All white attire for Jake's funeral; burial to be private

Funeral of the former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, will be held on Friday, April 22 at the Forecourt of the State House.

The family, which announced this to President John Dramani Mahama also said his burial would be strictly held in private.

Family members of the late Chairman of the NPP were at the seat of government, Flagstaff House, to inform the president of planned activities of his burial.

Leader of the delegation and family head of the Obetsebi family, Nii Lantey Otswedja I, outlined a number of activities earmarked to celebrate the life of Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

“The first part will be pre-burial service,” Nii Lantey said.

“It will be a celebration of his life at the Ridge Church on the 21st of April from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. On the 22nd of April at 9:00am, the president, the government we thank you for offering us the forecourt of the State House, where we shall have burial, thanksgiving services and a family meeting thereafter. Burial will be private. The dress code for that day will be purely white.”

President Mahama said Jake Obetsebi Lamptey fairly contributed his quota to national development.

“Even though we belonged to the opposite sides of the political divide, I believe he contributed his quota to the consolidation of Ghana’s democracy from the period when he worked as campaign chairman of President Kufuor leading to Kufuor’s victory in the 2000 elections to the period when he became chairman of the party [and] even after the period when he contested as flagbearer of the party.

“Jake has always been a voice of reason when tempers have been high. He has always made sure there is a channel through which the two parties could communicate behind the scenes when things got a bit hot to be able to lower the political temperature of the country.”

Jake Obestebi Lamptey was Chief of Staff under President Kufuor and also Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City.

He was also a former chairman of the NPP.

He died in London after a short illness

He was 70.