Mourners flood one-week observance of Nana Konadu Yiadom - 5-Day funeral rites slated for Sept. 14-18
The final funeral rites of Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the 14th Asantehemaa, will be held between September 14 and 18 this year.
Announcing the date for the five-day funeral to climax the one-week observance held at Bogyawe at Manhyia Palace yesterday, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said from September 1, 2025, there would be a ban on all funerals until the Asantehemaa’s funeral was over.
He said on Sunday, September 14, the Asantehemaa would lie in state.
The following day, Asanteman would be given the opportunity to file past Nana Yiadom III.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Otumfuo will sit in state to receive dignitaries and delegations.
At exactly 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, there would be a burial service for the Asantehemaa at Manhyia Palace, following which the Asantehemaa would be laid to rest.
On the burial day, all shops will be closed.
Mourners
A sea of mourners thronged the Bogyawe at the Manhyia Palace yesterday for the one-week funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa.
In attendance were the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketsia; Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei; Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim; Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, among others.
Other dignitaries included former Presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; and his wife, Samira Bawumia; the New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) 2024 Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, and some Members of Parliament.
Also at the palace were Justice Sir Dennis Adjei, a Justice of the Supreme Court, who represented the acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
The diplomatic corps was also represented by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Christian Rogg, and the Italian Vice Honorary Consul in Kumasi, Stefano Ramella Pezza.
Otumfuo’s entry
Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s entry to the venue around 1:30 p.m. was preceded by the firing of muskets and the burning of palm fronds, while his executioners, smeared with red clay, carried the trunk of a tree draped in pieces of cloth.
For each round of musketry, the packed grounds shook with the power of an earth tremor.
An all-female musketeer group dressed in black smocks with black shorts joined their male counterparts, firing muskets in unison to the admiration of the crowd.
In accordance with Asante custom, Otumfuo sat in state and received delegations, shaking hands with hundreds of people ranging from political party leaders to captains of business, religious leaders and traditional leaders from across the length and breadth of the country.
The event was yet another grand moment where Asanteman showcased its rich culture to indigenes and the many visitors who graced the occasion.
Specifically, the various cultural dances and different sounds of the fontomfrom were on display.
The chiefs and queenmothers within Asanteman were all in black cloth and sat as they witnessed the colourful event.
Human traffic
The entire ground was flooded with thousands of mourners, causing heavy human traffic.
Some of the mourners had a hectic time going through the thick crowd to find places to sit at the event.
Security personnel, made up of officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ghana Police Service, national security and other private security guards at the event, had a tough time controlling the crowd.
Slow business
Most business owners voluntarily shut their shops in honour of Nana Yiadom III.
The few that were open sat idle for most of the day.
The usual heavy traffic experienced around the Alabar, Ash Town, and other areas close to the Manhyia Palace was missing.
Media organisations mounted their stands at the venue to provide extensive coverage of the ceremony.
Donations
Individuals, institutions and organisations made various donations in cash and kind to Otumfuo in support of the one-week rites.
The donations were received by the Standard Chartered Bank.
Brief profile
The 98-year-old Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who reigned for eight years, died on Thursday, August 7, 2025. She was born in 1927.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III succeeded Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II in 2017.
She was the elder sister of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the daughter of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who passed on at age 109 on November 15, 2016, after reigning for 39 years as Asantehemaa.
Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.
