2007年VOA标准英语-Ghana Marks 50th Anniversary of Independence

By Efam Dovi
Accra
06 March 2007

Thousands of ordinary Ghanaians, as well as heads of state and other dignitaries, gathered Tuesday in Ghana's Independence Square in the capital, Accra, to celebrate the west African nation's 50th anniversary of independence.  Efam Dovi was there and filed this report for VOA.

 
Parade at Independence Square in Accra
After a long struggle for liberation from Britain, Ghana became the first black African country to gain political independence 50 years ago. 

Many people came to the independence parade dressed in the country's national colors - red, gold, green - and carrying miniature Ghanaian flags.  The parade is the high point of a year of activities marking the anniversary. 

Ghanaian President John Kufuor watched as a broad range of marchers, from school children to members of various state agencies, passed by.
 
 
President Kufuor and former Ghanaian leaders on a billboard¹
In his remarks to the crowd, President Kufuor paid homage² to those who fought for the country's independence and urged all Ghanaians to protect their hard-won freedom.
 
"It is worthwhile to remind ourselves that freedom is a living flame that needs to be constantly fueled and not a monument to be saluted³ and revered⁴ occasionally," he said.  "Ghana's freedom, indeed, African's freedom must be an eternal flame to be continually fueled by all our governments and peoples because this freedom defines our humanity."

President Kufuor also talked about young Africans who risk their lives taking dangerous journeys across the Sahara Desert or the Atlantic Ocean in a bid to find employment in Europe and elsewhere.  He urged them to remain home, saying the continent needs their brains, energy and dynamism.
 
 
A man holds the Ghana flag, during celebrations to commemorate⁵ Ghana's 50 years of independence at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana
Independent Ghana, like many sub-Saharan African countries, has had a checkered⁶ political history marked by a series of military coups⁷, which ended in 1992.  But the country is now seen as a model democracy in the region.
 
Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the guest of honor, said Africa's biggest problem was sustaining political stability.

"We substituted military rule for colonially handed down democracy and socialism for capitalism⁸ without a productive capital base," he said.

He says what is required is a clear understanding of the best way for Africans to bring political development and economic growth to the continent.

As did so many people who gathered on the Independence Square, 13-year-old Abigail and Brenda from the United States say they have high hopes for Ghana's future.

ABIGAIL:  "I would like to see Ghana as independent and at the same time self reliant."

BRENDA:  "Ghana is going to progress to be a first rate country, it already has all the infrastructure⁹ necessary, the people are certainly committed to its building and its regeneration, and so certainly there are great plans for Ghana."

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 homage   

n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬

参考例句：

• We pay homage to the genius of Shakespeare.我们对莎士比亚的天才表示敬仰。
• The soldiers swore to pay their homage to the Queen.士兵们宣誓效忠于女王陛下。

3 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

5 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

6 checkered   

adj.有方格图案的

参考例句：

• The ground under the trees was checkered with sunlight and shade.林地光影交错。
• He’d had a checkered past in the government.他过去在政界浮沉。

7 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

8 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。