Afrikadey Festival 2008

Dear Ghana Canada Association. ( Charles Quest Adade),

INVITATION TO OPENING CEREMONY OF AFRIKADEY FESTIVAL 2008

Please accept an invitation from the United African Communities of BC, formerly Coalition of African Communities (CAC) to you, your community, and friends to attend the opening ceremony of AFRIKADEY FESTIVAL 2008. We will greatly appreciate it if you could join political leaders and African community leaders at the opening ceremony of the festival at 1 pm on August 16, 2008 at the Serbian Cultural Centre 7837 Canada Way (by 10th Ave).

This year, the festival is special as we consider AFRIKADEY FESTIVAL 2008 to be part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of our beloved BC. African/Black Canadians have contributed to our province since the days of the founding father of BC, Sir James Douglas, down to Daniel Igala, Olympic gold medallist, just to name a few of the many African/Black Canadians who have made significant contributions to BC and Canada. It is with this in mind that we ask you to join us in celebrating AFRIKADEY FESTIVAL 2008 under the theme: African/Black Contributions to BC, Past, Present, and Future.

AfriKadey festival provides a venue for African/Black roots, world-beat, and urban music in a cultural extravaganza, while heightening awareness and building appreciation for the contributions of African/Black Canadians to the local arts and culture communities of BC. This event brings together African/Black people from all over the world and people from other cultures in one venue for two days of celebration. As we celebrate, we are well aware of the challenges we face as African/Black Canadians in BC.

We look forward to your participation in this great event. Please contact Clement Apaak, a founding member of United African Communities of BC, at 778-895-9242 or by email at caapaak@yahoo.ca to confirm your participation as a community leader so that you can be properly recognized at the event. See details of festival at http://www.africanvibesfm.com/afrikadey/

Sincerely,


Victor E Obosi
President/CEO
African Heritage Society.
Africanvibes fm 102.7
www.Africanradio.ca
Off:778-896-0961
Cell:778-835-4738

Farewell Services

Farewell Services for Rev. Lawrence Manu & Family

To Keep you posted

TO KEEP YOU POSTED:

THE GHANAIAN - CANADIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Dear friend,

I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful summer days we have been having and that all is going well with you and your family. Please accept our apologies that our website is still not functioning. We have been hoping that it would be up and running by now but we are still dealing with some technical glitches that have not made it possible.

Here are a few things happening in our community and our upcoming events. It is my pleasure to inform you that we have been able to secure a $2500.00 BC Healthy Communities grant and a donation of $1000.00 from Western Union to organize a cultural fest and fundraiser for our youth scholarship program. Also, through bake sales and raffle organized by the Kwantlen Polytechnic University students at our independence anniversary dinner and dance, we have been able to raise $360.00 for the youth scholarship fund.

Coming up on our event calendar is the annual picnic to be held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at the Trout Lake Community Park, 3350 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. The event starts at 12.00 PM prompt. Please note that if it rains on the 19^th the picnic will automatically be postponed to the following Saturday, July 26 at the same venue.

We are also preparing for Ghana Fest ’08 that will take place at the New Serbian Hall, 7843 Canada Way (10^th Ave. & Canada Way), Burnaby. Ticket prices for the event are: $10.00 for paid up members and $20.00 for non-members. Gates will open at 5.00 PM and please be reminded that only finger foods and kebabs will be served at this function.

As part of Ghana Fest ’08, we are seeking interested vendors who want to display their wares at the hall to promote their business. Vendors can set up their wares at the hall starting from 10.00 AM and be there all day if they so choose. Interested vendors are encouraged to contact the Organizing Secretary, Mr. George Kyei at 604 961 0353 for further details.

Please help spread the word, and hope to see you and your family at these events.

Sincerely,

Kwaku Gaisie

Public Relations Officer

Message from the PRO: New Executives

Dear member,

Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope the new year has found you in good health and that you are ever more hopeful for even better things to come in the year 2008.

