The Asante Kingdom is in mourning following the passing of its revered Queen Mother, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who died at the age of 98 after nearl
The Asante Kingdom is in mourning following the passing of its revered Queen Mother, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, who died at the age of 98 after nearly a decade on the stool.
Her death marks the end of an era defined by wisdom, fairness, and an unshakable commitment to Asanteman’s traditions.
Born in 1927, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III was the eldest child of the 13th Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem III, and Opanin Kofi Foffie, a carpenter from Besease near Atimatim in Kumasi.
She was the firstborn among her mother’s five children, including the current Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Separated from her biological mother at barely a year old, the young Nana — then affectionately called Nana Panin — was raised by her aunt, Nana Afia Konadu, in Ashanti New Town (Ash-Town).
Though she never received formal schooling, palace life offered her an informal education that shaped her into an influential and culturally grounded woman.
In her early twenties, she was baptised into the Saviour Church of Ghana with the Christian name Ruth, in addition to being an automatic patron of the Anglican Church by virtue of her royal lineage.
She married Opanin Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith from Aduman near Kumasi, and went on to build a career as a caterer specialising in local dishes, while also farming and engaging in petty trading.
Her life took a historic turn in 2017 when, following the death of her mother at the record age of 111, she was enstooled as the 14th Asantehemaa on February 6, 2017.
The succession fulfilled a prophecy from the Kwaku Firi Shrine, as revealed through senior Asantehene linguist Baafuo Osei Akoto.
During her reign, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III earned a reputation for being fair and firm in her judgments. She presided over her own court, where her rulings were widely praised for their balance and wisdom. Beyond her royal duties, she was celebrated for her hospitality, love of cooking, music, and dance.
Her influence extended into education, with the Saviour Church of Ghana naming a school at Bonwire after her — the Nana Konadu Saviour School — in recognition of her legacy.
Her passing at 98 leaves a deep void in Asanteman, but her life story remains a testament to resilience, service, and tradition.
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