Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) on Tuesday, 26th October,2021 received the Queen’s Relay Baton in the Port City of Tema. This follows the arrival of the Baton on Monday 25th October 2021, from Sierra Leone. It was presented to the president of the republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo who then passed it on to be held by selected baton bearers within the country.

Ahead of the arrival of the Baton, the CEO of MPS, Mr. Mohamed Samara shared his thoughts. “For the last decade, MPS has advocated the need for proper intra maritime connectivity within Africa and even beyond. To champion this advocacy, MPS has through our shareholders committed to and invested in various aspects of its operations. i.e technology, equipment along with the requisite human resource development. Like MPS’ vision, the aim of the Queens Relay Baton journey is one that is about connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories. MPS participation in this relay displays the sheer innovation by Ghana driven by public- private collaboration. A theme that resonates with the ideals of the Commonwealth and Sustainable Development.”

The Head of Legal and Compliance for MPS, Mr. Frank Ebo Brown receiving the baton on behalf of the CEO, Mr. Mohamed Samara expressed his elation. “It is indeed an exciting moment to be part of this long-held tradition which carries such a significance for the whole of the Commonwealth.  The message of the baton uniting nations and athletes in peace is commendable. After this hiatus created by the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am glad that sportsmen and women from many nations can come together to display their impressive talents in harmony. “

Come summer 2022, when the Commonwealth games is opened by the Queen, MPS’ representation would have been captured by the baton’s sophisticated 360-degree camera lens- its ‘eyes’, and a ‘brain’ which is designed to record and transmit imagery and digital information, allowing stories from Commonwealth communities to be told.  MPS story of the establishment of an infrastructure of this magnitude built to last for a century tells of a forward-looking organisation desiring to bring hope and transformation to generations yet unborn in the Commonwealth.

Apart from this, the other features of the baton including its sensors referred to as its “lungs” which consists of atmospheric sensors with laser technology that analyses the environmental conditions wherever it is in the world and the LED components that display the heartbeat of baton bearers and the lighting changes during baton exchanges depicts a perfectly synchronisation of art, technology & engineering. This blend captures what is at the core of MPS operations. A combination of superior digital elements that allow vessels from around the world to be serviced and enable the swift movement of cargo from the Port to countries within Africa and other parts of the world.

BACKGROUND

According to the official website of the Birmingham 2022 Games, https://www.birmingham2022.com/, the Baton with its royal message was dispatched by Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd from Buckingham Palace on 7th October 2021, with its first stop in Cyprus.

The Baton will tour all the 72 Commonwealth nations and Territories and then arrive back in England at the Opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022, where Her Royal Majesty will take out her message and read it to the whole world. Ghana is the 6th Country the Baton is visiting on its way to the rest of the remaining 66 Countries and Territories.

The Games will take place in Birmingham and across the West Midlands from 28 July to 8 August 2022.