Text Box:     Text Box: Fred Agyeman-Editor Text Box: Abrantie Speaks- Ghanafest - Ghana Our Heritage                                    Text Box: Mmrantie Kuo

Text Box: September, 2006 Text Box: Volume 2, Issue 1

Text Box: Mmrantie News

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Text Box: Other News: ·           GhanaWeb ·           CNN ·           BBC ·           General Information   Search By:     MSN     Google     Archives Polls   Inside this Issue: Waiver for Ex-members Donations:     Oak View School     Tsunami Victims     Katrina Viictims     Osu Children's Home Awards:     Roger Claar     Nana Alex Prempeh     Elizabeth Owusu     Daniel Brobby     Sam Puni     Akoto Berko     Ghana National Council    Patricia Bonsu    Joyce Tabi              

Text Box:       My brothers and sisters we have witnessed another Ghanafest which sort to showcase our culture and identity, As always I tip my hat to the Ghana national council for organizing the event and giving our young ones the opportunity to witness our rich culture.  This year’s event was graced by the minister of the newly created ministry of chieftaincy and culture. In his remarks Honorable S. K. Boafo pointed out that the pride of a people is discerned from its culture and that if you kill the tradition or culture of a country, you kill its destiny. He made it clear that the time has come for all of us, not only Ghanaians, but in fact all Africans both at home and in the Diaspora to show our rich culture to the world at large. He went on to hope that the celebration of the festival will provide the opportunity of the promotion of Ghanaian business and commerce not only here in the United States but all over the world. This stems from the facts he outlined such as the major developments that are taking place in Ghana such as the Capitation Grant which allows all parents to send their children or wards to school for free. The introduction of free meals for selected schools which is being extended to all children in the country. These are all facts that gives Ghanaians in Chicago some hope for our young ones back home that in the mist of all the hardships that people face in Ghana, the children are being given the needed education to be able to make the necessary impact on the future of our beloved country.  The recent signing of the Millennium Challenge Account for $547 million for the development of our poor country Ghana is a giant step in the history of Ghana for the acceleration of growth in infrastructure, agriculture and human resource development for our people. Hon. S. K. Boafo encouraged all of us to keep up the good fight for peace, good governance and stability in the days ahead which will lead to mutual edification. As the Hon. Minister finished his speech I felt this was a well reflected food for thought for all Ghanaians and   our rich culture. Then popped up His Excellency Dr Boom, he thought he could school us on the successes of the black stars by beating the USA and the Chez ... thank you Mr. Rawlings for the information. What I missed is that he should have added that in his 20 yrs as President of Ghana if he had been able to take Ghana to the world stage under his administration Ghana would probably have had the much needed experience to overcome the Brazilians and hopefully moved closer to the finals. Why has Ghana missed out on the world soccer stage all these years? That is what he needed to explain and more! Why would anybody want to sabotage him as he alleged due to the malfunction of the microphone he was using... Maybe Ghanafest is a holy ground and people with blood on their hands have no place! Why was he harassed in the house of God when he went to worship at the Christ oasis ministry? That place is holy ground. I do not know how the Ghana National council conducts its activities, but I want to say here and now that the leadership of the council needs come out and explain to Ghanaians the circumstances that lead to the appearance of Mr. Rawlings and his friend the father of the Nation of Islam to take center stage of this festival. Mr. Rawlings was given almost an hour of our precious time to talk about nothing!   One may wonder why Mr. Rawlings had so much air time, I know that the Ghana national council is made up of representatives from all the tribal groups in the Chicago area, did tribalism play any put in this one?  Who is the President of the council and which part of Ghana is he from?  Is the Asanteman council playing politics?  The Asantefuohene must ensure peace in his council. Ghanafest is not the place to play politics, let’s make culture the focus of this August event.  Asanteman is rich in culture... Let’s lead the way. Ghanafest is not the grounds to show allegiance to any political party. Our ancestors are watching. Lets show our kids that we pride in our culture and that if we kill the tradition or culture of a our country, we are surely killing our destiny.