Accra, July 19, GNA -- Former President Jerry John Rawlings was at the bedside of the Former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan before be passed away last Sunday, a statement from the Office of the Former President said on Wednesday.

The statement signed by Mr Victor Smith, Special Assistant and Director of Public Affairs of the Office of the Former President's Office, said the Former President Rawlings left the country on Sunday night to fulfil various engagements abroad and would pay 93his own tribute to his valued colleague=94 on his return.

"All those, who have worked with Justice D.F. Annan, whether during his distinguished career on the Bench, as a member and de facto Deputy Chairman of the PNDC, and as the driving force behind the National Commission for Democracy, as the Speaker of Parliament and as a member of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will attest to his stature as a man of integrity and honour committed to the meaningful transformation of the nation.

The statement said Mr Justice Annan was one of the people, who could truly give Ghanaians cause to say 93I am proud to be a Ghanaian

Mr Justice Annan, 77, died at the 37th Military Hospital on Sunday.