Former Asante Kotoko chairman, Herbert Mensah, has firmly stated that it is not the responsibility of the club’s life patron, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to fund the team, emphasizing that the duty to invest lies with those entrusted to lead the club.
His comments follow the club’s official visit to Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to present the 2024/25 FA Cup trophy to Otumfuo after their 2-1 triumph over Golden Kick FC. Mensah, a respected sports administrator and current president of the Ghana Rugby Association, was part of the Kotoko delegation during the presentation.
Reflecting on the visit and Kotoko’s heritage, Herbert Mensah — who chaired the club from 1999 to 2002 — urged current leaders to understand the deeper identity of the club and take greater responsibility for its growth.
“Everywhere you go, there is greatness in Kotoko because of Otumfuo. Too many people forget that it’s more than just football. You represent the spirit of Asanteman. If you're only playing football, you're playing for the wrong team,” he said.
He further added that Otumfuo has already contributed significantly to the club, but expecting him to single-handedly finance Kotoko is misplaced.
“Otumfuo has dreams bigger than you can imagine. When I travel the world, people talk about Asante Kotoko, and at the same time, they talk about Otumfuo.”
“Yes, Otumfuo has invested. But it’s not Otumfuo’s job to invest in Kotoko. Rather, it’s about what Kotoko achieves and the commitment of those entrusted to run the club. Holding Kotoko is a privilege and an honour — and those in charge must invest in its future,” he stressed.
Herbert Mensah’s remarks come at a time when Kotoko are preparing to represent Ghana in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, following their FA Cup success.
