A Professor of Practice in Humanitarian Achitecture from the Aaltos university, Finland, Sajia Hollmen has entreated the indigens and settlers within the Kumasi and Ashanti at large to consider planting trees to honor the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as he celebrates 25 years of reign.
Prof. Hollmen emphasised on the true identity of the people of Kumasi and Ashantis with their ultimate culture being so much about a tree as history tells it.
” I hope the people of Kumasi will participate in the events that have to come, and also take the initiative to plant trees in their own houses and to care for them. They must also participate in the effort of urban planning and once the trees are planted they must participate in maintaining them. Kumasi and Ashanti culture is so much about the tree. Kumasi was born around the tree,” she stated.
she added that, following Manhyia’s wishes, 25 specific areas have been earmarked for trees to be planted in honor of the King, Otumfou Osei Tutu II. And also in March, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology( KNUST) in collaboration with Aalto University in Finland through the engagement of architectural students went to the field to map and analyse 7 out of the 25 communities to promote community champions who would create ownership and business opportunities, and also participate in stakeholder engagement.
Prof. Hollmen at the launch of the “Chancellor’s week” at the KNUST campus on Tuesday 7Th May, 2024 also launched the “Kumasi Tree Project of the Heart” to honor the 25th Anniversary of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. At the event, Prof. Hollmen and her team gave out seed bags and seedlings to the public as a “gift from the King” to be planted in honor of the King for his visionary environmental stewardship,rooted in Ashanti heritage.
“Whoever accept the gift from a king also accept the responsibility that comes with it,” she stressed.
She ended by thanking the King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Manhyia, leaders and the entire student body of KNUST, Aalto University, and her for being a part of an outstanding project which accountability lies in the future.
By: Oheneba Adusi-Poku
