2012 newsletter click here - Ghana

E M B A S S Y O F G H A N A
In This Issue;
Akasanoma
V O L U M E 3 I S S U E 1
� Ghanaians In Washington Mourn President Mills
� President Mahama Addresses World Body
� Ambassador’s Seasonal Greetings
� Ghana, Kosovo Establish Diplomatic Relations
� ... and more
A P R I L 2 0 1 2

P A G E 2
Ghanaians In Washington Mourn President Mills
Amidst the outpour of grief and
eulogies, members of the Diplomatic
Corp, officials from the
U.S. Department of State, Ghanaian
Clergymen, Heads of
Ghanaian Associations, members
of the various political parties,
the Ghanaian community
and friends of Ghana gathered at
the Embassy of Ghana to celebrate
the life of the Late President,
Prof John Evans Atta
Mills.
Close to a thousand people attended
the program that run
from 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.
The solemn evening began
with an opening prayer, followed
by the national anthem.
Late President John Atta Mills’
biography was read with
heartrending eulogies from Embassy
staff, former Ambassador
to the U.S., Ambassador Kobby
Koomson, Council of Ghanaian
Associations (COGA), chapters
of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic
Party (NPP), Convention
Peoples Party (CPP), and
Achimota School Alumni. The
event witnessed a moving solo
performance by an Embassy
Staff.
In his message, Very Rev. Kofi
Bart-Martin of the Covenant Ghana
Methodist Church in Silver
Spring, Maryland, spoke about
the President’s exemplary life and
the keen sense of purpose that
drove him to execute his duties in
the face of criticism, detractions
and ill health. He praised the
Late President’s tenacity and ability
to put Ghana first and foremost
in all he did and his unique
ability to exude confidence wherever
he went. Ghana he said has
lost a great leader and a fine gentleman.
The Methodist mass choir led the
gathering to perform several
hymns throughout the night.
The last post was also sounded as
a mark of respect for the late
President and Commander-in-
Chief of the Ghana Armed
Forces.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Ambassador’s Seasonal Message
On behalf of the entire staff of the
Ghana Embassy, Washington Mission,
I wish to extend warm and
sincere Christmas greetings and
best wishes to all Ghanaians in the
Diaspora and friends of Ghana.
As I reflect on the year 2012, there
is no doubt in my mind that Ghana
made great strides economically,
socially and in maintaining its status
as a beacon of democracy
within Sub-Saharan Africa. During
the course of year, President
Obama extended an invitation to
the President of Ghana to visit the
White House. Ghana was also
selected as a beneficiary of the
Three-billion New Alliance for
Food Security and Nutrition during
the G8 Summit. In addition
Ghana is currently negotiating a
second Compact for the Millennium
Challenge Account.
Aside these, we as a nation and a
people experienced great lose
when our dear President and personal
friend, His Excellency John
Evans Atta Mills passed
away in July. His death
was unprecedented and
came as a big shock to
the nation and the world
at large.
As a Nation, his death
unified us and as a people
we found solace in
his legacy of peace. Ghana once
again demonstrated its strong credentials
of democracy with the
smooth transition of Presidential
authority when Ghana’s then Vice
President His Excellency John
Dramani Mahama assumed the
Presidency barely four hours after
Prof. Mills` death.
I seize this opportunity to express
on behalf of the Government of
Ghana our sincere gratitude for
the various expressions of condolence
the Ghana Embassy received
from the Diplomatic Corp,
U.S. Department of State, Government
officials, officials of the
World Bank, IMF and several organizations
within the United
States. I extend the Mission’s
profound gratitude to all the Ghanaian
Associations in Washington
Metro area and around the United
States for the various ways in
which they honoured the legacy of
our late President.
Once again, I also wish to encourage
Ghanaian professionals and
P A G E 3
intellectuals to take advantage of
the current political and economic
situation in the country to find
their niche and contribute positively
towards the overall development
and prosperity of the country.
I urged Ghanaians in the Diaspora
to take advantage of the prevailing
favorable economic conditions to
invest in the country.
It is my prayer that this Christmas
season and the coming New Year
would bring Ghanaians joy, hope
and peace. I convey on behalf of
the entire staff of the Embassy our
appreciation to everyone for their
continued support to the course
and direction of the country’s development.
Merry Christmas and
“Afrihyia Pa!”

