OKUAPEMMAN ASSOCIATION OF USA & CANADA (OKUSACA)

The Labor Day weekend of September 3rd - 5th 2010 witnessed a grand celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the founding of Okuapemman Association of USA & Canada (OKUSACA) at the plush Crystal Ballroom of the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers, New York.

For the first time in the history of OKUSACA, the entire next-door RAMADA Hotel was retained for accommodating invited dignitaries and delegates, and holding meetings and workshops. The overflow attendees were accommodated at the Royal Regency Hotel. The centralization of the entire weekend celebration in a twin-hotel location significantly mitigated the complex logistic burden posed by the past-practice of host-chapter members having to provide accommodation and local transportation for out-of-town delegates. Host-chapter President Ernest Atah Amoyaw and his family entertained arriving dignitaries and delegates to a lavish reception of assorted drinks, sumptuous Ghanaian cuisine and music and dancing at the RAMADA Hotel from 7 PM Friday till the wee hours of Saturday. The majority of delegates from Toronto, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and New Jersey arrived early Saturday morning. After breakfast at RAMADA Hotel, OKUSACA National Co-ordinating Secretary, David N. Osafo declared the 25th Session of the Annual Conference open with an opening prayer by Rev. Yaw Asiedu of Ghana Presbyterian Church of Manhattan. The meeting of the National Council of OKUSACA preceded the Town Hall / Committee Workshops deliberations with invited Traditional Rulers and other dignitaries from Ghana. The theme for the Silver Jubilee celebration was “25 Years of Okuapemman Unity and Hope for the Future”. In his opening address, David Osafo commended the Anniversary Planning Committee, chaired by Col. (Rtd.) Prince Twumasi-Ankrah, for the arduous task of putting together the entire Silver Jubilee program. He announced that the next chapter to co-ordinate affairs of OKUSACA Secretariat will be Washington, D.C., and that, our illustrious OKUSACA Chairman Raymond Ansah of Toronto Chapter, who has in his own humble personal manner impressively steered affairs of the Organization for the past two years and raised OKUSACA to a new level, will be handing over the coveted baton of chairmanship to Godwin Larbi of Washington, D.C. for the next two-year term.

The panel of speakers at the Town Hall meeting, moderated by Col. (Rtd.) Prince Twumasi-Ankrah, comprised the Guest of Honor, Honorable Eastern Regional Commissioner Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, District Chief Executive Akuapem North Hon. George Opare Addo, Municipal Chief Executive Akuapem South Hon. Dr.Godfried Osei-Bonsu Twum, Akuapem Kurontihene Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyemang IV, Akuapem Adontenhene Otoobour Gyan Kwasi II, Akuapem Gyasehene Nana Osim Kwatia II, Mamfehene Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, and Host Chapter Patron Aburi-Adamrobehene Nana Osei Boakye Yiadom II. After each panel member’s presentation, the panel fielded questions from the audience.

The discussion centered mainly on the role of the Government of Ghana in the rehabilitation of Akuapem / Asuogya crumbling institutions and infrastructure, such as Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital (TQMH), School for the Blind and School for the Speech & Hearing Impaired . In his presentation, the Hon. Regional Minister expressed his excitement to be back again for the 2010 Annual OKUSACA Odwira / Ohum festivities. He recalled that at the previous year’s festival in Toronto, Canada, he promised that if invited again, he would wish to come with his two Akuapem District Chief Executives to give account of their stewardship on the Akuapem Ridge – a promise he had fulfilled! He pledged the support of the Ghana Government for all the on-going projects currently being undertaken by OKUSACA in Akuapem / Asuogya. The capacity crowd applauded to acknowledge the Hon. Minister’s pledge.

Also deliberated on at great length was the pro tracted chieftaincy dispute which has plagued Okuapemman to date. It is important to emphasize that the main objective of inviting the Akuapem Divisional Chiefs to the OKUSACA Silver Jubilee festivities was to afford the OKUSACA general membership a platform to express their passionate concern and desire for their chiefs back home in Ghana to sit together and seek all possible solutions to the alarming protracted dispute which has literally immobilized the Akuapem Traditional Administration. The three Divisional Chiefs, who were present at the meeting, the Kurontihene, Adontenhene, and Gyasehene, in response to the passionate appeal of the OKUSACA general membership, welcomed with open arms the initiative of the Eastern Regional Minister Hon. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and his entourage on their enthusiasm at fostering an amicable solution without further delay. The Divisional Chiefs also encouraged all Okuapemman to give the effort their moral and patriotic support.

