Former Speaker Justice Annan laid to rest

The mortal remains of the late Speaker of Parliament, Justice Daniel Francis Annan, 77, have been laid to rest at the Osu cemetery in Accra.

This was preceded by a pre-burial service at the forecourt of the State House which was attended by Ghanaians from all walks of life and across the political divide.

Among them were President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife, Theresa; Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, his wife Rahamatu; Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Huges, the Speaker of Parliament; Former Speaker, Mr Peter Ala-Adjetey, some Ministers of State and Members of Parliament (MPs).

Also present were the Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2000 and 2004 Elections, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who has asked that the late Speaker be immortalized by the Kufuor administration.

Other political party leaders including Dr Edmund Delle, Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP); Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, Founder of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Dr Edward Mahama, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC) for 2000 and 2004 Elections.

President Kufuor in a tribute said the late Justice Annan did serve Ghana and that his arrival on the political scene at the time he did was perhaps what the nation needed most.

He noted; "in spite of being a founding member of the NDC, as Speaker, Mr Justice Annan was generally seen to be fair to all parties represented in Parliament. This was acknowledged across the political divide."

President Kufuor said the late Speaker's training in law, his mature age and professional experience on the bench equipped him to be even-handed.

He recalled the various positions that the late Mr Justice Annan held and said what etched him in the public mind was the role he played in ushering the nation from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era into the Fourth Republic.

There were also tributes by Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Mr Sekyi-Hughes, Former Speaker Ala-Adjetey; the Chief Justice, the Ga Traditional Council; his children and Rosetta, the widow.

Former President Rawlings in his eulogy read by Mr Victor Gbeho described Mr Justice Annan as: "A noble judge, who believed passionately in the substance of participatory democracy and not just the outward trappings of democracy.

"Ghana owes a great debt to Daniel Francis Annan for his contribution to Ghana's democratic process."

He said the country has lost one of those rare people of integrity, intellect, moral stature, wisdom and patriotism.

Mr Sekyi-Hughes recognised the late Speaker's fair mindedness and firmness in dealing with all MPs in matters of procedure in the House and his fatherly role manifested in the way he handled contentious issues.

"He led a humble life and found joy in service with humanity. We have really lost a father, a democrat and a true patriot."

The Most Reverend Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, in a sermon, said the late Justice Annan, a true Christian as he was, had hope and it was this that made him a symbol of hope when the country least expected that it could come out of the quasi-military rule to constitutional democracy.

The late Speaker, he said lived for things that were reliable and of eternal value, adding that his life should be a challenge to all Ghanaians.