Residents of Koforidua on Sunday thronged the Jackson Park to participate in a special thanksgiving service to mark the first anniversary of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Clad mostly in white apparel, the gathering brought together Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Regional Minister; Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, Deputy Regional Minister; members of the clergy, representatives of political parties, officials from public service departments and the general public.
They sang and danced to give thanks and praise to God and also used the occasion, which was organize by the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC), to pray for the nation and the family of the late president.
In a sermon, Bishop Samuel Yaw Adu of the House of Prayer Ministries, urged all and sundry to show love for God, the nation and for their neighbours.
He said Ghanaians must show respect to leadership, keep the nation clean and exhibit a sense of responsibility through their utterances and actions to maintain peace and harmony.
“Let us do away with the ‘pull-him-down’ attitude and live in peace with our neighbours since we cannot pretend to love God when we hate our neighbours,” he added.
Ms Ntoso also urged Ghanaians to work at maintaining the peace in the country, saying “peace is not something that we go for, it is something that we work for.”
Daasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, in a speech read on his behalf, called on all to emulate late President Mills’ modesty, humility and respect for culture.
The late President Mills died at the age of 68 on July 24, 2012 in Accra while serving as President.
