Wa, Feb. 25, GNA - Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama arrived in Wa on Friday morning en route to Lawra as head of the government's delegation to the funeral of the late Naa Abaifaa Karbo, Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area and an immediate former member of the Council of State.

The delegation included, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Acting Minister of Regional Integration and NEPAD and Mr Kofi Adda, Minister of Employment, Youth and Manpower Development.

Mr Clement Eledi, Deputy Minister designate for Food and Agriculture, Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister designate for Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives and some former members of the Council of State were other members of the entourage. They were met at the Wa air strip by Mr Ambrose Dery, the Upper West Regional Minister, heads of departments and government agencies in the region and a large crowd of elated NPP supporters never seen in such numbers to welcome a dignitary to Wa, since the Party assumed power in 2001.

The Vice-President and his entourage were escorted by scores of motorcyclists clothed in party attire to the residency where they were treated to "Damba" and brass band music.

Party activists interviewed by the Ghana News Agency, said their massive turn-out to welcome the Vice-President was to register their appreciation to the wind of positive change that was now blowing in the town and the region in general.

"We are now breathing a new air of freedom and we want to thank the President Kufuor for listening to our cries".

Alhaji Mahama has since left for Lawra, where the late Chief Karbo, who died in Accra on December 11, last year, would be given a state burial in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the nation.