PRESIDENT MILLS' BURIAL

Government has indicated that the late President John Mills would be buried at the Flagstaff Staff House in Accra. According to Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, President John Dramani Mahama was said to have taken the decision which would see to it that a portion of the Flagstaff House is dedicated to the burial of Presidents and other high ranking officials of the country. The disclosure puts to rest the demands being made by the people of Ekumfi Otuam, in Central region where Prof. Mills hails from that the late President be buried in his hometown. The family has slated August 8-10 for the funeral of the departed President. A committee has meanwhile been put in place, consisting representatives from both the family and government to oversee the burial arrangement of the late President Mills.

Meanwhile, government has extended the one week period of national mourning announced by President John Mahama until after the burial and funeral rights of the late president. The extension was announced in a statement from the Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman, which confirmed that the Funeral Service and Burial will take place on Friday, August 10 2012. The statement said: "It is announced for the information of the general public and all concerned that the period of national mourning and lowering of the Ghana flags has been extended until after the State funeral." It added that: "All public buildings are expected to be draped in red and black colours as well as the national flag to symbolise the state of national mourning."