GaDangme Heritage: A New International Organisation

Today sees the formal launch of GaDangme Heritage, an organisation dedicated to the education and promotion of GaDangme cultural heritage through engagement in activities to enhance the health, educational and employment opportunities for the GaDangme people.

The organisation was the brainchild of a group of dedicated GaDangmes in the Diaspora who are concerned about the lack of educational, vocational and job opportunities for GaDangme children and the youth. It was formally established on June 26, 2002 using the Internet to organise it activities. Activities such as the recruitment, election of the Executive, and drawing up the organisation’s constitution were all done using the Internet and telephone communication amongst the members.

The organisation aims to complement the efforts of other GaDangme organisations and institutions in the preservation of GaDangme tradition, culture, language and lands. It also aims to pursue an active role in promoting better health for GaDangme children and young people and in particular to educate the youth on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and other Social ills in our society The organisation’s primary source of funding at this time is through registration fees, monthly/annual subscription fees and personal donations by members and other well-meaning individuals and organisations that share this common objective.

GaDangme Heritage has already adopted Okwenya Junior Secondary School, Somanya and Teshie AMA 4 Junior Secondary School. They have started a process of consultation with the two schools with the aim of conducting feasibility studies in an effort to rehabilitate these schools to an acceptable standard for the benefit of children. It is also exploring ways of organising price winning essay writing/poetry in Ga and Dangme languages for schools as a way of promoting the teaching of these languages in Ghana. The propose quarterly competition to be named the GaDangme Heritage Literary Award will be given to the three best schools entering the essay/poetry writing competition. It intends to promote a half-yearly 'music competition' in Ga and Dangme for the youth.

The GaDangme Heritage has its own website (www.gadangmeheritage.org) which provides useful information on the activities of the organisation and other GaDangme groups.

THE ORGANISATION WELCOMES ALL GHANAIANS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO JOIN THIS PROGRESSIVE AND GENUINELY CONCERNED ACTION GROUP"

Benjamin Nii Amarkwei Amarteifio
Chairman
GaDangme Heritage