The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has described the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, as both the spiritual mother of Asanteman and one of his greatest pillars of strength.
In a tribute read on his behalf by business leader, Dr Sam Jonah, on September 18, 2025, the Asantehene said the passing of his elder sister had left an emptiness in his heart and the soul of Asanteman.
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“It is not easy for me, as king, to put into words the depth of my grief. For the nation has lost a mother, and I have lost not only a sister but also one of my greatest pillars of strength,” he said.
He said Nana Konadu Yiadom III was more than a queen in title, noting that her calm and measured presence held together the family, lineage, and traditions of the Ashanti Kingdom.
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“She was truly the mother of the kingdom, the one whose presence held together the delicate threads of our family and our heritage,” he said.
Reflecting on their bond before his ascension to the throne, the Asantehene recalled her role in preparing him for leadership.
“Before the weight of the Golden Stool was placed upon me, she had already carried the weight of sisterhood, counsel, and love. She guided me with a steady hand as an elder, preparing me in ways I did not fully understand until destiny placed the Golden Stool upon me,” he noted.
Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on August 7, 2025, was the 14th Asantehemaa and the elder sister of the Asantehene.
She ascended the stool in 2017, following the passing of her mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.
The four-day funeral rites, which commenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, will conclude with her burial on Thursday evening, September 18, 2025.
JKB/AE
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