The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye and some of the MPs at Manhyia in Kumasi
Ghana’s Parliament was temporarily moved to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, as virtually all members of the august House stormed the city to take part in the funeral of the late Asantehemaa.
Members of the House from both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were in Kumasi to mourn the death of the Asantehemaa.
The legislators were led by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
They travelled to Kumasi to join Asanteman to give a befitting burial to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who died at an advanced age of 111.
Former President John Dramani Mahama also paid his last respects to the late Asantehemaa, whose body has been lying in state over the last three days.
He was accompanied by former ministers and appointees, who served in his government and the leadership of the NDC.
In accordance with Asante tradition, the lawmakers, who converged on the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace, were dressed in black cloth.
Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka ‘Napo,’ MP for Manhyia South in Kumasi, led his colleagues to the venue, where hundreds of people were mourning the death of the queenmother.
The parliamentarians were first ushered to the dais and immediately welcomed by some elders at the Manhyia Palace.
The lawmakers were then called to pay homage to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was sitting in state and flanked by elders at the palace and well-wishers.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, was the first to pay homage to the Asantehene and also console him.
The rest of the lawmakers also followed suit to console Otumfuo.
The deceased, the 13th Asantehemaa, was installed in 1977 and died at an advanced age of 111.
The mortal remains of the Asantehemaa would be buried today at the Royal Mausoleum at Bremang.
Thousands of people from all walks of life have been visiting the Manhyia Palace since Monday to pay their last respects to her.
Notable among them are President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, celebrated Ghanaian diplomat, Kofi Annan, Chief Justice Theodora Wood and Togbe Afede XIV, President of the National House of Chiefs.
Other high-profile mourners included the British High Commissioner, Jon Benjamin, South Korean Ambassador Wen Ki Lio, the Esama of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion and delegations from South Africa and Cote d’ Ivoire.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr & Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi