Ambassador speaks to Ghanaians in Italy

On the event of Ghana’s 51years of Independence which fell on 6th March, 2008, the Ghanaian community in Italy celebrated the occasion on 8th March at Theatre Pasubio in Schio,(Vicenza) . Special Guest of Honor was Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Charles Agyei-Amoama, who delivered the key note address. Below is the full text of his speech.

President and Executives of Council of Ghanaian Nationals Association in Italy (COGNAI), Distinguished invited guests, Representatives of various host Institutions here, Leaders and Pastors of the various Ghanaian churches and ethnic groups, Fellow Ghanaians and Friends of Ghana, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I bring you special greetings from His Excellency the President and the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana on the occasion of the celebrations of our 51st Independence Anniversary. On behalf of the Ghana Embassy, whose core staff are here with me today, and on my own behalf, I wish to congratulate all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana who have made this celebration in Schio possible.

Indeed following the year-long celebrations of the Golden Jubilee which ended with a Ball in Rome, it was decided that the next Independence Day should be celebrated in the northern part of Italy where majority of our people are based. True to the words of COGNAI, today we are all witnesses of our 51st anniversary celebrations here in Schio. May I on this note thank our gracious host - the authorities in Schio - for accommodating us in this magnificent auditorium. Let me also commend all Executives and members of Ghanaian Associations, churches, ethnic groups, who in diverse ways have made this memorable day a reality. When we meet as Ghanaians and friends of Ghana in times like this, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on our past, present and also forecast ahead into the future. And on this joyous day I am happy to convey to you that our dear country Ghana is on course to greater heights.

To quote His Excellency President J. A. Kufuor of Ghana during this year’s Independence parade speech when he expressed confidence in the country’s future, he said: “The platform is strong, set and ready for accelerated development. As a country, we have all the assets to achieve the status of a middle level income economy within the next decade. What is therefore required of us as Ghanaians is to come together to work earnestly with determination to attain the ultimate goal.” His Excellency President Kufuor, however, noted that the assets can only grow through discipline and hard work.

With this, you will agree with me that as Ghanaians in Italy, we have a significant role to play in achieving the ultimate goal of our country. Let me urge each and every one of us to work diligently, mindful of the task ahead to contribute our quota towards national development. In this respect let us donate generously to the Ghanaian Welfare Fund Account which was duly lunched in Rome last year 8th December, 2007.

The purpose of the Fund as you are aware is to assist Ghanaians who owing to circumstances beyond their control may find themselves as destitute in Italy. Revenue from the Fund would also be used for development projects in deprived areas in Ghana. However, to ensure the success of this Fund each Association be it ethnic, Church or National Association is to contribute into it periodically through the bank details which would be supplied to you after this program. Besides, members of the various Associations and philanthropist are encouraged to make donations into the Fund as well as solicit for development projects back home in the name of Ghanaians in Italy.

On the Golden Jubilee Ball, I am happy to announce to you that after drawing the balance sheet of the Ball held in December, 2007 in Rome, we have been able to secure a seed money into the Fund. Though the amount is small owing to low contributions received from the various Associations and churches, I strongly believe that with the modalities in place now each Association, Church and Ethnic group would perform their civic responsibility as Ghanaians to contribute to the Fund. Let me urge all Ghanaians that it is in our interest to donate to this Fund.

The Fund would be administered by a Body known as the ‘Board of Trustee’, with the Ambassador as the President of the Board. Other members of the Trustee Board are:

• The Consular Officer, Ghana Embassy in Rome.

• Representative of COGNAI

• Representative of the Ghanaian Community Churches

The by-laws and Constitution governing the Fund, copies which will be deposited at the Bank, would be given to each group or Association.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you will also recall that as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations last year, the Ghana Embassy in Rome together with Ghanacoop organized a one-day Business Seminar where both Italian and Ghanaian stake holders met and shared views on the way forward to effectively promote business activities between Ghana and Italy. The seminar was a success as many issues were identified and efforts have already begun to build bridges on some of the issues.

Consequently, may I humbly make an appeal to my fellow Ghanaians to emulate the Ghanacoop example to set up businesses through joint ventures. Let us tab into the small scale industry experience which Italians are noted for to set up similar businesses back home. We need as a matter of urgency to move on and not to be satisfied with the daily wages that we receive here in Italy. Ultimately, we would retire one day and go back to Ghana, consequently, we need to believe in the setting up of businesses using the Italian experience as the way forward. If our brothers and sisters in the US, UK and Canada are setting up companies in Ghana and their places of abode why can’t those of us in Italy equally do it. I therefore challenge each and every one of you to make it a priority to set up a business back home or send some project which would be of immense interest to your community in Ghana.

The Ghana Embassy in Rome is ever ready to assist Ghanaians in this regard.

Finally, I am very certain that most of you have heard that according to the Electoral Commission, Ghanaians Abroad will not be able to vote in this year’s Elections owing to logistical constraints. Nonetheless, as Ghanaians your constructive contributions and monitoring of events as well as shaping opinions back home should be of outmost importance to every one as we approach the December 8th Polls. I am therefore, calling on all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana to pray with us and support us for a fruitful and peaceful election.

Let it be our prayer and hope that the elections will bring peace and understanding even among rival political parties and that Ghana will emerge as a strong, united and peaceful country.

We are and must be a driving force in creating positive change, not only in the area of development but also creating positive impressions or image of our country on the world map during this election year.

Thank you for your attention and May God Bless us all. Long Live Ghana, long Live Ghana-Italy relations.