President Akufo-Addo has officially announced the sudden demise of the 1st President of the 4th Republic, Jerry John Rawlings.
In an official statement signed by the president, he highlighted the time of death of the former president, and further declared a seven-day of national mourning.
“It is with great sadness that I announce to the nation that the 1st President of the 4th Republic, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, has joined his ancestors,” the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said.
President Akufo-Addo further noted that, “this tragic event occurred at 10:10 am on Thursday, 12th November 2020, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the former President was receiving treatment, after a short illness”.
He expressed his “deep sympathies of government and the people of Ghana to his wife, the former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the children, and family of the late President, in these difficult times”.
National flags flying at half-mast
President Akufo-Addo has further directed all flags in the country to fly at half-mast and has declared 7 days of national mourning.
“I have directed that all national flags should fly at half-mast for the next seven (7) days in all parts of the country, and have declared seven days of national mourning from Friday, 13th November to Friday, 20th November”.
NPP Suspends campaigns
Meanwhile, political campaigns of the NPP have been suspended in memory of Jerry John Rawlings.
“In honour of the memory of former President Rawlings, the Vice President and I have suspended our political campaigns for the same period,” a portion of the statement stated.
“Government will work closely with the family of President Rawlings on the arrangement for a fitting State Funeral for the late President, and will keep the nation informed accordingly. A great tree has fallen, and Ghana is poorer for this loss,” President Akufo-Addo added.
The former President died on Thursday morning at the age of 73.
