Ghana, from Friday, November 13, will begin seven days of mourning for former President Jerry John Rawlings.

This follows an announcement by President Akufo-Addo after the death of Mr Rawlings.

The President also announced that, all flags in the country must fly at half mast.

Mr Rawlings died on Thursday at about 10:10 am aged 73 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he was receiving treatment after a short illness.

President Akufo-Addo at a meeting with the daughters of Mr Rawlings, announced a state burial for him.

“I am extremely disturbed and saddened by his passage. He was not an ordinary Ghanaian…and, therefore, his passage has to be a matter for the Ghanaian nation,” the President said.

Mr Rawling was born on June 22, 1947. He ruled the country from 1981 to 2001 and also for a brief period in 1979.

He was last seen in public on October 19, during the final funeral rites leading to the burial of his mother, Victoria Agbotui.

Following his demise, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have suspended political activities.

They (NDC) will, Friday, hold a meeting to consider the next steps towards joining the family, government and the people of Ghana to honour the memory of the former President.