The Ashanti Kingdom was shrouded in grief yesterday as thousands converged at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to bid a solemn farewell to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III.
The burial ceremony, held at the Dwabirem, drew together government officials, former presidents, diplomats, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens, all united in mourning the revered queen, who was expected to be laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum in Breman later that night.
President John Mahama led the national delegation, accompanied by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Ministers of State, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and other high-ranking officials. Seated in state as the chief mourner was the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, grieving the loss of his elder sister, who for nearly a decade personified wisdom and maternal guidance for Asanteman.
The dignitaries present reflected the weight of the occasion. Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo were both in attendance, alongside former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira.
Also present were former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, her children, senior clergymen, prominent business figures, and representatives from political parties, including the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The international community also stood in solidarity with the Asante Kingdom. Representatives of diplomatic missions from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Eswatini, Togo, and many other countries attended the ceremony to pay their respects.
Almost every sector of the country’s leadership was represented. The Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, led the security services, supported by officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, and other agencies.
The seven-hour ceremony began at midday with the dramatic arrival of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, carried in a palanquin into the funeral grounds.
Clad in black, thousands of mourners had already filled the palace square, waiting to express their sympathies to the Asantehene.
From there, Otumfuo, surrounded by elders and retainers, moved solemnly to the Asantehemaa’s palace, where Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III had been laid in state.
The queen’s body was placed in an elegant casket, which was carried to the funeral grounds in a traditional procession.
Otumfuo, again in a palanquin and wielding a traditional gun, led the cortege, accompanied by the firing of muskets, war songs, and unrestrained wailing from mourners.
The atmosphere was heavy with grief as the casket was finally positioned at the centre of the palace square for the burial service.
The sermon was delivered by Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante of the Methodist Church of Ghana.
He reminded the gathering of the fleeting nature of life, urging mourners to dedicate themselves to love, service, and unity.
He described the convergence of mourners from diverse tribes and nations as a testament to the enduring relevance of chieftaincy and its role in fostering national peace and cohesion.
“Let the Asantehemaa’s death serve as a call to unity, to build our country together,” he declared, offering prayers for the strength of Otumfuo and the royal family.
Presidential Tribute
President Mahama, in a tribute read on his behalf by Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, described the late Asantehemaa as a “mother for all” whose reign embodied peace, unity, and Asante values.
He recalled benefiting personally from her wise counsel and highlighted how warmly she embraced his wife and family.
“Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III was a role model and a counselor, loved and revered by many. Her passing is a great loss not only to Asanteman but to the entire nation,” he stated.
I’ve Lost One Of My Pillars Of Strength – Otumfuo
In Otumfuo’s tribute, which was read by business magnate, Sam Jonah, he said, “I have lost one of my most cherished pillars of strength,” adding that he remembers how his late sister supported in his upbringing when they were young.
He also recounted how Nana Konadu Yiadom III reigned in dignity, humility and respect, adding that her departed sister was a constant comfort and support for widows, orphans and all those who are marginalised or oppressed in society.
“For her, leadership was not to command but to lead in humility and care,” Otumfuo said and added, “Together, we carried the weight of Asanteman. She was a blessing to me and I feel lonely, but I know she has moved to the company of our mother and all other past queens.”
According to Otumfuo, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III’s name has been “etched in the history of Asanteman as a peaceful queen and I will never forget her. May her example teach us that true leadership is service with respect and integrity.”
Born in 1927 as the first child of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III was affectionately called “Nana Panin” in her youth.
Her destiny as queen was foretold in the early 1990s by the chief priest of the Kwaku Firi Shrine, who prophesied her future role.
That prophecy came to pass on February 6, 2017, when she ascended as the 14th Asantehemaa, succeeding her mother.
Her reign was marked by devotion to Asante traditions, wise counsel to chiefs and citizens alike, and an unwavering commitment to unity and peace.
She passed away on August 7, 2025, aged 98, at the Manhyia Palace after a short illness, closing a chapter in the history of Asanteman but leaving behind a legacy of dignity, fortitude, and maternal care.
As preparations were being finalised for her burial at the Royal Mausoleum in Breman, the mood in Kumasi was one of profound sorrow, but also pride in the legacy of a queen whose influence transcended boundaries.
For the thousands who clad themselves in black to honour her memory, the day was not only a farewell but also a reminder of the enduring strength of the Ashanti Kingdom and its traditions.
By I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi