Nana Konadu Yiadom III (1927 - 2025); death & funeral of the Asante 'Queen Mother'

 

Asanteman - the traditional Kingdom of The Ashante people, the largest ethnic group of Ghana - mourned the demise of its queen mother, Asantehemaa Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away August 7 (2025) at the age of 98. She was the sister of the current Asantehene (Ashanti King) Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, and daughter of the previous Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who died in 2016 aged 109 after a 39-year-reign. Nana Konadu Yiadom III was enthroned in 2017 by her brother The Asantehene - occupant of The Golden Stool; The Sacred Throne of the Ashanti Empire - , together with whom they are custodians of The Golden Stool. The role of Asantehemaa ('queen mother') is significant in the traditional governance of the Kingdom, as well as Chief advisor to The Ashanti Monarch, to whose elective succession she contributes, and who appoints her as senior Custodian of the Kingdom's matrilineal royal line (regardless of personal relationship between them). Following the formal death announcement & the 'one-week observances', an elaborate series of funeral ceremonies took place from 14 to 18 September (2025) when the late Queen Mother was laid to rest at Breman Mausomeum in Kumasi.

It was reported on 11 August 2025, that Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, the esteemed Asantehemaa (or Asanti queenmother) for the past 8 years, had passed away at the age of 98, following a brief illness. No much details were shared, apart from the confirmation that she died peacefully on the dawn of Thursday, 7 August 2025. Representatives from the Oyoko family (to which the Ashante royalty belongs) officially announced to the Asantehene the passing of the queen mother, his eldest biological sister, at an emergency meeting of The Asanteman (Ashante nation's) Traditional Council, that Monday (August 11). Funerals and large public gatherings were banned across the over 5-million-strong kingdom until further notice, as a sign of respect to the royal family, and for the official mourning proceedings arranged nationwide. The first funerary event, also called 'One-Week Observances', took place on Thursday, 21 August (2025) in the outdoors of The Manhiya Palace in Ashante capital, Kumasi. All the streets closed for ordinary people, as dignitaries from accross the nation came to pay their respects to the deceased and offer Condolences to The Asantehene, who was carried on a portable throne to a central podium, under his royal Umbrella.

The entire Asanteman went to a five-day curfew from Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 September (2025) for the final, 'Dote Yie' (funeral & burial) rites for the late Asantehemaa. The remains of the esteemed royal matriarch, placed in a coffin, were laid in state inside Manhiya Palace for the public to pay their last respects from Monday to Wednesday, from 5am to 5pm each day. Meanwhile, The Asantehene 'sat in state' at the Palace's Dwabrem from 12-5pm (Monday to Wednesday), to receive formal Condolences by members of the clergy, judiciary, civil servants, Government members, MPs, Ghana's current & former Presidents, civilians and other groups, with different representatives grouped for each day. The Filling Past continued Thursday (18 September) from 5 to 11am, ahead of that day's final burial service and private internment. In respect to this deeply significant event for the Ashanti cultural life, all the normal daily activities were halted; trading, hawking, transportation & cattering had been suspended; and people were ordered to stay indoors during the sacred burial ritual, from the dusk of Thursday to the early hours of Friday (19 September 2025); by a respective royal decree issued on the king's authority.

After four days of mourning, everything was set for the final farewell to Nana Konadu Yiadom III. The public watched on as her coffin left Manhiya Palace at 3pm for the last time, accompanied by the Chief Mourner, The Asantehene on a pallanquin, for the burial service outdoors by The Anglican Church. The service, accompanied by members of The Methodist, Catholic & Saviour Church of Ghana (to which the late queenmother was affiliated), lasted nearly three hours and was attended by high profile dignitaties, including Presidents and First Ladies. Tributes delivered by the Saviour Church, President Mahama, and Ashanti King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II praised the departed queen for her wisdom, devotion and charity, while a sermon by National Peace Council Representative called upon the faithful for search a purpose in life through God. On the conclusion of the service, and following military honours by Ghana's Armed Forces; the casket left in procession at 5:40, followed closely by the Asantehene (holding a traditional gun). Carried by a military vehicle, it briefly stopped at the Bantama Royal Mausoleum - to 'meet with the spirits' of previous Ashanti Monarchs & Queens buried there - before proceeding to the queen's own final resting place, at Breman Mausoleum, where she was privately interred.

Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III was born in 1927, the eldest daughter of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II (1907 - 2016), the 13th Asantehemaa (1977-2016) and Opanin Kofi Foffie, a carpenter from Besease suburb. Initially named Nana Panin, she was fostered by her aunt Nana Afia Konadu at the age of one, underwent traditional puberty rites in her teens entering womanhood, and was baptized into the Savior Church of Ghana in 1959, taking the Christian name Ruth. An automatic member of The Anglican Church (as every Ashanti king and queen), she was married to Opanin Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith from Oduman; and was a caterer in proffesion, specializing in local dishes, with her hobbies included cooking, music & dance. After the death of their mother in November 2016, The Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II (youngest son ot the 13th Asantehemaa) enstooled his sister as the 14th queen mother of the Ashanti on February 6, 2017, with the stool name: Nana Konadu Yiadom III. She was formally 'outdoored' on May 6 (2017), The Asantehene's 67th Birthday. In her 8 years of reign the Asantehemaa (who was chosen as the eldest female leader in her family clan) supported mother & child health, vulnerable families, and breastfeeding among others - donating to several units at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Manhiya government district hospital. The Nana Konadu Saviour School was named by The Saviour Church of Ghana in honor of the late 14th Asantehemaa.

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Sources:

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