Ghana's king struts around Toronto while being mobbed by FIFA World Cup fans

Toronto has already welcomed its fair share of celebrities during this FIFA World Cup, but on Tuesday night, the city caught a glimpse of African royalty.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the King of Ghana's Ashanti Kingdom, was mobbed by Ghanaian supporters after stepping out of a Cadillac Escalade outside the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Front Street West.

Dressed in traditional toga-style Kente regalia and accompanied by a sizeable security team, King Osei Tutu II was hard to miss amid the business casual foot traffic outside of Union Station.

 

 

 

 

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It's no secret that the king is in the city for Ghana's opening match of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday against Panama, but it apparently isn't the only reason his majesty made the trip to Toronto.

Osei Tutu II is also in town for the launch of the "Beyond the World Cup" program, a new initiative aimed at fostering long-term economic and diplomatic ties between Canada and Ghana.

On Wednesday morning, the king also attended the official opening of the Ghana Sports Village at Sankofa Square, the recently renamed public square with Ghanaian roots (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square).

Sankofa is a Ghanaian term that means reflecting on and reclaiming teachings from the past.

Ghana takes over Sankofa Square to welcome its King to the city.

Ghana faces Panama 7pm tonight at Toronto Stadium pic.twitter.com/D9TGnwa3nv

— Gilbert Ngabo (@dugilbo) June 17, 2026

Many Ghanaian-Canadians who attended the Sankofa Square event described the king's visit as a historic moment and something they never imagined seeing in Toronto.

And if Ghana can pull off a win over Panama on Wednesday night, there will likely be even more celebrations on the way.