Reuters Text from 1974:

The visit to Brazil of Nana Opoku Ware the Second, King of the Ashanti tribe of Ghana, marks the first visit of an African King in an official capacity, since the days of slavery. The visit is of special cultural interest because many Brazilians must have some Ashanti blood, inherited from their early history.

SYNOPSIS: The Ashanti tribe is one of Africa's greatest, with a population of two million in Ghana alone, or one-fifth of the population. Opoku Ware was elected King in 1970 in an independent Ghana where traditional tribal Chiefs continue to fulfil a political role. President Ignatius Acheampong always consults the "House of Traditional Chiefs" before political decisions are made.

Opoku Ware is visiting Brazil for a two-week period, in the capacity of plenipotentiary ambassador of Ghana. He will meet President Geisel and other government leaders. Brazil has a positive trade balance with Ghana and both countries want to cement existing ties.

The King was taken to the summit of Corcovado Mountain, to view Rio de Janeiro. He will later open an exhibition of Ashanti art, and visit an exhibition of modern South American art at Rio's Modern Art Museum. King Opoku Ware the Second is possibly Africa's most prestigious tribal chief, by virtue of the long history of this predecessors, his tribe's resistance to British occupation and the spread of Ashanti culture in present day Ghana.

The King is the nephew of Prempeh the Second who ruled the Ashantis for 35 years. At the time of his uncle's death in 1970, he was about to be appointed Ghana's ambassador to Rome. He controls all the gold and diamond mines in his region and supervises over 60,000 cocoa farmers.

Source: Reuters News.

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