The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, on behalf of the President of Ghana on June 5, 2020, held a memorial ceremony in honour of George Floyd the black man who was killed by police in the United States.
The ceremony which took place at the W.E.B Dubious Centre in Accra was to speak against the injustices and oppression of black people in parts of the world especially in America where black women, men and children continue to face police violence.
“I want to use the occasion to draw attention to the injustice that continues to be meted out to our brothers and sisters all across the diaspora in the world. Not just to the Africa Diaspora Community in China who are being wrongly treated due to the pandemic (COVID-19)…I want to extend our appreciation to all white people who have joined black people to fight this cause and indicate emphatically that black lives matter,” said the Minister of Tourism, Barbara Oteng Gyasi.
Speaking on the why it has become necessary for Ghana to join the global fight against racism, Barbara Oteng told GhanaWeb that, “You may not live in America but when you go to America you also experience that racism even for that short period you may be there just as a tourist or visitor…we need to support our brothers to make sure that there is a change, to make sure that there is a new order in the USA and across the world for black people. Until we are able to achieve that, we all will be subjugated to the same treatment that they are living with on a daily basis.”
As part of the memorial service, there was a special wreath-laying ceremony on behalf of the Diaspora Community, Beyond the Return, and the Government of Ghana.
A delegation led by the Minister of Tourism and members of the Diaspora Affairs unveiled the name of George Perry Floyd on the Memorial Wall of the Diaspora African Forum at the Dubios Centre.
The Head of Mission of the Diaspora Africa Forum, Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett called for equal rights for black people across the world and also thank the leadership of the country for their support.
“Ghana has taken the leadership role of honouring and doing this official memorial service for George Perry Floyd and we want to thank the Minister for that wonderful message she gave…regardless of where you from if you are black person you are an African and that is the message we want people to understand. Ghana is the most Pan-Africanist country on the continent, the continent looks to Ghana to led this process”
In demanding justice for George Floyd and other blacks people who have faced police violence, several demonstrators across the world have protested on streets since the news of the death of Mr. Floyd broke out on May 25, 2020. Despite the numerous arrest in such places the number of protestors who are embarking on peaceful walks continues to increase.
“I dare say that the present situation we face today in the year 2020 with the death of George Floyd is going to result in change. One who condones evil is just as guilty as the one who perpetrates it that is why it is right not only for Derek Chauvin to be charged but all his accomplices who together with him ensured that Goerge Floyd’s life came to a premature end,” Barbara Oteng added.
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