Thanksgiving service held for Late President Mills at Cape Coast
Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Sunday extended Government’s appreciation and thanks to Ghanaians and foreigners alike for the glorious ‘send-off” they accorded the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who was laid to rest in Accra last Friday.
The Vice President described the late President Mills as a man who was not vengeful and who loved his neighbours, and asked Ghanaians not to be too sorrowful for a life well lived.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking at a memorial thanks-giving service held for the late President at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Cape Coast in the Central Region.
He said late Professor Mills exhibited the virtues of a good Christian mentioned in the gospel of Matthew chapter five, hence the celebration of the life of the departed leader.
The service was attended by the family of late President Mills including his son, Kofi Sam Mills, his brother Dr Cadman Atta Mills, members of the extended family, Ministers of state, Members of Parliament and party officials.
Others were Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), the clergy and a cross-section of the public.
The late President Mills died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, three days after his 68th birthday.
He was buried last Friday, August 10, 2012 and his burial ceremony was observed by millions of Ghanaians, with thousands attending the event live at the Independence Square in Accra.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said crowds at the late President’s funeral was eveidence of a life well-lived, adding that very interesting things had happened since the death of the man who has come to be known by all as a man of peace and a unifier.
He said many people had plegded to lead exemplary lives in memory of the late president Mills, adding that more people had resolved to exhibit discipline in their life-style as testimony to the life of the late President.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur together with other speakers at the service observed that a white dove that positioned itself on the vehicle in which former first lady Naadu Mills sat when the funeral procession was about to leave the Independence Square last Friday was a symbol that the late President Mills who had lived for peace was leaving behind a stable and peaceful country, and that all will be well.
Preaching the sermon, The Rt. Reverend Nicholas Asane, Bishop of the Cape Coast Diocese of the Methodist Church said God always remembered righteous people
“A righteous man will be remembered forever”, he said, and described the late President Mills as a righteous man who bore the fruits of the Holy Spirit. He further observed that the multitudes from far and near who attended the burial service was beyond human description.
“Can we take away any of the above (fruit of the Spirit) from the character of our late President?” he queried rhetorically, to which the congregation gave a resounding “NO” for an answer.
Reverend Nicholas Asane called on the nation to be united by the exemplary leadership and death of late President Mills.
“President Mills never gave any answer to his ridicullors but led a peaceful life for which God exalted him and sent him to Heaven”, he said, and underlined the need to accept Jesus so that all will have an everlasting life.
There were song ministrations by a choir, a singing band, and the Christ Little Band which often sang in Fanti language, using the tone of a dirge.
Colours of white, with spots and stripes of black dominated the church environment in the Central Regional capital as mourners gave thanks to God for President Mills’ life – a life well lived.
Prayers were said for the bereaved family, the President and Vice President, the Government and people of Ghana, and the whole of humanity.
Source: GNA