By Thelma Tackie
In Accra on Tuesday night, the US Embassy hosted a celebration to mark America’s 247th Independence anniversary from Great Britain. A significant date on the American calendar, the 4th of July marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the United States officially became its own nation.
Accra and Washington DC have nurtured their strong bonds dating back decades with mutual respect for democracy and the rule of law as well as a firm commitment to protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And the goal for both sides is to keep the chords of friendship stronger.
US Embassy in Accra hosts celebration to mark America’s 247th Independence – YouTube
Whether it’s a small town or a large city, Americans will always congregate to mark their nation’s inception. They honour the courage and sacrifices of those who fought for their freedom and sacrificed everything during the American War of Independence. Fourth of July, therefore, commemorates the principles their country was founded on. It’s a day of unity, pride, and community spirit.
And in typical US fashion, the independence celebration in Accra had a funfair and barbecue feel.
The US Embassy in Accra opened its doors to friends from development partners, the political class, ministers of state, nananom, media and more in honour of its enviable place as the land of the free and home of the brave.
The US Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Virginia Palmer hailed the progressive relationship between the two countries in the quest to ”build a society free of injustice and corruption”.
The government of Ghana’s official representative at the celebration, Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful acknowledged the contribution of the United States government and its support in the areas of ”health, agriculture and infrastructure development through initiatives like the Millennium Challenge Compact, the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act, AGOA, among others”.
For the two countries, the expectation is for growth in all areas of collaboration to offer better livelihoods for all persons, irrespective of race or creed.
The gathering was treated to live band music and jazz by the US Navy topside band with special renditions of Ghanaian tunes. At the end of the evening, all eyes turned towards the skies for the traditional display of fireworks. And so, it will be again on this anniversary from one end of the American Continent to the other, as the skies are illuminated, to etch another year in the history books.