Newark, New Jersey residents witnessed rich African heritage and culture on display during Labor Day weekend when OKUSACA celebrated its 36th annual Odwira/Ohum Festival, along with the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of its New Jersey Chapter.

The event attracted high-profile dignitaries and guests from across North America, Europe, and Ghana signifying a celebration reminiscent of pre-COVID-19 levels where more than 600 people partake in the weekend festivities.

Dignitaries in attendance included H.E. Hajia Alima Mahama, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States, His Excellency Harold Agyeman, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Honorable Daniel Atta Boafo Consul General of Ghana in New York, and Newark Councilwoman Louis Scott-Rountree, Council Member At Large, City of Newark, New Jersey.

The celebration included a variety of events held from Friday, September 1, 2022 through Monday, September 4, 2023, including New Jersey’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Coronation of New Chief and Queen mother for New JerseyChapter, Miss OKUSACA Beauty Pageant on Friday night, Grand Durbar and Fundraising Dinner Dance on Saturday night, and church service and Picnic at the park on Sunday. The main events were held at the Holiday Inn Newark Hotel, 160 Frontage Rd., Newark, NJ 07114.

The Beauty Pageant showcased our youth and young adults, and attracted several contestants from various chapters of the organization. Ms. Nhyira Oforiwaa Asante, a professional choreographer, dancer and model with a degree in Sociology was crowned Miss OKUSACA 2023. There were booths showcasing Ghanaian art and craft, and booths for event sponsors, which included Enterprise Assurance (AkwatuPa), ArtbancGh and TapTap Send.

The epic of the entire weekend celebration were the cultural display during the durbar and the Saturday night event at the Ballroom of The Holiday Inn Newark 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, gorgeously dressed OKUSACA ladies and gentlemen, resplendent Traditional Ghanaian Chiefs, Queens and linguists, adorned with their full regalia, parading to the melody of Fontomfrom drumming and dancing, reminiscent of a typical Akuapem / Asuogya Durbar.

Youth of the association were awarded scholarships to support their post-secondary education. A total of four (4) scholarships were awarded in Education, Information Technology, Nursing, Engineering (Oil and Gas). The award recipients were: Bridget Osei of MN Chapter who received the Vida Akuffo Nursing Award, Darryl Ansah (NJ Chapter) received M.A.’s Oil and Gas Award, Caitlin Osei (MN Chapter) received the EdinamEducation Award, and Derick Ayeh of Atlanta Chapter received the OKASU Ampofo Asare Technology Evangelist Award.

OKUSACA is a U.S.A. and Canada-registered non-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering close social, cultural and economic inter-relationships between its members and the host communities in which we reside in here in North America. Our other major focus is to help improve the quality of lives of the people living in the Akuapem and Asuogyaman areas, and Ghana in general. We do this by organizing activities and holding events that are aimed at raising funds and soliciting donations in-kind, which we then use to initiate and support programs in North America and Ghana that are geared towards the implementation of this endeavor.

OKUSACA president, Akosua Kwabea Osafo Sedenu, reminded attendees that Odwira is a cherished tradition that binds us together as one strong and vibrant community and offers us an opportunity to honor and pay our respects to our ancestors. She asked members to unite and support the organization’s goals to help foster the welfare of Ghanaians at home and in the diaspora. She entreated all to share our culture with the community and show our youth the path forward in keeping our heritage and identity as we integrate into American Society.

In her remarks, Her Excellency Hajia Alima Mahama, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States extended felicitations from the government of Ghana and urged Ghanaians to unite and take pride in our rich culture to promote our country in the diaspora.

The festival was well-received by the attendees. Many people said that they enjoyed learning about Ghanaian culture and trying the food. Some people even said that they would like to come back next year. The annual Odwira / Ohum festivities for 2024 are scheduled to take place in Washington DC from August 30, 2024, to September 2, 2024.