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08.08.2012 Politics

World leaders to participate in President Mills' funeral

By GNA
World leaders to participate in President Mills' funeral
08.08.2012 LISTEN

Accra, Aug. 8, GNA – About 16 World Leaders, including Heads of State and Government Officials on Wednesday confirmed their participation in the three-day funeral of President John Evans Atta Mills.

They include the United State Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton accompanied by four Special envoys.

The African leaders would be headed by the President of the African Union (AU) Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Chairman of the AU, President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin.

Other African Heads of State are Alassane Outtara, Cote d'Ivoire, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea, Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso and President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia.

The rest are President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo; Jakaya kikwete of Tanzania; Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia; Dr Goodluck Johnathan of Nigeria; Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger; and the Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe; Yahya J. Jameh of the Gambia and Macky Sall of Senegal.

A statement made available to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee, explained that the Heads of State and Governments as well as Vice Presidents would be met at the Kotoka International Airport, Jubilee Lounge mostly in private aircraft.

The body of the late President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, would be laid in State for viewing at the State House from Wednesday August 8, 2012 to Friday August 12, 2012.

The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, his Wife Lordina and the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and wife, Henrietta would be the first to file past the body, to be followed by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, and the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford Addo,

Mr Totobi Quakyi said most of the foreign dignitaries were expected to arrive on Friday and would be given the opportunity to file past the body in the morning of Friday August 10, 2010 before the burial service and subsequent burial.

He said the outpouring of grief by Ghanaians following the death President Mills showed that "we are one people' and expressed optimism that “the funeral ceremony would be organised to reflect the collective sense of loss that this nation feels".

GNA

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