The 16th King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has warned that power without responsibility is a recipe for disaster.

He said, “Power separated from responsibility becomes dangerous, and authority separated from accountability eventually loses legitimacy.”

Otumfuo made the statement when he delivered a Royal Guest Lecture at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

He addressed an impressive gathering of university leadership, faculty, students, diplomats, and members of the African diaspora at the prestigious Cramton Auditorium.

The lecture formed part of Millennium Excellence Week America 2026, organized by the Millennium Excellence Foundation, which aims to strengthen economic cooperation, leadership development, and cultural exchange between Africa and North America.

Asantehene said traditional leadership must not be seen as an old custom inherited from the past.

He stressed that for traditional leadership to remain relevant, it must be anchored in ethical stewardship, accountability, and respect for constitutional structures.

Otumfuo noted that traditional authority should not work against democratic governance but rather complement it to promote peace, development, and education.

He also emphasized the need for traditional leaders to prioritize tangible outcomes for their people, including expanding access to education, resolving community disputes, and serving as a bridge to reconnect Africa with its descendants abroad

The Asantehene was received by Howard University’s Interim President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, Provost Dr. Anthony Wutoh, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Smith.

BY Thomas Awuah Asem