Accra, May 3, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife Theresa joined the large crowd of mourners who thronged the forecourt of the State House to pay their last respects to the late Madam Rebecca Hawa Yakubu, first National Vice Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), at a pre-burial service on Thursday.

Among them were Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and his wife Rahmatu, Madam Fulera Limann, widow of former President Dr Hilla Limann, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps.

Also present were the leadership of the NPP and representatives of some opposition political parties including Dr Obed Yao Asamoah of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and Dr Edward Mahama, the 2004 Presidential Candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC). Nigeria's outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf sent delegations.

President Kufuor dressed in black, filed past the body, which lay in a casket placed under a white lace bedecked canopy. In a tribute read for him by Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the President said by her death Ghana had lost a fearless voice on issues of great national concern. "She was no slave to partisan cause. She was independent minded, an inspiration and role model for women."

President Kufuor observed that outspoken as the late Madam Hawa Yakubu was, she still endeared herself o many for her objectivity.

Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of NPP, in a tribute noted that Hawa had been close to many individuals in the NPP but her umbilicus was firmly attached to her mother's Nkrumaist placenta. However, she was never a card carrying member of the CPP. "Hawa's life was characterized by achievements that led to recognition world wide."

Mr. Mac Manu said the party was looking forward to her dazzling platform performance for 2008 elections.

"Hawa, your departure has been a real blow to the NPP...we will honour your name with victory in 2008."

Derrick Ayebo, her son, in a tribute mentioned the many attributes of her mother, saying she was selfless and dedicated her life to others. "The Iron Lady, Hawa Yakubu, but to us she was still mummy. God really gave us a loving, caring, honest, God-fearing, reliable, beautiful gift in the form of Hawa Yakubu," Derrick said.