News:
September 22, 2013
Ghana’s President, Mr. John Mahama, has described as “shocking”, the death of Ghanaian intellectual, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, in Saturday morning’s terrorist attack in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, which claimed at least 59 lives and injured 150 people.
President Mahama wrote on his facebook wall that: “I am shocked to hear the death of Prof. Kofi Awoonor in the Nairobi Mall terrorist attack. He will be sorely missed by family, friends and the NDC”.
The Son of the former Chairman of the Council of State, who was with him in Kenya, was among the injured that survived the attack.
President Mahama’s Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, has vowed to “hunt down” the perpetrators.
Al qaeda-linked Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a handwritten tribute while transiting London, en route to New York, President Mahama, described Prof. Awoonor’s death as a “sad twist of fate”.
He described him as a “Writer, Politician and Traditionalist with great wit, sense of humour and very well-spoken”.
Official government’s statement
Government regrets to announce the death of former Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor in Nairobi, Kenya this Morning.
Prof. Awoonor died from injuries sustained during an attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi this morning which Somali militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for.
Ghana’s High Commission in Kenya has confirmed Prof Awoonor’s untimely passing and indicated that his son who also sustained injuries in the attack, survived and is currently responding to treatment.
Government extends its condolences to Prof. Awoonor’s family and Ghanaians at large for this tragic loss.
FELIX KWAKYE OFOSU
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS
September 21st, 2013