P A G E 4
President John Mahama addressed
the 67th UN General
Assembly in New York.
The address centered on the
dynamics of world politics,
governance and youth development
in Africa.
The Ghanaian leader affirmed
his commitment to a
free, fair and transparent
elections in December. He
also invited the international
community to come and
monitor the elections.
President Mahama promised
not to allow Ghana to
be used to destabilize its
neighbors.
Today, Africa boasts of
some of the fastest-growing
economies in the world, with
Ghana being one of them he
President Mahama Addresses World Body
maintained.
He told the General Assembly
that as the United Nations
Human Development
Index will attest, Ghana had
made tremendous strides in
a number of areas with the
aim of improving the living
conditions of its people.
In this direction, he stated
that Ghana is on track to
achieve the targets set under
the Millennium Development
Goals.
Significant progress has
been made in the following
areas: reducing extreme
poverty, gender parity in
school enrolment, universal
primary education, provision
of safe drinking water
and the fight against HIV/
AIDS.
"The 21st century is fast being
described as the century
for Africa. Last year, of the
10 fastest growing economies
in the world, 6 were African.
Ghana, my own country,
posted one of the highest
GDP growth rates, with a final
outturn of 14%. Foreign
direct investments amounted
to some 1.5 billion dollars
across the various sectors.
This type of sustained
growth, in combination with
security and democracy can
only ensure an Africa that
will bear no resemblance to
the ghost of its former self."
President Mahama said this
new Africa will not be burdened
with the heavy-handed
conditions.
President Mahama addressed
over 120 world leaders
on the rule of law at the
UN High level meeting.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Ghana, Kosovo Establish Diplomatic Relations
The Government of Ghana and
the Government of the Republic
of Kosovo signed a joint communique
on the establishment of
Diplomatic Relations between the
two countries.
The Agreement was signed at the
Embassy of Ghana in Washington
DC by Ghana’s Ambassador
to the
United States, His
Excellency Daniel
Ohene Agyekum
and His Excellency
Akan Ismaili, Kosovo’s
Ambassador to
the United States for
their respective
countries.
The Agreement expressed
a mutual desire by Ghana
and Kosovo to establish and
promote ties of friendship between
them and widen horizons
of mutual cooperation. Both
countries pledged to support the
cause of international peace and
security.
P A G E 5
The diplomatic relations established
was in accordance with the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations of 1961, where two
countries agree to strengthen
fruitful cooperation in political,
economic, trade and cultural
sphere and in other fields of mutual
interest.
Ghana and Kosovo also reaffirmed
their commitment to the
principles of the United Nations
and International law including
mutual respect for national sovereignty,
territorial integrity and
non-interference of internal affairs
of another state.
Government Five Year-Bond Over-Subscribed By Over 200%
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning have announced that the Government of Ghana’s five-year
bond to raise money to fund various infrastructural projects was oversubscribed by more than 200 percent.
The Government exceeded its proposed amount of 300 million GHC and recorded a 1,070 million GHC, generating
an oversubscription of 257 percent.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning said “Government accepted 898 million
cedis at a coupon rate of 23 per cent. This represents a decrease of three per cent from the coupon of the
last five year issue. It is significant to note that about 80 per cent of the bids came from foreign investors”.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning stated that the huge foreign investor participation in the auction
was an indication of the confidence investors have in Ghana’s budding economy.

