Conference on community development ends.

Antwerp-Belgium--The 2nd Conference on “Community development” organized by Kwahuman Europe, an umbrella organization for Kwahu National Associations in the Diaspora, ended here with formal adoption of its constitution.

The conference arranged under the auspices of Belgium Kwahu National Association, was attended by delegates from Britain, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. Dr. Abena Keller Agyepong, currently serving as its interim President, chaired the conference.

Britain was overwhelmingly voted by delegates to organize Kwahuman Europe elections, to elect its formal executive body in Easter, 2009 in London, while Holland was given responsibility to plan and organize its inauguration in Easter, 2010 in Amsterdam.

In a short address; Dr. Agyepong, analytical Psychologist, congratulated members of the Kwahu organizations for their dedication and hard work, which she said, have immensely contributed to fostering unity, love and understanding, and at the same time, helping to create awareness of ‘selfless sacrifice’.

She said much work in the area of organization involving, among others, membership drive, to whip up enthusiasms and generate interest in the organization, needed to be stepped up to promote wholesome involvement not (repeat not) only in community programs, but also in human resources development and added:

. “We in the Diaspora must also keep abreast of information in our various countries of residence and take advantage of existing offers including Educational Programs and Opportunities that help to improve upon our intellectual health, and socio economic standards.

“Our commitments to assist in community development of our Kwahu Traditional area and Ghana as a whole must always be in the forefront”.

The interim vice-president of the Kwahuman Europe, Mr. Kwaku Asante, who also spoke, said the organization has been formed against the back-drop of lack of needed development, in areas of education, health, road and quality water supplies, in the Kwahu district.

“The success of our community will be to consolidate together and look at the problems in our institutions, traditions, our habits and working methods and our set objectives, and to explore immediate measures to improve upon them.

“Members must resolve now to pool our resources together, while others in USA and in Ghana share such common goals and ideas to enable us moved forward in our development efforts; we sink our swim to safety together”.

A report released to the conference, highlighted development progams being initiated by the British wing of the Union to assist the newly established Abetifi Presbyterian University College in Ghana.

It reveals that the association has so far made a generous donation of over £10,000 (about GNC 19,121.5) to the University, while a container load of books, chairs and tables, etc, shipped from Kwahuman Association in USA has also been donated.

The Kwahu U.K. Union is also engaged in construction of staff accommodations, including 5-bedroom bungalow.

The report. quoting the first Principal of the University, Prof. Kofi Sraku-Lartey, hints that the chiefs and people of Abetifi have also released an 85-acre land to the University to build student hostels, new library and other departments, including, lecture blocks, laboratories and staff houses and urged for private participation and initiatives, especially in construction of student hostels.

The University funded by the Presbyterian Church, and backed by public support “is growing and more facilities are required to maintain the quality of education being offered”.

The report, therefore, repeated appeals to sponsors and charitable organizations to support the University’s activities, including;

(1) Scholarship programs to help cater, for needy students, (2) Provision of teaching aids such as computers, projectors and videos, (3) support in obtaining internet facilities, (4) Acquisition of water tankers to help alleviate water problems, (5) Provision school vehicles, (6) Facilities for industrial/commercial work programs, to equip students with basic Know-how and, (7) Construction of student hostels.

The University has so far trained 600 farmers in modern methods of farming in the Kwahu district, to help improve food production and supply situation in the area.

“Plans are underway to affiliate the university with UK’s Middlesex University to promote Lectures and students exchange programs,” says he report

The Presbyterian University College of Ghana was established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as a multi-campus college with campuses spread over in two regions of Ghana---Eastern and Ashanti regions-- covering three towns (Abetifi--Okwahu Campus, Akropong—(Akuapem Campus), and Agogo-Ashanti (Asante-Akyem Campus).

End