Roey Gilad, the Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone

Roey Gilad, the Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Accra, on January 27, 2025.

The event, held in collaboration with H.E. Charles Abani, the UN Representative in Ghana, and H.E. Daniel Krull, the German Ambassador to Ghana, commemorated the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides while addressing contemporary challenges.

“Eighty years ago, on January 27, 1945, the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp in Europe,” he stated.

“However, this day came too late for six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust, including over one million who perished in Auschwitz-Birkenau,” Ambassador Gilad recounted.

He emphasized the historical significance of this event, calling the Holocaust “the most terrible and defining episode in the modern history of mankind.”

Ambassador Gilad also reflected on Ghana’s historical role in World War II.

“Over 40,000 soldiers from the Gold Coast actively participated in the war on two fronts—East Africa and Burma,” he noted, linking Ghana’s contributions to the broader fight against fascism and oppression.

The Ambassador highlighted the importance of the United Nations General Assembly’s Resolution 60/7, which established International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005.

“The resolution reaffirmed that the Holocaust will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice,” he said.

Speaking on the memory of the Holocaust, he remarked, “We, the Jews, do not need a specific day to remember the six million Jews murdered. They are part of our blood cycle, part of our national DNA.”

However, he stressed the need to use the day to educate the world and honor the memory of other persecuted communities, including the Roma, Sinti, disabled individuals, and victims of modern genocides such as those in Rwanda and Darfur.

Ambassador Gilad drew a connection between the Holocaust and the establishment of the state of Israel, noting how the tragedy gave the final push for the creation of a Jewish homeland. Reflecting on the recent massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, he expressed the resilience of the Israeli people.

“That day we lost 1,200 people, and 250 were abducted to Gaza by Hamas terrorists. This nightmare reminded many Israelis of the Holocaust.

“Israel was, is, and will be a very strong state. At the end of this crisis, we shall be stronger than we were when it all started,” he added.

Concluding his speech, Ambassador Gilad prayed for the safe return of the 90 Israelis still held captive.

“Till their return, our tragedy is not over,” he said.

AM/KA

You can also watch the latest episode of Everyday People on GhanaWeb TV below: