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Diasporia News of Friday, 1 August 2014

Source: Ghana Mission

Ghanaian Engineers and Architects Association of America Annual Dinner Dance

'Ghana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ken Kanda has charged Ghanaian professionals abroad not to sit on the fence by ensuring that the country benefits from their immense potentials.

"Let us take something home. New ideas, new thinking, some hope, determination and positive ways of doing things here to impact our country", he stated.

Addressing the annual fund raising dinner dance of the Ghanaian Engineers and Architects Association of America (GEAAA) at Edison, New Jersey at the weekend Ambassador Kanda commended them for their decision to give back to the community, pointing out that their widow’s mite may be someone’s salvation.

Under the theme "Giving back to our Country", the annual event drew members of the association, their families and friends to raise funds to support deprived Ghanaian communities apart from mentoring and nurturing young engineering and architectural students.

Ambassador Kanda recalled his earlier discussions with the GEAAA about how the diasporas can contribute to developments at home and tasked them and other professionals to take advantage of the established Bureau of the Diaspora Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contribute their quotas to their country.

In this context, he asked them to submit through emails to his office any ideas, suggestions, expertise or inputs for the development of Ghana for delivery to the appropriate officials for appropriate feedback.

“Any of you who has an idea to share or an experience to offer please send an email or any suitable form of communication to the Mission”, Ambassador Kanda said, assuring that ‘ those ideas and offers will be promptly discussed with the Diaspora Office and the relevant officers in Accra for the appropriate feedback. Let us make it work”.

Furthermore Ambassador Kanda encouraged those who wanted their children to have internship with Ghanaian Organizations at home to do so, considering the numerous advantages that can come with and therefore offered to help in that direction.

Mr. George K. Korley, President of the GEAAA said their overreaching goal is to give back to Ghanaian communities and support up and coming engineers and architects.

In this vein, he said the association had reached out to the Ghana Highways Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to provide technical support on the Adomi Bridge and other bridge projects in Ghana.

Dr. Twum Boafo, a Medical Practitioner, reminded his colleagues that the best part of their lives is what they give back to the society

He announced that the Kwakwaduam, an association of Akropong Akuapem Citizens had so far provided three boreholes and 10 laptops to the Akropong School for the Blind.

This year's Ghanaian Engineer of the year Award was presented to Mr. Vincent K. Kumordzie, Vice President of CKI Associates Inc. by Ambassador Kanda.

Scholarship Awards in the names of the Late Professor Nicholas Kumapley and Dr, Osei Gyebi were earlier given to five deserving students.