Thank You to All - Ibrahim Essandoh

Dear friends,

It is with great humility that we write to share the positive news with you. Word from Ghana and confirmed by CTV News Vancouver indicates that the process to issue the visa to Ibrahim Eassandoh's brother, Thomas Essandoh, is underway. Glory be to God.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. Most especially, we thank the UACBC (United African Communities of BC), The Ghana Association, African Vibes FM, African Connection FM, the Afro News, the Ghana Consular General, NDC Canada Chapter, Ghanaweb, Modern Ghana and all who took up the issue. Those who wrote, called, and or came out to the rallies to support, some, including Ezaidi, Yoro, Jackie, used their artistic skills to help, your effort paid off. We thank you all and may God bless you all.

More generally, we all know that, Ibrahim Essandoh’s issue is just but one of many issues African/Black Canadians face here in Canada. Our peoples still face discrimination, injustice, and unfairness in both the private and public sectors; in the job market, in education, in the justice system, and even in non profits. The very same institutions set up for us to seek redress are used to victimize us, including the so-called Human Rights Tribunals.

Let us be honest to say that, the only way we can defend our rights is by working together and by taking action. We can not do anything as individual Black people or as friends of Black people in Canada, as individual organizations or as members of a single nation state or ethnicity; Ghana, Kenya, or Ashanti, Hausa or Igbo. We can do more as together as people who share a common destiny and much more, including opposing discrimination, and injustice.

We may belong have come from Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Ivory Coast or may belong to the African Peace Forum, African Vibes FM, Umoja, CIAI, Students for Darfur, but we know the core factors warranting all these organizations, groups and outfits are the same. We seek to improve the conditions of our people.

It is for issues like that of Ibrahim Essandoh, the unjustified removal of children from Sudanese and other African families by Child Protection Services, and the rampant display of racism in public institutions that led to the formation of UACBC.

UACBC looks forward to hosting those of you and or your organizations in and around Vancouver, BC at the next African communities meeting. We hope all organizations started by and or working for the benefit of the African peoples in Canada and in Africa will join UACBC.

Once again, on behalf of Ibrahim Essandoh and his family, we thank you all for the support and prayers. We hope you would continue to remember Ibrahim Essandoh in your prayers for total recovery.

In Solidarity, Dr. C. Apaak (UACBC Interim Vice Chair: caapaak@yahoo.ca)

Charles N. Nkansah (General & Propaganda Secretary, NDC Canada Chapter: info@ndccanada.com)

For further information on joining the UACBC, please contact Dr. Clement Apaak at caapaak@yahoo.ca ; 778-895-9242.