Bokemei Foundation is an NGO, founded in Ghana, with a branch in Holland and still expanding its wings as it focuses on assisting the Greater Accra Region in Ghana with development projects. The Organisation is joining this year’s New York marathon, which will take place on 1st November, in its efforts to raise funds for projects it is undertaking in Accra for the community. Ghanaweb correspondent, Reggie Tagoe, interviewed the President of the Foundation, Annetey Abbey who resides in Holland, about the organisation and the marathon race to raise funds for the Accra project. Below is the full text of that interview. Reggie Tagoe (R.T): Your Foundation has been in existence for some time. When was it formed and where did the idea come from? Annetey Abbey (A.A.): The Bokemei Foundation was founded in 2002, but plans to help Ghana existed a long time ago. Together with some friends who also originate from different third world countries we made a first step with an orphans’ project to help 16 orphans to go to school. Soon we realised that the help should be sustainable. We all got the experience that personal help to our families helped only temporarily. That brought us to the idea to build a Knowledge Center to train people in acquiring various skills to help them build their future. (R.T): What are some of your major objectives?
(A.A.): As an NGO in Ghana we focus on education, training and employment. Right now we want to complete a Junior Secondary School (J.S.S) building. The Knowledge Center is for the young and the adults, especially women with children.
(R.T): How many members are in the Foundation?
(A.A.): At this moment we have a network of about 100 people in Holland.
(R.T): What has been some of the projects you have done so far and contacts you have with some international bodies?
(A.A.): Since 2002 we have been supporting orphans to go to school and prevent them going to an orphanage. We give financial support to their families. We became an NGO in Ghana, bought a plot of land and gradually started to build a Junior Secondary School and a Knowledge Center. Internationally we are in close contact with Ga-Adangme Union in Europe.
(R.T): How is the Foundation being recognised in Holland, Ghana and elsewhere?
(A.A.): In Holland, we are recognised by the Ministry of Finance as a legal charity Foundation, the so called ANBI status. This means that we and the people who donate to us receive tax reduction. We are invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for events. We have a large network and help of organizations in the charity field. In Ghana we have contact with the local Chiefs, religious and neighborhood organizations, the Ga Mashie Development Organization and the Legon University Students Association.
(R.T): On what projects are you on at the moment?
(A.A.): We are raising funds to help complete a school building. We approach people who can help us to establish the Knowledge Center and create agricultural activities. We support a maximum of 16 orphans and their families for educational costs.
(R.T): Which Organisations or individuals has helped or is helping the Foundation?
(A.A.): In Holland: family, friends, colleaques, neighbors, other charity organizations, volunteer networks, advising partners, and so on. In Ghana, as I have stated the local Chiefs, religious and neighborhood organizations, the Ga Mashie Development Organization and the Legon University Students Association are involved.
(R.T): Tell me about the Marathon in New York. How many people are involve and the course path of the race?
(A.A.): Since 1970 every year the New York City Marathon is held with about 42,000 participants from all over the world. More than 2 million supporters are along the road to encourage the runners who have a hard time in reaching the finish line of the 42-kilometer run. They pass through the streets of New York's 5 boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan and finish at the Central Park. You can get more information on this at: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/start_services.htm Bokemei Foundation member, Bob, will join this marathon, together with 500 people from Holland. Bob will be dressed in a black shirt with the print ‘I love Bokemei’ at his front and with the Ghanaian flag and Bokemei’s url at his back. He will be drawing attention to the Bokemei‘s project to build a Junior Secondary School for orphans and other deprived children at La and Teshie - two suburbs in the city of Accra. Surf to Bokemei’s website www.bokemei.nl and you will see a short video film about Bob. We are inviting as many people as possible to contribute to the fund.
Bob will try to raise 5000 euros to cover the cost of one classroom. People can donate for every kilometer of his run or for the whole running course, which is 42 kilometers. A minimum of 10 euros and a maximum of 21 euros or more.
(R.T): What are some of your future plans for the Foundation?
(A.A.): To establish the Knowledge Center and teach the people how they can help themselves to improve their living conditions by training and organization. We need more funds and volunteers to carry out fund raising activities. We would be happy with the help of our Ga-Dangme brothers and sisters to join us and cooperate to help their people.
(R.T):Thank you for this interview and wish your Foundation the best of success.
(A.A.): Thank you too for having me.