As you are aware, an election of new executives for the Ghana-Canadian Association of BC was held on December 22, 2007, at our Christmas party held at the Executive Inn at Burnaby. The following were elected as the new executive team: Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, President; Mr. Joseph Frimpong, Vice; Mrs. Judith Lartey, Treasurer; Ms. Nancy Twum, Assistant Treasurer; Mr. George Kyei, Organising Secretary; Ms. Patience Okantey, Secretary; Ms. Mary Stacy, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Gifty Frimpong, Women's Coordinator; Ms. Akosua Asumadu, Youth Coordinator and Mr. Kwaku Gaisie as Public Relations Officer.

On behalf of the new executives, I want to thank you for your participation in the festivities that evening and also for taking part in the election process. We do appreciate your input in the process and want to say a big "thank you" for your contribution in making our association a progressive one.

If you know anybody who was not part of the process or was not at the function, please pass on the message to them and remind them to keep checking our website www.ghanaiansinbc.org for upcoming events and other news items affecting our community.

Again, a big thank you and very good wishes to you and your family for the new year.

Sincerely,

Kwaku A. Gaisie
PRO

Ghana-Canada Association Donates to Flood Victims

By Charles Quist-Adade, PhD

The Ghana-Canada Association of BC (GCABC) has donated U$1,030 to flood victims in Northern Ghana. The donation was made on behalf of the association by GCABC Treasurer Mrs. Agatha Oppong and former GCABC Treasurer, Mr. Richard Oppong (pictured below). The donation was received on behalf of the flood victims by Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. William Ofori Boafo at a brief ceremony in Accra on November 15.

The ceremony was covered by the local media. The photo above was first published in the Daily Graphic, Ghana’s largest circulating newspaper.

Torrential rains, which began in mid July this year, caused widespread flooding in the north east of Ghana leaving 30 people dead when their houses collapsed or from drowning or acute watery diarrhea.

The disaster also affected 17 African countries, most of them in the West African sub region, with Burkina Faso and Togo particularly hard-hit by the rains.


...And to Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation

Meanwhile, the GCBAC has also donated $500 to the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation (KNBF). The donation was made during the foundation’s First Benefit Annual Table Tennis Tournament held at Kwantlen University College on November 10, 2007. The highly successful tournament raised more than $18,000. According Ms. Marjorie Ratel, chairperson of the foundation, all the proceeds will go toward the construction of a proposed Neuroscience Centre of Excellence in Accra.

The KBNF was founded in 2000 as a collaborative venture between Canadians and Ghanaians to establish a Centre of Excellence in Neurosurgery and Clinical Neurosciences to serve the West African sub-region.

VP Wins VIP Table Tennis Invitational

Our own Vice-President, Mr. Kingsley Agyeman was crowned the “champion of champions” when he won both the single and double men’s tournament in the VIP invitational division of the First Benefit Annual Table Tennis Tournament held at Kwantlen University College on November 10, 2007.

GCABC Appeals for Participation in Coming Elections

The Executive Council of the Ghana-Canada Association of British Columbia has called on members to attend and participate in the election of new officers on December 15 at Douglas College, 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC on December 15 from 2-4PM.

The call contained in a letter signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, reminded members that the GCABC is a collective venture and appealed to them to work collectively to improve the economic and social wellbeing of all.

“We must move beyond ‘the partying and merry-making syndrome’ and begin to build a solid foundation of economic sustainability that will allow us to provide support services for our members, especially our youth and seniors,” the letter stated.

The letter ended with two classic sayings about participatory democracy, leadership, and service to the community.

“As one wise man said ‘Those who fail to elect their leaders are ruled by fools. Be part of this exciting democratic process. Stand up to be counted! Step forward to serve. Don't forget Jesus Christ's injunction: ‘The greatest among you must serve.’”


Outgoing Executives: L-R: Mr. Kingsley Agyeman, VP; Mr. George Kyei, Organizing Secretary;
Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, Public Relations Officer; Mrs. Judith Lartey, Assistant Treasurer;
Mr. Joseph Frimpong, Secretary, Mr. Ernest Daddey, President


Annual Christmas Get-together on December 22

This year’s Annual GCABC Christmas Get-together is scheduled for Saturday, December 22 at the Executive Inn, 4201 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC, V5C 3Y6. Members and friends of the GCABC, who have contributed in various ways to the association and Ghana, will be honoured at the party. For details and ticket information please, check our website: http://ghanaiansinbc.org/

Holiday greetings & Elections

Dear Compatriot:
Allow me, on behalf of the Executive Council of the Ghana-Canada Association of BC, to wish you, your family and dear ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance. It is my hope and prayer that the New Year brings you and your family good tidings, success and prosperity in all aspects of your lives.

It is also the hope of the Executive Council of the GCABC that 2008 will see our association not only grow stronger, but also make further progress in our efforts to build a more closely knit community. May the New Year avail us the opportunity to build upon the modest gains we made collectively--executives and members-- during the past two years. We hope our association can continue to count on your continued active participation in the New Year.

As you might have read from the electronic announcement sent to members recently, time has come to elect new officers to run the affairs of our association. I am, by this letter, imploring you to participate in this very crucial democratic process by helping to elect our new "dignified servants" or be elected as one. Thus, we wish to see you and your family at Douglas College, 700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC on December 15 from 2-4PM. As one wise man said, those who fail to elect their leaders are ruled by fools? Be part of this exciting democratic process. Stand up to be counted! Step forward to serve. Don't forget Jesus Christ's injunction: "The greatest among you must serve."

The New Year brings with it new challenges and opportunities and we need our collective commitment and resolve to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities. Remember that the GCABC is our collective venture and we sink or sail together. What is more, we will bask in its glory or wallow in its shame as individual Ghanaians. Let's discourage the fence-sitters in our midst and let's pull our association forward. We must move beyond "the partying and merry-making syndrome" and begin to build a solid foundation of economic sustainability that will allow us to provide support services for our members, especially our youth and the seniors.
See you on Saturday, December 15 at Douglas College.
Truly yours,
Charles Quist-Adsde, PhD
PRO, GABC
On behalf of the Executive Council.

Global Citizenship Award: Marjorie Ratel

A Neuroscience staff nurse at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) since 1978, Ms Marjorie Ratel is a strong advocate for access to quality healthcare in developing countries and is spearheading a project to help improve healthcare in West Africa. She possesses a tenacious drive to improve the lot of others, and a natural aptitude for inspiring key figures and organizations to support her vision.

For the past seven years, she has been working with colleagues in Vancouver and at the University of Ghana’s College of Health Sciences in Accra to improve the skill base of the local Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s (KBTH) neurosurgery unit. The ultimate goal is to establish a Centre of Excellence in Neurosurgery and Clinical Neurosciences that will provide high quality health service and conduct contextually relevant teaching and research. Ms Ratel has been a driving force in turning these ambitious aspirations into results and opening up channels for a fruitful exchange of expertise between KBTH and VGH.

Collaboration with Ghana began when Ms Ratel met Dr. Thomas Dakurah, a young neurosurgeon from Ghana taking advanced training at VGH. She learned of severe shortages in medical and educational resources in his country, and became deeply committed to assisting her Ghanaian counterparts. She founded the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Project in 2000, and by the following year she and colleagues began organizing the shipment of good-quality used medical equipment together with new medical supplies to KBTH. Over the past six years, 11 containers have been shipped to Ghana with an estimated value of more than $5 million.

In Vancouver, she established (and chairs) the non-profit Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation, and two accompanying fundraising charities. A sister Board in Ghana was also launched in 2002 under her leadership. Since then, she has been instrumental in establishing teams in Los Angeles, New York and across Canada to help promote the project and raise funds. The first phase of the neuro-hospital building project will focus on the Ambulatory Care Center, an international house for visiting professionals and a Nursing / Paramedical residence for local personnel of the neuro-hospital.

The project has attracted the interest and support of key players including the Vice President of Ghana, the Ministry of Health, the University of Ghana, KBTH itself, the Canadian High Commission, academic bodies and major corporate bodies. In 2003, Ms Ratel headed a team of Canadians and Ghanaians that met with Ghana’s Vice President, winning his support and gaining the project high profile attention. A sisterhood Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by The Ghana High Commissioner for Canada, the Consul General for Ghana and VGH.

