Early Life and Background

Born Odehyie Ama Bonsu (christened Margaret Siribour) on June 3, 1946, she is the second of two children born to Daniel Kwame Bonah Siribour and Odehyie Adwoa Akyaa, daughter of Nana Akosua Barnie. Nana Akosua Barnie was the daughter of Nana Akua Bakoma, mother of the fourteenth Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II (1931 -1970).

Her formative years were spent at Ahenboboano, Ashanti New Town, Kumasi, where she lived with her mother while frequently visiting her father, D.K. Siribour, affectionately called Konongo Siribour, son of Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Siribour I, in Konongo during her school vacations.

Education
Her academic foundation was laid at the Government Girls School (also known as Yaa Achiaa Girls), where she attended from 1952 to 1957.
She continued her studies at Mmofraturo Girls’ Boarding School between 1958 and 1961, before completing her secondary education at St. Louis Girls’ Senior High School (1961–1966).

She later augmented her professional profile with vocational training in typing.

Marital and Family Life
She was married to the late Kwame Afriyie, a civil engineer with roots from Ejisu Kwaso and Kumasi Apagyafiem.

Together, they were blessed with three children, namely the late Barima Osei Afriyie, Barima Kwaku Karikari, and Odehyie Akua Gyamfua.

Professional Career
Nana Yaa Akyaa II built a diverse professional background before ascending the stool. She began her career at Queensway Bookshop in Kumasi, owned by her uncle, Barima Kwaku Mensah, one-time Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC. She later took up employment with Kingsway Stores (owned by Miller Brothers), a British firm specialising in import and export and a subsidiary of Unilever Ghana in Kumasi.

Following her marriage, she moved to Accra to continue her work with Kingsway Stores. When the departmental stores chain eventually ceased operations, she pivoted to the hospitality sector, managing her husband’s establishment, West End Hotel at Mataheko, Accra.

In the late 1990s, she returned to Kumasi to attend to family matters, during which time she established and managed a successful multi-purpose business.

Philanthropy
Nana Yaa Akyaa II is widely respected for her compassionate nature. She is noted for her significant commitment to humanitarian causes, particularly her dedication to feeding the poor and supporting the vulnerable within her community.

Since her youthful days, she has been sheltering the vulnerable at her apartments in Ashanti New Town.

Kusi Amoa Stool Ascension
On July 6, 2026, she was selected by the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to ascend the Kusi Amoa Stool.

Assuming the stool name Nana Yaa Akyaa II, she serves as the 15th Queen of the Asante Kingdom, succeeding Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

credit: opemsuo.com