Chicago, March 7 2015: As expected the "Dorchester" 1515 E. 154th street venue of the Ghana@ 58 celebrations was transformed and looked like an elegant Hotel ballroom, where all the glitz and glamour of Chicago's official celebrations took place. Prayer for the success of the program was offered by Evangelist Kwamina Sam of the Church of the Ghanaian Community of Chicago fame.
Over 400 attendees showed up at one of the ace events promoted by the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago (GNC). As usual the audience was diverse, as Ghanaians, Asians, Caucasians, Arabs and people from all walks of life converged to participate in the historical Ghana's Independence Day celebrations. Majority of the older generation of Ghanaian immigrants who normally participate in the celebrations did not attend , but their absence was dwarfed by an unusual large number of first time attendees. As one of the biggest events after the long and hibernating winter, the attendees were ready to dance but had to wait impatiently due to the unusually long list of speakers lined up by the organizers of the celebrations.
The event themed "What Ghana@58 means to me" saw the "Boafo Pink Angels" , Vanessa and Lorene, thrill the audience to Ghana Patriotic songs "Yen ara asase ni" and "We are all involved in building our fatherland". Antwi & Antwi put up a spectacular performance as he danced and sang along selected lyrics played by D.J Bonsu. The organizers could have scheduled his performance during the dinner time to make room for the revelers to hit the dance floor. As usual D.J Bonsu did not disappoint his fans when he finally got the chance to vibrate the hall with selections that brought attendees to fill every space on the dance floor. The three emcees, Akua Agueman, Cosby and Braimah were great.
In short remarks to the audience, the President of the GNC, Mr. Ebenezer Antwi-Nsiah, ask Ghanaians abroad to consider themselves as Ghana's ambassadors to the various communities they live in. Mr. Nsiah asked members of the Ghanaian community to help each other. "Help doesn't only come in the form of money, if you are a nurse call an elderly you know and find out how he or she is doing". He asked Ghanaians abroad to remit their folks back home because the remittances they send home help to stabilize the Ghanaian currency as much as it helps in alleviating the suffering the people back home.
"We have secured a $500.00 scholarship for a student going to college next year. We also have back to school programs where the kids will be given backpacks. Also, we have 5 laptops to give deserving students" Mr. Nsiah proudly told the audience. President Nsiah is not deterred that to find funds to support plans he envisioned for the community. He inherited a closed account and zero funds from the previous administration. Mr. Nsiah informed the audience that his administration has made the Ghanaian Community Center, popularly known as "Ghana House" project to the front burner. He pleaded with Ghanaians in the community to join hands with the GNC to enable the community acquire a place for Ghanaians. President Nsiah concluded his remarks by pleading to Ghanaians home and abroad when he said "Join hands in making our community and Ghana better. United we should be able to make Ghana and our community a better place; if we do not do it no one will do it for us, our tribal leanings should not matter because we are all Ghanaians"
The keynote speaker for the occasion, Dr. Samuel Akainya, a Professor at the Kennedy King College and owner of the Akainy's Gallery all in Chicago , reiterated the need for increase in development of the Ghanaian economy. This he said could bring Ghana at par with developing countries like Singapore in the shortest time possible.
The president of the chieftaincy council, Alhajie Issa Samori thanked the Executives and Members of the GNC for their hard work. He asked members of the community who do not belong to any organization or Religious group to find one and join when he said "if you are a Christian find a church, if you are a Moslem join the Moslem Community; where ever you come from in Ghana there is a group in Chicago you can join and serve your community". Alhajie Samori also stated that the population of the community has grown over 95 percent since he came to Chicago. This he said has resulted in an increase of activities or functions held in the community. He advised members of the community to work with the GNC so that activities in the community could be better coordinated to prevent too many each weekend.
Belinda Grant won the essay competition and took home $300.00. The second price was won by Rachael Boakye. She received $200.00. Lorene Boafo took home $100.00 for placing 3rd. Honorable mention was the essay submitted by Catherine Ntiamoah. Her essay was adjudged the best but her absence at the function was against the rules of the competition. The theme of the essay competition was "What Ghana@ 58 means to me".
The silent auction by the organizers yielded only $100.00.
As the Ghanaian community in Chicago looks forward to Ghanafest 2015, the annual Ghanaian cultural festival to be held at Washington Park on July 25 2015, we hope the GNC would make adjustments to the way they organize events using the independence dinner/dance as a back drop.
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