P A G E 6
During the 67th UN General Assembly
Meeting, Renaissance
Capital, the leading emerging
markets investment bank, hosted
an exclusive high-level investor
meeting in New York with His
Excellency President John Mahama
of Ghana.
The investor meeting, which
brought together a group of approximately
20 Fund and Asset
Managers with investable resources
of over USD 250 billion,
was designed to afford the investors
an opportunity to engage with
the President and his team of ministers
in order to provide clarity on
the enormous economic and business
potential of Ghana. In his
presentation, President Mahama
mentioned, “Ghana undoubtedly
provides one of the most attractive
investment destinations in the
world, with a growing economy,
talented and skilled people, and
abundant natural resources.”
Renaissance is currently involved
President Mahama Meets Renaissance Capital In New York
in Ghana through Rendeavour, the
firm’s urban development subsidiary,
which is undertaking two visionary
city developments -- King
City, in the Western Region, and
Appolonia: City of Light, in the
Greater Accra Region.
Commenting on the investor meeting
in New York, Dela Wosornu,
Rendeavour’s Country Head for
Ghana, said, “Renaissance and
Rendeavour are firmly committed
to Ghana’s development and, as a
leading emerging markets investment
firm, we will continue to encourage
other investors to take advantage
of the investment opportunities
we believe Ghana has to offer.”
Renaissance Group is an independent
group of unified finance, investment
and management companies
specialising in creating value
in high-opportunity emerging markets.
The Group consists of investment
banking, asset management,
A recent article published by Africa.com
has cited Accra as the second most livable
city in Africa.
Accra, Ghana’s capital city currently has
an urban population of approximately 2.4
and as a result of its proximity has in recent
times become a vacation destination
for nationals of several neighbouring
countries including Nigeria and Ivory
Coast.
Over the last few decades Accra, has
seen rapid growth in development, infrastructure,
real estate and tourism. The
merchant banking and consumer
credit.
Through its subsidiary Rendeavour
Ltd., Renaissance is one of the
foremost urban land developers in
Africa, managing almost 10,000
hectre portfolio of urban residential
and commercial real estate developments
across the continent.
In Ghana, Rendeavour is investing
in world-class infrastructure to develop
visionary urban living environments
that will redefine Ghana’s
urban landscape. Rendeavour
is building two new cities in the
Greater Accra and Western regions
of Ghana. In connection with this,
the company has acquired approximately
2,000 acres of land in the
Western and Greater Accra regions.
This explains the construction
of large-scale urban developments
outside the centres of Ghana’s
busiest cities will ease the
burdens of urbanization and promote
new growth.
Accra Ranked Second Most Livable Place In Africa
capital city serves as the nation’s economic
and administration hub and boasts
of a booming economy, fun-filled social
activities and availability of vast array of
goods and services.
As a central tourism and cultural point,
Accra, has a number of night clubs, hotels,
restaurants, a major mall, a National
Theatre and much more. The city hardly
goes to sleep and is constantly bustling
with various activities. It is therefore no
wonder that it scored second on the African.com
most livable places.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
P A G E 7
Ghanaian Military Officer Performs with U.S. Air Force Band
The US Air Force Band is the Air
Force’s premier musical organization
formed in 1941. Every year
the Air Force Band presents a
summer concert series with weekly
multiple performances to millions
of listeners through engaging
concerts, music and masterful
recordings.
As part of this year’s summer series
performances, Colonel
Sampson Paa-Kwesi Ebonyi from
the Ghana Armed Forces was invited
to perform as a special guest
conductor with the Concert Band
and Singing Sergeants.
The Embassy’s Defense Attaché,
Brigadier Gen. George Amamoo,
Mrs. Edith Hazel, Deputy Chief
of Mission, the Trade and Information
Attachés, staff members,
family and friends of Col. Ebonyi
were at the Bowie Center for the
Performing Arts in Maryland, to
lend their support during a wellattended
concert which featured
four pieces from the guest Colonel.
The program was the coming together
of the nations through the
commonality of music in the
hope of solidifying the existing
bond of friendship between nations
and working together to strengthen
International relations with South
America and Africa.
Mission Holds Reception For Former U.S. Ambassador To Ghana
A reception was held in honour of U. S. Ambasador
to Ghana, His Excellency Donal Tieitelbum
on October 2nd, 2012 for successfully completing
his tenure of office in Ghana.
He was nominated by President George W. Bush
in March of 2008 for the post of U.S. Ambassador
to Ghana and served as same from August
2008 and completed his tenure of office this year.

