Extravaganza - GaDangme Association in Barcelona is inaugurated

A fantastic display of GaDangme’s traditional dance of ‘Kpaalogo’ (with ‘Gomey’and’Otofo) and ‘Dipo’ was the climax of an event to inaugurate GaDangme Association in Barcelona, Spain.



It appears this was the most colourful show within the communities of GaDangmes in Spain and delegates for the GaDangme Europe Annual Conference in the city a day earlier who were present at the event will have plenty to talk about on their return home. The beauty of the city Barcelona – its landscape and historical features – might have struck them with awe but this all Ghanaians affair has its own colours and attraction.



For an Association which is only 3 years old this was an opportunity to make their mark infront of their fellow natives on the continent and their 40 minutes entertainment of the ‘Gomey’, ‘Otofo’ and ‘Dipo’ dance was an extraordinary piece of work - a delight to watch. The dancing trio of Isaac Lartey, Foster Oduro and Barbara Amarteifio (in the ‘Gomey’ dance) indeed performed and backed by a LIVE Band (‘Ekomefeemo’ or Unity Band in Barcelona) with another group of folks on one side puffing their cigarrete and engaged in a game of playing cards the stage gave a scene reminiscent of the night life in the city of Accra and its suburbs in the past. The dancers brisk twists and turns in the energy-sapping dance as the band struck the traditional songs of old won the applause of the audience which included Naa Manye Aforkor Omaeduro II (Queenmother of Katamanso), Senya Naa Marnakai Bortorbli I(Queenmother of Prampram), Nii Okoso Tetteh Mensah (President of GaDangme Europe), the entire Executive Committee members of the GDEu, Lesley Rivar (GDEu member - from Switzerland) and Alex Nii Amartey Amarteifo (GDEU member from England).



Also present were Alhaji Abbey (Founder and President of ‘Bokemei’ Foundation - an NGO working in Accra but based in Holland) with his wife Lea Kloosterman (PRO of ‘Bokemei’), John Kloosterman (Ambassador of ‘Bokemei’ Foundation), Rev. Saleem Masih (National Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministry – Spain) and Pastor Mark Samuel Nortey (Assemblies of God Church – Zaragoza).



The Show of ‘Gomey’ dance exhilarated the audience then came Abraham Kortey Anim, Nueki Gayoo and Dugbaki Narh on stage to add more colours to the event with the ‘Dipo’ dance. You cannot deny the natives of GaDangme their culture and history and they showed that with pride.



Speaking before the audience, Nii Tetteh Mensah urged natives of GaDangme land to work together as one people for the welfare and propserity of their Region. “In everything we do we are one people, ‘GaDangme’, not Ga or Dangme,” he said. Pastor Mark Samuel Nortey also gave his word of advise at the event pointing out that if the GaDangme Associations in Spain are build on solid foundations they will thrive.



“We are travelling on two courses, spiritual and physical journey. We must apply the golden rule by doing to others what we want to be done to us. This is the word upon which we must build our Associations,” he emphasised.



Other speakers at the function were Naa Manye Aforkor Omaeduro II and Nii Bi Oforiquaye (from Obonu FM) who covered the programme LIVE on the Tema based Radio Station in Ghana. Earlier on, the President of GaDangme Association in Bacelona (VIC), Leonard Adotey Doe, had narrated to the audience some of the challenges he faced in mobilising natives of GaDangme land at three major cities – Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza - to form the GaDangme Associations in Spain.



“It was a difficult task from the start but with prayers and fasting asking God for guidance we have achieved what we set out to do and I am grateful to all those who put in their efforts from the beginning to get us established and arirve at this stage, “ he mentioned.



The event went with a raffle draw to raise funds in support of the Association and certificates were presented to members in the GaDangme Associations in Spain, GDEu and Obonu FM for their devotion to service in helping the GaDangme cause. Among the recipients were: Pastor Mark Samuel Nortey, Leonard Adotey Doe, Nii Adokwei Tetteh, Samuel Gormeku, Isaac Amarteifio, Alexander Akwei, Felix Tetteh, and Reginald Mensah. Nii Yartey (GaDangme Radio), Alex Adjei (Abongobi Radio) and Obonu FM - represented by Nii Bi Oforiquaye - were the other recipients. – Reggie Tagoe in Granollers-Canovellers (Barcelona), Spain.