Kufuor joins mourners to celebrate one week of late Baah Wiredu's death

Agogo (Ash), Oct.1, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday joined thousands of mourners from all walks of live at the one-week celebration of the death of Ghana's Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu at Agogo in the Asante Akim North District of Ashanti.

The mourners included Mr Ebenezer Bagyina Sakyi Hughes, Speaker of Parliament; Members of the Council of State; Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Officials from Ministries; Departments and Agencies; leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as well as delegations from the other political parties in the country. Also present were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong; Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, Omanhene of Agogo Traditional Area, and other Chiefs from the other parts of the Region. The two wives of the late Finance Minister and their children were also present.

The one week celebration was peaceful with various dance bands and musicians including Nana Kwame Ampadu; Amakye Dede and the Police Band as well as traditional cultural troupes and artists, including Kofi Adu, alias Agya Koo, and Nana Ama Mac Brown performing to the admiration of the mourners.

There were, however, groups of young mourners, who held placards, some of which read: "Andy is not needed here;" "Andy is a murderer;" "Andy is a terrorist;" and "Baa-Wiredu why at this time". They peeped into vehicles that came to the funeral grounds in apparent search for Mr Andy Appiah Kubi, who contested against the late Baa-Wiredu in the NPP Primaries, and whom they accuse of having a hand in the demise the Late Incumbent Member of Parliament. President Kufuor, who was in a traditional mourning cloth, on arrival went to greet the 90-year-old mother of the Late Baah-Wiredu and the family.

From there he came to the funeral grounds to greet the gathering and after sitting down for some seconds the rain started to fall and he had to leave.

President Kufuor presented 10 cartons of Guinness and beer each, 30 crates of soft drinks and two bottles of Schnapps to the bereaved family while the Speaker of Parliament and the Parliamentary Caucus also donated some assorted drinks to the family. The late Finance Minister left the country on September 11, 2008 for a medical check-up in Johannesburg in South Africa but died on Wednesday September 24 2008 after a surgery. He was 56.