Confusion: As Gov’t Beats Hasty Retreat From Burying Rawlings on December 23rd

The Akufo-Addo administration has beaten a hasty retreat from its announced fixture of December 23rd as the day for the funeral rites for former President Jerry John Rawlings.

After lawyers from the family of Mr. Rawlings wrote to protest the government’s decision to decide the funeral rites without proper recourse to the family, Jubilee House has written back allowing the families the duty to decide the date for the funeral of the late former President.

A letter from the Office of the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare to lawyers at Vordiagu, Dzeble & Co, communicated the government’s decision to take a back seat and only come in after the family has decided on a date.

“The President believes that the obligation of the Government to accord the former President of the Republic, His Excellency, the Late Jerry John Rawlings a befitting State burial is inviolable and, as such, at the appropriate time this should happen,” Jubilee House Chief of Staff Frema Opare wrote.

“In light of the above, and taking note of issues raised by your clients, the President would be grateful if the families of the late President could resolve all outstanding matters and convey to the office of the President an agreed date for his funeral, for the necessary action to be taken as soon as possible.”

The letter was dated 10th December 2020 and by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

Lawyers E.A.Vordoagu and Osafo Buabeng are referenced in the letter as lawyers for the Office of Awadada of Anlo and the Agbotui family, to which Mr. Rawlings belonged.

Earlier, controversy had erupted after the government had announced December 23rd as the date for the funeral of the late former President. As it turned out, the head of the funeral planning committee, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho had not secured the consent of the family of the late President.

Neither had he secured the consent of traditional rulers of Anlo who had installed the late former President as one of the many chiefs of Anlo before his passing.

The mix-up had led to angry protests from the traditional rulers in particular who complained of being disrespected. Later the Office of the Awadada of Anlo would write to President Akufo-Addo asking for time for the proper traditional rites to be carried out before the State funeral.