Students of GCAO Homework Club testify at launch of Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre

It was a very powerful and inspiring moment when students, who have been attending the Homework Club organized by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) for two years in Toronto, were invited to testify about the need for the Ghanaian community to acquire a Heritage Centre as a hub for mentoring and teaching the youth about Ghana culture among other services to community and the Canadian society at large.

This was at the launching of the Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre at the Toronto Plaza Hotel on Sunday August 12, 2018.

The launching which was organized by the Executives of GCAO led by Mr. Emmanuel Duodu (a Toronto based banker) in collaboration with the Ghana Consulate in Toronto, chiefs of the Ghanaian community and the Ghanaian Ministerial Association of Toronto was well attended by professionals, politicians, the Toronto Police, chiefs, ethnic associations, the youth, faith groups and friends of the Ghanaian community.

After the GCAO had made convincing remarks as well as video presentation on the need for the Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre and had rolled out the strategy for the acquisition of such centre within the next three years (aiming at $5 million as seed money for the project), provincial & municipal politicians, the Police and some invited dignitaries spoke in support of the Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre.

However, it was the testimonies by the students of the GCAO Homework/Mentoring Club that made a huge impact on the attendees, moving individuals, faith groups and some associations to donate/pledge between $100 to $10,000 in support of the acquisition of the Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre in the municipality of Toronto. The amount of money raised immediately at function through donations and pledges was $44,000!

The GCAO leadership pledged to lead the community in accomplishing the project through accountability, transparency and effective communication. In view of that, proper payment options which meet the requirements of Canada Revenue Agency for tax preparation purposes has been put in place for donors to the Ghanaian Canadian Heritage Centre fund.

Also, names and monies of all contributors/donors will be published periodically in the local media including the Toronto-based Sankofa Radio and the Ghanaian News.