NOT even a wet night or blustery atmosphere could have put a damper on the pomp and ceremony that greeted the Ghanaian President, Nana Danka Akufo Addo, who wrapped up a two-day state visit here yesterday.

His arrival as president, specifically, and accompanied by a 40-man team of ministers and other Ghanaian high state officials, has to be the fulfilment of over three hundred years of a spiritual attachment that had begun under the European Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in which millions of Africans, especially from West Africa, were brought to this side of the Atlantic.

If this human tragedy did result in the forging of the common bonds of brotherhood, it was to result in the gradual growth and development between those early slaves of the local plantation system and the descendants of, particularly, the Ghanaian Akan people, of which many Guyanese are.

This spiritual connection was awakened with the coming of Independence to the Gold Coast, afterwards Ghana, in 1957. It had been an announcement that had captured the imagination of the larger world of British colonialism, because of what it meant for the people of those colonies who were the surviving descendants of slaves.

It was an event that had been embraced by the general African masses wherever they were to be found; and Guyana had been no exception. The celebrations were heralded as if they were this then colony finally removing the yoke of colonial rule.

Therefore, apart from the known attributes of Akan culture that has continued to be among the cultural influences of African Guyanese, one can understand the many efforts by those Afro Guyanese who continued to make mention of the rich Ghanaian culture in their conversations with, especially, their younger family members and even friends, and even at African culture events. Even though the celebration of the traditional Ghana Day celebration had somehow ceased to be an item on the local Afro-Guyanese cultural calendar, the fact that it has since 2011, once again celebrated on the Sunday closest to the actual day of Ghana Independence, underlined that natural urge for a re-kindling of such a spiritual link.
Perhaps, one should also understand the unapologetic efforts, as expressed by the indomitable Africanist sister, Dr Penda Guyan, Chairman of the Ghana Day Committee, when she spoke of her efforts made to both former presidents, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, to invite a Ghanaian president to visit Guyana. She was advised that such a visit would not have benefitted Guyana. Thus, one can understand when she described personal feelings of joy when such a dream had finally been realised, with the visit of President Addo and party.

We see the visit of President Addo of finally fulfilling that decades-old quest for a re-connection and recognition of the very spiritual bond that has always existed between the two countries. And the fact that the president has been conferred with Guyana’s highest honour– the Order of Excellence– is testimony not only to Guyana’s recognition of his role of advocacy for developing states, but also for his recognition of that very special relation between the two commonwealth states.

Ghana is one of the many African states that, today, boast a very strong and resilient economy that is experiencing very significant economic growth. Even more significant is the fact that Ghana is an oil producer, from which experiences it will be glad to share with Guyana that is currently in the process of establishing its oil and gas mechanism for first oil in 2020. Finally, the range of bilateral agreements that have been concluded between the two states, which range from agriculture, culture, energy, environment, investment, petroleum production, tourism, transportation, private sector cooperation, and transportation, illustrate the benefits that can be derived from closer and improved ties. President David Granger was also keen to mention that Ghana has shown great dedication and commitment to not only the Commonwealth of Nations, but the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well. And in conferring President Akufo-Addo with Guyana’s highest honour, President Granger said he was a distinguished statesman who was recognised for his invaluable exertions in promoting economic security and stability on the Continent of Africa, his steadfast dedication to regionalism, and his tireless efforts to promote the interests of developing states. President Akufo-Addo was told that developing countries are looking forward to his continued leadership and stewardship to protect their gains and secure their future.