Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Accra (Fides Service)- Ghana celebrates today 6 March 50th anniversary of independence. This country was to first shake off the yoke of colonial to be ruled by black Africans. The people of Ghana, just over 22 million, are 62% Christian, (including 2 million Catholics), 21% follow traditional beliefs and 16% are followers of Islam. One of its most famous sons is Koffi Annan, for many years former general secretary of the United Nations Organisation.
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee the Catholic Bishops entrusted the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and in a special pastoral letter ‘The Nation’s Golden Jubilee’ issued for the event they identify three main objectives for the jubilee celebrations: To celebrate and commemorate Ghana’s landmark achievement as the first country in Black Africa to attain independence from colonial rule; To reflect on the evolution, development, achievements and drawbacks of our country over the past fifty (50) years; and to look forward to the future, to our vision of excellence in all fields of endeavour in the next fifty (50) years toward our centenary birthday as a nation.
Year-long activities marking the Golden Jubilee have been scheduled, beginning in January 2007 and ending in December 2007. The monthly themes are: January : Reflections; February : Towards Emancipation; March : Freedom March; April: Our Nation, Our People; May : Our Wealth and Our Prosperity ; June : Heroes of Ghana Month; July : African Unity Month; August : Diaspora Month; September : Service to the Nation; October : Knowledge and Ghana’s Development; November : A Healthy People, A Healthy Nation; December : Final Curtain).
Jubilee initiatives through the year include conferences, exhibitions of photographs and works of art, concerts, parades, fashion shows etc… Golden Jubilee Recreational Parks and Golden Jubilee Kindergartens and obelisks will be inaugurated in every regional capital.
Celebrations will be attended by delegations from 75 countries, 24 heads of state, the entire diplomatic corps accredited. At midnight the streets were filled with thousands of people singing and dancing while loudspeakers broadcast the declaration of independence .
Ghana set the example for the other African countries which all obtained independence in the span of a few years. It was also one of the first sub-Saharan countries to experience a military coup. Nevertheless today Ghana is considered one of most democratic and stable African countries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2006 righe 34 parole 361)
