President John Dramani Mahama would be the first person to pay his last respect to the late President John Evans Atta Mills when the body is laid in state at the State House on Wednesday, August 8, at 1600hrs.

He would be followed by the Vice President, Ministers of State, Parliamentarians and the general public, amidst musical and cultural display at the forecourt of the State House from 1800hrs to 12 midnight.

This was announced by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Chairman of the late President Mills Funeral Planning Committee at a press conference in Accra on Friday.

He said the following day, the public viewing would resume at 0600 with members of the National House of Chiefs given the opportunity to pay their last respect followed by the general public.

Tributes would be paid and prayer congregation held in the evening.

Mr Quakyi said the family would perform the final traditional rites and pay their last respect on Friday, August 10 before the body is conveyed to the Independence Square for burial service after which it would be taken to an area between Castle Drive and the Marine Drive in Accra for interment.

He said the day has been declared a public holiday and the book of condolences would be closed at 1800 and resumed on Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14.

The committee has instituted an Operation and Information Centre with 029900-416; 417; 418; 419, for any clarification concerning the funeral arrangement.

In addition, huge screens would be erected at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, El-Wak Stadium, Trade Fair Centre and Kwame Nkrumah Circle for the general public to view the proceedings from the Independence Square.

Some roads including the 28th February Road, High Street, Osu Cemetery Traffic intersection, the Kanda intersection and the Obassanjo Highway would be closed to traffic.

The late President Mills died on Tuesday, July 24 at the 37 Military Hospital after being rushed there when he suddenly fell ill on duty at the Castle, Osu.**