Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 March '99

The Planning Committee in charge of the funeral of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second has made elaborate preparations to accord the late Asantehene a burial befitting the status of an occupant of the Golden Stool. Otumfuo Opoku Ware, the 15th of the Kings of Asante, died on Thursday, February 25, after reigning for 29 years. According to the funeral arrangements announced on behalf of the Asanteman Council by Nana Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene, the late Asantehene will be laid in state at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Sunday, March 21. Paramount chiefs in Ashanti and all those who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool will swear the oath of allegiance on Wednesday, March 24. The body of the Asantehene will then be conveyed to the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Church for a burial service on Thursday March 25. Since his death, the Asanteman Council has placed a ban on drumming and funeral celebrations in Ashanti until after April 8, when the 40th day celebration will be observed. According to the Mamponghene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware will be given a state burial "in recognition of his invaluable services to the nation and chieftaincy". President Jerry John Rawlings, Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State, Parliamentarians, leaders of political parties, religious leaders, chiefs, members of the Ghana Bar Association and other organisations, and people from all walks of life will file past the body while it lies in state. Over 700 policemen and soldiers will be deployed to beef up security during the five-day period until the burial on March 25. According to the police, Antoa road, which passes in front of the Manhyia Palace, will be closed to traffic from Sunday, while that from the Zongo police station to the Labour Office in front the Saint Cyprian's Cathedral will be closed on Thursday, March 25. The funeral cortege will move along the Antoa road to Kejetia and branch onto the Guggisberg road in front of the Kumasi Central Market to the Cathedral for the burial service. Wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Bantama mausoleum, after the service. Since the announcement of Asantehene's death, government, churches, political parties, organisations, establishments, groups and individuals have been paying tributes. A government delegation led by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, called at Manhyia Palace last week to express its condolence to Asanteman. The Manhyia Palace has also been invaded by people from all walks of life, companies, organisations, institutions, political parties to express condolences, sign the book of condolence and offer assorted drinks and donations. The family of Mr Kofi Annan, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, was at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday to present assorted drinks to the Asanteman Council and express condolence on his behalf. Mr P.V. Obeng, former Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, has also been to Manhyia to express his condolence and present customary drinks. In compliance with tradition, the Asanteman Council has come out with a dress code for those who want to attend the burial. Men would have to put on "kuntunkuni" and women must wear "baasankye" or "Kaba" without headgear. Ornaments like watches, chains, earrings are forbidden. Those who file past the body must remove their sandals. The burial has led to an influx of both domestic and foreign tourists into the city of Kumasi leading to traffic jams on major roads to Kumasi. The situation has also been worsened because of the major rehabilitation works going on at Kejetia, the central lorry station in the city. According to Nana Kofi Genfi the second, chairman of the Hoteliers Association, all hotels in Kumasi have been fully booked. Asante is in a state of mourning, and it is the wish of the Asanteman Council and the Funeral Planning Committee that the entire nation joins them to give the departed Otumfuo Opoku Ware the befitting burial reserved for the Monarchs of Asante.