied by some sub-chiefs of Asante and chiefs of Okuapeman, visited Okomfo Anokye�s family house to see the relics of the priest, including a security stone, the room where the legendary oware board was kept, the Anokye Stool, the place where a palm tree was created and fell, and the place where a drum was suspended in the air. Anniversary Otumfuo Osei Tutu had earlier joined the chiefs and people of Okuapeman to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ascension of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa lll as the Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area at the forecourt of the Omanhene�s palace at Akropong Akuapem. The anniversary attracted people from all walks of life, such as the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi Bosiako-Sekyere; his deputy, Ms Mavis Frempong; the Members of Parliament for Okere and Akropong, Mr Dan Botwe and Mr William Boafo, respectively; the chiefs of Okuapeman, the Clergy and municipal chief executives of the area. The Asantehene presented gifts, including a ram, to Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa. Addressing the gathering at Awukugua, Otumfuo Osei Tutu was full of praise for Okomfo Anokye, whose migration from Awukugua to Kumasi 400 years ago helped to build the Asante Kingdom. He stated that it was, therefore, worthy to return to the roots where his late uncle and the first King of Asanteman, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I, met Okomfo Anokye to establish a long-lasting friendship. �The meeting was one of love and unity,� he stated. According to him, his uncle returned to Kumasi but later sent emissaries to bring Okomfo Anokye to Kumasi, where Okomfo Anokye helped Otumfuo Osei Tutu to bring together various states around Kumasi to establish the Asante Empire. �This indicates that the relationship between Okuapeman and Asanteman has been existing for centuries and we share many things in common,� he stated. Okuapehene praised The Asantehene was full of praise for Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa for using his 40-year reign as Okuapehene to bring unity and peace on the Akuapem Ridge. He also commended the chiefs and people of the area for showing a commitment to unity and co-existing peacefully, saying, �I am happy you understand the need to unite.� �It is only through peace and unity that you can ensure peace and development in your area,� he said, adding that Okuapeman had, for many years, been noted as the birthplace of education and Christianity. Cocoa was brought into the country by the late Tetteh Quarshie. �Ghanaians have a lot to be thankful to Akuapem,� he stated, and called on the chiefs and people of the area to pray for and support the paramount chief to sustain the prevailing peace and unity in the area. Otumfuo Osei Tutu also asked them to bring back the �past and renowned Akuapem respect� and urged the chiefs to let the chieftaincy institute reflect positively in the minds of the youth to accept the institution. �As chiefs, you must make the chieftaincy institution useful to society and encourage the youth to embrace every good development project you initiate,� he added. Sanitation He said he was worried over the poor sanitation situation in the country which had largely been responsible for the outbreak of cholera, which has claimed more than 100 lives. He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to keep their surroundings clean, saying: �Nobody needs to tell us how to keep our environment clean and tidy�. Earlier, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa had said he was happy that the chiefs and people of the area had been able to come together as one people after a 20-year dispute that put them apart. He expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for honouring the invitation to be part of his 40th anniversary on the Ofori Kuma Stool and acknowledged the fact that the visit �is monumental for posterity�. For his part, Mr Bosiako-Sekyere said he was happy that the chiefs and people of Okuapeman had allowed their culture and traditions to serve as a bond of unity among them and asked them to sustain those values. The anniversary was used to honour some individuals for their distinct achievements and contributions to the traditional area.