P A G E 8
President Appeals To Ghanaians To Forge Ahead For Development
President John Dramani Mahama
has appealed to Ghanaians to put
the 2012 election behind and forge
ahead as one people for the development
of the country. He said:
“The 2012 election has come and
gone and we all need to put it behind
and unite towards the socioeconomic
development of the country
Ghana that we all belong to.”
President Mahama was addressing
the monthly gathering of women’s
Aglow Fellowship at the Independence
Square in Accra.
The prayers formed part of their
monthly gatherings and to specially
thank God for the peaceful and
successful election that the
country experienced last week.
It was also attended by Mrs
Matilda Amissah-Arthur, wife
of Vice President Paa Kwesi
Bekoe Amissah Arthur, Ms
Sherry Ayitey, Minister for
Environment, Science and
technology and many other
government officials.
President Mahama said Ghana’s
previous successful elections were
attributable to the intercessory
prayers by groups and individuals
over the years and months and
encouraged them to continue to
pray unceasingly for the country to
continue to progress in all sectors
of development.
He said governance could not be
effectively done by one person and
called on all stakeholders to put
their hands on deck to help him to
execute his duties professionally
and efficiently in the coming years
of his reign.
“I want to continue praying for
Former Vice President Laid To Rest
Fomer Vice President of
Ghana, His Excellency
Alhaji Alui Mahama passed
away on November16, 2012
at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
in Accra after a short illness.
A state funeral in his honour
was held at the Independence
Square in Accra.
His mortal remains was later
flown in a Ghana Air
God to give me the Wisdom of
Solomon and the courage of David
to tackle the development of this
country. But I also need the support
of all of you here and everywhere
in the country to be able to
rule effectively,” President Mahama
added.
The President called on all politicians
to offer their contribution
towards the advancement of the
country in the next four years.
Mrs Dorothy Danso, National
President of Women’s Aglow International,
said they would continue
to play their role of praying
incessantly for the nation and appealed
to all Ghanaians to join
them in their monthly gatherings.
She appealed to all politicians to
bury their differences and pray
together as Ghanaians for God to
continue with the blessings that the
country had received over the
years.
Source: GNA
Force plane to Tamale in the
Northern Region for burial at
his private residence.
The Late Alhaji Aliu Mahama
served as Ghana’s Vice
President from 2001 to 2008.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Ghana’s Energy Commission Chairman Wins Award
Dr. Abeeku Brew-Hammond,
chairman of the Energy Commission
of Ghana has been honoured
at this year’s Energy for Africa
Benefit Gala for his commitment
and dedication to providing novel
solutions to persistent challenges
in Africa.
The honoree, a Director of The
Energy Centre (TEC), a research
unit at the College of Engineering,
Kwame Nkrumah University
of Science and Technology, Kumasi
was presented with a glass
plaque at the fourth annual
Friends of Africa gala night in
New York.
The award was received on his
behalf by Mr. William Azumah
Awinador-Kanyirige, Charge
d’affaires of the Permanent Mission
of Ghana to the United Nations
and attended young professionals
from all over the world. It
was presented by Mr. Victor
Amoo, Director, African Affairs
Committee, US-SNY Young Professionals.
Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige praised
the African Affairs Committee of
the United Nations Association
Southern New York State Division
(UNA-SNY) for the honour, highlighting
that Dr. Brew-Hammond, a
member of the Technical Group
under the UN Secretary General’s
High Level Group on sustainable
Energy For All (SEFA), showed
early signs of leadership throughout
his school days, when he opted to
make a difference for the poor.
He noted that energy is going to be
the driving force African development,
and stressed the need for
more attention to be focused on it at
all times in order to derive maximum
benefits.
“Energy is the key to accelerating
Africa’s development. We need to
increase our energy efficiency and
EDITORIAL BOARD
Mrs. Edith Hazel, Deputy Chief of Mission
Mrs. Vanessa Mensah-Adu. Head of Information & Public Affairs Dept.
Mr. Kwadwo Boateng, Counsellor (Political)
Mr. R.H.Reynolds, Head Of Information, Ghana Mission, New York
Ms. Angeline Addy, Higher Executive Officer ( Information & Public Affairs) Dept.
P A G E 9
pick the best practices from other
areas for the benefit of our people”,
Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige who is the
substantive Deputy Permanent Representative
of Ghana to the UN
pointed out.
Ghana, he noted is currently on
track in infrastructural development
as far as Energy is concerned, because
the government is vigorously
pursuing the development of energy
to accelerate the country’s growth
and progress. Dr. Stephen Gitonga,
a Policy Advisor at the United Nations
Development Programme
identified “the primary importance
of energy today in Africa than before
is because of the many discoveries
taking place in the world”.
To this end, he charged African
countries not to be left out in the
fight for sustainable development,
arguing that the most talked about
agenda is the United Nations initiative
for Sustainable Energy for All.

