Kumasi, March 10, GNA - Manhyia Palace has announced that there should be no funeral celebrations within Asanteman with effect from Monday, March 13 until Friday, March 31.

This is in preparation towards the two-week final funeral rites of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Asantehene, who went to the village on February 25, 1999 and all the royalty of the Golden Stool of Asante.

This was announced by Mr Yaw Atta-Poku, Member of the seven-man Funeral Rites Planning Committee at a press conference to release the programme in Kumasi on Thursday.

Mr Atta-Poku said the funeral celebrations (Ayikesie) would be for all royalty, including Barima Kofi Adu II, Kokofuhene, Osagyefo Adwoa Serwah II, Kokofuhemaa and Nana Yaa Assinna Ababio, Kenyasehemaa.

It is also for those, who passed away after the last Ayikesie of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Serwah Nyarko II in 1978, which was celebrated by Otumfuo Opoku Ware.

The Ayikesie begins on Saturday, March 18, which is a "Memmeneda Dapaa" with traditional drumming and dancing by all fetish priests in Asanteman led by Baffour Domfeh Gyeabour II, Nsumankwaahene and Chief Priest of Asantehene. The following day, which is Akwasidae, the 40th-day celebration on the Akan Calendar will be observed as "Kuntunkunidae", when all Asantes would be expected to put on "Kuntunkuni" (black mourning cloth).

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will sit in state at Dwaberem, Manhyia in the morning and the funeral celebrations will formally begin in the evening with a wake keeping at Manhyia for the public.

On Monday, March 20, the Asantehene wearing the "Batakarikese" (war attire) would lead chiefs in Kumasi in musketry at Manhyia. Paramount chiefs would have their turn the next day.

Within the period, Otumfuo Osei Tutu will sit in state daily to distribute drinks to those who would be paying him homage and receive sympathisers including paramount chiefs and other chiefs from the 10 Regional Houses of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs.

Other dignitaries expected are the diplomatic corps and a government delegation. The celebration will reach its climax on Saturday, March 25, when the Asantehene sitting in state, will receive the "Black Stool", a permanent memorial of Otumfuo Opoku Ware, from the Werempehene, escorted by the Bantamahene and Denyasehene.

This would be followed by a ceremony at the Royal Mausoleum at Breman, near Kumasi. On Sunday, April two, the celebration would end with a non-denominational thanksgiving service at the Manhyia Palace.