On Sunday, 22 December, the Embassy of Israel in Accra celebrated Hanukkah with the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle and a musical concert.
H. E. Shani Cooper and Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs lighted the first candle for Hanukkah.
Addressing the guests, H. E. Shani Cooper expressed that “we are happy to mark our religious independence together with friends from all around the world: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, Baha’is and others are all represented in Israel, and can practice their religions freely.”
Ambassador Cooper was also delighted to light the Hanukkah candles in Accra because they represented liberation and a triumph of the spirit, which symbolizes Ghana and its fight for independence so well.
In lighting the first candle for Hanukkah, H. E. Shani Cooper dedicated it to “both Jews and Ghanaians who fought courageously to reach independence.”
Mr. Ittai Binnun, an international multi-instrumentalist from Israel treated the audience to some exciting Ghanaian and Middle Eastern instrumental melodious tunes.
Very distinguished dignitaries attended the event from the government of Ghana, diplomatic community, religious bodies, business community and friends of the embassy.