The Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) will be converging again in Washington DC on Saturday, August 31st, 2013 for their 4th Annual Convention. The venue is the Holiday Inn, 2 Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

For the past four years, COBAANA has taken the leading role of bringing all Brong Ahafo citizens in the United States and Canada together to socialize and deliberate on ways to mobilize resources to support deprived communities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.

Upon the fatherly advice given by the most respectable ruler of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Agyemang-Badu II, the formation of COBAANA began. Nana Agyemang-Badu, who was then on a visit to North America, observed with much admiration the enthusiasm and resourcefulness of Brong Ahafo citizens he met and their concern for the plight of their families, friends and communities in Ghana. Nana Agyemang-Badu II was very instrumental in the constitution of the first interim committee to plan for the all-inclusive umbrella organization. Since 2010, the great people of Brong Ahafo have converged in one city each year under the umbrella of COBAANA to renew the important bond of love between them and identify areas needing assistance in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Washington, D.C. is the host city for the 2013 COBAANA Convention. The hosting chapter has been feverishly making preparations to receive some eight hundred brothers and sisters from North America. In a chat with this reporter, the President of the Washington Chapter, Mr. Thomas Kyeremeh, emphasized their joy and excitement to welcome all to the capital of the United States. Observers from Ghana, and as far away as England, Germany, and Turkey would be in attendance.

At the convention in Columbus, Ohio in September 2012, COBAANA identified health care as the focus of the support in the coming years. Members were alarmed by the health statistics given by health professionals who addressed the convention and the urgent need for support. In response, COBAANA has sent eight all-purpose hospital beds and medical supplies worth $12,000.00 to the Sunyani Regional Hospital. More assistance is scheduled to be sent after the 2013 Convention. In April this year, Nana Odeneho Osei Kwabena of the Columbus, Ohio Chapter, led a delegation of health professionals from The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) in Columbus to Brong Ahafo to study ways in which they could support the health delivery system in the region. The staff and students from OSUMC paid visits to the General Hospital and other communities, including Chiraa where they supported the construction of the Senior High School Girls’ Dormitory with $1500 and pledged future support as well.

COBAANA-Washington, D.C. invites all citizens of Ghana and friends to the dinner dance on August 31st, 2013, which will be the kick-off of the 4th Annual Convention. Mr. Kyeremeh concluded talking to this reported by saying: “Brong Ahafo is one of the most ethnically diverse regions of Ghana. We have the Brongs, Ahafos, Mo, Pantra, Badu, Gonja, Banda, Pru, and so on. We have always lived in peace with each other, and I expect that this gathering will be a testimony to it as well.”

If you would like to take part of this historic gathering, please contact any member of the organizing committee listed below:

Mr. Paul K. Gyau 301-523-3903 pkgyau@verizon.net

Mr. Gottfried Amo 301-221-6830

Mr. Thomas Kyeremeh 240-606-5872 kofipat25@gmail.com

Mrs. Rebecca Yeboah 703-508-9064 beccayeboah6@yahoo.com