Accra, Ghana, Monday, November 27, 2006

Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here today!

First of all, it is wonderful to be in Africa, a land that I have wanted to visit since I was very young.

Since my arrival almost a week ago, I have gained some understanding of the great diversity of this continent. In Algeria and Mali, I have seen some of Africa’s great achievements, but also some of the imposing challenges that lie ahead.

Now, here I am in Ghana, a country with a long tradition of friendship with Canada, and I am surrounded by my fellow citizens!

Your presence here says a great deal about Canada, and about Canadians.

Canadians have been making a difference here for at least 100 years, going back to the day that Canadian missionary Father Oscar Morin, accompanied by Father Jean-Marie Chollet and Brother Eugène Gall, arrived in Navrongo from Ouagadougou, ready to build a place of worship.

Over the years, Canada’s work in Ghana has continued, and it has broadened. Today, I am proud to see that our international development efforts are focussed in three key areas: water security, food security and good governance.

All of these are crucial to the long-term well-being of Ghanaians—food and water for obvious reasons, and governance because it helps nourish the body politic!

Through your tireless efforts, you have demonstrated your clear understanding of the importance of solidarity among all peoples.

As you no doubt know, every member of the human family can trace her or his roots back to this continent. As a result, in a very real sense “we are all Africans.”

That is a principle all of you put into practice every day, through your efforts here in Ghana.

In closing, as governor general and as a fellow Canadian, let me say how proud I am of what you are doing here.

I think it is vital that Canadians back home know the tremendous work you are accomplishing here. You are making a difference. Your contribution is about countering pessimism, in our way of looking at Africa, and about nurturing hope.

I wish all of you much success in the months and years ahead. And I look forward to getting to know you a bit better during our time together today.

Thank you.