Kumasi falls silent as Asantehemaa is laid to rest today
Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, has come to a standstill as the Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, is being laid to rest in a ceremony steeped in tradition, reverence, and solemnity.
The hush over the city precedes the final burial rites, which are scheduled for the evening of Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Funeral Committee directed the public to remain indoors, a measure rooted in Ashanti custom to uphold dignity, order, and solemnity during the Queen Mother’s final passage.
Areas that normally experience heavy traffic—from the Prempeh I International Airport Roundabout through Aboabo to Anloga Junction—have witnessed no congestion, with the Central Business District unusually quiet as the city pays its final respects.
Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, was laid in state on Monday, September 15, allowing various groups to pay their final respects.
The funeral rites, which commenced on Sunday, September 14, have attracted thousands of mourners from across the country, including traditional leaders, political figures, and ordinary citizens.
Prominent Ghanaian leaders, including former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, have all joined the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace to mourn the late queen mother.
Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, revered for her wisdom and devotion to Asanteman, is being remembered as a mother figure whose leadership greatly strengthened the cultural heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom.
