Accra, July 27, GNA - Members of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) arrived in Accra on Friday to participate in a convention aimed to stimulate the development of the Volta Region. The convention, which is usually held in the US and Canada, has been shifted to Ghana this year as part of the country's golden jubilee celebrations.

About 500 people, including traditional rulers, entrepreneurs and professionals, would take part in the 10-day convention to discuss the state of development of Ewe communities across Africa. The convention, under the theme: "Educational Development in Eweland; Focusing on Infrastructure Improvement," would also brainstorm on ways of speeding up integrated development of the communities through collaboration with development partners.

At a press conference on arrival, Mr. Wallace Setranah, President of CEANA, told journalists that the convention was being held at Ho this year to allow the Diaspora community to interact and strengthen cooperation among the people.

He said members would also use the occasion to provide communal labour to help build a 20,000-dollar three-unit classroom complex for a junior secondary school at Sovie in the Kpando District. There will also be sod-cutting for construction works on another three-unit classroom block for Tanyigbe Primary School, near Ho, and other community services.

"We hope that by sharing our time and resources with our people, this effort will ignite a renewed sense of citizenship among our people to move them to engage in self-help projects that will enhance and enrich the development of Eweland and ultimately the lives of the people," Mr. Setranah said.

He said CEANA had in the past undertaken various activities, including a donation of about 3.4 million dollars worth of medical equipment to nine hospitals in the Volta Region and Republic of Togo. The organisation also donated an Electro-Cardiogram and large quantities of hospital supplies to the Cardiology Centre at Korle Bu Hospital.

Mr Setranah said the group had also instituted a scholarship programme for brilliant but needy students pursuing secondary education in the Volta Region and Togo.

Ms. Ivy Quarshie, Executive Director CEANA, said the group was doing all it could to bring investment into key areas of the region to generate employment and development.

CEANA is an umbrella group of all Ewe associations and organisations in North America. The association's membership comprises all Ewe-speaking people of Ghana, Togo and Benin. It has over 2,000 members.

Some of the activities lined up are courtesy call on Togbe Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of Asogli Traditional Area and the Regional Minister.

There would be a lecture by Major (Rtd) Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health, on Ghana@50 - The State of Volta Region, as well as an excursion to Notsie in Togo, Kpetoe Kente Weavers and Aflao Cement Factory.