Much of Ms Ratel’s career has been spent providing clinical education to other nurses, devising nursing policy, and developing standards of care. She is respected as an expert nurse (in Geriatric care as well as Neuroscience), compassionate caregiver and highly capable administrator. She has inspired key UBC faculty to become involved in the work of the Foundation and in the exchange of expertise. The university hosted and assisted a group of Ghanaian nurses who traveled to Canada to receive specialized training at VGH in the care of critically ill neurosurgery patients. These nurses returned home and are transferring their acquired skills to colleagues in Ghana. Ms Ratel still finds time to mentor students at UBC and to inspire in them a global perspective on health. Since 2005, she has been a coach on the UBC Global Student Speakers’ Bureau.

Last year in Toronto, Ms Ratel, was presented with the Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Award for her efforts in improving the health care delivery to Ghanaians. She gives much credit to her colleagues and partners who have rallied behind her vision and mission to advocate for Africa.

Ghana@50 Celebrations: Comments by Kwantlen University College students and Faculty

Assif Patel:

I am very glad I attended the Ghana Independence Anniversary Symposium on Friday night as it provided me with a view that I may have overlooked before. To be quite honest, I was completely unaware or ignorant of the contributions of President Kwame Nkrumah. I was amazed to learn of President Nkrumah’s efforts in liberating Ghana from the colonizers, more amazingly he paved the way for the rest of Africa. Another observation I made at the symposium was the passion and work ethic of the Ghanaian people as a nation. It was also very interesting to see all of the dignitaries and various professionals of Ghanaian background. I felt as if the community is making a real effort in promoting and jump starting the development of not only Ghana, but Africa as a whole. The Ghanaian community along with various organizations and different levels of government is making a real effort to debunk some of the issues affecting Africa and Ghana in particular.

Isabelle Hayer

It was also exhilarating to also hear people with strong opinions, fearless to voice their opinions in public and clear on their social obligations to their community and its success.

The experience was enriching of spirit and eye-opening in experience as I was not fully aware of the fortitude of the Ghanaian people and the difficulties they have faced to achieve the status of independence. I felt it an honour to have played a small role in assembling this symposium and hope that more of these events will come.

Sukhman Dhaliwal

..My personal favorite part of the evening was the recreation of the Ghanaian Royalty. It was very well done and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The presentation was very vibrant and up-tempo and everyone played their parts wonderfully, especially “The King” (who I later found out was my friends dad). This part of the evening seemed to invigorate the crowd as everyone was now ready to dance the night away. The dance floor was opened up and everyone let loose and had a great time. I only got to dance for a few minutes as I was busy taking pictures, but still enjoyed myself. In all, it was a great night in celebration of Ghana’s independence.

Jonas Bige

I now understand why Ghanaians call Ghana, Mother Ghana. The importance of women in Ghana is outstanding. Mrs. Theresa Agbemenu talked about women’s importance which taught me a lot. Her examples included how women earn the same wages as men and how the equality between men and women supports the country. 60.5% of families are female headed (matrilineal). Men produce the cash crops for the country while women produce for consumption. Women produce 40% of Ghana’s GDP which is staggering by looking at it. Women are extremely important to Ghana and the population. The population is 18.8 million and 51.4% of the population is women. Women play a vital role in everyday life to support and contribute to the family. What surprised me is how she saw Canada in comparison. Canada does not have equality of wages between men and women; whereas, Ghana does. She was surprised when she first came to Canada because the culture of Ghana places such an extreme importance on women in all areas. This taught me that there can be equality between men and women and it can start in post-colonial countries. Now only if Canada and the United States took Ghana as an example, then things would become even more interesting.

