Ghana Council NRW e.V

62nd Independence Day Celebration of Ghana in Berlin

Thursday February 20, 2020

The Ghana Embassy in Berlin held a reception at the scenic Spindler & Klatt events centre on Saturday, 9th March, 2019, to mark the 62nd anniversary of Ghana`s Independence.
Over the years, the annual event was organized mainly for members of the Diplomatic Corps with little participation of Ghanaian residents. However, on this occasion, Her Excellency Mrs. Gina A. Blay hosted a cross-section of Ghanaians living in Germany to participate in the event. The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi, was the special guest-of-honour. Ghanaians across Germany travelled to attend the event in Berlin and expressed their excitement.
In her anniversary address, H.E. Gina Blay, stated that during the recently held 3rd German-African Business Summit (GABs) in Accra, two leading German companies indicated their intention to set up factories in Ghana to boost the local economy. The two firms are B-Braun, providers of healthcare solutions; and Knauf, manufacturers of building materials.
Knauf products, particularly plasterboards, cement boards are in high demand in Ghana, and the company is eyeing Takoradi for its base. She also commended Ghanaians in Germany for their exploits and achievements and invited them to join hands with their compatriots elsewhere in building a better and prosperous Ghana for the present and future generations.
Amidst applause from the gathering, Ambassador Blay submitted that “in the case of Knauf, the company expressed its readiness to build a plant in Ghteana to produce the said materials at West Park, a 405-acre commercial, industrial and residential development in a strategic location in Takoradi. She commended the Ghanaian community in Germany for supporting her during her short and successful stay. The Ambassador appealed to the residents to be guided by the theme of the anniversary ‘peace and unity’ and live in oneness. The Ambassador underscored that their contributions to the development of the country cannot go unnoticed, especially their remittances.
President of the Union of Ghanaian Associations in Germany, Mr. William Nketia, commended Ambassador Blay for changing the ‘face’ of Ghana’s mission. He was particularly happy that, for the first time, Ghanaians in Germany actively participated in the event and lauded the initiative of the envoy.
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Dr. Ziblim Iddi, acknowledged the contributions of Ghanaians in the diaspora in the development of the country and the changes championed by them. He cited the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA), as one of such initiatives championed by Ghanaians living abroad. The Hon. Deputy Minister assured the Ghanaian diaspora in Germany that the Electoral Commission (EC) was working to ensure its full implementation per the court orders.
In a nutshell, the occasion displayed the pomp and pageantry of Ghanaian tradition and culture.