THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
A new organisation of Ghanaians living in Europe gathered recently in the western German city of Dortmund to officially launch the body, whose professed aim is to drive the development of their homeland.
The General Assembly of the Ghanaians in the Diaspora (Ghaspora), a new organisation bringing together Ghanaians in Europe, has held its first official meeting in Dortmund, Germany.
The historic gathering is the first of its kind since the formation of the body in January 2017. Until the Dortmund meeting most of the deliberations of Ghaspora were conducted via telephone conferences.
The aim of Ghaspora is to bring Ghanaians together to deliberate, develop ideas and implement projects for the development of their home country. The landmark General Assembly has begun the development of proper administrative structures to enable the group achieve its professed aims.
The idea of bringing all Ghanaians in the Diaspora together under the aegis of Ghaspora was conceived by Mr Kwaku Appiah, former Secretary-General of the German chapter of the ruling National Patriotic Party.
Among the issues being tackled by Ghaspora are the management of waste in Ghana and the preservation and processing of agricultural products to reduce post-harvest waste in the country.
Elections were held at the constitutive assembly of Ghaspora for the formation of its inaugural executive council. Appiah, the initiator, was elected Chairman while Mr Frederick Addo, an expert in the pharmaceutical business was chosen as a Vice Chairman.
Other elected members among the Executive Council are Mr Clement Akomea Brako (Secretary), Mr Adu Boahene (Deputy Secretary), Mrs Cassandra Abrokwa Lahmer (Treasure), Mr Kwame Abrefa Busia (Deputy Treasurer), Mr Ralph Adeniran (Chief-Public Relation Officer), Mrs Christabel Coffie (Deputy-Public Relation Officer), Nii Korley Commodore (Chief Organiser), Mr Yamoah Gyasi (Deputy Organiser) and Mr Felix Baah (Coordinator).
Moreover, the Assembly elected Mr Kyere Ampofo (Deputy Coordinator), Mrs Eugenia Agyemang (Auditor), Mr Joseph Addae (Research Officer) and Mr Botchway (Deputy Research Officer).
Addo revealed at the event that Ghaspora had now embarked on three major projects in Ghana: an Agro Processing facility in Mampong-Ashanti, Waste Management and Recycling plant at Kwanyako in the Central Region and the introduction of Eco Toilets across the country.
“Ghaspora is going to put up a cornflakes and biscuit factory in Mampong and I think it will reduce the massive unemployment in the region and expedite development in the country,” Addo added.
The General Assembly appointed three members to manage the organisation’s pilot projects on an interim basis.
- Mr Kwaku Appiah, as the CEO of Ghaspora Sanitation Project, with a special assignment to manage the Eco Toilet Initiative
- Mr Clement Brako Akomea, CEO, Waste Management and Recycling.
- Mr Frederick Addo, CEO, Agro Processing and Management.
In summary, Ghaspora has come to stay and is ready to complement the efforts of the governments and other stakeholders in the development of Ghana.
David Adu Boahene, Media Consultant & Founder Radio Africa Stuttgart
For more information about Ghanspora, visit www.ghaspora.com
