 
Assembly Resolution No. 849
 
BY: M. of A. Blake
 
        COMMEMORATING   the   63rd   Anniversary   of  the
        Independence of Ghana
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
pay  just  tribute  to  the cultural heritage of the ethnic groups which
comprise and contribute to the richness and diversity of  the  community
of the State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of the Independence of Ghana; and
 
  WHEREAS,  America  is  home  to  hundreds  of thousands of people of
Ghanaian heritage, including those who were born  on  this  soil,  those
whose  family emigrated here for economic opportunity and those who have
recently traced their roots to ancestors taken from Ghana as part of the
Transatlantic slave trade; and
 
  WHEREAS, The United States and Ghana share a long history with Kwame
Nkrumah, Ghana's  first  President,  who  studied  at  several  American
universities,  working  alongside  Civil  Rights leaders before becoming
President of the first sub-Saharan African country to gain  independence
from colonization on March 6, 1957; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Today,  the  relationship  between  the  two countries has
deepened with the most recent successful execution of Ghana's  "Year  of
Return"  celebration  which  occurred  in  December of 2019; this widely
publicized  celebratory  event  commemorated  400  years  of  the  first
enslaved  Africans  arriving  in  Jamestown,  Virginia,  who hailed from
Ghana's shores; and
 
  WHEREAS, Extraordinarily, more than one billion dollars  was  poured
into  the country during last year's celebration as a result of the mass
migration  of  African  Americans,  fellow  Africans,   Caribbean,   and
Afro-Latinos  who visited the country to celebrate this historic moment;
and
 
  WHEREAS, The Bronx, New York is home to  the  largest  community  of
Ghanaians  compared to any other state in the U.S.; the City of New York
is host to many businesses run by Ghanaian entrepreneurs, investors, and
creatives; and
 
  WHEREAS, Ghanaians have also demonstrated their civic and  political
engagement  by running for office, holding key government positions, and
becoming active voices within their unions; and
 
  WHEREAS, Ghana is among  the  top  five  African  countries  with  a
fast-growing    immigrant    population    in    the    United   States;
Ghanaian-Americans are an important fabric in the  tapestry  of  America
and in all parts of this great State; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The culture is difficult to ignore with its rich food, the
iconic Kente  cloth,  storytelling,  inventions,  architecture  and  its
dominance on the music scene; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  63rd  Anniversary of Ghana's Independence provides an
opportunity to recognize the significance of their contributions to  the
quality  and  character of life, and, through events and activities, for
all people to gain  a  greater  appreciation  of  Ghanaian  history  and
traditions,  and of the role Ghanaians have played, and will continue to
play, in our society; and
 
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have  this  opportunity
to  recognize  such events of significance which foster ethnic pride and
exemplify the cultural diversity that  represents  and  strengthens  the
fabric of the people and the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of the Independence of Ghana.
Commemorating the 63rd Anniversary of the Independence of Ghana

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