Kumasi’s mayor has called on residents and traders across the Ashanti Region to adhere strictly to directives issued by the Manhyia Palace during Thursday’s final funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
In a statement made during an interview on Eyewitness News Wednesday evening, Mayor Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi said that while the public will be allowed to pay their respects during the day, movement will be heavily restricted from 5 p.m. onward, marking the commencement of spiritual rituals associated with the burial.
“In the day, it’s a partial lockdown, as you’ve perfectly described,” Mr. Boadi said. “You can come to Manhyia Palace to bid your final farewell to Nanahemaa. But immediately after the funeral service ends, everyone is expected to return home.”
The funeral proceedings for the late queen mother, which began on Sunday, September 14, will culminate Thursday at the Manhyia Palace, the traditional seat of the Ashanti Kingdom. Palace officials have imposed strict regulations for the final day, citing the cultural and spiritual significance of the rites.
As part of the measures, all shops and markets in Kumasi and surrounding areas will remain closed throughout the day. A total curfew will take effect in the evening, with residents expected to remain indoors until the conclusion of the burial.
The restrictions underscore the solemnity of the occasion and reflect the deep cultural traditions of the Ashanti people, for whom the passing of a queen mother marks the end of an era.
