GENERAL NEWS

VIDEO: Rawlings lies in state at the Accra International Conference Centre

The mortal remains of former President Jerry John Rawlings is lying in state at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

The body the late former President, who rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and a pilot in the Ghana Air Force, was dressed in Ghana Air Force ceremonial uniform (light blue) with his badges and medals pinned to his breathless chest.

The coffee-brown coffin, which contains the remains of the former President, is placed on a catafalque, surrounded by white flowers, propped on a red carpet with a glass screen to aid public viewing.

A source at the Ministry of Information told the Ghana News Agency that as a former Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, his body will be guarded by four catafalque guards, which consist of colonels.

The Ghana Prison Services and the Ghana National Fire Service provided the background music for the filing past.

Seated on the right side of the foyer were Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, his widow and childhood sweetheart, their children, Colonel Joshua Agbotui (retired), the Head of the late former President’s family and other family members.

Hundreds of mourners clad in black and wearing facemasks, due to the coronavirus pandemic, filed past the remains of the former President to pay their last respect to him.
Some the mourners were in attires embossed with his portraits.

Three cultural troupes, namely the Nananom Kete Cultural Troupe based in Accra, the Abirem Kete Cultural Troupe and the Eferitete Cultural Troupe, both from Kumasi performed the kete dance in honour of the departed hero.

The building of the AICC had two giant portraits of the late former President on it.

The national flags within the premises of the AICC were all flying at half-mast.

The four-day state funeral, which began on Sunday, January 24, would have the main funeral event taking place at the Black Star Square in Accra on Wednesday, January 27.

The former President passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at age of 73.


Source: GNA

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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