The Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the esteemed Queen Mother of the Ashanti Kingdom, has peacefully passed away at the age of 98 on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Her death was officially announced on Monday, August 11, 2025, during a meeting of the Asanteman Council held at the Manhyia Palace and chaired by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The Asantehene confirmed that the Queen Mother passed away peacefully in the palace on August 6, 2025.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s passing marks the end of nearly a decade of devoted leadership as the 14th Asantehemaa. Born in 1927 at the Benyaade Shrine in Merdan, Kwadaso, Kumasi, she was the daughter of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II—who served as Asantehemaa from 1977 to 2016—and Opanin Kofi Fofie, a carpenter from Besease near Atimatim.
Known affectionately as Nana Panin, she was raised in Ashanti New Town by her maternal aunt, Nana Afia Konadu, after being separated from her mother during infancy.
Though she did not receive formal schooling, Nana Konadu Yiadom III was thoroughly trained in traditional leadership, womanhood, and cultural preservation. In her teenage years, she underwent puberty rites (bragro) alongside her niece, Nana Abena Ansa, marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to serving the Ashanti people.
Her ascension to the Golden Stool was foretold in the 1990s by spiritual priest Kwaku Firi Bosomfo through senior linguist Baffour Akoto. She was enstooled as Asantehemaa on February 6, 2016, following the passing of her mother.
During her reign, Nana Konadu Yiadom III played a key role in Ashanti governance, acting as a trusted counselor to the Asantehene, advising the royal court, safeguarding matrilineal succession, and advocating for justice. She was respected for her fairness, humility, and warmth in resolving disputes, earning admiration across all segments of society.
Her leadership also extended to philanthropy, particularly in healthcare.
On her fifth anniversary as Queen Mother, she made donations to the Mother-Baby Unit, Pediatric Emergency Care Unit, and Pediatric Emergency Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Manhyia Government District Hospital.
She also covered medical expenses for new mothers and actively promoted breastfeeding through annual public campaigns. The Saviour Church honoured her legacy by naming the Nana Konadu Saviour School after her.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III was married to Opanin Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith from Aduman, Kumasi.
She was widely recognized for her calm and nurturing leadership style, often described as the “quiet strength” behind the Golden Stool.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the Manhyia Palace soon.
The Asantehene formally shared the news of her passing during the mandatory Asanteman Council meeting attended by paramount chiefs and clan leaders.
A one-week observance in her honour is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025.
She was officially outdoored as Asantehemaa in 2017 during the 67th birthday celebration of her brother, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
That occasion also marked the inauguration of a renovated ceremonial park named after the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II. Situated opposite the Manhyia Museum, the park, featuring artificial turf, has since hosted many royal and traditional events.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s legacy as a steadfast guardian of Ashanti culture and pillar of support to the Asantehene will be fondly remembered throughout the kingdom and beyond.
