Statement by GaDangme Europe

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