The Asanteman Council has officially announced the arrangements for the funeral rites of the late Asante Queenmother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem.
Speaking at a press conference organized by the Council, Otumfuo Akyeamehene, Nana Nsuase Opoku Agyeman III, revealed that the Queenmother will be laid in state from Monday, 16th January 2017, to Thursday, 19th January 2017.
This according to the Akyeamhene, is the ‘Doteyie’ and not the final funeral rites for the late Queenmother.
Other arrangements for the funeral rites are as follow:
All Nananom in the Asante Kingdom will file past the Queen and pay their last respect from morning till 11am. At 11am, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will file past his late mother. He will then sit to receive sympathizers. Members of the public can file past the Queenmother afterwards.
Kings and Chiefs outside the Asante Kingdom are expected to file past the late Queenmother and show their last respect. The President of the republic of Ghana, past Ghanaian Presidents, Ministers, All Government officials as well as top-notch business men and women will also show their last respect on these days. Dignitaries from Swaziland, Seychelles, Là Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and other countries are also expected to file past the Queenmother on Wednesday.
His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will not sit to receive sympathizers on Thursday. However, the Akyeamhene noted that, he will only sit for an hour if some dignitaries from abroad could not get the chance the previous day to greet him.
The Queenmother will at 11 on Thursday morning be taken to St. Cyprians Anglican Church for a Burial Mass. Akyeamhene said only accredited people will be allowed in the Church Auditorium, whereas members of the public will be hosted at the Jubilee park, where a giant screen will be mounted, displaying happenings at the Church.
The body will then be marched through Adum to Bantama, where wreaths will be laid.
The Queenmother will be taken to Breman, were she will be put to Breman.
As part of the arrangements for the burial of the Queenmother, no one is to be seen outside the streets of Bantama to Breman, from 6:00pm of Thursday, 19th January to 3:00am of Friday 20th January.
The Akyeamhene said the Manhyia Palace will not be held accountable for the lives of people and domestic animals who are seen outside at that time.
Akyeamhene the planning committee is expecting tons of people and so, the Military and the police have been deployed to help in crowd management, and ensuring law and order in all 4days.
Head of the Medical team, Mawerehene, Nana Baafour Osei Hyeaman Brantuo VI says measures have been put in place to cater for all medical needs that may arise. “We stitched about 20 arms and legs during the funeral of the Late Nana Opoku Ware II, because of stampede, and so we are very ready this time.” He added that, “medical tents will be mounted at vantage points, and people can seek for medical care during the days of morning.”
All mourners should be in the official moruning cloth, ‘Kuntunkuni’, or anything black, except dignitaries from other countries who are not permitted to do so by culture.
Otumfuo’s Mawerehene, Nana Baafour Osei Hyeaman Brantuo VI admonished people living close to principal streets in Kumasi to tidy up the streets and keep clean the surroundings before Monday 16.
Otumfuo Akyeamhene added that no shop should be seen open on Thursday.
The death of the queenmother of the Ashanti Kingdom was reported during the late hours of 15th November 2016.
The Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II passed away at 109 years of age and was the biological mother of the current occupant of the Golden Stool. She was the Asantehemaa for 39 years.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
