Accra, July 26, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday described the late Mr Justice Francis Daniel Annan as a "great judge, great statesman, great jurist and a fine gentleman".

He said Justice Annan was a man of courage and conviction, "when I visited him at the 37th Military Hospital I could sense that he knew the end had come but he was not perturbed".

Mr Sekyi Hughes was hosting the First Speaker of the Fourth Republic, Mr Justice Annan's family, who had called on him to announce his death officially.

The family members, who were clad in mourning clothes, presented two bottles of schnapps to the Speaker to perform the "Yarakeemo", a Ga ceremony of announcing the death of a person. Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, Leader of the delegation, said they intended to celebrate the final funeral rites of Mr Justice Annan in the latter part of September 2006.

Mr Abraham Osei Aidoo, the Deputy Majority Leader, said: "His in depth knowledge of the law made him a wonder. He was a perfect gentleman and would definitely go down as an architect of our young democracy."

He said as a Lawyer and later as a Member of Parliament, "I learnt a lot from Justice Annan".

Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, described the late Speaker "as a living example of dedicated service and humility. "He listened more than he talked and nobody would devaluate the quality of this excellent jurist. In the beginning of our journey as a Parliament when most of us were beginners and needed somebody to take us through, he was there to offer a hand."

The Minority Leader said: "He left us legacies. He served the country loyally without thinking about his personal interest. I think this is a lesson for public servants; if you want to make money go into business."

Justice Annan rose through the ranks to become an Appeal Court Judge before retiring to private life, which was short-lived as he was invited by the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to help in the management of the country.

He was elected the First Speaker of the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic. His mandate was extended to cover the Second Parliament, which ended on January 6 2001. 26 July 06