Ghana joins Brazil to mark 203 years anniversary in Accra
Ghana on Sunday joined the Brazilian community to celebrate the 203rd year of Brazil’s Independence in Accra.
In attendance were the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Mariana Madeira, the Minister of Transport, Mr Joseph Nike Bukari, Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Alexandre Souto, staff of the Embassy, Brazilian residents in Ghana, and people from all walks of life.
Mrs Madeira recounted Brazil’s history, dating back to the Napoleonic wars, when the Portuguese monarchs fled to Brazil and established themselves in Rio de Janeiro, the then capital of Brazil.
She said after continuous tension between the Portuguese crown and the Brazilian elite, the heir to the throne, Dom Pedro I, declared independence on that day in 1822.
The Ambassador noted that Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, the only Portuguese speaking, and a truly diverse country.
She said “Our nation was shaped by three main roots: Indigenous peoples, Europeans – mainly Portuguese – and Africans.
Mrs Madeira stated that waves of immigration from Italy, Germany, Japan, Lebanon and other parts of the world enriched Brazil’s identity and that “it is no exaggeration to say that most people in the world could pass for Brazilian.”
She said as Brazil celebrate its independence, it was mindful of the formidable challenges confronting the world, with Brazil itself, at the centre of turbulent times in trade as the United States imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on several Brazilian export products representing a setback on sugar, beef, poultry and other agricultural products.
“We see Ghana not only as a political ally but also as a promising destination for Brazilian goods that have been unfairly targeted by protectionist measures,” she said.
Mrs Madeira identified cassava as one of Brazil’s contributions to Africa, which had become central to food security across the continent.
She told the attendees that the story of the Tabom community in Accra – descendants of Afro-Brazilians who returned in the 19th century and integrated into Ghanaian society, contributing to tailoring, agriculture and trade was a living example of the circularity of the history of Brazil and Ghana.
Mrs Madeira said Ghana and Brazil share converging positions in multilateral fora – on racism, food security, and the reform of global governance institutions, adding that her challenge as Ambassador is to renew this partnership beyond history and culture.
Turning her attention to bilateral cooperation, Mrs Madeira said Ghana had already benefited from two successful initiatives under Brazil’s through the South-South Cooperation projects- in social protection, with the adaptation of Brazil’s Bolsa Família into Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme; and agriculture, with projects in the cashew sector.
On cocoa, the Ambassador said the crop was Ghana’s brown gold and a super food rooted in family farming, both in Ghana and in Brazil.
She said the Brazilian Embassy had brought together producers, institutions and associations from both countries, because cocoa represents not only trade, but inclusion, sustainability and identity.
Since 1961, the Brazilian Ambassador said young Ghanaians have studied in Brazil under the PEC-G and PEC-PG programmes, which offer full scholarships for undergraduate, Master’s and PhD studies in Brazilian universities.
Mr Bukari, the Minister of Transport, commended Brazil for supporting Ghana’s agriculture, health, and education.
He said the relationship between Ghana and Brazil were built on mutual respect, trust and shared prosperity.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
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