Asato-Akan(V/R), Feb. 8, GNA - A government delegation led by the Minister of Private Sector Development, Mr Kwamena Bartels, had attended the final funeral rites of the late Okyeame Kofi Asiedu, a Senior Linguist of Asato-Akan in the Kadjebi District of the Volta Region, on Saturday.

Other members of the delegation included the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu Yeboah, the Minister of State of Education, Youth and Sports and Member of Parliament for Kadjebi, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive. Mr Kofi Ntim and some District Chief Executives in the region.

The delegation presented traditional drinks and cash to the bereaved family and the town.

Earlier in the week, the Member of the Council of State and Omanhene of the Kadjebi Traditional Area, Ogyeabour Akompi Finam 11 had led a large retinue of mourners in war dresses to fire musketry as a sign of last respects to the deceased linguist.

Okyeame Asiedu, known in private life as Mr Thomas Kofi Asiedu, died at the age of 103 in February, last year, after serving as linguist for 76 years.

In tributes to the late Okyeame Asiedu, he was credited with playing influential roles with some chiefs in the northern part of the region towards the political, economic and traditional development of the area.

The late linguist was also significant in the creation of the Akan Local Council to establish the political and traditional identity of the Akans in the area.

He was also influential in the unification of the Trans Volta Togoland with the Gold Coast in the Togoland Plebiscite, organized by the United Nations in 1956, the development of the co-operative movement in the area, and the victories of the Convention Peoples Party in pre-independence and subsequent elections till the 1966 coup. The week-long funeral was also attended by delegations of chiefs from traditional areas within and outside the region. 8 Feb. 04