Ghanaians Show Love To Mills But

Still Say …Se Asa

The demise of a true son of the land, President John Mills last week Tuesday devastated the hearts of every single soul in the country.

Even his critics are now showering praises on him with unimaginable virtues after defaming him day in and day out and hurting his soul and body when he was alive.

Ghanaians interviewed expressed shock and sorrow about the untimely departure of the great son due to what they consider unnecessary insults and attacks that might have contributed to his death.

They did not hide their ill-feelings about people who they say knew the true character of the president but kept silent for political opponents to devour him.

It is finished they conclude; there will be no Atta Mills to Insult, attack or disgrace.

The one week celebration was observed yesterday across the entire nation.

The Daily Democrat news team went out and brings you these reports.

Emmanuel Opare Djan – Mamprobi, Chorko, Korle Gonno, Lartebiokoshie

Like an earthquake, the death of President Professor John Evans Atta Mills last week 24thJuly, 2012 shocked all Ghanaians including those who vilified him while alive.

The pain of his death is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians, calling on people who vilified him to ask for forgiveness.

The atmosphere in and around Mamprobi, Chorkor, Korle-Gonno and Lartebiokoshie in the morning represented sadness and dejection as a result of the passing on of the President.

From taxi drivers, okada riders, Trotro drivers, fishermen & fishmongers, traders etc everyone was conspicuous in red and black outfits.

In homes also, women, children and the aged who could not make it to the Efua Sutherland park for the one week celebration observed the occasion solemnly to mourn the departure of the development oriented president

From Doris Hanu - Makola

Ghanaians have really shown and demonstrated to the world that they truly love their late president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills as various groups, both the young and old in Accra organized street ceremonies to mark the one week celebration of a distinguished statesman.

The streets of Makola, Accra’s biggest market where Doris Hanu visited, saw almost every market woman congregate and dressed in red or black attire, either wailing or in a sober mood as hymns, songs and prayers were said for the departed soul of the late president.

Commercial drivers were not left out of the celebrations as they decorated their vehicles with red bands and pictures of the late president Mills.

The physically challenged were also not left out of the celebrations as they were all dressed in their red and black attire mourning the late president.

Dorcas Osei Asantewaa – Amasaman

The demise of the late President J.E.A. Mills, the third president of the Fourth Republic at the 37 Military Hospital at about 2.15 p.m. last week has left the country in a state of mourning.

Since last week Tuesday, the 24th of July 2012, virtually the whole country is either in black or red attire indicating that a big tree indeed has fallen.

Though some chastised him for his kind of governance, and others did not like him, his death has apparently united the country irrespective of political affiliations.

At about 6.00 a.m. in the Amasaman Constituency yesterday, people dressed in their usual red or black trooped to the Children’s Park in Accra, where the late President’s Regional one week celebration week was held. Traffic virtually came to a halt as people gathered in the constituency to celebrate the occasion.

It was very clear that people loved him but did not know how to express their feelings and that indeed his death has really affected the nation.

By Judith Brago Peprah- Achimota, Chantan

Since the passing away of the president, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills which occurred at the 37 Military Hospital last week, great sadness gripped the nation, especially Achimota, through to Chantan and Alhaji area, all under Okai-Koi constituency in Accra.

Since the loss of the President, people living in these areas have changed their ways of dressing, playing music and talking.

The 31st of July, which marked one week since the late president passed away, the mood of people in the area changed. Black and red were the colours people were seen wearing to mourn the president. Drivers had red cloth tied around their vehicles and others had posters of the late president. Music played on the air waves were solemn.

Everyone was mourning, despite the fact that they belonged to different political parties.

The death of the president has really brought unity among party supporters in these areas.

Mavis Danso- Mallam -Atta

Traders in and around the Mallam –Atta market yesterday wept for the late President Mills who they described as a father for all, and a humble person who would be forever remembered for his numerous contributions and achievements towards the development of mother Ghana.

Trading activities around the Mallam-Atta market were brought to a standstill as different groups of people marched through the New Town highway to mourn one of Africa’s presidents who carved a niche for himself both at home and abroad and created a vacuum that would be difficult for Ghanaians to fill.

The traders who were in black attires with red bands tied around their heads, legs and arms sang and danced amidst tears.

Taxi and commercial drivers were not left out as they tooted their horns and decorated their cars with NDC flags and pictures of the late president to show how the demise of the’’ Asomdwe hene’’ has left unforgettable pains in the hearts of both friends and enemies.

A short ceremony was also performed by the Greater Accra Markets Association in memory of the departed professor after which a plaque was unveiled to honour him.

Report by Dan – E Yussif - Odorkor

Residents of Odorkor and its environs really showed their profound love following the demise of the late President J.E.A Mills. The whole township of Odorkor was painted in red and black depicting the typical way of mourning in Ghana.

Generally, music was played loudly all over the township with residents in solemn mood, while others danced to express their condolence to the former President’s family.

Motorist were not left out as both commercial and private vehicles had red bands tied to the side mirrors and wipers while others tooted their horns to signify the pain they felt in memory of the former president.

Report by Ernest Yartey - Tema

The week’s celebration of the demise of the late President John Evans Atta Mills took a different turn yesterday afternoon with people and buildings in town decorated in red and black cloths expressing the sorrowful mood Ghanaians are in.

The event was more predominant in town and at large, market centers where motorists both commercial and private, exhibited good sense of patriotism by tying red and black cloths on their vehicles.

The important aspect of all these was that people of different political affiliations showed their heart-felt condolences wearing their red and black apparels.

Indeed, Ghanaians exhibited good sense of oneness, which is very vital as the country approaches the election.

Report by Edwin Addae from Nkrumah Circle

Since the death of the late president, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills the whole nation has been in a sorrowful mood.

Women especially, showed their emotions as several burst into uncontrollable tears when they heard of the death of the late president.

Yesterday, a week after the death of the late president the whole of Accra was bathed in red and black. Cars, buildings and people were seen covered or decorated with red or black cloths.

Sorrowful music was played everywhere and even animals were not left out with some owners putting red bands on their animals to show the love they had for the former president.

And at 2:15 p.m. the whole of Circle came to a standstill with almost everybody observing a minute silence for the departed president.

Report by Anokye-Aidoo Deryck - 37 Lorry Station

Since the sudden death of the late president of the Republic of Ghana, Professor J.E.A Mills last Tuesday, the country has been in a state of great shock and silence. Ghanaians and other African countries have been mourning his sudden departure most especially on TV and radio stations.

It has been observed that there have been a lot of air-time dedications on most prime time shows.

On the streets most private and commercial vehicles had pieces of red cloth tied on them signifying remembrance of the late president.

This brought about a high rate of the sale of red materials and merchandise of the political parties. Street hawkers interviewed said they made little bit more than their normal daily sales.