Mnangagwa, Ouattara, others to attend Kofi Annan’s funeral

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected in Ghana Thursday, September 13, to attend the final funeral service of the late former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

He will be in the company of a host of other African heads of state including Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, George Weah of Liberia, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger among others, Information Minister designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah stated.

Oppong Nkrumah who was addressing a press conference Monday to announce the schedule of events leading to the burial of the former UN General Secretary further stated that a former head of state of Germany will be leading the German delegation to the event with Switzerland and Finland sending former heads of state.

The remains of the former UN Secretary-General who died on August 18 in Switzerland after a protracted illness, is expected in Ghana at 5 pm, said Oppong Nkrumah and that “President AKufo-Addo will be at the airport to receive the remains.”

Announcing the rundown of the event, he said the International Conference Centre (ICC) will be opened tomorrow, Tuesday at 10am for the general public to come to pay their final respects.

On Wednesday, he said, members of the diplomatic corp are expected to pay their respect at 8 am; Members of Parliament at 8:30 am, Ministers of State at 8: 50 am, members of the Council of State at 9:30 am, Mfantsipim old boys association at 10 am, chiefs and queen mothers at 10:30 am, Father’s family at 11 am, the Akwamuhene and his delegation at 11:40 am and Otumfou Osei Tutu’s delegation at 12pm and then on Thursday the funeral starts at 8 am.

Kofi Annan who was the seventh Secretary-General of the UN, according to the African National Congress (ANC) was an “eminent and distinguished son Africa.”

In a tribute mourning his demise, the ANC noted that he was “a great friend of the people of South Africa who played an immeasurable role in shaping the global agenda in favour of the people of the developing South.”

The ANC further noted that the man, President Akufo-Addo described as “consummate international diplomat” painstakingly utilized his tenure to advance peace and sustainable development while working determinedly to push back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment.

“His was a life well-lived,” President Akufo-Addo stated.