Tetrem Citizens in Toronto, Canada, Celebrate New Year

Tetrem Citizens in Toronto, Canada, Celebrate New Year with Tetremhene, Nana Osei Kwame II

The citizens of Tetrem-Afigya in Toronto, Canada, held a New Year’s Day party/dinner as part of their Christmas Holidays and New Year’s activities in honor of Nana Osei Kwame II, the Chief of Tetrem-Afigya, Ashanti, on January 1, 2011 at the Keele Center in North York, Toronto, Canada. Nana Kofi Oduro, Ankobeahene of Tetrem and a resident of Toronto, and Nana Kwadwo Baffour, Toronto Tetrem Abusuapanin, led the Tetrem citizens and other invited Traditional leaders (chiefs) in Toronto to welcome Nana Tetremhene, Nana Osei Kwame II, to the function in Toronto, Canada. The event was chaired by Mr. George Dwumfour Amponsah, who also acted as the master of ceremonies (MC) for the night.

In his address, the Guest of Honour, Nana Osei Kwame II, thanked the Local Toronto Traditional Leaders (chiefs) and the attending public for showing up for the event in spite of the bone chilling winter weather. Nana gave an update of some of the projects completed or being undertaken in the Tetrem township. These included the completed boys and girls dormitories for the senior secondary school, the remodeling of the primary and junior secondary schools buildings, and erosion control and street resurfacing. Nana Osei Kwame II acknowledged the efforts of Tetrem citizens in the diaspora and took the opportunity to express his appreciation and thanks to friends and citizens of Tetrem around the world for their on-going support, and called for the need for all to stay focused and united for the ultimate goal to be achieved.

Nana Osei Kwame II pointed out that the Tetrem Community has a number of pressing needs and that , the focus of his leadership for now is the improvement in education, transportation, health, water and sanitation. Nana Osei Kwame II observed that a productive and viable working relationship has been established between the Tetrem Community and government agencies. The community leads, plans, and initiates development projects, and then invites the government to assist with additional inputs, incentives, and resources. Nana therefore appealed to Tetrem citizens resident abroad to respond to the community’s call for help and support with the utmost urgency whenever they are called upon. Responding to the Guest of Honor’s speech, Nana Wiafe Akenteng, former Asantefourhene of Toronto, Canada, thanked Nana Osei Kwame II for his visit to Toronto and also for gracing the occasion with his presence. He called for unity among the people and appealed to the citizens and friends of Tetrem to be responsive to Nana’s call for help and continue contributing towards the on-going projects enumerated by Nana.

The event concluded with dinner and dance. Delicious Ghanaian cuisines were provided by the ladies and hilife and hiplife music was provided for dancing. Nana Osei Kwame II has since returned home (Ghana) to make preparations to receive Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, and other dignataries who are scheduled to visit Tetrem in February, 2011 for the Speech and Prize-giving day ceremonies of the Osei Tutu II Senior Secondary School.

For any further information and more pictures of the event, please visit the website of Tetremman Association of USA (TAUSA) at www.tetremman.com. Attached is a group picture of Nana Osei Kwame II (under umbrella), some Ghanaian traditional leaders in Toronto, and a section of Tetrem citizens at the function.

Submitted by Dr. Steve Acheampong at jawara@cox.net