NCOGA Celebrates Ghana's 53rd Independence In A Grand Style

Ghana's Permanent Representative to the UN His Excellency Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian addressing a colorful and well attended Ghana’s 53rd Independence anniversary dinner-dance organized by the National Council of Ghanaian Associations (NCOGA) in New York on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Armenia Center, 630 Second Ave, NY.
The Ambassador stated that under the leadership of His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills Ghana will continue to make giant strides in her development.
He therefore, urged Ghanaians to support the Better Ghana agenda towards the regeneration of the country. According to him, “the future of Ghana is very bright and we must seek the interest of Mother Ghana and assist in the nation building".
Ambassador Christian addressed a cross section of US-based Ghanaians recalled the significant contributions made by the Big Six, the heroic role of Ghana's first president - Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his comrades of the Convention People's Party (CPP) as well as the many unsung heroes in the struggle for the independence".
He restated President Mills' commitment to run a transparent and accountable government and assured Ghanaians that an independent authority would be established to manage revenue from Ghana’s recently discovered oil.
He said the President, by adopting of these measures and other best practices, oil would be a blessing and not a curse to Ghanaians.
The ambassador said that the Better Ghana agenda revolves around the youth and thus, government was committed to investing in the youth in order to build the critical mass that will not only sustain the development agenda, but more importantly, move Ghana to greater heights.
He however admitted that, “as a nation we have had our setbacks and successes, but the good thing is that, since 1992 Ghana has evolved into a stable democracy under successive administrations.
His Excellency Christian disclosed that Ghana has good governance, the rule of law is maintained, the press is free and vibrant and the economy is in good shape and the government of President Atta Mills is in all seriousness, pursing the objective of making Ghana a better place for all its citizens. “The economy is poised for a big take off and we all know that, the expectation has been heightened by the off-shore discovery oil in 2007.
Ambassador Christian acknowledged the useful role played by Ghanaians in the Diaspora by their remittances home to assist their family urged them to move on the greater things by investing in Ghana's economy. He urged them to encourage non- Ghanaians to do likewise, because Ghana needs their financial capacity and expertise to develop.
Ambassador Christian applauded NCOGA for their good job towards the community for rewarding granting scholarship to some deserving students to enable them achieve their educational goals in America.
In an address by the Executive Secretary General of NCOGA Miss Ivy Rose Quarshie, she said in spite of the democratic credentials that Ghana had garnered in recent years, as a developing nation, Ghana has to deal with problems of poverty, ,lack of adequate health facilities and infrastructure. She appealed for increase in resources to solve these problems and to meet the needs of the ever growing urban areas as well as declining rural populations. Miss Quarshie noted that NCOGA will continue to take these small steps in our little world to mobilize various Ghanaian associations in the tri-state area and to bring together those with the means to help solve and address some of the concerns that face us here as well as home to improve the lives and the conditions, since we should all join hands collectively".
She said NCOGA is currently soliciting assistance from the NYC Fire Department to acquire fire safety equipment and the possibility of the fire department to visit Ghana to train their counterparts on how to use the equipment. NCOGA, she said, is in the process of acquiring a building to establish a cultural center to be known as GHANA HOUSE for Ghanaians and Africans to hold social functions.
As part of the function, scholarship awards were presented to five high school students who are college bound and Miss Quarshie said NCOGA has plans to offer more scholarships to high school students who excelled academically going forward. A congratulatory message from the sixteenth council district member in the Bronx New York City Miss Helen Diane Foster who has been immensely supporting the Africans community in Bronx said “I am thoroughly delighted at the relationship that has been development between the Ghanaian community and me in the district. I always look forward to working together in the future to improve the quality life of all of us and I am certain that, we will be able to achieve a great deal."
Miss Helen Forster noted that, “as we forge onward and upward striving for a continuous change, continuous commitment and continuous improvement in-fulfilling of our mission, please know that your years of past dedication and commitment are greatly appreciated by all those whom you have served in your community." Ambassador Kojo Christian sworn in the following newly elected executives of NCOGA: THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GENERAL ---- Miss Ivy Rose Quarshie , DEPUTY EXECUTIVE GENERAL SECRETARY --- Hajia Ramatu Ahmed, PRESIDENT --- Mr. Amos Afful, VICE PRESIDENT --- Daasebere Anane Amponsah, the Asantefuohene of New YORK, TREASURER ----- Mr. Emmanuel Asante, FINANCIAL SECRETARY ----Mr. Fred A. Dwamena aka Mr. Gentleman, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER ---- Hon Kwabena Manu aka Poncho, ASSISTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER ---- Mr. Alfred Amoyaw. Recognition and awards were given to Miss Helen Diane Foster , Dr Lawrence Nii Nartey, Dr Leonard Y. Kaledzi, Dr Samuel Mensah,. NCOGA'S service awards went to Messers Michael Tieku, Johnson Eltosam, Charles Asuming,Elfrida Benson, Togbe Sentranah, Godfried Adi Darko, David N. Osafo, Jamil Couri. Community Service Awards presented to Oko Nyaku, Charles Nimo Mensa (aka Mr CNN), DJ Katabo ,Azey Video Production,Black Star Travel,Trinity Travel and Tours, Accra Restaurant,Kuwait Shipping,Gitano Africa Market, and Adakum Educational Foundation. Five students were given scholaship awards, Kwame Twumasi --- Binghamton University, Kwadwo Amakye ---- Virginia Union University,Mavis Ampomah --- Virginian Union University, Vera Avheampong Tieku, University of Bridgeport and Ernest Ameyaw Jnr.of SUNY University.
The major sponsors of the grand celebrations were Delta Airlines, Western Union and 2010 Census.