Okuapemman Association of USA and Canada (OKUSACA) At Dallas for the celebration of 2011 Odwira/Ohum Festival.

…….Donates Medical Supplies worth Over $1,500.00 to TQMH in Ghana.

Chiefs and Queen mothers from the Traditional areas of Akuapem and Asuogya as well as their citizens living throughout the United States of America and Canada will gather at Dallas, Texas from September 2nd-5th, 2011 to celebrate their rich history and culture dating back to at least 1240 A.D., at the Odwira/Ohum festival and Dance at the plush Westin Hotel Grand Ballroom at 4545 West John Carpenter Freeway in Irving, Texas 75063. Among the celebrants will be Dallas own Royals: State Representative Helen Giddings, retired business executive Joseph Nash, attorney John Ross, businessman Billy R. Allen, and education consultant Cheri Hadley. This group of Local Royals received their honor from Nana Lartey Kwaku Esi II, the crowned head of the Asona people of Larteh, Akuapem in Ghana. He lived briefly in Dallas from 1990-1991 before his passing away in 1998 at nearly 100 years of age.

Among the Royal dignitaries invited from Ghana, to grace the occasion include our Akuapem Divisional Chiefs from Nifa, Benkum, Adonten, Kuronti, Gyase, Kyidom and Asuogya.. Also invited from Ghana are the Government representatives; Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development; Hon. Dr. Kwasi Appea-Kubi, Eastern Regional Minister and the three District Chief Executives of Akuapem and Asuogya. The Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States, Hon Daniel Ohene Agyekum has also been invited from the nation’s capital of Washington DC.

For the first time in the history of OKUSACA, this year’s event will be chaired by a Royal King from the Asuogya Traditional Area of Ghana and a Business Executive Nana Osae Nyampong VI, Kamakahene of Akwamu. The Odwira/Ohum festival is a traditional celebration of the first fruits in the Akuapem/Asuogya regions in Ghana. It is a time for homecoming and thanksgiving. This year’s annual event is being hosted by the Dallas-Fort worth Chapter of the National Okuapemman Association of USA and Canada. Other Chapters include New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto, Atlanta, New Jersey, and Columbus, OH. Two other Chapters, namely Philadelphia and Minnesota will be inaugurated shortly.

It is important to emphasize that, the main objective of inviting the Akuapem Divisional Chiefs and the Government Representatives to this year’s celebration is that, OKUSACA Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee and the general membership, as concerned Akuapem citizens in the diaspora, respectfully offer a humble neutral platform away from home to facilitate confidential brainstorming and a hopeful resolution of the long lingering Akuapem Chieftaincy dispute which has undoubtedly hindered social cohesion and economic development within the Traditional Area. OKUSACA as a neutral facilitator of the resolution process which began last year in New York during the celebration of our Silver Jubilee is determined to bring amicable settlement of this unfortunate prevailing dispute. This process is in consonance with the Theme of the Dallas event; “Strengthening Akuapem Unity- Dallas 2011” as well as our Fekuw Slogan: “OFIE—BIAKOYE.” The epic of the Dallas event will be the electrifying Saturday night where there will be the parade of Royals as they make their entrances. This will be a sight to behold-- a feast for the senses to behold the splendor of the Royal Regalia consisting of colorful Kente Cloth, Gold crowns, jewelry and sandals. The Odwira/Ohum Dance on Saturday night caps 3 days of Executives and Town hall meetings, negotiations, fundraising, development projects and other charitable projects.

OKUSACA Odwira Dance night will feature one of the greatest entertainers in the past, Mr. Tommy Darling of Black Beast fame and he will thrill fans with live music and dancing. The entire Dallas-Fort Worth communities as well as residents from the state of Texas are invited to celebrate this occasion with us. ----- In another development, OKUSACA has donated a number of Medical Supplies worth over $1000.00 to Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital at Mampong Akuapem in Ghana. These items were received by the Hospital Administrator, Mrs. Divine Nartey on behalf of the hospital. She expressed her profound gratitude to OKUSACA for their continued support because it was only last year that the entire Children’s Ward of the Hospital was rehabilitated by OKUSACA at a total cost of about $10,000.00. OKUSACA is thankful to the New Jersey Chapter, which donated the bulk of the Medical Supplies and requests other Chapters to emulate this exemplary gesture.

OKUSACA as a non-profit Organization in North America, with its National Secretariat in New York, was founded in 1985 and has its main objectives as promoting Unity among citizens of Akuapem, Akwamu, Anum and Boso Traditional Areas of Ghana; Community Services, Education, Health, Cultural and Financial aspects of members with a broad objective of extending same to Ghana and Africa in General.

For more information on Dallas 2011 Odwira/Ohum Event, please go to www.Odwira2011Dallas.com or call 1-888-916-7999. To find information on how to register to become a member of OKUSACA, email okusaca@gmail .com or osadav01@yahoo.com or call 917-647-1293.