Limann's funeral fixed for Feb. 28

THE mortal remains of former President Dr Hilla Limann will be interred on February 28 at his home town Gwollu in the Sissala District of the Upper West Region.

This was announced yesterday when a family delegation of the late President called at the Castle, Osu to formally inform President J.J. Rawlings, the government and the people of Ghana of the death of the ex-President.

It has been decided that a joint committee of the family and government should be formed to give the late former President of the Republic a burial according to his wishes.

According to the family, the ex-President expressed the wish before his death that his funeral should be organised in such a way that ordinary Ghanaians can participate effectively in it.The Limann family delegation was led by Kuoro Adu Navai, a sub-chief of the Gwollu Traditional Area.

Receiving the delegation, President Rawlings expressed regret that certain political interests were trying to use the death of the ex-President to create animosity in the society.

He said Dr Limann played his role as an elected President of the Republic and the State owes him a duty to accord him s fitting burial.

President Rawlings said the government is principled enough to accept her mistakes but would not accept any attempts from anyone to distort issues.

He denied that the government neglected the former President and cautioned that if pursued further, the government might be forced to disclose what was done for the ex-President."We should wake up to the fact that there is a bottom line of integrity on which to deal with a fellow man" the President said.

He urged the family to let the government know "how much and how far they want us to be involved."

President Rawlings said the government would be in constant touch with the family and expressed the hope that people who will serve on the joint committee from the family side would be objective and allow for the planning of a fitting burial for the ex-President.

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, enumerated assistances the government had offered the President since he first fell sick last year.

Alhaji Iddrisu said beside some assistance to him at the time, doctors' recommendation was being sought to send the ex-President abroad for treatment when he passed away.He expressed regret that the assistance offered to family members who came down from Gwollu after Dr Limann's death by the government was returned.

The acting Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Nana Ato Dadzie, said it is unfortunate that there are no official structures for resettling former heads of states and their spouses.

He said the present constitution however has provisions which enjoin the President to set up a committee to consider this.

The Acting Chief of Staff said due to the pressure of time on the Greenstreet Committee set up to do the job and the circumstances under which it worked, they could not cover all the areas.

He said the committee has reconvened to consider issues including the resettlement of former Presidents and their spouses.

Kuoro Adu Navai in response said the return of the money and other forms of assistance to the government was not an attempt to reject government assistance.

He explained that under Sissala custom, bereaved families do not accept donations directly and therefore it was decided that all forms of assistance be channelled through the funeral committee.

The Kuoro said the family has no intention of rejecting any government offer nor to embarrass the government.

In another development, a delegation from the Wala Traditional Council and the family of the Wa Na Mumuni Bunduri II called at the Castle to formally inform the President of the death of the Wa Na.

The delegation was led by Poroa Na, Seidu Mumuni.President Rawlings urged the Chiefs of the Traditional area to ensure that a successor is elected peacefully. He warned that the government will not accept any disturbances as a result of the search for a Wa Na.

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