Ghanaians in Oklahoma City recently welcomed back home a new found friend, Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma. The event started with a traditional welcome back ceremony on thursday, june 28th, at the Blue Room in the state capitol building.
Governor Henry, a democrat, became the first sitting governor of the state in this traditionally republican enclave, to undertake a humanitarian trip to Ghana. He was accompanied on the trip by some missionaries based in all of the state.
"The African Team",as he prefers to call them, travelled all the way from Accra to Tamale by road. They made several stops to admire the beautiful scenery Ghana has to offer and also to distribute thousands of mosquito nets to many villagers along the way.
The event was followed with an invitation to the Governor's mansion on the eve of America's independence day,with 50 Ghanaians as his guest at a banquet. "I cant wait to go back", was his response when asked how he felt about Ghana. The First Lady spoke of "live life to the fullest" attitude of the many Ghanaian children along the way. She couldnt understand why in such an immense poverty, the children?could be so happy singing "our riches are in heaven". At that moment she felt like the heavens opened up in the skies of Ghana. " I have never had such a spiritual awakening", she said. Other members of the African Team addressed the gathering with such emotional testimonies it brought some to tears.
The moment of the evening came when one of the missionaries could not hold back tears when he tried to make a speech. "Best trip of my life", "beautiful people" and "left part of me in Ghana", were kind words bestowed on Ghanaians,who happen to celebrate their 50th anniversary of independence at the same time Oklahoma is celebrating its 100th year of statehood. The Ghanaian community in Oklahoma pledged to work hand in hand with the governor in future efforts to help Ghana.
