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Accra is currently witnessing the solemn funeral ceremony of the late Queen Mother (Ga Manye) of the Ga State, Naa Dedei Omaedru III. The event is marked by traditional rites and a display of the vibrant Ga culture.
As part of the royal funeral, the body of the late Queen will be transported to all the royal homes within the Greater Accra region before the final burial on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
A series of activities, predominantly rituals, have been taking place since early this week and will continue until the designated burial day. Dignitaries will have the opportunity to pay their respects before the Queen Mother is laid to rest.
Preparations for the funeral reached a crescendo on Friday afternoon, accompanied by the firing of muskets at the Ga Mantse palace.
Nii Kwardey Ntreh, who oversees Culture at the Office of the Ga Mantse Palace, highlighted the significance of the ceremony. He explained that some of the rituals are open to the public, while others are reserved for selected members of the royal family and traditional leaders.
“The wakekeeping started today and will continue until the morning of the actual funeral at the Ga Mantse’s Palace,” Nii Kwardey Ntreh stated.
A key element of the ceremony involves the various royal houses of the Ga State “taking back” their oath from the Queen Mother, as she had previously sworn allegiance to the Stool.
“When a royal ascends the throne, they take an oath, and upon their passing, the oath is taken away from them. What will happen today (Saturday) is that the various traditional authorities, to whom the Queen swore allegiance, will come back to take their oath,” Nii Ntreh explained.
He further elaborated that the different groups would visit the location where the body lies and perform their rituals in secrecy. The Queen’s body will then be conveyed to the various royal homes to bid them farewell, with the actual burial being a private affair for the family and a select few.
Nii Ntreh revealed that the traditional guards (Asafo) would be responsible for carrying the coffin, followed by the fetish priestess of Ga Land, as the body is transported from the palace to its final resting place after 3 p.m. on Saturday.
While urging the public to adhere to established protocols, Nii Ntreh emphasized that the restrictions within Accra’s Central Business District were in place to pay homage to the late Queen while traditional leaders performed the necessary rituals in accordance with Ga customs.
“This is Accra, and this is the culture of the people. So, let us respect each other,” he concluded.
