Chicago, March 6, 2004-To show their patriotism and link to their motherland, over three hundred and Eighty Ghanaians and Africans in Chicago and the Midwestern States, thronged the Four Point Sheraton Hotel to celebrate the first Black African Country, South of the Sahara to break the shackles of colonialism and attained independence from British rule on March 6, 1957.

Reverend Dr Kofi Noonoo and Alhaji Baba Cissse prayed for the nation in the Christian and Moslem denominations whilst Mr. Clottey, offered the traditional libation for the success of Ghana and the function.

Many Ghanaians, including Dr Ohemeng, Dr. Andy Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Alhaji Tijani, Mr. and Mrs. Afriyie of Oakley construction fame, Mr. Addae (Asantehene of Chicago), Ms. Rosemary Amegashie, Mr. and Mrs Bernie Agyeman and former president of the GNC, Mr. Clement Timpo and his wife were in attendance to grace the occasion. The only Ghanaian in the American Football league, Pro-Bowler and member of Chicago Bears fame, Mr. Jerry Azumah was there to invoke the spirit of patriotism and wish the Government of Ghana and all Ghanaians success in their endeavors. The Master of ceremony was Mr. Emmanuel Papafio, alias ?Chicago mayor?.

For the first time, the organizers of Ghana?s Independence Anniversary celebrations, the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago (GNC), distributed miniature Ghanaian flags to the first hundred attendants, played Ghanaian Patriotic songs, during the dinner and employed the services of the top two DJ?S in the Midwest, Millennium Sounds and Sam Q Soundz..
After the Ghanaian anthem was played, the crowd waved their miniature Ghanaian flags and Mr. Akwasi Yeboah sang the star spangled banner in place of the American National anthem.

The acting Ghana?s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Isaac Aggrey , in a message to Ghanaians in Chicago and the Midwest wrote ?I urge all of you to rise up and put your shoulders to the wheel and join the government to build a better Ghana. Let us continue to send regular remittances to our friends and relatives back home. But even more importantly, we need to look for other practical ways of demonstrating our patriotism to help Ghana, especially in these challenging times, so that our children?s children can be proud to be called Ghanaians.?

The president of the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago, Dr. Abdallah Yahaya, in his address to the celebrants, said ?This year being an election year in Ghana, we urge the leaders of all political parties to maintain and develop the principles of tolerance and freedom which are the basic tenets of any free society.

The Ghanaian and the African community recognize this day as a great African day of pride, unity and freedom. Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara to break free from the shackles of colonialism. Our peaceful path to independence became a great symbol of hope to many African and other developing nations all over the world in their struggle for freedom. Just after three years of Ghana?s independence, colonialism disintegrated particularly from the soils of Africa when many nations achieved independence from their colonial rulers? In conclusion, he wished Ghanaians a happy Independence anniversary celebrations and successful elections.

The key note speaker, Dr. Anita Kontoh Scott, a Ghanaian attorney who lives in Bolingbrook, Illinois, paid tribute to the founding fathers of Ghana?s independence and former president, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, for institutionalizing sustainable participatory democracy in Ghana. She asked Ghanaians to give their support to the government of Ghana.

The two most popular DJ?S in the Midwest, Millennium Sounds and Sam Q. Soundz treated the hilarious crowd to various highlife, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Soukous and many kinds of African and Caribbean music. The popular Chicago Asanteman Adowa Cultural troupe with two stilt dancers entertained the crowd to marvelous Adowa dance movements.

Western Union Incorporated was the main sponsor of the function.

Ambassador urged Ghanaians to rise up and put their shoulders to the wheel and build a better Ghana. Ghanaian American pro-Bowler and Chicago bears player was there!.