Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia was leader of the government delegation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Sunday night, February 19, to receive the mortal remains of Christian Atsu.
Reports indicate that president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would have led the delegation but for the fact that he is out of the country at the moment.
Other notable faces at the VIP section of KIA included Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister for Sanitation and deputy Sports and Foreign Affairs Ministers.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) also had a high-powered delegation at Terminal 2 of the KIA, where the Turkish Airlines flight that brought him in reached the tarmac.
The first sight of Atsu's coffin showed six soldiers carrying the remains draped in the national colours of red, gold, green with the Black Star.
They marched from the plan and placed the coffin on a holder, following which prayers were said by two priests and an Imam.
Speeches were subsequently delivered by the head of the Tswasam family, the GFA's Secretary General, Prosper Harrison-Addo and the Vice President.
According to reports, the body after being formally received was taken to the 37 Military Hospital.
The family is in full attendance as there are football fans in their numbers. GhanaWeb's correspondent on the ground also confirmed a heavy security presence at the airport.
Watch a livestream of UTV at the KIA