The Offinsoman Association of Canada and USA, a non-profit socio-cultural organization whose primary goals are to develop and promote the economic well-being of their membership through cultural education, counselling and networking programs concluded their 4th Biennial National convention on September 2nd, 2018 at the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers, New York.
The occasion also coincided with the inauguration of the New York chapter of the association with Felix Kofi Gyabaah as its president.
Under the theme “Enhancing Education in Offinso and its environs” the two day convention attracted friends and citizens of Offinso and its environs in North America who deliberated on issues of common concern in Offinso and nearby communities ranging from education, health, environment and socio economic development with a commitment to contribute meaningfully to the prosperity and development of Offinsoman (the people of Offinso, Ghana).
Beyond that, the convention also enabled the association to streamline and set things in motion on how to pull resources together to enable them contribute in various ways to give Offinsoman a facelift and make it a better place to live.
The Keynote speaker, Professor Samuel K Amoako, the Consul General in New York commended the Association for the various contributions they have made towards health delivery and improvement in Ghana.
He said “I am aware of the presentations you have made to health institutions in the Offinso area. More important is the fact that you have identified many other sectors where you are going to apply the proceeds of the fund-raising activities you embark on. The sectors include education, infrastructure, and the environment. This year, your focus is on Education, and you could not have chosen a better focus”.
The Consul General concluded by appealing to the members to donate generously to the fund-raising since it will go a long way to improve education in Ghana as a whole and the Ofinso area in particular.
In her address, Amma Konadu Nimo-Sefah, the President of Offinsoman Association of USA and Canada said “We resolved to focus attention in four key areas: Infrastructure, Environment. Health and Education”.
She went on to say “we have accomplished a lot in the past six years. Aside the fact that great friendships have been formed amongst ourselves, we’ve achieved one of the four goals mentioned earlier”.
In May 2018, the Association fulfilled one of the pledges to the Offinso Community by contributing to the St. Patrick Hospital in Offinso Masse. The association donated 75 mattresses, 45 beds, 100 bedsheets and assorted and needed medical supplies to the hospital worth about nineteen thousand dollars.
Leticia Ofori Achaw, the Project Coordinator of the association who led the delegation to make the presentation implored the hospital administration to take care of the items and maintain them to enable the items last since maintenance culture has always been a problem. She assured the hospital administration of their continued support in spite of their commitment to education and other projects.
The administrator of the hospital, Christopher Sarpong expressed his appreciation on behalf of the hospital and said: “This contribution came at the right time”.
He said the items came at a time a new block was being renovated and they had no idea how to furnish the block when completed so the donation has come as a big relief to the hospital.
Offinsoman Union was set up to support and contribute to the development of Offinsoman and the nation as a whole. Membership is open to both native residents and non-native members residing in the Diaspora. The Union is financed by the contributions and donations of its members. Their overall objective is to ensure that the local citizens will have access to the basic facilities needed to make the town a better place to live. Their support and contributions are not only limited to extending help to the local citizens back home, but also among members and their families living in the diaspora.
For further information about the association please contact Jim Owusu Kwarteng at 571-330-9472