Members of the diplomatic corps in Ghana and Ghana’s cricketing community have joined Barbados in honouring the life and legacy of The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers through personal visits, formal diplomatic correspondence and written messages of condolence. The Book of Condolence was opened for signing at the Barbados High Commission Chancery at Accra on Wednesday, July 22 and will remain open until the day of the State Funeral on Wednesday, July 29.
The Barbados High Commission welcomed H.E. Surinder Bhagat, High Commissioner of India; H.E. Kufa Edward Chinoza, Ambassador of Zimbabwe; H.E. Daniel Mahongo of Zambia; H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi of Rwanda; H.E. Andrei Ordash, Ambassador of the Russian Federation; and H.E. Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, Ambassador of Peru, who visited the Mission and signed the Book of Condolence.
H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi of Rwanda. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
H.E. Andrei Ordash, Ambassador of the Russian Federation. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
H.E. Daniel Mahongo of Zambia. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
H.E. Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, Ambassador of Peru. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
Emmanuel Osare, President of the Ghana Cricket Association. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
They were joined by Mr Emanuel Chitende, First Secretary at the Embassy of Angola, and Mr Dominic Atsou Hemadzo, who signed on behalf of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
Formal Notes Verbales conveying condolences were received from the Embassy of Spain and the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See.
Written messages of condolence were also received from heads of mission and diplomatic representatives across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Messages were conveyed by Liberia, France, Algeria, Suriname, Cuba, Kenya, Canada, Angola, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Mozambique, Namibia, Malaysia, South Sudan, Egypt, Hungary and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Western Sahara.
Ghana’s cricketing community paid a separate tribute at Achimota, the home of cricket in Ghana, where officers and members of the Ghana Cricket Association signed the Book of Condolence while Ghana’s Under-19 national team played a practice match against Achimota Cricket Club.
Those present included Mr Emmanuel O. Asare, President of the Ghana Cricket Association; Ms Angela Allotey, Treasurer; Mr Nii Okai Evans, Head of the Organising Committee; and the Head Coach of Ghana’s senior men’s cricket team.
Ms Allotey noted that Sir Garfield’s legacy would continue to inspire cricketers throughout Africa. Mr Evans recalled warmly his interactions with Sir Garfield over the years in England and Atlanta, United States, and reflected on the lasting impression those encounters had left.
The Barbados High Commission extends its sincere appreciation to all who visited the Mission, signed the Book of Condolence or conveyed messages of sympathy. Their tributes reflect the international esteem in which Sir Garfield was held and the enduring impact of his life beyond Barbados and the cricket field.
