President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has left Ghana for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to attend the funeral of Ivorian Prime Minister, Hamad Bakayoko.

This was disclosed by the Presidency in a statement.

President Akufo-Addo left the country on Tuesday, 16 March 2021.

He is expected to join other world leaders for the funeral of the late Ivorian Prime Minister, which is scheduled to be held today, Wednesday, 17 March 2021 in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan.

The Ivorian Prime Minister died at age 56.

He died in Freiburg, Germany where he was receiving treatment for cancer.

He was appointed as Prime Minister in July 2020, following the death of his predecessor, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who died of a heart attack.

Ivorian President, Alassane Outtarra declared an 8-day period of national mourning for the late Prime Minister.   

President Akufo-Addo, who will be attending the funeral in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS, was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency.

The President is expected back in the country on Wednesday, 17 February 2021.