COUNCIL OF BRONG AHAFO ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK CONVENTION COMMUNIQUE

The fifth Annual convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Association of North American ended in a grand style at Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York on Sunday August 31st 2014.

The two days events included COBAANA general meeting, fund raising dinner dance, traditional festivities and picnic.

The main objective of the convention was to bring together all the citizens, families and friends of Brong Ahafo residents in North America and to pull their resources together to improve the Brong Ahafo Region and Ghana as a whole.

The keynote speaker at the convention was Honorable Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister of Brong Ahafo Region. He thanked the association for its enormous contribution to the SunyaniRegionalHospital.

Other special dignitaries who joined Hon. Opoku from the Brong Ahafo Region to grace the occasion were Nana Pimapim Kagbrese, who doubles as the President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and the Paramount chief of Yeji Traditional Area, Nana Nyamah, the Omanhemaa of Sunyani, Nana Serwaa Nyarko, the Omanhemaa of Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area and the Consular General of the Ghana High Commission in the United States His Excellency Ken Kanda, Nana Oseadeeyo Agyapong Baidoo Brobbey Gyaasehene of Mim Traditional Area (Mr. COBAANA) Nana Yaw Adu Gyamfi, Nana Abena Pokuaa, Chief and Queenmother of Brong Ahafo Association of Chicago, Nana Kwadwo Amponsah III Brosankro, Nana Amma Saah Fiapre, Nana Otafregya Esseim Kwaa Kontan III Saanaahene of Denkyira Traditional Area, Nana Obrempong Ameyaw Amponsem II Anyima, Nana Kuffuor, Aduanafuohene of North America, Nana Akosua Yeboaa Nsuasehemaa, Dormaa Traditional Area, Nana Yaa Asiria Yeboah Ms. COBAANA 2013, New York, Mr. Felix B. Chaahaah Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council and Hon Ruth Hassel-Thompson a.k.a. Nana Addobea I New York State Senator.

The Regional Minister extended greetings from the President and people of Ghana and citizens of the Brong Ahafo Region to members of COBAANA and called on Brong Ahafo citizens in the Diaspora to attend the incoming 2015 National Festival of Arts and Culture to be hosted in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

He also took the opportunity to thank COBAANA for donating a forty footer load of world class medical supplies and equipment valued at $130,000(US Dollars) to the SunyaniRegionalHospital to take care of the health care needs of the citizens of Brong Ahafo Region and Ghana as a whole.

As part of the government contribution to help build a formidable health care delivery in the region, Hon. Opoku said the Ghana government, led by His Excellency John Mahama have constructed five additional poly clinics in the region and have also provided $7 million worth of medical supplies and equipment to the Sunyani government hospital.

Nana Pimapim Kagbrese praised the members of COBAANA for coming together annually in love and unity to support developmental activities at home and described it as a noble venture which should not be under estimated.

The convention was represented by the following chapters of Brong Ahafo Associations in the United States and Canada: New York, Chicago, Denver, Columbus, Cincinnati, Worcester, Washington, Toronto and Calgary

The newly elected COBAANA executives to spearhead the affairs of the Association for the next four years were sworn in by Rev. Kwasi Amponsa-Yeboah. They are Mr. Alex Ankomah, Chairman, Mr. Daniel Asante, Vice Chairman, Mr. Augustine Boahene, General Secretary, Mr. Thomas Kyeremeh, Asst. Secretary, Mr. Francis Apraku, Treasurer, FT Lt (Rtd) Samuel Tandoh, Financial Secretary, Mr. Boakye Boateng, Publicity Officer and Ms. Mina Annan, Assistant Publicity officer. The next COBAANA convention will be held in TorontoCanada.

Official Cobaana Report by:

Bentil Boakye Boateng

Cobaana Publicity Officer