UE holds vigil in memory of Prex Mills

Story & Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga It was an outpouring of grief as citizens of the Upper East Region poured into the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga to partake in a vigil held in memory of the departed President of Ghana, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. The night was filled with tributes, dirges, traditional praise singing and total recollection of the life and works of the late President by mourners who swarm the venue. Not even a five minute power outage in the municipality deters the crowd who have gathered to mourn the late president. Politicians, members of the clergy, Islamic leaders heads of security services, heads of departments, chiefs, and people from all walks of life gathered to mourn the late president in their own small way. The Municipal Chief Executives for Bolgatanga, Mr. Edward Ayagle, in a brief tribute said Ghanaians need to focus their attention to the principles and ideals that the late president stood for which included the principles of accountability, discipline, dedicated service, hard work humility. “Nothing will please him (The Late President) more than to see his people lifted from poverty and deprivation. We must do well as citizens to live up to our responsibilities and also respect the views of others which were espoused by the departing leader. He said one other tenet of the late president was to supervise a free, fair and peaceful election devoid of acrimony and rancour. “We must as a people resolve to go about the pending elections in such a peaceful manner so that even in his grave, the late president will heave a sigh of relief”. According to Mr. Ayagle, above all else, Ghanaians must honour the late president’s memory by imbibing the love, honesty, and forbearance which was demonstrated throughout his life on earth, stressing that anything to the contrary will be disgraceful to the legacy of the Prof. Mills.

Rev. Esmund Wasau Nagba, chairperson of the Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana called on Ghanaians to emulate the life and achievements of the late President and be inspired to do more for mother Ghana. An Islamic Scholar, Mallam Salihu Haruna Rashid, admonished the youth especially Muslim youth not to allow themselves to be use by any political party to cause violence, since that will be the greatest honour they could give to the late president. The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, (GPCC), Rev. Amos Jimmy Markin said Ghana has lost a great leader but was hopeful that he (the late President) has found rest and peace in the bosom of the Lord. “As a nation, we may be in grief but God in his own wisdom will restore us and give us hope”, he said. The night was laced with traditional kologo(string) music performances by musicians and cultural groups who extolled the life and works of the late President. Also in attendance were the Regional Police Band who provided soothing dirges for the many mourners. -END- August 9, 2012