Ewe Association of Metropolitan Chicago Elect Kutor

Ewe Association of Metropolitan Chicago Elect Mr. MacGeoffrey Kutor President for 2011-2013.

Except for the Ga-Adangbe Organization that have their overdue elections for New Officers blocked by a court order, the trend of peaceful elections started by the Okyeman Association and the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago,GNC, this year, continued with the Ewe Association of Metropolitan Chicago’s biannual elections when they elected new officers to run the Association.

The elections took place at the Second Presbyterian Church Building, 1947 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL on November 21 2010.

This year’s election for the position of the president was the most highly contested yet, in the history of the Ewe Association. The incumbent, Dr. Mark Kutame, who early in the year had announced he would not run for another term, was convinced by his many supporters to run again. He took a layback approach, pitching his achievements over the nine year period he has led the Association against Mr. McGeoffrey Agbenor Kutor’s mass canvassing for votes by calling individual members of the Association with his message of a change and the YES WE CAN! Slogan! In the end, Mr. Kutor’s appeal for change won the day by a nail biting 55% of the votes (27 votes) against Dr. Kutame’s 45% (22 votes). Mr McGeoffrey Agbenor Kutor represented the Ewe Association at both the GNC and The Council of Ewe Associations in North America (CEANA) as a Core member for over 6 years.

Dr. Mark Kutame, who has been nominated by the President-Elect of the GNC,Mr. John Henry Assabill to be his Vice-President for the 2011 to 2013 period, appealed to his supporters to give their full support to the President-elect of the Ewe Association. Mr. Kutor also thanked Dr. Kutame for his gesture and assured the members that he will live up to their expectations. Mr. Kutor and Dr. Kutame hugged and shook hands after their short remarks. Mr. Kutor promised to revitalize and structure the traditional Council of the Association, find a permanent meeting place for the organization, and increase the membership of the Ewe Association to include all Ewes from Ghana, Togo and Benin. Judging from Dr. Mark Kutame’s high accomplishments, Mr Kutor must work quickly to gain and maintain the confidence of the members.

Dr. Kutame took over the Association at a time that membership was nothing to write home about. Membership and attendance at meetings was abysmal and the sense of Ewe pride was lost among Ewes. His personal style of leadership drew many members to return who otherwise did not care to be part of the association. The association can boast today of a significant rise in membership and the numbers continue to grow. He became a voice for the voiceless in the association. Among the many other accomplishments of Dr. Kutame are:

• Organized a CEANA convention which for the first time turned a profit and put a significant amount of money into CEANA coffers for CEANA programs. Since 2004, the way CEANA is organized has become the model after which other organizations have organized CEANA conventions.

• He served as President of CEANA for a one year term. He also served as Vice President and Secretary of the Ghana National Council during the Presidency of Reuben Hadzide, and secretary to the United African Union.

• His fiscal responsibility insured the meeting of obligations to CEANA and the GNC. He emphasized accountability and probity in fiscal matters. For the first time, written financial statements were reported to members at every meeting.

• An annual Christmas party targeted at children of members was started under his watch. Several deserving members are recognized with awards during the Xmas Party.

• A functional welfare committee was established with its own bye-laws built around the constitution and has become the bedrock of the association.

• Health screening for members of the organization once every three months was initiated under his watch.

• He curbed cliques in the association which threatened the unityof members and brought about an awareness that everyone would be treated fairly no matter their position in the association.

• He was very circumspect in the selection of his officers and this led to cohesion and constancy in the executive.

• Constitutional amendments were proposed and passed that has made the administration of the association in keeping with the times.

• His final act was the developmental of a democratic model for elections which ironically brought about his loss of the position he held for about nine years.

As a result of Mr. McGeofrey Kutor’s election to the presidency, he will head a new set of delegates of the Ewe Association to the GNC and The Council of Ewe Associations of North America, CEANA. Mr. Kutor will be partnered by Messer’s. Steven Dei and Simon Addo as the GNC delegation. The new two-man delegation to CEANA includes Mr. Kutor and Mr. Sylvanus Dossou.

The Treasurer-elect is Mr. Henry Domi, who was elected uncontested. Mr Donatus Kutogbor easily won the Financial Secretary against an active but new member of the Association, Mr. Julius Attipoe.

Included in the events of the day was Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar screening of members led by a volunteer team that included Reuben Hadzide, RN, Selassie Ayeke,RN, Dr. Prince Hodogbe , MD and Dr. Gameli Dekayie, MD , whilst the elections were ongoing.