
10 teachers, another's appointment terminated over sexual misconduct - GES reveals
2 mins read
22nd September 2022 11:27:25 AM
2 mins readBy: Chris Kodo
It became a major topic of discussion among inhabitants of the nations whose leaders had been ordered to take shared buses to the late British monarch Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.
On September 19, 2022, Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom hosted the funeral service for the late Queen.
many world leaders, including the presidents of Commonwealth nations like Ghana and Kenya.
The new King, Charles III, had extended invitations to the presidents of the United States, France, Emmanuel Macron, and South Korea, Yoon Suk-Yeol, among others.
Despite the fact that many foreign leaders had been invited, there were restrictions about procedure for attending the burial.
A statement issued from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed this.
As part of the arrangements, the office warned foreign leaders to, if possible, arrive in the UK using commercial flights rather than private jets as Heathrow Airport will be closed to that. They were also asked to gather at a site in West London where they will be bussed to and from Westminster Abbey where the funeral was to be held.
As such, Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kenya's President, William Ruto, First Lady, and Tanzanian President Suluhu joined an arranged bus consequently for the event.
Details of why Biden, others were exempted:
The U.S President, Joe Biden, and some other leaders from G-7 countries including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Israel's Isaac Herzog, Canada's Justin Trudeau, and Emperor Naruhito of Japan were however exempted from this directive.
They could use their official vehicles and for U.S President, Joe Biden who was attending with his wife, it had been stated that he was going to arrive in his 7-tonne armoured Cadillac presidential limousine: ‘The Beast’ escorted by a convoy.
According to the UK's Express news portal, the White House demanded that Biden travels via a six-car motorcade for “security reasons”. Their request was granted by UK officials hence the development.
The Washingtonpost reports that the U.S. presidential limousine is armored, with thicker wheels, a heavy-duty chassis, expanded space for passengers, secure encrypted communications technology and ornate interiors that can include foldout desks.
The report also noted that officials from Buckingham Palace declined to “comment on security matters” but instead referred them to the U.S to respond to any such questions.
Aside from these exemptions and families of some European Royals, all other foreign leaders were supposed to be bussed to ‘ease traffic congestion’.
The development was however not received very well, especially by citizens of African countries who believed and suggested that the move by the UK was racist. Others were unhappy and expressed concerns about the security of their presidents being jeopardised.
2 mins read
3 mins read
3 mins read
1 min read
3 mins read
3 mins read
2 mins read
3 mins read
2 mins read