As tributes have started trickling in, in view of the passing of the first president of Ghana’s fourth republic Jerry John Rawlings, the two leading parties in the upcoming elections, the NPP and NDC have both decided to suspend their campaigns.
In separate press releases hours after the information came in that the late former president had passed on at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Thursday morning after a short illness, the two parties both took the opportunity to announce a suspension to their respective campaigns.
In a release signed by the president Nana Akuffo Addo, he further directed that flags should fly at half mast for one week beginning Friday 13th November and ending on Friday 20th November, 2020. This period is also declared a period of national mourning. The president further said the government will keep in touch with the family of Mr. Rawlings for a state funeral to be organized for him.
On the part of the NDC, the release signed by James Agyenim-Boateng, campaign spokesperson for John Dramani Mahama, the party said it had suspended its flagbearer’s tour of the Ashanti region “with immediate effect”. The party also took note of the fact that the late former president is the founder of the NDC.
Below are the respective releases from the two parties in full:
PRESS STATEMENT
MAHAMA SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani
Mahama, has suspended his six-day campaign tour of the Ashanti Region with immediate
effect, following news of the passing of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr Rawlings was an iconic figure and founder of the NDC.
END
JAMES AGYENIM-BOATENG
CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON
THURSDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 2020
