Ghanaian Among The 20 Compelling Calgarians For 2015

The Calgary Herald Newspaper has release its 20 compelling Calgarians for 2015 and fortunately for the Ghanaian community in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, one of our own made the list. Every year the renowned newspaper comes out with a list of innovative Calgarians who are definitely the people to keep an eye on in 2015 and the years ahead. The President of the Ghanaian Association of Calgary, Ms. Margaret Adu made the list this year. Other Calgarians who also made the list include the Police Commander, lawyers, sports personalities, philanthropists and university professors. Asked how she feels to be in the company of the likes of Geoff Cumming a businessman and philanthropist who donate $100 million to the University of Calgary, Margaret said it is just by the grace of God. She advised members of the Ghanaian community to see this recognition as a stepping stone to encourage us to help each other and to see the needy in the society and do all they can to help them.

Ms. Margaret Adu is the owner and founder of Aomega Group Ltd., a company which deals with personal care homes. She was recently honoured with the Ghanaian Canadian Achievement Award for community service, as well as the Black and Gold award for community and business efforts. Also, she was recently recognized by the Brong Ahafo Calgary Canadian Association for her contribution to the Ghanaian community in Calgary. This honour is a milestone in the annals of the Ghanaian community because it has put the community on the socio-political map of Calgary. Below is an excerpt from her interview with Rita Mingo of the Calgary Herald.

If there was a designation like president for life, Margaret Adu would be unanimously sworn in.

“It takes a lot of my time,” said Adu, the president of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Calgary. “Sometimes I say I’m going to quit and they say, if you quit, it’ll fall apart, Margaret. That’s what they always tell me. It takes a lot of your own finances to run it and your willpower, your strength.

“But it’s very fulfilling in the end. It’s a blessing because at the end of the day, the people you touch, they say a little prayer for you.”

“It’s important because what I have achieved for myself, I would like to see others achieve that, too,” Adu said. “If there’s a family in need, how can I help them get on their feet and go make something for themselves? If there’s somebody I see potential in and they want to start a business, how best can I go out there and say you can do it, I’m going to help you, whatever it takes, financially, encouragement.”

Adu was born in Ghana, lived for a time in London, England, and made her first home in Canada in Edmonton 24 years ago.

“The people (in Alberta) are outgoing,” she described. “When I arrived in Edmonton, I was surprised. I was in England and nobody says hi. So I come here and people say hi and I’m ‘wow!’ And when I came to Calgary, even more. Calgary was a growing city at the time and I got a contract to provide health care. They see you for who you are, not as a black person or an immigrant. We are all immigrants, right?”

Her next objective for her transplanted countrymen? “Really I want us (the Ghanaian community) to have our own little building,” said Adu, a mother of three. “That’s my aim, call it the Ghana House, where we can have a place for Ghanaians who come in, where we can have meetings, where we can teach our children our heritage and our culture.”