Series of activities have been lined up to celebrate and commemorate former President Jerry John Rawlings ahead of his interment on Wednesday, January 27, this year.
The activities, which will start from Friday, January 22, in the Anlo State, are made up of celebratory and traditional events.
A caretaker Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said traditional activities would end on Saturday, January 23 to pave way for the national activities to commence on Sunday, January 24.
Addressing the press in the Accra last Wednesday in the company of family representatives,he said the remains of former President Rawlings would be entombed at the Military Cemetery at the Burma Camp in Accra.
He said the choice for the military cemetery was because it was now the designated place for the interment of former Heads of State of the country.
The national event, he said, would start with a Catholic Requiem Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, followed by a vigil at the Air Force Base at 6p.m.
On Monday, January 25, he said, the remains of the late President Rawlings would be laid in state at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
Filing past protocol
According to Mr Oppong Nkrumah, the filing past of the remains of Mr Rawlings would then kick off, starting from the heads of security agencies, leaders of political parties and the general public.
On Tuesday, January 26, he said the filing past would resume at 9 a.m. led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, former heads of state, as well as heads of constitutional bodies.
At 10 a.m., he said parliamentarians, led by the Speaker, Mr Alban Bagbin and former Speakers would also file past.
At noon, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said, the Chief Justice, Justices of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justices would also file past the body, while Members of the Council of State, as well as former ministers of state would also file past at 1 p.m.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps will file past at 2 p.m.
The traditional and customary rites and celebrations, he said, would be held at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), while the body was still in state.
Burial
On Wednesday, January 27, the caretaker minister said, the burial service for former President Rawlings would be held at the Black Star Square in Accra with full military honours and ,therefore, would be led by the Ghana Armed Forces.
The body would later be buried at the Military Cemetery at Burma Camp in the La Dadekotopon Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
Background
Former President Rawlings died at the age of 73 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra on Thursday, November 12, 2020.
Source: www.graphic.com.gh
