It’s been billed ‘a night with a difference’ and its colour and waves is making a lot of news within the communities of Ghanaians in Italy.

The Ghana-Italy Excellence Awards Night to be hosted in the city Brescia on Saturday 26 November will be were Ghanaians in Italy, individual Italians, companies, religious groups and many more will receive awards for their exceptional excellence in carrying out their duties to help the community of Ghanaians in Italy and in Ghana.

The first time an event of this nature came off here was December 8, 2007 when the then Ghana Ambassador to Italy, H.E. Agyei Amoama, hosted his compatriots in Rome at a dinner and dance with an awards ceremony to honour deserving Ghanaians and Italians for their selfless devotion of services to communities of Ghanaians in Italy and in Ghana. It was an occasion to finalise all events marking Ghana’s 50th Year of Independence in Italy (Ghana@50) – events widely and glamourously celebrated which extensively portrayed the image of Ghana.

That awards event was supposed to be a yearly affair but nothing of the sort happened in the subsequent years. Thanks to the efforts of a young Ghanaian student based in the city Bergamo, Freda Cooper (Adwoa K.O. Bonsu), those memorable occasion will resurface again at the exquisite theatre of ‘Camera Commercio’, located in the heart of the city Brescia. “It was not easy putting together this event,” says Freda speaking from her parent’s home in Bergamo. She single handedly had to do all the ground work looking for sponsors and inviting distinguished personalities and guests from Ghana for the occasion. She explains: “It all started after a hefty brain storm about Ghanaians in Italy how some of them are really working hard and integrating into the Italian society. When you travel to some European countries or even in Ghana people are looking down on us. This pushed me to do something and change this kind of image. I am using my agency, ‘Divino Organisation’, as an icon to expose Ghanaians in Italy and to promote our culture and tourism in Europe.

But what brought young and enthusiastic Freda into this? She replied: “I am full of ambition and have great zeal. Hardly do I let circumstances hinder me but have to admit I could not have done this without an external assistance from God. It’s my hope that our journey to seek greener pastures in Europe or elsewhere ends.”

She also mentioned Italy is a land that many have tagged as offering few or no hope for immigrants but Ghanaians here should see a turn-around. “It’s also my firm belief that those priviledged of the second generation (my generation) of immigrants in Italy, study, strive and work hard to set landmarks and raise Italian immigration standard to that of other countries we look up to.”



The awards will be given under 26 categories and among them are: the Best Ghanaians Charity Organisation, the Best Religious Organisation, the Best Entrepreneur, the Best Ghanaian Footballer in Italy, the Best Ghanaians Association, the Best Ghanaian Rising Star in Italy, the Best Student, the Best Radio Presenter, the Best Journalist, the Best Television Broadcast, the Best Ghanaian Royal Palace in Italy, the Best Ghanaian Author in Italy.

There will also be special category awards and among those to pick these awards are: Diana Adu Biney, Dr. Calabrese, Mamaa Ahlijah, Rodney Aboagye and Kofi Osei Bonsu.

The night, to be handled by Mcs; Delores Frimpong Manso - a.k.a Afia Delay (a TV and Radio Presenter in Ghana) and Nana Kwame Osei Obrempong (a Ghanaian actor based in Belgium) will be elevated to a higher level with performances by artistes, among them Cecilia Boateng (gospel artiste from Ghana) and Efia Ampofuwaa (solo artiste based in Belgium). The Mayor and Counselor of Brescia, Andriano Paroli and Dr. Acra, the Ghana Ambassador to Italy - H.E Anita Evelyn Stokes-Hayford - and Executives of Council of Ghanaian Nationals Association in Italy (COGNAI) have all been handed an invitation and are expected to be present.