It was all fun and excitement when the Ghanaian community in Charlottesville in the State of Virginia of the United States of America (USA) celebrated Ghana’s 54th Independence Anniversary on Saturday, March 5, 2011. The occasion organized by the Ghana Association of Charlottesville was also attended by citizens of other West African countries as well as guests from Charlottesville and the Central Virginia area including the Mayor of the City of Charlottesville, Dave Norris.

The Chairman of the Ghana Association of Charlottesville, Nana Akyeampong Ghartey, gave a historical background on how Ghana gained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957 led by the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President. He implored all Ghanaians living in the Charlottesville area to come together to forge a common goal and also take the interest in the development of Ghana.

Nana Ghartey said Ghana has been blessed with rich human and natural resources which must be harnessed for the betterment of all Ghanaians, adding that, “while observing the 54th Independence Anniversary of Ghana, it is imperative for Ghanaians abroad to use the knowledge they have acquired, especially in the oil and gas industry, and information technology to help to accelerate Ghana’s development”.

In an interview, the queen mother of the Ghanaian community in Charlottesville, Madam Sarah Yarney who was one of the pioneer Ghanaians to settle in Charlottesville, urged all Ghanaians living in the area to join the Ghana Association of Charlottesville in order to promote unity and togetherness so that every Ghanaian in the area can be identified. She noted that coming together as one people from the same country offers vast opportunities that can be used to help each other.

Earlier, Madam Holly Edwards, a Charlottesville City Council member advocated for a Ghanaian to be appointed to serve on the Charlottesville City Council. Mr. David Brown, also a Charlottesville City Council member assisted Nana Akyeampong Ghartey to cut the anniversary cake amidst the rendition of Ghana’s patriotic song, “Y?N ARA Y? ASAASE NI”.

Mr. Brown recounted that the City of Charlottesville has a closer link with Ghana as a result of a sister city cooperation between Charlottesville and Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana.

The crowd was treated with mouth-watering Ghanaian cuisine which included, banku and okro soup, waakye, tuo zaafi, fante kenkey, kaakro, kelewele, dough nut (bofrot), ampesi, tilapia, koose, aponkye nkrakra and kyinkyinga (kebab) among others with Dee Jay Sefa Nkrumah providing traditional Ghanaian highlife and contemporary music.

Source: Augustine Arthur, Charlottesville/USA,