Kumasi, Ghana – Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has met the Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, and his wife, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi during an official visit to Ghana focused on improving financial inclusion and strengthening financial security among communities.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as part of her engagement as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health. Her visit, which began on Tuesday and concluded on Thursday, was conducted in her capacity as a UN representative rather than as part of a royal tour.
During the discussions at the palace, Queen Máxima, the Ashanti monarch and traditional leaders examined how financial institutions could better serve local communities and help people manage their finances.
The United Nations recognised the influence of traditional authorities in advancing financial security, particularly because of their close relationships with the communities they lead.
“With deep connections to the communities they serve, traditional leaders can play an important role in helping more Ghanaians manage their finances, prepare for unexpected setbacks and build greater financial security,” the agency said in a statement on social media.
Queen Máxima assumed her current UN position in 2024 after serving for 15 years as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
The UN defines financial health as “the ability to manage day-to-day finances, withstand unexpected financial shocks, invest in future goals, and build financial confidence.”
Her engagement with the Ashanti traditional leadership formed part of broader discussions on how access to financial services can improve household resilience, support businesses and create opportunities for economic participation.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, is the 16th king of the Asante Kingdom, having ascended the throne in 1999. Although Ghana operates as a republic and the monarch is not the country’s head of state, he holds considerable traditional and cultural authority among the Ashanti, one of Ghana’s major ethnic groups.
Financial health engagements across Ghana
Queen Máxima’s programme began on Tuesday with visits to local farmers and a fruit-processing factory, where she examined activities within Ghana’s agricultural and processing sectors.
In Accra, she observed a demonstration of a hospital application designed to help doctors monitor patients remotely, showcasing how digital technology can improve healthcare delivery.
She also visited Makola Market, where she met traders using a mobile phone application to apply for business loans. The initiative demonstrated how digital financial services can help small-scale entrepreneurs access funding and participate in the formal financial system.
On Wednesday morning, the Queen met investors and participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Bank of Ghana, focusing on financial health and the role of investment and financial institutions in supporting economic development.
Before leaving Ghana on Thursday, she held discussions with President John Dramani Mahama and senior government ministers in Accra.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the meeting focused on Ghana’s progress in expanding access to financial services and how these efforts could help households manage daily expenses, withstand financial difficulties and invest in their future.
The Queen’s visit also followed her participation in the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, where global development and financial inclusion remained among the issues engaging international leaders.
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