The late Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III
The Asante Kingdom will lay to rest its cherished queen, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, with a four-day state funeral from September 15 to 18, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
A detailed programme released by the Palace indicates that filing past will run from Monday to Wednesday, 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II receiving mourners in state from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. daily. On the final day, Thursday, September 18, filing past will be from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by the burial service at 3:00 p.m.
Schedule of Attendance
To manage the huge turnout anticipated, attendance has been segmented across the four days:
Monday, September 15 – Churches and clergy, political parties, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), telecommunications and corporate bodies, recognised associations, and the general public.
Tuesday, September 16 – Judiciary, Ghana Bar Association, security services including the Armed Forces, Police, Fire Service, Prisons, Immigration, and Customs, along with state-owned enterprises (SOEs), financial institutions, public officers, and the general public.
Wednesday, September 17 – Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) and District Chief Executives (DCEs), non-Asante chiefs, mining companies, and the general public.
Thursday, September 18 – The Presidency, former Presidents and Vice Presidents, the Diplomatic Corps, and the general public.
A Life of Service and Tradition
Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, born in 1927, was the eldest sister of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. She ascended the stool as 17th Asantehemaa in 2017, becoming the highest female traditional authority in Asanteman. Throughout her reign, she was widely celebrated for her advocacy in education, women’s empowerment, and the preservation of Asante culture and customs.
The revered queen passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the age of 98, after nearly eight years of dedicated service to the kingdom. Her death plunged Asanteman and the nation into mourning, with tributes describing her as a symbol of maternal strength, cultural pride, and unity.
As Kumasi prepares to welcome dignitaries from across Ghana and abroad, the final funeral rites of Nana Konadu Yiadom III are expected to be a defining cultural and historical moment for the Asante Kingdom.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi