Protect your cultural heritage -Ghana's UK envoy

Ghanaians abroad have been reminded about the need to continue to protect their cultural heritage for future generations.

The call was made by Mr Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK when he addressed events marking the Hogbetsotso and the Fetu Afahye festivals, and a fund-raising evening by the Adansiman Association in London as part of the Mission’s outreach programme.

He said as citizens of Ghana, they should endeavour not to lose touch with realities – recognise the importance of their culture and contribute to its development, no matter where they reside.

Mr Osei stated that it was imperative for them to institute programmes and embark on activities which would encourage their children to learn more about Ghana’s rich culture.

He praised our ancestors for laying the foundation for the celebration of the time-tested festivals in their respective communities which, he said, had won the nation respect in the international community.

At the Hogbetsotso festival, High Commissioner Osei called on his audience to learn the lessons of Hogbe – that tyranny in any form should not be tolerated, reminding the people about the exodus from the grip of Agokoli. He said no matter what problems or difficulties they faced, there was always a way or a solution if they consulted and counselled one another and worked together with unity of purpose.

“The ancestral Ewes did it. Why can’t it be done today?” “For the future”, he said, that they should be guided by the last words of Togbi Sri I, an Ewe King of the 16th century.

At the Fetu Afahye festival, Mr Osei acknowledged the importance of Cape Coast as the centre of learning but wondered how many of their sons and daughters were attending the great schools in Cape Coast today. He encouraged Oguaa citizens in the UK to apply the funds they raise for the benefit of their people back home assiduously.

At the Adansiman fund-raising, Mr Osei observed that it was the responsibility of the educated Adansi to implore their chiefs and the district assemblies in the area to apply royalties paid to them for the development of all Adansiman.

High Commissioner Osei also used the occasion to brief the gathering on achievements so far recorded by the government since the NPP assumed office. He said through good governance, Ghanaians had accepted democracy as a way of life through which the collective energies of the people could be released and harnessed for development.

High Commissioner Osei mentioned the restoration of macro-economic stability, halt in free fall of the cedi, reduction of interest rates and the benefits accruing to every district as a result of the HIPC initiative as some of the laudable achievements of government. He therefore called on Ghanaians to rally round the government, which had proved beyond all reasonable doubt that it was capable of finding solutions to the problems confronting the country.

Mr Osei praised Ghanaians abroad for their sacrifice and contributions towards the social and economic development of their areas and urged them to join in the crusade to attract potential investors into the country.

At a forum organised by the Association of Ghanaians in Milton Keynes, Mr Osei appealed to Ghanaians to continue to support their families by sending regular remittances to them.

He said he was elated about the contributions of over US$400 million whch Ghanaians in the diaspora contributed to the economy, making the money remittance sector the 4th largest foreign exchange earner for the country.

“I congratulate those of you who are regularly sending remittances and urge you to consider increasing the level of your remittances; to those who are not sending anything, I appeal to you to start now”. High Commissioner Osei briefed them on numerous measures which had been taken by the government to revamp all sectors of the economy and urged Ghanaians to continue to support the government since it had so far demonstrated, judging from the situation on the ground, that there was a bright future for the nation.

The forum provided the opportunity for Ghanaians to ask questions on various development issues.