Ghana@50: Dallas Forth Worth Texas

“JESUS OUR SOURCE OF JUBILEE”, SHOULD BE THE HEADLINE OF THIS STORY.

The one week long celebration of the Ghanaians’ 50th Anniversary, that was successfully organized and well planned by the Council of Ghanaians Association (COGA) that made sure that this historical landmark of Ghana Golden Jubilee Celebration was done in a grand style, started with the Children’s Fair and Health Screen of Cancer, Blood Pressure, etc. and was offered free of charge to the public.

On the 8th March, friendly gala football matches were held between Ghana, Gambia, Sierra-Leone, and Nigeria and no wonder, the Ghanaian team won the gigantic trophy that was a stake by beating their opponents in the grand final, the Gambians 3-0.

Dr. Alex Holdbrook gave a lecture on the 6th of March with the topic “The Perilous Journey of the Gold Coast from Dependence to Independence” which traced the impossible of hard times that the Gold Coast had between 6th March 1844 and 6th March 1957, a good period of 113 years.

Mr. Lawrence Dagadu, the Co-President of “COGA” speaking at the massive turnout dinner dance at the Marriot Hotel, Las Colinas, Irving-Texas on the 10th of March expressed his profound appreciations to the sponsors, supporters, and business buddies that helped in diverse ways by making sure that these celebrations of this commemorative Golden Jubilee of Ghana’s Independence became historical and a great success.

Brigadier- General Kwame Oppong-Kyekyeku, who represented His Excellency, Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei the Ghana’s Ambassador to the USA, urged Ghanaians in the Diaspora to take advantage of the stability, peace, and unity in Ghana to do more business by investing in Ghana.

The non-denominational thanksgiving church, which was held at the Church of Pentecost, Dallas Central, 858 Candlestick Dr. Grand Prairie –Texas, was filled to capacity with Dignitaries, Business Associates, the Friends of Ghana, and members of the Ghanaian Community who were there in their numbers to give praise to the Almighty God for seeing the nation of Ghana through thin and thick to this level.

Rev. Samuel Aidoo, the District Pastor of the Church of Pentecost, Dallas- Texas preached on forgiveness, the need for people to live in peace, love, and unity. He also urged everyone in the community to let forgiveness be the watch dog, since the glory of God cannot be seen among people who continue to hold grudges against one another.

Preaching at the Non-Denominational Thanksgiving Service on the theme “Jesus our Source of Jubilee”, Reverend Audio highlighted that “the year of Jubilee is the year of forgiveness, cancellation of debts, freeing of slaves, and the total emancipation of the individual both spiritually and physically”.

Mr. Rex Opoku, the Co-President of COGA explained that the aims and objectives of the association include fostering progress, seeking and creating avenues for investments, economic opportunities, educative programs and activities that will enable the Ghanaians to live and be each others’ keeper, and also extend helping hands to prosper one another.

He noted further that the COGA would promote the Ghanaian Culture, foster a sense of the African personality through culture other related African visibility activities, maintain strong, meaningful, viable, and cooperative links with government and non-governmental agencies in Ghana.

Mr. Opoku expressed the COGA’s deep appreciation to David Owusu –Hemeng alias ‘MAHONEY’, Kofi Hemeng, Lawrence Dagadu, Emmanuel Ohene alias ‘OJ’, Kakra Tham and Ms. Cheri Hadley alias ‘Nana Yaa Oye’ for their immense contribution, planning and insuring that this 50th Anniversary Celebration of Ghana’ s Independence became a highly successful one.