Hemanhene supports Asanteman Europe's health project for community wellness

The Hemanhene, Nana Apau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan, has donated an acre of land to support the health project of Asanteman Europe.

This health project, focused on building a maternity block, will help improve maternal health and pediatrics in Ghana.

In Ghana, Sub-Saharan Africa, 263 women die per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related causes, as recorded by the World Bank Group on its Gender Data Portal. Even though maternal mortality has reduced from 499 in the year 2000 to 263 in the year 2020, improved facilities in maternity blocks with health professionals could mitigate this issue.

Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for half of about 99% of maternal deaths in developing countries. Ghana’s estimated maternal mortality ratio of 360 deaths per 100,000 live births leaves much to be desired.

Consequently, WHO attributes the cause of maternal death and infant mortality to many factors, including "poor access to healthcare services." This is the area that motivates Hemanhene to invite Asanteman Europe to help improve the situation back home towards the development of Asanteman and Ghana at large.

As the Guest of Honour for the Asanteman Europe Afahyɛ held in Dusseldorf, Germany, Nana Sanwoansan was impressed by the enthusiasm with which hundreds of people thronged Am Shonenkamp—the venue for the event—all in the name of promoting Asante culture in Europe.

He believed that with such enthusiasm for Ghanaians in Europe to remember their roots and be proud of their cultural identity, he was ready to support the cause of Asanteman Europe for a resounding success.

He mentioned that in his homeland at Heman in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region, he has earmarked an acre of land (which is about 4 plots) to support the health development of Asanteman Europe. Together, both Heman and the association can join hands to develop Asanteman as well as Ghana.

Nana Sanwoansan, who is also Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s Brempɔnhene, lamented the situation in Ghana where some pregnant women have to sleep on the floor at health facilities, especially in urban areas, due to limited space and lack of health equipment.

He also observed that some pregnant women, even after giving birth, lacked a comfortable bed to sleep on until they are discharged from the health facility. This situation calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach to finding a remedy, especially among Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

For this reason, he donated an acre of land (about 4 plots) free of charge to Asanteman Europe to start a project for a maternity and children’s block at Heman to support the development of Asanteman, as well as Ghana at large.

Highlights of the Festival

The festival, dubbed "Asanteman Europe Afahyɛ," is the first of its kind since the formation of Asanteman Europe in 2017 as a voluntary multinational organization. It was officially inaugurated in 2022 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and currently has 17 member associations from 12 European countries.

The 12 countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (UK).

Each of these member associations is registered in their own countries and, in conformity with the penultimate goal of Asanteman Europe, they have come together to celebrate this festival to promote Asante culture while in Europe, as outlined in the Asanteman Europe Constitution.

The three sessions of the festival—Friday (Youth Workshop), Saturday (Grand Durbar), and Sunday (Akwasidae)—all focused on the youth, as communicated through the theme: "Igniting Cultural Passion in the Youth."

Throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the youth activities gained traction, with the youth group from Asanteman Austria dominating. There were processions by the various member associations amidst dancing and drumming, while Nananom sat in state for their subjects to pay homage, as Asante culture demands. Awards were presented to deserving members of Asanteman Europe.

Gratitude from Asanteman Europe

Nana Tuffuor Kyei Baffuor, the President of Asanteman Europe, and Nana Ekuoba Semperemo Gyasi Gyimah, the Board Chairman who also serves as President of the House of Chiefs (Nananom) of Asanteman Europe, both expressed gratitude to Hemanhene for accepting to be the Guest of Honour during the Grand Durbar.

They were also grateful to Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, Gina Ama Blay, and popular historian Nana Obiri Boahen for enhancing the occasion.

Similar gratitude was extended to the sponsors of the festival, namely Top Connect, Prabon Grensfields, Aqua Blue, JB Homes Company Limited, Vineyard Exotics, Square Miles Homes, and People for People International Foundation.

Additionally, Asanteman Europe was thankful to Nana Kofi Frimpong Basoah Okogyeaman (Asanteman Kuo Hamburghene) and Nana Kwadwo Kusi (Asanteman Kuo Hamburg Aboafoɔhene) for their sponsorship, as well as many other individuals who directly and indirectly contributed financially to the success of the festival.