Ghanaians charged to continue the independence fight

Ghanaians have been charged to continue the good fight their forebears put in for Ghana's independence from British Colonial rule by giving of their best to the country.

"If you fail to do the right things, eschew corruption, laziness and all the negatives that retard a nation, accelerated growth, we would not be honouring their images".

Rev. Canon Prof. Emeritus John S. Pobee, former Head of the Department of Religion, University of Ghana, gave the charge in his sermon at an inter-denominational church service at the Fordham University Chapel, Bronx, to mark Ghana's 60th independence anniversary.

There was a powerful song ministration by the Mass Choir made up of the Ghana United Methodist Church Choir, St. Luke's Ghanaian Community Catholic Church Choir, Bronx Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church Choir, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, New York Church Choir, Ghana United Methodist Church Junior Choir and the Praise and Worship Team from the Ghanaian Pentecostal Council in Bronx, New York.

The service attended by the leadership of the various Ghanaian churches was characterized by prayers for the nation and its leaders and dancing to the glory of God.

A special attraction was the mastery skills displayed by Brother Ekow Ortsin in conducting the songs by the mass choir.

Rev. Pobee reminded Ghanaians that “Our forebears, like Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey, Sir Alex Quayson-Sackey, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Sgt. Adjetey and the rest defended the land of Ghana with their lives; it is our turn to do the same. To run the battle and win the race.

"The independence of Ghana wasn’t won by one person but a stream of persons. Did they labour in vain? They left a legacy for us to follow. We have to act to sustain our country”, Rev. Pobee stated.

He lamented the ruins that certain properties that were bequeathed to Ghanaians have been allowed to deteriorate.

Considering the situation, the retired theologian urged Ghanaians to let their spirituality go to the market place and let God's spirit be evident to all, saying that "our nation building is about tranquillity of order".

In her message, Ambassador Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee charged Ghanaians, as they celebrate the anniversary, to show their patriotism, to renew their pledge and commitment to Ghana, the land of their birth.

On the theme for the celebration, “Mobilizing for Ghana’s Future,” she said it was a clarion call for all to help build the nation.

The Ambassador indicated that the Mission will work tirelessly to offer consular assistance to the Ghanaian community in matters affecting their welfare.

"We shall continue to engage the Ghanaian community on matters affecting your welfare in national development," she stated.

She re-echoed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's message to the diplomatic corps, in which he gave a commitment to restructure the Ghana economy, which had remained the same since Governor Guggisberg's time by exporting raw materials without added value.

Adding that the government will boost agriculture, integrate industrialization, give incentives to encourage small scale enterprises, introduce free Senior High school education, apart from adding value to national human capital.