The University of Ghana has observed the 2019 Remembrance Day with Muslim Prayers at the Legon Mosque and a Christian Service in the Great Hall to remember members of the University Community who passed away during the 2018/2019 academic year.
Imam Abubakar Baba, who led the Muslims prayers, admonished all to live upright lives that will bring glory to Almighty Allah in order to be saved on the Day of Judgment. There were Quranic readings and translations, Hadith reading, and recitals and Duah Khatim-Al-Quran to observe the day. Dr. Mahmoud A. Mahmoud, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ghana Business School, who chaiared the ceremony, called on the gathering to ensure they practice the virtues that have been preached about. Dr. Mahmoud was happy that setting aside a day to remember departed members of the community was laudable and was in line with the values of Islam. He thanked management and other officials of the University for participating in the Muslim Prayers.
Imam Abubakar Baba
The President of the Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA), Arif Jamilu Teouri, encouraged good inter-personal relationship, tolerance, good behaviour and unity among Muslims and believers of different faiths for peaceful coexistence.
At the Muslim prayers
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu who spoke at both the Muslim prayers and Christian service, expressed appreciation to the Imam and the Clergy for their continued support for the Remembrance Day celebrations. He encouraged all to live in peace and unity and shun all forms of greed, since “we shall return to our Maker as naked as we came.” He also admonished students to remain focused on their aim of being in the University to impact lives positively and endeavour to leave a legacy which will change the wrong doings of society. He advised all to seek salvation before the day of their death, adding “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul”, he said.
University officials at the Muslim Prayers, Legon Mosque
(from left, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Prof. Patrick Ayeh-Kumi, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Dr. Charles Antwi-Bosiako and Mrs. Stella A. Amoa)
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, who delivered the sermon at the Christian Service, said that death remains a mystery which is yet to be unfolded. He noted that bad things happen to good people too. Apostle Nyamekye admonished the congregation not to seek fairness in this world since it can lead to major disappointment. “Remember, the world is not fair”, he opined. He further encouraged the congregation and especially the bereaved, to hold fast unto the Word of God and be steadfast and immovable in the face of disappointment and pain in the hope that the bereaved shall eventually meet the departed at the resurrection; if only they were saved. He also charged the congregation to forget the past and look forward into the future, since man does not walk backwards.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost delivering the Sermon at the Remembrance Day Christian Service, Great Hall
As an act of remembrance, the Roll of Departed members was called out by representatives of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, (UTAG), Federation of Universities Senior Staff Association of Ghana, (FUSSAG), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) and the Student Representative Council (SRC). A minute’s silence for the departed members was also observed.
The first and second Bible Readings were done by Prof. Nana Aba Amfo, Pro-VC (ASA) and Prof. Justice Bawole, Dean, UGBS. Mrs. Stella Dovlo, Deputy Registrar at the School of Graduate Studies, gave brief remarks on behalf of the bereaved families. Prayers were said on behalf of staff and students by Rev. Prof. Joseph Osafo, Head, Department of Psychology and Mr. Joseph Yaw Boateng, Prayer Secretary, UG Jubilee Choir.
Prof. Justice Bawole, Dean, UGBS
The University of Ghana Jubilee Choir directed by Dr. Benjamin Amakye-Boateng, Department of Music Choir and the Pentecost Students Associates (PENSA) choir, ministered soulful songs at the service.
University of Ghana Jubilee Choir
Officiating Ministers at the service were Rev. Dr. Charles Antwi-Boasiako, Chairman, Chaplaincy Board, University of Ghana; Rev. Prof. Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi, Provost, College of Health Sciences; Bishop Dr. Philip Debrah, Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutics and Microbiology.
Mrs. Stella Dovlo giving brief remarks on behalf of the bereaved families
The ceremony was graced by members of the University community, bereaved families, friends, sympathizers and well-wishers.
Overview of University of Ghana Remembrance Day
The University of Ghana has set aside two days in November each year as Remembrance Day: that is the first Friday of November for Muslim Prayers and the first Sunday of November for Christian Service, in remembrance of departed members of the University Community (i.e. past and present staff, students, alumni and friends).
Remembrance Day, formerly dubbed All Souls' Day Service, is an inter-faith service which grew out of the service held in memory of the late Chancellor of the University, Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, in March, 2006. As the character of All Souls' Day Service was inter-faith, Muslim Prayers were incorporated into the service in the past years. These were offered by Imam Abubakari Baba, Imam of the Legon Central Mosque.
The offertory taken at these Services has so far gone to support needy and bright students registered with the University Students Financial Aid Office.
Since 2010, there has been a departure from previous years, with two days being set aside to remember departed members – one by the Muslim Community which takes place on the first Friday of November and the other on the first Sunday of November by the Christian Community. This is now the accepted format for the Memorial Services for departed members of the University community and now with a new name, Remembrance Day.
Thus, Remembrance Day provides the opportunity for all members of the University Community to remember their colleagues who departed this world during the academic year, since members are unable to attend the funerals of all departed colleagues, given the academic schedule of the University. The Chaplaincy Board collaborates with the Public Affairs Directorate to plan and organise Remembrance Day for both Muslim and Christian members of the community.
Please click here for the Programme of the Remembrance day Muslim Prayers
Please click here for the Programme of the Remembrance day Christian Service
