President Akufo-Addo and Stevie Wonder
Legendary American singer-songwriter, Stevland Morris, alias Stevie Wonder, has disclosed his connection with Ghana.
According to him, the relationship dates back to the 70s when he first planned to visit the West African country.
In an interview with the BBC, the first since he was conferred with Ghanaian citizenship, Wonder stated: "For years, I have talked about being in Ghana, I started talking about it in 1973.
"When I first came, I felt the essence of it as if I had been here before and I said, this is where I need to be," he stressed.
"My message is, people, let's come together for the goodness of our culture, all cultures and for the goodness of the world," the new Ghanaian citizen added.
He became a Ghanaian on Monday, May 13, 2024, after taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving his Certificate of Citizenship.
A video of the ceremony, which was held at the Office of the President of Ghana, showed an emotional Stevie Wonder swearing his allegiance to Ghana.
"I, Stevland Morris, swear solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Ghana.
"And I will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. So help me God," he repeated from the judge presiding over the ceremony.
The audience at the Jubilee House gave the legendary musician a standing ovation after he pledged his allegiance to Ghana.
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presented Stevie Wonder's Certificate of Citizenship and Ghanaian passport to him.
Akufo-Addo, after presenting the documents, congratulated the legendary musician and welcomed him to Ghana.
'This is where I need to be'
Stevie Wonder had been praising Ghana and reinforcing his links with Africa since the 1970s both through his music as well as in interviews.
— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) May 14, 2024
Yesterday, he was granted Ghanaian citizenship in an emotional ceremony held in Accra. pic.twitter.com/tDffoSmwHp
Watch the event in the video below:
SARA
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