By Winifred Bulus
Ghana has appreciated Nigeria’s good relationship and its role in Ghana’s attainment of independence.
Ghana’s high commissioner, William Awinador-Kanyirige, made the remarks during the celebration of Ghana’s 60th independence in Nigeria’s federal capital city, Abuja.
He said, “The struggle of Ghana’s independence was a struggle not just by Ghanaians but by all Africans that were in that territorial region.
“When we talk of the heroes of Ghana’s independence, we are also talking of the Nigerians that assisted us in that struggle although we don’t hear of them often.
“Our independence is intertwined and when you dig into history, you realise that many Nigerians helped in enforcing the freedom of Ghana.
“Take for instance the Ghana military, which has Hausa songs used to motivate the soldiers, was gotten from the interrelationship between the two countries.
“Colonialists created the Officer Corp Training in Accra and the Police Training School in Kumasi where the great Nnamdi Azikiwe enrolled in before his mother took him out prior to his graduation day.
“The history of our countries have been intertwined for decades and it’s not just the relationship between the military and the government but it is mainly in the relationship between the people of Ghana and Nigeria.
“We hope this relationship gets stronger as we grow together.”
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who was represented by Peter Iyambo, admonished Nigeria to keep supporting Ghana so as to improve bilateral trade and economic integration.
“Like Nigeria, Ghana is currently carrying out reforms targeted at rebuilding the psyche of the people on issues of transparency and good governance.
“I want to appeal to all Ghanaians present here to support the Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his efforts to transform Ghana.
“Nigeria and Ghana have both enjoyed economic and international relations as our two countries have signed a number of agreements aimed at fostering economic integration.
“Nigeria remained determined in its resolved to implement bilateral agreements in order to ensure our people receive the full benefits.
“The relationship between Ghana and Nigeria remains very promising and full of potentials, we should collectively build on existing political and economic cooperation that has been the hallmark of our partnership,” he said.
Rita Orji, Chairman House Committee on Nigerians in the Diaspora, said: “I must confess that Ghana is one of the countries that we have the best relationship with.
“They know how to maturely handle and deal with issues that may bring about controversies or problems.
“Ghana is three years older than Nigeria and the fight for our sovereignty involved similar people like Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other prominent people.
“There are many Nigerians who migrated from Nigeria and helped develop Ghana, therefore we see Ghanaians as our brothers.
“Nigerians have come to celebrate Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary because Ghana has been a good friend and ally to Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, during the celebration of Ghana’s independence in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, the President Nana Akufo-Addo said the country has no justification to be inadequate after sixty years of independence.
“After sixty years, we have run out of excuses, and it is time to set Ghana to rights and get our country to where it should be. The challenge before us is to build our economy and generate a prosperous, progressive and dignified life for the mass of our people.
“Hard work, enterprise, creativity, discipline and a consistent and effective fight against corruption in public life would bring the transformation we seek.” he says.
The president also added that called on Ghana to join hands in building a better society,
“Let us mobilize for the happy and prosperous Ghana of tomorrow, in which all of us, including our youth, our women and the vulnerable in our society, will have equal opportunities to realise their potential, and build lives of dignity.”
