Kumasi is indeed, in deep mourning, as the city continues to mourn and bid farewell to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
The bustling city, reputed as the commercial and trading hub of the country, is totally empty on Thursday September 18, 2025, the last day of the four day ‘Doteyie’ (burial rites) of the late queen mother.
Nana Konadu Yiadom, died on August 07, 2025, after reigning for eight years on the stool.
Her mortal remains had been lying in state at her palace at Manhyia since Sunday, September 14, 2025, for the public to pay their respect and offer condolences to the bereaved family, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is the younger brother of the late queen mother.
On Thursday morning, when the Ghana News Agency visited the central business districts of Kumasi, all shops, stores, banks, markets, kiosks, hawking tables, pedestrian pavements and walkways, which were often choked with people were empty.
One can easily count the number of people, who are either walking to the Manhyia palace or have just alighted from a vehicle.
The peripheral communities are also not left out – all the streets and suburbs are totally empty.
Transport services are not available, except those using their own private vehicles.
The last day of the ‘Doteyie’, will precede the interment of the body of the late queen mother at the royal mausoleum (Baamu) at Bremen, later in the day.
A curfew has already been imposed in Kumasi from 6 pm of September 18, 2025, to the dawn of the following day.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life, had already paid their respect to the late queen mother and commiserated with the Asantehene, who had been sitting in state with a melancholic temperament throughout the four days, to receive well-wishers and sympathizers.
The last day of the burial rites is expect to be attended by the President John Dramani Mahama, and his Vice, former Presidents and former Vice President, Presidents and Heads of States from other countries, Heads of international organizations, Heads of foreign missions in Ghana, and the public.
GNA
