Mourners pay their last respect to late Nana Dekyi

Thousands of mourners, including government officials, divisional chiefs and public servants on Saturday thronged the Upper Dixcove Methodist Park to pay their last respect to Nana Hima Dekyi X111, Omanhene of Upper Dixcove traditional area who died on June 2 this year at the age of 94 years.

The crowd become frenzy when the coffin containing the body of the Omanhene arrived at the Park where a burial and thanksgiving service was held.

It was followed by a long retinue of sub-chiefs of the area and other traditional areas in the region, traditional horn blowers, the asafo company, and dirge singers amid the firing of musketry and drumming of fontonfrom.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice-President led a powerful government Delegation, including Mr. Sekyi Hughes, Member of the Council of State, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, Mrs Anna Nyamekye, Minister of Science and Technology, Mr K.T.Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who spoke on behalf of the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, expressed his deep sorrow to the people of the area and the bereaved family for the loss of a great Omanhene.

He said the government would forever remember the leadership qualities that she provided for the 38 years that she reigned as Omanhene of Upper Dixcove.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's' Affairs who read a tribute from the government said the late Nana Dekyi lived a full life, served her people well and was development oriented.

She said due to Nana Dekyi's uprightness, she was able to reign and serve all the governments of the day without blemish and chieftaincy disputes.

The tribute hoped a worthy successor would be found to continue the good works of the late Omanhene.

On behalf of the government, an amount of 6.5 five million cedis and customary drinks were presented to the bereaved family.

The Western Regional branch of the NPP also presented 500,000 cedis while the Ministry of Health presented two million cedis and customary drinks to the family.

As a tradition, the body would be interred at midnight at Breman, the royal cemetery.

During her lifetime, Nana Dekyi single handedly financed the building of a district hospital for her people at Dixcove in addition to the construction of nurse's quarters, doctor's flats and 16 estate houses, some of which now house the Ghana Police Service at Dixcove.