Tens of hundreds of Ghanaians from all walks of life gathered at the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park on Sunday to observed the “Adua” (prayer) of the late Alhaji Adams Mahama, the slain former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The late Alhaji Mahama was “doused” with acid on Wednesday, May 20, whiles returning from home from work.
He died the next day at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital where he was receiving treatment.
His one-week funeral rites which should have been held on Thursday, May 28, were however postponed to Sunday, June 7.
The Adua started at 9:30 a.m. amidst tight security mounted by the military and police personnel.
However, the peaceful and solemn ceremony was nearly marred when some private security men, calling themselves the “Invisible Forces” attempted to take over security duties on the podium, where the dignities where seated.
It took the timely intervention of the top offficials in government and the opposition to prevail upon the “Invisible Forces” to withdraw.
The Quran was recited four times beseeching God to have mercy on the departed soul of the late Alhaji Mahama.
The Qur’anic recitation were done at the request of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flag-bearer of NPP, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia his running mate, the regional executives of NPP and the family of the deceased.
The flagbearer of the NPP arrived at the funeral grounds at 11:55am and was accompanied by Dr. Bawumia and Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, the main challenger of Nana Akufo-Addo during the flagbearer race.
Other members of his entourage were Sammy Awuku, NPP National Youth Organiser, John Boadu, NPP National Organiser, Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the party and Sheikh I. C. Quaye, former MP for Ayawaso Central.
A government delegation led by Mark Woyongo, MP for Navrongo Central and Minister of the Interior, James Zuugah Tiigah, Upper East Regional Minister, his deputy Daniel Syme and Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central and Minister of Environment Science and Technology.
Tributes
Nana Akufo-Addo elogised the late Alhaji Mahama and indicated that nothing would satisfy the rank and file of the party, unless the perpetrators of the crime were brought to book.
He commended the police for a good work done so far and urged them to get to the bottom of the matter.
According to the flagbearer, he was paying the tribute with a sad and heavy heart, saying, “and many of us cannot come to terms that the life of this charismatic man has been cut short.”
He said it was his wish that God would grant the deceased eternal peace in the thereafter.
Nana Akufo-Addo cautioned party members not to pressurise the investigators handling the case but rather pray for God’s mercy for the departed soul of Alhaji Mahama.
The flagbearer also prayed for God’s mercy for all those who lost their lives during last Wednesday floods and the resultant fire that gutted the filling station and some nearby houses. He again wished the injured speedy recovery.
Mr. Woyongo appealed to party members to exercise restraint, whilst the security agencies investigate and apprehend the culprits.
According to him, what the soul of the late Regional chairman needed now was prayers and urged all to pray for him.
Donation
Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed that the party has launched a GH¢100,000 Foundation to take care of the children of the late Regional Chairman and presented a seed money of GH¢43,000.
He personally donated GH¢5,000 and President John Kufuor gave GH¢5,000 to the bereaved family.
Others donors included Dr. Bawumia GH¢5,000, Alan Kyere-manteng GH¢1,000 and the party gave two bulls, some bags of rice and gallons of cooking oil.
The nine Regional Chairmen also pledged GH¢9,000 as their contribution towards the Foundation, the leadership of the NPP further donated GH¢35,000 to the wife and children of the deceased and GH¢8,000 to help meet the cost of the ‘Adua’.
Mr. Woyongo donated GH¢5,000 to the bereaved family on behalf of the government whilst the regional executives the National Democratic Congress (NDC) donated GH¢1,600, two bags of rice and six gallon of cooking oil.
The National chairman of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on behalf of his party also donated GH¢1,000.
Call for Justice
In a related development, an NPP youth activists calling itself “Justice for Adams Mahama Youth (JAMY)” has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to invite Paul Afoko, National Chairman and Kwabena Agyapong, General Secretary of the NPP, respectively for questioning.
The group made the call at a press conference organised yesterday in Bolgatanga.
They alleged that on May 14 the National Chairman and the General Secretary were at Bolgatanga for a meeting with the youth which was disrupted by some activists of the NPP in the region, because the late regional chairman had no knowledge of the meeting.
<<Print>>