Jubilee Celebration In DC

FIRST EVER JUBILEE GRADUATION CEREMONY AND CAREER COUNSELLING FOR GHANAIANS

History was made when as part of the ongoing year long Jubilee Celebrations, the Ghana Embassy, in Washington DC, under the able leadership of His Excellency Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei and in conjunction with the Council of Ghanaian Associations (COGA), organized a graduation and career counseling event for graduating High School and College Graduates of Ghanaian parentage, at the Chancery, on Saturday, June 30, 2007. A total number of sixty (60) graduands were honored at the well attended and impressive ceremony.

The Chairman for the occasion, His Excellency Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, in his welcoming remarks noted that, for the first time in the history of the Embassy, the Ghanaian community had congregated to formally recognize and celebrate the hard work of High School and College Graduands of Ghanaian parentage. He stated further that the rationale behind the congregation was that as Africans, we had a strong affinity to our most cherished culture and time tested tradition which remains authentically dynamic in the face of challenging times. An important ingredient of culture was that of the rite of passage, which ushers and guides the individual through life. Ghanaians had, therefore, met to celebrate the epochal milestone in the lives of Ghanaian children who had completed high school and college. He stressed the importance of appreciating the students and at the same time urged them on to continue the hard work.

He also observed that while recognizing the wonderful opportunities existing in the American educational system, which undoubtedly clothed students with confidence and the urge to compete to excel, we were humble to admit that as Ghanaians we also had the responsibility of shaping the lives of these students by creating the platform for them to imbibe the rich cultural heritage and valuable tradition of our dear country. He reminded the graduands that they will always be Ghanaians once they had Ghanaian blood in them, urged them to be proud of their motherland Ghana and never forget their roots. He concluded by encouraging the graduands to continue to always speak the truth and maintain their integrity and assured them that the Ghanaian community will continue to be a valuable partner in their development and evolution into worthy ambassadors.

Following the Ambassadors welcoming remarks, three prominent Ghanaians namely Dr. Anthony Boakye, Attorney Robert Arhin, Dr. John Kwakye who have excelled in the areas of Sciences, Arts and Financial Management counseled the graduands by speaking to them about their respective fields and on the various career opportunities available to them. The Ambassador assisted by Mrs. Mary Damuah, President of Council of Ghanaian Association (COGA) presented the certificates of recognition. Before the presentation of the awards, the graduands led by Mrs. Irene Addo, the Deputy Chief of Mission , recited Ghana ’s National Pledge to the hearing of an emotionally charged audience. Dr. Albert Quarshie Jnr., who had recently graduated as a dentist, gave the vote of thanks on behalf of all the graduands. After the presentation ceremony, a reception followed during which the Ambassador assisted by his wife and the graduands cut the graduation cake. A spread of delicious Ghanaian cuisine, music and drinks were served in honor of the awarders, their families and the invited guests.