An array of guests, mostly from the diplomatic and business communities thronged the Multipurpose Hall at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital to witness the celebration of the 62nd Anniversary of Ghana’s Independence.
The celebration was on the theme: “Celebrating Peace And Unity”.
Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mrs. Amma A. Twum-Amoah, assisted by her Deputy, Mr. Henry Tachie-Menson and Defence Attache, Brig.Gen. Asamoah Kweku Yeboa received diplomatic greetings and well-wishes from envoys of other nations, after which the national anthems of Ethiopia and Ghana as well as that of the African Union were played.
Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, was the Guest of Honour.
Also present were Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, Madam Hanna Serwaa Tetteh; and the Honorary Tourism Ambassador for Zimbabwe, Ambassador Nancy Sam.
The Ghanaian community was also in attendance, including students.
Ghana gained independence from its last colonial master, Great Britain on 6th March 1975, becoming the first in sub-Sahara Africa achieve the political feat which is said to have energised the country’s founding President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah to set for himself a goal to ensure many of the then remaining African countries under colony gained their political freedom.
Ghana, subsequently became beacon of hope for the entire continent, promoting vigorously the African Unity agenda, which culminated in the founding of the Organisation of African Union (OAU), now African Union.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah recalled the excellent relationship that has existed between Ghana and Ethiopia dating back to the era of Dr. Nkrumah and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and paid tribute to both leaders for their role in de-colonising the continent.
She announced that apart from ongoing negotiations between Ghana and Ethiopia Airlines on the re-establishment of national airline for Ghana, governments of both countries have taken steps to further strengthen cooperation in several other areas to move the bilateral relations a notch higher.
Ambassador Twum-Amoah who is also Ghana’s Permanent Representative to both the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reiterated the resolve of current government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure the promotion and enhancement of peace, unity and social cohesion among all Ghanaians.
“One of the leading priorities of government is the socio-economic development of our communities, especially the districts. The government of Ghana will therefore continue to pursue the agenda of industrialisation and the processing of our raw materials for the benefit of our people”, she said.
The Ghanaian envoy said as a member of the Committee on Democracy, Governance and Election and the Committee on Environment in the African Union, Ghana will continue to work assiduously to prevent conflicts and ensure peace, unity and justice on the continent.
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