Statement by GaDangme Europe

The GaDangme Europe has become aware of recent online publication on GaDangme

issues on GhanaWeb and its attendant commentaries. The interview published on

Sunday, 21st November, 2010 and titled “Gadangmes must wake up to defend their

culture” and conducted by Reggie Tagoe, featured Emmanuel Nii Okoso Tetteh

Mensah and m ade several references to him as President of the GDEu, among other

things.



We have also noticed, with deep concerns, the discourse on the GaDangme

Yahoogroups international forum on issues centered on the GaDangme Europe.





We therefore consider it necessary, in the interest of GaDangme Europe, all

well- meaning people of GaDangme origin and Non-GaDangmes sympathetic to

GaDangme aspirations, to issue the following statement;



1. That the GaDangme Europe (acronym: GDEu) set up to embrace GaDangme

groups (not individuals) in Europe and formally constituted on Saturday,

27th June, 2009 in Paris, France, has no ‘Union’ in its name.



1. That the immediate aim and objective is to strengthen the unity of

GaDangme people (‘Ekomefeemo’) as a basis for promoting and preserving

GaDangme heritage. Furthermore, the objectives as contained in its

constitution, among other things are;



1. Facilitation and advancement of education and social well being as

bases for the alleviation and relief of poverty in rural and urban

GaDangme communities.



1. Identifying and creating small strategic groupings across Europe for

purposes of raising funds to support community initiatives in the areas of

community sanitation, and promote educational and employment skills among

the youth to strengthen future prospects of GaDangme people.



1. That the values adopted by the GDEu throughout its inception are

honesty, reliability, hard work, transparency, commitment, self sacrifice,

respect for others and self preservation.

1. That the GDEu’s approach to find lasting solutions to the challenges

confronting GaDangme people are based on;

1. Service to others.

2. Consultation.

3. Participation and involvement.

4. Partnership, co-operation, and collaboration.

5. Networking.

1. That the means to realisethe noble aims and objectives of the GDEu, are

completely devoid of any form of militancy, acrimony, egotism, dishonesty,

pretence, self-centeredness, confrontation, dogma, factionalism,

discrimination, and intolerance.



1. That at the last elections organized by the GDEu in Hamburg on

Saturday, 13th March 2010, a seven-member Executive Committee led by Emmanuel

Mensah as President was mandated to manage the affairs of the GDEu for the

next two years.



1. That on 22nd June 2010, the two General Secretaries in a joint

petition to the Representative Council (RC) of the GDEu called for

intervention in the affairs of the Executive Committee by the RC. The

petition raised issues of serious constitutional violations and complete

deviations from GDEu norms and values through actions of the President, and

lack of co-operation and teamwork within the executive committee.

1. That before the Representative Council could intervene, the President

in complete violation of GDEu constitutional provisions and in outright

defiance of guidance by others, issued a statement on behalf of the rest of

the executive sacking the two General Secretaries.



1. That all attempts by imminent GaDangmes and other well-meaning people

in and outside the GDEu to resolve the impasse that ensued were ignored and

treated with contempt by Emmanuel Mensah and his group. The RC met twice in

August 2010 in the UK to resolve the crisis and appointed an arbitration

body, which was rejected by Emmanuel Mensah and his group. The

rejection of well established norms and the arbitration process warranted

the removal of Emmanuel Mensah, Sarah Coleman, Bob Lamptey, Florence

Lamptey and Alex Adjei, from office by the Representative Council".



1. That between August and September 2010, the five named executive

officers and other members defected from the GDEu and formed an

organization with a new name and a new internet-based forum.



1. That on 23rd September 2010, the RC issued a statement confirming the

formal removal of the five officers from their offices.



1. That since the 23rd September 2010, there has not been any contact

between the GDEu on one hand; the five officers and other groups now

constituent of the newly emerged Union of GaDangmes in Europe on the other

hand.

1. That the GDEu has continued to function as an umbrella organization for

its remaining members and hereby dissociates itself from statements by

Emmanuel Mensah in the said interview and every other action undertaken by

the named officers since 23rd September 2010.

1. That the GDEu remains focused on its development and growth, which

includes correctly handling attempts by well-known individuals to

misappropriate the assets of the GDEu.

1. That the GDEu also has the benefit of the goodwill of affiliated groups

and others who subscribe to its clearly defined ideals and aspirations.

1. That the GDEu accepts that not everyone supports or endorses the GDEu’s



approach to GaDangme issues. It also believes there are many issues

confronting GaDangmes and therefore there can be different approaches and

alternative options for dealing with these issues. The GDEu therefore does

not see itself as the only reservoir or channel to deal with all challenges

confronting the GaDangme people.

1. Consequently, the GDEu respects alternative views and initiatives being

undertaken by individuals and other groups including the Union of GaDangmes

in Europe and wishes them well in their various endeavours.

1. The GDEu wishes to reiterate, for the avoidance of doubt, that the GDEu

and the new Union of GaDangmes in Europe are two different entities.

1. The GDEu wishes GaDangme people and all well-wishers of the GDEu a

Happy and a Prosperous New Year.



Issued in London by



GaDangme Europe, 30 December 2010



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