President M ills Remembrance Day

By Paul Awortwi-Mensah

The City of Worcester, Massachusetts, has declared August 4, each year as a Remembrance Day for the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, former President of Ghana.
This declaration was made by Mayor Joseph Petty of Worcester at a candle light vigil organized by the Ghanaian Community in Worcester at the forecourt of Worcester City Hall on Saturday, August 4, 2012.
Hundreds of Ghanaians clad in red and black outfits, joined by other people from all walks of life, converged at the forecourt of Worcester City Hall holding candles and praying for the repose of the soul of the late President.
In making the declaration, Mayor Petty described the late Professor Mills as man of peace who will always be remembered by Ghanaians both at home and abroad.
“The people of Ghana both home and abroad will forever be grateful to him for being a champion for democracy and a staunch advocate for peaceful co-existence of all people regardless of their political, religious and racial differences, asomdweehene will never be forgotten” he stated.
According to the Mayor, the remembrance of the late Professor Mills is in recognition of the bond of friendship and ceremonial ties that existed between the late President and the City of Worcester.
Mayor Petty explained that on August 2007, Professor Mills visited the City of Worcester to deliver a keynote address at the Clark University where he was graciously welcomed by the Ghanaian Community in Worcester where the then Mayor of Worcester, Konstantina Lukes awarded him the ceremonial keys to the city thereby making him a honorary citizen of the City of Worcester.
“Now, therefore, I, Mayor Joseph M. Petty, do, hereby proclaim August 4, as President John Evans Atta Mills Remembrance Day in the City of Worcester and encourage all residents to recognize and participate in its observance”, he declared.
On her part, Mrs. Kathleen M. Toomey, a Councilor at Large said she first met the late Professor Mills during his campaign tour of the USA in 2007 and described him as a modest man full of intellect.
Mrs. Toomey who is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Works for the City of Worcester extended her heartfelt condolences to the family of the late President Mills in particular, and the good people of Ghana in general.
She urged all Ghanaians to allow themselves to be united by the death of the late President.
The Resident Pastor of the Ghana Presbyterian of Church in Worcester, Rev. Ernestina Gakpo and the Overseer of the Rhema Church in Worcester, Pastor Kwaku Boakye Boateng prayed for God’s guidance on all Ghanaians home and abroad as they tread this path of sorrow, and asked for strength and protection to withstand these trying moments.