Aisha Choudry

I must say I very much applaud Mrs. Agbemanu for her enlightening and magnificent presentation. I was really tuned in because she was discussing how the women back home have much more respect than men or as equal. The woman is portrayed as a caregiver and one the controls the household. The role of the women really impressed me and I was taken aback to discover the many extraordinary activities and duties they perform. As one member mentioned, (not exactly by word) but we all owe our present positions where we stand now to our respected mothers. I was surprised to see how many hands went up, to acknowledge that most owed their mothers for their current rewards or positions. All in all, I was glad to take part in an educational and cultural experience. I have been able to take something from this, and that is to really and truly give homage to you own country and recognize the diverse cultures around us. Only when we do this, we will be able to possibly eliminate discrimination or some form of ignorance. I hope to take part in many more upcoming programmes to expand my horizons and have a broader multi perspective.

Stella Guiterrez

The Ghana Golden Jubilee Symposium, an event marking the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Ghana, was certainly an eye-opener; it made me realize the independence that so much of us take for granted and yet it is independence that the people of Ghana have long ago sought and continue to celebrate with so much joy until now.

Dr. Charles Quist-Adade quoted Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s pioneer president when he said, “We prefer independence with danger to servitude in tranquility”. Indeed, there is nothing more important than liberty. When I think back to the history of my country the Philippines, that it was colonized by the Spaniards for more than 300 years, I couldn’t bring myself to accept such an event repeating itself; that would mean me and my countrymen stripped of the freedom of expression, among other things. Freedom gives us all a chance to explore our individuality and enjoy life. For that to be taken away from us would be heart-wrenching.

Not only does it make me happy that the people of Ghana celebrate their independence and take pride in what they have accomplished so far, but also the fact that they have created ties with countries all over the world, like Canada. The friendship that Ghana and Canada have built together remains strong. This kind of friendship not only opens more doors to the people of both countries, it also serves as an example to other countries, showing the essence of camaraderie. There is definitely strength in numbers.

My experience at the Ghana Golden Jubilee Symposium was an unforgettable one; to see the colours of Ghana brought here and to be immersed in a culture of good cheer was absolutely wonderful.

Maria Collinet

I think that there is great hope for Ghana. The people are intelligent and the culture is rich. As we’ve witnessed first hand in our classroom, our very own proud Ghanaian teacher, Dr. Charles Quist. Adade is a living example of what the people of Ghana are capable of if given the opportunity and the proper resources. The sky is the limit.

Grant Allan, Director, Office of Research and Scholarship

Charles. I wholly endorse Steve's comments. Carroll, my partner, also made the point to me how comfortable she was made to feel by the friendliness of your fellow Ghanaians. Well done, Grant

Stephen Dooley, Director, National Institute for Research in Sustainable Community Development

Charles:

On behalf of Preet thank you so much for a wonderful evening on Saturday. As you know, Preet and I danced long into the night!

I must say that I was very impressed with the effort you put forward to make this a successful event. As we drove home Preet and I talked about the wonderful sense of community we felt through the Ghana-Canada Association of BC. Yes, there may have been a few logistical problems, but in the main this was a very important and successful event and I was glad to be part of it.

I also thought it was a nice touch to see a selection of your students in attendance. Engaging students in activities outside the classroom is the hallmark of a great instructor.

Thanks again for inviting us to the Ghana 50th anniversary celebrations.

Steve

GHANAIANS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA CELEBRATE NATION’S 50TH BIRTHDAY IN GRAND STYLE

Surrey, BC, Canada, April 8, 2007

Two eventful days and two spectacular events have kept Ghana on the lips of many here and it is likely to be so for some time to come.

A well-attended symposium and a sold out gala night organized by the Ghana Canada Association of British Columbia (GCABC) to mark Ghana’s 50^th independence anniversary kept tongues wagging about what the West African nation’s trailblazing independence 50 years ago meant to people of African descent everywhere.

On March 23 a symposium jointly organized by the GCABC and Kwantlen University College under the theme: Ghana and Canada-50 Years of Friendship attracted more than 350 participants including local dignitaries—members of the Province’s Legislative Assembly, students, professors and the members of the general public.

