President Mills pays last respects to Squadron Leader Sowu

President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday joined a large crowd of mourners to pay their last respects to Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, immediate past Board Chairman of Electricity Company of Ghana, who died last November.

The burial service, held at the Garrison Methodist/Presbyterian Church at Burma Camp, in Accra, was also attended by Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu, Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and leading members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Some politicians across the political divide, including Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, the largest minority party, were also present.

The late Sowu, 76, who was a leading member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) left behind a widow, 12 children and nine grandchildren.

As a member of the Ahoshie-Dzahli family of Tegbi, Anlo, in the Volta Region, the late Sowu was born on July 2, 1934, and served the nation as an engineer on the Volta River Project, Administrator at the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), politician, Member of Parliament, Minister of State in the Volta Region and the Ministry of Works and Housing, as well as a leading member of the NDC.

The casket bearing the body was draped with the Ghana flag and bedecked with flowers, and later to the Osu Cemetary in Accra for cremation.

Military men stood in sentry and marched about the casket with swords in respect to the deceased who many described in tributes as forthright, honest, father and excellent mentor.

The service officiated by Reverend Colonel David Adoteye-Asare, Director of Religious Affairs of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), was interspersed with solemn music trumpeted by the GAF Central Band.

In a sermon, Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare, told the congregation to make excellent life choices, asking politicians to be truthful at all times.

“We have to consider the consequences of the life choices we make, and do not say we believe in God and behave otherwise,” Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare said.

He explained that such behaviour would make the believer a functional atheist.

“I feel sad when politicians create the impression that lying is part of the game,” The Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare said.

“Telling lies is a pathological issue, and this would derail any trust that people have in you.

The Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare stressed belief in God, human dignity and freedom, adding that sin destroyed the true human personality which was wonderfully and beautifully made in the image of God.

He described the late Squadron Leader Sowu as having lived and died for his country.

Tributes were read by the late Sowu’s wife, children, Ghana Armed Forces, Parliament and the NDC.

Source: GNA