The late former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
There seem to be some confusion over the burial and funeral of the late former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr. Rawlings, who ruled Ghana for about 19 years – both as head of a military junta and a democratically elected President – serving two terms, died on November 12, 2020 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
As a former statesman, government has therefore decided to give him a befitting burial and funeral but there seem to be some disagreement among his immediate and extended family over how the funeral should be done.
A communication from the presidency yesterday highlighted the disagreement among the allied families.
In a letter dated December 10, 2020 Â and headlined “Re: Interment and Final Funeral Rites of the late Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings” signed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and addressed to lawyers at Vordoagu, Dzeble & Co legal chambers and attentioned E.A Vorduagu and Osafo Buabeng, copies of which were sent to the Vice-President and Secretary to the President, she stated that “I am instructed by the President of the Republic to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 4, 2020 on the above subject matter and to respond to the matters contained therein.”
First, she indicated that “the President has taken note of the contents in the letter and the press release of the office of the Awadada of the Anlo State dated November 30, 2020 and that of the office of Agbotui and Allied Families dated December 1, 2020, respectively, both referred to in your letter” and that “the President believes that the obligation of the government to accord the former President of the Republic, His Excellency, the late Jerry John Rawlings, a befitting state burial is inviolable and, as such, at the appropriate time this should happen.”
Even though it is not clear which of the allied families wrote to the presidency and whatever raised therein, necessitating a response, the Chief of Staff said “in the light of the above, and taking note of issues raised by your clients, the President will be grateful if the families of the late President could resolve all outstanding matters and convey to the Office of the President an agreed date for his funeral, for the necessary action to be taken as soon as possible.”
By Charles Takyi-Boadu