The National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay has said that the main organizers of the funeral of the CEO of Forestry Commission of Ghana, Owusu Afriyie was his family and not the NPP.
He says the government cannot be blamed for the large public gathering at Sir John’s funeral because the NPP was just invited.
Speaking on Asaase radio he admitted the large gathering was too much despite the covid-19 protocols being observed.
Many Ghanaians including #fixthecountry conveners, GMA and OccupyGhana have condemned the act with some asking why this large crowd was allowed but the demonstration for #fixthecountry was restrained.
Addressing this he said;
“The arrangement was such that most of the people were going to be in mask. Be it as it may, the gathering was something else… I take into consideration the expression of the GMA and OccupyGhana.”
“However, it was the family that organised the funeral and we were invited. It was not a funeral that was officially organised by the government or the party. It’s unfortunate that most of the people were NPP activists. It wasn’t a government or party event. We were not expecting the numbers that were there.
“If you want to condemn the government because many officials were there then I think you’re wrong… The numbers were huge and I think it’s quite regrettable irrespective of the protocols that were put in place,” he added.