Chicago, IL — July 9, 2005 marked a historic milestone for Ghanaian‑descent children in the Chicago metropolitan area. For the first time ever, the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago (GNC), supported by the Church of the Ghanaian Community of Chicago, organized a full‑scale youth excursion to Six Flags Great America. A 60‑seater air‑conditioned bus carried the excited children to the park, transforming an ordinary summer Saturday into an unforgettable celebration of community, culture, and youthful joy.
Six Flags Great America is engineered for thrill and excitement; the very ingredients children crave during a vacation. When adventure and fun meet at the perfect moment, the result is simply fantastic. That was precisely the experience delivered to the 59 participating children, ages 7 to 25. They were treated to free transportation, lunch, and gate tickets courtesy of the GNC and the Church of the Ghanaian Community. Although the United Methodist Church of Chicago withdrew its sponsorship at the last minute, the organizers pressed forward. Each child paid a modest $10 registration fee and received a GhanaFest 2005 cap and T‑shirt, which later proved essential for identifying children who strayed from their groups.
Nine chaperones supervised the trip, including GNC President, Mr. Reuben Hadzide, Vice President Mr. Ebenezar Antwi‑Nsiah, Publicity Officer Marian Issaka, Organizing and Special Events Secretary Josephine Appiah, and Financial Secretary Jane Poku. Two pickup points were arranged for convenience: 6100 S. Michigan Avenue on the South Side, departing at 8:00 a.m., and 4459 N. Ravenswood on the North Side, departing at 8:30 a.m. Return times were 7:45 p.m. for the North Side and 8:15 p.m. for the South Side. The planning was led by youth organizer Afuah Agyeman, assisted by the Vice President, Antwi‑Nsiah. Upon arrival, the children were grouped by age , 7–8, 9–10, 11–14, 15–19, and 20–25 , allowing both younger and older participants to bond naturally. Older youth exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, while younger ones dove straight into play and laughter.
The children explored the legendary attractions of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor. With 16 world‑class roller coasters and more than 100 rides, games, and attractions, the park is globally recognized as a thrill‑ride haven boasting 11 world records. Rides such as Giant Drop, Batman, Déjà Vu, Virtual Velocity, Raging Bull, Superman, and Iron Wolf delivered hairpin turns, zero‑gravity sensations, and dizzying spins. A 10‑story freefall at 55 mph, walls that pin riders at 45 degrees, and coasters that twist into the sky , these were experiences crafted for the iron‑hearted.
One clear lesson emerged: far more children wanted to join the trip than anticipated. Future events will require expanded publicity and larger capacity, because when something is free, well‑organized, and community‑centered, participation naturally surges. At the end of the day, the children expressed heartfelt gratitude and passionately urged organizers to repeat the program next year. The outing was not merely a trip , it was a celebration of identity, unity, and shared joy within the Ghanaian community of Chicago.
Source: RCH
