... Looking back on the year 2007

‘Are Ghanaians in Italy losing their identity?’ asks journalist Reggie Tagoe, looking back on 2007. But if activities and developments within the Ghanaian community in Italy are anything to go by, then their prospects looks good.

This is a community of Ghanaians abroad that a few years ago were relatively in the shade compared to their compatriots elsewhere in Europe and the US. You hardly read anything significant about them, but all that is changing now.

Italian laws on immigration don’t give much room for the foreign national to make progress but, despite these constraints, Ghanaians in Italy are now coming out of their shells and breaking new ground.

In the year 2007, Ghana’s image was projected in splendid fashion through the celebration of its 50th year of Independence anniversary. More Ghanaians became entrepreneurs, the doors were opened wider for the Ghana entertainment industry to come to Italy, Miss Ghana in Italy was a success, the impasse over a passport fee increment between the Ghana Embassy in Rome and the Ghanaian community in Italy, led by their leaders – COGNAI – was resolved. You can go down the list.

The Ghana@50 celebrations in Italy projected a good image of Ghana in the eyes of many Italians and other foreign nationals in Italy. What really put the shine on the celebration was the manner in which Ghana’s culture, including its traditional drumming and dancing costumes among others, was displayed in various events across the country. These were the finest events ever held within the Ghanaian community here as Ghanaians displayed their pride in their country and showed up in their numbers.

A representative of the City Council in the city of Vicenza, Gianfranco Morselleto, who was at one of the celebratory events, said in his remarks, “there has never been anything like this within the immigrants’ communities in Italy.” It couldn’t have been said better.

Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Charles Agyei-Amoama, and his able men and women at the Ghana Embassy, put the icing on the cake in a grand finale to the celebration by hosting a Charity Ball in Rome and honouring 15 deserving Ghanaians and Italians in Italy who have contributed immensely to the Ghanaian community. The Ball was the first of its kind for the community and will spur people onto greater heights. Special mention must be made of Dr. Kodwo Andah, who received an Award in recognition of his academic excellence. Dr. Andah is the only African water expert who has been invited to contribute to the UNESCO encyclopaedia on life support systems. He is also the author and co-author of 80 scientific papers published on a number of works with UNESCO. Yet how many people would have known of this man and his achievements without the Charity Ball Night?

I doff my hat again to the Ghanaian Ambassador to Italy for resolving the issue over the passport fees increment which threatened to break down the cordial relations between the Ghana Embassy and leaders of the Ghanaian community in Italy. For years this community has not had a person of his calibre in the role and though he is still ‘under road-test’ in the eyes of Ghanaians in Italy, indications are that he will pass the test.

It can certainly be said that he has performed creditably within his year in office and his idea of setting up a welfare fund for destitute Ghanaians in Italy and other projects for the community must also be commended.

Having been part of the rank and file of Ghanaian communities abroad, H.E. Agyei-Amoama interacts, understands and responds better than a number of his predecessors, proving that if you have a boss who is approachable, reasons with you and then takes a decision, that’s a plus.

It’s interesting seeing how Ghanaians in Italy are becoming entrepreneurs, establishing their own businesses and also luring Italians to invest in Ghana

If you think that even driving a taxi-cab or public transport in Italy calls for you to be a citizen of the country, it tells you some of the difficulties the immigrant faces here trying to make progress and why these Ghanaians need to be commended for coming so far.

I salute the efforts of some Ghanaian Associations and groups who have taken it upon themselves to help local communities back home in Ghana with financial support, sending hospital equipment and running projects in some rural areas of Ghana. Mention must be made of Ghanacoop, a Ghanaian entity born out of the Ghana Association in the city, Modena, which has been turned into a big business organisation now importing large quantities of Ghana pineapples and other food crops, supplying supermarkets and shipping back to Ghana Italian pasta and wine. This is providing jobs for both Ghanaians in Italy and Ghana. Not only that, Ghanacoop is funding projects in some Ghanaian villages providing pipe bore holes, electricity and helping in infrastructure works for the rural folks.

I admire the hardworking attitude of its President, Thomas McCarthy, whose efforts are bringing the right results. He said in one of his statements: “I don’t like begging, I present to you a project, tell you what I can provide and together with what you have, we can form a partnership so we work together.” Some food for thought for those who prefers to walk the corridors of government offices and international organisations always looking for assistance.

A business seminar held in the latter part of the year involving Ghanaian and Italian entrepreneurs resident in Italy together with Italians who have invested in Ghana was a laudable beginning to the formation of a Ghana/Italy Chamber of Commerce. The meeting brought to the fore problems and solutions for all involved in investing in Ghana.

The Miss Ghana in Italy 2007 beauty pageant was a success and an improvement over the previous year, but I have to admit to some worries. Most of the young ladies that paraded in the contest could not express themselves properly in English and know little about Ghana’s history; with one competitor finding it more comfortable to answer questions in Italian.

Are Ghanaians in Italy losing their identity? I think parents and guardians of Ghanaian children in Italy have a lot of homework to do and they must start now.

I mentioned that Ghana’s entertainment industry is finding its way to Italy and in the year 2007, celebrated Ghanaian artistes Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba and Ofori Amponsah, among others, found themselves here. They are breaking new ground and the big entertainment shows are now coming to Italy.

The year provided the tonic for Ghanaians in Italy to excel in whatever field they choose and with that, there must be no looking back.