SIKHUPHE (24 June 2025): His Majesty King Mswati III, accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMagongo, has left the country for a 4-day State Visit to the Republic of Ghana.
While in Ghana, the King will also be hosted by the head of the Asante, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
According to Ghana media statements, the welcoming program will feature colourful ceremonies including a grand durbar and a state banquet.
His Majesty’s visit reciprocates that of the Asantehene to the Kingdom in 2015, when the Ghana leader attended the Umhlanga Ceremony at Ludzidzini. The head of the of the Asante is venerated as “the Occupant of the Golden Stool”.
Last year Prime Minister Russell Dlamini attended a durbar at the Manhyia Palace to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Return of Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh I, the 13th Asantehene from exile in Seychelles. During that visit, the Prime Minister hinted at the visit, saying King Mswati III holds fond memories of the Asantehene’s own visit ten years earlier.
“During that visit, the two monarchs resolved to strengthen the relationship between their two kingdoms and countries. They then agreed to reciprocate visits; however, Ghana has up to date not received King Mswati III. It is His Majesty’s wish to reciprocate the visit in the near future.”
Highlighting the significance of the visit, he said, it was a foundation upon which Ghana and Eswatini, built upon their diplomatic relations. Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
Ghana and Eswatini hold long fraternal relations. After Ghana’s independence in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah strongly supported the independence effort of other African countries. In May i960, Nkrumah sent Aloysius K. Barden, director of Ghana’s Bureau of African Affairs to Swaziland to support the independence movement. However, his vision for independence along Ghana’s political model in which political parties side-lined traditional leaders was misaligned with that of King Sobhuza ll. One of the early political party leaders, January Nquku had warmly embraced the Nkrumah model and sent several of his cadres, including the late Arthur Khoza to horne their political skills in Ghana.
Subsequently, Ghana opened its doors for Swazi students to study in its universities. Warm relations with Ghana there is a large population of Ghanaians in Eswatini some of them very prominent civil servants, including the flamboyant former Director of Public Prosecutions, Adinkrah Donkoh.
From Ghana His Majesty will proceed toSevilla, Spain, where he will attend the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.
The King leaves shortly after he raised high anticipation that he might pardon some prominent prisoners who meet the requirements as per the country’s laws.
The statement came shortly after the Minister of Justice Prince Simelane extended an apology from former Member of Parliament, Mthandeni Simelane for his role in the 2021 political uprising that shook the country in 2021 and resulted in the death of many people and destruction of property worth billions.
The minister said he had been approached by the MP to be his emissary to His Majesty, and that he wished for the opportunity to present his apology personally before the King.
Addressing the 17th Correctional Services Day held in Matsapha over the weekend, the suggested that: “As we celebrate the transformative power of second chances, let us reaffirm our belief that redemption is not just a lofty ideal, but a tangible reality as you contribute to the safety and security of our Nation.”
Jm/today/24.06.2025
