President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday signed the Book of Condolence at the British High Commission in Ghana to commiserate with Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family for the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed on Friday, April 9, 2021.
The President wrote; “We were all very sad in Ghana to learn of the passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. He has many admirers in Ghana who have vivid memories of his visit to our country.
We appreciate very much the works of this body, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme which has benefited hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians. We express our deep condolences to Queen Elizabeth II, in her period of mourning and loss. We pray for God’s strength for her, children and family and also ask for God’s blessing in this period. May his soul rest in peace.”
On Saturday, April 10, 2021, President in a message to Queen Elizabeth II to express his condolences, described the Duke of Edinburgh as Queen Elizabeth’s “devoted companion of the last 73 years”, recounted their visits to Ghana in 1961 and 1999, which Ghanaians still holds the “excellent memories of his dynamic and engaging personality.”
He said Prince Philip’s life “had a positive impact on us in Ghana. Over 750,000 young Ghanaians have benefitted from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the great initiative he established in 1956 — 65years ago, to unearth talents amongst young people the world over.”
“It is now known in Ghana as the Head of State Award Scheme, and I had the honour, two days before his death, of cutting the sod for the construction of its administrative office building.
That, President Akufo-Addo said, had made Ghana one of the few countries in the world and the second in Africa, to have such an office. “His place in Ghanaian history is secure, and we appreciate very much his contact with us.”
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
