State burial for Cecil Jones

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, has proposed a state burial for the legendary coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio who passed on last Tuesday.

Dr Ahmed made the proposal yesterday when he led a high-powered delegation, which included the Director General of the National Sports Authority, Joe Kpenge and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, to visit  the bereaved family of the late former Ghana international.

The late national soccer star, coach and administrator, died at  dawn last Tuesday at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness.

He indicated, however, that he would discuss the proposal with both the government and the family before an official announcement be made public. "We are filled with so much pain at the ministry and in government, and as such, we express our condolences to the family and the football fraternity. I propose that the state teams up with the family to offer our brother a state burial, state sponsored funeral", Dr Ahmed announced. 

The spokesperson of the family, Naakpee Attuquayefio, expressed gratitude to the delegation despite the family’s non official notice to them. He also welcomed the minister’s proposal, adding that, the family was open to any assistance from government. The delegation later signed a book of condolence.