Ho, Jan. 16, GNA - The interplay of circumstances and events at a choral festival held in Ho last Saturday as part of 'Ghana@50' activities, dramatized the country's political history, a nation's anxiety and expectations, dashed hopes and a brighter horizon.

The events, mainly choral renditions portrayed the Ghanaian character of national pride, hope, liveliness, resilience and faith in God.

As the mass choir sang the festival anthem, 'Ghana nyigba, yayra toe nenye", which translated thus; "Ghana, you are a blessed land" in Ewe by Kodzo Tibu, the Dela Cathedral, venue for the festival, went silent with an atmosphere of nostalgic feelings and emotions descending on the audience.

The festival theme; "Reflections," pervaded the atmosphere as the participating bands sang more patriotic and religious songs of exhortation, boosted by thought provoking remarks on national life by Major Courage Quarshigah (rtd), Minister of Health.

Dwelling on the religious nature of Ghanaians, Major Quashigah called on the Clergy to educate their followers to see work as a form of religious worship, adding that, Sunday worships are an opportunity to "re-energise for greater works".

Earlier, the crowd and choirs, like the anxious citizens at independence, could not hold their patience at the late arrival of the dignitaries resulting in a two-hour delay of the event. Gauging the atmosphere, Major Quashigah apologised for the delay, which he attributed to differences in time stated on invitation cards for the commencement of the event.

He said henceforth, such anomalies should be investigated because of their negative effect on society.

In response, the captive audience and enthusiastic choirs transformed their impatience into a happy atmosphere oblivious of the ticking away of the clock towards 1800 hours when the lights in the Cathedral were scheduled to go off as a result of the current load shedding exercise.

Events, however, came to a head when the lights went off just as the Global Evangelical Church Choir was to mount the platform, having waited patiently for their turn, which was interrupted several times to allow other choirs to perform.

Some members of the choir called for a boycott arguing that they could not sing in the darkness because they were not "faceless" people. When reason eventually prevailed the Global Choir's rendition of, "This is the day the Lord has made" stirred the audience to its feet while the darkness lasted.

Not long afterwards the lights came on to a thunderous applause followed by a standing ovation as the choir rendered moving songs. Major Quarshigah said while the darkness lasted he kept praying and hoping for the lights to come on, adding that, the hitch was a "test of faith", required in the pursuit of things the people hoped for.