The epic of the entire weekend celebration was the electrifying Saturday night event held at the Crystal Ballroom of The Royal Regency Hotel to showcase the cultural extravaganza of Odwira / Ohum festival of the people of Akuapem / Asuogya descent amid the cultural pomp and pageantry witnessed by the capacity crowd of over eight hundred revelers. Gorgeously dressed OKUSACA ladies and gentlemen in their Silver Jubilee cloth, resplendent Traditional Ghanaian Chiefs, Queens and linquists, adorned with their full regalia, parading to the melody of Fontomfrom drumming and dancing, reminiscent of a typical Akuapem / Asuogya Durbar. It was an amazing once in a life-time experience befitting Silver jubilee celebration! Among the invited dignitaries were Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Leslie Kojo Christian, and Ghana’s Consul General in New York, Hon. Ernest Lomotey, representatives from the Offices of the Mayor of Yonkers Philip Amicone, and New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Medical, Dental, Legal and other Ghanaian professionals.

The Event Chairman was our own OKUSACA Trustee Board Member, the Toronto-based renowned Dentist, Dr. Nana Martin La-Kumi Sasraku I. After the rendition of the National Anthems of USA, Canada and Ghana, opening prayers and traditional pouring of libation were respectively performed by Rev. Yaw Asiedu and Dr, Alex Kwame Aniapam Boafo. In his welcome address, Dr. Nana La-Kumi recognized and commended the presence of all the ten affiliated chapters of OKUSACA and reiterated the need to establish more chapters, not only in North America, but also in Europe and other parts of the world to include all Akuapem / Asuogya citizens in the Diaspora. He also underscored the need for the Ghana Government to assume the much-needed leadership in the TQMH resuscitation efforts initiated by OKUSACA. OKUSACA recently remitted an amount of US$10.000.00 to initiate the TQMH rehabilitation project which is estimated to cost about US$130,000.00. Other speakers were the Guest-of Honor, Hon, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, who promised to bring the concerns of Akuapem / Asuogya citizens in the Diaspora to the attention of the Government of Ghana on his return home.

Two Proclamations were presented to OKUSACA by the Mayor of the City of Yonkers and the New York State Senator. A passionate appeal for funds in aid of TQMH Restoration Project was launched by Dr. Kwame Anyane Yeboah of New York Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. We welcome all philanthropists to forward donations to the OKUSACA Treasurer, 55 Lincoln Street, Trumbull, CT 06611, USA. OKUSACA is a Registered 501C-3 Charity. The New Jersey Chapter presented stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs valued at about US$1,000.00 to be sent to TQMH. Mr. Kwasi Ofori-Mankata, a renowned author of Akan Children’s Books and veteran of OKUSACA New York Chapter, donated the initial 50 copies of his newest publication which he dedicated to OKUSACA Silver Jubilee to be auctioned in aid of TQMH Restoration project.

Annual awards were presented to some OKUSACA members for their meritorious services. Honorary awards were also presented to the Hon. Regional Minister and some Traditional Rulers who have been relentlessly supportive of the development of Akuapem / Asuogya Traditional Areas of Ghana.

A special OKUSACA Silver Jubilee non-denominational Thanksgiving and Communion Service with the theme “Hope for the Present and Future” was held on Sunday morning at the RAMADA Hotel, jointly-officiated by Rev, Samuel Manukure Atiemo of Bethel Presbyterian Reformed Church of Brooklyn and Rev. Dr. Moses O. Biney of the First Presbyterian Church of Irvington, New Jersey. Immediately thereafter, shuttle buses, vans and cars transported all OKUSACA guests and delegates to the nearby lush Tibbett’s Water-Park in Yonkers for a grand family picnic to round-off a spectacular weekend of fun and pleasure before dispersal of OKUSACA Silver Jubilee celebrants from far and near. There were plenty of assorted varieties of Ghanaian and Caribbean foods, a generously open bar of chilled beverages, and infectious free-for-all dancing to music by DJ SMOKEY of Volta Power FM fame.

It was a lot of fun and merry-making for the gathering of over 1,000 people. People were found in groups, feasting, chatting, taking pictures and dancing. There were others who were just enjoying the cool breeze of the spacious shady park, whilst others chose to cool-it off with their children in the nearby water-park swimming pool.

New York Chapter certainly deserves to be congratulated for hosting such a historic most successful and most well-attended Annual OKUSACA Odwira / Ohum Anniversary Festival. We wish to express profound gratitude to our generous sponsors Western Union, Kuwait Shipping and Packaging Corporation and Prestige Tours and Travel. 2011 Annual Conference which will surely be another exciting event is scheduled to be hosted by the Dallas Chapter in Texas over the Labor Day Weekend.

For information on how to obtain copies of the Silver Jubilee DVD and Post-Anniversary Commemorative Journal, please contact OKUSACA National Co-ordinating Secretary, David N. Osafo at: osadav01@yahoo.com or Phone (917) 647 -1293. National Co-ordinating Secretariat Okuapemman Association of USA and Canada (OKUSACA)