Busumuru is one of the highest traditional honours of the

Asante Empire The Asante Empire (Asante Twi: ), today commonly called the Ashanti Empire, was an Akan state that lasted between 1701 to 1901, in what is now modern-day Ghana. It expanded from the Ashanti Region to include most of Ghana as well as parts of Iv ...

( Asante Twi: ''Asanteman''). In a sense, the honour can be likened to a civilian award such as the

Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merit ...

or to a title of nobility. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,

Asantehene The is the title for the monarch of the historical Ashanti Empire as well as the ceremonial ruler of the Ashanti people today. The Ashanti royal house traces its line to the Oyoko (an '' Abusua'', or "clan") Abohyen Dynasty of Nana Twum an ...

conferred the honour on

Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (; 8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the found ...

in 2002, for "his selfless contributions to humanity and promotion of peace throughout the world". Since the founding of the Asante Empire in the 17th century, Annan is the only person in its recorded history to be granted the honour.

References

Ashanti Empire {{Improve categories, date=August 2021