Wrapped in Pride, Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity at the Field Museum, Chicago:

The Field Museum, Chicago, is exploring the history and the significance of the Ghanaian Kente cloth with an exhibition entitled, Wrapped in Pride, Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity from April 13 to July 15, 2001. The museum has extended invitation to the Ghanaian traditional council, Chicago, to honor the occasion with an appearance to reflect the Ghanaian traditions, with our traditional chiefs dressed in their splendid and colorful Kente cloth and regalia.

On the opening press briefing day, April 10, 2001, the Ghanaian traditional council was represented by Nana Sanaa Darko, I, the Okuapemhene, and the president of the Ghanaian house of chiefs, Chicago, Togbe Venya I, Ewedufia, and the Secretary of the house of chiefs, Nana Akwasi Appiah, Asantefuohene of Chicago, Nana Asamoah, Akwamuhene, Nana Baffour, Gyasehene, Nana Aboagye, elder, and Mr. Andy Aniagyei, Secretary of the Asanteman Association, Baffour Sakyi, chief linguist of the house of chiefs, Opanin Kwabena Otchere, the linguist of Mfantseman Association, Mr. Clement Timpo, President of the Ghana National Council, and Mrs. Patience Adigbli, President of the Ewe Association and Secretary of the Ghana National Council.

May 5, 2001, Nana Sanaa Darko I, president of the house of chiefs, Nana Kofi Adu, Okyehene, Nana Akofo Sipi Bekoe II, Nkonguahene of Obosomase-Akwapim, Clement Timpo, President of Ghana National Council, Opanin Kwabena Otchere, and an elder from Okyeman Association.  

June 23, 2001, Nana Sanaa Darko I, president of the house of chiefs, Nana Kwame Asuo Afram, Kwahuhene, Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa, Kwahuohemaa, Nana Kwabena Korantsen I, Mfantsefohene, Nana Adwoa Acquah, Mfantsefohemaa, Clement Timpo, President of the Ghana National Council. Others community elders who participated were Opanin John Kofie of Mfantseman community, Opanin Stephen Somuah, Opanin Daniel Abankwa, linguist, Mr. John Kesse, President, and four other elders of the Kwahuman community.  

Finally, on July 14, 2001, the entire assembly of the house of chiefs and their elders, accompanied by Clement Timpo, President of the Ghana National Council, and Mrs. Patience Adigbli, Secretary to the Ghana National Council and also President of the Ewe Association of Chicago.

To crown the exhibition activities, the Chicago State University in cooperation with the Museum is throwing a party for the participating chiefs. Also, the Museum has promised to pay the Ghanaian House of Chiefs five thousand dollars ($5000) for their participation.

The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Asante Kingdom of Ghana Visits the Detroit/Pontiac Area:

His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the sixteenth Asantehene of the Asante Kingdom of Ghana visited the Detroit/Pontiac area from May 30 to June 3, 2001, at the invitation of the mayor of Pontiac, Mayor Walter Moore. The Otumfuo’s visit was aimed at promoting support for his Otumfuo Education Fund (OEF), and also to encourage business influx to Ghana.

The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) held a grand durbar in his honor on June 2, 2001, at an auditorium adjacent to the Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan. Chicago’s participation at the durbar consisted of an entourage comprising the entire Asanteman Association of Chicago, led by the Asatefuohene Nana Akwasi Appiah and Asantefuohemaa, Nana Amma Akyaa. Lending support were five traditional council members and some Ghana National Council officials. The supporting cast consisted of the following:

• Ghana National Council: Mr. Clement Timpo, President, Mrs. Patience Adigbli, Secretary, and Mr. Bashiru Habib, Financial Secretary.
• Ewe Association: Togbe Venya I, Ewedufia, Mrs. Patience Adigble, President of the Ewe Association, and Prince Hodogbe.
• Fante Benevolent Society: Nana Kobina Korantsen I, Mfantsefohene, Nana Adwao Acquah, Mfantsefohemaa, and Opanin John Kofi.
• Haske Society: Alhaji Suleman Giwa, Seriki Zongo I, Alhaji Garuba Issaka, Galadiman, and Mr. W.G. Tijani, President of the Haske Society and his wife.
• Kwahu United: Nana Kwame Afram, Kwahuhene
• Okuapeman Association: Nana Sanaa Darko I, President of the Chicago House of Chiefs and Okuapemhene.

