The Vice President Alhaji Alui Mahama on Sunday led a large government delegation to the final funeral rites of the late Alhaji Mahamadu Maida, Former Northern Regional chairman of the NDC, who died in Tamale on February 21.

The delegation included Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, the Interior Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Idrissu Ali, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Developemnt, Dr. Majeed Haroon, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and Prince Imoro Andani, Northern Regional Minister.

President John Agyekum Kufuor donated one million cedis, two bags of rice and two crates of soft drinks to the bereaved family, while the Vice President, Alhaji Mahama also donated 1.2 million cedis and five bags of rice to the family.

In a tribute, Vice President Mahama described the late Alhaji Maida as a kind man, honourable and very persuasive, saying, "these qualities of Alhaji Maida are worthy of emulation". The former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings also led a large delegation of NDC officials to pay their last respect to their former Regional chairman.

The NDC delegation included Dr. Obed Asamoah, Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Former Presidential Adviser on Governmental Affairs, Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Issifu Ali, National Co-chairman of the NDC and Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary.

Former President Rawlings donated two million cedis to the bereaved family and gave two hundred thousand cedis to the Muslims who recited the Koran for the late regional chairman. The NDC donated two million cedis, one cow, one bag each of maize and rice and crates of assorted soft drinks to the family.

The Northern Regional NDC Secretariat donated one bag each of maize and rice and two million cedis to the family. Dr. Obed Asamoah on his own behalf donated one million cedis to the family of the late chairman.

In a tribute, Flt. Lt. Rawlings said the principles that the late Alhaji Maida stood for would forever remain alive and described him as a man full of values that cut across all political lines, noting that, that was why both NPP and NDC were present at his funeral.

The former President suggested to the Tamale Municipal Authority to consider naming one of the streets in the municipality after Alhaji Maida as an honour for his good works.