Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has declared seven days of national mourning in honour of former President Jerry John Rawlings, who died today.
In a
statement issued by the Presidency in Accra, he said: “I have directed that all
national flags should fly at half mast for the next seven days in all parts of
the country and I have declared seven days of national mourning from Friday 13
November 2020.”
President
Akufo-Addo said it was with great sadness that he was announcing to the nation
that the first president of the Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings, has
“joined his ancestors”.
He said the
tragic event occurred at 10.10 am (GMT) on Thursday at the Korle bu Teaching
Hospital in Accra where the former president was receiving treatment after a
short illness.
“I convey the
deep sympathies of the government and the people of Ghana to his wife, Nana Konadu
Agyeman-Rawlings, the children and the family of the late president in these
difficult times.”
He said in
honour of the memory of the former president, he and Vice President Mahamudu
Bawumia have suspended their political campaign for the same period. Ghana is
scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 December.
The statement
said the Government will work closely with the family of the late president on
the arrangements for “a fitting funeral” for him.
“A great tree
has fallen, Ghana is poorer for this loss,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the family of the former president is asking for privacy as it mourns him.
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