Chicago, March 6 2010: As expected, all the glitz and glamour was at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Hotel, 6100 River Road, Rosemond, Illinois, where the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago (GNC), organized a splendid dinner dance to mark Ghana’s 53rd independence anniversary Celebrations. As usual, attendance was diverse as Ghanaians, African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, Arabs and people from all walks of life converge at the Grand Ballroom to celebrate the historical event that marked the beginning of the end of colonial rule in Africa and the strengthening of the civil rights movement in the USA. The Executive Director of the United African Organization, (UAO), Mr. Alie Kabba, summed this up well when he stated that “In the midst of difficulties, great leaders emerge; and as a result of the difficulties the people of Africa faced during colonial domination, leaders like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah emerged. The result of Nkrumah’s leadership saw the disintegration of the British, French, Portuguese, Dutch and other European Empires on the continent of Africa.”
Alie Kabba re-emphasized the need for members of the African community to participate in the 2010 USA census without the fear of their immigration status. He said the census will be used amongst other things to provide social amenities like Schools, Hospitals, Job Training Centers, Emergency Services, and Roads and also determine where Federal dollars are sent to communities. The census he claimed will not be used for tracking down illegal immigrants for deportation. The President of the GNC, Mr. John Henry Assabill used the occasion to thank the founding fathers who made Ghana’s independence possible and also pitch the Ghana National Council to the community when he stated “Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Ghana National Council have joined the information super highway for good. We are on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and PayPal. I am happy to report that as of today, we have 750 friends on Facebook and 317 on Twitter. We twit as everyone else. What is lagging is, you are not buying our products online. It is 110% safe. We expected you to purchase your independence Tickets online but that did not happen. Come Ghanafest 2010, we expect you to buy the gate tickets online, from the comfort of your home!”
Mr. Assabill concluded by saying “I will close by informing all of you that this year’s Ghanafest is Saturday, July 31st, 2010. The phones are ringing from all over the world and it will be the mother of all Ghana fests. For the very first time, we have plans to sell and consume alcohol so those of you who have liquor license, call us.”
The keynote speaker, Professor Samuel Akainya, took the gathering through the history of Ghana’s independence and reiterated the need for Ghanaian’s to be proud of their heritage and participate in activities of the Ghana National Council.
The following personalities are awarded for “Outstanding Services and Leadership to the Ghanaian Community in Chicago”. The Executives have no doubt that by their individual services; it united the community and deserves to be awarded as follows;-
Best Association, Ghana Northern Union; Best Family , Reuben C. Hadzide Family; Best Youth Organization, Adinkra Organization; Best Youth,Bridget Adu-Dapaah; Best Advertising Agent, Lionel Balmir of Unlimited Events and Marketing, Inc.
The following were also awarded for their outstanding service to the Ghanaian community. They are: Dana V. Stacks, Norma I. Reyes all Commissioners wt the city of Chicago, and Arnold Romeo, Director of African Affairs, city of Chicago. The emcees for the occasion were Nana Kwame Frimpong, Kwaku Antwi, Nana Yaw Marfo and Sammy Young. The Resident Pastor of the Ghana Community Church, Rev. Canon Koomson offered prayers on behalf of the Christian Religion. He was supported by Rev. Dr. Kofi Noonoo. Alhaji Baba Cisse offered prayers in Islam whilst Nii Klotey poured the libation. Western Union International was the main sponsor of the event.
