Bishop T Ga Club Big Night in London

… aid to Deprived Children in Accra
STARLIGHT SUITE Banqueting Hall, located on Lea Bridge Road - Leyton in London, was lighted to the maximum in a fundraising event hosted by Bishop T Ga Club to aid deprived children in Accra.

Not on many nights like this in London within the community of Ghanaians has it been so blissful with entertainment – speeches, dinner and dance carrying on its top a raffle draw; all in aid of a good course. If there was one thing that made a difference between this event and any other by Ghanaians within the city on the day, it was the performance of a young artiste, Reuben Nii Martey Commodore (alias ‘Amoo’ – literally translated: tomatoes). The young man invited from Ghana for the occasion and backed by disc jockey, Nii Ofori (a.k.a Alordia), sang his own songs, perfectly sang songs of other Ghanaian artistes (some outside his own local language you may think it’s the artistes themselves performing) and when he stretched it further singing songs of South African artistes, Caribbean (calypso) it became clear he can sing the song of any artiste. At one point, the man whose nickname was on the whole activities of the night, Bishop T, took the microphone and rightly said: “This guy can sing your own song better than you.” Simply put, ‘Amoo’ is awesome and a genius at what he does best – singing. He made participants dance throughout. I wondered throughout his performance what Ghana is doing with such a talent out there. For Bishop T Ga Club it was a remarkable day, an occasion that marked 13 years of its existence set up for charity work. Participants joined hands with the Club contributing financially to what it has started; among them helping in the school education of children at Kokrobite (suburb of Accra). The Ghana High Commissioner to UK, His Excellency Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo, got an invitation but his busy schedules took him elsewhere and his representative at the function, Angela Aryee (Counsellor and officer on Education at the Ghana High Commission in London) took the opportunity to thank the organisers of the event for focusing on education. “Ghana has since 1951, especially after Independence in 1957, made significant strides in its education system and major policy initiatives have been adopted by both present and past Governments,” she pointed out. The Counsellor at the Ghana High Commission in London also reiterated the point that the present Government in Ghana headed by the President, H.E. Prof. John Evans Attah-Mills, is committed to education emphasising education is the bedrock of every economy. She added the Government of Ghana will support fully educational programmes in order to change the lives of the people of Ghana. In her final remarks addressing the attendees she borrowed the words of Thornton Wilder saying: ‘money is like manner, it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow’. “Even as we eat, dance and make merry let us all remember that education is the key that unlocks many doors,” she noted.

The Secretary of the Club, Regina Akumiah, who also addressed the gathering, mentioned, Bishop T Ga Club in the UK has come a long way since its 10th anniversary celebrated 3 years ago. “We have been able to continue our charity work as usual with the sickle cell programme by contributing and paying visits to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, recently we made our second donation of blood monitoring machine to the unit,” she said.

Regina also told participants the Club has set a target of helping provide health education, health screening, counseling in health living, education and literacy in Ga language and culture of GaDangme people. “We intend to instill unity and pride in speaking the Ga language and to help set up a Ga Historical Society or Museum,” she added.

The Club’s branch in Accra, established a year ago, was represented at the function. Richard Acquaye who led its delegation said children in Ghana, some of them with brilliant academic brains are unable to get enough good education to become what they should be in future. “With the contribution of Bishop T Ga Club we went to Kokrobite (a suburb of Accra) and selected 10 children who we are now taking care of through primary school, college to higher level of education,” he mentioned.

Pastor Jones Lartey (a.k.a ‘Osofo Watchman’) who spoke at the event and raised funds for the Club’s projects on hand in Accra explained the importance of education to a nation’s development. He said: “Education is the key to our development. If you don’t know what education is, try ignorance and you will realise ignorance is more expensive than education. It’s a priviledge for us to be here, education has opened the door for us and we can help others.” Among Associations who made contributions towards assisting the Club with its projects on hand were: GaDangme Bii Akpee, GaDangme Nikasemo Asafo, Krobo Association, Ingleshi Kpee, La Kpee, Agave Development Association (a Togolese Association in London) and some individuals. Special guest, Naa Tsotsoo Sooyoo I, (Queenmother of Omomole and Amasaman – both suburbs of Accra) turned up in majestic regalia and her symbolic features of Ga traditions added other colours to the event.

The occasion also provided an opportunity for some listeners of Sunday’s special Radio Show programme on Hotdigital Radio (‘Bo Oba’ Show - hosted by Bishop T). Notable callers on the Show, Kwaku Dua (a Kwahu-born native with an impeccable Ga accent and deep history of the GaDangme people),’Frukutu’ Barnor (a.k.a Mr. Tetteh), Victoria Atwei Lokko (a.k.a Atwei Siklité) and Nii Ayi Shanko were all present and among some of them not having interacted personally, except on radio, it was great fun. Giving a brief moment, Kwaku Dua showed his love for the GaDangme people. “Education is important not what is learnt in the classroom alone but what we learn outside, sharing ideas and opinions is what makes us what we are,” he said and added: “I love the GaDangme people and it’s the reason I am here.” They posed for pictures and danced together as the now going to be famous ‘Amoo’ struck his soothing and melodious voice on the microphone and attracted many to the dancing floor.

The event was sponsored by Hotdigital Radio, Joy Telecom, Sky 0212, Alordia Promotions, Hitz Radio, Alans Car Service, Doris Shipping, Hardings Solicitors, Bounds Green Travel. Bishop T Ga Club contact phone numbers: +44 020 8527.2435, +44 079 0850.1014, +44 079 4767.0709, +44 079 5821.0163 -