Rawlings family calls on Mahama, NDC leadership

The family of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings has officially informed the leader and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, of Rawlings’s demise.

A former diplomat and leader of the family delegation, Mr. James Victor Gbeho, said former President Mahama had already received confirmation of the news of the death of former President Rawlings, but it was appropriate to officially inform him as customary rites demanded.

“We have come here purposely and mainly to fulfil customary tradition of informing President Mahama of the sad passing away of our colleague and brother, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

"At the moment, we are only informing those who need to be informed," he said.

Complexity

Mr. Mahama said the party was ready to play their part in whatever manner to give former President Rawlings a befitting burial, stressing that the NDC was ready to support and to stand with the family.

"We understand the complexity of the situation that he belongs to his family, he also belongs to the State, because he was a former President, and he also belongs to a party, and so there must be a nexus between all the three interests to be able to give him a befitting send off.

"Of course, we understand that as a former President, the State will take the leading role in whatever the funeral arrangements are," he said.