Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - The Chiefs and people of the Ga Traditional Area on Thursday held a durbar in Accra in honour of Mr John Prescott, Deputy British Prime Minister and Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO The durbar held in James Town was also to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. It was attended by Ministers of states including, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr John Henry Mensah, Senior Minister, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations and other dignitaries.
Traditional pomp and pageantry reminding the gathering of the significance of the James Town traditional area in the history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade was on full display. Mr Matsuura was honoured and decorated with a kente Cloth and a miniature stool by the Ga state.
Mr Matsuura noted that the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade had left a lot of historical sites in Africa, especially Ghana and that there was the need to re-develop such relics.
He said 93UNESCO was ready to cooperate in the preservation of the forts and castles dotted along the coast of Ghana," and lauded the "Joseph project", a project aimed at attracting over a million tourists from the Diaspora to Ghana, initiated by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.
Mr Matsuura was full of gratitude to the Ga state and said he had a special likeness for Ghana, especially Accra, stressing his preparedness to support the 93Joseph Project".
Mr Prescott, who was also presented with a gift, noted that Ghana spearheaded the African liberation struggle and congratulated the people of the country for the role they played.
He said he was looking forward to welcoming President John Agyekum Kufuor to London as part of Ghana's 50th independence anniversary. He also congratulated Ghana for beating Nigeria 4-1 in the recent friendly match played in London.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said it was significant that the Deputy British Prime Minister was in the country to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade which also coincides with the country's 50th anniversary.
He said since the British were the last to country to colonize Ghana it was important that Mr Prescott witnessed the occasion. He talked about the importance of the 93Joseph project" saying it was important to preserve the monuments in the country. 15 Feb. 07
