Manhyia honours Graphic, others

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has honoured the Daily Graphic for its extensive and educative coverage of the burial and final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, last December and early this year.

At an appreciation service organised in Kumasi, the Manhyia Palace commended the Daily Graphic and the media in general for their respective roles in the burial of the late queenmother. Four other media houses were also honoured.

The Daily Graphic extensively covered the burial and the final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa and also published several special pull-outs on the queenmother, who died at the age of 111 after ruling for 39 years.

Role

In a speech read on his behalf by the Bompatamanhene, Nana Effah Apenteng, the Asantehene said though the burial and final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa was an Ashanti event, the media did not only make it a national programme, but also publicised it to international audiences.

According to the Asantehene, the media has set a new yardstick that would be used to measure similar events in future.

He said through the various media reports, the public saw all the activities that marked the funeral rites of the late queen mother, especially the rich Ashanti culture, traditions and rites.

Cadet corps

The occasion was also used to reward members of cadet corps from various senior high schools (SHSs) in the metropolis who assisted the security agencies to maintain law and order during the two-week long ceremony.

He commended the cadets for their dedication and commitment to duty, which ensured that the funeral was without any incidence.

All the SHSs that took part in the funeral activities were given citations and certificates of participation.

Security agencies and some financial institutions were also acknowledged for their respective roles.