President Jerry John Rawlings last night hosted a reception at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre for Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, who is currently in Ghana for a two-day official visit.
Vice-President John Atta Mills, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the First Lady, as well as several dignitaries including Council of State members, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Service Commanders, diplomats and chiefs were at the reception at which only soft drinks were served. An official of the State Protocol Department said the department decided not to serve alcoholic beverages as a mark of respect for the Sultan, the 55-year-old supreme ruler of oil-rich Brunei. President Rawlings, Haji Bolkiah and his two wives shook hands with the guests, smiled and chatted with some of them. A guest who succeeded in shaking hands with the Sultan Said: “I wish he could rub some of the dollars on me”, drawing laughter from his friends. The Winneba Youth Choir delighted guests with songs and when they sang the Ghana and Brunei national anthems, the Sultan and his entourage clapped.
Earlier in the day, The Sultan and his delegation laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra in memory of Ghana’s first President. The Sultan, in a grey suit, arrived at the Mausoleum in a limousine shortly before 1600 hours amidst drumming, cheering and waving of miniature flags of Ghana and Brunei by a group of admirers.
Dr Eric Don-Arthur, architect of the Mausoleum, conducted Haji Bolkiah round and explained the significance of the Mausoleum to the evidently appreciative Sultan.
Haji Bolkiah also went to the museum at the mausoleum, which houses personal effects and publications of the late first president as well as pictures depicting his life history and signed a book of condolence.
