Ghanaians in New Zealand?s City of Sails (Auckland) gathered on Sunday 6 March 2005 to celebrate the august occasion of Ghana?s 48th Independence anniversary. The celebration kicked off with an opening prayer by Mr. Bernard Amoah and the singing of Ghana and New Zealand anthems, led by Ms Selormey Owusuaa and Ms Priscilla Nartey.

Yaw Boateng and the Zho Zho cultural group, who gave the audience a taste of African performing arts, graced the evening with traditional drumming and dancing performances.

Welcoming the invited guests and members of the Ghanaian Association of New Zealand, Dr Charles A-Dwamena noted the importance of the day on Ghana?s national calendar and the unwritten obligation for Ghanaians, wherever they find themselves on the globe to take time out and remember this great achievement by our forefathers. The independence of Ghana was attained through their struggles paid for with their blood, sweat and fears. He also imputed the significance of Ghana?s independence to the freedom of the entire Africa continent and acknowledged the presence of members of the African community in New Zealand at the party.

Mrs. Cynthia Ansah presented a brief history of Ghana and the road to independence. She, through her speech, took the audience through the early arrival of the Europeans to the Gold Coast, the struggle for independence, and post-independence Ghana. Aided by PowerPoint slides, she captivated the audience with her speech by honoring all the past leaders of our dear nation, each one of whose efforts has made us who we are today.

The distinguished guest for the celebration, Mr. Ronald La Pread, an Auckland entrepreneur and also entertainer gave a short keynote speech, in which he contrasted political independence with human independence. He emphasized that while we celebrate political independence no individual can claim to be independent since we all are dependant on one another for survival. He relayed how his Ghanaian friends helped him to settle in New Zealand when he first arrived. In a highlighted remark Mr. La Pread declared that though he is from Alabama, USA, ?I FEEL LIKE I AM FROM GHANA? to the applause of the audience. As part of the independence celebration, the Ghana Soccer Team (Young Black Stars) engaged their Nigerian counterparts in the Independence Anniversary Cup match on Saturday, 5th March 2005. The Young Black Stars, under a technical team led by Nana James Owusu and the captainship of striker Joseph Roosevelt (Shaibu), won the match by 3 goals to nothing- a hat trick by Shaibu. At the celebration, Ghana Soccer Director in New Zealand, Mr. Kwame Akowuah presented the trophy, donated by Mr. Paul Adjei to be played between Ghana and Nigeria on Independence anniversaries, to the Young Black Stars. Dr Charles A-Dwamena paid respect to the Nigerian team for their sportsmanship and presented them with a soccer ball.

The celebration continued with food, music and dancing into the night; once again Ghanaians in New Zealand under the leadership of their Association joining with others around the World to remember Ghana?s Independence.

Dr Charles A-Dwamena, Public Relations Officer,
Ghana Association of New Zealand
ghanassoc@hotmail.com