The Asanteman on Thursday, August 21, held a one-week observation of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, that took place at Bogyawe, Manhyia Palace from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Ahead of the celebration, the Manhyia Palace announced a ban on all funerals across Asanteman on August 21. The 14th Queen of the Asante Kingdom, Asantehemaa Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, passed away on August 7 at age 98.

On the eve of the Asantehemaa’s one-week observance, the Adumhene, together with his Abrafo, led a sacred procession to guard the royal palace. This rite, also performed during the lying-in-state, was accompanied by the resounding of drums and the rhythm of dance, continuing in vigil until the break of dawn.

Political leaders, religious figures, and members of the diplomatic corps joined the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu and the Asanteman to mourn Nana Konadu Yiadom III. Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang led the government delegation, including Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to the Manhyia Palace.

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, sat in state, with over 70 paramount chiefs within the kingdom joining to mourn with him. The grounds were filled with drumming, dancing, and the firing of musketry.

Nkoranzamanhene Awurade Baffoe, Nana Samgba Gyafla II, the Sampamanhene, Asafohene were at Manhyia Palace for the celebration.

Prior to the celebration, the Asanteman Council banned indecent dressing—particularly prohibiting high-heeled shoes and long artificial nails that may be worn during the ceremony.

The directive was announced by the Queenmother of Kokofu, Osagyefo Kusiwa Muah-Baayie, who has assumed the role of acting Queenmother of Asanteman. “We expect all mourners to dress decently and modestly. This is a sacred moment for Asanteman, and everyone must comport themselves in a manner befitting our customs,” she stated.

On August 20, traditional leaders, religious bodies, individuals, and corporate institutions visited the Manhyia Palace to commiserate with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, over the demise of Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

Profile of the late Asantehemaa Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III

Asantehemaa was named Nana Ama Konadu at birth and is also known by all as Nana Panin or Naa Panin. She later became Nana Konadu Yiadom III, after her enstoolment as the 14th Asantehemaa on February 6, 2016.

She was born in 1927 at Benyaade Shrine at Merdan, a small town located at Kwadaso, Kumasi, in the days of the restoration of the Asante Confederacy.

She was born to Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa, who reigned from 1977 to 2016. Her father was known as Opanin Kofi Fofie, known popularly as Koofie or Keewuo, a carpenter by profession from Besease near Atimatim in Kumasi.

At a very tender age, just when she was a little over a year old and being breastfed, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, Asantehemaa, was separated from her biological mother and given to her aunt (mother’s sister), Nana Afia Konadu, at Ashanti New Town (Ash-Town), a suburb of Kumasi.

Nanahemaa never had any formal education, but she underwent a rigorous and quality informal education, learning a lot of things that were not taught in the classroom.

She was initiated and underwent puberty rites together with her niece, Nana Abena Ansa, in their early teens. She married Opanin Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith by profession from Aduman in Kumasi.

She was religious, kindhearted, calm, fair and firm, hardworking, very humble, unassuming, and accommodating. In the mid-1990s, Kwaku Firi Bosomfo, the priest of Kwaku Firi, prophesied through Baffour Akoto, a Senior Linguist of Asantehene, that Nanahemaa would be Queen of Asante someday, and surely, it came to pass.

Nanahemaa achieved a lot and has been recognized as such. Through her constant generosity in doing God’s work, the Saviour Church named a school after her, Nana Konadu Saviour School. She exhibited a high level of equity, justice, and fairness, and all cases brought before her have been settled amicably to the satisfaction of both parties involved.

In celebrating her 5th Anniversary as Asantehemaa, she made a huge donation to the mothers at the Mother-Baby Unit (MBU), Pediatric Emergency Care Unit (PICU) and Pediatric Emergency Unit (PEU) and paid for all the medical bills and expenses for new mothers at the Mother-Baby Unit (MBU) at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Manhyia Government District Hospital.

Nanahemaa started a vigorous campaign and instituted an annual event to encourage mothers to breastfeed their young ones, the main reason why she made a generous donation to the Mother-Baby Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Manhyia Government District Hospital.