On September 11, 2001, almost 3,000 people including four Ghanaians lost their lives to terrorist attacks carried out by some 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda who hijacked and crashed four planes into various targets in the United States.
Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
A total of 2,763 people, made up of citizens from 78 countries including Ghana died in the attacks. Nearly 6,000 others sustained injuries.
The four Ghanaians who lost their lives to the 9/11 attacks are Sophia B. Addo, Japhet Jesse Aryee, Victor Kwarkye and Emmanuel Akwasi Afuakwah.
Sophia B. Addo
Sophia B. Addo was born on 18 February 1965 in Kukurantumi, Ghana. She died at the age of 36. Sophia moved to the United States in 1996 after winning a Diversity Visa lottery. She was in a 15 month-old marriage with her husband, Joseph Ameyaw. She was an employee of the Windows on the World Restaurant, working as a housekeeper.
Japhet Jesse Aryee
Japhet Jesse Aryee was born in Ghana on 1 May 1952. He died at the age of 49 leaving behind his wife Maria Engram, a nurse and four children. He was an employee of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. He was working in the World Trade Center’s south tower on the morning of the attack. He held a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Adelphi University and a master’s in business administration.
Victor Kwarkye
Victor Kwarkye was born on September 28, 1965. He died at the age of 35, 17 days to his 36th birthday. He was an employee of the Windows on the World restaurant sited on the North Towers of the World Trade Center.
Emmanuel Akwasi Afuakwah
Emmanuel Akwasi Afuakwah was born on 15 December 1963, in Ghana. He died at the age of 37. Emmanuel was an employee of the Windows on the World restaurant which was located on the top floor of the North Tower of the original World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan.
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