Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has declared seven days of national mourning in honour and memory of the former President J J Rawlings.
The President said this in a statement he sent out via his Twitter handle, conveying deep condolences to his wife Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Akufo-Addo ordered flags around the country to be lowered to half-mast for seven days of national mourning from Friday and said he was suspending campaigning for the upcoming election in December. “It is with great sadness that I announce to the nation that the 1. President of the 4. Republic, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, has joined his ancestors. This tragic event occurred at 10:10am on Thursday, 12° November 2020, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the former President was receiving treatment, after a short illness. I convey the deep sympathies of Government and the people of Ghana to his wife, the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the children, and family of the late President, in these difficult times”, the statement began.
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“I have directed that all national flags should fly at half-mast for the next seven (7) days in all parts of the country, and have declared seven days of national mourning from Friday, 13. November to Friday, 20° November. In honour of the memory of former President Rawlings, the Vice President and I have suspended our political campaigns for same period. Government will work closely with the family of President Rawlings on the arrangements tote fitting State Funeral for the late President, and will keep the nation informed accordingly. A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer for this loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Almighty until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall meet again. Amen!”, the statement added.
Announcement of the death of former President Rawlings pic.twitter.com/7ext0fp4sd
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) November 12, 2020
