Memorial service held for flood, fire victims at Flagstaff House
A non-denominational memorial service was held at the Flagstaff House Monday, beginning the three-day national mourning for the victims of the flood and fire disasters.
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The solemn event, which was led by Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, ministers of state, personnel of the security services, the clergy and representatives of political parties.
Participants were clad in black clothing, coupled with red and black arm bands, to mourn with the affected families.
A background song ministration from a youth choir gave a the ocassion a true touch of requiem.
Commiseration
The Vice-President, who commiserated with the bereaved families, also reassured them of the government’s decision to underwrite the medical bills of the injured who were on admission at the hospital.
“The nation would continue to pray for their speedy recovery", he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families of those who perished.”
He explained that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security agencies were carrying out a needs assessment of the situation for the appropriate deployment to ease the pain and suffering of the victims.
Mr Amissah-Arthur acknowledged the efforts of the security services and the Ghanaian public in general for the various roles they played in their rescue efforts and asked Ghanaians to, as a matter of urgency, take weather warnings seriously.
According to him the Meteorological Service had warned of rainfall torrential in the last week of May and in middle of June this year for which reason he reiterated his call for Ghanaians strictly follow the weather forecast and take steps to protect themselves and property.
Clergy cautions
The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana, Rev. Dr. Paul Frimpong Manso, in his remarks urged the political parties to desist from the politicising the disaster adding that “this is not the time for blame game”.
While asking the media to be circumspect in their reportage in order not to inflame passion the clergyman stressed the need for the nation in grief to put aside all differences and join hands to help heal the pain of the affected families.
Rev. Frimpong Manso assured the affected families that the church would continue to remember them in prayers in their moment of pain.l quote
“The Meteorological Service warned of rainfall torrential in the last week of May and the middle of June this year for which reason Ghanaians must take the weather forecast seriously and take steps to protect themselves and property”