Adukrom, Jan. 14, GNA- The mortal remains of the late Air Marshal Michael Akuoku Otu, were on Saturday interred in his family vault at Adukrom Akuapem in the Eastern Region after a burial service at the local Presbyterian Church.
The late Marshal's ashes, encased in a casket draped in the national colours was borne by a gun-carrier and made its way slowly to the sprawling Otu family mansion where it was finally laid to rest.
The cortege wounded slowly from the Bethel Presbyterian Church premises, then through the main Adukrom street preceded by hundreds of military men as trumpets sounded from the funeral grounds. Martial music breezed heavily through the air at Adukrom, interrupted occasionally by booming canons fired intermittently at the funeral grounds.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen. J.B. Danquah, led a large contingent of airmen and regular army officers, reflecting the two units the late Marshal served during his time in the military.
Thousand of mourners who refused to be daunted by Friday's accident involving the military helicopter conveying the corpse from Accra, hailed the late Air Marshal Otu as his casket was hoisted by pall bearers amidst the wailing of family members. Moments after the placing of the casket into the vault, the place was turned into a "shrine" as mourners scramble to take pictures of other prized Otu family members who had had their coffins placed there for ages.
Earlier, the Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Reverend Herbert Opong, in his sermon said the Maker will judge people according to their behaviour on earth and not the circumstances surrounding their deaths as happened in the late Marshal's case.
He said while it would be very difficult to claim to give thanks to God in the midst of such turbulence, God always have a way in the midst of all circumstances and he will bring respite to the sorrowing family and those affected by the tragedy. Several tributes were read on behalf his children, the church and the Ghana Armed Forces, all extolled the virtues of the late Marshal as a generous, disciplined and dedicated person who gave his life to society and community.
Final funeral rites went underway immediately after the burial service to cap a dramatic mourning for the late Air Marshal.
