Flags To Fly At Half-Mast Today

...In Honour Of Sept. 11 Victims
President John Agyekum Kufuor has issued a directive that all flags in the country should fly at half-mast today, September 11, from six in the morning till six o'clock in the evening.

A statement signed by the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said the directive is in memory of all the victims of the tragic event of the September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington.

The terrorist attacks, which were carried out by Osama Bin Ladin’s Al-Qaeda network killed thousands of people including 343 fire fighters.

Sept. 11 Attacks: Tribute By Government Of Ghana

People around the world have joined Americans in their tributes to victims if the September 11 terrorist attacks. The government of Ghana has also sent a moving tribute to the world’s Super power, America a year on after the horrific attacks. The Statement was signed by the Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

Full Text

Sophia B. Addo and Emmanuel Afuakwa, two Ghanaian names, are listed among the almost three thousand who perished at the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001. September 11th 2001 was not only an American tragedy or only a Ghanaian tragedy it was a tragedy for all humanity. September 11th was not an attack on America alone, it was not an attack on Ghana alone, it was an attack on all countries, on all humanity.

The pain of September 11th is not America’s alone or Ghana’s alone it is the pain of all the peoples of all the countries of the world. As we gather here to remember those who lost their lives, so across the world, millions of others have gathered to express their continuing grief and to mourn together all that we have all lost, together.

As we mourn and remember, it is important that we continue to draw the correct lessons from our common tragedy. The first lesson is that evil must be met with unyielding resolve: evil must not be allowed to prevail. The second lesson we can draw is from those final messages that were sent out by those who were about to die: They were messages of love. Love endureth all things. We, the world, must not allow their memories to be clouded by blood or by vengeance. The fitting memorial to those who died will be to move to eradicate the causes of evil, to eliminate the breeding grounds of hatred.

America, where this tragedy occurred, could today have been a continuing bloody battle ground of racial strife. That it is not, owes much to the efforts of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. We would do well, today, to remember his words when he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first Civil Rights Act to be passed by the American Senate in some 80 years. I quote, “Nothing lasting, nothing enduring, has ever been born from hatred and prejudice- except more hatred and more prejudice”.

As we move to eradicate injustice, hatred and prejudice so shall the breeding grounds of evil wither. Let the memorial to those who died be that of which they spoke in those awful, terrifying, last moments before death; let it be a memorial of love. Let us pledge to work until we have attained the goals of Justice for all, access for all to education, reduction of poverty and better health and health services for all humanity.

Finally let us remember the dead in the immortal words of Laurence Binyon.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Our hearts reach out to the Ghanaian families, the American families and the families all around the world who lost their dear ones. And to the dead, may their souls and the souls of all the departed find rest and consolation in the bosom of the Lord.

Ghana joins US in remembrance of September 11 victims

Ghana on Wednesday joined the United States of America (USA) in remembrance of the almost 3000 people who perished in the airplane terrorists attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament and the Council of State and the Deputy Chief of US Mission were among many others who witnessed the solemn ceremony observed in the memory of the victims at the residence of the US Ambassador to Ghana.

Two Ghanaians whose name were listed as Sophia B. Addo and Emmanuel Afuakwa died in the attack in which citizens of more than ninety nations lost their lives when the planes used as weapons targeted and hit the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in Pennsylvania.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Presidential Affairs on behalf of the government and people of Ghana asked the world to work hard towards justice, access to education, poverty reduction and securing health for all.

He said the September 11 tragedy did not affect only American or a Ghana but all countries and on all humanity.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said "It is the pain of all the peoples of all the countries of the world."

He said even as the world mourned and remembered those who died in the tragedy, it was important to continue to draw the correct lessons that evil must be met with unyielding resolve so as not to allow evil to prevail.

He quoted President Lyndon Baines Johnson as saying "Nothing lasting, nothing enduring, has ever been born from hatred and prejudice - except more hatred and more prejudice."

"As we move to eradicate injustice, hatred and prejudice so shall the breeding grounds of evil wither" and added they last spoken word of those dying in that terrifying last moments ought to be a memorial of love.

Ambassador Elizabeth Raspoli of the US said the help, assistance and moral support from the international community have heartened her government.

She said though much has been accomplished in the campaign against terrorism during the last year, the struggle would require vigilance, perseverance and sacrifice for many years, adding that US President Bush had made this clear from the beginning.

"Only a united and civilised world can defeat terrorism. On this day,as we remember those individuals lost and families shattered on September 11, let us renew our commitment to defeat terrorism and build a better future for the next generation." the Ambassador added.