Rawlings, Nana Konadu mourn with Ofosu-Amaah Family
Former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings Friday called on the Ofosu-Amaah family to commiserate with them over the loss of Paatii Ofosu-Amaah, who passed away on April 13, 2016 after a short illness.
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Until his until death, Paatii Ofosu-Amaah was a member of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel facilitating negotiations between the Republics of Sudan and South Sudan and had previously worked for the World Bank for close to 30 years.
The former President was particularly apologetic that he missed the funeral of the deceased, which took place in Accra on Thursday May 12 and blamed it on the failure of his office to make the necessary arrangements and communicate to him. He described his absence as an indictment on him hence the desire to quickly make amends. He noted with concern the fact that Paatii was a good friend who had paid his dues to his country and deserved due recognition.
President Rawlings also prayed for national unity, noting that Ghanaians had allowed political differences to break their ranks to the point of almost eliminating the traditional bonds we have for each other as a people.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings made reference to the roles the deceased had played at the World Bank, the African Development Bank and recently with the African Union High Level Panel on Sudan and South Sudan and described Paatii’s demise as a loss for the continent.
Earlier, former Minister for Interior, Nii Okaidja Adamafio who was a member of the Rawlings delegation expressed the sympathies of the delegation and presented drinks and a cash amount as a traditional token of commiseration.
Professor Samuel Ofosu-Amaah, Head of the Ofosu-Amaah family expressed the family’s gratitude to President and Mrs. Rawlings for honouring the memory of their departed brother, husband and father.
The family head explained that a funeral service was held in Maryland for Paatii Ofosu-Amaah, but his love and dedication to Ghana meant that another service had to be held in Ghana and his remains brought down for interment.
Also present at the meeting were Nana Kwame Fori (aka Herman Mould), Mrs. Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, widow Adyline Waafas Ofosu-Amaah, children of the deceased, Nii Amaah and Naabia Ofosu-Amaah as well as Madam Elizabeth Ohene, sister-in-law of the deceased.