President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has declared seven days of national mourning in honour of Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s former head of state who died on Thursday, November 12.
The tragic event occurred at 10:00am at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he was receiving treatment after a short illness.
In a statement released to mourn the passing of the former president, President Akufo-Addo said all national flags will fly at half-mast for the next seven days in all parts of the country “and have declared seven days of national mourning from Friday, 13th November to Friday, 20th November”.
“In honour of the memory of the former President Rawlings, the Vice President and I have suspended our political campaigns for the same period.”
He expressed condolences on behalf of the government and people of Ghana to the wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the children and family of Mr Rawlings “in these difficult times”.
He gave the assurance that government will work closely with the family of the former president on arrangements for a befitting state funeral.
“A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer for this loss.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh