Children's party climax Ghana@50 in Cote D'Ivoire

Ghana's Ambassador to Cote D'Ivoire,H.E. Kabral Blay-Amihere and his wife Mrs. Esaaba Blay-Amihere last Saturday, March 10, 2007 hosted a party for school childern at The Residency.

The Childrens' Party and a Concert of Ghanaian Choral Music organised the same day by the International Protestant Church of Abidjan rounded off activities for the first half of March in connection with Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations in Cote D'Ivoire.

The Children's party, an initiative of the children of the staff of the Ghana Embassy, brought together kids from the Morning Glory International School and other schools.

It was an afternoon of poetry recitals, dancing and music. A purely childern's bash, thhe School Band of Morning Glory International School entertained the invited guests to melodious highlife music whilst a dancing quartet from the school thrilled the crowd with some dazzling steps and movements.

Adowa Blankson,10, the Chairman of the Ghana @ 50 Childrens' Party Planning Committee who delivered the welcome address at the party thanked the Ghana Embassy for remembering children in the celebration of Ghana's Golden Jubilee in Cote D'Ivoire.

She also thanked the founding fathers of Ghana for "giving us freedom" and pledged that "as future leaders of Ghana, we will study hard to make the founding fathers proud".

The Choral Concert in the evening attended by many Ghanaian in their anniversary brought together two groups from the IPCA Church and the the Port Bouet, a suburb of Abidjan.

The celebration of Ghana's Golden Jubilee started on Fabruary 28, 2007 with a press conference and a Commemorative Art Exhibition.

Mr. George Annan, a Ghanaian resident in Cote d'Ivoire produced the art works for the exhibition as his contribution to the celebration of Ghana's 50th Indepedent Anniversary. He has since donated the works to the Abidjan Embassy for onward transmission to the Ghana Government.

The press conference was followed by a a specially organised Muslim Prayer Service at Williamsville on March 2, 2007 which was attended by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. There was also a Church Service on March 3, 2007.

A Grand Durbar of Chiefs and the Ghanaian Community of Cote D'Ivoire was organised the next day at the Palais des Sports at Triechville. The Grand Durbar allowed the wider Ghanaian Community in the country to participate in activities marking Ghana @ 50.

Nana Akufo- Addo and his counterpart from South Africa, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Cote D'Ivoire's Minister for Culture and Francophnie, Mr. Mel El Theordore graced the occasion as Special Guests of Honour.

Present were Ghana's Ambassador to Cote D'Ivoire and the South African Ambassador as well as other dignitaries.

In an address to the Durbar, Nana Akufo-Addo praised the large number of Ghanaians for their display of patriotism and said that the next fifty years should be used to build on the strong foundations of democratic governance of Ghana at 50.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanaians everywhere have every right to be proud of our achievements as a people since the country has re-established its place in the family of nations and has become a model for other countries in Africa.

Various cultural groups reflecting the rich cultural diversity of Ghana entertained the crowd.

The Official Cocktail on March 6, 2007 organised for the first time at the Residency of the Ambassador brought together a cross section of Ivorin society and the diplomatric community.

A splendid lightning system as a backdrop on walls showing the colours of Ghana's flag, and the display of Ghana's rich Kente by Ghanaians gave a cultural taste of Ghana to the many guests who were also treated to vintage Ghanaian highlife music of the 60s and Adowa Dancing.

Present at the reception, were Ministers of State and the Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire, His Excellency Charles Konan Banny.

Other activities planned for the month of March are a Special Medals Day Ceremony scheduled for Bouake during which Ghanaian troops serving with the United Nations Mission in Cote d'Ivoire will be honoured.

Town Meetings with Ghanaians are also planned for other Ivorian towns- Bouake, Yamousskrom as well as Bondoukou in connection with Ghana @ 50 celebrations.

On March 31, 2007, the Ambassador will be the Special Guest of Honour at a Golden Jubilee Dance being organised by the Ghanaian Community at Aboisso.

Local media reports have had rare reviews praising Ghana on its 50th anniversary and the Ghanaian Community in Cote d'Ivoire for celebrating the occasion in a deserving manner.