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Ghana
The gateway to west Africa. |
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 Ghana Millennium Commission
The Chairman (GMC) Private Mail Bag
Contact :
Ministries Post Office, ACCRA
Tel: (233-21) 662 169
Or
Information Services Dept.
P.O. BOX 745, ACCRA – GHANA
Tel: (233-21) 227 102
Fax: (233-21) 228 089
E-mail: dirisd@ghana.com
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GHANA MILLENNIUM COMMISSION
 BACKGROUND TO THE MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS
The year 2000 will mark the close of the second millennium and the start of the third. The 0 degree Longitude against which time, date, distance and many standards are marked passes through Ghana. Also Ghana is one of the two English-speaking countries through which the 0 degree Longitude passes. The Government of Ghana therefore considers the end of the third millennium an important event which should be fittingly celebrated. The Government of Ghana therefore decided that a number of activities will be undertaken to celebrate and mark this event. The activities will necessarily be with reference to the 0 degree Longitude of the Greenwich Meridian at which the second millennium will end from which the third will start.
The United Kingdom which is the other English-speaking country on the 0 degree Longitude and after whose city of Greenwich the 0 degree Longitude is popularly named, first initiated the celebration of the end of the second millennium and entry into the third millennium. The activities planned for the United Kingdom celebration are:
a tree line project which involves the planting of trees along he path of 0 degree Longitude to physically demarcate it.
the implementation of special Millennium projects in selected communities all over the United Kingdom.
Ghana has made contacts with the UK Millennium Commission and will cooperate with the United Kingdom in the celebration of this important event.
The celebration in Ghana is also for the significant reason that the important port and industrial city if Tema is the last southern point on 0 degree Longitude on a landmass. Beyond Tema, 0 degree Longitude enters the sea and does not touch any other landmass till it reaches the south pole.
The celebration of the end of the Millennium in Ghana was formally announced by the Government of Ghana at the United Kingdom Trade Fair in Accra in May 1995.
Following this announcement, a Ghana Millennium Commission was set up comprising some eminent citizens of Ghana; including
Hon. Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi, Minister of Local Government and Rural Developmen t(Chairman)
Hon. Mrs. Christine Amoako Nuamah, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (Member)
Mr. S. Y. M. Zanu, Chief Director, Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development(Member/Secretary)
The Commission was however re-commissioned in April 1999 in order to give it a new impetus and to expand its terms of reference to cover activities other than those directly related to the Greenwich Meridian and to bring on board stakeholders who are interested in the Millennium Celebrations. This expanded membership is made up of a Chairman, Hon. Cdr. Steve G. Obimpeh (Rtd.), MP, Chairman and 8 members.
The Commission’s Terms of Reference are as follows:
1. To review, implement or oversee as appropriate the following programmes and projects formulated by the existing Commission:
The Millennium Tree Line Project
The Millennium Community Projects
The Tema-Greenwich Twinning
The Tema Meridian Celebration Site
2. To plan and co-ordinate all activities related to the celebration of the end of the millennium and the ushering in of the new millennium,
3. To organize fund raising activities both inside and outside Ghana for purposes of the millennium activities and celebrations, and
4. To undertake any other activities reasonably related to the foregoing.
ON THE LINE REGIONS/DISTRICTS
The Greenwich Meridian passes through fifteen (15) districts in six (6) regions of Ghana.
OBJECTIVES
Two major challenges facing the nation and indeed most countries in the sub-region and Africa as a whole in the next millennium are:
how to ensure a sustainable peace- a prerequisite for progress and development.
how to maintain and manage our ecosystem especially the forest/woodlands and water bodies.
| HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MILLENNIUM PROJECTS
The theme for the celebrations is PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT.
From the theme the following objects were derived
to promote peace on sustainable basis,
to draw attention to the need to educate the public on important issues of renewing and upgrading our environment.
to highlight achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Culture, etc. of Ghana in the current millennium.
to promote environmentally friendly development in the next millennium
The celebrations shall be inspired by our historical/past experiences as a people, our present day realities, and our expectations/vision for the future.
PROJECTS
A Tree-line Project
This involves planting economic and aesthetic trees to mark the path of the Greenwich Meridian in Ghana.
Special Millennium Community Projects
These are projects initiated by settlements lying along the 0-degree Longitude/Greenwich Meridian to depict their achievements and response to their social and economic development.
Millennium Arts and Culture Project
(a) Essay Competition
Songs/Poetry Competition
Lectures, Workshops, Seminars and Symposia
Drama, Film and Video
Durbar of Chiefs
Sporting Activities
(b) Religious Activities
National Day(s) of Prayer- Traditional, Christian and Moslem
(c)Environmental Activities
Tree planting- each household/institution to plant at least 2 trees whilst each community establishes wood lot for about 200 trees
Clean up activities
Fireworks at midnight 31/13/99
Ringing of church bells/sounding of sirens(General Post Office)
(d) Commemorative Memorabilia
Issuing of stamps and coins- Ghana Post and Bank of Ghana
Issuing of Commemorative memorabilia- Cloth, Cups, Watches, Key Holders, Pens, Caps, T-shirts etc.
(e) Millennium Awards
Awards in the various fields of endeavor- Academia, Arts and Design, Composition,
Past Heroes and Heroines etc.
Other Activities
Fireworks during the night on 31/12/99. A broad based non-denominational Church Service.
Twinning Project
Twinning between Cities, Towns, Villages and Educational Institutions lying the 0-degree i.e. Tema and Greenwich, the University of Ghana and the University of Greenwich.
Special Projects in Tema
A Meridian Fair Site, Recreational Park, Millennium monuments- an Observatory, Clock Tower and a Light House on the Meridian Rock; rehabilitating and renaming of the Meridian Hotel, and a Polytechnic.
Public Lecture Project
The organization of a Public Lecture that will address the following topic: From the Gold Coast to Ghana and into the 3rd Millennium.
Peace Conference/Goodwill Message Project
A Peace Conference to be co-hosted by international collaborators and attended by representatives of Governments and institutions from selected countries on the five continents to address the issue of diminishing Human Security in the world.
Major National Calendar Events
Major events during the period of the celebrations
Implementation on Time Frame- July 1999 to January 2001.
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© World INvestment NEws, 1999.
This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Ghana published in Forbes Global Magazine.
March 20th 2000 Issue.
Developed by AgenciaE.Tv |
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GHANA
