Ghana Day organisers welcome state visit of President Nana Akufo-Addo

DPI, Guyana, Monday, June 10, 2019

“This is the most wonderful thing that could have happened,” expressed Penda Guyan, President of the Ghana Day Organising Committee, upon hearing the news of the imminent state visit of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

The Ghanaian head of state arrives in Guyana this evening for a two-day state visit.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) from her home in South Ruimveldt Gardens, Sister Penda, as she is fondly called, expressed her excitement, noting that her organisation has long envisioned the day when a Ghanaian leader would visit this South American country.

“There are so many similarities between the cultures,” She noted, adding that a close Guyana-Ghana relationship was extremely important, as many Guyanese have close ties to the West-African country.

Guyana’s own Independence Movement was greatly influenced by Pan-Africanist and first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah.

Sister Penda recounts that 1763 was one of the greatest revolutions and the events, she said were initiated by Ghanaians. “It was the coming together of all the people that were a part of the struggle at that time, but the leaders were Ghanaians.”

Reiterating that Ghana Day, observed in March annually, is a time of rekindling the cooperative spirit that once saw freed African slaves banding together to purchase villages and carving out a place in society for themselves. Sister Penda urged Guyanese to embrace their ancestry, “‘when I speak of Ghana I speak of Guyana, I see us as one.”

Her organisation is not involved in any of the official events planned for the visiting delegation, however, she assured the committee will be present at public events to show its support to the visiting head of state and Guyana-Ghana cooperation.

As she wrapped up her interview with DPI, Sister Penda urged elders within society to make an effort to instill in young people, a sense of cultural consciousness and pride.

Images: Tejpaul Bridgemohan

Editor’s note: Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The bird’s name translates to “Go back and get it” (san – to return; ko – to go; fa – to fetch, to seek and take). Many Ghanaians believe in the symbol which basically mean examining your past to gain perspective for the future or “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.”

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