Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, came to a standstill on Thursday, September 18, 2025, as the Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, was laid to rest in a solemn ceremony marked by deep tradition and reverence.
The hush over the city followed directives from the Funeral Committee, which instructed residents to remain indoors in keeping with Ashanti custom. The measure, rooted in cultural practice, was meant to preserve dignity and order during the Queen Mother’s final passage.
Stretches of the city that normally bustle with traffic—from the Prempeh I International Airport Roundabout through Aboabo to Anloga Junction—were unusually quiet, while the Central Business District also stood still as Kumasi paid its respects.
Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on August 7, was laid in state at the Manhyia Palace from Monday, September 15, giving mourners the opportunity to file past. Her funeral rites, which began on September 14, drew thousands, including traditional rulers, political leaders, and ordinary citizens.
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 all joined the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to mourn the late Queen Mother.
Remembered for her wisdom and devotion, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III is being celebrated as a motherly figure whose leadership greatly strengthened the cultural heritage of Asanteman.
