Business activities in the Bantama community a suburb of the Kumasi Metropolis have been halted due to the funeral celebration of the late Bantamahene, Baffuor Awuah Amankwatia V which is underway.

He was known in private life as Ben Kwadwo Owusu Asare, the eldest son of a former Bantamahene, Baffuor Amankwatia IV.

The Chief was laid in state Tuesday March 8, 2016 at the Bantama palace in Kumasi ahead of his burial at the royal mausoleum .

Mourners were spotted in mourning clothes with sad faces at the palace of the of the demised chief.

A visit by Ultimate news to the area revealed that schools, shops, restaurants and markets in the busy area have all been closed down to pave way for the funeral celebration of the chief who died some months ago at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.

Major roads connecting to Bantama from Bekwai roundabout, Kejetia, Abrepo junction, Patasi have all been blocked.

Ultimate1069.com sources revealed that headteachers of the affected shoolc were instructed to close down schools during the period of the funeral celebration.

Some of the market women complained that they could not go to the market to sell for fear of being ‘executed’ for rituals, as it is alleged that people are mostly killed during funerals of prominent chiefs in the country.

Amankwatia V was enstooled in 2002 to succeed the late Baffuor Awuah V who died in 2002.

The occupant of the Bantama stool pays an unalloyed loyalty, dedication and honesty to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

He was also the Head of the Krontire clan of the Kumasi Traditional Council and also served as the war marshal of the Asantehene.