Gadangme Union in Europe confers in Paris

A Conference of Gadangme Union in Europe (natives of Greater Accra Region in Ghana, based in Europe) was held at Gennevilliers in the France capital, Paris.

It’s the 5th Conference of the Union, since it was formed 2 years ago, and over 100 delegates from various Associations of Gadangme in France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Spain and the U.K were represented.

The one-day meeting focused on a revised Constitution of the Union and sort ideas for development projects in the Region.

President of the Union, Teddy Adjanor, in a welcome address expressed his gratitude to participants for leaving their various duties behind to be present. He said prevailing conditions back home calls for such a Union where members can pull together to resolve problems confronting natives of the Region. The meeting was chaired by Solomon Awah who aligned some other major issues that the Union wants to address.

Joe Lamptey, a member of the Committee set up to review the Union Constitution at the previous meeting in Amsterdam, explaining to the delegates the revised Constitution said the purpose of the Union is to promote peace, unity and prosperity whilst harnessing collective resources to forge a common front in tacking problems in the Region.

The Union, he also pointed out, will seek to facilitate an advancement of educative and social well-being as bases for alleviation and relief of poverty and need in rural and urban Gadangme communities in Ghana.

Also among vital points in the new Constitution the Union will set itself in identifying and creating small strategic groupings across Europe for the purpose of raising funds to support community initiatives in the areas of sanitation, promote educational and employment skills among the youth as a means to help strengthen future prospects of Gadangme people.

Delegates received reports from sub-committees set up at the Amsterdam meeting under which they are dealing with various segments which includes education and healthcare.

The meeting also attracted delegates from Ghana, among them were Nii Ashaley Asuku II (Head of Family Nii Tetteh Kpeshie ‘We’ and also King maker of ‘Sempe’ Traditional Council), Naa Ayeongo Ahwa I (Queen mother of Shai) and some Radio Presenters – Rapheal Quaye-Mensah, Albert Adjei-Klu and Naa Shomeh Nortey - all natives from Gadangme Region who have established themselves working with ‘Obono’ FM, a subsidiary of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio station in Accra, which uses the local natives language of Gadangme called ‘Ga’ as its main tool for communication to listeners. Adjei-Klu who spoke on behalf of his colleagues gave a brief heritage of people from the Greater Accra Region and highlighted on prevailing conditions of the Region. His inside knowledge and analysis of the Region, using deep rooted grammatical expression of ‘Ga’ gave participants a further education and treat at the meeting.

Also present from Ghana was Dr. Josiah Ayeh (former Gen. Secretary of the ruling political party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress, and now a Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon). He took some time to brief the delegates on various issues confronting the Gadangme people and gave suggestions on how it can be solved. He urged his fellow natives to set up programs and ideas that will help the Region and not always depend on Government to come in with needed assistance. Delegates gave their suggestions on strengthening the Union and were also concerned about the declining nature of the ‘Ga’ language which is no more being taught in many schools in the Region. Also among issues raised was the acquisition of Gadangme lands by other natives which in effect is affecting the Region of it cultural values such as language and traditions.

The France Association of Gadangme was later in the day inaugurated with a special party which went on deep into the early hours of the next morning.

The Conference brought out an instinct and co-operation in the Union members about their desire in helping the Region attain a certain level of economic growth and standard.