Message from the Secretariat
Dr. Maxwell Cobbina who succeeded Dr. Aheto, continued the legacy of his predecessor. Under his leadership, the Council hosted the then President of the Republic of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, one year and hosted the then first lady Nana Agyemang Rawlings also, the next year.
Dr. Samuel Amoako, succeeded Dr. Cobbina as the next secretary general, and concentrated his efforts on strengthening the partnerships and alliances with African-American leaders. During his two-year term, it was common to meet luminaries such as Charles Rangel, the member of Congress from Harlem, and the former Mayor of New York City David Dinkins.
Mr. Kwamena Eshun, became the fourth Secretary-General. Taking a cue from his predecessors, Mr. Eshun devised a strategic initiative for the development of the Ghanaian community. Unfortunately, his tenure was curtailed after he was transferred to North Carolina. Although he continued to play a major role in the council’s affairs, the day-to-day management was thrust into the hands of Mr. Mawuli Agbenu, the Deputy Executive Secretary General.
Mr. Thomas Mensah, who succeeded the Eshun regime, was elected Secretary General in one of the most highly contested elections. He defeated Mawuli Agbenu, the incumbent Deputy Secretary General, and Ms. Brenda Bismarck, the Deputy Public Relations Officer and Kwahuman Representative. Thomas quickly set about solidifying the council’s financial status, a task begun under Mr. Eshun. Today, the Council is on sound financial grounds, thanks to the efforts of Eshun and Thomas. Suffice it to say that Thomas was the only Secretary General who was reelected since Dr. Aheto.
Today, the Deputy Executive Secretary General Ivy Rose Quarshie, the first female to be elected to the position, and myself, are following in the footsteps of our predecessors. We are committed to strengthening member associations; expanding the Council’s influence to play a major role in Ghanaian politics while harnessing our enormous resources here to gain political power. We would also like Ghanaians to be a major force in American politics as well.
Every last one of the preceding Secretary Generals and their deputies has enjoyed significant support from the rest of their Executive members, the representatives of member associations, and the Ghanaian public at large.
We are hopeful that for our agenda to be carried out successfully, we would need the same level of support our predecessors benefited from. Such ambitious goals as economic empowerment, Ghanaian women’s development, the AIDS crisis in Ghana, and other issues pertinent to the development of Ghana, can be achieved only through a concerted effort. To this end, we are counting on your support to make the council better, and leave this august organization in a better position than we inherited.
