JAK Returns Home

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Sunday night after leading a five-member government delegation to the funeral of the late Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema in Lome, Togo.

The body of President Eyadema was buried yesterday at his hometown, Pya.

Earlier in the day the city of Lome was thrown into mourning with flags flying at half-mast and supporters of President Eyadema wearing his effigy lined up the streets waving white and black handkerchiefs to welcome some of the Heads of State and Government who arrived to mourn with them.

Other African leaders who sympathized with the Togolese included Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who is also the Chairman of the African Union (AU), ECOWAS Chairman and Nigerien President Mamdou Tandja, President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin and President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D'Ivoire.

A large crowd of mourners and sympathizers converged at the forecourt of the Togo Congress Hall where the State burial service was held and due to the size of the crowd short circuit television sets were provided for those who could not have access to the hall.