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Durbar to commemorate 200th
anniversary of abolition of slavery
Accra, Feb. 15, GNA – The Chiefs and people of the Ga
Traditional Area on Thursday held a durbar in Accra in
honour of Mr John Prescott, Deputy British Prime Minister
and Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO
The durbar held in James Town was also to commemorate the
200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic
Slave Trade.
It was attended by Ministers of states including, Papa Owusu
Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Mr John
Henry Mensah, Senior Minister, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey,
Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations and other
dignitaries.
Traditional pomp and pageantry reminding the gathering of
the significance of the James Town traditional area in the
history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade was on full
display.
Mr Matsuura was honoured and decorated with a kente Cloth
and a miniature stool by the Ga state.
Mr Matsuura noted that the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade had
left a lot of historical sites in Africa, especially Ghana
and that there was the need to re-develop such relics.
He said “UNESCO was ready to cooperate in the preservation
of the forts and castles dotted along the coast of Ghana,”
and lauded the “Joseph project”, a project aimed at
attracting over a million tourists from the Diaspora to
Ghana, initiated by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan
Relations.
Mr Matsuura was full of gratitude to the Ga state and said
he had a special likeness for Ghana, especially Accra,
stressing his preparedness to support the “Joseph Project”.
Mr Prescott, who was also presented with a gift, noted that
Ghana spearheaded the African liberation struggle and
congratulated the people of the country for the role they
played.
He said he was looking forward to welcoming President John
Agyekum Kufuor to London as part of Ghana’s 50th
independence anniversary.
He also congratulated Ghana for beating Nigeria 4-1 in the
recent friendly match played in London.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said it was significant that the
Deputy British Prime Minister was in the country to
celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the
slave trade which also coincides with the country’s 50th
anniversary.
He said since the British were the last to country to
colonize Ghana it was important that Mr Prescott witnessed
the occasion.
He talked about the importance of the “Joseph project”
saying it was important to preserve the monuments in the
country.
GNA
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