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March 6, 2007
Governor congratulates Republic of Ghana on Golden Jubilee of Statehood Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. has congratulated the government and people of the Republic of Ghana on the 50th anniversary of its independence celebrated on today, Tuesday March 6th. Ghana was the first country to gain independence on the African continent under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nhrumah whose pan-African approach to the development of Africa led to the creation of the Organization of African Union.DeJongh recalled that the Virgin Islands and Ghana share an important historical link dating back to the slavery period when Danish settlements on the west coast of Ghana were used to ship thousands of captured Africans to the Danish West Indies. "Accordingly," deJongh noted, "our historians have confirmed these cultural ties which reveal that the families of many persons of African descent in the Virgin Islands originated from what is now present-day Ghana ." The governor noted that his administration would be expanding on the inter-governmental ties which were initiated through the visit of an official delegation of historians, educators, political scientists and physicians who traveled to the annual emancipation ceremonies in 2006. A number of potential areas of collaboration with Ghana were identified by the delegation, in such areas of trade, investment, education, and archival cooperation. "It is my intention to explore a cooperation agreement with Ghana , similar to the ones presently existing with Denmark , to enhance our economic, historical and educational links with Ghana ," deJongh concluded. It is expected that dignitaries from over seventy government delegations, led by presidents and heads of state from around the world, are attending historic golden jubilee independence anniversary, and thousands more are expected at the emancipation activities later in the year. |
