1:38 Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and his entourage just filed past the body.
Ward Brew: Friends for over 42 years
Hoping public will come to appreciate what he did
Hopes posterity will always remember that he stood for a cause and it was not an easy one
Mensah Otabil: he was very sincere about his desire to know god and to serve him.
He had a desire to see God work in his personal life
Death is a great leveler and when you encounter it
Unfortunately we often forget about what has happened
Hopes we resolve to be courteous to one another
Nii Afotey Agbo: We’ve learnt how to be calm; to be tolerant
Under President Mills we dealt with our political opponents as friends not as enemies
Grassroots are appreciating what we are doing.
Kofi Capito: Mills was friendly; he cracked jokes even in difficult times. I have mixed feelings about him; he was peaceful but some people close always want to show power; to show that they are in charge but Mills himself was not like that. He is crying.
Dr Sipa-Yankey: Mills was very punctual; he loved Ghana; unfortunately, we didn’t show him the needed love. Every president must be respected and loved. If we continue vilify politicians, good people will not get involved in politics and we will have only mediocre people in politics.
Hassan Ayariga: Mills taught us how to be tolerant; he served Ghana with all his life; if he was alive to see what is happening today, he would be happy. Even before Mills died, he always preached politics of peace and politics of law and order so his death must remind all of us that we must make peace our watchword.
12:53 MP for Tafo Pankrono, Dr Osei Akoto: Mills was a good person; he respected us a Members of Parliament and we respected him as President. I remember this joke he told, that he expected to be heckled but he didn't expect the heckling to be so gargantuan. We can sustain the unity in the country.
12:25 Taxi drivers in Sokode in the Volta Region are providing services to passengers free of charge.
Agbeko Ben Coffie reports the drivers as saying the gesture is just to pay their last respect to the late Ghanaian leader who they say has undertaken a lot of development project in the region.
12:20 From Cape Coast, 8 giant screens have been mounted and people are watching the filing procession. Richard Kojo Nyarko reports the entire capital is deserted. Vehicles have been parked and passengers who want to travel are stranded.
12:18 Mr and Mrs Rawlings filing past the body of Mills. Rawlings bows.
12:18 Alfred Woyome just file past the body.
12:14 There is tension as people are pushing to get their way into the Banquet Hall. They say they don’t understand why political party leaders who come after they have been there for hours are given the right to file past the body. Military officers have been called in to save the situation.
Former President Jerry Rawlings’ convoy is still parked and waiting for clearance.
12:11 Kufuor files past the body. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kwadwo Mpiani, Osafo-Marfo and other former government officials also just file past the body.
12:09 Mr Kufuor greets family of the late president, but he did not get the chance to greet former first lady Naadu Mills because she has left the place.
12:08 NPP party officials, led by chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey are also entering the house
12:07 He just entered the house.
12:03 Former President JA Kufuor has just arrived at the State House. Mr Kufuor and his wife Mrs Theresa Kufuor has just arrived with his former vice Aliu Mahama.
11:25 Attorney-General Benjamin Kunbuor and members of the clergy filing past the body.
11:22 Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State just took his turn. Followed by Ato Ahwoi, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Arnold Quainoo.
11:21 Naadu Mills is sitting with the family and receiving greetings.
11:20 Mrs Mary-Grant, Chief Justice Wood, Sheikh IC Quaye have just filed past the body.
11:19 House Speaker Bamford-Addo and Deputy Speaker have just filed past the body.
11:17 President Mahama and his vice are leaving the grounds.
11:15 Vice President Amissah-arthur has just filed past the body. He is shaking hands with family members of the late president.
11:13 Naadu Mills is standing at the foot of the body of her late husband.
11:13 President Mahama has just finished filing past the body of his late boss. He is shaking hands with family members.
11:12 President filing past the body.
11:12 Former First Lady, Naadu Mills following the president.
11:11 President John Mahama preparing to start the filing past the body. He is making his way into the Banquet Hall.
Family relations have gone in to perform some rituals.
Rev. Fred Degbe: It really is a sad day. Condolences to all Ghanaians. When we look beyond politics, we see a man with great qualities. He left us unprepared. He didn't belong in politics but he showed us that we can be gentle even as politicians.
