President Mills eulogises Bimi

Accra, July 29, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday eulogised Mr Laary Bimi, the late Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) describing him as a 91patriot and hard worker.' Mr Bimi, who died last week at the age of 66, has been buried in accordance with Muslim traditions, but the one week funeral rites come off in Accra on Saturday, July 30.

President Mills said the Government would participate to give him a fitting funeral.

He said: 93As a government and nation, we must honour our heroes. We= 'll make it possible to give him a fitting funeral. Government will be very wel= l represented to show that we appreciate the contributions of Ambassador Bimi= .. May he rest in perfect peace."

The President paid the tribute when a delegation of family members and a representation from the NCCE called on him at the Osu Castle to formally announce the funeral of Mr Bimi.

President Mills expressed the condolence of the Government to the family. He recalled that he met Mr Bimi in 1971, when he (President Mills) started teaching, and incidentally, Mr Bimi and Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, who accompanied the delegation, happened to be his students at the University of Ghana. They then met again when Mr Bimi was Ghana's Ambassador to Guinea. President Mills said the nation had lost a son who exemplified the best, and described him as 93someone who rendered selfless service to the Nation and was forthright without hesitating to express his views." Mr Bimi also stood for peace, the President said, and called on the family to be proud of associating with such a person.

Mr John Newman, Chief of Staff, said the Mr Bimi stood for what was right, adding that the memos submitted by the NCCE in the recent Constitution Review Exercise were highly appreciated. The delegation included Dr Benson Kuunlaar, family spokesperson and Mr= s Augustina Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson of NCCE.

The family, the Nanumba Community in Accra and the NCCE expressed appreciation to Government for the support since the passing away of the Chairman.