Amandla
Volume 10 Issue 12
Founded October 2003 Global African Newspaper Telephone: 973-419-0073 / 973-731-1339
December 15 , 2011
MfantsimanAssociation is Inaugurated in New Jersey By Kwabena Opong Ghanaians of Fante descent in the State of New Jersey have been urged to unite and contribute meaningfully to the development of their home towns in Ghana. This was the major theme of the speeches made at the event. The Mfantsiman Association is the first grouping of Fantes from Ghana in the State of New Jersey. The chairman for the occasion, Dr. Rockson, a dentist in South Orange appealed to members of the association to consider putting together a package aimed at helping people at home. He said that helping the poor and the disadvantaged is not work to be finished in a year, month or weeks, as the case may be. It should be an unending process. Dr. Rockson reminded the audience of the saying by the late President J.F. Kennedy that Fantes should “ask not what their country would do for them and not what their country would do for them.” In his opening statement, the president of the Mfantsiman Association, Samuel Mensah recounted the begin-
nings of the association and their plans for their homeland. He appealed to members to dedicate themselves to the ideals of the association and help in the development efforts of their homeland. Nana Ahor Kakabaah I, a New Jersey resident and a chief and spiritual leader in the Gomoa traditional area in Ghana advised his fellow Fantes to think of home and how to help the needy. He advised unity among the various Fante groups in the area and reminded them of their responsibility to help kin in need. “Children who should be in school are walking the streets because their parents cannot just afford their fees,” he said in Fante. He urged Fantes to come together and pledged his willingness to help the association in the state. The highlight of the night was the arrival of Mr. Beautiful, a comedian and actor in Ghana who was invited to lead the fundraising exercise.He urged the association to emulate the various Ghanaian ethnic associations who have come together to help their people Continued on page 2
Mr. Samuel Mensah, leader of the Mfantsiman Association of New Jersey leads the inaugural dance
Disabled Children in Congo DR remembered in New York By Kwabena Opong
Mr. Roland Pepere Moleka, making a short statement at the event. On his left is Dr. Uchenna Ekwo of CMPI who collaborated in the effort. Also in the photo are some of the organizers
Ojukwu for Burial Feb 2, 2012 Christopher Isiguzo It emerged Sunday, that the remains of the former Biafran warlord and leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who died in a London hospital on November 26, would be laid to rest on February 2, 2012. This is coming on a day the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwumah, declared that the demise of Ojukwu would not bring to an end the struggle for Biafra, urging
Odumegwu Ojukwu
Igbo leaders to rise up without further delay in demanding for their fair share in the country. Also, the leader of the World Ndigbo Youth Council, (WNIC), Chief Ndubuisi Igwekala, said his group would mobilise all Igbo youths both at home and in Diaspora to be part of Ojukwu's burial on February 2, insisting that the late elder statesman fought to give Igbos true identity. Chairman of the South-east Governors' Forum and Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, announced the burial date, while addressing journalists, shortly after a meeting of the forum at the Enugu Government House, Sunday. The governor said all burial activities Continued on page 15
Disabled children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo DR) received the attention of some New Yorkers on Friday, December 2 when they gathered at the St. Peter’s Church in Midtown Manhattan to raise funds for their welfare. Congo DR has for a long time been blighted by the incidence of wars, and in some places, particularly the eastern part of the country bordering Rwanda, the natural calamity of a volcano which erupted a few years ago devastating the area and
displacing a number of people. The event, which attracted people from various walks of life is the brainchild of Roland Pepere Moleka, a native of Congo DR who lives in New York. Mr. Moleka, in a short address, spoke about his personal convictions about the issue of children’s disability and his dedication to their cause. He believed it was a cause worth donating for. Speaking at the event, Ms. Ugoji Nze, a human and women’s rights activist and a lawyer justified the need to Continued on page 2
Merry Christmas to our readers
Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Hanukkah
Amandla wishes our readers and the community Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy ew Year. We appreciate your sincere patronage.