NANA BOACHIE DUAH AWERE I the Chief of Akuakrom in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti Region
“Yes we need everybody, the more there are all these associations, the more we raise high the flag of Ghana provided we are Fair To The Unity Of T he Ghanaian Diaspora “
GiF: Good morning Nana
NBDA: Good morning
GiF: Can you please introduce yourself to the Ghanaian Community in France
NBDA: My name is NANA BOACHIE DUAH AWERE I (known in my private life as Ernst Boachie Duah) I am the Chief of Akuakrom in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti. I am the President of the association called BACK TO ROOTS and also the President of the collectives of COSIM RHONE ALPES (collectif des organisations de solidarité International Issues des Immigrations) and C A G E F(collectif des Associations Ghanéennes En France. Both collectives are members of the national Platform called the FORIM(Forum des Organisations de Solidarité International Issues des Migrations)( www.forim.net…tel.01 44 72 02 88)
GiF: What is your educational background and your actual work
NBDA: I attended MOUNT MARY TRAINING COLLEGE IN SOMANYA
GiF: Have you got a family here in France
NBDA: Yes,I am married with children
GiF: How long have you been living in France
NBDA: I am here since 1982
GiF: Tell us about your association .
NBDA:
A:
BACK TO ROOTS was created to create developmental projects in Ghana.So far we have built schools, a computer lab, teachers
Transmission of knowledge at the Computer lab
bangalow, we have gotten some kids, all kinds of sports kits, sent more than 40 kids to vocational schools that we take care of etc.. We have built a factory called cottage industry with Rice hauling component, oil mills, corn mills, animals feed, pig farming , micro finance for women (women in action project) etc. We have been able to put up a hospital CHPS(community-based health planning and services) in 2012 and we hope to get our own compound by 2014. All these projects were cofinanced by the French government via the PRA/OSIM Program with the exception of the teachers bungalow financed by Vision du Monde and the pig farming by the RHONE ALPES REGION
B:
CAGDRA (collectif des Associations Ghanéennes Dans le Rhone Alpes) is the collective of most of the Ghanaian associations in the Rhone Alpes Region…we have 13 registered associations so far.
C:
CAGEF (collectif des Associations Ghanéennes En France) This collectif is the federation of all associations who want to undertake developmental projetcts in Ghana. Cagef is part of the administration of FORIM with Mr OHENE AKONNOR as our representative.
May I take this opportunity to annonce to all associations who want to undertake projects in Ghana that Cagef can assist them in their project and where and how to get financial assistance.
NANA BOACHIE DUAH AWERE I the Chief of Akuakrom in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti Region
GiF: Have you heard of FEDGHAF (Federation of Ghana Ass in France.)
NBDA: Yes, I know FEDGHAF, we have a good terms to work together and we are always in touch. For instance, FEDGHAF was the 1st association to confirm their participation in the 1st Ghanaian Solidarity Day in France on the 5th of October 2013 in Lyon.
GiF: Do we need all these akatamanso associations for a small community like ours? Don’t you think it rather brings comfusion?
NBDA: Yes we need everybody, the more there are all these associations, the more we raise high the flag of Ghana provided we are Fair To The Unity Of T he Ghanaian Diaspora .
GiF: What is your advice to FEDGHAF
NBDA: My advice is that, Fedghaf must act as a parent association to all associations and individuals in equity.
GiF: I hope the Ghana associations in Lyon are united, unlike their counterparts in Paris?
NBDA: I am proud to say that the Ghanains associations are very much united in Lyon.Out of the 14 known ( registered) associations 12 of them are in the same Collectif..I mean CAGRRA. Yes, in every house there is “MENSAH” or in every floock there is a”BLACK SHEEP” There would always be some people who would try to mislead others for what reason I wouldn’t know. Just for an example, When I was elected President of COSIM RHONE ALPES all the diasporas were happy but some Ghanaians published on Facebook and other social networks that a blackman can never head COSIM. The sad thing about it is that they had a meeting during a funeral gathering (where someone has lost a dear one) instead of sympathsing with the family, they went to GOSSIP who could be the President of COSIM RHONE ALPES. What can you do with such people? They are everywhere.
My answer is to leave them with their evil deeds and one day the truth will prevail. With all the Gossiping ,CAGDRA moved from seven(7) associations to twelve(12) associations because people know where the truth lies, people wanted to know what COSIM is and finally they decided to join COSIM then to CAGDRA and from there we now have the CAGEF. For the 1st time in the history of Ghanaian diaspora , Ghana has a representative in FORIM and FOJIM(the youth wing of FORIM).
GiF: What do you think about division amongst the GiF nananom in paris?
NBDA: I don’t really know what it is all about so it is difficult to talk about something I don’t know.
GiF: How many Ghanaians are there in Lyon.
NBDA: It is difficult to give a figure as we are scattered around.
GiF: Do you think the French government likes this communautarisme?
NBDA: In my opinion, Yes .I am well placed to say that because I was part of the team who did the study on the Ghanaian diaspora. The French government(AFD) paid to have a comprehensive study on the Ghanaian diaspora and the result is that now, Ghana is among the sixteen priority countries that the French Government will focus on in terms of developments. Meaning Ghanaians will have the chance to write more proposals to help their various towns.
GiF: If you where the President of a unique Federal Association for Ghanaians in France, what would be your first step?
NBDA: That could not happen that a sole association or federation can represent Ghana but if it should, I will try to unite all associations. Now CAGEF is the reference of Ghanaians as far as developments is concerned. We invite all Ghanaians to our 1st solidarity day in Lyon on the 5th October 2013
GiF: In 20years, what do you think our children would say about us?
NBDA: I don’t need to wait for 20 years, what the kids should say about us. I need to work on our unity so that the kids could positively take over with such legacy they would rather thank us.
GiF: Thanks for your time and on behalf GIF News, I would say, BRAVO to you and your members.
