By Marlon Madden
A taste of Ghana’s culture was served up on the lawns of Ilaro Court on Monday as citizens of that West African nation celebrated their 66th Anniversary of Independence.
Dressed in brightly-coloured traditional outfits, dozens of Ghanaians danced and had a variety of food and drinks as they interacted with each other.
Several Barbadians joined in the celebration which was organised by the Ghana Barbados Association and held under the theme Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose.
Barbados’ Ambassador to the Association of Caribbean States and CARICOM David Comissiong said it was a testament to the deepening of the relationship between Bridgetown and Accra.
“The fact that this event is happening and happening at Ilaro Court and it is happening on this type of scale says that we have turned a corner in embracing our brothers and sisters from Africa and our Pan-African identity as a people,” he said.
President of the Ghana Barbados Association Faith Ampiah and Dr Corey Forde join others in dancing.
“It is appropriate that we come together to celebrate Ghana’s independence but also to celebrate the burgeoning relationship between the two countries. I really want to encourage the Barbadian people to embrace this burgeoning relationship with Ghana.
“I want us to make the embassy in Ghana a people’s embassy, not just the normal embassy that is dealing with officialdom but I want to see it become a facility that facilitates people-to-people exchanges in a very deep way,” Comissiong added.
From left: John King, Juliana Boamah and High Commissioner of Ghana to Barbados Samuel Yaw Nsiah.
During the event, Barbadians were taught several words in some of the languages spoken in various parts of Ghana.
Welcoming the patrons to the festivities, President of the Ghana Barbados Association Faith Ampiah said she was satisfied that the two countries were building a strong relationship.
“It is a privilege to be here in Barbados. I believe that Barbados and Ghana have set the whole African-Caribbean [relations] on a different pedestal that everybody is learning to do . . . . Today, let us all celebrate Africa; today, let us all celebrate black culture; today, let us all celebrate Barbados and Ghana. I want to welcome you. Enjoy it. We intend on doing this annually, God’s willing. Next time it will be better,” said Ampiah.
Guests were treated to some traditional Ghanaian dances.
She said it has been somewhat of a spiritual journey for most of the Ghanaian nurses who came to Barbados in 2020 and 2022 to help address shortages in the healthcare system.
“We are here to make everybody proud and to lift the flags of both Barbados and Ghana. It may be interesting to know there is a wind blowing and it is a wind of togetherness. It is a wind that is calling everybody of like skin to come back home. Irrespective of where you are, once you are black you are African. I keep saying that coming to Barbados is a spiritual journey. It was a spiritual journey for most of us,” said Ampiah.
“What better time to celebrate Ghana in Barbados if not for today? We have a history,” she said, as she referenced the period of colonialism.
Scores of people attended the 66th anniversary celebrations of Ghana on Monday at Ilaro Court.
