Ghana celebrates Independence Day in Berlin

The Ghana Embassy in Berlin held a reception in Berlin Thursday to mark the 53rd anniversary of Ghana`s Independence.

The occasion at the imposing atrium of the Deutsche Bank attracted a large number of dignitaries including members of the Diplomatic Corps, business executives, as well as representatives of the Ghanaian community in Germany.

In his anniversary address, His Excellency Mr Paul King Aryene, Ghana`s ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany, paid tribute to Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana`s first President “for his relentless struggle against colonialism which earned Ghana her independence in 1957.

“As we may all be aware, Dr Nkrumah`s struggle was not only in respect of Ghana but for the total liberation of the continent, says Ambassador Aryene.”

The ambassador told his audience that Ghana was committed to promoting good governance in Africa. He said to underscore this point, Ghana became the first African state to subscribe to the voluntary African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Secretariat.

Ambassador Aryene announced further, that, Ghana was also delivering on recommended issues of the four thematic areas of the APRM, which includes Democratic and Good Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, and Socio Economic Development. The result of these endeavour goes to the benefit of the people of Ghana.

He described the year 2009 as a very challenging one for Ghana. “With an unsustainable budget deficit, arrears and unpaid bills inherited from previous years, couples with the global economic downturn, the Government under the leadership of President John Evans Atta-Mills had to take bold and painful measures to achieve fiscal consolidation and macro-economic stability, thus sending a clear message of the Government`s determination to come to terms with the economic challenges.”

Touching on the recently discovered oil in commercial quantities in Ghana, Ambassador Aryene said the Mills administration was already putting together the building blocks of oil and gas based industrial infrastructure to ensure that by 2016, the country would have exploited these resources and changed its economic paradigm.

On foreign policy, the Ghanaian ambassador stressed that his country`s foreign policy was aligned towards the promotion of regional and continental integration. “Besides her traditional trading partners outside Africa, Ghana is a strong advocate for greater intra-African trade.” Ghana, says the ambassador was committed to the principles of the New Partnership for Africa`s Development (NEPAD) which recognizes the development of Africa by Africans with the support of development partners.

Ambassador Aryene took the opportunity to comment the German Government for what he calls its strong support for Ghana`s development and those of other African countries. “Notwithstanding the (global) economic slowdown, Germany remains a true friend of Africa and the developing world. That relationship is built on mutual respect, the promotion of sustainable development, good governance and economic development, for which we are most grateful.”

He expressed that hope that the bonds of friendship between Ghana and Germany “at official and people to people contact levels would grow in strength to the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.

“Incidentally,” noted the ambassador, “the two states have the unique opportunity of being paired for the World Cup in South Africa. Obviously, that match is a friendly encounter for the further strengthening of ties!”

He commended Ghanaians in Germany for their exploits and achievements and invited them to join hands with their compatriots elsewhere in building a better and prosperous Ghana for the present and future generations. ”The doors of the Embassy are always open for the sharing of ideas on moving the development agenda of our dear nation forward,” said Ambassador Aryene.

Music was provided by the Berlin-based Disc Jockey, DJ Opoku, at the occasion at which the pomp and pageantry of Ghanaian tradition was displayed.

Musah Ibrahim Musah

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