The whole nation has been thrown into a state of mourning from today as its citizens and mourners from the rest of the world begin to pay their last respects to the late former President, Jerry John Rawlings in a state funeral, which will last until Wednesday, January 27.
The body of the former President is to be laid in state at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) from this morning.
The mood of the nation, especially in Accra, where the funeral is taking place, is solemn.
Filing past
Today’s filing past is reserved for heads of the security agencies, leaders of political parties and the public.
Tomorrow, the filing past will start with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, former Heads of State, as well as heads of constitutional bodies.
On the same Tuesday, Members of Parliament, led by the Speaker, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin; former Speakers of Parliament, the Chief Justice, Justices of the Supreme Court, former Chief Justices, former chairman and members of the Council of State, former ministers of state, among others, will file past the body.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and organised groups will also pay their respects on Tuesday.
Massive preparations
Massive preparations have gone on for the funeral of the man who ruled Ghana twice as a military leader — first from June 4 to September 24, 1979 and then from December 31, 1981 to January 6, 1993 — before transitioning into a democratically elected President on January 7, 1993, following his victory in the presidential election earlier in November 1992.
The AICC, where the body has been laid in state for public viewing, has been beautifully decorated, while the Black Star Square, where a military burial service will be held on Wednesday, is getting ready to receive the anticipated thousands of mourners, including world leaders.
Significantly, the AICC, an edifice built by Mr Rawlings’s PNDC administration and which he inaugurated on August 9, 1991, is the same place where his body has been laid in state before interment on Wednesday.
The photograph on the right side of the entrance of the foyer shows a young Rawlings holding a microphone during the revolutionary era with the caption: “Watchdog for the Ordinary Ghanaian”, while the one on the left shows Rawlings on a horse at the Accra Stadium, with the caption: “Enigmatic”.
A red carpet has also been laid on the main stairs leading to the entrance of the AICC.
Black Star Square
Chairs has been arranged at various points and eight giant screens had also been mounted.
The General Manager of Jandel Limited, Mr Sumaila Salifu, according to him, told Daily Graphic 60 per cent of the works had been completed as of 10 a.m. yesterday.
He said judging by the pace of work, 90 per cent “of the job will be done today and 100 per cent on Tuesday before the final funeral rites on Wednesday”.
He said the company started setting up the place last week because the fixing of the trusses took time.
President Rawlings passed away at age 73.
His remains will be entombed at the Military Cemetery at the Burma Camp in Accra.
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