Awoonor’s body to be cremated

The body of the late Professor Kofi Nyidevu Awoomor, former Chairman of the Council of State, is to be cremated and the ashes interred at a spot in Wheta, his hometown, in the Volta Region.
According to a testament written by himself, mourners should not wail at his funeral; but that would be difficult, Prof Kofi Anyidoho, Co- chair of the funeral planning committee said on Thursday.

The funeral rites would run from October 3, to October 11; and the final interment of the ashes on November 9.

Prof Anyidoho announced the programme when a family delegation called on Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, at the Flagstaff House, in Accra to formally inform him of the funeral programme of the late literary icon.

The late Prof Awoonor, 78, Poet, Academician and Diplomat died, and his son Afetsi sustained injuries, on Saturday, September 21, in a shooting incident at West Gate Shopping Mall in Kenya.

The Somali terrorist group- al Shabab has claimed responsibility.

His body has since been flown home.

According to Prof Anyidoho, the former Council of State member indicated in a document that there should be two separate ceremonies. The first should not last for more than one hour, “and he took the trouble to itemise what should be done at a cremation ceremony”.

Prof Anyihodo said there was a smile on the face of Prof Awoonor in the mortuary.

He expressed appreciation to the Government, the Council of State, Parliament, the ruling National Democratic Congress, and the Ghana Association of Writers for the show of grief and support.

He said the family was also grateful to Mr Kingsley Karimu, Ghana’s High Commission in Kenya, and Mr Chris Mensah, a Ghanaian working with the United Nation in Kenya for their role in the search and location of the body of the late Professor.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama paid tribute to the Prof Awoonor.

“He was very principled, caring and compassionate and a great role model... We are celebrating a life, not to be mourning for him,” he said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur added: “His was a life well lived, and we thank the Lord for sharing him with us.”

He said Ghanaians would recognise the contribution the late Prof Awoonor made.

He said Government would do what is required to send him off in a most respected way.

Source: GNA/Ghana