"SIL Man" Receives 2002 YMCA Peace Medallion Award

Kofi Bobi Barimah is the recipient of this year’s YMCA Peace Medallion Award in Brampton, Ontario. This award honours individuals who, without any special resources, have demonstrated a commitment to peace through special contributions made within our community. The Medallion is also a way of giving special recognition to those special people in our communities who are working towards creating a more peaceful world. Consequently, Kofi was given this Award at a ceremony organized by the Brampton YMCA at 20 Union Street on Wednesday, December 4, 2002. Originally, the Award Ceremony was scheduled for November 19, 2002, but it had to be postponed because Kofi was out of the country.

In a keynote address, Her Honour, Mayor Susan Fennel of Brampton noted that Kofi Barimah is devoted to promoting reconciliation, integration and co-operation among the Ghanaian Canadian, African and Caribbean communities in Brampton. Settlement is not an easy process. Within the Ghanaian community and within families, individuals struggles with questions of identity, inclusion and intercultural understanding. Kofi has helped individuals and families move through this process. Kofi has continued to organize workshops for social, religious and cultural associations within Metro Toronto. These workshops are organized for families to help them to deal with separation-union issues normally involving child protection agencies such as the Children’s Aid Society and the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.

In a short speech, the General Manager of Brampton YMCA, Janet Johnson noted that there is a growing Ghanaian community in Brampton, and Kofi wants to ensure that families have access to support services and networks that help foster the conditions for peace. He is a natural arbitrator and is frequently asked to mediate between groups that are at odds. As Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Ghanaian Unity, Kofi was instrumental in the consultation process leading to the formation of an umbrella organization for the Ghanaian-Canadian community in Ontario, the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario.

In nominating Kofi, Gifty Osei –Tettey noted that “I chose to nominate Kofi because his genuine efforts normally go unnoticed as he normally prefers to operate behind the scenes where he is very effective. Given his accomplishments, I feel that it is high time Ghanaians appreciate the sacrifices and selfless devotion of their own while they are still alive”.