The General Secretary of the Convention People's Party, Nii Noi Dowuona, has cautioned political parties in the country not to take undue partisan advantage of the demise of Fathia Nkrumah to make political capital. He told The Statesman the state burial being accorded the former first lady should be considered as a national event and non-partisan saying, "it has nothing to do with the NPP government." According to him, it has become more or less a convention for the state to award or accord its prominent citizens the respect they deserve for their contribution to the nation’s development. Citing the late Justice D F Annan, former Speaker of Parliament under the NDC government and the late Hawa Yakubu, former Tourism Minister and MP for Bawku Central, Prof Dowuona pointed out that the ruling NPP government has no option than to give the former first lady a state burial as it did to other distinguished individuals. "The late Fathia Nkrumah deserves that place of honour because she stood by her husband, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana, in the agitation for self-government." Her sacrifice and commitment, Prof Dowuona noted, demonstrated her belief and quest for African unity, which was spearheaded by the late Osagyefo. "For us in the CPP as a political family," the General Secretary said, "Madam Fathia’s death was a moment of grief, a great loss to the CPP tradition." As part of the funeral arrangements, CPP has outlined a programme of activities to honour the late Fathia which include opening of a book of condolence, and a night of tribute held on Monday. Meanwhile, Dan Lartey, Leader of the GCPP, has described the decision by government to accord madam Fathia a state burial as a "normal sequence of things." According to the octogenarian politician, the people voted NPP into power and therefore it has the mandate to do the right things, including giving honour where it was due. He said: "Kwame Nkrumah gave us self-government and he was accorded state burial though belated, so also Fathia deserves that honour." Mr Lartey said the significance of Fathia’s death should be able to unite the whole country because she was very instrumental in self-government. "Nobody should take credit for Fathia’s state burial and I will be happy to be part of the great solemn occasion," he said. Credit: The Statesman