For more than three hours, the audience was treated to a lively panel discussion of 50 years Ghana-Canadian relations, but also Ghana’s independence story by speakers from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), academia, Non-Governmental Organizations and Ghanaian-Canadian community.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency, Dr. Margaret Amoakohene delivered the keynote address. In her speech, Dr. Amoakohene traced the history of the struggle for Ghana’s independence and paid tribute to leaders of Ghana’s independence movement, particularly, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Ghana’s first president, who she said linked Ghana’s independence to the liberation of the rest of Africa.

Dr. Amoakohene said Ghana’s Golden Jubilee also marked 50 years of post-colonialism in Africa. Ghana’s 50^th independence anniversary “is a celebration not only for Ghana, but for the whole of Africa.” But she also criticized African leaders who “took independence as an end in itself,” and thereby leaving their countries in economic ruin.

Dr. Amoakohene also observed that the anniversary also marked 50 years of Ghana-Canada relations. She said Canada, has since Ghana’s independence, been consistent in its assistance to her country and praised the Canadian government and people for their continued assistance.

Speaking under the theme, “Ghana and Canada: 50 Years of Friendship: What Next?” eight panelists discussed the historic significance of Ghana’s independence, Ghana’s role in the liberation of other African countries from colonial rule, the singular and progressive role of Ghana’s pioneer president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah , and Ghana-Canada relations.

Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, Kwantlen University College professor and organizer of the symposium praised Dr. Nkrumah and his fellow compatriots, collectively called the “Big Six” for facilitating the independence of Ghana from more than a century of British colonial rule.

Speaking on the topic “Kwame Nkrumah, the Big Six and the Fight for Ghana’s Independence,” Dr. Quist-Adade observed that the Big Six discovered the mission of their generation and strived to fulfill it. Dr. Nkrumah, he said, captured the essence of this mission of the independence leaders in the following two noble sayings: “We prefer independence with danger to servitude in tranquility,” and “It is better to govern and misgovern ourselves than to be governed by someone else.”

“These sayings by Dr. Nkrumah are testimonies to the fact that there’s nothing greater and more precious than liberty. Indeed, there is no price for liberty,” Dr. Quist-Adade added. Dr. Quist-Adade who doubles as Public Relations Officer of the Ghana-Canada Association of British Columbia noted that “although Ghana at mid-life may be suffering mid-life crisis” and that even though “the price of freedom may seem so costly to some, Ghanaians are better off as a free people to manage or mismanage our affairs than to be ruled by someone else.”

He deplored the military coup that ousted the Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party regime in 1966 and saying the coup, which was teleguided by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was the worst thing to have happened to Ghana and the entire African continent. The coup not only “’prevented Ghana from becoming the Malaysia on the West Coast of Africa,’” it also aborted Africa’s march toward Nkrumah’s pet project, a continental union government, he lamented.

Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri, a Sociology professor from Camosun College in Victoria, BC, acknowledged the youth, farmers, women, and workers as the real heroes and heroines in the struggle for Ghana’s independence. Speaking on the topic “Youth, Leadership and Grassroots Democracy and Ghana’s Independence,” Dr. Adu-Febrir stated that the people of Ghana had long been agitating and organizing against British colonialism.

He said it was a mark of political acumen and great foresight on the part of Dr. Nkrumah to have tapped into the existing freedom-fighting spirit and energies of ordinary Ghanaians, notably the detached youth or “Veranda Boys” in the fight for independence. Without the grassroots, independence would have been impossible, he said.

Mrs. Theresa Agbemenu, speaking on the role of Ghanaian women in the struggle for Ghana’s independence and national building, paid glowing tribute to Ghanaian women, who she described as “the unsung heroines” of Ghana’s independence struggle and nation-building effort. She singled out the “Makola market women” for praise noting that they were the financiers and the real movers and shakers of the Convention People’s Party as it mobilized the country toward independence. After, independence, the role of the Ghanaian women became even more indispensable as they worked even harder to build the foundations of the new Ghana.

Mr. Richard Le Bars, Deputy Director for West Africa in the West and Central Africa Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade stated that Canada recognized Ghana as a role model for the rest of Africa.

