The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has expressed profound grief over the passing of his elder sister, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the late Asantehemaa, describing her as the spiritual mother of Asanteman and a pillar of strength whose loss has left “an emptiness in my heart and in the soul of Asanteman.”

In a moving tribute delivered on his behalf by business leader Dr Sam Jonah during the ongoing funeral rites at Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene weighed in on the personal, traditional and national impact of her passing

“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.

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The Asantehene portrayed Nana Konadu Yiadom III as more than a queen in title, emphasising that her calm and measured presence upheld the family, lineage, and traditions of the Ashanti Kingdom.

“She was truly the mother of the kingdom, the one whose presence held together the delicate threads of our family and our heritage,” he stated.

Reflecting on their bond before his ascension to the Golden Stool in 1999, Otumfuo recalled Nana Konadu Yiadom's pivotal role in preparing him for leadership.

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“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 said.

Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the 14th Asantehemaa, passed away on August 7, 2025, at age 98.

Her four-day funeral rites, which began on September 14, 2025, have drawn dignitaries and mourners to Manhyia Palace.

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