On Saturday, Feb. 24th the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO)’s women’s wing led by Ms. Maud Cole and Ms. Liz Okai organized and celebrated Black History Month. The theme was: Black African and the Arts. The focus of the event was Empowering Black families and the Ghanaian community to tell their stories through the Arts. The event was packed with different performances like poetry, music, visual Arts, spoken word, storytelling, dancing, and drumming.

In her welcoming speech, the women’s leader Ms. Cole stressed that, the stories of Black African families and communities are rooted in strength, determination, and a rich tapestry of traditions that form the bedrock of our collective identity. These stories deserve to be told, celebrated, and preserved for generations to come. Empowering Black African families and communities to tell their own stories is an act of empowerment, a declaration of agency, and a pathway to a future built on understanding and unity. By embracing and valuing these narratives, we affirm the dignity of every individual and honour the legacy of those who came before us.

The Keynote speaker, Mr. Acquaah-Harrison urged Ghanaian families and the larger Black community to proudly own their individual and collective identities in its originality and richness. He reminded us that Ghana has become the destination of choice for the diaspora and other tourists because of its people and rich culture, and we need to continue to celebrate this fact.

We encourage our chiefs and elders to continue working on preserving and promoting the Ghanaian rich culture and tapestry.

The event was beautiful and the GCAO leadership wishes to thank all participants, including our royalty, community elders and church leaders. Further acknowledgement goes to the women’s wing planning committee member who helped bring this event together so nicely.

Thank you
Reported by – Ms Liz Okai
(Co-Lead – GCAO Women’s wing)