President Akufo-Addo laying a wreath on behalf of government and people of Ghana
President Akufo-Addo yesterday joined members of the various security agencies to pay glowing tribute to Ghanaian soldiers, who died in the course of the First and Second World Wars, at the 73rd Remembrance Day Service held at the Christiansborg War Cemetery at Osu in Accra.
The President recalled the selfless sacrifice they made to Ghana and the world in both world wars, and those who had died since then in their quest for world peace.
The Remembrance Day, otherwise known as ‘Poppy Day’ is observed by countries that form the Commonwealth of Nations since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who died in their line of duty.
The Armistice, which ended World War 1, became effective at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. After World War 2, the Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day to remember those who died in both world wars; it was instituted as a National Day of Remembrance.
The solemn ceremony attracted people from all sections of society including members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, the ministers for Defence and the Interior, as well as the top brass of the military and other security services.
At 10:56 hours there was the Call to Remembrance and the Sounding of the Knell and at exactly 1100 hours, the siren was sounded followed by the reading of the Binyon Verses, the sounding of the last post, a two-minute silence and the reveille.
President Akufo-Addo laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ghana.
British High Commissioner, Mr Ian Walker, laid a wreath for the Commonwealth and Allied Countries, while the Ivorian envoy to Ghana, Ambassador Bernard Kotoan laid one for the diplomatic community.
Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, the Chief of Defence Staff, laid a wreath on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies;Â Maj. Gen. C B Yaache Rtd,, Chairman of the Veterans Administration of Ghana laid the wreath on behalf of the veterans of Ghana.
Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Paramount Chief of Osu and President of the Greater Accra Region House of Chiefs, laid the sixth wreath on behalf of all traditional rulers in Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo and other dignitaries later signed a remembrance book at the memorial Ark of the War Cemetery.
The Day is a noble gesture of acknowledging and recognising the servicemen who sacrificed their lives for today’s peace. The Day underscores the need not only to stop wars, but also to pursue peace at all costs and at all times, as that is the only condition for the survival of the human race.
The Christianborg War Cemetery contains the remains of 419 Second World War casualties, including 357 West Africans, 50 British, eight Canadians, two Italians, one Australian and one Polish.
Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent