A year on - July 24 2012, Ghanaians are once more called
upon commemorate the life of the late Prof. J. E. A. Mills who passed unto the
land of the ancestors.
That fateful afternoon still remains a scar in the hearts
and minds of many across the political divide. It was first in our history that
a sitting president died.
Many of Prof. Mills' admirable traits were echoed and
emphasized as worthy of emulation; prime of which includes: modesty, humility,
and his great sense of respect to time and the citizenry.
A flashback on events from his death till burial in
juxtaposed to today exemplifies the forgetting nature of Ghanaians as we have
since returned to our old way of life.
Few days ago (July 12), we commemorated the birthday of
another prominent son of Ghana- Dr. K. A. Busia whose passion of service to
Ghana was widely extolled.
Many more outstanding sons of the land shall be commemorated
annually; however, the essential lessons worth imbibed especially by the youth
is short lived as we simply forget the personalities and what they stood for
following each commemorative dates.
Instead, persons tasked with organization of the event make
the occasion a profit making venture, as typified during the burial ceremony of
the late Prof. Atta Mills. It was a masterfully flamboyant occasion.
Nelson Mandela who is now at the cross road of life and
death is another faithful son of Africa who will forever be adored for his
peaceful life; but typical of the 'black man' we shall annually commemorate and
celebrate these heroes but never take a cue from their traits.
Until we learn to focus on the essentials of annual
commemoration of heroes and not a mundane practice, we shall remain stunt in
development.
~ atiemo
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