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President Kufuor joins mourners to pay
last respect to Hawa Yakubu
Accra, May 3, Ghanadot/GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor
and the wife Theresa joined the large crowd of mourners who
thronged the forecourt of the State House to pay their last
respects to the late Madam Rebecca Hawa Yakubu, first
National Vice Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP),
at a pre-burial service on Thursday.
Among them were Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and his
wife Rahmatu, Madam Fulera Limann, widow of former President
Dr Hilla Limann, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the
ECOWAS Commission, Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker of
Parliament, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and
the Diplomatic Corps.
Also present were the leadership of the NPP and
representatives of some opposition political parties
including Dr Obed Yao Asamoah of the Democratic Freedom
Party (DFP) and Dr Edward Mahama, the 2004 Presidential
Candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC).
Nigeria’s outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo and Liberian
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf sent delegations.
President Kufuor dressed in black, filed past the body,
which lay in a casket placed under a white lace bedecked
canopy.
In a tribute read for him by Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of
Information and National Orientation, the President said by
her death Ghana had lost a fearless voice on issues of great
national concern.
"She was no slave to partisan cause. She was independent
minded, an inspiration and role model for women."
President Kufuor observed that outspoken as the late Madam
Hawa Yakubu was, she still endeared herself o many for her
objectivity.
Mr. Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of NPP, in a tribute
noted that Hawa had been close to many individuals in the
NPP but her umbilicus was firmly attached to her mother's
Nkrumaist placenta. However, she was never a card carrying
member of the CPP.
"Hawa's life was characterized by achievements that led to
recognition world wide."
Mr. Mac Manu said the party was looking forward to her
dazzling platform performance for 2008 elections.
"Hawa, your departure has been a real blow to the NPP...we
will honour your name with victory in 2008."
Derrick Ayebo, her son, in a tribute mentioned the many
attributes of her mother, saying she was selfless and
dedicated her life to others.
"The Iron Lady, Hawa Yakubu, but to us she was still mummy.
God really gave us a loving, caring, honest, God-fearing,
reliable, beautiful gift in the form of Hawa Yakubu,"
Derrick said.
GNA
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