The activities marking the final funeral rites of former President Jerry John Rawlings has been announced.
The activities will commence on Friday January 22 with the main funeral event to take place at the Black Star Square in Accra on Wednesday January 27, 2021.
Details of the funeral activities were announced by Caretaker Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Wednesday, after a meeting with the Funeral Planning Committee, the family, the Anlo Traditional Council and other state agencies assisting with the funeral arrangements.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah highlighted all funeral events will take place under strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
The national activities will begin with a Catholic Requiem Mass on Sunday, January 24 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral and a vigil at the Air Force Officers Mess in Accra.
The former President will be laid in state on Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26 at the Accra International Conference Centre for various interest groups and members of the public to have an opportunity to pay their last respects.
Prior to the laying in state, the Anlo Traditional Council will host two days of traditional mourning for the departed former President who hailed from Anlo.
According to the Caretaker Minister of Information, the former President will receive a full military burial service on Wednesday, January 27 and will later be interred at the Military Cemetery in Accra – the government’s designated burial ground for all former Presidents.
File Past
Heads of security agencies, leaders of political parties and the general public will have the opportunity to file past the mortal remains of the former President on Monday, January 25.
On Tuesday, January 26, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Vice-President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, former heads of state and heads of constitutional bodies, the Speaker of Parliament and former Speakers will also have the opportunity to pay their respects.
At 3 pm on the same day, traditional and customary rites will be held at the foyer of the conference centre with the body of the former President still in state.
Present at the press conference were the children of former President Rawlings; Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings, The Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho; Colonel Joshua Agbotui, Head of the Agbotui family, Togbi Agbesi Awusi II, the Awadada of the Anlo State, the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress Council of Elders, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu and Ambassador Yaw Kuma, Acting Director of State Protocol.
The funeral was earlier scheduled for December 23, 2020, by the State but it angered the Anlo Traditional Council (ATC) whom wanted to be consulted.
The Council stated the arrangements made at the time were not in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Anlo people and due to the numerous concerns, the funeral rites of EX. President Lt. Jerry John Rawlings was postponed indefinitely.
This urged President Akufo-Addo to task the family, the ATC and other stakeholders to engage more on the issues.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings died at age 73 on Thursday, November 12, 2020 from a short illness.
He left behind his wife, former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawling and four children–Zanetor, Amina, Asantewaa and Kimathi Rawlings.
