A cousin of the late Kofi Annan has revealed that the former UN Secretary General personally requested that his casket is covered from public view during file past, before he died.

Some Ghanaians have raised concerns over why the remains of Mr. Annan is not displayed in the casket for file past as is the tradition and practice in Ghana. Some have even suggested that the casket – draped in national colours – is just a charade and that the body is not in state as the public has been made to believe.

Responding to the concerns, Isaac Ahuma told Starr News Tuesday that the family is only respecting the wishes of their deceased relative.

“It was his own decision, we have to respect his wish, that is his wish, that is what the man wanted, we have to give respect for what he stands for. It does not take anything away from the ceremony, for as long as what he wanted the family is doing that, I think we are happy with it,” he explained.

Mr. Annan died in Switzerland in August this year.

Meanwhile, filing past is underway at the Accra International Conference Centre where the funeral is being held.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected in Ghana Thursday, September 13, to attend the final funeral service

He will be in the company of a host of other African heads of state including Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, George Weah of Liberia, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger among others, Information Minister designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told the media.