A journey of new-start as Gadangme Europe meets in Belgium
The first major meeting of Gadangme Europe Union, since the election of its new Executive Committee at Hamburg in March this year, has been held in the Belgium city, Gent.
Delegates, apart from the host country, came from France, Holland, UK, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Italy to participate in the one-day meeting. Also present were representatives of ‘Bokemei’ Foundation – an NGO based in Holland and affiliated to the Union.
This appears a journey of a new-start of the Union following internal divisiveness between some of the former and current Executive Committee members. The atmosphere under which this meeting was held and the discussions around it in the spirit of friendship and humour - though those members in the former administration involved in the misunderstanding were not present - is an indication the Union is prepared to put themselves together to help their native land of Greater Accra Region in Ghana.
Speaking before the delegates, the new President of the Union, Emmanuel Nii Tetteh Mensah, called on members to come together and work towards the welfare of their Region in Ghana. “We have talked too much and it’s time we ‘walk the walk’,” he told the participants. He said, among others, things were done out of context with the Union’s Constitution by the past Executive Committee and those lapses needs to be put right for the Union to forge ahead with its objectives and programmes. Among areas the Union is going to focus on to begin with, he mentioned, is a help to the Region on sanitation and health.
The Vice President of the Union, Sarah Naa Adoley Coleman, who also addressed the gathering on the Union’s projects, indicated it will concentrate on the teaching of the ‘Ga’ language in schools also at the University of Legon in Accra.
A Review Committee which has been set up to review the Union’s Constitution and the work of the past administration also indicated it has presented its report to the current administration. Solomon Awah, the Chairman of the Committee, giving briefs of the report, said certain issues were not dealt with correctly and the Committee has made recommendations for disciplinary actions to be taken against those Executive members. He however pointed out the Review Committee divided itself into two groups and the affected Executives can appeal against its decisions before the second group of the Committee.
The President has earlier told members his administration has nominated Daniel Lamptey (from Sweden) and Isaac Nii Kotey Robertson (from North England) for the vacant positions of General Secretary and Vice Secretary on the Executive Board. The two, after giving brief account about their background and what they intend to bring on board to the Union, were unanimously accepted by members and sworn-in by Pastor Chester Quartey (from Hamburg).
In the day’s event, a comprehensive report of the Union’s financial standing was read by the Treasurer, Florence Lamptey, before its Financial Secretary, Bob Lamptey, briefed members about the Union’s plans to ship hospital equipments – beds, bedside cabinets, instruments among others - from Hamburg to some specific hospitals in the Greater Accra Region. He said the goods are ready but the Union is in need of funds to ship them and in an appeal for funds he raised, members present contributed more than 50% of the total cost of the shipment plus other charges with each respective member-Union of Gadangme Europe (GDEu) being asked to send in their contributions.
Participants were also informed of a new code of conduct on the Union’s Forum at its website and contributors who log in to give their comments on prevailing issues should be mindful of inflammatory and derogatory statements. It was stated contributors are free to express their opinions but must refrain from ‘attacking’ others they do not agree with. People who continue to use abusive language on the Forum, according to the new code of conduct, will be taken off and not allowed to make contributions in the future.
The President and founding father of ‘Bokemei’ Foundation, Annetey Abbey, also took part of the day’s programme to inform participants about his organisation present state of works going on in the Greater Accra Region. He said ‘Bokemei’ Foundation is building a Vocational Training School at Teshie in Accra and mothers, school drop-outs, and the jobless will be taught some trades to help them make a living adding his outfit also has farms currently cultivating cassava which will be used for the production of the local food, ‘gari’ – all to be produced from the school. He called on all Gadangmes in Europe to put their resources together to help with the projects set up by the Foundation. Lea Kloosterman (a Dutch national and P.R.O. of ‘Bokemei’ Foundation) who was present made some remarks about the Foundation and the number of projects it has outlined to help the Greater Accra Region. “Our focus is on education, training and employment,” she told the delegates.
In his concluding remarks Emmanuel Nii Tetteh Mensah extended a friendly and warm call to all the past Executive Committee members who have an axe to grind to come and help build the Union. “They are our brothers and we will welcome them with open arms if they are prepared to work together with members for the upliftment of our Region,” he told the delegates.
The day’s event finally ended with a special birthday presentation, amid singing of ‘happy birthday songs’ to one of its hardworking members, Nii Yartey, (a Radio Presenter in England) who celebrated his 60th birthday.
The next meeting of the Union is expected to come on in the Spanish city Barcelona.
- Reggie Tagoe at Gent in Belgium.
