President Sirleaf Arrives in Accra for Atta Mills Funeral;
Expresses Sympathy to Government, People of Ghana

(ACCRA, GHANA – Thursday, August 9, 2012) “On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, we join you in showing our solidarity with you during your deep time of sorrow. We come to express our condolence and let you know that we have enjoyed good relationship with the late President John Atta Mills and we share your grief for his untimely death.

“We come also to show solidarity with President John Dramani Mahama who has assumed the leadership and to let him know that Liberia will continue to work with him, the Government and people of Ghana to ensure the deep friendship we share, the relationship, the collaboration in pursuing the continental goals will continue to be intensified as we go into the future under his new leadership,” President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said.

According to a dispatch from Accra, President Sirleaf made the comments upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport Thursday evening, at the head of a high-powered Liberian delegation to attend the funeral of the late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday, August 10.

She also used the occasion to sympathize with the family of the late President Mills, as well as his political party. The Liberian leader thanked the Ghanaian Government for the warm reception upon her delegation’s arrival.

Receiving President Sirleaf on behalf of President Mahama earlier, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, thanked the Liberian leader for her personal presence to share the country‘s grief. “We appreciate very much the reason of your coming to express sentiments of sympathy, condolence and solidarity of support which underpins your visit with us. This fills us with a sensitive sense of relief and we are appreciative of your mission,” he said.

Also on hand to meet the Liberian President were: Ghana’s Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs. Juliana Azuma Mensah; and Liberia’s Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Rudolf von Ballmoos, and members of his staff.

Following the airport formalities, President Sirleaf and delegation drove to the banquet hall at the parliamentary complex where the late President is lying in state. The Liberian leader paid a silent tribute to the late Ghanaian President and deposited a wreath on behalf of the Liberian Government and people.

On Friday, August 10, the late President Mills, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), will be buried with full military honors.

After the religious ceremonies and the performance of the final funeral rites by the family of the late leader at Independence Square, the military will escort the casket containing the body of the late Commander-in-Chief to his final resting place, at the Geese Park on the Castle Drive.

Mr. Jerolinmek Matthew Piah