By Ike Dzokpo
Galaxy International School, one of the prestigious International schools in Accra, Ghana over the weekend celebrated its 15th Intercultural Festival with a colourful display of culture amidst pomp and pageantry.
The celebration which was held in grand style attracted students from almost every part of the world-totaling 35 different nationalities. Over 35 countries were present and had the opportunity to display their culture.
There was a display of various paraphernalia and artefacts showcasing the rich culture of the various nationalities amidst music, choreography, poetry recitals and others. The year’s festival was themed; “Our Diversity Our Pride; Our Oneness, Our strength”.
The Managing Director of the school Mr. Mehmet Akmermer in his inaugural address noted that the school is built on the foundation of unity, acceptance of diversity and peaceful coexistence.
This he said, culture is not just a way of life but the life wire of people. Stressing that, a community without culture cannot be referred to as a living community.
According to him, the school over the years has fostered a spirit of multiculturalism to encourage tolerance and peaceful co-existence among its multi-ethnic students and staff community.
This festival, since its inception, has often been an annual platform through which Galaxy International School showcases the wealth of cultures represented in the school while emphasising the fact that, even in diversity, there is strength.
In this year’s festival, the school immensely demonstrated their pride in their diversity while manifesting the unique strength in their oneness.
Galaxy International School has plans of opening another branch of its Primary/Preschool section at its Secondary premises located at Ashale Botwe.
He, however, urged parents and guardians who envision the best for their children to consider enrolling them into this great school where excellence reigns in an environment of multiculturalism.
In a speech read by the Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Monica Ankrah, she underscored the importance of diversity in educational system and how it cannot be undermined because it helps create a classroom environment where all students thrive together and have the understanding that, individual characteristics make people distinctive and not “different” in a bad or negative way.
She commended Galaxy International School for recognizing the importance of having a cross-cultural learning environment.
“One great source of joy and happiness in life is in human relationships and connections and that if we are capable of being open to each other, to connect and truly belong to one another, we will have more joy in our lives.
She concluded by saying that we should appreciate each other’s cultures because every individual’s culture makes him unique,” she added.
The Executive Officer of the National Service Scheme, Mr. Mustapha Ussif, who graced occasion as the chairman hailed the school for creating an environment that celebrates and embraces differences.
According to him, today’s globalised world, coupled with the changing trends in the reformation of the educational sector, it is important for school authorities to institute programmes and policies that embrace the trend.
The yearly multicultural celebration saw over hundreds of participants from all spheres of life including quite a number of dignitaries such as Mr. Augusto da Silva Cunha, Ambassador Of Angola, Mohamed Ahmed Khalil Musa, Ambassador Of Sudan and Mr Aaron Adarkwa, the District Director of Education, Adentan.
Equally present were representatives from the Ethiopian Embassy as well as the High Commissions of Britain and Nigeria.
