George Floyd’s family salutes Akufo-Addo, Ghana

President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana have been commended for their support of George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American who was murdered by a white cop.

The family singled out Mr Akufo-Addo and Ghanaians for praise during a memorial on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, leading to a standing ovation from mourners at the venue.

The CEO of Ivy Inc., Ivy McGregor, who read a speech at the programme attended by hundreds said, “The family of George Floyd would like to acknowledge the message of solidarity, resolution and visual tribute from His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, the president of Ghana.”

“Yesterday, during the memorial, a video produced by the people of Ghana was broadcast for thousands of mourners as they paid their final respects to Mr Floyd,” McGregor added.

She also cited the government’s effort to ink Mr Floyd’s name at the W. E. B. Du Bois Centre in Accra.

“The family is honoured by President Akufo-Addo’s decision to have Mr Floyd’s name permanently mounted on the historic Sankofa wall at the Diaspora African Forum in the W. E. B. Du Bois Centre in Africa,” she stated to the admiration of the mourners who offered a rousing clap and a standing ovation.

She said the family was “grateful that the country of Ghana stands with the Floyd family and the struggle of all families to change the status quo of racism and prejudice”.

She concluded by indicating that, “The family is deeply moved by the generous act by the Ghanaian government to solidify George Floyd’s legacy”.

Mr Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by white police officer Derek Chauvin, who held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Three other cops looked on as Mr Floyd gasped for air.

His last words were “I can’t breathe”, and the scene was captured by a passerby with her phone.

Mr Floyd was laid to rest in Houston Memorial Gardens where he beside his mother.

The incident has rekindled the Black Live Matter movement with days of protests across several states in the US.

The call for social justice has spread to several countries, including New Zealand, Canada, France, UK, Australia, Belgium, Germany, South Korea.

In Ghana, there have been protests by the diasporan community and pressure group, the Economic Fighters League.