Accra, June 1, GNA - The German Embassy in Accra through the ingenuity of the out-going Ambassador, Mr Peter Linder on Thursday launched a special world wide website wittingly to project over 50 years of bilateral relationship between Ghana and Germany.

The website: www.ghana-germany-50.de, designed as a "virtual book" in five chapters, covers; "Political Relations and History of Early Contacts," "Economic Relations and Development Co-operation," "Science and Education, Culture, Arts, and Sports," "Civil Society, Private Initiatives, and Church Relations," "Companies and Institutions in the Bilateral Context," and a short profile of the authors.

Launching the website, Mr Linder described it as the result of the desire to portray the rich variety of personal experiences and the history of relations between Ghana and Germany in an informative and enjoyable way and at the same time, make it available to a wider public.

"We have invited Ghanaian and German authors from different fields and professional sectors to write about their experiences in the bilateral context or share their knowledge about the history of Ghanaian-German relations," he noted.

The aim according to Mr Linder was to contribute a moment of reflection on aspects of the past, the present and the future of the cordial and deep relations between the two countries, its governments, institutions, civil society, the private sector and above all, the individual people.

While Ghana celebrates its golden jubilee of Independence during this year, the date also marks the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Germany.

In 1957, Hermann Saam took office in Central Accra as the first German Ambassador to Ghana. Soon after, the Ghanaian Embassy opened under Theodore Asare in Bonn, at the time the Capital of the Republic of West Germany.

He said the friendship and sound political relations established between Ghana and Germany 50 years ago had grown and deepened, which had paved the way for many other areas of co-operation in all sectors of society.

"Looking at Ghanaian-German relations today means not only looking at politics and economics but also at science and education, culture, arts, religion, and sports.

"Let us also not forget the large numbers of individuals whose experiences and commitments have given the Ghanaian-German relations a personal face," he stated.

Dr Sebastian K Bemile, a Ghanaian winner of the Goethe Medal lauded the contributions of German non-governmental organisations, especially foundations representing major German political parties in Ghana. He also acknowledged various clubs, cultural centres and institutions commemorating German links with Ghana, which had metamorphous in a deep cordial relations that had been engendered by tight family relationships through intermarriage, political and ideological learnings, economic ties, and religious beliefs, amongst many other ties.

The Hewale Cultural Troup performed good old Ghanaian highlife tunes in honour of the outgoing, Germany Ambassador who could not resist the temptation to dance. He jumped to the dancing floor to demonstrate his skillfulness in some Ghanaian cultural dances affirming that the past four years of diplomatic service had broadened his scope culturally. 01 June 07

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