PHOTOS: Adum Turns Into Ghost Town as Kumasi Observes Asantehemaa’s Final Funeral Rites
The bustling Central Business District (CBD) of Adum in Kumasi was transformed into a virtual cemetery on Thursday, September 18, 2025, as all commercial activities came to a halt in strict compliance with a directive from the Manhyia Palace.
The order formed part of the observance of the final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, which have drawn thousands of mourners, chiefs, and dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Banks, Shops, stalls, and business centers in Adum — normally one of the busiest trading zones in the Ashanti Region — remained closed. The usually crowded streets, filled with hawkers, customers, and heavy traffic, were eerily quiet, creating a rare spectacle of silence in the heart of Kumasi.
The directive, according to Manhyia, was to enable all Ashantis to join in mourning and to demonstrate reverence for the departed queen mother. Traders and business operators, despite counting their losses, fully complied as a show of loyalty and respect.
Meanwhile, activities at the Manhyia Palace entered the fourth day of the funeral, which has seen rich displays of Ashanti culture and tradition. Traditional rulers from across the country and foreign delegations from Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire have joined the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in paying tribute to the late queen mother.
In a show of national unity, leading statesmen and political leaders also graced the ceremony. President John Dramani Mahama was present to pay his respects, alongside immediate past president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former president John Agyekum Kufuor. Their presence underscored the significance of the Asantehemaa’s role in Ghana’s cultural and political history.
The funeral grounds have been marked by elaborate drumming, dancing, and rituals by spiritualists, alongside solemn moments of dirges and gun salutes. The somber atmosphere in Kumasi is expected to persist until the rites officially end, underscoring the deep reverence the Ashanti people continue to hold for Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who served as Asantehemaa for seven years.
