.. West London Ghanaian Association gets the support of High Commissioner to UK, Professor Danso-Boafo.

Ghana has been a leader in Pan Africanism across the world leading up to the celebration of Panafest in Ghana.The first President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is known across the world as a champion of the course of Africa and African Diaspora.

The celebration of the month by West London Ghanaian Association brings a paradigm shift where the youth is the focus point.

It is worthy of note that the presence at the event in West London of the Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, himself a champion of youth development in UK, shows the importance of the Black History Month (BHM).

Professor Danso-Boafo, use the occasion to share his experience with the youth. A release stated that: "The High Commissioner, who was present throughout the Forum, shared his personal youth experiences with the young people and urged them to set high goals for themselves."

Significantly, the forum of BHM considered the needs of the youth whilst at the sametime teaching them the history of Africa and the African Diaspora. The needs of the youth are many and varied; but narrowed to education and employment. "Prof. Danso-Boafo announced that the workshops on Interviewing Skills, CV writing, career choices, etc., being organised by the High Commission together with The Knowledge Channel will take place on October 27th between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm at the Consular Section, 104 Highgate Hill, London." This is a very laudable initiative by the High Commissioner which deserves commendation.

I must also add that West London Ghanaian Association, with the support of the High Commissioner, organised one of the best youth fora so far. "The FORUM, attended by over two hundred young people and parents featured interactive workshops and discussions facilitated by Dr. Tony Sewell, Ms Hanah Acquah and a team of professionals from the Knowledge Channel. The objective of the FORUM centred on how to combat youth delinquency especially the rising spate of criminal gangs, knife, gun, and other related crimes in the capital, as well as in the Hounslow Borough. It also aimed at raising the awareness of the serious consequences of the crimes and their impact on the communities and the image of Ghana as a whole."

The forum took into consideration contemporary issues confronting the youth in London and beyond. "The FORUM intended to offer some support and channels to the young people for their future development and also to help inculcate in them Ghanaian values, sense of pride, hope and most importantly identity. The FORUM presented video shows on life in Ghana, Vox Pops showing footage of interviews from black youths across London about their views on gun and knife crimes, the media portrayal of black youths, and aspirations and hopes for the future."

It was a noble idea started by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 then known as Negro History Week to commemorate the history of the African Diaspora. The celebration of the event became so important that since 1976 a month out of the twelve calender months is dedicated to the celebration of Black History in the United Kingdom (UK), America and Canada.

The Black History Month (BHM) is not celebrated in the same month in all countries. In America and Canada, it is celebrated in February and in October in UK. The month is for remembrance of the history of Africans in the Diaspora; teaching the history of Africa and the values of Africans.

However, a reknown historian, John Hope Franklin states that Carter G. Woodson "continued to express hope that Negro History Week" which later became Black History Month (BHM) "would outlive its usefulness".

BHM continue to excite debate and criticism from individuals and from the media. There are those who argue that BHM should not only focus on Africa Diaspora alone. Owen Alik Shahadah is of the conviction that "black history month without a memory of Africa is moot". Morgan Freeman goes further to pose a question of relevance: "why would you relegate my history to a single month?"

Some western journalists and social commentators argue that in an era of multiculturalism, why should a month be dedicated for the celebration of the history of one race, more importantly when society is calling for cultural inclusion.

Further concerns in recent years is not the relevance of BHM, but the commercialisation of the month. The activities marking the month are taken over by businesses with commercial interest blurring out the significance of black history, cultural values and the story of Africa and African Diapora.

I will however congratulate the West London Ghanaian Association and the Ghana High Commissioner for focusing on the development of our youth and giving them hope. Mary Quant stated in the Observer in 1996: "being young is greatly overestimated... any failure seems so total. Later on you realise you can have another go." The youth therefore needs this constant reminder in the BHM that life is about challenges and how they deal with them.