....Ghanaian-Canadian Achievers Are Honored
Twenty-Four of the "Best and Brightest" in the Ghanaian-Canadian Community were honored at a glittering ceremony dubbed The Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Awards Night in Toronto, Canada's largest City, on Saturday October 4, 2003. The event, which was the fourth since its inception in the year 2000 by the local Community Newspaper, The Ghanaian News, was held at the Luna Ball Room in the North York suburb of the sprawling beautiful City, which is home to over fifty thousand Ghanaians. It recognized members of the community, young and old, who have achieved honours and excellence in their various fields of endeavour.
This year's achievers included a six-year old child, Frank Osei Boamah who was honoured as the "Young Discovery of the Year" for his creative artistic skills. Others were Julius Obiri Yeboah from Montreal (in the Province of Quebec), Mary Fosu Mr & Mrs Acquaye and Joseph Annan (Toronto) for successful initiatives in the Business Field. Five people were honoured for active Community Service: Peter Kofi Nonkoh and Dr. Sam Adjaye Kwofie (from Ottawa, Canada's Capital City), Joyce Mensah and Gifty Kusi Appiah (from Toronto) and Dimitric Amoah (from Winnipeg, Manitoba).
A young lady paediatrician Dr. Akua Amponsah was recognized for Academic Achievement while Mr. Yaw Obeng was honoured for achievement in Education as the first Ghanaian to become a Principal of a School in Canada. A former Chief in the Asante Community in Toronto, Nana Wiafe Akenteng received recognition for promoting Ghanaian Culture in Canada while Joshua Kwajah, a Basketball player and Ohenewah Akuffo, a freestyle wrestler were honoured for achievements in Sports.
Others were Dr. S.K. Adah, Dr. Nah Amakoma (Nana) Banor, a Paediatrician and Lawyer V. Charles Anipare for Professional Excellence. Godonu Kofi Srigboh, Israel Okeafor (from the Province of Prince Edward Island) and Samuel Harvey Ewusi were honoured for their contribution in Music. Long-time Toronto resident Nicholas Prempeh (Dollar Man) received an award for excellence in Video Production.
The highlight of the evening was the presence as a very special guest, of Francis Akoto, the producer and host of the popular Internet Ghana Homepage (Ghanaweb.com), the first Ghanaian website to use advanced technology such as dynamically-generated HTML, databases and user customization. Mr. Akoto, who flew in from Finland for the occasion, was honoured with a special award for "marketing Ghana and Ghanaians abroad on the Internet". This Internet Website attracts over 23000 visitors each day.
Among the large number of distinguished guests at the evening's gala were Canadian Federal, Provincial and Municipal officials and the Ghana High Commissioner in Canada, His Excellency Samuel Arthur Odoi Sykes. The event was co-hosted by Michael Baffoe, the Ottawa/Montreal Bureau Chief of The Ghanaian News and Toronto Resident Amy Nunoo Amarteifio.
PIC: Ghana web with Ghanaian News Team, from left Michael Baffoe Contributing Editor Montreal, Francis Akoto Ghanaweb, Joe Kingsley Eyiah Contributing EditorToronto, Emmanuel Ayiku, Publisher, Toronto