P A G E 10
The Institute of International Education
(IIE), one of the world’s
largest and most experienced
higher education and training organisations
has posthumously
honoured Ghana’s late President,
John Evans Atta Mills for being a
truly exceptional leader.
The Fritz Redlich Alumni Award
was in recognition of his “highly
distinguished career as a Fulbright
Scholar alumnus and as the President
of Ghana. His leadership as
President opened doors for cooperation
between Ghana and other
countries, and prepared an entirely
new generation in Ghana for leadership”.
Ms. Ann Stock, US Assistant Secretary
of State for Educational and
Cultural Affairs presented the
award to Mrs. Ernestina Naadu
Mills, the widow and former First
Lady of Ghana at the Institute’s
International Awards Gala Dinner
at The Cipriani on Wall Street in
New York .
Late President Mills Honoured
Presenting the award,
Ms. Stock said
“President Mills was
driven by his enduring
vision of improving life
for all Ghanaians and
his perseverance propelled
Ghana’s developments”.
Upon his death, she
noted that “President
Mills left Ghana’s democratic institutions
strong and its economy
growing. His country is now on
track to become the first African
nation to achieve the United Nations
Millennium Development
Goal of cutting poverty and hunger
in half by 2015. That’s quite a
legacy.”
“President Mills also deepened the
relationship between the people of
United States and the people of
Ghana. Just six months after each
had taken office; he (President
Mills) welcomed President Obama
to Accra, a gesture which later
reciprocated by President Obama
to a dear friend and partner with a
visit to the White House”.
The Assistant Secretary of State
acknowledged the late Prof. Mills’
passion for education, which he
shared with all and prepared a
new generation for leadership
roles.
“Though we mourn Ghana’s untimely
loss of its leader, we’re
grateful for his highly distinguished
life and his determination
to carry his country forward. President
Mills’ legacy lives on in the
next generation of Ghanaians who
will continue to implement his
vision”, said Ms Stock.
Receiving the award, Mrs. Naadu
Mills, said the selection of her late
husband as recipient of a Fulbright
scholarship to study in the
prestigious Stanford University in
1971, was definitely one of the
major highlights of his life both as
an academician and later as a politician.
She said it was at Stanford that
President Mills began to nurture a
quiet interest for public office and
must have been deeply affected
and richly influenced by the examples
of academicians and politicians
he came across during that
eventful period.
“Nothing would have made me
happier if he were here to accept
this honour himself, having toiled
so hard for Ghana and for humanity.
Yet, you will agree with me
that, as Shakespeare said, “the
good is oft interred with their
bones’ So will it be with my husband”,
said the Former First Lady
of Ghana.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Thanking the Institute for the
award and the honour done to
the memory of the late President
Mills, Mrs. Naadu Mills stressed
that like the Fulbright Scholarship,
“it will etch his good name
in the annals of history.”
At his turn, Dr. Allan Goodman,
president and Chief Executive
officer of the IIE recalled meeting
President Mills during an
official visit to the United States
of America last year. At that
interaction, Dr. Goodman
praised the late Ghanaian leader
for being the only African
Alumnus of the Institute to become
a President of a country, a
feat that the IIE was very proud
Ambassadors and diplomats
from more than fifty countries
including Ghana participated in a
flag procession ceremony at the
Oneness School, a private Montessori
school in Washington DC
in celebration of its annual United
Nations’ (UN) Day.
of and deserved to be acknowledged.
He mentioned the late Ghanaian
leader’s efforts to build a Better
Ghana, his high level of tolerance,
enduring vision of improving the
life of all Ghanaians and his leadership
style as a President that
earned him worldwide admiration.
Dr. Goodman also congratulated
all the award winners and all those
who had helped with opening
minds to the world to save lives.
The ceremony was attended by Dr.
Cadman Mills, younger brother of
the late President, H.E. Daniel
Ohene Agyekum, Ghana’s Ambassador
to the US, H.E. Ken Kanda,
Ghana’s Ambassador Extraordi-
DC School Brings Diplomats And Students Together
The students performed
various musical tunes and
traditional dances of different
cultural and ethinic
backgrounds. They also
made presentations and art
exhibitions based on the
countries they studied in
class.
“Our mission is to teach future
leaders that the world is one family,”
Andrew Kutt, founder and
head of the school, said.
“Learning does not just come
from books. It comes from interaction
with the world and from en-
P A G E 11
nary and Plenipotentiary to the
United Nations, philanthropists,
educators and other socially prominent
individuals.
The IIE founded in 1919 is geared
towards fostering mutual understanding,
develop global leaders
and foster academic freedom
through international educational
exchange. It implements more
than 250 programmes each year,
including the Fulbright Program,
which the IIE administers on behalf
of the United States Department
of State.
It also provides a safe haven to
persecuted scholars from around
the world through IIE’s Scholar
Rescue Fund.
gaging with the people who surround
us. While basic core skills
are essential, it is equally, if not
more important that we endow our
students with capacities for continued
growth, learning, communication
and self-awareness” He added.
The climax of the celebration was
the flag procession by the Ambassadors,
Diplomats and Representatives
from various Embassies
within the DC area followed by a
multicultural luncheon.

P A G E 12
Washington Remembers President John Evans Atta Mills
Ghanaians in the
Diaspora bid you
Farewell!
RIP
H.E. Prof. John Evans Atta Mills
1944—2012

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Ambassadors Sign The Book Of Condolence
P A G E 13

P A G E 14
Washington Mission Staff
The Washington Mission wishes to express sincere gratitude to the entire members of
staff who worked tirelessly to make our Late President’s Memorial great a success.

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 3
Year 2012 In Focus
P A G E 15

Under Ghana Embassy, Washington DC
Embassy of Ghana
Information & Public Affairs Dept.,
3512 International Dr, N.W
Washington D.C 20008
Tel: 202 686 4520
Fax: 202 686 4527
Email: info@ghanaembassy.org