The Ghana Education Service (GES) has ordered all schools in the Kumasi Metropolis to close down in line with the funeral rites of the Asantemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

The Service says the closure is one of the measures put in place by the Manhyia Palace to ensure a smooth funeral rite of the late Asantehemaa who passed in November last year. 

A letter signed by the Acting Deputy Director General in charge of Quality and Assess, Felicia Boakye-Yiadom addressed to the Ashanti Regional Education Director, Mary Owusu Achiaw; district directors of education and heads of second cycle schools contains the directive.

The Manhyia Palace as part of the funeral rites of the Asantehemaa has ordered all shops should be closed down while all residents are to stay indoors from Thursday evening  8 p.m until 4 a.m on  Friday, January 20.

Asantehene Mawerehene, Baffour Brentuo Hyiaman VI has been unhappy people have misconstrued the ban as a way to encourage human sacrifices, a practice which was abolished about 200 years ago.

According to him, the ban is to prevent unscrupulous persons from taken the laws into their own hands to cause mayhem in the Kumasi city.

The statement said the permission of the Transition Team was sought for the closure.

Nhyira News sources revealed some banking and financial institutions will also close down for business on Thursday in line with the directives from the Palace.

Access Bank has already sent Short Message Service [SMS] messages to its customers, informing them of them the new arrangement.

“Dear customer, our branches in Kumasi will be closed on Thursday, January 19, for the funeral rites of Asantehemaa. Our e-banking services will, however, be available. Thank you,” the message has said.