... With The Formation Of Okyeman Congress North America

The Executive body and the entire membership of OKYEMAN ASSOCIATION OF NE, WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS

congregated at the Wesley United Methodist Hall on Main Street in Worcester on August 7, 2010 to inaugurate their Association in a colorful occasion with fundraising and dinner dance.





In attendance were all the Okyeman Association from Washington Metro, Virginia, New York, Georgia, Chicago, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, and Toronto Canada.





The occasion was preceded by a meeting of all the associations to form the Okyeman Associations of North America, and most of the associations were represented. An interim committee was formed to put together all the necessary formalities to be submitted to the National body for adoption. In all, it was a successful engagement and we are confident that by the end of the year Okyeman Association of North America will be formed and functional.


Also in attendance were some organize groups in New England area including New Juaben Ass of NE, Prestige Ladies of NE, Agogoman Mma of NE and others, There were raffle draws with prices of a round trip Ticket from Boston to UK donated by Devine Enterprise, a camcorder and a Digital Camera. The MCs for the occasion were Nana Owusu twum Barima1 Omanhene of Akyem Aprade also known as Nana Dr Rokoto and Mr. Ken Asafo-Adjei.





The Chairman for the occasion Mr. Otieku swore in the executive and commended them for their good work.





President- Nana Asamoah


1st Vice President: Sheila Osei


2nd Vice President: Godwin Adansi


Secretary: Vida Martey


Secretary: Vida Adansi


Treasure: Douglas Agyei


Ass Treasure: Agnes Oduro Turner


Organizing Sec: Maxwell Danso Abiam


Asst. Organizing Sec: William Ofosu


Youth Organizer: Christ Bosompem


PRO: Ken Asafo-Agyei


Chaplain: Vida Boateng





In his opening address Mr Kwame Otieku took the opportunity by thanking Mr. Abiam Danso and the organizing committee for their initiative by setting up this forum to project Okyeman Unity, the first of it kind in continental USA, with the hope of formulating ideas to forge a positive future for Okyeman I say WELL DONE !





I also would like to thank all the participants for time and effort dedicated to make this congress a success. I understand we have brothers and sisters from all over the place…Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Washington Metro, New Jersey, New York, Syracuse, Virginia, Ohio Connecticut and New England….I say AKWAABA!





I’m not here to making long speech as Professor’s normally do…I want to make this short (a story is once told about a speech given by a professor and by the end of his speech, only one out of the entire audience remained. When the professor thanked the one person for staying through the speech, the gentlemen, without hesitation indicated that he was the equipment overseer and had to wait to collect the microphone).





We are here because we care about the welfare of Okyeman. Some of the basic principles I would like to recommend to this leadership to focus on making the development of Okyeman a reality:





? Honesty, Integrity and Transparency


? Have definitive projects with milestone plans


? Set up budgetary plan including source of funding


? Global networking—Take advantage of the technological world





Currently, I know of few on-going projects back home:





1. University of Agriculture and Environment Studies (UCAES)-The first University dedicated to agriculture & environmental sustainability in Africa.


2. Okyeman Environmental Foundation- This has been set up to create awareness in the environment by enhancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of renewable natural resources in Ghana through community-based integrated natural resource program for the benefit of current and future generation….planting & clean up exercise, Atiwa Forest Range (Tourism), protecting our waters (galamsey mining)


3. Public Health promotion….HIV/AIDS education





Let me make it clear that this should not be construed as a political entity but rather, sons and daughters of Okyeman (Abuakwa, Kotoku & Bosome) coming together to help manage the affairs of our state. We can not continue to go by the slogan -‘OKYEMAN, YEN HWE MA ENSEI’ without doing nothing. Our ultimate goal is go back home and retire in positive OKYEMAN.





In conclusion, I challenge all of here tonight to step up to the plate to get a better product out of this initiative. It is the norm that….Nobody plans to fail, rather people fail to plan. We have a good start let’s join hands and move the ball from the 15-yard line into the end zone, Mr. Otieku said.


Okyeman Association of NE, Worcester would like to extend its gratitude to all sister associations who supported their cause and pledge


to be part of the mainstream OKYEMAN in the years ahead.





By Maxwell Abiam Danso