The Asante Kingdom is grieving the loss of its queen mother, Nana Konadu Yiadom III
The Asante Kingdom is grieving the loss of its queen mother, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, whose eight-year reign was defined by fairness, wise counsel, and unwavering commitment to the preservation of Asante heritage. She passed away peacefully at dawn on August 7, 2025, aged 91, leaving behind a legacy deeply interwoven with the cultural and spiritual life of Asanteman.
Known for her ability to balance firmness with compassion, Nana Konadu Yiadom III’s judgments were widely respected as equitable and rooted in tradition. She played a pivotal role in supporting her younger brother, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, strengthening the monarchy’s stability during a period of cultural revival and political engagement. Her influence extended beyond the palace, earning her recognition such as the naming of the Nana Konadu Saviour School at Bonwire by the Saviour Church of Ghana.
Born in 1927 as Nana Panin, she was the eldest daughter of the late 13th Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II and Opanin Kofi Foffie of Besease near Kumasi. Raised in Ashanti New Town by her aunt, she underwent traditional puberty rites before marrying Opanin Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith from Aduman. While she had no formal schooling, she received extensive training in palace customs, and in 1959 was baptized into the Saviour Church of Ghana, taking the Christian name Ruth.
Her rise to the position of 14th Asantehemaa on February 6, 2017 fulfilled a prophecy from the Kwaku Firi Shrine, as conveyed by Baafuo Osei Akoto, a senior linguist to the Asantehene. Over the course of her reign, she became known as a moral anchor of the royal court, a guardian of cultural rituals, and a figure who bridged the worlds of faith and tradition.
The Oyoko Royal Family confirmed her passing to the Asantehene during an emergency meeting of the Asanteman Traditional Council on August 11. Official funeral arrangements will be announced after the completion of royal death protocols at the Manhyia Palace. Across Ghana, condolences have poured in through news outlets and social media, where tributes describe her as a “pillar of unity” and “custodian of heritage.”
Her passing marks the close of an important chapter in the Asante Kingdom’s history, but her influence will endure in the customs she defended, the stability she nurtured, and the cultural pride she inspired.
