Victor Smith celebrates Independence

Ghana’s envoy to the United Kingdom, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has paid tribute to the millions of brave Ghanaian men and women and the founding fathers and mothers who organised and sacrificed, fought and lost their lives to give Ghana and all of Africa freedom from colonial domination.

He made this statement at a reception held at the Jumeirah Carlton Towers Hotel in London to mark the 58th Anniversary of Ghana’s independence on 6 March, 2015.

In attendance were the Deputy Marshall of the United Kingdom, Catherine Nettleton, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps, friends of Ghana, the business community, a cross-section of the Ghanaian community in the UK and staff of the Mission.

He said the theme for the 58th independence anniversary, “Achieving Transformation through National Unity,” was very significant at this time in Ghana’s history, as the country desires to build a coalition for transformation, involving all segments of the society. He explained that the country needed all to agree on common objectives towards social and economic development in the short to medium term.

High Commissioner Victor Smith said the government, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, had put forward a plan for governance and socio-economic development based on four basic pillars: putting people first – education, health and social protection; building a strong and resilient economy;

Speaking on Ghana’s relation with the UK, the High Commissioner was proud to note that the two countries have strong and vibrant bilateral relation. He added that Ghana’s pursuit of good governance, rule of law and human rights had been widely recognized by world leaders, including Prime Minister David Cameron who referred to Ghana as an “oasis of peace and political stability on the African continent.”

Ghana, Mr Victor Smith said, would continue to play a leading role in the maintenance of international peace and security.