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The Holocaust, the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of over 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945 has been commemorated in Ghana by the Israeli Embassy in conjunction with the German Embassy and the United Nations.

This year’s commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day was under the theme “Holocaust and Human Dignity”, and it started with a Public Lecture at the University of Cape Coast on Monday, 25TH January. 

After a welcome address by Prof. K.T Oduro, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UCC, there were speeches by the German ambassador to Ghana, H.E Rudiger John, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Ami Mehl and Mr. Tirso Dos-Santos, Head of the UNESCO office in Ghana. Their speeches focused on the Holocaust and its implications on human dignity in today’s world and the need to preserve the memories.

The guest speaker for the lecture was Mrs. Lea Roshkovsky from Yad Vashem - The Holocaust Education Institute in Israel. She took time to explain with videos and  pictures, how Adolf  Hitler and his Nazi Germany led an industrialized, clinically efficient and bestial annihilation of millions of "unworthy" human beings - Jews, and also Gypsies, Slavs, political dissidents, the disfigured, the disabled, the mentally ill, homosexuals and anyone else who did not fit the ideal  "Master Race".

“There are also amazing stories of how some Jews survived the holocaust; some were saved by people who endangered their lives by hiding them.

Those who were caught hiding Jews were killed with the Jews. But there were a good number of Jews who survived through the help of non- Jews”. Mrs. Roshkovsky added.

The audience which consisted of some members of the diplomatic community, senior faculty members of the UCC and mostly students were given the opportunity to ask questions and make contributions.

At the end of the lecture, the main message was that the Holocaust was a big evil that sought to wipe out Jews from the face of the earth, and so never again should such a dehumanizing event be allowed to happen.

On Wednesday, 27th January, the commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day continued with a dialogue hosted by H.E Ami Mehl, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana. 

Some high level members of the Ghanaian and diplomatic community were present as Dr. Joyce Aryee of the Salt and Light Ministries, Mrs. Lea Roshkovsky of the Yad Vashem, and Prof. Joseph Ayi led the discussion.  Each presentation focused on different aspects of the Holocaust, and most of the invited guests shared their ideas and asked questions concerning the subject.

We all have a responsibility to help prevent another holocaust and other crimes against humanity.  We must respond faster to the signs, the international community must not wait till things get out of hand.

The silence and late responses have proven fatal in many situations” Prof. Joseph Ayi noted.

H.E Ami Mehl thanked the panel and guests for the successful discussion. He concluded that most people, especially Ghanaians need to learn more about the Holocaust and teach future generations about the evil it caused.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an international memorial day commemorating the victims of the holocaust. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly and is commemorated on the 27th of every January.