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South Africans in Ghana observe Human Rights Day
Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason, South Africa’s
High Commissioner addressing the gathering
South Africans in Ghana gathered recently at the High Commissioner’s residence in Accra to observe Human Rights Day.
Human Rights Day is commemorated annually on March 21, to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.
Held under the theme; ‘Consolidating and sustaining human rights culture into the future’, the event saw some Ghanaiansin attendance.
Speaking at the event, Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana, said Africans were one people with a common destiny and vision.
“But for me, and what were are here to do is to promote Pan-Africanism at the apex of our agenda,” she noted.
She added that African cultures were inextricably linked to languages and cuisines among others, and urged South Africans who find themselves in other countries not to forget about their roots.
“We are a very resilient nation, together, we can overcome anything,” Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason said.
According to her, she has made a lot of friends in the past two years and also promoted a good relationship with Ghanaians.
She commended the media for promoting and telling the South African story by over the years.
The Counsellor In-Charge of Political Affairs, Thando Dalamba, said the South African government promotes and protects Human Rights,” Today we observe the Sharpeville and Langa Massacres which happened on the same day in 1960.”
He added that the day honoured those who fought for liberation and celebrated the many laws in their constitution which guaranteed Human Rights.
Officers from Brand South Africa also took the gathering through some investment opportunities in South Africa.
The event powered by Brandflow Ghana, an integrated Marketing Communications company specialising in Event Management, attracted some Ghanaian businessmen and creative industry stakeholders.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
