Gospel Fest marks Ghanaian News Canada

10th Anniversary Celebrations in Toronto
The Ghanaian-Canadian Community Newspaper, The Ghanaian News Canada threw a big bash in celebration of its 10th Anniversary in Toronto on Sunday October 7, 2007. The celebration which featured many of the top Gospel musicians and Church Choirs in the community was held at the ultra-modern Ghana Presbyterian Church at Finch and Signet Road in the North York end of Toronto.
In launching the anniversary celebrations, the former Honorary Consul General of Toronto and a strong pillar in the Ghanaian-Canadian community, Dr. Martin La Kumi commended The Ghanaian News for the good and very productive services it has rendered to the Ghanaian Community in Canada over the past ten years. The newspaper, he noted, has highlighted and showcased the positive things about the Ghanaian community to the wider Canadian society as well as publicizing the issues of concern to the community. Dr. La Kumi, recalled with pride his honor of having launched the first issue of the paper ten years ago in 1997. It is refreshing, he said, to have another honor of witnessing the maturity of the paper from its modest beginnings of a twelve-page tabloid to the present colorful 56-page paper that hits the newsstands every month. Dr. La Kumi threw a challenge to the Ghanaian community to provide the necessary support and encouragement to The Ghanaian News to enable it continue the good work it is doing for the community.
Before concluding his key-note speech, Dr. La Kumi noted with sadness the way some youth in our community are drifting and falling on the wrong side of the law in Canada. He strongly appealed to all the elders and parents in the Ghanaian-Canadian community to support the positive initiatives in the community that are aimed at helping the youth to succeed.
The Federal M.P for Scarborough-Agincourt, Hon. Jim Karygianis, a long-time supporter of the Ghanaian-Canadian community commended the Ghanaian News on its achievements of the past ten years. He noted that it is through the hard and resilience of the people behind The Ghanaian News that it has come this far since most ethnic newspapers in Canada last no more than five years. He pledged his continuous support to the paper and the Ghanaian community in their efforts at integrating into the Canadian mosaic.
The Editor and Publisher of The Ghanaian News, Emmanuel Ayiku, enumerated the challenges that the paper has undergone over the past ten years, but noted with pride the achievements and major contributions that it has chalked over the same period. He paid glowing tribute to all those who have worked for the paper in diverse ways over the past ten years to make the paper what it is today from its modest beginnings. Members of the Ghanaian news Production Team, columinsts and contributors who were introduced at the celebrations included Mrs. Comfort Ayiku, Production and Layout Manager, Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Assist. Editor, Dr. Michael Baffoe, Contributing Editor and Winnipeg Bureau Chief, Fred Poku-Bonsu, Events/Public Relations Director, Lawyer Atuobi Danso, & Lawyer Osei Owusu Legal Advisers and James A. Kwarteng, Columnist on Immigration Issues.
The Anniversary Celebration itself is one that will be remembered in the community for a long time to come. Singer after singer, and various Church Choir Groups had the over 600 people in attendance rocking throughout the night. The Ghanaian Presbyterian and Ghana Methodist Church Choirs whom the MCs described as the “Akuampem-Fante Confederacy” were splendid in their kente and black and white outfits when they hit the stage in a mass choir performance.
The top attraction of the evening’s show was the special Guest appearance of Ghana-based Gospel Singer Prophet Seth Frimpong who had the crowd on its feet during his half-an hour performance. The MCs had earlier introduced the singer as the “dancing” Prophet and he lived up to that tag. Other performers on the show were Kay Morris, Rachel Sulley, Ralph Debrah, The Resurrection Power Choir, Disciples Revival, The Vessels of Joy from The Church of Pentecost, The Evangel Choir, the Liberty Youth Choir, and The Beacons from the Fountain of Fire Ministries.
The Masters of Ceremony for the celebrations were Mr. Kofi Appiah Kubi, Mrs Alberta Lartey and Dr. Michael Baffoe, The Ghanaian News Contributing Editor who flew in all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba for the event. The stage and event Directors were Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Assist. Editor of The Ghanaian News and Fred Poku-Bonsu Events/Public Relations Director

PICTURE: Members of the Ghanaian news Team, From Left, Fred Poku-Bonsu, Events/Public Relations Director, Dr. Michael Baffoe, Contributing Editor and Winnipeg Bureau Chief, , Dr. Martin La-Kumi Special Adviser, Joe Kingsley Eyiah Assist Editor, Emmanuel Ayiku Publisher/Editor, Mrs. Comfort Ayiku, Production and Layout Manager,