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Opinions of Sunday, 29 July 2012

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

Flagstaff House Should Not Be A Cemetry

Sarpong, Justice

It has now been announced that President Mills will be interred at the Flagstaff house after the NDC administration had consulted the Mills family, that to me is a bad decision. First, why do we have to bury him in Accra? Can we send the President remains to his hometown of Otuam in Central Region to have an eternal rest with the rest of his family?

The way our custom is in Ghana, we should come out with a better way to bury our Presidents. Mills did not like the Flagstaff house when he was alive so why do we have to punish the man by burying him at place he did not care for? Secondly, I think it is a bad precedent to set by burying People at the seat of government because Flagstaff/Jubilee house will eventually become the seat of government.

In USA, only President Woodrow Wilson is buried in Washington D,C proper, the rest are buried at their home states or Arlington National cemetry. I don't think any British Prime Minister is buried at the number 10 Downing street either.

Are we going to bury Naadu at the Flagstaff house when the Good Lord finally call the first Lady home? Can't we do something where former Presidents of our country are buried at the same place with their Wives? President Mills family should insist of burying him at Otuam where a mausoleum should be built, gated and become a tourist attraction for people to come and see their Hero with a little fees charged to develop the town. It will also boost the local economy as visitors will spend money on food and lodging to provide the town with much needed infrastructure.

It is not too late to change this decision. Did the President put in his WILL that he should be buried in Accra? This is what the family should be doing instead of blaming others for killing President Mills.

Justice Sarpong

Houston, Texas

(CARDINAL of TRUTH)