BY Daniel Bampoe
The Ashanti Kingdom has begun four days of elaborate funeral rites in honour of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away two months ago.
The solemn observance, which commenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, are being held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing thousands of mourners and dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
The late Asantehemaa, sister of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was a towering figure in the traditional leadership of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Installed in 2017, she played a pivotal role in preserving the customs and lineage of the royal household, and her passing marks the end of a significant era in Asanteman’s history.
At the palace grounds on the opening day, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, surrounded by the Kumasi Traditional Council (Nananom), received delegations who had come to pay their last respects.
The occasion blended the grandeur of Ashanti tradition with the solemnity of mourning, underscoring the cultural weight of the event.
Among the prominent personalities who called on the Asantehene were former President John Agyekum Kufuor, businessman and philanthropist Dr. Kwaku Oteng, Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe, and the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori Agyeman.
Their presence reflected the national importance attached to the passing of the Queenmother.
Institutions and organizations also paid homage, underscoring the breadth of the late Queen’s influence and the respect she commanded.
Delegations came from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where Otumfuo is the Chancellor, Freemasonry, SIC Insurance Plc, the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Total Energies, the Volta River Authority, and the Ghana Education Service (GES), among several others.
The Manhyia Palace, the spiritual and cultural seat of the Ashanti Kingdom, has been transformed into a centre of mourning, with traditional drumming, dirges, and rituals accompanying the reception of sympathizers.
Security has also been tightened around Kumasi as crowds pour in to witness the historic rites.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s funeral rites are expected to continue until Thursday, September 18, culminating in final traditional performances and a state farewell befitting her status.
The ceremonies reaffirm the central role of the Asantehemaa in the Ashanti Kingdom—one that extends beyond the palace into the heart of Ghanaian tradition and identity.
