Ghanaians living in Ontario-Canada celebrate Ghana’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary in a grand style.
On Sunday, March 6, 2022 Ghanaians and their friends living in the Ontario Province of Canada celebrated the 65th Independence Day of Ghana in-person at Mississauga proudly raising the flag of Ghana in the morning and organized a virtual ceremony in the evening with pomp and pageantry. It was beautiful and proud occasion!
As early as 11 am, under very bright skies, Ghanaians led by the new Consul General of Ghana in Toronto, Honourable Mr. Hakeem Balogun gathered at Mississauga Civic Centre to raise the flag of Ghana and cut a birthday cake to begin festivities for the day.
The virtual celebration in the evening was kicked off with an opening prayer by Father Korsah and land acknowledgement by Ms. Mary Adarwah!
The dignitaries who spoke at the virtual celebration that evening included Honourable Mr. our Consulate General with well wishes from Ghana; and the former Consul General, Clarabelle Pappoe, all the way from Ghana with some uplifting words. The rest were His Excellency, Mr. Answelm Sowah, our High Commissioner, reflected on the developments in our nation Ghana for the past 65 years and especially under the current NPP government of President Nana Akufo Addo inspiring all Ghanaians to support his administration; Mayor John Tory of the City of Toronto who praised the Toronto Ghanaian community for their efforts in food distribution and public vaccinations against the Covid-19; and the Member of the Provincial Parliament, MPP Tom Rakocevic who shared complimentary words with us to commemorate such a joyous occasion of Ghana Independence Day.
Also, we had greetings and well wishes from Marilyn Raphael a Ghanaian-Canadian who has taken time from her vigorous campaign efforts for provincial office to join us. It was heartwarming to see her commitment to and pride in our community to be here with us and to share her words. And what an inspiration she is to our young people, as evidenced by Mr. Stephen Mensah who works for the mayor of Toronto and part of the junior cabinet, such a young man of Ghanaian background!
The event of performance and sharing of gifts/talents that made us Ghanaians in Ontario so proud of our heritage! There were performers like Ms. Grace, who sang the national anthems of Ghana and Canada, Ewe cultural group, Nana Yaa Yeboaa’s poem read by Arihana Awuku-Larbi, the Asante Adowa cultural dance group, Nana Yaa Yeboaa reading her poetry in her own voice, performance by Pobee Mwintomboall the way from Ghana, and the Northern Ghana Music and Dance performance and of course our DJ Alex was FABULOUS!!
The event was put together by the leaders of the amazing Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) of which Mr. Emmanuel Duodu is the president. The event planning committee comprised Ms. Juliet Opuku (1st Vice President), Mr. Abeeku (Assistant Organizing Secretary) and the hardworking Mr. Emmanuel Quaye who took charge of introductions and technical navigation.
Mr Kotey who is a member of the GCAO’s Advisory Board proposed an inspiring toast to all celebrants.
Earlier our young Joanna Opong shared well wishes from the amazing GCAO homework club!
MC Elder Mr. Appiah Kubi navigated us through an amazing program! No wonder, Ms Billie-Jane Bolton-Rojo who gave the vote of thanks at the end of the program was full of praises for all and concluded by sharing one of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s quotes: “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me”. Born in all of us. And, as in Nana Yaa Yeboaa’s words “We are proud Ghanaians”. Let us carry this with us in all that we do today and always!
Happy Independence Day!
By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Toronto
