The Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) held their 21st Annual Convention at the Crowne Plaza Convention Center in Denver, CO, from August 29 to September 1, 2014, under the theme ‘Ewe dukoa fe nyonyo ekam (The development of Eweland is my responsibility, my business). The focus of 2014 Convention was on the development of human potential, skills training and entrepreneurship.

The event which was chaired by the CEANA President, Dr. Peter Nat Abotchie, was attended by several political leaders and paramount chiefs from the Volta Region, namely, Mr. Komla Ganyaglo, Deputy Volta Regional Minister; Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, Hohoe; Togbe Gobo Dake XII of Tsito; Togbe Hotormaho Amedzake III of Abutia-Kpota; Togbe Dagadu VIII, Paramount Chief of Akpini Traditional Area, Kpando; Mama Komla Teng III, Queen Mother of Kpando; Mdm Kuada Yawa of North Dayi District and Women's Leader; Rev. Victoria Esinu Vitashie and Mr. Kofi Ator..

At the Saturday morning conference, Dr. Abotchie highlighted CEANA’s achievements of the past year, especially the completion of a Junior Secondary School in Tanyigbe Anyigbe in the Ho Municipality, and the award of scholarships to High School students in Ghana, Togo and Benin, among others. He also spoke about projects that CEANA will focus on in the coming year, especially potable water projects and renovation of rural clinics in Eweland. He appealed to sons and daughters of Eweland to support CEANA’s programs financially and through the contribution of expertise in several program areas of the organization.

The Guest of Honor, Mr. Prosper Bani, was represented by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Komla Ganyaglo, who spoke about business and investment opportunities back home, as well as the need for CEANA to be properly represented on the ground through a Secretariat. Other Speakers include Ms. Helena Dagadu a PhD candidate who spoke about the necessity to mentor the younger generations of Ewes to play their role as future leaders of Eweland. She emphasized the necessity to bridge the apparent generational gap between older and younger Ewes. Mr. Godwin Dela-Edem Adordie, an entrepreneur and CEO of Praise Tropical African Foods, also spoke about business opportunities in Eweland, and gave advice about how to negotiate the peculiar challenges of the Ghanaian business environment. The final speaker, Mr. William E. Bills, a US corporate lawyer, spoke about business law, investment horizon, and succession planning.

Mr. Kobla Dorku, President of Norvinyo Habobo of Delaware Valley, was inaugurated the new Vice President of CEANA, tasked with the onerous responsibility to organize the 2015 CEANA Convention in Philadelphia. Mr. Dorku accepted the challenge and pledged to do his best to facilitate CEANA’s progress.

The Convention was capped on Sunday with a celebratory non-denominational church service, and an afternoon picnic that drew a crowd of about 500. The afternoon was filled with delicious Ewe dishes amid agbadja, bobobo and other forms of entertainment from Eweland.

Convention attendants returned to their various destinations across the USA, Canada, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Europe renewed with a sense of unity, friendship, collaboration and a greater resolve to support and assist proposed projects in Ghana, Togo and Benin.

At the end of deliberations, the CEANA Council of Representatives (COR);

Approved Norvinyo Habobo of Delaware Valley to host the 22nd Annual CEANA Convention in 2015. Visit www.ceanaonline.org to start making your hotel reservations. Resolved that Chapter Associations of CEANA shall continue to encourage their members to contribute toward the CEANA Scholarship Program that currently funds awards to High School students in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Approved the following projects for the next 12 months: potable water wells, refurbishment of a clinic, and renovation of a school building in Ghana and Togo.

Approved a new round of scholarships for High School students in Ghana, Togo and Benin.

The President of CEANA, Dr. Peter Nat Abotchie, the CEANA Council and Secretariat are very grateful to all delegates, convention participants and friends of CEANA for making the Denver Colorado convention a successful one. Special thanks go to the President of the Ewe Association of Colorado, Divine Klutsey; the 2014 Convention Planning Chairman, Derick Glymin; and the membership of Ewe Association of Colorado for hosting the 2014 program.

Published on behalf of the CEANA President & Secretariat