Pink sheets at ex-minister’s funeral

The General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly called Sir John, sent mourners laughing their lungs out at the family home of the late Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris.

Sir John who was invited to speak on behalf of the party, based his first words from the infamous “Pink Sheet” comment of “You and I were not there” attributed to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during cross-examination at the Supreme Court.

He jokingly told the gathering that, from the surface of his pink sheet, they were not there when the minister passed away a couple of weeks ago at the 37 military hospital.

The comment sparked spontaneous laughter among the crowd that had converged to pay their last respect to the former Northern Regional Minister.

The NPP scribe recounted how the former minister contributed significantly to the improvement of the party’s fortunes and described his demise as indeed a big blow to the party.

According to him, the party was yet to get out of the shock about the sudden death of Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, and, therefore, appealed to the family to take heart since they were not alone in these trying times of grief.

He later presented a cash of GH¢52,000 on behalf of the party and other functionaries, to the bereaved family, and assured them of the NPP’s continuous support.

A former Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpianim who spoke on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor, praised the former minister for his enthusiasm to serve his people when there was the opportunity for him to serve the country in other capacities.

He said he was the man of the people and an ambitious leader poised to bring transformational leadership to the people of the north.

A delegation from government and other political leaders including Dr Foster Abu Sakara of the CPP were also present to console the bereaved family.

Many dignitaries including former ministers of state, MPs, MMDCEs, the diplomatic community, traditional rulers and residents of the region were all in attendance.

The former Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, died late last Sunday June 2, 2013m at the 37 Military Hospital.

The remains was flown into Tamale, and a massive Islamic burial ceremony was held for him at the Tamale Central Mosque on Monday June 3, 2013, before he was finally interred at the public cemetery off the Kumasi road.

Even at the final funeral rites, several mourners could not help but shed tears as goodwill and consolation messages poured in by various groups who were directly linked to the minister.

The former Northern regional Minister who died from an undisclosed sickness he has been battling with while on admission at the 37 Military Hospital in the national capital, Accra, was a staunch member of the New Patriotic Party.

He served as Works and Housing Minister and also as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in President John Agyekum Kufuor's administration.