Historic Royal Visit: Eswatini’s King Mswati III Meets Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Ghana

His Majesty King Mswati III, the King of the Kingdom of Eswatini, has made a historic state visit to Ghana. This visit includes a historic meeting with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene and keeper of the Asante Kingdom. The visit, which will last from June 24 to 28, 2025, is part of a larger effort to improve cultural diplomacy, economic cooperation, and friendship between African countries.

President John Dramani Mahama formally received King Mswati III in Accra on June 24, initiating a series of high-level engagements. The delegation enjoyed a bilateral meeting at the Jubilee House, whereby it was expected that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade, education, and cultural cooperation would be signed.

 Later, the King also visited the AfCFTA Secretariat, signifying Ghana's shared interest in accelerating intra-African trade under the continental agreement.

In the afternoon, the king of Eswatini also went to Kumasi, where he was greeted at the historic Manhyia Palace by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Rehearsal activities included a city-wide clean-up of the community on June 21 by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to beautify the city and receive the royal guest in a festive mood.

While in Kumasi, King Mswati and Otumfuo engaged in symbolic activities like a grand chiefs' durbar, palace museum meetings, and a royal banquet. The Asantehene gave his traditional hospitality in the form of traditional greetings, ceremonial gift exchange, and talks on how the two kingdoms could collaborate in tourism, education, and cultural preservation.

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At the heart of the tour is an emphasis on shared cultural heritage and diplomatic camaraderie. King Mswati, one of Africa's few remaining absolute monarchs, declared he was impressed by Ghanaian culture and spoke bluntly in support of Pan-African consolidation and commerce.

 He emphasized that nations like Ghana and Eswatini must utilize the AfCFTA in forging intercontinental blocs towards mutual growth.

Apart from the ceremonial show, the visit is a sign of concrete aspiration. Discussions have opened doors to collaborations in education, tourism, and cultural exchange, with the MoU setting the stage for long-term collaboration. The interaction provides momentum for future exchanges, cultural festivals, educational collaborations, and even youth programs between the two nations.

This rare meeting between two revered African traditional leaders serves to reinforce the ongoing relevance of monarchies in continental politics and culture. It also promises to further concrete development—sealing Ghana–Eswatini cooperation and proving the potential for traditional institutions to help facilitate modern statecraft.