The occasion was crowned with a presentation of a plaque from the traditional council of Chicago, to His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Making the presentation were Mr. Clement Timpo, President of the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago and Nana Sanaa Darko I, President of Chicago House of Chiefs and Okuapemhene.

Nana Akwasi Appiah, Asantefuohene and Nana Amma Akyaa, Asantefuohemaa, would on behalf of the Asanteman community of Chicago Metropolitan area, like to thank the Chicago council of chiefs and the elders, the Ghana National Council representatives, and all those in the community who had traveled with them to Pontiac, Michigan to welcome His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and also helped in making the occasion a success.

Homecoming Summit 2001: A summit for Ghanaian Living Abroad, July 23-25, 2001:

The Ghana Government, acting through the Ghana Investment Promotion Center is organizing a homecoming summit for Ghanaians living outside Ghana. The theme of the summit is to drum support and also encourage a dialogue between the government of Ghana and Ghanaians living abroad to see how best the government could offer assistance to Ghanaians living abroad to resettle in Ghana. The main focus of the summit code named "Harnessing the Global Ghanaian Resource Potential for Accelerated National Development," is aimed at achieving the following:

• To develop a process for the renewal of confidence of Ghanaians living abroad in their country;
• To enhance dialogue and explore opportunities for productive relations between Ghanaians living abroad and their country; and
• To identify the means to tap into the acquired capacities of Ghanaians living abroad for the creation of the national wealth.

For information on the summit, visit the summit Web site at www.homecoming.com.gh.

Chicago State University- Bridging the Digital and Socio Economic Divide Conference in Accra, Ghana, July 23-25, 2001:

The Chicago State University, in cooperation with the Trade and Investment Office of the Embassy of Ghana, Washington, D.C., and the Ghana Ministry of Trade and industry is hosting Bridging the Digital and Socio-Economic Divide, a unique International Conference at the Trade Fair Center in Accra, Ghana from July 23 to July 25, 2001.

The theme of this conference is "Linking America and African Businesses." The goal is to offer a collaborative effort to facilitate one-on-one match making between American and West African business and investors.

For more information, check the Chicago State Web site at http://www.csu.edu/africaamericastudies

Ghanafest 2001:

The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago, a Not-for-Profit and charitable organization is organizing a Ghanaian and African cultural exposition entitled the Ghanafest on July 28, 2001, at the Washington Park, 54^th on Cottage Grove, Chicago.

The Ghanafest is a cultural exposition, which is aimed at showcasing the African and Ghanaian cultural heritage. The festival depicts the Ghanaian harvest festival scenes with a cultural presentation of Ghanaian traditional chiefs, queen mothers, elders of the chiefs’ court, and the youth dressed in splendid cultural costumes, parading and dancing to the tune of traditional Ghanaian music.

Ghana National Council to Honor Ghanaian Graduates at Ghanafest 2001:

At this year’s Ghanafest, the Ghana National Council is organizing a program of appreciation and acknowledgement of our young sons and daughters in the Ghanaian community in the Chicago Metropolitan area, who have graduated from high schools and colleges.

The program is aimed at honoring and also showing our appreciations to our sons and daughters for making those of us living in the Diaspora very proud with their scholarship achievements. Their achievements will serve as an incentive and encouragement to the up and coming young ones to follow in the footsteps of those who have preceded them.

To our young graduates, we say "bravo"! We salute you for your scholarship achievements! Please keep up the good work!

 

By Clement D. Timpo 

President Ghana National Council