Under the umbrella of the Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA), Asantes all over North America converged in Washington to celebrate Asante Day 2014, which turned out to be the biggest ever gathering of Asantes in North America. President Kwasi Agyemang of the host association, the Executive Council, the Council of Elders and the Asante Day 2014 Planning Committee were acknowledged for doing an outstanding job in hosting the Asante Day 2014 and making it a great success.

The Asante Day is an annual event celebrated by Asantes in North America during Labor Day Weekend and it is hosted by one of ACONA member associations. This year, the Asanteman Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area hosted the Asante Day. It is celebrated to promote and celebrate the unity, history and culture of the Asante people, demonstrate their continued allegiance to the Golden Stool and above all to raise funds for some developmental projects in the Asanteman Areas of Ghana.

The two day event, August 30th and 31st, kicked off with a Grand Durbar at the Fort Hunt Park, Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday afternoon where a procession of chiefs and queen mothers from North America were dressed in their traditional regalia adorned with gold ornaments and traditional sandals to match entered the durbar grounds amidst traditional drumming and dancing. Nana Kofi Boateng, the Asantefuohene of the Washington Metro Area, Nana Ama Achiaa, Asantefuohemaa, Washington Congress Ladies and the entire Washington entourage led the procession to take their seats. They were followed by the rest of North America Asanteman Chiefs, Queenmothers and their entourage, namely, Okokyeredom Nana Acheampong Tieku of New York; Nana Anokye of Toronto; Nana Addai Baffour of Chicago; Nana Atta Yeboah of Southern California; Nana Boakye of Dallas, TX; Nana Wiafe Anane of Denver; Nana Adu Opoku of Cincinnati, OH; Nana Addai Munumkum I of Houston, TX; Nana Osei Akoto of Charlotte, NC and Nana Antwi Bosiako of Columbus, OH. A delegation from the African Traditional Spiritual Coalition also took part in the procession and featured prominently at the durbar. Other affiliated groups who supported and participated in the Asante Day 2014 celebrations included Asona Abusua led by Nana Asomani, Aduana Abusua headed by Nana Aduanaba Kwaku Frimpong (Aduanahene), Kumasi Girls Old Students Association of USA, Asafo, Fante Newtown and Amakom (AFA) Association, Amansie Kroye Kuo, Tafo Pankrono Association, St Monicas and many others.

When all delegations had been seated at the durbar in line with Asante customs and traditions, Dr. Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area of Ghana and the official representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, arrived at the durbar grounds with a retinue of chiefs and queenmothers from Ghana including Nana Amoah Gyaami Ofori Panin III, Otumfuo Danpankesehene/Aprabohene, Nana Obuo Gyau, Bechem Adumhene, Nana Bonti Marfo, Agogo Adontenhene; Nana Nimo Wiredu Ampem I, Asokore Nyanfa Kontihene and Nana Nti Yeboah Sakyi, Nana Serwaa Brakatu (Adum Afrancho Nkosuohemaa), and Nana Nimo Twumwaa Achiaa (Kwaaman Aboafuohemaa).

Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I, while delivering his address at the durbar on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, advised Asantes in North America to live peaceably with one another, in unity and love, respect each other and support one another. He also admonished the Asantes to pull their resources together for the common good of Asanteman.

In her keynote address, the speaker, Mrs. Susan O Kodua-Brobbey, an oncology nurse practitioner, entreated the gathering to be conscious of their health and maintain healthy lifestyles in order to prolong their lifespan and congratulated ACONA for choosing this year to raise funds to help improve Maternal Health in Asanteman Areas of Ghana.

Dr. Philip Bannor, a medical practitioner, who chaired the Durbar, on his part admonished everyone to acquire knowledge of the Asante culture in order to preserve and promote it.

The Asante Day 2014 celebrations continued in the night of Sunday, August 31, 2014 with a grand Fundraising Dinner Dance at the Springfield Hilton, where almost five hundred (500) attendees had the pleasure and honor of dining and sharing the dancing floor with Otumfuo’s Representative and other Asante Royals and Dignitaries.

The goal for this year’s event was to raise funds to improve maternal care in the Asanteman areas of Ghana. In particular, the funds raised this year will be used to acquire hospital beds and mattresses for maternity wards of clinics and health facilities in the Asanteman areas of Ghana. The Fundraising Dinner Dance Event was chaired by Mr. Charles N. Ofori, CPA, who encouraged the attendees to donate generously to the worthy cause identified by ACONA.

Several organizations and individuals contributed immensely to support this cause, including Dr. Bawuah Edusei Foundation, George and Angela Owusu Foundation, Mr. Charles N. Ofori, CPA, Dr. Philip Bannor, Ms Antoinette Duah, Ms Sophia Kyerematen and Mr. Gabby Kyerematen and many others.

During the afternoon of Sunday August 31, 2014, ACONA held a congress, in a form of a town hall meeting where matters of topical interest to Asanteman were discussed. Among the highlights of the congress was the selection of Nana Adu Poku, Asantefuohene of Cincinnati, Ohio as the new ACONA President, who took over from Nana Acheampong Tieku, Asantefuohene of New York. ACONA also accepted Asanteman Association of New York request to host Asante Day 2015.