Hundreds of Ghanaians in Sydney, Australia, ushered in a month-long celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Ghana’s independence on the night of Saturday, 3 March.

Singing groups from various Ghanaian churches took turns to turn on fantastic renditions of Ghanaian church and patriotic songs to entertain the crowd.

The night’s guest of honour was Ghana’s High Commissioner to Australia, Mr Kofi Sekyiamah. In an address, Mr Sekyiamah commended the Ghanaian community for hosting the gospel music event, adding that it was a fitting one to usher in the celebrations and “attesting to the fact that Ghana is indeed God’s own country”.

He reminded Ghanaians to be watchful of issues, pronouncements and activities that could jeopardize the peace and tranquility the nation had enjoyed since it attained nationhood. “At a time that ethnic divisions continue to tear many countries and societies apart, Ghana has remained an oasis of peace, and its citizens have lived in peace for generations. Ghana always survives as one entity, and will continue its peaceful march while facing the challenges of the 21st century”, Mr Sekyiamah added.

He urged Ghanaians not to take the peace the country had enjoyed for granted. “We have challenges, but we’re staying the course in good governance, people-centred development, media pluralism, and respect for human rights”.

He enjoined Ghanaians in Australia, though far away from their homeland, to be engulfed in the excitement that their country’s 50th birthday has wrought on all its citizens around the world.

The high commissioner announced that Ghana’s Minister of Local Government, Mr Asamoah-Boateng will head and a high-powered delegation to join Ghanaians their friends during the highlights of the celebration at a formal dinner/dance in Sydney on 31 March.

Mr Sekyiamah extended an open invitation to all Ghanaians to be guests of the Ghana government and of the high commission at the formal diplomatic party to mark the event on Tuesday, 6 March in Canberra, Australia’s national capital, some 300 kilometres south of Sydney.

Earlier, the President of the Ghana Association of New South Wales state, Eric Tweneboah, urged all Ghanaians in the various Australian states and territories to take part in the many activities planned to mark the year-long celebration.

Despite the dancing, merry-making and pats on shoulders, as usual some time was made for God’s word. In a short sermon, Pastor Sam Abaloo of the Living Word Worship Centre thanked God for bringing Ghana thus far, and encouraged all Ghanaians to pray and work hard for a more prosperous, peaceful and a forward-looking nation.

On Saturday, March 10, Ghanaians and their friends in Sydney are invited to a picnic and an outdoor party dubbed “Family & Friends Day Out”. To crown the celebrations in Sydney, a formal dinner/dance takes place on Saturday 31 March.