State burial for Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), in collaboration with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have indicated that, former Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics icon Jones Attuquayefio, will be given a befitting burial.

A tentative arrangement of a state burial was announced by the GFA and the Ministry when a high powered delegation from the two bodies, visited the bereaved family at its Kaneshie residence in Accra yesterday.

Dr Mustapha Arhmed Minister for Youth and Sports said “We are here to commensurate the family on the demise Sir Jones. We feel the same pain as the family and we would like to express our condolence to the family and the football fraternity.

“We are considering a state burial for him but we will team up with the family on that.” The minister noted.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of GFA, described death as a blow to his family and the nation as a whole.

He said the GFA, will play an instrumental role in the funeral arrangement of the renowned coach.

The deceased elder brother and family spokesman Naakpei Attuquayefio described the tragic event as good riddance taking into account the pain Sir Jones went through few weeks to his death.

“He suffered before dying, so it was good he left us, we realized his body was changing three weeks ago so we rushed him to Korle-Bu, the medical officers tried so hard but he gave up the ghost last Tuesday.

“We take consolation in the fact that he paid his dues; your presence here is a clear testimony of what he did for his family and country. We are relieved with the announcement of you giving him a befitting burial. At least a fraction of our burden is taken off our shoulders.” He noted.

Other members of the delegation were; Joe Kpenge, Director General of the National Sports Authority, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Deputy Sports Minister, GFA Executive Committee members-George Afriyie, Felix Ansong, Linea Addy, coach Francis Oti Akenteng, Charles James Aryeh, CEO Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence signed the book of condolence.

Attuquayefio, 70, suffered a protracted cancer of the throat ailment died last Tuesday. He is survived by a wife and four children.