Grief turns outrage over postponement of Tafo Hemaa’s burial

 The body of a revered royal matriarch lies in a morgue not because her family cannot bury her; but because they are being frustrated to do so.

In Old Tafo, Kumasi, grief is now turning into outrage as the family of the late Nana Afia Sarpong faces what they described as an unjust blockade by the local Chief, Nana Agyen Frimpong II, the Tafohene.

The family fears a repeat of the painful ordeal that once saw 21 royal corpses left un­buried for 17 years, until the intervention of the Asante­hene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

“We buried our pain for 17 years once. We cannot do it again,” said Kwaku Arhin, family spokesperson, adding that, “We followed tradition. We did everything required. Yet, we are being punished again.”

Once again, they are calling on Otumfuo to intervene to give their beloved relative a peaceful burial.

Shadows of the past

Nana Afia Sarpong, affec­tionately called Nana Hemaa, passed away on May 21, 2025. After performing her one-week celebration on June 5, her family, following all tradi­tional procedures, scheduled her burial for July 2. Custom­ary drinks were presented, drums were played, and stool elders were present.

But just days before the burial, the Tafohene reported­ly told police he had not been informed of the ceremony, for which it was cancelled.

Demand for poster

According to Mr Kwaku Arhin, the family spokesper­son, the Tafohene has refused to allow burial at the royal mausoleum unless the family produces a funeral poster bearing the name of one Yaa Apiaa, his chosen candidate as queen mother.

But the family insists such a demand was unprecedented and unacceptable because the woman in question was under Ntamkeseɛ—the Great Oath of Asanteman; rendering her unqualified for the role.

“How can a funeral poster become a tool of spiritual endorsement?” Arhin asked. “This is not custom. This is coercion.”

Funeral deferment

For the past two decades, the family says they have only laid their dead in state with­out organising proper funerals because the Tafohene was yet to perform the rites for his own predecessors, as custom demands.

“No full royal funeral has been held in 25 years,” Arhin stated, adding that “This omission has robbed the entire family of its dignity and tradition.”

Following the impasse, the burial was postponed first to July 16 then to July 23 and now to August 20. The family have incurred financial losses, including travel costs for mourners from abroad.

He said despite meetings with local police and munici­pal officials, the chief’s stance remains unchanged.

A plea for peace, justice

The Tafo Agona royal family is now appealing to Otumfuo to intervene, as he did in 2022 to prevent another drawn-out morgue crisis.

“This is not rebellion,” Arhin said. “We are simply pleading for our mother to be buried with dignity.”

As Nana Afia Sarpong’s body remains unburied, her por­trait rests under a canopy of dust-covered chairs—remind­ers of a funeral that never happened. “She was a woman of peace,” Arhin said. “She deserves peace in death.”

About 12 royals signed the petition to the Asantehene.

They included: Nana Osei Jantuah, Opanin Yaw Boateng – Tafo royals, Godfred Amoa­ko, Kofi Adusei – sons of the deceased; Gifty Nyamedo, Victoria Amoako– Daughters of the deceased and Kwasi Amoa­ko Dwamena – Widower.

The Spectator reached out to the office of Nana Agyen Frimpong II, the Tafohene, for a response but was unsuccess­ful as of press time.

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi