Nathan Quao to be given state burial on April 8

Accra, March 17, GNA - Mr Nathan Anang Quao, a diplomat, educationist and a distinguished public servant, would be given a state burial on Friday, April 8 at La, Accra.

President John Agyekum Kufuor announced this when a delegation of the family of the deceased formally informed the Government of his death at the Castle, Osu.

He said it was good the Government had been officially informed of the death of such a distinguished public servant and an educationist. "All of us are now awake that society should honour its heroes and heroines. It is with such honour that Nathan Quao will be given a state burial."

Nii Osiahene J.A. Quarshie, head of the Anahor family at La who led the delegation, said Mr Nathan Quao served Ghana as a distinguished citizen and served most of Governments. Therefore, it was appropriate the Government was informed of his demise.

Mr Quao, who was 89, was a Presidential Staffer and Adviser in the PNDC Administration. He received many national awards including Member of the Order of the Volta (Civil Division) and the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Civil Division).

Mr Quao born at Adawso in the Eastern Region on November 21, 1915, obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree as an external student from the London University after his elementary and secondary education.

He later obtained a post-graduate certificate at the University College of the Gold Coast and taught at Accra Academy from 1936 to 1951. Mr Quao also held various positions in his teaching career including headmaster of Keta Secondary School from 1953 to 1956 and Acting Principal of the Winneba Training College.

He was also a tutor at the Department of Teacher Training of the Kumasi College of Technology in 1957 and the Extra Mural Department of the University of Gold Coast from 1950 to 1951.

In 1959, Mr Quao joined the Foreign Service and served in Yugoslavia, Canada, France and on Ghana's Permanent Mission to the United Nations and became the Principal Secretary at the Ministry in 1966.

Mr Quao was later transferred to the Office of the National Liberation Council (NLC) where he became Secretary to the Executive Council. He was appointed Secretary to the Presidential Commission in 1969, Secretary to the Council of State in 1970 and subsequently Secretary to the President.

Under the National Redemption Council (NRC), Mr Quao served as the Secretary to the Council and head of the Civil Service and retired in 1973.

However, in 1985 he accepted an appointment as Secretary at the Office of the PNDC and became a Special Assistant to President Jerry John Rawlings in 1993. Mr Quao, who died in Accra on February 15 left behind two children.