The final funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, are underway at Manhyia Palace, bringing Kumasi to a standstill in a display of deep respect and tradition.
The 14th Queen Mother of the Ashanti Kingdom, who died on August 7, 2025, at age 98, is being laid to rest in a ceremony that concludes a week of mourning.
The rites, known as “Dote Yie,” span September 14 to 18, with today’s events including a burial service at 1:00 PM followed by interment. A filing past for mourners runs from 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM, after which all shops and businesses must close to honor the solemn occasion.
The Funeral Committee has urged residents to stay indoors during the evening burial, ensuring order and dignity in line with Ashanti customs.
Kumasi’s usually bustling streets, from Prempeh I International Airport Roundabout through Aboabo to Anloga Junction and the Central Business District, are eerily quiet as the city pauses to pay tribute. Thousands have gathered over the past days, including traditional leaders, political dignitaries, and citizens from across Ghana.
Prominent figures such as former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia joined Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II—Nana Konadu’s younger brother—at the palace. The Asantehemaa was revered for her wisdom, humility, and role in preserving Ashanti heritage during her eight-year reign.
The one-week observance was held on August 21, with the late queen mother laid in state on September 15 for public viewing. Today’s proceedings mark the end of a ban on other funerals since September 1, allowing Asanteman to focus on this historic farewell.
