The Funeral Planning Committee has announced for the benefit of the general public that Wednesday, August 8 and Thursday, August 9 – days set aside for the laying in state of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills at the State Banquet Hall - will come off but without any road blocks as is being speculated.
The road blocks and other elaborate vehicular control measures will be carried out only on Friday, August 10, which is the day for the funeral service at the Independence Square.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by a deputy Minister of Information and a member of the Funeral Planning Committee, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, also assured the general public that there are no special invitation cards required for members of the public to pay their last respect to the late President.
“Indeed all Ghanaians from all walks of life are free to file past the mortal remains of President Mills from 1pm on Wednesday the 8th of August, 2012. H.E. John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries including the Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Former Presidents, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corpse are expected to be the first to file past on Wednesday from 11am. The general public resumes viewing from 6am on Thursday the 9th,” the statement added.
The statement also asked all representatives of the National and Regional House of Chiefs and Queen Mothers who are scheduled to pay their last respect at 11 am on Thursday to converge at the VAG Guest House near the Ghana Immigration Service Headquarters in order to be conveyed to the Banquet Hall.
Mr. Ablakwa also announced that under the auspices of the Ministry of Information a special allotment has been made for all media practitioners to pay their last respect on Thursday, August 9 between the hours of 1pm and 2pm. “Media practitioners ought to remember that no form of photography is allowed within the Banquet Hall,” the statement pointed out.
The statement reminded all Ghanaians that “these events are national in character and should be observed as such with the best of conduct and cooperation with security personnel and designated officials.”
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