All is set for the public viewing of the body of the late former president Jerry John Rawlings at the Accra International Conference Centre from today.
Activities marking the final send-off began yesterday with a requiem Mass by the Catholic Church at Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka and a vigil organised by the Ghana Air Force at the Air Force Officers’ Mess in Accra.
The mortal remains of the former president will be laid in state at the Accra International Conference Centre on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 January and a detailed programme has been laid out for members of the public and other state institutions to pay their respects.
A statement issued by the office of the former president said the burial service, which will take place at Black Star Square on Wednesday 27 January, will be open only to guests who have been invited to the event.
It says due to the strict COVID-19 protocols in place, members of the public are encouraged to be seated by 7am to allow a smooth commencement of the funeral processes and arrival of special guests from 7.30am.
Officiating clergy for the ceremony will include the Most Reverend r. Paul Boafo, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams (Action Chapel International), Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale Diocese, and Rt Rev K Osabutey, Methodist Bishop of Accra. Also supporting will be clergy from the Ghana Armed Forces.
Rawlings died on Thursday 12 November 2020 after a short illness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Below are the details of the programme.
MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2021
Lying in State at the Accra International Conference Centre
8am – 8.30am – Heads of security agencies
8.30am – 9am – Leaders of political parties
9am – 10am – National Democratic Congress
10am – 11am – Staff from the Office of President Rawlings
11am – 12 noon – Traditional and religious Leaders
12 noon – 6pm – General public
TUESDAY 26 JANUARY 2021
Lying in State at the Accra International Conference Centre
9am – 10am – President and First Lady
Vice-President and Second Lady
Former presidents and spouses
Spouses of former presidents and
vice-presidents
Chief of Staff
Secretary to the President
Secretary to the Cabinet
Heads and former heads of
constitutional Bodies
10am – 10.30am – Speaker, former Speakers and Members of Parliament
10.30am – 11am – Chief Justice, former Chief Justices and Justices of the Supreme Court
11am – 11.30am – Former chairmen and former members of the Council of State Former Ministers of State
11.30am – 12.30pm Members of the Diplomatic Corps
12.30pm – 1.30pm Organised groups
1.30pm – 4.30pm General public
WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2021
State Funeral at Black Star Square
6.30am – 7.30am – Arrival of members of the public
7.30am – Arrival of cortège
9.10am – Burial service starts
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