Ghanaians Mourn Late President Mills

By Kwabena Opong

 

Ghanaians and friends of Ghana congregated at The Riverside Church in New York to pay tribute to the memory of Late President John Atta Mills who died on July 24 at 68 years.

Welcoming the audience to his church, Rev. Stephen Phelps, rector of the Riverside Church recollected his acquaintance and the warmth he received from a Ghanaian family when he was a young adult, adding that he still keeps those memories fresh. For 82 years, Rev. Phelps said, The Riverside Church has continued to be the home of many and has welcomed many groups. He described the memorial service as a celebration of the good news of the mystery of life and death.

Deputy Permanent Representative William Awinador-Kanyirige in his welcome address said that his boss Ambassador Ken Kanda enjoyed a special relationship with Late President John Atta Mills. He extended a warm welcome to the African ambassadors who were present at the service and recalled the life of the late president and his tenure as a time of peace and prosperity in Ghana. He described the late president as the third in the trinity of Johns to ascend to the presidency.

Tributes were read on behalf several Ghanaian organizations and associations as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana read by Mrs. Amie Gaye.

Video clips shown at the event depicted the tributes paid to the late president at the United Nations and some scenes of the funeral in Accra. All the various power blocs at the world body paid homage to Ghana’s late president. Botswana read a tribute on behalf of the Africa group; the Asian Pacific and the Asian European groups also paid homage; Haiti on behalf of Caribbean and Latin American states; and Germany spoke for the Western European bloc.

Among dignitaries who joined Ghanaians at the memorial service were the UN Representatives of Benin, some African ambassadors and New York State Senator Bill Perkins.

The memorial service was a fusion of Ghanaian tradition, Christian and Islamic practices. In a short homily, Rev. Samuel E. Nkansah of the United Methodist Church in the Bronx applauded late president as a man of peace who should be emulated by Ghanaians. He appealed for peace during the upcoming general elections and added that unity and peace would ensure continuous progress in Ghana.