It has been reported that many people have collapsed at the Asantehemaa funeral grounds…
The Ashanti Kingdom is currently abuzz with series of funeral activities ahead of the burial of the Queen Mother of the Kingdom, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II who died in November, 2016 at the age of 111. The late Otumfuo’s mother will be buried on Thursday, 19th January, 2016. But the funeral rites commenced since Monday, January 16. The Ashantis have decided to give her the longest funeral having lived as the longest serving Queen Mother.
The Asantehemaa funeral is a four-day rites which starts with the laying in state of the body of the Queen Mother. Thousands of people have been thronging the funeral ground for one reason or the other. While some are coming to join in mourning the late Queen Mother and also to pay their last respect to her remains which has been laid in state at the Manhyia Palace, others are just coming to catch a glimpse of the interesting activities going on including variety of cultural displays.
Meanwhile, several people were reported to have collapsed at the funeral grounds for reasons ranging from shock due to gunshots being fired, to tiredness from standing for a long time under the scorching sun.
A member of the Red Cross Society who spoke to Nhyira Fm reporter said that majority of those who collapsed have been referred to the hospital for further treatments. He explained that it was discovered through screening that most of the victims were sick but failed to take their medications before coming to participate in the funeral. He also seized the opportunity to warn the public not to wait until they faint, but to alert the health personnel if they start feeling dizzy to forestall more serious health problems.
The late Queen mother’s remains will lay in state from Monday to Thursday when the final burial rites and interment will take place. Thousands of mourners including families, friends, well wishers, etc, have been filing past the body to pay their last respect to the dead Queen Mother.
See: Nana Addo, Kufuor, Other Dignitaries Pay Last Respect to Asantehemaa
Tributes upon tributes have also been pouring in from all angles in honour of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II. Click here to read the heart-melting tribute Otumfuo wrote in honour of his late mum.
Reports also reveal that there is increasing demand for the Asantehemaa funeral cloth which are currently on sale ahead burial. The cloth, known as ‘Nana Yen Were Mmfiri Wo Dabiara Da’, come in varieties of red and black, white and black, and yellow and brown prints, and sell for GHC15 per yard.
According to some dealers who spoke to Accra News, they are likely to run out of supply of the cloths, especially the yellow and brown variety owing to short supply as against increased demand.
Furthermore, a report by Citi Business News Monday, reveals that long queues have been formed at various bus terminals in Accra by scores of stranded Kumasi-bound travelers. This is simply because; the number of passengers heading to Kumasi for the Asantehemaa funeral has greatly surpassed the number of vehicles available to convey them.
Most importantly, The Manhyia Palace has warned residents not to be seen outside from Bantama to Breman between 6:00 pm on Thursday and 3:00 am on Friday, January 20; adding that it will not be held responsible for lives lost within that period.
Essential workers of the Ghana Water Company, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana National Fire Service have however, been exempted from the curfew. This is to enable them go about their duties which have been deemed very crucial during the celebrations. Below is the letter of exclusion from Manhyia.
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