Kwahu Conference elects officers

and calls for involvement in Community service.

London-- The third GHANA- Kwahuman Europe Conference “on rural/urban development” ended here with election of Dr. Abena Keller-Agyepong, analytical psychologist as President of the newly formed Kwahuman Association in Europe (KAE).

Dr. Keller-Agyapong (Switzerland) whose organizational ability and initiative piloted mobilization initiatives for development, focusing on rural/urban sustainable development in Kwahu traditional area and in Ghana as a whole, received wild cheers from delegates as she was returned unopposed.

She held an interim position as President for a year during the association’s initial formation in Hamburg –Germany in 2008.

The organization serves as an umbrella group which embraces all national Kwahu Associations in Europe, with its main objectives, among others, geared to promotion of community service, solidarity, dedication and unity which is the building block for the building of sustainable projects

A 5-member delegate each drawn from the National Associations from Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Italy participated in the elections. Each country has a seat on the Association’s National Executive Council.

Mr. Steve Darkwa, popularly known as “aka Kwabena Adjei”, National Executive Secretary of Okwahu United of United States of America and Canada Association, supervised the elections, serving as its Electoral Commissioner. He was assisted by six member panel of electoral assistants and observers.

The conference was rounded off with a “ball” High Cross United Reformed Church Colsterworth Road, London. The Kwahuman Association in Europe (KAE) will formally be inaugurated in Amsterdam-Holland next year 2010, says it spokesman.

Other Executive Officers elected were; Mr. Kwaku Asante (Britain), and Mr. Kwabena Asante (Italy) both returned unopposed as Vice-President and Secretary respectively, with Mrs. Eleanor Boateng (Britain), as the Assistant Secretary. She was elected unopposed after Mr. Rex Adjei of Belgium, has withdrawn his nomination “to promote solidarity and unity among the group”

With London being selected as its headquarters because of English as a common language to help solve the various language differences in Europe, at the association’s second conference in Antwerp-Belgium in 2008, Great Britain clinched the automatic position of the exchequer: Mr. Seth Osei (Britain) is to hold the post of Treasurer, while Mr. Kwame Asiedu (Holland) was elected as its Financial Secretary.

Mr. Ohene Brako, a financial management Consultant and a known radio-talk show host in Amsterdam- Holland, was elected as Public Relations Officer, with Mrs. Mary Porsche Oduro of Germany, as his assistant

Speaking at the conference after swearing in the elected officers, Mr. Darkwa, National Executive Secretary of Okwahu United Association of USA/Canada, commended them for their dedication, foresight and hard work for helping to promote brotherhood, unity with purpose among the Kwahu Diaspora, adding “there is nothing noble, than the involvement in a community service”.

“Not long ago you embarked on a gracious journey to unite Obourma in Europe, a daunting task that required a great depth of vision, wisdom, creativity and commitment.

“The foresight and the potential outcome of such an integrated efforts of willpower, highlights this conference as a pinnacle of incredible success”.

Mr. Darkwa reminded the newly elected leaders about obstacles inherent in human resources development and mobilization, pointing out that “it’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles.

“Successful leaders have courage to take action while others hesitate: history should be our guide and your efforts should not end in a mere 9-day wonder”.

The newly elected President, Dr. Keller- Agyepong, who also spoke, thanked members for their support and urged them to close their ranks in the struggle to contributing to a noble cause of involvement in community service.

“If you are not part of the solution you may be part of the problem”, she noted She repeated her appeals for philanthropic support to enable the association undertake its obligatory functions.

“I am also appealing to donor countries, including the European Union members to make direct community development grants to help uplift and upgrade development programs in areas of health, education, water resources and road networking and IT programs for schools and Universities in traditional areas, to close the yawning disparity in rural/urban development” she said.

Dr. Keller-Agyapong called on other Kwahu associations, especially those in the Scandinavian sector of Europe to expedite plans to register with the Kwahu Europe Association.

Contact Secretary: kwahumanbrescia@yahoo.com