Mar 7- 2022
On the 6th of March 2022, Her Excellency Ambassador Anna Bossman and her staff attended a thanksgiving service at the Bethel Prayer Ministry Paris International, where she delivered a speech to the Ghanaian community to commemorate Ghana's 65th Independence Day Anniversary. Her Excellency's speech was as follows:
"The Coordinator, Executives of the Ghana Coordinating Council in Paris, pastors and elders of the Church, distinguished guests, fellow Ghanaians and friends of Ghana, the staff of the Embassy of Ghana and I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate with you my fellow compatriots the 65th Independence Anniversary of our beloved nation, Ghana.
I extend very warm greetings to you all, on behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Government, the Embassy staff, and also on my own behalf. This is perhaps the first time after my reappointment as your ambassador that I have the singular honour to be amongst the Ghanaian community, and this gives my staff and I great joy.
The global Covid pandemic curtailed movements and human interactions that we had taken for granted. We thank God that this year, though we are not completely out of the woods yet, the situation has improved considerably, making it possible to gather, albeit under very strict conditions. Notwithstanding all the measures deployed to ensure our collective safety, it is heart-warming that we can all actually be in the same space. One year on, our collective situation has improved such that we can engage fraternally with each other while observing all the necessary COVID protocols. We take the opportunity to have thoughts and prayers for those we lost along the way and for their families and pray for God’s Solace, Comfort and Grace for them and indeed for all of us all the while Thanking God for the Mercy and Abundant Grace showered on all of us.
Fellow compatriots and distinguished guests;
Ghana’s 65th Independence Anniversary is being celebrated this year under the banner : "Working Together, Bouncing Back Better”. This theme, acknowledges the challenges the country, and indeed the world, has been through over the past three (3) years of the pandemic. It is also forward-looking, in the sense that it is a rallying call for all of us, as citizens, to focus on the reconstruction of our economy and way of life. Our communal sense of living, which over the years has found expression in seemingly minute gestures such as handshakes, hugs and the like, had to be paused for our own safety. However, with significant progress made in halting the rapid spread of the pandemic, we have every cause to remain hopeful in our perseverance. Together, we should forge an even stronger partnership aimed at putting our country back on the trajectory of growth and prosperity.
Globally, economies are experiencing recessions and Ghana is no exception. Nevertheless, the Government of President Nana Akufo-Addo is working tirelessly to ensure the stabilisation of the economy. Many of you who are abreast with the issues in Ghana may have heard the rumblings that have greeted Government’s decision to pass the E-Levy, which seeks to make available, urgently needed funds to shore up confidence in the Ghanaian economy. It is my hope and expectation that with the ongoing consultations, the stalemate will be resolved.
I wish to use this opportunity to make an appeal to all of you. I believe you will agree that the efficient public services that you enjoy by virtue of being domiciled in this country, have been made possible by citizens’ contributions, through taxes, to the building of the French economy and nation. Adopting a similar approach in our country, Ghana, will undoubtedly yield very positive results for our socio-economic transformation agenda. Indeed, Ghana Beyond Aid, has at its center, a self-reliant outlook, which enjoins us as citizens to put our shoulders to the wheel in ensuring our collective development and prosperity. I, therefore, urge you all to partner with Government in bringing this to fruition. By educating our compatriots, both here and back at home, on the need to undertake our obligations for our own collective benefit, you would have, in no small way, discharged your civic duties in the nation building process. Let us support Government wholeheartedly in this drive. We are all Ghanaians .
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am also happy to officially announce to you that the Embassy has relocated to its original address at No. 8 Villa Saïd. Having completed the renovation and expansion works, the Chancery was moved back to Villa Saïd from Neuilly-sur-Seine after three (3) years of temporary relocation, and since December of 2021, provided consular services from the refurbished premises.
I wish to seize this opportunity to thank you for your support during the entire period of our temporary location at Neuilly. Towards the end of the year in 2021, we had to suspend our services over a period in order to pack our equipment and relocate, and when that moment came, despite the inconveniences it may have caused some compatriots, since some appointments had to be rescheduled, you were very understanding, as always. It is my sincere hope that the camaraderie exhibited, which has since existed between the Embassy and the Ghanaian community in France, would continue in spite of any challenges that we might encounter.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to also brief you on an important initiative being pursued by Government. In 2021, the administration of President Akufo-Addo embarked on a drive to solicit views and inputs of the Ghanaian diaspora in the formulation of a Homeland Return Bill. The Bill seeks to collate views and ideas from compatriots in the diaspora, who have been identified as critical stakeholders in the development process. Following the resounding success of the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, Government further sought to provide a simplified pathway to citizenship for diaspora Africans, in order to facilitate their return and integration into Ghanaian society. For these reasons, the Ministries of Finance, and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration were tasked to engage the various Ghanaian diaspora groups across the globe.
Here in France, I am aware that efforts have already been made by the Embassy to convene a virtual meeting that would bring together the two Ministries mentioned earlier, the Embassy, the Ghanaian community leaders and other stakeholders, to discuss the best strategies to adopt for ensuring broader participation of the diaspora in development.
I want to use this occasion to urge your leadership to kindly assist us at the Embassy in discussions to agree on a mutually convenient time to hold the consultations. Your invaluable perspectives will greatly facilitate the process and ultimately lead to the passage of legislation for our mutual benefit.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
To conclude, I call on all Ghanaians in France to remain law-abiding and continue to live peacefully. The world is in great turmoil at this time with different conflicts such as between Ukraine and Russia , but also the instability in our own West Africa. Ghanaians have always been known as peace abiding citizens , tolerant of each other and working together in unity and for the common good. Our prayer is that we continue in this manner.
May the Lord continue to bless us all and our homeland Ghana! Happy 65th Independence Anniversary!
Long live Ghana!
Long live France!
I thank you for your attention."
Photos: https://paris.mfa.gov.gh/65th-independence-day-anniversary---2022