Fifty-sixth Remembrance Day Service held

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday joined the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) in a 60-minute solemn 56th Remembrance Day Service at the Independence Square in Accra.

The service attended by all the Service Commanders with eight officers and 185 men drawn from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the Police on parade, was for the gallant heroes who lost their lives during the First World War in 1914-18 and the Second World War in 1939-45.

A minute's silence was observed after the sounding of the knell, the farewell call, the last post and the siren while all the flags at the square, which flew at half-mast, were raised.

Twelve wreaths were laid with President Kufuor laying the first on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, Mr Ibrahim Kamil Omar, Ambassador of the State of Palestine and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana laid the second on behalf of the Corps.

The High Commissioners of Britain, Canada, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and the Charge D'Affairs of Malaysia in Ghana laid wreaths on behalf of their governments and people.

Lieutenant-General Albert Kwesi Ocran, Chairman of VAG and Nii Adote Obuor II, Sempe Mantse laid wreaths on behalf of VAG and chiefs in the country, respectively.

In Kumasi, four wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph in commemoration of soldiers who lost their lives in the two world wars and other similar encounters in the country.

The first was laid by Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, who deputised for the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo on behalf of the government and people of Ghana.

Brigadier George Ayiku, General Officer Commanding the Northern Command of the Ghana Army laid the second on behalf of the Security Services. Baffour Appiah Dankwa 111, Anantahene of Kumasi laid the third wreath on behalf of all traditional rulers and ex-Warrant Office (W.O) Francis Appiah-Dankwah, Chairman of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) laid the fourth one on behalf of war veterans.

The 30-minutes solemn service which was attended by contingents from the Army, Prisons Service, Police, Fire, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Immigration Service and a cross-section of the public was officiated by Lieutenant Shamsuddin Yusif Mensah, Garrison Imam and Major Ebenezer Nii Addy Laryea, Garrison Chaplain.

Also in Sunyani, contingents from the various security services and a large number of people attended Remembrance Day service.

The contingents of the Military, Police, Prisons, Customs Excise and Preventive Service and the Ghana National Fire Service formed a parade under the command of Captain Edward Awaribey of the Third Battalion of Infantry in Sunyani.

Mr Ernest Debrah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of the government whilst Lieutenant Colonel Kwame Opoku Adusei, Third Garrison Commander, laid one on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces.