Ref: GROOPR30706, Columbus, Ohio USA

Washington D.C, Wednesday, June 27 2001.

In keeping with its recent pledge, Ghana Relief Organization of Ohio has sent an Official Check of three thousand US dollars ($3000.00) to the Stadium Disaster Fund.

Ghanaians in Columbus came to the lime light as our own Yaw Obeng stole a precious moment to present the check at the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C during President Kufour’s citizens meeting held June 27 2001. Hon. J. H. Mensah received the Official Check payable to the “Stadium Disaster Fund” and he will deliver it appropriately per a cover letter to Hon. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey. The cover letter listed each contributor with an assigned complimentary level: -

"Cocoa": Up to $49,
"Gold": $50- $99,
"Volta River": $100-$499,
"Spirit of Ghana" $500 and above.


The contributors were 4 churches ( African Christian Church, Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Ghana Columbus SDA, Power of Faith Ministries) 2 non-profit organizations (NPP,Columbus Chapter, and Love and Unity Assoc.) 3 small businesses (Universal Shipping, Africa Market and Krobea Automotive) and 46 individuals (Micheal Abankwah, Akua Adusei, Robert Agunga, Rexford Agyemang, Helena Botchwey, John Akrobbetoe, Nana Amoako, Charles Anokye, Mark Anti, K. Appiah-Kubi, Patrick Asamoah, Kojo & Philomina Assan, Kwadwo Baah. Attah Boateng, Kwame Charles, Ebenezer Ghartey, Crystal Goden, Eric & Suzzie Gyamfi, Alhaji Ibrahim, Nathaniel Kwawukumi, Laura McDermott, Joe Mensah, Joe Nketiah, Jerry Nti, Alex Obeng, Patrick Odoi, Staga Opoku, John Robinson, Kwadwo Sarpong, Fuseini Seidu, Owusu Sekyere, Godfrey Wiafe, Papa Yaw, Joseph Yeboah, Alfred & Becky Anaquah, Alex Asamoah, Annor Aziz, Kwadwo Boakye-Dankwah, Ruth L Bridges, Tom Britt, Titus Kubi, Kwabena Ntiamoah, Kala & Habibata Seidu, Beatrice White, Kwabena & Juliana Boamah-Acheampong, and Francis & Vickie Cobbina).

In addition to the existing fund, it is our hopes this donation will continue to bring relief to the surviving victims, bereaved families and more importantly improve our emergency response units to potential incidents.

Once again, on behalf of the beneficiaries, we wish to thank the entire Ghanaian community and friends in Columbus for their heartfelt contribution and genuine concerns. Also, we appreciate the exceptional contributions of Mr. Mike Anane (Environmental Media Consultant, Ghana) and Mr. Francis Akoto (Ghanaweb.com) who voluntarily conveyed our pledge at the Castle and the Internet media respectively. To all of our foot volunteers, who remain anonymous or inadvertently unmentioned, we commend your efforts, which lit our path, every step of the way. This beginning is an assurance we can together accomplish sustained philanthropic goals. Ghana Relief Organization of Ohio will continue in this endeavor.

Back to Columbus! Many of you have expressed a desire for a return soccer match and I wish to propose a tentative date, Labor Day Weekend in September: Saturday, 9/1 or Sunday, 9/2. By that time, we would have a comprehensive list to select and adopt a project in Ghana. Knowing that our contributions can make a positive difference is indeed self-rewarding.

Acheampong Boamah, GROO Coordinator, 3035 Hollybank Road, Reynoldsburg Ohio 43068, E-mail: Groo512@hotmail.com

Francis Cobbina, Interim Treasurer, John Akrobettoe, Interim Committee Member, Richard Kwasi Owusu, Interim Committee Member, Alex Asamoah, Interim Committee Member, Alfred Anaquah, CPA, Interim Financial Advisor,