Sixty-eight years ago, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence, igniting hope and inspiration across the continent. This milestone reminds us of the resilience and vision of our forebears who fought for freedom and self-determination. As we reflect on their sacrifices, let us also consider how far we have come as a nation—our achievements, challenges, and aspirations.
The theme “Reflect, Review, Reset” is particularly significant in today’s context. Reflecting requires us to acknowledge our successes while learning from our setbacks. Ghana has made strides in various areas of national endeavour including democracy, education, healthcare, and international diplomacy.
The peaceful, fair, and orderly conduct of the 7 December, 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections have consolidated Ghana’s enviable and globally recognised democratic credentials and has gained us respect in the comity of nations. Ghana’s unalloyed commitment to democracy has become a cornerstone of the country’s national identity and the successful elections, which saw His Excellency John Dramani Mahama emerge as our President, stands as a testament to the resilience of our democracy.
Under the leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Ghana stands ready to critically assess its policies and practices to identify areas for improvement. This is a call to action for all Ghanaians, both at home and abroad to contribute meaningfully to national development.
It is estimated that the number of Ghanaians currently living abroad ranges between 1.5 million and 3 million and they are found in more than 33 countries worldwide.
Ghana has closely monitored and welcomed a shift in the paradigm in the discourse that attempts to link migration to development.
We must take cognisance of the significant contributions that you, our compatriots, make to Ghana’s development through remittances, investment and transfer of knowledge and skill, which is now largely viewed as a tool for development.
Our engagements with our compatriots in Austria is not only for remittances but also for the exchange of knowledge, skills and innovation for long-term investment for sustainable development. Our compatriots represent the bridge that connects Ghana to a wealth of knowledge , skills and connections that can take Ghana to new heights of inclusive development.
On this auspicious occasion, the Embassy of Ghana in Vienna, Austria, extends its warmest wishes to all our compatriots. As we embrace the theme for this year’s celebrations: “Reflect, Review, Reset”, let us reflect on our contributions to Ghana’s development; review how you can do more; and reset our focus on collective growth. Together, we can overcome challenges and achieve the vision of a better Ghana—a nation strong in unity and rich in opportunity.
May God bless us all and bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong! Happy Independence celebrations!
Long live Ghana!
Long live Austria!!
Long live Ghana-Austria relations.!!!