High Commissioner to Canada visits Calgary

The Ghana High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Mr. Samuel Valis-Akyianu on the 6th June 2013 paid a 4 day working visit to Calgary in the Province of Alberta, Canada. He was accompanied by the Minister at the Embassy, Mr. Kwaasi Obeng-Koranteng. They were met at the Calgary Airport by the Executives of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Calgary (GCAC) and a section of Ghanaians in Calgary. The High Commissioner and the Minister were treated at the airport to a White Hat Ceremony. An event reserved for dignitaries and distinguished quests on their maiden visit to the city. White Hat Ceremony symbolizes warmth of Western Canada hospitality.

Welcoming the High Commissioner, the President of the Ghanaian Community (GCAC), Mr. Anthony Manful thanked His Excellency for the visit and said the visit was timely as the population of Ghanaians in the city was increasing at a very fast rate due to job opportunities in the Province. Consequently, questions and issues relating consulate matters, welfare and relocation assistance for Ghanaians who would wish to relocate back to Ghana for businesses and other reasons, could be discussed with the High Commissioner.

To officially initiate the delegation to the Wild Rose Country of Alberta, the team was driven to the Banff National Park for an excursion and a Gondola trip to the top of the Rocky Mountain range for a spectacular sightseeing and hiking. Similarly, accompanied by Mr Obeng-Koranteng, His Excellency took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the Mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi at the City Hall. Also present at the meeting were Mr. Manful and his Vice Ms Margaret Adu.

As ex Fire Chief of Ghana, His Excellency Mr. Akyianu together with Mr. Obeng Koranteng, Margaret Adu (VP –GCAC) and Mr. Joseph Mensah (Treasurer – GCAC) visited fire station # 6, arranged by the Mayor to acquaint himself with State of the Art firefighting machinery and outfit. His Excellency was very impressed about the modern technology in fire service, an occupation he worked in for over 35 years.

A town hall meeting was also organised for His Excellency and the Minister to meet Ghanaians. In his opening address Mr. Manful thanked the High Commissioner for doing what his predecessors had failed to do. Thus visiting the people he was commissioned to serve. He said Ghanaians in Alberta were blessed to be in the richest and the best of all the provinces in Canada; he said Calgary could boast as the best place to bring up children and one of the best cities in the World to live in; that Alberta is the heartbeat of Canada’s economy; with the oil sands and all the Worlds’ oil companies headquartered in Calgary. In reality, Alberta has a diversified and resourced-based economy. Energy sector is Alberta’s driving economic force. Other key industry sectors of the economy include petrochemicals, agriculture and agri-food, forest products, industrial machinery and metal fabrication, tourism, manufacturing, financial services, Information and communications technology.

The High Commissioner in turn thanked Ghanaians for the warm reception given him and the Minister. That he had come to have a chat with Ghanaians, listen to them and purposely try as much as he could to resolve some of their concerns and problems and that he would escalate others to Accra for redress. To quote the High Commissioner: “let me know what you want me to do and if I can help, I will.". He said this with absolute humility and candor. Some of the topics discussed were: Dual Citizenship; Consular matters; payment of Ghana Student loans; Chinese disrespect for the laws of Ghana (Galamsey); Water and Electricity problems facing Ghana; unity of Ghanaians in the diaspora; helping Ghanaian youth to take advantage of educational opportunities in Canada; Ghanaians who want to move back home and help in all areas, especially in the oil sector. The Minister, Mr. Kwasi Obeng Koranteng using his immense skills as career diplomat complemented the High Commissioner’s assuring feedback.

The High Commissioner rounded off his visit with a Church service at the All Nations Full Gospel Church in Calgary. The delegation fell in love with the beautiful city and the receptive Ghanaian population. He promised to deal with all problems and concerns discussed and a subsequent follow up visit.