ACCRA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has extended its sympathy and solidarity to the people of Haiti following a devastating earthquake rocked the country days ago.

"I have learnt with shock and deep sorrow the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in the early hours of Tuesday, 12th January 2010, causing massive loss of human lives and destruction of property," President Atta Mills said.

In a statement from the Ministry of Information copied to Xinhua News Agency on Thursday, President Mills empathized with the grieving nation and assured them of Ghana's commitment to contribute in her own modest way to mitigate their suffering.

"The People of Ghana and my government are deeply shocked by the event and wish to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this hour of despair. We are marshalling our resources and will in due course make our modest contribution to your national effort at bringing relief and succor to the people of Haiti who have suffered great loss."

The statement said "While the scale of destruction is still being assessed, it is already clear to us in Ghana that a tragedy of huge proportions has hit your beloved country. I therefore hasten to express, on behalf of the People and the government of Ghana and in my own name, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the people of Haiti and your government for the incalculable losses your country has suffered in this natural disaster."

A strong quake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Haiti on Tuesday, killing and injuring large numbers of people. Most of the houses in capital Port-au-Prince were damaged.