The remains of the late Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, touched down at the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday evening.
The remains, which was taken away in a hearse after 7:00pm, was met on arrival by former President Kufuor, a close friend to the late Chairman, who played a vital role in his campaign to the presidency.4
Others who were there to receive the remains were former Minister of State Hackman Owusu Agyemang, and some executives of the NPP.
Family members and acquaintances as well as party members and sympathizers were also there.
Prayers were said by a priest before the body, which arrived from the United Kingdom was on board British Airways Flight Number 081 was taken away.
Jake, as he was popularly known, passed away on Sunday, March 20, in London where he was receiving treatment for an ailment.
Funeral arrangements
The late Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, will be laid to rest on Friday, April 22, 2016. This was disclosed by Nii Lante Otanka II, Acting Lante Djan We Mantse.
“The first part of the funeral will be a pre-burial service on April 21, 2016, at the Accra Ridge Church, from 6pm to 10pm. This will be a Celebration of his Life, and in accordance with his wishes, the attire will be ‘Joyful Colours’” he said.
He continued, “The second part will be a burial, Funeral and Thanksgiving Service on April 22, 2016, at the forecourt of the State House, and again, in accordance with his wishes, the attire will be white.”
The body of the late NPP Chairman, he added, will be laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony.
These arrangements were made known by Nii Lante Otanka II, together with members of the family of the late Chairman, including his brothers, Afadi and Nii Lantey, when they called on the 2016 Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at his Nima residence on Monday, April 4, 2016, to inform him of the final funeral arrangements.
About Jake
He served as the first Chief of Staff in the Former President’s administration and variously as Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, from 2005 to July 2007.
He was the National Campaign Manager of the victorious New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2000 Presidential elections, which saw the first constitutional (civilian-to-civilian) transition of power.
He resigned his posts in July 2007 to campaign for the NPP nomination for the 2008 Presidential elections.
As at February 2010, he was the National Chairman of the NPP.
Obetsebi-Lamptey has several publications to his credit, covering topics from family planning to AIDS prevention in Africa.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie
Photos By: Kojo Agyeman