No close photographing of Mills' body; says funeral committee

Journalists and other photographers will not be allowed to photograph the body of late President John Atta Mills, the Funeral Planning Committee has said.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr Kofi Totobi Kwakye, announced this at a press conference in Accra.

He said the measure is to prevent photo journalists from disrupting the order of events at the ceremony.

The body of the late president will be laid in state at the forecourt of the State House for the President, the Speaker of Parliament, Parliamentarians and other important dignitaries to file past and pay their last respects.

Wednesday, the general public will also have the opportunity to file past the body before the final funeral service and burial on Friday.

The Funeral Committee says a riser will be erected for journalists and photo journalists to operate from and to restrain them from surging forward and disorganising the event.

Myjoyonline.com's David Andoh, who is at the press conference reported photo journalists particularly, and journalists generally, are distressed by the development, fearing it will hamper their work in covering the historic event.

Mr Kwakye warned the security men will be ruthless with anybody who disrespects the limits and boundaries set by their accreditation.

He also dismissed reports that the Committee was planning to use a $75, 000 casket to bury the late leader, saying the late president will “turn in his grave if we make any attempt to spend that kind of money.”

“I have done some research on the internet and never came across any casket that comes close to US$75, 000. In any case President Mills will turn in his grave if we make any attempt to spend that kind of money,” he stated.

“He will resurrect the next day and tell us his peace of mind. He will be upset if we spend any large amount of money to organize this funeral,” he added.