Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, is leading a government delegation to attend the funeral of anti-apartheid campaigner and former South African First lady Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto on Saturday.
The delegation tasked by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo includes Ambassador-at-Large, Edward Mahama, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Charles Owiredu.
The rest are: Deputy Minister for Information, Hon. Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei and Protocol Officer at the Office of the President, Ms. Ama Serwaa Nyarko.
[contextly_sidebar id=”uaGZBvkof6irVlhvBQjacBCGlnQzqN4h”]A statement from the presidency signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications, said: “The President is of the firm view that her [Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s] contribution to the liberation of South Africa from the racist ideology of apartheid merits recognition and honour.”
Winnie Mandela died last Monday after a long battle with illness, which had seen her go in and out of hospital since the beginning of the year [2018].
Winnie Mandela and her former husband Nelson Mandela, who were both jailed, were symbols of the country’s anti-apartheid struggle for three decades.
President Akufo-Addo had earlier paid glowing tribute to the late anti-apartheid campaigner describing her as a fearless and remarkable woman.
Below is the full statement from the presidency:
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is dispatching a Government delegation to represent Ghana at the funeral, in Soweto, South Africa, on Saturday, 14th April, 2018, of the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, renowned freedom fighter and champion of women’s rights, who has been described by South Africa’s President, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, as the “voice of defiance”.
The President is of the firm view that her contribution to the liberation of South Africa from the racist ideology of apartheid merits recognition and honour.
The delegation is led by the former First Lady of the Republic, Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and includes the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Charles Owiredu; Deputy Minister for Information, Hon. Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, MP; Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Edward Mahama; and Protocol Officer at the Office of the President, Ms. Ama Serwaa Nyarko.
Signed
Eugene Arhin
Director of Communications
–
By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin