Akufo-Addo decrees state burial for Kofi Annan in Accra; wants it on Sept. 13

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the late former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, will receive a state burial.

The president, who was speaking on Friday when the family of the late former UN Secretary General paid a courtesy call on him to officially announce the death, said Kofi Annan deserves a befitting burial.

“I think that the Ghanaian people expect that a man of his stature and record should be given full honours by the state of Ghana, so I have decreed that he should have a state funeral.”

He described Kofi Annan’s death as a loss to the entire country, since he represented Ghana very well on the international front.

President Akufo-Addo also proposed September 13, 2018 as the date for the final funeral rites and burial of the late international diplomat.

The family spokesperson of the late Kofi Annan, Isaac Hooper, stated that the family was in agreement with the proposed date by the president.

According to him, the late UN Secretary General is a state asset, hence, the family will liaise with the state to ensure that he is given a befitting burial.

He stated that the burial of the late Kofi Annan goes beyond the Ghanaian people wanting to pay their last respect to him, and that leaders the world over will join Ghanaians to mourn him.

“It is going to be a major event for our country, because already I have received telephone calls from leaders across the world expressing condolence, and I suspect they are going to be present.”

President Akufo-Addo also announced that a committee will be set up to be responsible for the organization of the funeral.

He further said it will be appropriate for the late UN Secretary General to be laid to rest at the new military cemetery at Burma Camp which has been designated for the burial of statesmen.

The late Kofi Annan passed away on Saturday, August 18 in Switzerland after a short illness.