[ 2012-08-08 ]

Chairman of Mills' Funeral Planning Committee, Mr Kofi Totobi Qarkyi

Prez Mills will be upset if we spend Ghc 30m on his funeral - Totobi Quakyi
The late president John Atta Mills will squirm in
his grave or probably resurrect and tell us his
piece of mind, if we spend GH¢30 million on his
funeral, Chairman of the Funeral Planning
Committee has said.

Mr Kofi Totobi-Quakyi was denying media reports
that a whopping GH¢30 million had been budgeted
for the late leader's funeral.

There were speculations in the media the casket
for the late president alone costs US$75,000.

But the Funeral Planning Committee has dismissed
the reports at a press briefing in Accra.

“I have done some research on the internet and
never came across any casket that comes close to
US$75, 000. In any case President Mills will turn
in his grave if we make any attempt to spend that
kind of money,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Journalists and other photographers
will not be allowed to photograph the body of late
President John Atta Mills, the Funeral Planning
Committee has said.

Mr Totobi Quakyi said the measure is to prevent
photo journalists from disrupting the order of
events at the ceremony.

The body of the late president will be laid in
state at the forecourt of the State House for the
President, the Speaker of Parliament,
Parliamentarians and other important dignitaries
to file past and pay their last respects.

Wednesday, the general public will also have the
opportunity to file past the body before the final
funeral service and burial on Friday.

The Funeral Committee says a riser will be erected
for journalists and photo journalists to operate
from and to restrain them from surging forward and
disorganising the event.

Myjoyonline.com's David Andoh, who is at the press
conference, reported photo journalists
particularly, and journalists generally, are
distressed by the development, fearing it will
hamper their work in covering the historic event.

Mr Quakyi warned, the security men will be
ruthless with anybody who disrespects the limits
and boundaries set by their accreditation.

He cautioned that no person or group of persons
dressed in any party paraphernalia would be
allowed entry into the premises of the funeral.

According to him, persons who wish to do must wear
the national colours or risk being denied access
to the venues where the funeral events would be
taking place.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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