Independence Day Reception in Sydney, Australia

On Friday 7 March 2003, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Honorary Consul-General for Ghana in Sydney, Australia, and Mrs Liba Osei, hosted an evening reception at their residence.

The guests included members of the Consular Corps in Sydney, business leaders and leaders in the Ghana community in Sydney.

The toast to His Excellency the President of Ghana was proposed by a representative from the Australian Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Mr Osei-Ameyaw responded with a toast to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Australia.

In a brief address to his guests, the Consul-General noted that this was the 46th anniversary of the Independence of Ghana, on 6 March 1957, and that Ghana had the distinction of being the first British Colony since the end of the Second World War to be granted Independence. The Consul-General was also able to point to the emergence of Ghana as a country firmly based on democratic ideals and good governance.

Tribute was paid to the memory of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose vision was not just freedom for Ghana but for all Africa.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw noted that the government of Ghana believed very much in the establishment of a strong and vibrant economy, as a means of maintaining the peace and prosperity of the country, and intended to take an active place in the world community. He ventured to quote the President of Ghana, His Excellency Mr John Kufuor, who has said that ? ?The world is moving in a direction which requires leadership by vision, transcending tribal, national and even continental bounds?.

Tribute was also paid to members of the Ghana community in Sydney, and in other centres in Australia, who had been of active assistance in the establishment of the newly-opened Consulate-General in Sydney.

The Ghana community added to the enjoyment of the occasion through a demonstration of traditional Ghana dancing, very ably performed by young girls from the Ghana Community Cultural Group. The evening ended with a colour presentation about Ghana