Gadangmes in Italy holds meeting in Modena

An Association of natives from the Greater Accra Region in Ghana (Gadangmes), resident in Emilia Romagna Region in Italy, has held its first meeting in Modena.

The well attended meeting was to bring together all natives of Gadangmes in the Emilia Romagna Region towards building up a union that will seek and promote unity among its people in Italy and other countries in Europe. It will also give humanitarian and social assistance to the Greater Accra Region, promote social and cultural activities among its natives to Italians and to develop their youths in areas of academic enhancement and leadership. Also revealed at the meeting was to teach the youths, the Gadangmes dialect called ‘Ga’ and assisting in obtaining scholarships for its people in Ghana.

The interim President of the Association, Alfred Adjei (a.k.a. Jordan) who chaired the meeting expressed his satisfaction about the good turn at the Association’s first meeting and said situations in Ghana about the Greater Accra Region has called for its natives in Italy and elsewhere abroad to rally together in helping the Region.

The entire interim Executive Committee was mentioned as: Alfred Adjei (President), George Badu (Vice President), Christopher Klu Sowah (Secretary), Abednego Okley (Assistant Secretary), Daniel Odai (Financial Secretary), Esther Akweley Adjin (Treasurer), Reggie Tagoe (Co-ordinator), Janathan Adjetey Adjei (Organiser), Edmund Agbettor (Youth Development Co-ordinator), Joseph Tetteh Yemoh (Porter) with John Anum (a.k.a Jackie) as Patron.

Edmund Agbettor, who spoke at length during the meeting, lamented over the language of the Gadangme people (Ga) not being taught now in schools in Ghana. “The production of the ‘Ga’ Bible is no more lucrative business. They are systematically ‘killing’ our language and I don’t think you will be happy to see our language phase out,” he told his fellow natives at the meeting. He indicated many people have sought to bring together people of Gadangme origin and what the Association is trying to do now is to take that initiative to a higher level of Gadangmes self recognition. He mentioned in a lengthy analysis of events and records that the Greater Accra Region, with its city Accra being the capital city of Ghana, is the smallest Region in Ghana but in a strategic position. “We are a unique people. Our forefather developed and passed on to us a unique culture of which we must learn to be the proud custodians. There is more than enough cultural and linguistic proof that we are one people,” he noted, giving examples in child naming ceremonies and the naming pattern of children from the Region. “Our first born, male or female are easily identified by their name, unlike any other Region in Ghana, so is the second or last born (both male and female), which shows their place in a particular nucleus family. Particularly, on names of twins and those who follow twins we are identified if we come first, second or third after twins. Even if a biological father dies before a child is born we can easily identify him or her by the name,” he pointed out.

With a wide knowledge about the history and culture of his people he walked his indigenous people through the memory lane in many areas about the land of Gadangme stretching from Lagma to Shilao, the great sons of its people mentioning the names of Nii Amaa Ollenu and Peter Ala Adjetey (ex-Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament who passed away last year) noted as great scholars.

He also paid tribute to Ghana’s great sportsmen from the Region talking about the names of former top footballers, Boye Otinkorang, Addo Odametey, Jones Attuqueifio, Robert Hammond and boxing greats like Roy Ankrah, Floyd Klutei Robertson, Joe Tetteh, D.K. Poison and Azumah Nelson (Africa’s greatest boxer of all time who held the W.B.C Featherweight and Super-featherweight belt for several years) and said the Region cannot now boast of the likes of these great scholars and sportsmen. “We must make sports attractive by creating incentives for our boys and girls back home and providing simple sports facilities to enhance their talents,” he said.

Agbettor also spoke on a number of issues including education and industrial development in the Greater Accra Region and indicated about 60% of mangoes harvested in abundance in the Region at Bawaleshie Dodowa goes waste because there are no storage facilities. “We can eat mangoes all year round as Europeans eat apples and also export it, then comes our ‘GOLD’ called SONGOR, synonymous to SALT which is sourced from the Region in the biggest natural salt pond in West Africa. We must develop a comprehensive plan to industrialise salt production to create job opportunities for our youths. At Dawenya, the rice farming projects must be revamped. Gadangmes should not wait for any Government to bring them hand outs, we must take our destiny into out hands,” he said in his comprehensive analysis of the Region.

Members asked questions and made contributions towards the effective running of the Association as it was explained further the various projects to be carried out towards assistance for the development of the Region. At the end of deliberations the interim Vice President, George Badu, thanked those who were present and added the enthusiasm shown by the natives of the Region at its first meeting is an indication they are prepared to work together for the progress of the Association in achieving its objectives. The next meeting fixed at Feb. 28 will again come on in Modena.