Let’s celebrate the Ghanaian success stories - Dr Gariba

Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Sule Gariba has said Ghanaians should highlight more success stories of the country as it marks 58 years of independence.

“As we celebrate our 58th anniversary, we are celebrating our own success,” Gariba said at Ottawa as Ghanaians marked the day at a ceremony in Canada. He said though the country is facing some challenges, the positives are more than the negatives.

“Fifty-eight years ago, nobody would have imagined a Ghanaian setting up a business in Canada,” he said. “But today, there are many Ghanaian businesses here contributing to the economy of Canada.” He urged Ghanaian businesses to invest back home and contribute to the growth of the economy.

The anniversary was Gariba’s first after assuming office two months as high commissioner. He was full of praises for the Toronto-based physician Dr. Isaac Odame who has led a team of specialists to train Ghanaian nurses in pediatric health care.

He also congratulated businesswoman Magareth Adu, who has won several awards in the Alberta province for her exceptional entrepreneurial roles in the area. “We must showcase the achievements of distinguished Ghanaians such as these and celebrate them because they hold high the flag of Ghana and excel,” he said.

Gariba said one of his plans as high commissioner will be the establishment of Diasporan office to easily help Ghanaians living in Canada who wish to invest home do so without problems. He said the best way for Ghana to develop is for everybody to play his part and expressed the High commission’s willingness to help anybody in that regard.

Retired diplomat and former Canadian High commissioner to Ghana John Schram congratulated Ghanaians for chalking yet another feat in history. He urged Ghanaians living in Canada to help in the development of the nation back home. Schram who studied at the University of Ghana said he was impressed at how rapidly the country has developed.

“The last time I visited Ghana a couple of years ago, I was surprised at how quickly the country has changed,” he said. “There were better roads and high rising buildings; I couldn’t recognize a lot of places. I got lost.”

President of the Ghanaian Community in Ottawa, Robert Bismark Otoo said the association has started an initiative to actively include the youth in its activities. He said the association has appointed a youth coordinator to help develop programs that will promote the welfare of the Ghanaian youth in Ottawa. “It is the only way we can help them maintain the rich values of our great country,” he said. “It is also a way of teaching them leadership roles since the youth are the immediate future leaders.”