Barbados, Ghana hold special service

Barbados and Ghana held a special joint virtual/in-house church service this morning, which was broadcast simultaneously from the Christ Church, Legon chapel in Ghana and the St George Parish Church in Barbados.

The service formed part of activities for the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. In addition, the service celebrated the continuing relationship between the two countries, following the Transatlantic Slave Trade, under the theme “Transforming the Middle Passage from an Abyss of Darkness to a Ray of Hope”.

The ceremony included drumming, sermons from the Bishop of Barbados Reverend Michael Maxwell and Bishop of Accra Reverend Dr Daniel Torto and addresses from Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Jerome Walcott and his Ghanaian counterpart Shirley Botchway.

In addition, there were musical renditions from The Most Honorable Anthony “Gabby” Carter and the St Leonard’s school choir.

Botchway said the Transatlantic Slave Trade was something never to be forgotten, but it was also important to recognise how far both countries had come since then, adding the roots of poverty and despair from hundreds of years ago had to be broken.

Walcott said Barbados and Ghana shared a bond and out of that horrific past, they were building a better future with links in education, tourism and an upcoming air and marine travel agreement. (CA)