It may be considered for the first time in the records of Ghana that a newly appointed ambassador to the United States was invited by a state governor to his mansion to be officially recognized. Most of the credit for this newly formed partnership goes to the Ghanaians in New Jersey who through their hard work participated actively in the governor’s campaign for the gubernatorial election. The invitation was also extended to the whole Ghanaian community for the governor to express his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the Ghanaians in New Jersey who turned out in their numbers at the polls.
The Democratic governor James McGreevey took the initiative to master the ceremony at Drumthwacket, 354 Stockton Street, Princeton, New Jersey on February 9, 2002. The event kicked off around 11am when the governor rhetorically gave a brief background of Ghana’s struggle for independence, which inspired many African countries to follow. After the introduction, invocation was offered by Rev. Dr. Obiri-Addo, a pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Irvington after which Nana Okofo Takyi Abeam poured the libation for the official opening of the event. The governor, who expressed gratitude for the turn out especially, could not hide his anxiety to visit Ghana, in his term of office upon an official invitation from the Ambassador, and the Ghanaian community in New Jersey. He acknowledged the newly appointed ambassador, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, and his colleague from the Ghana Mission to the United Nations, Mr. Efah Apenteng for honoring his invitation.
In offering the keynote address, H.E Alan Kyerematen emphasized that part of his mission is to produce a database of all Ghanaians in the United States and to make his office accessible to all irrespective of political affiliations and ethic differences. He also expressed that a National Bank of Ghana, and a cultural house for all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana in the United States are part of the few projects on his priority list.
Most of the US based Ghanaian organizations in New Jersey and some from New York, participated in this historic and remarkable event. Among the performance that dazzled the governor and his team were the “Adowa” and “Borborbo” cultural dancers who displayed with Ghana’s traditional songs. Some of those who played very active roles in organizing the event were Herb Gilsenberg from the governor’s office, George Ntim, president of Ghana Foundation, James Nketia-Kumi, president of the First Ghana Association of New Jersey, and Attah Boamah, deputy-organizing secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (New Jersey). Other participants were Evelyn Ababio a soloist who sang the Ghana, and the US national anthem, and a poet, John Anagbo, a chairperson of the Montgomery High School English Department.
The event ended with a Ghanaian flag raising ceremony at the entrance to the governor’s mansion after Elder Kwadjo Fosu of Ghana Emmanuel Methodist Church in Newark shared the benediction.
