H.E Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana?s out-going High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has appealed to Ghanaians in the Diaspora to continue to support national development efforts. He said the government on its part would continue to pursue its development agenda in order to accelerate the pace of the country?s recovery.

He referred to many of the development projects taking place all over the country and added that the government was determined to pursue these projects to its logical conclusion in order to uplift the standard of living of the people.

H.E Mr Osei thanked His Excellency the President for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation in a high-profile country such as the United Kingdom.

Mr. Osei made these remarks at a special Ghana-UK Goodwill Ball to celebrate the great strides made by him during his tenure of office as High Commissioner to the UK and to raise funds for AIDS orphans and Day Care Facility for the aged in Ghana.

The event, a private sector initiative, attended by a cross- section of the Ghanaian community, was organized by THE FINEST! Production, an advertising, public relations, film, television, event management firm based in London in collaboration with the Wives of Ghanaian Diplomats Association, (WOGDA), the Original Black Television, (OBE) and businesses supporting the Black Ethnic Community in the UK.

Present at the event, compered by Kwesi Kyei Darkwa, a notable African producer and presenter, were Nii Ayitte Boafo, Special Aide to the President, Nana Otuo Acheampong, Publisher of Ghana Review International magazine and Professor Atukwei Okai, a renowned Ghanaian poet and author who thrilled the audience to a collection of his thought- provoking poems including Rosimaya and the bundle of Budu.

Also present was Mr. Danny White, a Ghanaian Leukemia patient who spoke about the Leukemia Trust and the need to sensitize people of Africa descent worldwide to donate bone marrow in support of patients. Two of London top DJs, mix master JICKS and YAD (YAW ADDO DARKWA) provided music for the event while Ms Akosua Agyepong, a celebrated Ghanaian songstress thrilled the gathering to some captivating songs from her rich repertoire.

The event was interspersed with a hair show by ECLAT Hair Salon with principal stylist Priscilla Baffoe, and a fashion revue of a blend of Africa and Europe designs of Helen Teni Couture with an introduction of the contemporary designs of a LONDON college trained tailor, now turning her attention from BESPOKE men?s suits to stylish menswear ?Albie St John-James.

Mr. Osei, who has assumed duty as the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company, praised Ghanaians in the UK for their support during his tenure of office and asked them to reciprocate the support to the newly -appointed High Commissioner.

He commended them for their generous financial contributions which helped the Mission to raise funds for the purchase of 1000 each of handcuffs, batons, raincoats, whistles, torch lights and other accessories for the Ghana Police Service, and the donation of ?50,000 to the Cardio Thoracic Centre in Ghana.

He also urged them to continue to patronize the products and services of Ghanaian companies based in the UK; to be law abiding and work together as a united community.

H.E Mr. Osei described relations between Ghana and UK as good and very strong and praised the British government for its contributions to national development efforts and the deepening of democratic culture in the country.

Speaking at the event, Nana Otuo Acheampong commended Mr. Osei for his tremendous efforts which had helped to bring Ghanaians closer to the Mission, more focused and united in their efforts to assist in national development efforts.

Professor Atukwei Okai thanked the organizers for inviting him to the event and recalled vivid memory of his encounter with H.E Mr Osei, then a student of Achimota Secondary School where he was invited to perform soon after his arrival in Ghana from the then Soviet Union.

On behalf of Wives of Ghanaian Diplomats Association, Mrs. Osei thanked the Ghanaian community for their financial contributions which helped the association to purchase mammographic x-ray equipment for some hospitals in the country and expressed the hope that they would continue to remember their compatriots at home.