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Ghana Union in Leeds: the way ahead

The union has been in existence for over 18 years.  An active union with a good record on hosting Ambassadors and people of great reputation, councillors, members of parliament and chiefs from Ghana.  This union has been doing its best to organise independence celebrations, Ghana at 50, group tours in the UK and supported bereaved members even intervened with legal support for some Ghanaians in distress.  In 1995 the MP for Leeds volunteered to speak in parliament on behalf of the Ghanaian community.  The Lord Mayor at the time promised Leeds Council support for the union.

Diaspora

On the international scene Leeds Ghana Union has been instrumental in the development of a few charities.  In 1998 for example a citizens forum held a public meeting in York to look at the possibility of linking with a town or district in a developing country.  A group from the forum were interested in linking up with a community involved in cocoa growing because of the history of chocolate manufacturing in York.  The Leeds Ghana Union was approached for advice and guidance. A York-Fanteakwa Community Link was born and the Leeds Ghana Union was instrumental in its inauguration.  There has been a very healthy relation between the link and Begoro the seat of Fanteakwa District.  Many visits have been exchanged between Begoro and York involving students, teachers and a District Assembly Delegation.  A delegation headed by Begorohene also the Benkumhene of Akyem Abuakwa is expected in York possibly this August 2012 hosted by the Link.  The union in 2007 organised Ghana @ 50 celebration at the Hilton Hotel in Leeds. Among the guests and speakers were His Excellency Dr. Annan Cato, Ghanaʼs Ambassador to the UK, Dr Mick Wilkinson of the Wilberforce Institute and instrumental in fair trade campaign for Ghana and Dr Kwaku Adomdza a trustee for Ghana Council for Voluntary Organisations also a member of the Society of Black Lawyers in England and Wales.  A few end of year get together have also been organised by the union in the past.

Leadership

The union having braved the storm as pioneers for Ghanaians in Yorkshire is now experiencing a slack in activities. The reasons are many including lack of vibrant leadership to connect all the various groups of Ghanaians to draw support from the new Ghanaian community arrivals. A few of the old executives have passed away, some have become church pastors and others relocated outside Yorkshire. Some attempts have been made at reorganising the union but the approach ended in provisional solutions.  Against this background however there is a group of concerned individuals holding interim executive positions with the remaining pioneer executives in the hope of reorganising the Ghana Union.  Many of the interim executives have good jobs and influence, also well educated to meet challenges from authorities. The current volunteers however are over stretched having to assist in their individual capacities for the benefit of the expanding Ghanaian communities in Leeds and other areas.

Challenges

The expanding Ghanaian community needs a vibrant union with mandate from the expanded Ghanaian Community as it is a disadvantage to rely on individually driven efforts to cater for our expanding needs in Leeds. We need to integrate well into the British Society expanding our horizon. Our young ones must be assisted to understand and respect cultures that sustain good human values. Ghanaians need to know where to go and what assistance they can get or offer. Also we need as a minority community to protect and defend our rights with a guided assistance from the local authority. Our welfare issues are obvious – immigration, racism, ignorance, support in time of bereavement, even health matters. We also need a social centre to promote business and our culture.  These are some of the challenges we face as a minority community, we can achieve more under one banner – LEEDS GHANA UNION with recognition by the City Council and other state institutions is what we need. We may not go to London for consular services when our population is big in Leeds, Wakefield, Harrogate, Bradford, York, and Sheffield put together. Further, Ghanaian students population in Yorkshire keeps growing. Ghanaians are not only a religious entity, but also a political, economic and social unit that can have an impact on Yorkshire Culture.

Mandate

The skillful workers and the contribution we make in spending here in the UK and sending money home need to be recognised. We can negotiate terms when united under one banner. A new mandate from all Ghanaians will provide the necessary drive for people who are willing to take the mantle of leadership to dedicate their time in support of all. With a mandated leadership, promoting our community aspirations will be much easier. Let us come together in response to the appeal to all Ghanaians by Dr. Peter Tsakpo a few months ago that we as a community need to invigorate the Ghana Union with new blood. Bradford has established its union and it is working so let us do it for Leeds and to our own benefit.

After meeting scene, 2013