Mr. Le Bars recalled that Canada has shared close relations with Ghana since its independence and even before. In fact, 2006 marked a landmark – the 100th anniversary of the first major Canadian presence on Ghanaian territory. In 1906, Canadian missionaries from Quebec, Les Pères Blancs, established a church in Navrongo, in what is now Upper East Region. “Canada recognizes Ghana as a model for Africa: a country with strong economic growth, a stable democracy, with regular, free elections; a country that protects the freedom of speech (including a vibrant press), and one that promotes a dynamic civil society and private sector;” Le Bar said.

Ms. Marjorie Ratel, a Vancouver nurse and president of the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Project focused on the role of NGOs in the socio-economic development of Ghana with a particular emphasis on the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Project, a joint international venture between the Vancouver, British Columbia and Accra, Ghana-based Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundations. The joint venture is raising funds to build a world class Neuroscience Centre of Excellence for Ghana and the West African sub-region.

Appealing for support for the project, Ms. Ratel outlined the acute need for a neuroscience hospital in Ghana and West Africa. “Ten per cent of all hospital admissions in the region are for disease of the nervous system, such as strokes, epilepsy, head and spine injuries, brain tumours and childhood malformations including spina bifida and hydrocephalus.”

She appealed to Ghanaians in the Diaspora to pull together and support their homeland. She also called on “all members of society, as global citizens to financially and expertly support the vision of our project and that of our predecessors.” The website for the foundation may accessed at: http://www.korle-buneuro.org/

Mr. Kwenu Turkson, for his part, observed that in spite of attempts to demonize him and discredit his outstanding achievements, Dr. Nkrumah is still recognized as one of the most respected leaders in the history of Africa. Mr. Turkson who spoke on the topic “Ghana’s Independence and the African Diaspora” said Nkrumah is today recognized as one of the most influential Pan-Africanists of the 20th century and in 2000, he was voted Africa's, “man of the millennium,” by the BBC.

Mr. Turkson, who is social activist took issue with Nkrumah’s detractors who charge that Nkrumah inherited the richest country in Africa and left it the one of the poorest. Mr. Turkson chided those who have criticized Nkrumah for his alleged one-party dictatorship, the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) which jailed his political opponents without trail by saying to the applause of the audience “What do you do when your enemies spare no effort to unseat a democratically elected government through bombs and bullets, killing innocent children in the process?

“What is George Bush doing with alleged terrorists in Guatanamo Bay? Nkrumah did not send his enemies, who threw bombs at him in their bid to assassinate him to Guantanamo Bay,” he said Nkrumah, he said did not invent the PDA; he inherited it from the British colonial government and it has not been repealed since.”

To critics who accuse Nkrumah for allegedly squandering Ghana’s wealth on white elephant projects and on the African liberation movement, Mr. Turkson said Nkrumah, unlike other African leaders, spent Ghana’s money on meaningful projects in Ghana on a worthy African cause, not on personal aggrandizement. “It takes time for money invested in projects to bear fruits,” he observed.

Other speakers were Mrs. Theresa Ohene-Asante who spoke on the topic “The Ghanaian

Canadian Woman: Contributions, Challenges and Prospects” and Ms. Bon E. Cummings, Deputy Director of CIDA’s Ghana Program who topic was “CIDA and Ghana’s Socio-economic Development”

L-R Hon. Dave Hayer, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism
and Immigration , Her Excellency Dr. M. Amoakohene, Hon. John
van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and
Hon. Richard Lee, MLA, Burnaby North. In the background is
Mr. George Kyei Twumasi, GCABC Organizing Secretary

The Panelists: L-R Mr. Kwenu Turkson, Mrs. Theresa Ohene-Asante, Ms. Marjorie Ratel, and Ms. Bon Cummings

Mr. Richard Le Bar Deputy Director for West Africa in the West and Central Africa Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade speaking at the symposium

Dr. Adu-Febiri speaking at the symposium

L-R: Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, Hon Dave Hayer, H. E. Dr. Amoakohene, and
Dr. Skip Triplett before the symposium

Did you say hairless and hatless?
Hatless yes, but Dr. Charles Quist-Adade wears two hats. He doubles as
Kwantlen University College professor and GCABC Public Relations
Officer