NCOGA Celebrates Independence With A Cultural Taste

The giant screen at the Lovinger Theater (Lehman College) showed a clip of the ceremony of the Independence Day and hears our Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the father of our nation declared in his legendary speech ""The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa." The audience gave a huge round of applause, some whistled and others felt very proud for such an honour. Our country has now been portrayed as the gateway of Africa, R&B supergroup, Boyz II Men of Philadelphia, PA performed recently in Ghana on the Valentine's day, Reggae Superstar, Beenie Man, also the "Don Dada" of dancehall music, performed recently and Discovery Channel is traveling to Ghana for a documentary to be aired at a later time.

The National Council of Ghanaian Associations (NCOGA) hosted Ghana's 48th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 5th, 2005 at Lehman College's Lovinger Theater in the Bronx with a health fair and a cultural extravaganza.

NCOGA delivered as promised in their earlier statement that the era of organizing parties to celebrate Ghana's Independence Day anniversary in NY is long gone. The Saturday celebration kicked off in the afternoon and ended around 6:00pm with a grand health fair consisting of Ghanaian physicians working in some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals in the tri-state area; Sponsors included; Abbot Laboratories, Schwartz Pharma, diversified medical specialties, nutritionists, Western Union and Vigo. Among the renowned doctors who attended the fair were; Dr. Benjamin Doodo, Dr. Yao Kaledzi, Dr. Joseph Mintah, and Dr. David Ofori.

The evening event started with a brief film on Ghana's Independence followed by spectacular cultural display by the United Volta Association's cultural troupe, the Ghanaian Association of Westchester's Adowa group and the Kpalogo group who brought the house down. Past Council members were given awards for their dedication to the community.

Among the distinguished personalities were; the Consular General; Obeng Gyan Busia who spoke and paid tribute to Ghana's past leaders and freedom fighters. Others included the Deputy Consular General; Yaw Bimpong and Nana Kwasi Arhin, The Board of Directors and Executives of the NCOGA, the past Executive Secretary Generals, The Chiefs and their Queenmothers, local chiefs from Ghana and the Imans. Some Ghanaians were awarded for their exemplary services to the community.

This year's event was a memorable one and has received great reviews.

Kudos to NCOGA for organizing something precious and legendary.