Funeral of Asantehemaa begins today

Rites to see the late Asantehemaa join her ancestors begin on Monday, January 16 at the Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Asante Kingdom.

The four-day rites in Kumasi begin with the laying in state of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, whose death occurred on Monday, November 11.

She was 111. She will be laid in state from Monday to Thursday, when she will be buried at Breman in the Asante Kingdom.

Residents have been warned not to go out between 6:00pm on the burial day and 3:00am on Friday, January 20. Manhyia says it will not be accountable to lives lost between that period.

Essential workers of the Ghana Water Company, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana National Fire Service are, however, exempted. Mourners are expected to wear anything black for the rites.

Nana Serwaa Ampem II was the 13th queenmother of the Asante Kingdom and she reigned for 39 years.