Citizens and friends of Okuapemman and Asuogyaman resident in the USA and Canada congregated in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area over the Labor Day weekend to celebrate the 27th Annual Odwira / Ohum Festival at the plush sprawling Hilton Hotel Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia. The theme for this year’s convention was “Youth Empowerment: OKUSACA’s Future”.

Founded in 1985, Okuapemman Association of USA and Canada (OKUSACA), with its Secretariat in New York, is the umbrella organization for several non-profit associations incorporated in the USA and Canada by and for people of Akuapem, Akwamu, Anum, Boso and Nkonya descent. The membership is dedicated to foster close social, cultural and economic inter-relationships between members and the host communities. As part of its objectives, the association also organizes programs aimed at improving the quality of lives of the people living in the Akuapem and Asuogya Traditional areas in particular, and Ghana in general. The OKUSACA Odwira / Ohum Festival is hosted annually on a rotational basis during Labor Day weekends by one of the 12 affiliate Chapters. The 28th Annual Odwira / Ohum Festival will be hosted by the New Jersey Chapter during the Labor Day weekend, Friday August 30th to Sunday September 1st 2013. The Annual OKUSACA Mid-Year Delegates Conference, also hosted by Chapters on a rotational basis, is held on Memorial Day weekends to afford OKUSACA Board of Trustees. the Secretariat and elected Chapter Delegates the opportunity to deliberate on issues of the year’s agenda, and present recommendations to the OKUSACA General Assembly for ratification during the Annual Odwira / Ohum Festival. The next Delegates Conference will be hosted by the Atlanta Chapter from Friday May 24th to Sunday May 26th 2013.

About 700 revelers who descended on Alexandria Mark Center Hilton Hotel Friday evening by air, family cars / vans, and several busloads from Toronto, New York, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Chicago, Ohio, Minnesota, Virginia and Delaware Valley Chapters were all treated to a Welcome Reception Dinner by the host Chapter, Akuapem Mma Fekuw of Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.

At a brief formal opening of the Festival after Saturday breakfast, OKUSACA National Chairman, who is also the host Chapter’s President, Godwin Larbi welcomed all to the Festival. OKUSACA National Co-ordinating Secretary David Ntifo Osafo thereafter outlined the weekend’s program of events, followed by a bus-tour of Washington, DC which culminated in a very informative tour of the US Capitol Building and a drive-by the White House. The rest of the post-lunch afternoon was dedicated to the theme of the Festival, “Youth Empowerment: OKUSACA’s Future”. The first half of the Special Youth Program was a very enlightening interactive presentation on the topic “Staying Connected to Ethnic Roots” by a renowned motivational speaker, accomplished children’s book author and retired long-time United Nations International School Teacher, Michael Ofori-Mankata. The second part was a keenly contested Youth Quiz on Ghana, Africa and general international developments moderated by the Executive Secretary-General of National Council of Ghanaian Associations (NCOGA) of New York Tri-State Area, Mr. Kwame Ofori Anor as Quiz Master. After an exciting tie at the end of the Quiz, the Toronto Chapter youth contestant, Justin Abrokwah, proceeded to beat the New York Chapter youth contestant, Jemimah Aduampong, by a single point to win the coveted Quiz Trophy.

The Saturday night Odwira / Ohum Festival at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom, the epic of the whole weekend, was a cultural extravaganza which started with the New York Chapter Youth Cultural Dancing Troupe escort, ushering a resplendent procession of Ghanaian Chiefs in the Diaspora, followed by visiting Divisional Chiefs of Akuapem Traditional Area, Kurontihene Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyemang IV, Gyasehene Nana Osim Kwatia II, Aburihene Otoobuor Gyan Kwasi II, Adukromhene Nana Otutu Konor III, Kyidomhene Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, together with the President of Akuapem Queenmothers Association and Akuapem Gyasehemea, Nana Manko Aba II, all adorned with their colorful outfits and authentic Ghanaian gold regalia amid traditional Fontonfrom drumming and dancing. Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. George Opare Addo and Eastern Regional Director of Protocol Mr. Joseph Kofi Odoom represented Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Victor Smith, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and Minister at the Presidency, Hon Dr. Kwasi Apea-Kubi, who could not attend due to the concurrent NDC National Congress in Kumasi. Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, H.E Dan Ohene Agyekum, and Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, H.E. Ken Kanda, both of whom were also attending the Kumasi NDC Congress, were represented by Minister / Trade Attaché, Hon. Ebenezer Padi Adjirackor of the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The New York Chapter Youth Cultural ensemble later entertained the capacity –crowd of over a thousand revelers to an impressive presentation of Traditional Twi Poetic Recitals / Appellations on the 17 main Akuapem towns and intricate moves of traditional dancing. OKUSACA National Chairman and Host Chapter President, Godwin Larbi, in his address, reserved a special recognition and warm welcome of OKUSACA Chapter Youths who were for the first time, in response to the Festival theme, attending as OKUSACA Delegates, and encouraged respective Chapters to continue developing this valuable treasure of a resource as essential future sustenance of OKUSACA. In his passage of the OKUSACA National Chairmanship Torch to New Jersey Chapter President, Emmanuel Kwame Gyan, he emboldened all members to continue to rally behind him to foster the needed OKUSACA unity for the benefit of Okuapemman and Asuogyaman. The Akuapem North MCE Hon. George Opare Addo, in his address, congratulated OKUSACA on their developmental initiatives in Okuapemman and Asuogyaman and also delivered a revealing litany of the NDC Government’s accomplishments during the previous year within Akuapem and Asuogya Traditional areas. A special competitive Fundraising in aid of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Pediatric Ward of Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital was won by the New York Chapter which contributed the highest donation. Two elegant trophies, donated by the family of OKUSACA National Co-ordinating Secretary, David Ntifo Osafo, were presented to New York Chapter for winning the fundraising competition and also to the Youth Quiz winner, Justin Abrokwah from Toronto Chapter.

A special non-denominational Sunday morning Thanksgiving communion church service at the Hilton Worship Center, jointly officiated by Rev. Alfred Ainooson of the A.M.E. Zion Church, Washington, D.C. and Rev. Dr. Francis Kumi-Dwamena, Founding Pastor of Ghana Presbyterian Church of Manhattan, New York, was followed by a Town Hall Meeting with the visiting Government officials and Traditional Rulers. Moderated by OKUSACA Trustee Board Secretary Col. (Rtd.) Prince Twumasi-Ankrah, the visiting Chiefs and Queenmother took turns to individually reassure OKUSACA membership of their continued commitment to the resolution process of the lingering 19-year old Akuapem chieftaincy conflict. Together with the Akuapem North MCE, they respectively fielded several questions and concerns raised by the general membership. Osabarima Dr, La-Kumi Sasraku I of Toronto Chapter eloquently delivered the vote of thanks for the event.

The round-off Sunday afternoon event for the fun-filled weekend was a family picnic at the Hunt Road State Park, Alexandria, which was nearly ruined by a brief late morning heavy downpour. A large variety of sumptuous Ghanaian and Caribbean cuisine and a generous open bar of chilled assorted beverages were placed at the beckon of attendees amid DJ-provided music of oldies as well as latest hip-life and azonto dance tunes. The New York Chapter Youth Dance Troupe entertained the gathering with a farewell dance performance to wild applause. OKUSACA Annual Recognition Awards were presented to deserving recipients selected by respective Chapters and the National Secretariat. The picnic environment facilitated group, as well as one-on-one interaction between visiting dignitaries from Ghana and their respective constituents to address issues of mutual concern. Well-exhilarated guests and delegates have since safely returned to their various destinations.

Source: OKUSACA National Secretariat, New York City

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