President Mills pays last respects to Squadron Leader Sowu

Accra, Jan. 14, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday joined a large crowd of mourners to pay their last respects to Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, immediate past Board Chairman of Elctricity Company of Ghana, who died last November.

The burial service, held at the Garrison Methodist/Presbyterian Church at Burma Camp, in Accra, was also attended by Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu, Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and leading members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Some politicians across the political divide, including Mr Jake

Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party,

the largest minority party, were also present. The late Sowu, 76, who was a leading member of the ruling

National Democratic Congress (NDC) left behind a widow, 12

children and nine grandchildren. As a member of the Ahoshie-Dzahli family of Tegbi, Anlo, in

the Volta Region, the late Sowu was born on July 2, 1934, and

served the nation as an engineer on the Volta River Project,

Administrator at the Management Development and Productivity

Institute (MDPI), politician, Member of Parliament, Minister of

State in the Volta Region and the Ministry of Works and Housing,

as well as a leading member of the NDC. The casket bearing the body was draped with the Ghana flag

and bedecked with flowers, and later to the Osu Cemetary in

Accra for cremation. Military men stood in sentry and marched about the casket with

swords in respect to the deceased who many described in tributes

as forthright, honest, father and excellent mentor. The service officiated by Reverend Colonel David Adoteye-

Asare, Director of Religious Affairs of Ghana Armed Forces

(GAF), was interspersed with solemn music trumpeted by the

GAF Central Band. In a sermon, Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare, told the congregation

to make excellent life choices, asking politicians to be truthful at all

times. "We have to consider the consequences of the life choices we

make, and do not say we believe in God and behave otherwise,"

Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare said. He explained that such behaviour would make the believer a

functional atheist. "I feel sad when politicians create the impression that lying is

part of the game," The Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare said. "Telling lies is a pathological issue, and this would derail any

trust that people have in you. "For the sake of trust, check the quality of the promises you

make," he said, adding "Stick to the promises you make and let

your yes be yes, and no be no," for Jesus Christ said 93anything

apart from this comes from the devil." The Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare stressed belief in God, human

dignity and freedom, adding that sin destroyed the true human

personality which was wonderfully and beautifully made in the

image of God. "Seek justice, love and kindness if you believe in God and are

insensitive to the plight of people because of differences, what

impact are you making on others?", Rev. Col. Adoteye-Asare

asked. He described the late Squadron Leader Sowu as having lived

and died for his country. Tributes were read by the late Sowu's wife, children, Ghana

Armed Forces, Parliament and the NDC.