The funeral committee of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, has clarified that essential service providers in Kumasi, including banks, pharmaceutical shops, restaurants, and transport operators, are exempted from the directive suspending business activities on Thursday, September 19, 2025.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the 14th Queen of Asanteman, passed away on August 7, 2025, aged 98. Born in 1927 to Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem III and Opanin Kofi Foffie, she was the eldest of five siblings, including Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Since her passing, Manhyia Palace has been the centre of weeks of mourning rituals, attracting dignitaries, chiefs, and thousands of mourners from across Ghana and beyond.
As the burial date draws near, the funeral committee has instructed that by 8 p.m. on Thursday, all businesses—except those exempted—must close their doors to create a solemn atmosphere for the final procession.
The royal cortege will move from the Manhyia Palace through Breman to Bantama Baamu, where the revered queen mother will be laid to rest alongside her ancestors.
Her funeral rites, which began on Monday, September 15, have already brought the Ashanti capital to a near standstill, with cultural displays, traditional drumming, and homage-paying by chiefs and citizens.
Thursday’s procession is expected to climax the ceremonies, with thousands of mourners expected to line the streets in respect of the woman who guided the Ashanti Kingdom with wisdom and maternal strength.
The committee has stressed that the closure of businesses is not merely an instruction but a cultural obligation to honor the legacy of the longest-serving Asantehemaa in recent history.
