AGPI holds colloquium on: Transforming Africa’s Brain Drain into Brain Gain

On Saturday the 19th of November 2011, the Association of Ghanaian Professionals in Ireland (AGPI) held a colloquium at the Clarion Hotel in Dublin 22 to mark the 4th anniversary of the formation of the organisation. The theme for the celebration was “Transforming Africa’s Brain Drain into Brain Gain”. The colloquium was attended by seventy six delegates from nine nationalities including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Cameroonians, Tanzanians, Congolese, Ivoirians, Irish, an Italian and a Dutch national. The special guests for the occasions included the Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County- Councillor Guss O'Connell, the Deputy Head of Mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland-Mr. Georges Omokhagbor O. Alabi and his wife, a Senior Executive of the St John of God Development Company- Mr Frank Wood, and an administrative officer at the Ghana consulate in Ireland-Ms Blathnaid Trayer. The guest speaker was Mr James Wanki an Irish Aid Anna Lindh Doctoral Fellow and a Marie Curie Fellow of the University of Limerick in Ireland and the University of Bradford in UK respectively. The function was chaired by, Mr James P. Evans, a Fellow of AGPI who is also a Commercial and Civil Litigation Partner at James P. Evans Solicitors. The colloquium was attended by representatives from the African Students Association of Ireland, the Asanteman Association of Ireland and the Manorfields Foundation, an Irish based charity comprising of Nigerian health care professionals working in Ireland.

The programme began with an opening prayer by Mr Emmanuel Brobby. In his welcome address, the chairperson of AGPI, Dr Vincent Agyapong, stated that although Africa’s challenges were fearsome, he believes that so are the strengths as African’s in Diaspora. He emphasised that there is nothing wrong with Africa that cannot be cured by what is right with Africa-it human and natural resources. He said that the victory for the crusade to transform Africa’s Brain Drain into Brain Gain would depend very much upon four things, namely: “First, we have to strive to support and empower ourselves as Africans in diaspora to overcome barriers and achieve our full potentials. Second, African patriots in diaspora and African led organisations have to promote and develop partnerships with one another as well as with institutions in Africa and embark on joint initiatives aimed at transforming the African continent. Third, we African patriots in Diaspora have to spread the benefits of such collaboration so we can make more partners in the future for Africa’s development. And finally, all of us as Africans, both in Africa and in Diaspora will have to develop a truly global consciousness about what our responsibilities to each other and to our host nations and countries of origin are and what our relationships are to be.” Concluding his address, Dr Agyapong, challenged a new generation of young Africans in Diaspora to a season of service to the African continent.

Mr Kwame Takyi, the Technical Director of AGPI made a presentation on the background and achievements of AGPI over the last four years. The presentation touched on the role of AGPI in creating awareness among immigrants in Ireland, advocating for migrants rights and integration in Ireland, contributing to the fight against racism, discrimination and xenophobia in Ireland, promoting education among African and Irish youth, mobilising human and material resources towards Ghana’s advancement, promoting psychiatry as a career option for Ghanaian medical students, advocating for improvement in mental health service delivery in Ghana and the passage of Ghana’s Mental Health Bill, promoting Ghana as an investment destination and organising electives placements in Ghanaian hospitals for Irish Medical and Dental students.

Making his presentation, the guest speaker, Mr James Wanki, touched on the route courses of Africa’s problems. He said corruption was the single biggest problem confronting the African continent. He said Africa is blessed with rich human and natural resources which could be harnessed to solve all the problems confronting the continent if African leaders and their cronies could rid themselves of corrupt practices. He admonished Africans in Diaspora to take keen interest in the development of the continent and to contribute in any way possible towards this objective.

There were presentations from representatives of the Manorfields Foundation and the African Students Association of Ireland. There were also solidarity messages from the special guests in attendance and there was cultural display by the Dynamic Entertainment Dance Group base in Lucan, Dublin. Mrs Belinda Agyapong delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the executives and members of AGPI and especially thanked the sponsors, including the St John of God Development Company, St Patrick University Hospital and the European Commission for their benevolence. The programme concluded with a prayer by Pastor Anthony Nkansah of the Creative Life Church in Dublin. The MC’s were Mr Torsby Attipoe a member of AGPI and Miss Tina Mutombo, Miss Democratic Republic of Congo 2007 and Miss Malaika U.K 2007

To see pictures of the event, please visit our picture gallery at www.agpireland.org

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