A rare show of unity among Ghana’s top political figures unfolded Thursday in the Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi, as President John Dramani Mahama and former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo convened to pay final respects to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III.

The funeral, steeped in centuries-old royal tradition, drew a broad cross-section of Ghanaian leadership and civil society—underscoring the Asantehemaa’s national stature and the cultural gravity of the occasion.

President Mahama, accompanied by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, joined scores of mourners at Manhyia Palace, the ceremonial seat of the Asante Kingdom. Also present were Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, high-ranking chiefs, cabinet ministers, lawmakers past and present, business executives, and citizens from across the socio-economic spectrum.

The funeral rites mark the end of an era for the Ashanti royal family. Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away earlier this month, was widely revered as a pillar of unity and a custodian of the Asante cultural heritage.

Commercial activity in Kumasi came to a halt as shops and markets shuttered their doors in observance of a regional directive mandating a temporary suspension of business during the mourning period. The measures were designed to preserve the solemnity of the ceremony and allow the city to honor the Queen Mother’s legacy in full.

Security across the city has been tightened as thousands continue to converge on Manhyia, the spiritual and administrative heart of the Ashanti Kingdom. Authorities report an orderly atmosphere, reflecting the gravity with which the rites are being observed.

The funeral rites are expected to continue over the coming days, culminating in burial ceremonies steeped in the elaborate customs of Asanteman—traditions that have shaped Ghana’s cultural identity for centuries.