It has suddenly dawned on us that this is real. The man is gone. Ministers are crying; everybody is crying.
Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah: The clergy committed the body in the hands of God before the filing past.
9:52 Religious leaders praying with hands on the casket. Prayers over.
Security personnel placing the casket properly for filing past.
9:48 Sammy Darko reports there is weeping all over the State House. Ministers of state are shedding tears, to crown the sadness morning in the nation.
9:40 Door to Banquet Hall has been opened and the casket draped in a huge Ghana flag is being carried inside. Casket appears too heavy for military officers who struggled to carry it.
9:38 Casket has been removed from the hearse whilst traditional leaders perform rituals. Traditional leaders from his family leading the procession.
9:35 Hearse just arrived at the main door to the Banquet Hall at the State House. Security officers open door of the hearse to take out the body. Religious leaders ready to take possession of the body from security officers. Minister weeping as fontonfrom displays.
9:29 Communications Director at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho, and other loyalists of the late president are walking by the hearse.
9:25 Cortege is moving slowly as crowd eagerly wait. Hearse pulling up in front of the State House.
9:24 Cortege has just arrived at the State House.
9:21 Police have stopped people from moving. A very old lady who fell to the ground in tears has been carried out of the venue.
9:19 Cortege arriving at the State House. Nobody will be allowed to touch the hearse as it arrives.
9:17 IGP just arrived as well as lots of other senior security chiefs.
Religious leaders will receive the cortege when it arrives at the State House. It will be sent to the main chamber for final traditional rites before it will be brought to the Banquet Hall for the dignitaries to file past it.
9:04 Hearse is leaving the Castle to the State House for the filing past to begin. Castle Security escort hearse to pay their last respects.
9:03 Son of president Mills just touched the casket, crying.
9:01 They are mounting the guard of honour.
9:00 They are singing a hymn (Till we meet again) amidst sobs.
8:59 Prayers over.
8:58 They recite the Lord's Prayer.
8:57 All are gathered around the Hearse. Chief of Staff praying.
Totobi Kwakye, Chairman of the funeral planning committee has also arrived. More people trooping in.
His son just arrived. The Chief of Staff and other dignitaries are there to see the body. Bebako Mensah, Secretary to the late president, crying.
“It’s a very sad moment here”. Castle staff are weeping uncontrollably.
His bodyguard is leading the ambulance carrying the body.
8:49 The body is entering the Castle. A lady is sobbing. Security officials have lowered their flags.
On the plate of the vehicle carrying the body of the late president is written, "His Excellency."
Seth Kwame Boateng reports there are signals the body is arriving at the Osu Castle.
Sammy Darko reports the procession is extremely beautiful.
Body just bypasses the State House and driving towards the Osu Castle.
Live Updates: Day 1 of Mills' last 3 days on earth; read, watch live video here
Acting Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Cephas Arthur told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah that no permanent road blocks would be mounted today and Thursday. However, he said there would be elaborate roads blocks on Friday.
Joy FM’s Seth Kwame Boateng, who is at the Castle, reported the place is virtually empty and that everybody there is moving to the State House. He said though it is raining, those working on the late president’s grave are busy, trying to finish the work as scheduled.
The body is currently being moved to the Osu Castle.
He said no photographing of the body nor dramatic wailing near the body with the potential to delay the procession will be tolerated.
No speeches or tributes will be read today, the Deputy Minister added.
From 1pm, the general public will also file past the body and pay their last respects. The public does not need any invitation to file past the body, he said.
He said the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, MPs, judges, local and international dignitaries are all expected to file past the body between 11am and 1pm.
Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy FM's Super Morning Show that President John Mahama will be the first person to file past the body of the late leader, to be followed by his vice, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
From there, the body is expected to be taken to the Banquet Hall at the State House for the filing past by dignitaries.
The family of the late president is expected to perform some customary rituals there after which the body will be conveyed to the Osu Castle.
The body of the late President Mills has been taken out of the 37 Military Hospital to his private residence at the Regimanuel Estates.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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