Kenya Mall Shooting: Remians of slain Ghanaian Poet, Academic Flown Home

The body celebrated Ghanaian academic, poet and politician, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, who was killed last Saturday during the terrorist attack on a Kenyan shopping centre, was flown home on Wednesday amid expression of grief from the general public.

Hundreds of mourners, led by the family, government officials and members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), were at the Kotoka International Airport when the Kenya Airways plane carrying the remains of Prof. Awoonor touched down.

There was singing of dirges as the family received the body.

Prof. Kofi Anyidoho, a spokesman for the family, said a state event would be organised on 11 October to allow members of the public to pay tribute to Prof. Awoonor. He would be buried on 9 November.

Prof. Awoonor, 78, was a poet, writer, researcher, diplomat, politician and a professor of English.

He taught at the University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast and served as Ghana’s ambassador to Brazil, Cuba, several South American countries and the United Nations.

Prof. Awoonor was a close ally of former President Jerry John Rawlings, the late President John Evans Atta Mills and current President John Dramani Mahama.

He was also a key member of Ghana’s ruling National Democratic Congress.

The Somalia-based terrorist group, al-Shabaab, has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s deadly attack which killed at least 61 people and six terrorists.

The incident happened when gunmen stormed the Westgate mall early last Saturday, setting the stage for a standoff that lasted several days.