AFP
– Thousands of mourners from presidents and dignitaries to ordinary
Ghanaians arrived in the capital’s Independence Square on Friday for the
funeral of president John Atta Mills.
– Thousands of mourners from presidents and dignitaries to ordinary
Ghanaians arrived in the capital’s Independence Square on Friday for the
funeral of president John Atta Mills.
His
body lay in state early Friday, for a third straight day, for a final
viewing before being placed in a black limousine for the short drive to
the funeral site under military guard.
body lay in state early Friday, for a third straight day, for a final
viewing before being placed in a black limousine for the short drive to
the funeral site under military guard.
Among
those who viewed Mills’ body before the service were Ivory Coast’s
President Alassane Ouattara, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia as well as
the leaders of Benin and neighbouring Togo.
those who viewed Mills’ body before the service were Ivory Coast’s
President Alassane Ouattara, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia as well as
the leaders of Benin and neighbouring Togo.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to attend the funeral.
“He was like a brother to me. I will surely miss him,” Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe told journalists.
Benin’s
leader, also the current African Union chairman, Thomas Boni Yayi,
described Mills as “passionate about peace in Africa and in the region.”
leader, also the current African Union chairman, Thomas Boni Yayi,
described Mills as “passionate about peace in Africa and in the region.”
His
death on July 24 following an illness came as a shock to many
Ghanaians, despite rumours that he had been sick and reports that he
suffered from throat cancer.
death on July 24 following an illness came as a shock to many
Ghanaians, despite rumours that he had been sick and reports that he
suffered from throat cancer.
Mills’s
death just five months ahead of polls in which he was to seek
re-election upended the presidential race in a country that recently
became a significant oil producer and is praised as a stable democracy
in an often turbulent region.
death just five months ahead of polls in which he was to seek
re-election upended the presidential race in a country that recently
became a significant oil producer and is praised as a stable democracy
in an often turbulent region.
Organisers
said roughly 10,000 people were expected to attend the 90 minute
ceremony, after which Mills’s body will be taken to Osu Castle, the
official presidential residence, for burial.
said roughly 10,000 people were expected to attend the 90 minute
ceremony, after which Mills’s body will be taken to Osu Castle, the
official presidential residence, for burial.
A special seating area had been set up for the 16 heads of state and other dignitaries who are due to attend.
Clinton,
currently on an African tour, arrived in Accra late Thursday after a
brief stop in Nigeria’s capital, where she met with President Goodluck
Jonathan.
currently on an African tour, arrived in Accra late Thursday after a
brief stop in Nigeria’s capital, where she met with President Goodluck
Jonathan.
For
those unable to access the grounds, funeral organisers have set up
large television screens that will broadcast the ceremony, visible to
people on the square’s periphery. The event will also be shown on
national television.
those unable to access the grounds, funeral organisers have set up
large television screens that will broadcast the ceremony, visible to
people on the square’s periphery. The event will also be shown on
national television.
Some, however, arrived early and secured a place in the square, which was filling up rapidly.
“Today
is my saddest day,” said Akua Danso, an 80-year-old former teacher who
was confined to a wheelchair, being pushed by her grandson.
is my saddest day,” said Akua Danso, an 80-year-old former teacher who
was confined to a wheelchair, being pushed by her grandson.
“I
have seen presidents come and go but he was the best. He was very
humble. I wish I had the opportunity to meet him while he was alive,
just to tell him that he was a gem,” she told AFP.
have seen presidents come and go but he was the best. He was very
humble. I wish I had the opportunity to meet him while he was alive,
just to tell him that he was a gem,” she told AFP.
For a brief period, a helicopter hovering over the area dropped flyers that urged peace in Ghana’s December vote.
“We want peaceful elections in 2012,” read the flyer.
Mills
former vice president John Dramani Mahama was sworn in to serve out the
remainder of Mills’s term hours after his death, as dictated by the
constitution.
former vice president John Dramani Mahama was sworn in to serve out the
remainder of Mills’s term hours after his death, as dictated by the
constitution.
The
new president is expected to be endorsed by the ruling party to run in
the December election, which analysts say is likely to be close.
new president is expected to be endorsed by the ruling party to run in
the December election, which analysts say is likely to be close.
Ghana, a country of some 25 million people, has begun producing oil from its offshore Jubilee field, one of the largest discoveries in West Africa in recent years. The field’s operator Tullow has estimated that the field’s recoverable resources amount to up to one billion barrels.
