JB goes home March 19

Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region, who was stabbed to death at his Shiashie residence in Accra, will be laid to rest on March 19, 2016, DAILY GUIDE has gathered.

A family source, who confirmed the date to DAILY GUIDE, said the mortal remains of the late JB Danquah-Adu would not be interred at the town’s public cemetery, but rather at his family’s private cemetery at Akyem Tafo, Eastern Region.

According to the source, JB, as he was fondly called, would be the first person among the descendants of his late grandparents – Opanin Acheampong and Obaapanin Animah – to be buried at the said private cemetery, adding that after the burial, the final funeral rites would take place at the WMA Zion Day Senior High School Park.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that advanced preparations were underway at Akyem Old Tafo for the final funeral rites of the late MP, which would commence on March 18 and end on March 20.

The late Abuakwa North MP was murdered on February 9, 2016, prompting the police to launch an investigation which led to the arrest of one Daniel Asiedu aka Sexy Don Don and other suspects. He is in court for prosecution.

The source said the Asene family of JB would officially come out to announce to the public next week the preparations towards his final burial and funeral rites.

The late JB Danquah-Adu, a grandson of the renowned United Party (UP) – antecedent of the New Patriotic Party (NPP – founding member, Dr. JB Danquah, was born on July 2, 1965. He left behind a wife, Ivy Danquah-Adu and two children.

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the Electoral Commission (EC) had announced that there would be a by-election in the Abuakwa North constituency, the electoral body has dismissed reports that it had set April 5 for the election.

The Director of Public Affairs at the Commission, Christian Owusu Parry, said the EC had not taken any decision on the Abuakwa North by-election.

According to him, any date agreed by the EC would be communicated through its usual channels – a press statement. It would also be on the Commission’s website.

However, the Eastern Regional Branch of the New Patriotic Party has questioned the haste by the EC setting a date for a by-election to elect a new Member of Parliament for the constituency.

According to the Regional Vice Chairman, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, in spite of the fact that the EC’s action is backed by the Constitution, based on the horrific manner in which the MP lost his life – which has grieved the entire country – it wouldn’t have been out of place for the Commission to allow at least one month to pass before putting out notice of polls.

Alhaji Bodinga stated that the NPP is nonetheless prepared to recapture the Abukwa North seat which the party has held for more than a decade.