A ban has been placed on all funerals from the Friday 1st December to Monday 11th December.
Chairman of the Committee, who doubles as the Otumfuo Kyeamehene, Baffour Nsuase Poku Agyemang speaking to the media said the Asantehene Otumfou Osei Tutu II said closing down of stores and shops within the central business district on Monday and Tuesday, December 4, 5 will affect the people in the region.
According to him, since December 1, 2017 is Farmers Day which is holiday, majority of shops and stores owners will not open their stores.
He said "Otumfou Osei Tutu II as a father for all told us [the Planning Committee] that December 1, 2017 is public holiday so people will not open their stores and shops. Christmas is just around the corner and we all know that shops and stores owners get money during Christmas so ordering the close down of stores and shops on Monday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 5 will affect his people. All stores and shops can be open but those who have stores and stores at Adum, Pampaso, and Dr Mensah can open their stores and shops when Otumfour Osei Tutu reach Manhyia palace."
Residents in the Kumasi Metropolis are expected to stay indoors on the night of Saturday, December 9, from 9pm to 2am as a special ceremony will be performed by the Asantehene and Asantehemaa on that night.
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A ban has been placed on all funerals from the Friday 1st December to Monday, December 11.
The funeral is, however, open to the public.
Below are the funeral arrangements:
Friday 1st December: Performance by traditional Priests and Priestess from 6am to 6pm at the Boagyawe in the Manhyia Palace.
Saturday 2nd December: Wake keeping starts. From Friday night till Day break on Saturday at the Asantehemaa’s Palace.
Sunday 3rd December: Kuntunkuni day, Otumfuo will sit in state from 11am to 6pm at Dwabrem at the Manhyia Palace.
Wake keeping continues from 6pm till day break of Monday at Manhyia and all other Palaces across the Asante Kingdom.
Fasting begins
Monday 4th December: Traditional wailing from dawn to 6am by the Queen mother and other women in the palace. They are expected to parade from Manhyia to Adum and back. There will be firing of musketry.
This event is purely private.
From 7am to 12pm, Nananom of the Kumasi Traditional Area will parade from their various areas to Manhyia in their smocks.
At 1pm, Otumfuo will parade from Pampaso, through Kejetia, Dr. Mensah, Krofrom to Manhyia Bonmu in his Batakari Kese.
He will sit in state to receive sympathizers and donations from 3pm to 6pm at Dwabrem, in the Manhyia Palace.
Tuesday 5th December: Firing of Musketry by Paramount Chiefs of the Asante Kingdom from 8am to 1pm at the Manhyia Bonmu.
Otumfuo will sit in state to receive sympathizers and donations from 9am to 6pm at Dwabrem at the Manhyia Palace.
Wednesday 6th December: Performance of customary rites. Otumfuo will sit in state to receive sympathizers and donations from 11am to 6pm at Dwabrem in the Manhyia Palace.
His wife is expected to console him with the traditional Gold Necklace, Awisiado.
Thursday 7th December: Performance of customary rites continues.
Otumfuo will sit in state to receive sympathizers and donations from 11am to 6pm at Dwabrem in the Manhyia Palace.
Government Officials are on this day expected to sympathize with the King.
Wives of the Princes of the Golden Stool will present customary burial articles, Adosoa and Futuo from 10am to 1pm at Dwabrem in the Manhyia Palace.
Friday 8th December: The fast which began on Sunday will end on this day.
Otumfuo will distribute sheep, foodstuffs and firewood to mourners who have been fasting in the morning.
Consecration rites of the stool in memory of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II will be held in the evening at Werempe.
Saturday, 9th December: Exhibition of the various customary burial articles presented by the wives of Princes of the Golden Stool from 8am to 12pm at the Asantehemaa’s Palace.
There will be purification rites for the cleansing of the royals of the Golden Stool. This will be characterized by the shaving of hair and paring of nails into the Abusua kuruwa from 6am to 12pm, in front of the Asantehemaa’s Palace.
Otumfuo will sit in state from 2pm to 6pm to welcome the consecrated stool of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II from Werempe at Bogyawe.
In the night, Asantehene and Asantehemaa will send the Abusua Kuruwa to Breman.
Sunday 10th December: Interdenominational Thanksgiving service and memorial Thanksgiving service at 1pm at Dwabrem in the Manhyia Palace.
Dress for this event is Adinkra Fufuo or black and white cloth.
Monday 11th December: Otumfuo will sit in state to bid farewell to Nananom and express his appreciation and gratitude to sympathizers from 10am to 3pm at Dwabrem in the Manhyia Palace.
Friday 15th December: 2nd Thanksgiving service and memorial service for the Late Queen mother at the Kumasi Central mosque.
On Monday and Tuesday, residents in Kumasi are to stay indoors and not come around the Central Business District.
On Saturday evening, no one must be seen outside from 12 pm to 5am.