The whole of Ho came to a standstill when over 2000 people from the Ho Municipality and various parts of the Volta region processed through the principal streets of the regional capital.
The procession which was widely publicized over the weekend started at 6:00am yesterday, from the Ho RTC Park through the central market and ended at the Ho Sports Stadium. It was organized by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). Offices of the various ministries, departments and agencies were closed as well as shops, kiosks and other service providers.
The whole town was in red and black and other paraphernalia of the late President and the national flag amidst wailing, drumming and dancing. The crowd turned the principal streets of Ho into a sea of red with black patches. Educational institutions such as the EP University College, Ho Polytechnic, OLA Girls Senior High School, Mawuko Girls Senior High School and many others joined the procession.
The procession was led by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Henry Ametefe, the Ho Municipal Chief Executives, Isaac Kodobisah, Heads of Departments and Agencies and leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and other political parties. Interestingly, some known lunatics in Ho joined the procession. Traditional leaders and their followers were not left out.
Also in attendance were the ‘Zibo group’, a vibrant ‘jama’ group of the area, the police band, various brass bands and other dance groups from surrounding villages and towns. While the wailing and dancing was ongoing, others were busily engaging in brisk business selling paraphernalia of Atta Mills.
At the stadium, the Volta Regional Minister, Henry Ford Kamel, in his address, noted that the death of the late President had surely brought the entire country together than ever before and hoped that the unity be continued. He added that, it was a good sign for all political parties to note and ensure that the politics of insult was vanquished from the country’s political space.
Mr. Kamel noted that the testimonies and tributes pouring out for late President Mills showed that he was well prepared before his death. He therefore advised all Ghanaians to live a good life in preparation for their death. He recalled when he was first appointed to be Minister of the Region saying, “I told President Mills I couldn’t speak Ewe and he told me, my son let your work speak Ewe.”
The President of the EP University College (EPUC), Rev. Dr. Fayorse, said the death of the President was a big blow to all facets of the country, particularly, education. He noted that as the premier university in the region, they would be committed to quality education in honour of the late President.
The president of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association, Victor Kwawukume, noted that he was heavily struck by the President’s death because, July 24, was his (Victor’s) birthday. He commended the late President for his care for the media and noted that, it was evident in his role in instituting the media development fund. He urged the media to pursue peace in their duties to honour him.
The parliamentary candidate of the NPP for Ho central, Dr. Archibald Letsa, and his colleague from Ho West, Lawyer Ernest Gawewu, also gave their tributes. Dr. Letsa disclosed that although Atta Mills was in NDC, he was his brother and in-law, since they both married from the same family in Prampram. He said Ghanaians should use Atta Mill’s death to sanitize the political landscape in Ghana and added that, “we might be opponents, but that does not make us enemies; we should all freely air our views and ideas without malice, insults and hindrance.”
Tributes also came from Isaac Kodobisah, the Ho Central NDC parliamentary candidate, Benjamin Kpodo, the Asogli State, the Clergy, the market women, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), OLA Girls SHS on behalf of students, the PPP, CPP and other departments and agencies.
