VIDEO + PHOTOS: Kumasi ‘sleeps’ for late Asantehemaa

Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital is virtually a ghost city.

All markets, shops, retail and wholesale stores in the town have been locked up.

Although not a national holiday, Bantama and Bremang, are experiencing a ‘localised’ holiday, as most businesses within those areas did not open.

The massive human and vehicular traffic in and around the Kejetia market, the largest single market in West Africa with over 10000 stores and stalls have grinded to a halt

Asafo – formally called Nkrumah Market which was named after the first Prime Minister of Ghana (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) but it was changed to Asafo Market when Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown –

HelloFM’s Isaac Owusu reports that the usual hustle and bustle at Adum is non-existent; in fact it is as if all business operations in the area have been relocated, he says.

Main Trotro and taxi stations stations in the Central Business District have all been deserted in accordance with the directive.

This has left many people Stranded in the Central Business District.

Additionally, all schools in the metropolis have been closed down paving way for the smooth burial of the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

Watch video below:

The late Asantehemaa died in her sleep in November last year at the age of 111.

The departed queen has been laying in state for the past three days as mourners from all walks of life join HRH Otumfour Osei Tutu II to the king of Ashanti to mourn his mother and the Queen of Ashanti.

Since Monday, hundreds of mourners from far and near have been pouring into the Manhyia Palace to commiserate with the Asantehene and the Royal Family.

The Manhyia Palace says the body of the late Asantehemaa will be moved from the Dwabirem of the Manhyia Palace after the burial service to the Bantama Royal Mausoleum before being sent to the Breman Royal Mausoleum for burial in the evening.

It also directed residents to remain indoors after 7 p.m. till 4 a.m. the following day.

-peacefm

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ABOUT: Nana Kwesi Coomson

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An Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communications Executive and Philanthropist. Editor-in-Chief of www.233times.com. A Senior Journalist with Ghanaian Chronicle Newspaper. An alumnus of Adisadel College where he read General Arts. His first degree is in Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (major) and History (minor) from the University of Ghana. He holds MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Energy with Public Relations (PR) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow who studied at Clark Atlanta University in USA on the Business and Entrepreneurship track.

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