
25 Oct Samoan Community hosts Ayorkor Botchwey at Commonwealth Summit
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, received a rousing welcome by the people of Malie, a picturesque fishing village on the island of Upolu, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa.
The reception is significant in strengthening cultural and diplomatic links between Ghana and the pacific island nation of Samoa, with the community formally adopting Ghana as, in the words of one elder, “our own.”
Heads of Government will on Saturday elect a new Secretary-General for the organization of 56 members and 2.5 billion citizens.
Ms. Botchwey is a candidate for the position, alongside Gambian foreign minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara and Joshua Setipa, a Mosotho former Trade Minister and an officer of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Malia community elders and people met Ms. Botchwey and her delegation with great fanfare, involving singing, traditional dance and welcoming drinks of “kava”, a local beverage reputed to relax one’s nerves.
As the delegation entered Malie, they were presented with necklaces of “ava,” made of dried palm nuts, symbolizing honor and dignity.
Ceremonial mats made of palm fronds carpeted the floor, with elders – men and women seated in anticipation.
Ghana flags lined the main street of Malie, and fluttered in the evening wind sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean.
Harmonious songs filled the air, with the villagers raising their voices in thanksgiving to God for the safe arrival of their guests.
The vibrant atmosphere of Malie was evident in every detail, from the villagers’ colorful clothing, to the freshly-installed decor around their homes and public spaces.
The sweet fragrance of frangipani and hibiscus, which grows abundantly in Malie, blended with the sound of the conch shell, signaling the official start of the ceremony.
Traditional call-and response chants echoed through the village, creating a powerful sense of connection between hosts and guests.
One of the most significant aspects of the ceremony was the invitation extended to the Ghanaian delegation to participate in the Kava, or ‘Ava Ceremony. This ancient practice is central to Samoan cultural and social life and is steeped in deep historical meaning. The ceremony involves the preparation and sharing of the kava beverage, made from the dried kava root powder. Kava, known for its calming properties, is often consumed at important social gatherings, and in this case, represented respect, unity, and the building of strong bonds between Ghana and Samoa, an island nation of approximately 230,000 people and located nearly 1,200 km north east of Fiji.
Ms. Botchwey assured the gathering that a request for a scholarship for a student from the community “would be given serious consideration.”
Ms. Botchwey presented them with gifts of chocolate, cocoa powder, fabric and other items made in Ghana, and thanked them for their friendship and hospitality.
She noted the many cultural similarities between Ghana and Samoa, particularly the importance of community.
She said twinning a village in Ghana with Malie was an idea worthy of consideration.
Each of the 55 out of the 56 member countries attending the Heads of Government meeting has been assigned a village community to partner and establish long term relations with.
The formal opening of CHOGM began on Friday 0900 hours (Thursday 20:00 GMT) with King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth in the chair.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is leading Ghana’s delegation.