Accra, Dec. 29 GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor was on Thursday officially informed of the death of Nana Kankam Boadu, Gyassehene of Mamfe and the first Ghanaian Chief Executive Officer of the Cocoa Marketing Board now COCOBOD. The late chief, who is credited to have been the brain behind the formation of the Alliance of Cocoa Producers that had given some leverage and voice to the producing countries on the International market, died at the ripe age of 92.

Nana Ansah Sasraku III, Manfehene and Kyidomhene of the Akwapim Traditional Area, who led a delegation of the bereaved family to the Castle, Osu, said, he would be buried at Mamfe on Januray 14, 2006. President Kufuor said the country had really missed a great person. He said if there was any single individual, who had made immeasurable contribution to the growth and development of Ghana's cocoa industry it was the late Nana Kankam. "He was a distinguished Ghanaian, a dedicated citizen and servant, who deserves to be honoured by the State."

President Kufuor, therefore, directed the State Protocol to liaise with the family to ensure that he was accorded a fitting State burial. The late Nana Kankam was an activist of the West African Students Union (WASU) in Britain and together with Ghana's First President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah; Mr Joe Appiah, Former Ambassador Plenipotentiary during the National Redemption Council era, and others spearheaded the agitation for the country's Independence. He died on November 26, and left behind a wife and three children.