Dignitaries Pay Last Respect To Kofi Annan

By Justice Dzido On Sep 12, 2018

Kofi Annan laid in State at the Accra International Conference Centre

The State Funeral of Kofi Atta Annan, Ghana’s illustrious son, who distinguished himself as a global peace icon and humanitarianism, continues as Ministers of State, today paid their last respects to him at the Accra International Centre.

Members of Parliament, Chiefs, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of recognised organisations, among other dignitaries, who were all scheduled to pay their honours, to the Nobel Peace Laureate, who rose through the ranks to head the United Nations from 1997 to 2006 has done as expected.

As part of the funeral plans, his body has been laid in state for paying of respect by public on Tuesday 11 September 2018. Today, Wednesday 12 September 2018 was the turn of dignitaries to pay their respects.

Both events taking place at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) from 1000 to 1600 hours daily. The first day had people across the social structure trooping to the AICC to pay their respects.

His coffin draped in the national colours was surrounded by members of the security forces as members of the public filed in. Close by was an entourage of family members from Ghana’s resource rich-Ashanti region.

The former global diplomat is due to be given a full state burial that will span for three days. Between his arrival and burial at a military cemetery on September 13, a number of events have been planned to celebrate his life.

Mr Annan’s body would be interred at the New Military Cemetery, at the Burma Camp in Accra, on Thursday, September 13.

Ambassador Annan A. Cato, a former Secretary to Cabinet, who chairs the Funeral Planning Committee, said Mr Annan’s wish was to have a modest final farewell ceremony, which was being respected.

The Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, told Journalists that the exercise today will see “members of the diplomatic community, judiciary, Members of Parliament, chiefs and various categories of identifiable groups file past the remains of Kofi Annan.”

Ghanaians from all walks of life yesterday has the opportunity to file past the body of Kofi Annan. They were however disappointed because the casket was closed.

“There are several high profile funerals in which I have seen the casket covered, even in this country, so it is not a major problem,” he told Citi News.

Meanwhile, the family of Kofi Annan is expected to have a private burial for him at the Military Cemetery after the state burial service on Thursday.