General News of Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Source: GNA

Mad Rush To View Mortal Remains Of Late President

Ghanaians from all corners of the country turned their attention to the Banquet Hall of the State House to view and pay their last respects to the mortal remains of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

Mr Daniel Apasu, a teacher at the Anfoega Senior High School, who was in the queue to view the mortal remains of the late President Mills, told the Ghana News Agency that he came down from Ho in the Volta Region purposely to pay his last respects to his mentor.

He said on his way to Accra, he envisaged how the State House would be especially when the announcement of certain roads to be closed and that he did not know that the public would be given the opportunity to view the late President Mills' mortal remains, therefore, it came to him as a relief when the public were invited.

“I was at Osu around 12:30 watching television at a friend's house when l heard the announcement that the public will be allowed to pay their last respects and l quickly rush in,” he said.

He said earlier when the news of the demise of the late President Mills was announced, their moral was down but now he could see that the tension had reduced and the country is united.

“I am happy that everybody is waiting patiently in the queue for his/her turn and to ensure that the mortal remains of the late President Mills reaches its final destination,” he said.

“l will like to advise Ghanaians to live well for good testimony while they are alive because the good book teaches us that honour is given to those who honour is due,” he said.

Mr Apasu said the late President Mills wrote his own testimony while alive and that it is important that Ghanaians lived exemplary lives for people speak well of them upon their demise.

Earlier, the diplomatic community had their turn to file pass the mortal remains of the late President Mills to show their last respects.

As at 1700, the queue started from the traffic light near the Osu cemetery and everybody dressed in their mourning cloths waiting patiently for their turn.

Meanwhile, the Banquet Hall of the State House would be closed to the public at 1900, and a night of vigil to commence until midnight.