Brazil President visits Brazil House in Accra

Accra, April 20, GNA - Mr Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, on Sunday lauded the peaceful socio-economic and historical ties between his country and Ghana.

He said the link dated back to the 19th century where freed slaves (Tabons) from Brazil sojourned to Ghana to start life all over again. The Brazilian President said Brazil House in Ghana was a great symbol of the friendship that existed between the community and Brazilians.

President Lula da Silva said this during a visit to the Brazil House in James Town, Accra, which was the original home of the Tabons who settled in Ghana over 170 years ago. He said the freed slaves showed hard work and exercised a lot of hope to change their destiny, adding, "The house honours the memory of such great people".

President Lula da Silva said Brazil House had the potential to revitalize and improve the general wellbeing of the community. Nii Azumah V, Head of the Tabon Community in Ghana, expressed appreciation to the Brazilian government in their effort to renovate the two-storey building saying it would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Brazil House is a historical edifice which portrays the various trades and businesses engaged in by the freed slaves, some personalities of Tabon descent and history about the Tabons.