Choral Festival ushers in Ghana @50

Choral Festival ushers in Ghana @50
Source : Daily Graphic
              15 January 2007. Page 34.
Poor planning and low patronage characterized the celebration of Ghanaian Religious and Choral Music held at the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
 
The Choral festival, which forms part of the activities heralding the 50th anniversary, was organized by the Salt and Light Ministries, in collaboration with the Regional Anniversary Planning Committee.



Apart from the poor attendance, only two out of the six choirs billed to perform turned up. They were the St Cecilia Choir of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir and the Ebenezer Methodist Church Choir.
 
The programme took off at 6:40 p.m. and halfway into it the entire venue was plunged into darkness as a result of the ongoing load shedding exercise.
 
The organizers had to rely on an electric generator belonging to the Information Services Department in order to continue with the programme.
 
Despite those setbacks, the two choirs managed to treat the sparse audience to some melodious Ghanaian choral songs.
 
In a welcoming address, the Regional Coordinator of the Ghana @50 Choral Festival, Mr. Kwesi Mensah, noted that the country’s forefathers, by dint of hard work and selflessness, fought for independence.
 
“They are selfless because they did not think of self gain and material wealth as we see in today’s Ghanaian, “he stressed, adding that it behoved on all Ghanaians to reflect on the past and reorganize themselves as the country celebrated its Golden Jubilee to reflect on the past and reorganize themselves as the country celebrated its Golden Jubilee to make Ghana a country worth living in.
 
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yiremiah, in an address, enumerated a number of programmes and projects to be undertaken in the region, including a Jubilee Durbar Grounds and the a visitors’ information complex, as part of the celebration and called on members of the celebration and called on members of the public to lend their support.