Professor Akainyah Appointed Special Envoy!

At an emergency meeting held in Chicago, on May 15 2006, The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago unanimously elected Professor Samuel Akainyah as its Special Envoy in the United States. This meeting was a follow-up from Professor Akainyah?s visit to The Council a week ago when he availed his services to the Ghanaian community for fund raising efforts to acquire a Cultural Center.

The rare visit to its monthly meeting by Chicago's renowned artist, philanthropist, Professor and Art gallery owner, Samuel Akainyah, gave the Ghanaian community here a boost to its long awaited acquisition of ?Ghana House?

In his speech to the council, Professor Akainyah traced the history of the inception of the Ghana House idea and outlined the purpose of his visit to the council:

a) to ask for the opportunity to chair and spearhead a fundraising effort to benefit the ?Ghana House? Project and

b) to suggest a name change of the ?Ghana House? Project to Ghana Cultural Center, with a goal for educational, social, diplomatic, and business utility rather than the ?Ghana House? which has a narrower meaning.

He added that his objective was to bring Corporate America to be part of the effort for The Ghana Cultural Center project.

He asked for approval from the council to invite Angela Bassett, a noted movie actress, to be involved in the 200 Year Abolition of Slavery Act Anniversary celebrations in Ghana. This, he said might lead Angela to understand the story of Yaa Asantewaa, which was one of the early struggles against the British colonial rule. He stated she could illicit Hollywood?s attention to descend on Ghana and make a movie out of the story.

In an answer to a question about his political affiliations, Professor Akainyah emphasized that he was not interested in politics. His aim is to help his country; through civic and charitable initiatives, not political affiliation.

During his short speech to The Ghana National Council?s Central Committee, Professor Akainyah listed a number of scholarship programs for Ghanaian students, home and abroad, and also tourism potentials for Ghana.

Professor Akainyah presented some of his art work, which included the official art work he executed for the U.S National Democratic Convention in Chicago to The Ghana National Council.

In her introductory remarks Ms. Belinda McKwartin said, ?Professor Samuel Akainyah, I believe you do not need to be introduced to the Ghanaian community, especially The Ghana National Central Committee because of your previous associations and assistance to the community, but it is important to remind ourselves and also to introduce you to the new members.?

Professor Akainyah, is an artist, he trained in Diplomacy and International Law, a businessman and an author. He has two book publications and is currently working on his third book. Prof. Akainyah studied at The Art Institute of Chicago and The University of Chicago. His reputation as an artist and sole owner of the largest artist owned gallery in the country is chiseled. His patrons include reporters, executives, bankers, businessmen and women, television news anchors, and politicians. Some of his famed clients are Samuel Jackson, Michael Jordan, Angela Bassett, Bryant Gumbel and Bill Kurtis.

In November 2005, he presented a colossal work titled ?From Whence We Came? to President J.A Kufuor on behalf of the country of Ghana. The 11 feet by 9 feet painting valued at $80,000.00 was his gift to Ghana.

He was listed as one of the 50 Influential Blacks in Chicago in the January 2006 issue of N?DIGO. His knowledge of influentials in the Chicago area, including Mayor Daley, will serve the interests of The Ghana National Council and the Ghanaian Community in general. Mayor Daley referred to him as a national figure in the arts and a Chicago icon.

Recently, when the GNC was looking for a place to build Ghana House, our application was scorned on, but the presence of this great man immediately led the Alder lady, Arenda Troutman, to grant him immediate audience and favorable consideration of the application.

Professor Akainyah, who likes to be called Sam, is a humble and a hardworking person who has served The Ghana National Council and its Affiliate Organizations in many ways. Indeed, he was among the framers of The Fante Benevolent Society's constitution.

Sam has given and negotiated jobs to many Ghanaian immigrants in the Chicago area. He is among the first Ghanaians to donate $1000.00 to The Ghana National Council for the Ghana House project many years ago. He donated $1500.00 to the GNC so that we could have a live band for our Independence Anniversary celebrations some years ago.

He has underwritten receptions for all the Ghanaian ambassadors since Dr. Bafour Senkyire, Koby Koomson, Allan Kyerematin and Fritz Poku; Mayor?s Mensah and Amarteifio. Professor Akainyah is a true nationalist and Patriot.

Due to Professor Akainyah?s tremendous philanthropist contributions to the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois, The Cook County Board of Commissioners, headed by John H. Stroger, Jr., proclaimed February 15 1999 as Samuel Akainyah day in the city of Chicago, its outlying suburbs and the entire County of Cook.

In the same year, Sam was elected as the Official Artist of the National Democratic Convention in Chicago, the first artist in the three hundred years of America?s democracy to achieve such an honor.

He has helped many Ghanaians in diverse ways without generating attention for himself. Recently he mobilized fifty African Americans to the Motherland and is in the process of taking 100 businessmen and women, executives of corporations and his clients in December.

She concluded by saying, ?With the above good things done by this great man, you agree with me that he is the kind of person you want in your camp.?

The president of the Ghana National Council of metropolitan Chicago, Mr. Reuben Hadzide thanked Professor Akainyah for his generous gesture and promised that the council will work with him and others to achieve its goals.