In Ghana, Jerry Rawling’s death aroused popular sentiment. Less than a month after the presidential election, the two main political parties are vying for tributes to the former president.
From our Accra correspondent,
Since death of “JJ Rawlings”Went into Ghana a period of national mourning. The two main parties vying for the presidency, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have suspended their campaigns for seven days until November 20.
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But three weeks before the election, partisan quarrels remain. The NPP and the NDC accuse each other of instrumentalizing Jerry Rawling’s death for election purposes. Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo, also an NPP candidate, visited the family of the deceased with great fanfare. He announced that the latter would receive a state funeral.
Men NDC, was founded by Rawlings in 1992 and is today managed by John Mahama, feels upset. Its general secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, condemned “an attempt by an opponent to hijack the funeral of the founder of our political party”.
The opposition party therefore organized its own funeral tribute: a condolence book was drawn up at the party’s headquarters and a funeral service was held on Sunday in Accra. The NDC was able to organize a funeral for the late president alongside the national funeral. A member of the party communication, Stephen Atubiga, even threatened to “dig up the remains” of the Rawlings after his national funeral to bury him again, this time under the leadership of the NDC.
► Read also: Jean-Baptiste Placca Week: Rawlings, a black star in the sky
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