On a mild winter day on Monday March 7th, 2016 as part of the 59th Ghana Independence Day celebrations in Toronto, the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) in collaboration with the office of Ghana's Consul General in Toronto raised the Ghana flag in an official ceremony at Toronto City Hall.

The process started with a prayer by Rev. James Quainoo of the Church of Pentecost, followed by the National Anthems of Canada and Ghana. During the singing of the Ghana National anthem, the Ghana flag was hoisted by the Consul General Mr. John Bosco Dery-Kpebesani assisted by Mr. Emmanuel Duodu, secretary of the GCAO. The chiefs and queen mothers in the Ghanaian Community in Ontario were there in their colourful regalia portraying the beautiful culture of Ghana at its best.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Consul General of Ghana in Toronto, Mr. John Bosco Dery- Kpebesani used the occasion to narrate a short history of Ghana from the colonial times through the independence struggles to the present. He expressed, on behalf of the Ghanaian community his gratitude to the Mayor of Toronto Mr. John Tory, the Deputy Mayor and the entire city of Toronto for offering the Ghanaian Community this exceptional opportunity to hoist the Ghana flag in the heart of this dynamic City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.

The Deputy Mayor of Toronto, Mr. Vincent Crisanti who is also Councilor for Ward 1, Etobicoke North, on behalf of the Mayor John Tory and his entire City Council colleagues offered his congratulations to Ghana on its 59th birthday and thanked everyone present for such an important occasion. He noted that this cerebration is one of the things that makes our City of Toronto great and diverse and said each community plays a vital part in enhancing Toronto's social and cultural landscape.

He said the Ghanaian community is growing across the country and making economic, cultural and political contributions to the development of Canadian society. He expressed the hope for the community to continue to flourish and build upon its successors. He presented a special scroll to the Consul General and the community. Special greetings were read from the Premier of the Province of Ontario, and the Mayor to the community, which were read by the Consul General.

The Consul General on behalf of the Ghanaian community presented a Kente Stole to the Deputy Mayor as the community’s appreciation. A special poem was recited by Bernadette Mary Poku to grace the occasion. On his part the secretary of the GCAO Mr. Emmanuel Duodu gave the vote of thanks in appreciation and thanked everyone who was present to mark the occasion.
The first Ghana flag-raising at Toronto City Hall was held on 6th March, 2006 as part of 49th Ghana Independence Day Celebration. It was a collaboration of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) and the Ghana's Consul General in Toronto during the tenure of office Nana Boahen as Ghana Consul General in Toronto. The second event was the following year during the festive Ghana @50 celebrations on Tuesday, 6 March 2007 when the Ghana flag was raised in a rare opportunity in the Ontario Provincial Legislature at Queen's Park,. It was also during the tenure of Consul General Kwabena Asare. Honorable Mario Sergio, Paul Ferrera, Rosario Marchese and Mike Colle, all MPPs were in attendance at those events.
Picture: Deputy Mayor of Toronto, Mr. Vincent Crisanti, Consul General Mr. Jon Bosco Dery-Kpebesani, Chiefs and Queen, Executives of the GCAO and some members of the Ghanaian Canadians of Toronto.