The royal family of the late Queen Mother of the Ga State, Her Royal Majesty Naa Dedei Omaedru III, has refuted reports claiming that she has already been buried.
The family at a press conference held in Accra, expressed their dissatisfaction with the false impression that, the Queen Mother is still in the morgue and that her burial has not yet taken place.
Addressing the media, Asofoatse Nii Quartey Ga, the Abusuapanyin (family head) of the Queen Mother’s family, firmly stated that the reports of her burial are untrue.
He emphasized that the royal funeral arrangements are still in progress, and the public will be informed in due time about the official plans.
The wake-keeping for the late Queen Mother began today and will continue until the next morning, leading up to the actual funeral ceremony at the Ga Mantse’s Palace.
One of the significant aspects of the funeral will involve the various royal houses of the Ga State “taking back” their oaths from the Queen Mother, which she swore when she ascended the throne.
This traditional ritual symbolizes the end of her reign and her return to the ancestors.
The ceremony will be conducted with the utmost secrecy, with rituals performed by traditional authorities at the location where the Queen Mother’s body is laid.
Following these rituals, her body will be conveyed to the various royal houses for final farewells before the burial, which will be attended only by family members and a select few.
Nii Ntreh, another prominent figure in the Ga State, urged the public to respect the cultural procedures and the restrictions imposed within the Central Business District of Accra, which are in place to honor the late Queen Mother.
He also mentioned that the Council of Elders would later deliberate on who will succeed the Queen Mother after all the traditional rites have been completed.
Her Royal Majesty Naa Dedei Omaedru III, known in private life as Naa Dedei Ablah, was born on April 20, 1934.
She ascended to the position of Queen Mother in 1963 at the age of 29 and was officially gazetted on November 29, 1968.
Her reign lasted for 59 years, during which she was celebrated for her contributions to the welfare of women and girls in the Ga State and beyond.
She was also recognized with several awards, including one for Excellence in Culture, Chieftaincy, and Justice, presented by the Ga-Dangme Association International of Philadelphia in 2002.
Story by: Richard Nana Appiah Kubi/Ahotoronline.com
