The 63rd Independence Anniversary Celebration of the Republic of Ghana was hosted by the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday, 6th March, 2020.
The theme for this year’s anniversary celebration was “Consolidating our Gains”. The special cocktail reception was graced by the Honourable Dikeledi Magadzi, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Republic of South Africa, members of the Diplomatic corps, representatives of Nissan SA and Multinational Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTN), Ghanaians and friends of Ghana.
His Excellency Mr. George Ayisi-Boateng, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa addressed the gathering. He observed that the toils of our founding fathers are constant reminder of the need for us as a nation to consolidate our gains and secure the country for generations yet unborn.
He stated that Ghana’s democratic political system and dynamic economy have strategically positioned it as a good destination for doing business. The High Commissioner stated that as we consolidate our gains in Ghana, we have also endeavoured to not only consolidate our relations with South Africa, but we have taken it to a higher level. He noted that the level of bilateral co-operation existing between Ghana and South Africa has been upgraded to a bi-national commission. An agreement to that effect was signed on the 5th of December, 2019, during the visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa to Ghana. He added that the excellent bilateral relations have been very productive and mutually beneficial to both countries. He stated that trade between South Africa and Ghana increased considerably from almost four (4) Billion Rands in year 2014 to Thirteen (13) Billion Rands in 2018.
The High Commissioner expressed gratitude to the Nissan Group and MTN for supporting the successful celebration of the national day event.
Honourable Dikeledi Magadzi in her speech conveyed the felicitations of the government and people of South Africa to the government and people of Ghana. She recalled that in 1957, Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain Independence. She observed that freedom from the clutches of colonialization by Ghana in 1957 was an inspiration to black Africans in Southern Africa and elsewhere.
Honourable Mgadzi stated that South Africa and Ghana have a historic and symbolic relationship. She also recalled that Ghana assisted South Africa through the liberation struggle. According to her, South Africa is what it is today because it stood on the giant shoulders of Ghana.
She stated that South Africa will hold the 13th extra-ordinary African Union AU) Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area and silencing the guns in May this year. She noted that South Africa is looking forward to the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area on 1st July, 2020.
A Cocoa Trade Show and Business Meeting was organized on the sideline of the national day celebration. Made-in-Ghana products were also exhibited. The High Commissioner urged South African Investors to consider Ghana as their preferred investment destination in Africa. He appealed to investors in South Africa to join their counterparts in Ghana to leverage the country’s numerous investment opportunities.
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