Otumfuo Recounts Student Days of Hunger with Former National Security Minister | Discuss Ghana

In a powerful demonstration of humility and lifelong friendship, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has shared rare, personal memories of his student days, recalling times when he had to feed the former National Security Minister, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah.

The King made the remarks during the Ghana Business Leaders’ Conclave held today, Friday, May 15, 2026. The high-level event, organized as a flagship component of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Diamond Jubilee celebrations, saw the King return to his roots as one of the institution's most revered alumni.

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Walking to Madina in Search of Food

Addressing the gathering of state officials, academics, and business leaders, Otumfuo broke away from strict royal protocol to share a nostalgic window into the 1970s, when UPSA was still known as the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS).

A Friendship Built on Hardship: Pointing directly to Kan-Dapaah, who was seated in the audience, the Asantehene stated: "There were times Ken Dapaah had no food, and I had to make sure he ate."

The Madina Trek: The King vividly described how the two young students would frequently walk from the campus to the nearby Madina market suburb, navigating financial struggles together while trying to secure a meal.

The "IPS Bond": Despite one becoming a historic monarch and the other a long-serving politician and security chief, the King emphasized that their enduring bond was forged not in the halls of power, but in the shared struggles of student life.

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60 Years of Transformation

The Asantehene used his keynote address to commend the Governing Council and Management of UPSA, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, for turning a modest professional institute into a world-class public university.

The Evolution: From its origins in 1965 with just five students in a rented property, the university has expanded into a massive academic hub boasting over 20,000 students.

Traditional Leadership: The King reaffirmed his personal commitment to the Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership at UPSA, which bridges the gap between contemporary corporate governance and traditional African leadership structures.

The May Conclave: The event marks the fulfillment of a pledge the Asantehene made in January when a high-powered UPSA delegation visited the Manhyia Palace to invite him to headline the milestone 60th-anniversary celebrations.