Prof Awoonor’s funeral held amidst heavy military presence

A funeral ceremony for the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, former Chairman of the Council of State took place on Thursday amidst heavy military presence at the Lashibi Funeral Parlour where the cremation of the late Professor’s mortal remains was believed to have taken place.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA)to his residence at North Legon at about 1000 hours Thursday morning showed just about 20 people in black ceremonial funeral attire seated sparsely and talking in low tones.

Family sources told newsmen that the cremation was on-going at the Lashibi Funeral Home. There was a heavy military presence at the entrance of the parlour when the GNA eventually got there, with no sign of media personnel.

It turned out that the ceremony was a strictly family affair, as no invitations were extended to members of the general public or the mass media.

The late Professor Awoonor was killed in the Westgate Shopping Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 21.

Since his death, the Government of Ghana, individuals and organisations have extended condolences to the family.

A family source said the ashes would be sent to his hometown, Weta in the Volta Region for final funeral rites on October 9, 2013.

Source: GNA