THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The Embassy of Ghana in Germany has cancelled the official celebrations of the country’s 63rd independence celebrations originally scheduled for 6 March in Berlin. The Embassy on Tuesday sent out a notice of cancellation to guests invited to the event.
In the notice, signed by Mr Louis Obeng, Head of Chancery, the Embassy wrote: “Following confirmation of some coronavirus cases in Berlin, the Ambassador of Ghana to Germany, HE Gina Blay, deeply regrets to inform you about the decision to cancel the National Day reception which was to be held on Friday, 6 March 2020 at Waldorf Astoria Berlin to commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of Ghana’s independence.”
Ghana attained independence on 6 March 1957 and the event is celebrated annually in the country and across the world by Ghanaian diplomatic missions and communities.
The German authorities advise organisers to cancel events where many people gather due to the incalculable risks of the coronavirus spreading.
Last Friday, the organisers of the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin, the world’s biggest travel and tourism trade fair, cancelled the event, which was to hold from 4-8 March. “Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Economics have stated their opinion that ITB Berlin be cancelled,” Dr Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, ITB organisers, said in a press release.
Austin Ohaegbu
