Accra, July 15, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday visited the East Legon residence of the late Air Marshal John Asamoah Bruce (rtd), a former Chief of Air Staff, and condoled with his family.

He paid tribute to the late Air Marshall Bruce as ‘a distinguished pilot,’ and urged the family to be comforted by the fact that they associated with somebody who made them proud.

He extolled the excellence with which the late Air Marshal performed his duties and gave thanks to God for His gift of such a person.

President Mills intimated that he did not like flying, but the late pilot, who always wore a smile, made him like flying.

“He would relax you and crack jokes with you,” he recalled. “I want to make one request of you; be of good cheer, be courageous. Take consolation from the fact that he did his assignment well.”

The late Air Marshall, who was Chairman of the Ghana Prisons Service Council, enlisted in the Ghana Air Force in 1961.

He passed away in Accra last May at 74, leaving behind a wife and seven children.

President Mills, who later signed the Book of Condolence, said the pilot was a friend and the Government would perform its role in his funeral.

According to a family spokesperson, the funeral service would be held at the Garrison Methodist Presbyterian Church on July 22, to be followed by burial at the Osu Cemetery.

The funeral rites would continue at the Air Force Officers’ Mess after the burial.

There would also be a memorial service at the Suhum All Saints Anglican Church on August 7.

Meanwhile, President Mills has interacted with teachers and pupils of the Agortormie Methodist Basic School from the Agbozome in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region.

The teachers and pupils were taken on a tour of the seat of Government, the Castle, otherwise known as the Christianborg Castle, built in the 1660s by the Danish.

They were led by Mrs Phyllis Agbemenu, headmistress of the school.

President Mills took time and shook hands with the teachers and pupils and wished them well in their studies.