Ivory Coast on Wednesday pays tribute to its Prime Minister, who died last week, Hamed Bakayoko, who died of cancer at the age of 56. A charismatic and popular character, admired for his career and also appreciated for his ease in outlining a few dance steps on occasion. Like the character, tribute to him is both official and popular, and it began with a presidential ceremony.
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as reported from Abidjan, Pierre Pinto
The President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, presented the Ivorian flag to the widow of the late Prime Minister Yolande Bakayoko. End of a very solemn ceremony that took place in front of an audience of Ivorian and foreign officials, and where military honors and remembrance of high personalities followed each other. Among them were several heads of state such as the Ghanaian Nana Akufo-Addo, the Burkinabè Roch Marc Christian Kaboré or the Bissau-Guinea’s Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
The Ministers for Youth, Amadou Touré and Culture, Raymonde Goudou Coffie, spoke to emphasize political loyalty d’Hamed Bakayoko, look back on his atypical career and remember its strength, endurance and closeness to especially young people and artists. Then Alassane Ouattara decorated the late Prime Minister and elevated him to the dignity of the Grand Cross of the National Order, the highest honor in the Ivory Coast.
Thereafter, the funeral speech was delivered by Adama Toungara, the Republic’s mediator and predecessor to Hamed Bakayoko at Abobo City Hall. “Ivory Coast in towns and villages mourns Hamed Bakayoko, one of its most famous sons, connection between government and opposition, mediator between generations … His multi-denominational family is an example of living together,” said Adama Toungara in particular. .
The ceremonies in memory of the late Prime Minister will continue on Wednesday afternoon with a political tribute first followed by an evening of artistic vigilance until dawn at the Ebimpé Stadium in Anyama.
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