All business activities in Kumasi have come to a halt today [January 19, 2017] following a directive which asked business operators and others not to undertake any business activities in line with the funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

The mother of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who passed away in November last year, will be buried on Thursday to crown the four-day funeral rites.

READ ALSO:

The planning committee in charge of the funeral of the Asantehemaa has warned the public and residents of Kumasi to stay indoors between the hours of 8pm and 4am on Thursday, January, 19 to allow them to carry out the burial.

Some key sectors of the economy in Kumasi have since been affected by the directive. The badly hit are the retail, food and beverage industry, as well as the banking services.

Majority of the banks on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, prompted their clients that they will not be available for business today, Thursday.

For example, GT Bank in a text to its customers said: “As demands of tradition, we write to inform you that our branches in Kumasi (Kumasi Mani near the A-Life supermarket, Adum, Alabar and KNUST) would be closed to the public.”

Many of the banks have since apologised for the development.

Transport services are, however, in operation.

Nana Afia Kobi, the Asante queen, died at the age of 111. She was the biological mother of the reigning king.