A great BBQ alfresco was held at the Merrylands Children’s Museum on Sat. 29th Dec., as part of activities to see off the Year 2018. In attendance were the Ghana high commissioner, His Excellency Edwin Adjei and the president of Ghana Assoc. of NSW, Mr. Isaac Kwamena Acquah, the executives of the two groups. Nananom, the traditional leaders including Nana Abrompah and Nana Amankwaa also graced the occasion.
While amplified music was not allowed as this is the new directive from the Cumberland Council, there was much fun, games, a surfeit of food and drinks. Both adults and kids enjoyed themselves in a renewed community spirit.
In introducing the high commissioner, Mr. Acquah reminded all, of the impending 62nd Independence Anniversary to be held on Sat. 9th of March. The Assoc. plans a BBQ and an outdoor service on that day as decided at the last quarterly meeting in Dec. 2018. He also reminded the community of the new public holidays legislated in Ghana. As such, there would be no more celebration of Republic and Africa Union Days. Instead, there are Constitution, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial and Founders’ Days to be observed as public holidays.
The high commissioner apprised the gathering of the diverse steps being taken by the government to develop the nation. This has led to investment capital starting to flow to boost the productive and other sectors. The free SHS education despite its challenges was already yielding fruits as tens of thousands of pupils who could not have afforded fee-paying education, were now benefitting from the initiative.
He also notified all of the government initiatives to benefit Ghanaians in Diaspora including the-soon-to-be-resolved case of dual citizenship and the ability to vote in elections. More updates would be made available as and when the high commission receives them.