Queen’s Baton Relay
Hundreds of Ghanaians paraded the streets of Accra last Saturday to witness the relay of the wooden metallic baton named “The Queen’s Relay Baton” which arrived in the country from Kenya to signal this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in August.
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Earlier on Friday night, a delegation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), led by Sharad Rao, a honorary legal adviser to CGF, had arrived at the Kotoka International Airport with the baton.
Vice-President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur was the first dignitary to receive the prestigious Commonwealth insignia at the FlagStaff House at a short but colourful ceremony before noon last Saturday.
He noted that the baton showcased the nation’s heritage and culture, adding that Ghana was a proud recipient of the Queen’s Baton Relay.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Peter Jones, said the Glasgow Games would set a new standard for future games which would seek to promote a lasting legacy for the competition.
From the FlagStaff House - where the Vice-President did a short walk with the baton - it made its way through the principal streets of Kanda in the firm grip of the sector Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah up to Burma Camp where the baton was handed over to Brigadier Nunoo Mensah, who escorted the baton through the Camp.
The Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ken Ashigbey, eagerly took over the baton at the Aviation Social Centre and jogged his way through the Airport Shell before Lawyer Tony Lithur took hold of the decorated pointer and walked with it to the Airport Junction.
The baton then made an elegant apperance on the Kwashieman Motorway, Abeka and Odorkor with various personalities, including Azumah Nelson, Adjoa Smart and Koo Fori of Efiewura fame taking turns to have a feel of it amidst brass band music and hordes of Police motorcades.
The Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, received the baton at Mantse Agbonaa and passed it on to the Accra Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, after a few Kilometres.
The baton was taken through the High Street by a representative of Barclays Bank, then Osu Castle, and finally to the forecourt of the Parliament House where the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Barton Oduro, received the baton alongside the minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu.
The baton Relay is expected to visit all 70 Commonwealth nations in 288 days and, after Ghana, Nigeria will be the next country to host it.