NCOGA PRESENTS 2009 ANNUAL PICNIC, FAMILY DAY AND CONCERT
The National Council of Ghanaian Associations (NCOGA) welcomes fellow Ghanaians, Africans and friends of Ghana to its annual picnic, family Day and
Concert at the beautiful Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, Queens on Saturday, August 1, 2009.
This year’s sponsored picnic is an exhibition with a makeup theme of Sports and Cultural expo. There will be a performance by a surprise guest artist from Ghana at the park. There will also be various activities, such as a volley Ball tournament, a tug of war competition just to name a few. Awards would be presented to the winners. Doctors on the Hudson and Ghanaian Nurses Association would also be on hand to provide various types of health screening. Additionally, there would be Ghanaian Cultural Extravaganza, a taste of Ghana combined with traditional drumming and youth performances!
It will be great! Make August 1st a get-away to camaraderie with friends. Plan ahead for this day as a day of opportunity to mingle and exchange greetings with past school mates and friends you have not seen for a very, very long time.
Don’t think of missing this year’s event! The phones of the organizers are buzzing with calls from all over the world because, New York always hosts the mother of all picnics!
Anyone interested in sponsoring this year’s picnic should call 347-489-5007 for further details.
NCOGA HOSTS REOWNED SINGER JIMMY CLIFF AT GHANA’S 52ND INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION
The National Council of Ghanaian Associations in NY (NCOGA) celebrated Ghana’s 52nd Independence anniversary in style at the Armenian Church Hall on Saturday, 7th March 2009.
This formal banquet was a fundraiser for scholarships for youth who have excelled academically and are going on to further their education in colleges here in the US. In addition, awards of recognition were given to outstanding individuals and organizations whose life and work have served to advance the interest of Ghana and Africa.
The banquet attracted an array of distinguished individuals and dignitaries, including Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian, Ghana’s Ambassador to the UN; Deputy Ambassador Genevieve Tsegah, outgoing Consul General Obeng Gyan Busia, Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster of the 16th District in the Bronx, Nana Anane Amponsah, New York Asantefuohene, Nana Abena Manu, NY Asantefuohemaa and Togbe Setranah, of United Volta Association. The crowd was entertained by the renowned gospel musician Professor Kofi Abraham and the popular Nigerian comedian “Away, Away”.
In his congratulatory message, His Excellency, Leslie Christian reminded participants that Ghanaians have good reason to celebrate this year’s anniversary, because it came on the hills of the peaceful transfer of power from President Kuffour to President John Evans Atta Mills. He congratulated NCOGA for remaining faithful to the charge of uniting Ghanaians under one umbrella. He reiterated his satisfaction that the award dinner was being held to raise funds for NCOGA’s scholarship program and noted that undertaking such task undoubtedly deserves commendation and our collective support.
Highlights of the evening include Jimmy Cliff wowing the crowd with a rendition of some of his previous hits. The four youth who were awarded scholarships for academic excellence are: Elorm Yador and Michele Adobea Agyakwah who have been admitted to Penn State University; Vasa Amponsah who will be attending the University of Buffalo and Gany Sita who is admitted to St. John’s University.
A diverse group of outstanding individuals within the community were recognized also recognized. Charley Taylor was honored for his humanitarian efforts, generosity, contributions and support for NCOGA’s initiatives. Also honored was STAR100, a young Ghanaian adult’s network group, dedicated to assisting different causes both in Ghana and here in the USA. Each year the group identifies a cause and organizes fundraising to support it. The group was honored for the selfless dedication and community service.
Also honored was the former Executive Secretary General of NCOGA, Alhaji Mardah; former representatives of NCOGA and other individuals from their respective associations for their dedication to service to the community at large.
Sincere thanks to all sponsors who supported us: Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian and his staff of the Ghana Mission, Western Union, the African Development Foundation, Ambassadorway Travel, Prestige Travel, Internal Travel Exchange, Mr. Tony Brobbey, Dr. Yao Kaledzi, Dr. Yaw Ntiri, Dr. Anukware Ketosugbo, Dr. Benjamin Dodoo, Awal Mohammed of Africa American Grill, Dr. Samuel Akuoku of Laurelton Medical, Dr. Samuel Mensah, 3G Media Inc., Calapaz Fabrics, Trinity Travel, and the Law offices of Akpalu and Associates.
Music was provided by the legendary New York DJ, Katabo Soundz.
The DVD of the event will be available for purchase soon. Those interested in obtaining the DVD should send an email to contact@ncoga.org.
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Click on the link below to see some pictures of the event.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ncoga.ny
Source: NCOGA Secretariat< — >
2009 Ghana’s 52nd Independence Dance
2009 Ghana’s 52nd Independence Dance to be held at Armenia Hall, please see flyer below:
Ghanaians Abroad
From time to time we may feature news from around the world featuring Ghanaians abroad.
Removed Ghanaian dies of cancer
A Ghanaian woman who was removed from a UK hospital and flown home after her visa expired has died.
Ghana to expel female protesters
Ghana is to deport Liberian women refugees arrested for holding naked protests, a minister alleges.
Bush in Africa: Your views
Five people in the countries president Bush is due to visit give their opinions about his Africa tour.
Aids, oil and Africom on Bush tour
The BBC’s Laura Trevelyan assesses what President Bush was hoping to achieve with his six-day African tour.
US ‘is not seeking African bases’
George W Bush says the US is not looking to set up bases in Africa on the latest stop of his African tour.
Bush urges end to Darfur ‘evil’
George W Bush says violence in Darfur must be stopped "once and for all", as he continues his tour of Africa.
Star’s support for cancer woman
Film producer Trudie Styler pledges her support for a campaign to allow a terminally ill woman back to the UK.
Report Release
The National Council of Ghanaian Association in New York organized the launching of a telecommunications report on Ghana at the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations on September 23, 2005. The report entitled, Telecommunications Market in Ghana: Status and Outlook was developed by Wilkofsky Gruen
Associates, a New York-based economic consulting firm with assistance from Kina Telecom, a value-added telecom firm in Ghana.
The report covers fixed lines, mobile communications, payphones, internet, and equipment and infrastructure market. It projects that the telecommunications spending in Ghana will grow dramatically through 2008, rising to $1.5 billion from $384 million in 2003, a 31.4 percent compound annual increase. In cedis, spending will rise from 3.2 billion in 2003 to 18.8 trillion in 2008, expanding at a 41.0 rate compound annually. The underlying drivers for this growth, according to the report, include the improved management of Ghana Telecommunications, new source of financing and the liberalization of the fixed line market.
The majority of Ghanaians present at the launching event expressed keen interest in investing in their motherland provided they have adequate access to information and data on various sectors enshrined in the telecommunications report. According to Dr. Lawrence of Lucent Technology, the report provides investors with basic market indicators and information that will help them make informed decisions on investing in the telecommunications market.
Mr. Obeng Busia, the Consul-General noted that this was the first time that the Ghana permanent mission to the UN in New York had undertaken a launching event of this kind. Present at the event are Dr. Victor Lawrence, Dr. Dodoo and Mr. Shariff Touray, members of the NCOGA Board of Directors, Alhaji Mohammed Mardah, the ESG of NCOGA, Mr. William Dzokoto, former executive of Lucent Technology and other former and current Council members and also the community leaders.
According to Victor Teppeh, one of the authors of the report and also senior telecom analyst at Kina Telecom, the Ghanaian community in the USA have the creative capabilities to help accelerate investment in the telecommunications industry.
The book is available for purchase by all potential investors. Please contact www.NCOGA.org or the Consulate at Ghana Mission to the UN. Check the Gallery for more photos of the Book launching.
