His Excellency Donald Adabere Adabre, Ghana’s Ambassador to Mali, hosted a spectacular reception at his residence in Badalabougou Estate to commemorate Ghana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary. He played host to about six hundred (600) Ghanaians and two hundred (200) dignitaries made up of the diplomatic corps and host government officials. In a speech delivered at the function, H.E. Donald Adabere Adabre seized the opportunity to pay a glowing tribute to the founder of the Nation Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his five (5) compatriots affectionately called the BIG SIX and the €œfoot soldiers€ who fought along side them to obtain political independence from the British colonial rule.

He said since the attainment of independence in 1957, successive governments had adopted diverse socio-economic developmental strategies aimed at achieving a rapid socio-economic development and a higher level of well being for the people. He added that over the years Ghana grew from strength to strength and won for itself a place of no mean importance in the community of nations. He mentioned Ghana’s democratic dispensation that has been characterized by the free, fair, transparent and peaceful multiparty elections with peaceful transfer of political power from one administration to another has been the pride of the West African sub-region and indeed the African continent.

Concerning national developments, H.E. Adabre indicated that the Government had embarked on ambitious programmes aimed at building a better Ghana for the benefit of all its citizens. Moreover, the Government pays particular attention to the development of the vital socio-economic sectors including agriculture, industry, human resource development, education, health, private sector, infrastructure and good governance.

With respect to Ghana-Mali relations, he took a retrospective look at the performance of the relations, which dated back to the early 1960 and even beyond. He mentioned the mutually beneficial trade and commerce conducted along the famous fish route between Mopti in Mali and Kumasi in Ghana, in the olden days. He said when Mali attained its political independence on 22nd September, 1960, Ghana was the first African country to establish diplomatic presence in Bamako and the 5th of all states. Furthermore, he indicated that in pursuance of their strong commitment for continental unity, the first leaders of Ghana, Guinea and Mali, namely Presidents Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and Modibo Keita established the often cited Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union, within the framework of which their respective diplomatic representatives were upgraded to Resident Ministers. He said the first leaders of these three countries played a championing role in the creation of the early continental groupings particularly the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) (which has now become African Union AU) in 1963. He expressed his hope to count on the assistance of the competent Malian authorities for further strengthening and expansion of Ghana-Mali relations.

In connection with the theme for the 53rd Independence Anniversary which centred on €œInvesting in the Youth for a better Ghana€ in recognition of the central role the youth played in the country’s historical evolution, he appealed to the enthusiastic and energized youth of Africa to resolve to stay at home and serve mother Africa rather than embark on dangerous and most often fruitless journeys hoping to reach an unknown €œLand of Canaan€. They should endeavour to live descent lives, be law abiding and stay out of illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.

From: GHANA EMBASSY, BAMAKO, MALI.