CONTRARY TO expectations, President John Dramani Mahama would not be at the funeral of the late David Lamptey, one of the major financiers of the party he leads, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) slated for today.

The President left the country Thursday night for London, in the United Kingdom to attend the launch of a Foundation established by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

A statement issued by Presidential spokesman John Jinapor said “President Mahama will return to Accra on Sunday February 10, 2013, after engaging some sections of the European media to further promote Ghana as the political and business destination in Africa.”

It is President Mahama’s sixth trip outside the country after his swearing in on January 6, 2013.

Meanwhile, a full page paid advert placed in the Tuesday, February 5, 2013, of the state-owned Daily Graphic said “come join H.E President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC fraternity, Christian Action Faith family, the Lamptey, Bentsil and Nkansah families, and the Sidalco group of companies to mourn the late Hon. David Lamptey which sad event occurred on 5th December 2012.”

Family sources have however told DAILY GUIDE, they are not the least enthused about the President’s decision not to attend the funeral since he made them to change the date earlier set for the funeral and rescheduled to today to fit into his programme.

It therefore came us a surprise not to the family alone but key party members when they heard news of the President’s decision to travel to the UK to witness the launch of a Foundation of the former Nigerian head of state who led a team of African Union (AU) and ECOWAS officials to observe the December 2012 general elections which has become a matter of raging controversy.

This was in view of the fact that David Lamptey was one of the major financiers of the NDC in the recent elections, and particularly financed all the John Mahama groups in the NDC during the campaign.

Strangely, Mr Lamptey, a generous individual to a fault, died two days before the election.

His generosity extended to sponsoring virtually the various interest groups including the Youth for Mahama (YFM) and other such groups which were set up to campaign for Mahama in the run up to the elections and even supported some of the smaller political parties, giving their leaders cross country vehicles.

The funeral arrangement is as follows: filing past has been scheduled to take place this morning between 6:00am and

9:00am while funeral and thanksgiving service would take place at the forecourt of Parliament House with interment set for the Osu cemetery.

A reception has also been scheduled for the Banquet Hall of the State House and the International Conference Centre.

Until his untimely death, David Lamptey was the owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Radio XYZ and Sidalco Group of Companies.

He once served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Korle Klottey Constituency, at Osu in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of NDC after decamping from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He is credited for introducing new brands of liquid fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity in the country.

His company, Sidalco Limited, is a pioneering market leader in liquid fertilizers in Ghana with sub-regional reach and continental aspirations.