Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, has taken on an unusual calm as the city prepares for the final burial rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III.
Roads that are usually crowded, from the Prempeh II International Airport Roundabout through Aboabo to Anloga Junction, have been free of traffic. Even the Central Business District, which is often filled with noise and activity, has fallen quiet.
The silence comes ahead of the final burial ceremony set for the evening of Thursday, September 18, 2025. The Funeral Committee has instructed the public to remain indoors during the ceremony. The directive follows Ashanti tradition, ensuring dignity, order, and solemnity as the Queen Mother makes her final passage.
Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Since Monday, September 15, she has been laid in state, allowing different groups to pay their respects.
Religious organizations, political parties, schools, and corporate bodies visited on Monday. On Tuesday, the Judiciary, security agencies, and financial institutions took their turn. Traditional leaders, ministers, diplomats, parliamentarians, and MMDCEs followed on Wednesday.
Thursday’s final rites will draw President John Dramani Mahama, along with former Presidents and former Vice Presidents. While the public is asked to stay indoors during the private evening ceremony, they were welcomed on the previous days to participate in paying tribute.
The quiet streets of Kumasi reflect a collective moment of respect for the late Asantehemaa, whose leadership and legacy remain deeply woven into the heart of Asanteman.
