Ghana@50 in Switzerland.

Launching of WEBSITE: w.w.w.ghanagolden.ch

Zurich--The National Planning committee of Ghanaian citizens in Switzerland has formally launched its website; w.w.w.goldenghana.ch to help promote effectively Ghana@50 anniversary, starting from 6th Match, 2007.

The celebrations in Switzerland will be a joint partnership between the Ghanaian community and the Ghana Permanent Mission to the United Nations., a statement published on its website, indicates.

"To celebrate this event in style a series of events dubbed 'Ghana: Championing African Excellence' is being organized by the Committee in conjunction with the Mission".

The statement says, "The bells of freedom tolled for Ghanaians on 6th March, 1957; from that day, a nation of color, culture, and passion was born.

"This country has been through so many experiences, those that broke our hearts and those that set us free. The year 2007 marks fifty years of independence. It is time to take stock and celebrate our very existence, ending with a poem.

We have thrived, We have loved

Our hearts have been broken, Some hopes have been lost

We found hope in song and strength to move on

Holding our heads up, our face to the sun

We have fought, refused to be interred

And through it all, we've persevered.

The main objectives are:

* To promote an understanding of Ghana's cultures, traditions and people. Ghana has many cultures; the celebrations will serve to provide an insight into the richness and diversity of the people of Ghana.

* To promote Ghanaian businesses and investment. From a business perspective, there will be an opportunity for Ghanaians to promote their products and services, as well as, generate further investment interests with Swiss businesses.

* To raise funds for identified health, education and water and sanitation development projects in Ghana.

The exhibition will be held at the Villa Sarasin, Grand-Saconnex in Geneva, from 14 - 20 April 2007. There will be 20 exhibitors from Ghana to promote fine arts and craft, furniture, artifacts, jewellery, clothing, as well as give a sense of the Ghanaian cultural life style.

Exhibition Objectives

* Showcase Ghana's cultural, natural and economic environment to the Swiss population and the international community.

* Raise awareness of the new generation of young talents in the multicultural Swiss-African community.

* Highlight to the public at large the many natural resources and talents in Ghana.

* Exposure of Ghanaian products to the international community to generate and promote social-cultural awareness, tourism, and investment relations with Swiss cultural and financial community.

* Promote future events to support charities and projects both in Ghana and Switzerland.

A Concert featuring Ghana's leading musician Kojo Antwi, with a cameo by Sidney, all supported by the popular francophone artist Meiway will be held on Saturday, the 21st of April at Palexpo.

Ghanaian popular music comes in two forms, Highlife and Hiplife, both feature pulsating rhythms that simply compel you to sing along and dance. This is the first time that all these artists have performed together on a Swiss stage so you can be sure they will be going all out to impress and outperform each other.

Projects

Proceeds that will be realised from the events will be used to fund a development project in Ghana. Three projects will be chosen from the following sectors;

* Education

* Health

* Water and Sanitation One of which will be selected through an audience participatory ballot system at the concert.

We are working with The Centre for Development Partnerships (CDP) to develop these projects. CDP is a Ghanaian Non Governmental Organisation committed to providing long term development support to Donors, Civil Society Organisations, Hometown Associations, and community groups in Ghana and the Diaspora. Visit www.cdp-africa.org

Their mission is to ensure that communities acquire the skills to mobilise resources, the knowledge to manage it, the ability to grow it, and apply these resources to socially useful outcomes. By working with them, we can be sure that the chosen project will have all the assistance they need to alleviate their suffering. They will be provided with the know-how to change their circumstances.