Ghanaians In Ireland Celebrate Ghana's 52nd Birthday

On Saturday, 7th March 2009, Ghanaians in the Republic of Ireland converged at the Clarion Hotel in Dublin Airport to celebrate Ghana's 52nd Birthday. The Association of Ghanaian Professionals in Ireland (AGPI) in collaboration with the Ghana Embassy in Ireland commemorated the occasion under the theme: The Role of Ghanaian abroad in the Socio-Economic Development of Ghana.

Mr Julius Buameh set things in motion with the opening prayer where he committed the occasion to the hands of God.

Mr Yaw Dankwah, a Chartered Accountant and chairperson for the occasion in his acceptance speech reminded Ghanaians that our forefathers had fought all forms of slavery and colonisation until independence on the night of 6th March 1957. He said it was therefore the responsibility of every Ghanaian to join hands in our quest for a just society. He posed the questions: 'what is the Ghanaian doing to better his or her lot? What are we doing to sustain the independence?'

In concluding his acceptance address, Mr Yaw Dankwah stated that the country has come a long way from the period of uninterrupted coup d'états in the 1970s to the transition to democratic governance in 1992 and the peaceful elections and change of government in 2000. He saluted Ghanaians for the peaceful conduct of the elections of 2008. It is his wish that we shall make maximum use of the freedom we have as a nation to transform our society until we attain economic independence.

Mr. Kofi Owusu-Ansah, secretary of AGPI used his address to welcome the staff of Ghana's newly established embassy in Dublin and to wish them a successful tenure. He admonished them to use their good office to serve the interest of the Ghanaian community and the Government of Ghana rather than to accomplish any self-serving interests. He said the Ghanaian community was looking forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration with the mission.

The Keynote address was delivered by Mr Ramsis Cleland, Minister and Head of Chancery of Ghana's Embassy in Ireland. He said it was his wish that the bond that makes us as Ghanaians should be nurtured and embraced at all times so that we would see ourselves as a people who have only one motive, to work together to develop Ghana our motherland. He said Ghanaians are widely recognised for our roles in world affairs and we should be proud of our country in whatever we do. He paid glowing tribute to the past Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan for what he achieved on the international stage. He said that should be a standard that other Ghanaians in other fields of endeavour should emulate because we all have innate talents that needed to be developed to move Ghana to new heights.

Turning to Socio-Economic problems facing Ghana, he said we should all rally behind President J.E. Atta Mills in his pursuit of an equitable society where everybody would have the right to exhibit their God given talents. He said the country faces a lot of challenges as a result of the current external shocks impacting negatively on the Ghanaian economy. He said; "Even though we are fortunate to have discovered oil, we still need the support of the Republic of Ireland and the international community to do the right things for our people to benefit from the anticipated revenues from the black gold''.

Finally, he said the Embassy in Dublin stands committed to work for the interests of the Ghanaian community in Ireland and looked forward to a fruitful collaboration with the AGPI. He concluded by saying he was proud to be given the singular task of offering the keynote address and was full of appreciation to the Ghanaian community in general and the AGPI in particular. He wished everybody a happy anniversary.

A special guest for the occasion Ms Joan Burton, Deputy Leader of the Irish Labour Party in her solidarity message said she was proud to note the 2008 elections in Ghana passed off peacefully.

She said just as we send remittances to our families in Ghana, the Irish who had travelled to all parts of the globe in the 1960's and 70's, remitted money to their loved ones in Ireland.

She said the current economic problems besetting the world are not limited to a few countries but rather, the whole world is going through this economic meltdown. She however said she was happy to note that an Irish company, Tullow now has the responsibility to help reshape the Ghanaian economy with their oil find in Ghana. She cautioned against the misuse of the revenue that would accrue from the oil. She implored on the government to make sure lessons are learnt from what had taken place in other nations who had this resource but could not utilise the revenue generated for the benefit and well-being of their societies. She wished our President, J.E. Atta Mills and his government, God's guidance.

Mr Joe Higgins, Leader of the Irish Socialist Party in his solidarity message, said he was privileged to be amongst us and that we should see Ireland as our second home and make the most of our presence as long as we wish to stay here. He said the world right now is going through one of the worst economic downturns in history and the causes are not far fetched. According to him, the world problems were caused by a few individuals who control the world resources and would not apply them equitably for all to enjoy because of greed.

He said we should be weary of the Political and Business establishment that want the poor to bear the consequences of their greed and corruption. We should be bold to resist all forms of the imperialist propaganda that portray them as the friends of the poor and needy, because they put them into poverty in the first place but they don't have any plans to ameliorate their suffering. He said Ghana should see the discovery of oil as a resource that would bring positive development to our lovely country. However, politicians on their own would not use the revenue from the oil to good uses so we should fight until such a time that the resources would be controlled by we the citizens but not the politicians working in tandem with the business establishment.

Two maiden awards, 'Fellow of AGPI and Friend of the Ghanaian Community' were conferred on Deputy Joan Burton and Mr Joe Higgins for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of Ghanaians in Ireland. The awards were conferred on behalf of the Executives and Members of AGPI and the entire Ghanaian Community by the Chair of AGPI, Dr Vincent Agyapong, supported by Mr Ramsis Cleland.

The vote of thanks was said by Mrs Mercy Buameh and Pastor Mensah brought proceedings to close with a powerful prayer for mother Ghana and all our citizens as well as special prayers for all our political leadership so that they take decisions informed by God.