�Sense Of Unity Must Not Be Nine-Day Wonder�

Ghanaians have been advised against making the sense of unity in the nation following the transition of President John Evans Atta Mills �a mere nine-day wonder.� �We must see such a time, although a sad one, as an opportunity to reform the bad ways we have lived and related to one another, and make genuine efforts to stay together as a people with a common interest to see Ghana progress and remain peaceful.� The general overseer of the Christian Outreach Ministries, Rev Dr Douglas Frimpong, gave the advice when he gave the exhortation at an interdenominational church service in Kumasi as part of the one-week celebration of the late president�s passing. The Ashanti Region dedicated Tuesday to mark the one-week passing of former President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, which occurred at about 2:15pm on July 24. The main events for the day were the interdenominational church service held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall between 9am and 11am and then a grand durbar at the Kumasi Jubilee Park, where tributes, poetry recitals and speeches were given by representatives of all political parties. Rev Dr Frimpong observed with glee the high level of involvement by all citizens irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliation in mourning the late president. �I was particularly happy to hear that all political parties had suspended their activities in honour of the late president. This is what Ghana needs, that we all shall stay together and fight for our common good. We should not make the prevailing atmosphere a nine-day wonder, but be dedicated in our resolve to ensure that before, during and after the elections Ghana will remain peaceful,� he said. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, said the numerous tributes from people within and outside the country indicated that the late president did a lot to promote the social and economic development of Ghanaians in his capacity as law lecturer, civil servant and astute politician. In that light, he said President Mills� belief in God and his resolve to ensure peace and a better Ghana should serve as a good example to all Ghanaians to work hard towards maintaining peace, national cohesion and accelerated development in the country. The Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, Right Rev Dr Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, led the hundreds that filled up the Prempeh Assembly Hall for the service in prayers of thanksgiving to God for blessing the nation with the late president. The congregation also prayed for the family and all other grieving citizens, a successful tenure of President John Dramani Mahama and the progress and peace of the nation. Preceding the durbar was a float through the city by mostly the youth, amidst brass band music and dance, while motorbike riders displayed on the streets. The dominant colours in the city were black and red. People who wore other colours made sure they had red and black bands tied around their wrist and heads, and others decorated their vehicles in black and red.