Kofi Annan’s Casket Covered As ‘Sign Of His Respect’ – Hadzide

Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, has responded to social media and public talks on chastising organizers of late Kofi  Annan burial service on reason for the closure of the casket.

Some Ghanaians who filed past the remains of the late former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan, on Tuesday, 11 September 2018, expressed disappointment that the casket was covered.

The ordinary citizens, who visited the Accra International Conference Centre hoping to see Mr Annan’s face for the last time as they paid their last respects, were left saddened by the turn of events.

They wondered why organisers did not open the casket to allow those of them who never had the opportunity to see the man alive, do so before he is buried. Mr Annan’s casket was closed and draped with the national flag.

However  Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, has downplayed the concerns, saying there is no cause for alarm explaining that, the late statesman wished for this kind of burial whiles alive.

“There are several high profile funerals in which I have seen the casket covered, even in this country, so there is no cause not a major problem,” he told Citi News.

He said the focus should be on the occasion, which is trying to mirror Kofi Annan’s apparent modesty.He stated that it’s not a major problem for the government to cover the casket though the death and burial is a state funeral.

“The man Kofi Annan himself is a modest person and he doesn’t want a lot of flamboyance around the funeral… even as we give him a befitting state funeral, we think that it is still important that we respect his wishes of keeping it a little modest, a little soft and so on and so forth.” – he added.

On Wednesday, 12 September, dignitaries including recognised groups, chiefs, Members of Parliament and Ministers of State, world leaders, will have their turn to pay their last respects to the former UN boss.

A burial service will then take place on September 13 at the Conference Centre before he is finally laid to rest at the new Military Cemetery.