BRONG AHAFO ASSOCIATION OF THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA CELEBRATES ITS 23YEARS ANNIVERSARY
On the day after Thanksgiving, Friday November 24, 2006, while all of the USA was sleeping off heavy doses of turkey meals, the Brong Ahafo Association of the Washington DC Metropolitan area was busy celebrating their 23 years of unity and service. The setting of the La Fontaine Bleu Ballroom with its brilliant chandeliers provided just the needed ambiance for merriment and reflection. In his welcome address, the President of the Association, Mr. Paul Gyau, recounted the many accomplishments of the Association starting with its motto: “ Me man nti” (For may home’s sake). The Association is most proud of their contribution to the modernization of Sunyani Hospital, which is now ranked one of the leading health centers in Ghana. To their many contributions to education and health all over the Brong Ahafo region, they expect to turn their attention to youth employment. They recognize this as a unique challenge and reach out to all Ghanaian associations to work collaboratively on this important project with ideas and resources.
Mr. Paul Gyau recognized the accomplishments of the leaders of the Association before him who worked hard to ensure unity and pave the way for a healthy community of Brong Ahafo Diaspora in the Washington DC Metro Area and service to Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, Mrs Martha Pobee, Head of Administration of the Ghana Mission, USA, commended the Association for their long life and sense of unity and purpose. She challenged them not to rest yet but continue with their good deeds for Ghana will only succeed when its Diaspora plays an active role in its development.
Mr. Kofi A. Boateng, the NPP-USA Chairman, concurred with Mrs.Pobee in his address. He emphasized that the missing links between Ghana and its Diaspora are the right to vote and constructive engagement that does not treat Ghanaians abroad as enemies or “them” but part of “us”. Mr. Boateng challenged Ghanaians abroad not to take apathetic stance on issues back home but be involved in any way possible through joining Associations and/or branches of political parties of anyone’s choice. Organization and deliberate implementation of visions are the key, he added. In his characteristic manner, he led the group to sing to itself a song of praise for their 23 years of hard work, unity and achievement.
The following is the speech by Mr. Paul Gyau, President of Brong Ahafo Association in the Washington Metro Area:
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
Your Excellency, Mrs. Martha Pobee, Head of Administration of the Ghana Mission, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, Honorable Representatives of Council of Ghanaian Associations and Ex-Officios, Nananom, Friends of Ghana and Fellow Ghanaians, it is a pleasure to join us tonight to celebrate our 23rd Anniversary Fund Raising Dinner Dance at the beautiful Lafonte Bleu.
The Brong Ahafo Association is a proud and strong member of the Council of Ghanaian Associations of the Washington Metro Area. I do appreciate and recognize your full presence here tonight and also WELCOME everyone who has come here to support your sister organization, the Brong Ahafo Association.
I would like to express my profound gratitude to our past leaders whose strong leadership helped to sustain this association till April 2005 when I took over the presidency. My appreciation goes to Mr. Joseph Agyeman Gyau, Mr. Kwame Boateng, Mr. Abrefa Nketia, Mr. Amo Gotfried and Mr. Ohene Bediako, to name a few. We are also proud to commend one of our members who left us to join the ruling Government in Ghana. He is the Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, and also MP for Wenchi Constituency, Professor George Gyan-Baffour. Furthermore my personal appreciation is also extended to Mr. Robert Yaasi, our MC for 23 years for being a long time loyal friend of this Association since its birth. I was elated when he accepted my call again to be the master of ceremony for tonight.
In the past year under my leadership, we have renewed our vows to make this Association stronger and improve our cordial relationships. I am proud tonight to state that our unity is stronger than ever. We have been able to maintain our unity and commitment to our association through on-going recreational and educational activities that promote bonding, support for one another, love and respect for fellow members, and peace and understanding that is shared among all. To citizens of Brong Ahafo Region here tonight who are not members of this Association, I strongly encourage you to come on board.
Our Association has provided financial support to various projects in the Brong Ahafo Region over the years, typically, in the areas involving the health of the citizens in the region. I am proud to announce that we contributed financially towards the newly opened Sunyani Hospital (one of the modern hospitals in the country). When there was a call to send well-equipped hospital beds and mattresses to clinics in the Brong Ahafo Region we again did not hesitate to assist.
We continue to work with our leaders in the Region to develop programs to help in educating the youth; therefore it is our conviction to establish Computer labs by the end of my term of office in selected cities in the region to help bridge the information technology disparity. This is a challenge to our members and the generous contribution to this course from everyone present here tonight will be greatly appreciated.
As Ghanaians prepare to celebrate our 50th Independence Anniversary in March of 2007 all over the world, I can assure you that the full participation of the Brong Ahafo Association members shall strongly be felt here in the Washington Metro area, therefore, our commitment to work with COGA and the Ghana Embassy to make this 50th anniversary a “Number 1” cannot be altercated.
With respect to our cordial relationship with the members of the Ghanaian Community and the Council of Ghanaian Association (COGA) we do hope that with your support we will be able to continue to improve the living conditions of the needy back home in Ghana. We therefore count on your bountiful support in the days, months and years ahead.
May God Almighty bless our political leaders in their daily deliberations to improve the living conditions of every Ghanaian and promote and sustain the democratic dispensation being pursued by our current leaders?
LONG LIVE THE BRONG AHAFO ASSOCIATION
LONG LIVE GHANA AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL
