A voice for all Africans

A GRANDFATHER-OF-FIVE has set up a national organisation to promote the rights of African people in the UK.

Papa Kodjo Mensa- Okluo of Boundfield Road, Catford, is the founder and president of the group whose motto is "freedom-justice-progress".

He wants to give advice and help to Africans about matters such as education and employment, and also lobby the Government on their behalf.

He said: "Within the ethnic minority groups in this country, Africans are at the bottom of the ladder. We want to uplift that. We have the people and the talent, but we are not pulling our weight enough. We want to have a well organised African organisation to cater for African needs."

The organisation, called the Campaign for the Advancement of Afrikan People (CAAP), also aims to "forge a common relationship" with people from the Caribbean and South America of African descent.

Mr Mensa-Okluo, 62, is originally from Ghana and has lived in the UK for 43 years.

He is in the process of setting up a "national secretariat" which will be a forum for discussing African issues and a point of contact.