On Friday, 18 May 2007, British Council with support from the British High Commission premiered Amazing Grace at the National Theatre in Accra.

The event that had the National Theatre of Ghana filled to capacity was the final part of this year’s Britain in Ghana (BiG) week celebrations. It was also a follow up to the British Council’s Africa 2007 Reflections event held at the Elmina Castle in March to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade Act.

Shown for the first time in West Africa, Amazing Grace is a critically acclaimed movie based on the true life story of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire.

The occasion was graced with the presence of many dignitaries including government officials, the British High Commissioner, the British Council Director, the Catholic Archbishop of Accra, lecturers, actors and actresses, students and many more from all walks of life.

The Archbishop of Accra arrives on the red carpet

The film produced by Ken Wales and directed by Michael Apted of The World is not Enough fame, also featured the Senegalese music star Youssou N’Dopur and Albert Finney and showed the inspiration for John Newton, who wrote the song Amazing Grace.

In his welcome, the Director, British Council Ghana, Moses Anibaba said: 'The lyrics of Amazing Grace have travelled through centuries, across oceans and generations to become the most notable song in history. Its message of a definite hope and salvation remains just as powerful and evocative today as it did those many years ago'.

William Wilberforce was a visionary and principled man of his time; a classic and enduring hero for ours. He was a man of principles whose faith helped him lead the fight to abolish slavery in Great Britain. The story of this remarkable man that was highlighted in Amazing Grace is truly extraordinary and his 30-year fight to end slavery is a faith-strengthening and inspiring tale for those who would effect change in today’s society

Speaking in an interview after the screening, the Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Charles Palmer-Buckle said: 'We took inspiration from them that they could achieve what they did in those days. Today we should be able to achieve greater freedom for humanity by a certain determination.'