From Sebastian R. Freiku
The Asanteman community in North America has celebrated Asante Day 2015 with a grand durbar at the Sound View Park, Bronx, and a fundraising dinner/dance at the Ghanatta Hall in New York City on September 6, 2015.
The Asantehene, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was represented at both events by Nana (Dr.) Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I, Omanhene of Tepa. Baffour (Dr.) Ossei Hyeaman Brantuo VI, the Asantehene’s Mmawerehene, was also present as part of the Asantehene’s delegation.
The Asanteman community in North America held its Asante Congress on Sunday, September 6, 2015, at the Marriott Residence Inn located in Yonkers, NY, (Town Hall Meeting).
It was attended by over a 100 delegates from several cities in North America, including Toronto, Canada; Dallas DFW, TX; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Charlotte, NC; Washington, DC; New York, NY; Denver, CO; and Cincinnati, OH.
The Ashanti File gathered that the congress adopted a couple of resolutions that will be presented to the Asantehene through his representative, Nana Tepamanhene, and the current leadership of the Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA).
One of the resolutions contained a litany of charges, which had been proffered against the current ACONA Executive Secretariat, for which the congress expressed disdain, necessitating an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the Secretariat.
The Asante Congress also passed a resolution calling for the elimination of the Executive Secretariat in the ACONA structure.
The congress also commissioned an Interim Management Committee (IMC), whose mandate includes working towards the total unity of Asanteman in North America, under the supreme authority of Manhyia, and planning for Asante Day 2016 in Columbus, OH.
The IMC is made up of all the chiefs, queenmothers and Abusuapanin of all Asanteman organisations whose chiefs have sworn the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, through his representative, Nana Tepamanhene.
Also present at the grand durbar was Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mrs. Martha Ama Akyea Pobee.
Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem, Tepamanhene, entreated all Asantes in North America to work in unity to support Asanteman in particular, and Ghana in general, and to uphold the Asante culture and traditions. The fundraising dinner-dance was chaired by Dr. Kwasi Acheampong.