Vice President joins Ahmadis for burial of Opanin Hammond

Ekumfi Ekrawfo (C/R), Nov. 11, GNA - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday joined hundreds of Ahmadiyya faithfuls from all walks of life at Ekumfi Ekrawfo in the Central Region to celebrate the Janaza (burial prayers) for the late Opanin Tahir Kwesi Hammond. The late Hammond, who died last Tuesday after a short illness at the age of 80, was the father of Mr K.T. Hammond, the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa and Deputy Minister of Energy. The Vice President who delivered President Kufuor's personal sympathy and condolence to the Deputy Minister and the entire bereaved family, was accompanied by a number of Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, MPs, District Chief Executives and New Patriotic Party functionaries.

They included Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports; Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment; Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines; and Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister.

Others included Mr Akwasi Afrifa, MP for Fomena; Mr Joe Boampong, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive; Mr Richard Anane Adabor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Upper Denkyira; Mr Peter K. Ameyaw, the Adansi North DCE; and Mr Francis Dorpenyoh, DCE for Adansi South. Addressing the large crowd including non-Ahmadis mostly from the Adansi State before the burial, the Vice President described the late Hammond as a pious man.

Alhaji Mahama said Opanin Hammond was personally known to the President, adding, "in one of our 2000 campaigns, we reached Adansi Asokwa constituency and this very pious man served us meals that day." Alhaji Mahama called on the people to consistently pray for the soul of the late Hammond so that he enjoyed "a perfect rest." The Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Mauliana Abdul Wahab Bin Adam said Tahir Hammond was affable and had many friends in the country.