Joe Walker weds in grand style

The Italian city Reggio Emilia is noted for its local cusines as one of the best in the world and famous for its Lambrusco wine. It is also the city that gave 'birth' to the Italian National Flag -'Tricolore' - and it's on record that the current Ghana Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Agyei-Amoama, is the first African Ambassador who has been given the chance to visit the very Hall this historic event took place, a visit reserved exclusively for VIP leaders. On a more wider note, Reggio Emilia is the city where the first kindergarten in the world was built.

But all that took a back seat in the city as Joseph Walker, a Ghanaian and Trade Unionist, wedded Evelyn Angela Sarpong, his wife for 20 years.

The couple who has been blessed with 5 children - Kenneth, Wendy, Kevin, Queenly and Mimmy - finally consumated their marriage in one of the biggest matrimonial ceremony in the city. Wedding ceremonies brings with it all the trappings associated with it as relatives, friends and guests of the couple make the best of it but this is one of those nuptial ceremony that can be described as 'from the top drawer', putting most of its kind in the shade.

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The extraordinary attendance, the service, Ghanaian culture once again being displayed under its costumes and traditional dances, other nationals making their presence felt with their music and dances, the first class reception at the most reknowned restaurants in the city would remain on the minds of the happy looking participants for many more years to come.

For months they talked about it in anticipation, all for the right reasons. Joe Walker (as he is known by his peers) is an affectionate and popular figure, his popularity trancends the borders of the Ghanaian community and with that came along Indians, Albanians, Moroccans, Pakistanis, Chinese, Sri Lankans, Senegalese, Tunisians among others including Italians where the Deputy Mayor of the city, Franco Ferretti, was also present. It has never been as big as this from information I gathered but there were indications that a lot of planning went into it.

The bride's mother, Nana Serwaa Brago (a Queenmother) and that of the groom, Cecilia Biney, flew in from Ghana as well as siblings and relations from the US and England who came to share in the blissful moments. Not even a grey canopy of cloud which swept in rain in the morning of the event could deny participants as they filled the venue for the service, Pieve Roman Catholic Church, to show their love and support.

Father Thomas Acheampong, who officiated and blessed the marriage advised the couple to live in peace and respect for one another. This was after Father Paul Gyasi, from Bescia, has taken the couple through some of the rough edges and at times 'bumpy roads' in marriage. The groom and his bride exchanged wedding vows and rings in a brief and formal ceremony before the priest and walked the aisles shaking hands with the congregation in a candle light procession.

When they walked out of church they were greeted with cheers, songs and claps as pigeons where released flying in an amazing spectacular fashion.

The couple later hosted their guests at the most famous eating spot in the city,
the posh Cupido Restaurant. It was moments of showing love, joy and showering of presents as they sat behind a well decorated 5-foot wedding cake ready to face the cutting knife.

The four hours reception saw participants tucking into various Italian dishes, a three course meal each with three services and later danced to Ghanian tranditional and hiplife music. The Indians, Sri Lankans, Senegalese among others present were not left out of the excitements here as they showed a typical version of their dance under their native music – it was remarkably exciting to watch.

The bridegroom in the moments of all this said: “I sum it with the slogan of Obama 'YES WE CAN'. We have the feeling that only whites can do a better program. We've been able to prove that with foresight, dedication and planning all things are possible. I pray that organising weddings in Italy would be taken to another level. It is not only money that makes a wedding great but also good planning,” he adds.

The Vice Mayor of city, Franco Ferretti, has this to say: I've never participated in a wedding like this in my life with this number of nationalities present. It's been proved that integration can be achieved through wedding. Thanks Joseph for inviting me.”

In just some few words an elated mother of the bride, could not hide her feelings,
“I have been looking forward to this day for my daughter and I'm excited about it all,” she said. The bride in her moment of joy was short of words but managed to express her gratitude and appreciation to many friends and well-wishers who supported her through thick and thin to her memorable day. She walked into church as Evelyn Angela Sarpong and came out to be known as Evelyn Angela Walker - Mrs. Walker.

It couldn't have been better than this and she is relishing every moment of it.

- Reggie Tagoe in Reggio Emilia, Italy.