“Asante nation will never forget her” – Otumfuo on Asantehemaa’s lasting impact
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has paid a deeply emotional tribute to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, describing her as a beacon of wisdom, grace, and unwavering loyalty whose legacy will endure for generations.
The tribute, read on his behalf by Sir Sam Jonah, Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, was delivered at a solemn gathering in Kumasi to honour the memory of the revered Queen Mother, who passed away after years of dedicated service to the Asante Kingdom.
Otumfuo reflected on their personal bond, speaking not only as a king bidding farewell to a royal matriarch, but as a brother mourning a sister.
“For me personally, she was my confidant. In moments when the burden of kingship pressed heavily upon me, I could turn to her — not as the Asantehemaa, but as my sister,” he said.
He described her rare ability to counsel with a blend of maternal care and friendship, guided by deep wisdom and free from personal ambition.
“Her words were never reckless, never shallow. They were words that came from a deep well of experience and wisdom. And when she counselled me, I listened — for I knew her loyalty was not divided by ambition. It was a loyalty borne out of blood, love, and destiny.”
Otumfuo celebrated Nana Konadu Yiadom III as a woman whose quiet strength and enduring service shaped the soul of Asanteman. Her reign as Asantehemaa, he noted, was marked by peace, patience, and humility.
“The Asante nation will forever remember and honour her name. Generations yet unborn will speak of Nana Konadu Yiadom III as a woman of peace, of patience, of grace, and of unshakeable service,” the Asantehene declared.
“Asante will never forget her. I will never forget her,” he added, his voice, through the words of Sir Sam Jonah, resonating with both royal pride and personal sorrow.
The Asantehene ended his tribute with a call to all leaders to learn from her example — a legacy defined not by power or prestige, but by humility, compassion, and duty.
“May her soul rest in eternal peace among the ancestors. May her memory forever remain a guiding light for Asanteman. And may her example remind all who lead — whether as chiefs, mothers, or citizens — that true leadership is service, true greatness is humility, and true legacy is love.”
