One of Ghana’s political icons, the late Paul Victor Obeng, is set to be interred at his home town, Akrokerri in the Ashanti Region, on Saturday, August 16.
PV, as he was affectionately called, died on May 18, 2014, in what was suspected to be an asthmatic or heart attack, at age 67.
His sudden demise shocked the whole nation, especially his family members and President John Mahama, who had commended him for his contribution to the organisation of the National Economic Dialogue a few days before his death.
Burial, funeral services
According to a release from the State Protocol, the mortal remains of the late PV Obeng would be laid in state at the Forecourt of the Banquet Hall of the State House from 2pm to 6pm on Thursday August 14,2014.
The release said a non-denominational state funeral service would take place at 8am on Friday August 15, 2014.
At the request of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the family and the Catholic Church of the Kumasi Diocese, a high mass would also be held at 3pm on Friday August 15, 2014 at the St Peter’s Basilica in Kumasi.
On August 16, a short burial service will be held at 9am at the local Asare Bediako Park, Akrokerri, before his interment.
PV Obeng’s death
Until his demise, PV was the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Senior Presidential Advisor.
He was reported to have collapsed behind his steering wheel at the Agape Filling Station on the Spintex Road and was rushed to the Inkoom Hospital at the Costal Estate, from where he was referred to the LEKMA Hospital at Teshie in Accra but was pronounced dead on arrival.
An attendant at the Agape Filling Station said that about 2.05 p.m. on that fateful Saturday, after he had finished serving a taxi, a Land Cruiser, with registration number GM 3705-13, pulled up.
The attendant, who gave his name as Nana Yaw, said the occupant of the Land Cruiser started making frantic calls, while trying to open the front door of his vehicle.
According to Nana Yaw, the occupant, who was later identified as PV, looked helpless, a situation which prompted him (Nana Yaw) to call for help.
He said the taxi driver he had served moments earlier assisted in conveying PV to the Inkoom Hospital.
Political life
PV served as the Chairman of the Committee of Secretaries in the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime from 1982 to 1992.
He served as the Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government from 1992 to 1997 and also the Chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) from 1992 to 1997.
Credit: Graphic Online