…….. Dignitaries such as Ghana’s Vice President, John Mahama, have been invited, H.E Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum will be in attendance, Illinois governor, Pat Quinn will make history!

There is a BIG phenomenon blowing across Chicagoland this weekend. It’s the original Ghanafest in Chicago, 22 years in the making and continues to be bigger and bigger each year. If you have not yet made any plans for this weekend, July 31 2010, then start packing your baggage and gather your family for an electrifying event will take place in Chicago. If you have made plans for the weekend, please it will be worth making sure that the plan includes Ghanafest, if not, you will only have yourself to blame, because Ghanafest is exhilarating, full of glamour and fanfare; and rich in culture. Ghanafest is a spectacle not to be missed by anyone. Washington Park will be drastically transformed into an African village, with imitated royal courts, led by the ceremonial Chicago Ghanaian chiefs, queens, linguists and members of the various Associations in traditional African drumming and dancing reminiscent of the traditional African durbar of chiefs and their royals in full regalia. It’s the annual GHANAFEST and this year it’s loaded with a lot of exciting activities for the enjoyment of your family and friends. Forget the copy-cat Ghanafests’ across the globe, there is one and the only original Ghanafest, rooted in the rich Ghanaian culture, African arts and craft and samples of mouth watering assortment of traditional Ghanaian foods.

This year, the crowd is estimated to be over 15,000, the celebrants will come from all over the world! If the demography of attendees of past Ghanafests are to be repeated, then expect attendants from Ghana, Europe, Asia, Australia and other parts of Africa to be in Chicago for the big event on the Ghanaian diaspora calendar, the Chicago Ghanafest. Dignitaries such as Ghana’s Vice President, John Mahama, have been invited, Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum will be in attendance, Illinois governor, Pat Quinn will make history by being the first Illinois Governor to attend Ghanafest!
Other attractions include traditional thanksgiving ceremonies, traditional cultural drumming and dancing and youth performances, a taste of Ghanaian cuisine!The best in Ghanaian musical talents in Chicago will feature. The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago,GNC, which produces Ghanafest each year,is an organization made up of eleven affiliate Associations. These affiliates are the Ga-Adangbe Community Organization of Chicago,the Asanteman Association, the Brong Ahafo Association, Ewe Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Fante Benevolent Society, Ghana Northern Union, Ghana Chicago Club, HASKE Society, Kwahu United Association, Okuapeman Association, Okyeman Association and the originators of the Ghana National Council concept, the Ghana Chicago Club.
The G.N.C is non-political and non-profit organization with a 501(c) 3 status granted by the Internal Revenue Department. Its main aim is to promote the Ghanaian culture and educate the Ghanaian/American youth about the Ghanaian culture and also unite the Ghanaian community in Chicago. The Ghanaian immigrant population in Chicago and its metropolis is growing strong and estimated at 25,000. The Ghana National Council is the unifying force of this culturally and politically potent community. Ghanafest 2010 promises to surpass even the success of previous years. The festival is to be held from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM on July 31 at the Historic Washington Park at the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The Gate fee is $5.00 each except children 12 years old and under. The president of the Ghana National Council, John Henry Assabill, describes Ghanafest in this way, “If you have never visited Ghana, Ghana is being brought to your doorstep in Chicago. This is a must see event. Think of what you might miss if you have never visited Ghana and you are not at the park to witness firsthand the splendid cultural show that had “amazed” dignitaries such as the former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, Ghanaian Ambassadors to the USA , Ministers of State from Ghana, Mayor. Richard Daley and many other dignitaries!
For information or to view footage of previous years Ghanafests, please visit http://www.ghananationalcouncil.org/Ghanafest2010.htm. Please contact Steve Dei at mrdei1@yahoo.com or Paa Kwesi Sam at paakwasisam@gmail.com for accreditation to cover the event. We appeal to all visitors to enjoy the festival and obey the strict security measures that will be in place. There will be a host of talented Musicians to entertain the crowd as usual. A professional cultural troupe from Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago’s own grown Adowa and Borborbor groups, new sensations such as the Fante Benevolent Society’s Fancy Troupe will all leave attendees overly elated.
Ghanafest is copyright protected and therefore no part of this event may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written consent of the Ghana National Council, Inc..These include but not limited to network or other electronic, video or photographic storage or transmission, or produced for sale or other commercial purposes without authorization from the organizers.. It is a violation of copyright law to copy, duplicate, edit, or broadcast this event for any reason or by any means without prior contract from The Ghana National Council. It is a policy of the Ghana National Council, Inc to enforce its copyright materials. For further information on this contact the president, John Henry Assabill at 773-636-7013 or email to anomantu@msn.com.
This year’s Ghanafest is Sponsored by Western Union, MoneyGram, DishNetwork, Ghanaweb, African Spectrum Newspaper, Annaka Enterprises and Sam Anum. Source GNC.