Kumasi Schools to Close Down Over Late Asantemaa’s Funeral Rites

Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis and the Asokore Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region will be closed on Monday, December 4, 2017 to pave way for the commemoration of the final funeral rites of the late Asantemaa in the region.

This was announced by the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in a statement.

In the statement copied to citifmonline.com, the GES advised day students in the various Senior High Schools not to report to school on Monday, December 3 and Friday December 8, 2017.

The final funeral rite of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi Ampen II who died in December 2016 is being held between December 1 and December 11, 2017 in the Ashanti Region.

“We wish to inform residents in Kumasi Metro, Asokore Mampong Municipal and the general public that activities being held for the final funeral rites of the late queen mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem 11 demand that Basic schools within these areas be closed down on Monday 4th December 2017.”

“On Friday 8th December, 2017 schools will close at 12 noon to enable students to reach home on time. Day students in the Senior High schools are also to stay home within these two days,” the statement said.

Background

The late Asantehemaa, who was the mother of the current Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, passed away in 2016 at age 109 and was succeeded by Nana Konadu Yiadom II, Asantehene’s elder sister.

Although her burial rites were performed in January 2017, her funeral rites are being held over a 2 week period in the Ashanti Region.

The Chairman of the funeral committee, Nsuase Opoku Agyeman, Otumfuo’s Akyeamhene in an earlier press briefing advised residents and traders in the Central Business District of Kumasi to close their shops on Monday and Tuesday, explaining that “there will be firing of musketry in the streets, the executioners will also be around to display, so as Nananom parade from Adum to Manhyia, we will advise that all shops be closed, no trotros or taxis should be seen working.”

He further announced that, “no one should be seen in the evening on Saturday. It should be observed just like the Thursday during the burial rites, because that evening, Nananom will take the Abusuakuruwa to Breman.”

Meanwhile, a ban has been placed on all funerals in the Region from the Friday 1st December to Monday 11th December.