The office of late former president, Jerry John Rawlings, has announced that there will not be any one week ceremony to mark his death.
“The general public is also informed that there will be no one week ceremony,” a statement issued on Saturday, November 14 from the Communications Directorate of the Office of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings said.
“All flyers and other communication announcing such a ceremony are false and should be ignored.”
The former president died suddenly at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Thursday, November 12 after being admitted for a short illness.
His family has since officially informed the Presidency and said their son took ill immediately after he buried his mother on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
“Some four weeks ago we were here to inform the presidency of the death of our mother, our grandmother, our sister,” a family spokesperson said on Thursday.
“The president, because of his special love for the ex-president, he assisted us a lot in the burial of our mother.
“Just some few days after the burial the former president Jerry John Rawlings felt sick and was hospitalized.
“A lot of efforts were made, the president was in touch with his brother. Little did we know that the former president will leave us.
“So we have come here formally to inform the president and the entire government that this is what has happened. Jerry John Rawlings is no more and we deem it appropriate to come and inform you officially.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also assured the family of government support to hold a befitting state burial for the first president of the current republic.
Already, visits are being paid the bereaved family over the loss.
“The office of former President Jerry John Rawlings informs the general public that all who wish to call on the family of the late former President will be received by pre-arranged appointments,” the statement indicated.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, all groups and institutions who obtain appointments for visits at the former President’s office will not be allowed in without nose masks.
The leading family member to receive any group or institution is former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, who is said to be doing well and not admitted to hospital as was rumoured.
“She was present when President Akufo-Addo and former President Mahama called on the family on Friday, November 13.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana