Four soldiers stood like man's version of God's cherubims. Their backs against the coffin, they never turned to look at the mortal remains of Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
They were positioned in four invisible corners, head hanging, eyes locked their polished shoes and the tip of a bayonet that pinched the marble floors.
They kept a severe look and left the rest of us to look sober staring into the face of the man who served his nation at great heights with an even greater humility.
He looked rested leaving those who gazed at him restless with emotion and a certain dread of death.
Even without his spirit, his body obeyed him by keeping that default countenance he kept in public - a certain unreadable silence.
His age mates and members of the old guards, the Ahwois, Totobi Kwakyes, the Ato Dadzies who saw Amissah-Arthur start his public work in 1983 as a special assistant to the then Finance minister Kwesi Botchwey were there.
His life and theirs were as intertwined as a woman's corn-roll. When they looked at Amissah-Arthur, they looked at a part of their life lying still as they stood still.
They had the stories of the man who went about his work with the barely audible humming sound of an i7 processor.
The Minority MPs were also there. Their leader Haruna Iddrisu mobilised them to file past walking in an arc and collecting together in the other corner of the foyer.
They exchanged grieving glances and little stories about the man who served 22 out of his 42 years in public service. Beginning in the hungry and angry days of the 'revolution', his career was ended by the ballot box in 2016.
One woman was too scared to enter the foyer of the Accra International Conference Center and asked a man behind her in the queue to take the morbid lead.
She followed, emotion working through her body at every step until she turned to face the late Vice-President like her own sort of mini-judgment day only that this 'god' was dead.
Story keeps getting updated: Refresh for more
Latest Stories
-
Dext Technology partners KNUST to train basic school teachers on STEM
15 mins -
My efforts led to remarkable transformation in Appiatse – Lands Minister
16 mins -
13th Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards launched
31 mins -
Comedy of electioneering campaign policy: NDC’s 24-hour economy tricks
38 mins -
We will remain vigilant in our oversight operations of all financial institutions – Governor
39 mins -
Ghana’s economic recovery has been strong and steady – Finance Minister
41 mins -
Government completes 50 premix fuel automation machines at landing sites – Fisheries Minister
50 mins -
FBNBank changes its name to FirstBank Ghana
56 mins -
Akwaboah Jnr ties the knot
1 hour -
Women’s FA Cup semis: Army Ladies face FC Epiphany; Police Ladies up against Supreme Ladies
2 hours -
Police haul in Kwadaso MP, EC officials in probe of Ejisu by-election ‘bribery’ case
3 hours -
Ghana’s press freedom ranking: Are we actually improving?
4 hours -
Reflections: 50 Lessons at 50
5 hours -
NCCE briefs Council of State on civic plans for 2024
5 hours -
Ecobank Group reports Profit Before Tax of $581m, on net revenue of $2.1bn for 2023
5 hours