The GaDangme Europe has become aware of recent online publication on GaDangme
issues on GhanaWeb and its attendant commentaries. The interview published on
Sunday, 21st November, 2010 and titled “Gadangmes must wake up to defend their
culture” and conducted by Reggie Tagoe, featured Emmanuel Nii Okoso Tetteh
Mensah and m ade several references to him as President of the GDEu, among other
things.
We have also noticed, with deep concerns, the discourse on the GaDangme
Yahoogroups international forum on issues centered on the GaDangme Europe.
We therefore consider it necessary, in the interest of GaDangme Europe, all
well- meaning people of GaDangme origin and Non-GaDangmes sympathetic to
GaDangme aspirations, to issue the following statement;
1. That the GaDangme Europe (acronym: GDEu) set up to embrace GaDangme
groups (not individuals) in Europe and formally constituted on Saturday,
27th June, 2009 in Paris, France, has no ‘Union’ in its name.
1. That the immediate aim and objective is to strengthen the unity of
GaDangme people (‘Ekomefeemo’) as a basis for promoting and preserving
GaDangme heritage. Furthermore, the objectives as contained in its
constitution, among other things are;
1. Facilitation and advancement of education and social well being as
bases for the alleviation and relief of poverty in rural and urban
GaDangme communities.
1. Identifying and creating small strategic groupings across Europe for
purposes of raising funds to support community initiatives in the areas of
community sanitation, and promote educational and employment skills among
the youth to strengthen future prospects of GaDangme people.
1. That the values adopted by the GDEu throughout its inception are
honesty, reliability, hard work, transparency, commitment, self sacrifice,
respect for others and self preservation.
1. That the GDEu’s approach to find lasting solutions to the challenges
confronting GaDangme people are based on;
1. Service to others.
2. Consultation.
3. Participation and involvement.
4. Partnership, co-operation, and collaboration.
5. Networking.
1. That the means to realisethe noble aims and objectives of the GDEu, are
completely devoid of any form of militancy, acrimony, egotism, dishonesty,
pretence, self-centeredness, confrontation, dogma, factionalism,
discrimination, and intolerance.
1. That at the last elections organized by the GDEu in Hamburg on
Saturday, 13th March 2010, a seven-member Executive Committee led by Emmanuel
Mensah as President was mandated to manage the affairs of the GDEu for the
next two years.
1. That on 22nd June 2010, the two General Secretaries in a joint
petition to the Representative Council (RC) of the GDEu called for
intervention in the affairs of the Executive Committee by the RC. The
petition raised issues of serious constitutional violations and complete
deviations from GDEu norms and values through actions of the President, and
lack of co-operation and teamwork within the executive committee.
1. That before the Representative Council could intervene, the President
in complete violation of GDEu constitutional provisions and in outright
defiance of guidance by others, issued a statement on behalf of the rest of
the executive sacking the two General Secretaries.
1. That all attempts by imminent GaDangmes and other well-meaning people
in and outside the GDEu to resolve the impasse that ensued were ignored and
treated with contempt by Emmanuel Mensah and his group. The RC met twice in
August 2010 in the UK to resolve the crisis and appointed an arbitration
body, which was rejected by Emmanuel Mensah and his group. The
rejection of well established norms and the arbitration process warranted
the removal of Emmanuel Mensah, Sarah Coleman, Bob Lamptey, Florence
Lamptey and Alex Adjei, from office by the Representative Council".
1. That between August and September 2010, the five named executive
officers and other members defected from the GDEu and formed an
organization with a new name and a new internet-based forum.
1. That on 23rd September 2010, the RC issued a statement confirming the
formal removal of the five officers from their offices.
1. That since the 23rd September 2010, there has not been any contact
between the GDEu on one hand; the five officers and other groups now
constituent of the newly emerged Union of GaDangmes in Europe on the other
hand.
1. That the GDEu has continued to function as an umbrella organization for
its remaining members and hereby dissociates itself from statements by
Emmanuel Mensah in the said interview and every other action undertaken by
the named officers since 23rd September 2010.
1. That the GDEu remains focused on its development and growth, which
includes correctly handling attempts by well-known individuals to
misappropriate the assets of the GDEu.
1. That the GDEu also has the benefit of the goodwill of affiliated groups
and others who subscribe to its clearly defined ideals and aspirations.
1. That the GDEu accepts that not everyone supports or endorses the GDEu’s
approach to GaDangme issues. It also believes there are many issues
confronting GaDangmes and therefore there can be different approaches and
alternative options for dealing with these issues. The GDEu therefore does
not see itself as the only reservoir or channel to deal with all challenges
confronting the GaDangme people.
1. Consequently, the GDEu respects alternative views and initiatives being
undertaken by individuals and other groups including the Union of GaDangmes
in Europe and wishes them well in their various endeavours.
1. The GDEu wishes to reiterate, for the avoidance of doubt, that the GDEu
and the new Union of GaDangmes in Europe are two different entities.
1. The GDEu wishes GaDangme people and all well-wishers of the GDEu a
Happy and a Prosperous New Year.
Issued in London by
GaDangme Europe, 30 December 2010
All enquiries: gadangmeeurope@googlegroups.com
