The event will take place on January 27, 2018, at the residence of the British High Commission.

As part sponsors of this year’s event, KLM flew in the Scottish bagpiper to Accra and was welcomed, on the tarmac by the Country Manager and Station Manager of AirFrance KLM, Dick van Nieuwenhuyzen and Fred van Engelen, the British High Commissioner to Ghana,  Iain Walker and the Chieftain of the Caledonian Society of Ghana, Andrew Monaghan.

The Captain of the flight officially handed over the haggis, a traditional Scottish dish to the Chieftain of the Caledonian Society in Ghana while the bagpiper played in the background.

The Chieftain, British High Commissioner and bagpiper were dressed in traditional Scotland attire, the Scottish Kilt, a knee-length skirt-type garment worn with special socks and shoes with a jacket embellished by various badges and gold pendants.

Mr. Dick van Nieuwenhuyzen in a statement issued in Accra yesterday said “KLM is happy to support international cultural exchange as an airline that flies frequently between Ghana and several European countries”.

On his part, Mr. Walker expressed the Commission’s interest in showing Ghanaians an authentic part of its Scottish culture.

The Caledonian Society celebrates the “Burns Night” on or around January 25 every year.

The supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns, the author of many famed Scots poems.

The first Burns supper was held in July 1801 when nine of Burns’ close friends got together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included a tasty meal (haggis, of course!), performances of Burns’ work and a speech in honour of the great Bard (now known as the Immortal Memory).

The night was such a resounding success they decided to hold it again (this time in honour of Rabbie’s birthday), beginning the tradition we still enjoy to this day.

Everyone enjoys a hearty feast (which includes haggis, neeps and tatties, rounded off with drams of whisky) some of Burns’ poems and songs are recited and tributes are made to the great Bard.