New Year Message By John Henry Assabill President of GNC.

GHANA NATIONAL COUNCIL
OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
PRESIDENT’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE
JANUARY 3RD, 2011

My fellow Ghanaians of Metropolitan Chicago and its surrounding areas, on behalf of the Ghana National Council, Affiliates, my family and self, I wish you all a Happy New Year. May we see peace, progress and prosperity this year.
Globally, the year 2010 was a very difficult one financially, politically and socially. These difficulties negatively impacted our Council at both local and State level, thereby hampering our ability to raise funds for our programs. We were especially hit hard by an introduction of new fees and lack of sponsorship from the City of Chicago, our main sponsor. The City of Chicago introduced new fees and charges for all outdoor events and rigorously enforced the new rules put in place in collecting revenue to cut down the City’s budget deficit. These actions left us with two choices, either to cancel Ghanafest or to find money to continue our programs. We choose the latter and had to resort to borrow from individuals/groups at very short notice to fund our main programs, Independence dance and Ghanafest.
In an Ironic twist, at the time when these charges and fees were on an upward trend, Affiliates were cutting back their contributions to funding these programs. Every effort at raising needed funds was circumvented by excuses. Affiliates were reluctant to accept raffle tickets and gate tickets for sale and rejected all levies. At the same time, corporate sponsorships were drying up because of uncertainty with their own revenue generation.
In the midst of these happenings, our beloved country, Ghana was on the threshold of worldwide popularity economically, politically and socially. The Black Stars were shinning at the world cup; gold prices were going up, and the discovery of oil in commercial quantities being widely publicized. Ghana was on the world map and it would have been tragic if the Ghana National Council could not take advantage of Ghana’s new popularity to declare our pride as Ghanaians and make it even more popular. Never had an opportunity such as this presented itself to the Ghana National Council to gain respect in the diasporas. We acted and very successfully.
We were able to organize a near-perfect Ghanafest. We made history when for the very first at a Ghanafest event, the Governor of the State of Illinois attended. We were able to renew our Tax exempt status as well as resolve other Internal Revenue problems successfully. We donated to Haiti when they were hit by the worst natural disaster the nation ever faced. We celebrated our 53rd Independence in grand style and capped it with Youth program. Our website was upgraded and attracted over 40,000 hits averagely in the past year.
Finally, we crowned the year with well organized, highly contested democratic elections which saw the incumbent President re-elected for another three (3) year term. Not only that, four (4) Affiliates of the Council also had elections which were transparent and highly contested.
We faced some problems at the Affiliate level but the Council took a leadership role at resolving them. Through diplomacy and negotiation, we were able to mitigate some of the misunderstanding and difficulties that sort to divide the unity of some of the Affiliates. An Affiliate that has left the Council rejoined. Overall, we provided good leadership at conflict resolution in all spheres of our community.
We have to move quickly into 2011 with an aggressive agenda that would help us meet our goals. We would have to correct and/or resolve the chaotic problem of funding the Council’s programs. Our community is aging and deaths and resultant high funeral costs are becoming a burden. We need to work very hard at a sustainable welfare system which would prepare us for the heavy financial demands when they are needed. We need to work hard to co-exist with the Ghanaian Churches to address our common aspirations. The Diversity Visa Lottery program by the USCIS has provided opportunity for a lot of our people to migrate here and we need to assist these new immigrants to integrate into our affiliate communities by providing relevant information.
Currently, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC has revamped a program whereby a database of Ghanaian organizations and institutions will be maintained and a newsletter of their activities published. The Council has been placed on their mailing list. A Parliamentary Constitution Review Committee from Ghana would be visiting with Chicago soon. A census of Ghanaians in the United Sates is underway and these programs would be launched in Chicago soon. There are plans to create a link at Ghana National Council website to the Embassy and vice versa. The Council was very active in persuading the Embassy into supporting the appointment of a “Counselor of the Republic of Ghana” for the Chicago metropolis and the entire mid-West region.
The Council needs to sustain its leadership role in the United African Organization to help the organization define its membership as well as its operational system. Currently, the structure looks porous because some members are singularly representing their nation contrary to constitutional provisions. For a whole organization to be dissolved and be represented by a person is unacceptable. Accountability and transparency in making available to members the financial position of the UAO in the grants received from various sources to fund its programs is simply unacceptable. The Council in the best interest will move for transparency from leadership without being confrontational. We would join the UAO to make our voices heard of some troubles erupting from Africa.
I will close by affirming that the Council cannot be productive without its citizenry being disciplined. The Council’s administrative body cannot be functional in an atmosphere of unacceptable behavior and intolerance in the form of insults and gross disrespect directed at our leaders. This Council will continue to vigorously work to mitigate such abuses.
This Administration started with a framework of Tolerance, Respect and Understanding for all and from all. These principles would not be compromised in view of the fact that these were the tenets that has made us Ghanaian proud for who we are. A community divided by itself is no community. We must resolve to be united no matter the course. Ghana is united!
A final word is to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Long live the Ghana National Council. May the Good Lord bless us all.

JOHN HENRY ASSABILL
PRESIDENT (GNC)