President expresses gratitude to those who mourned with him

Hundreds of mourners thronged the Forecourt of the State House, to join President John Dramani Mahama and his family for the final funeral rites of his mother, Hajia Abiba Nnaba Suluwu.

The late Hajia Nnaba, 85, died in June this year.

The occasion was heralded by different types of drumming and dancing representing the numerous ethnic groups in the country and beyond.

The programme was attended by Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur and his spouse Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, former First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills and Hajia Ramatu Aliu, wife of late and former Vice President Aliu Mahama.

Also in attendance was the leadership of all the political parties, members of the diplomatic corps and government delegations from the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo among other countries.

Chiefs and delegations from various ethnic groups in the country were also represented at the funeral grounds.

Various tributes and Islamic funeral procedures were carried out to accord her the final respect in her journey to the unknown world.

Well wishers and sympathisers also showered their praises onto the late Hajia Nnaba and her family.

Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam in a prayer of exhortation commended Ghanaians for their peaceful co-existence especially a country with so many ethnic groups and religions.

To maintain the peaceful co-existence, the chief Imam called on Ghanaians to avoid bickering and backbiting and other vices that could plunge the country into a state of insecurity.

He appealed to the Mahama family to be consoled by the fact that”our mother and grandmother will be in the blossom almighty Allah”.

President Mahama who was his wife Lordina Mahama, in an appreciative speech commended Ghanaians for their support since the death of his mother.

"My mother was a responsible woman who cared so much for everybody and I want to thank all of you for showing your love to me even in times of grief to me and my family."

Hajia Nnaba popularly known as Maame because of her impeccable cooking skills was born in Busunu in the West Gonja District in the Northern Region on March 6, 1931 to Tindana Suluwu and Bonshewu Buranishi Awu both of Busunu.