]]>
]]>Mayor-elect Eric Adams made an emotional visit Thursday December 2 to Elmina Castle, the first European slave-trading post in sub-Saharan Africa — located on the west coast of present-day Ghana.
Adams, on a private trip with his family, walked in and around the old castle, examining the shackles used to imprison Africans while they waited to be boarded onto slave ships and pausing below an entrance reading, “Female Slave Dungeon.” “This visit was powerful, and it gives me a sense of completeness as I prepare to face the city’s challenges,” Adams, who will be the city’s second black mayor, told The Post after his visit. “That is why I am here: to return to find my roots.”
Elmina Castle was built by Portuguese traders in 1482 — originally to protect the gold trade. It’s one of about 40 “slave castles” or trading forts built on what was then known as the “Gold Coast.” But after its capture by the Dutch in 1637, it turned into a hellish detention center, similar to other West African slave fortresses, organized to serve the Dutch slave trade with Brazil and the Caribbean. Britain took over ownership in the 1800s.
Historians say about six million Africans were shipped out of the slave fortresses along the Ghana coast beginning in the 1500s and lasting until the mid-1800s when the colonial powers began abolishing slavery. It’s estimated that about 10 to 15% percent of them perished at sea, the so-called “Middle Passage.”
“I made a promise to myself that I would visit Ghana following the 400-year anniversary of slavery in America and the election, to show how far we have come and remember how far we still must go,” said Adams prior to leaving for his visit. Elmina, at its slave trading peak, was structured like an evil version of “Upstairs, Downstairs.” The European slave trading masters lived in luxurious quarters on the upper levels while Africans suffered unimaginably in cramped, dirty slave dungeons below. Cells housed up to 200 Africans at a time, without space to lie down.
“To walk through the dungeons, you can feel the pain of those who were here,” Adams said. “I hope that Africans throughout the diaspora can walk through here and make this same journey I am on.”
Adams noted that the HACSA Foundation (Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa) allowed him to cross through the notorious “Door of No Return” on the seaboard side of Elmina Castle, the portal through which Africans were forced to go through before they were boarded onto the slave ships. Staircases led down from the European traders’ quarters to the dungeons where they could take women as personal concubines.
Samuel Jackson visited Elmina for his “Enslaved” docuseries last year. Jackson has ancestors who passed through there. Melania Trump, when she was First Lady, went to a nearby slave castle in 2018 as did the Barack Obama family in July 2009. Adams’ advisers had told The Post Sunday he was reconsidering the jaunt because of the Omicron variant that was first identified in southern Africa and has since spread to other countries around the world.
But Adams, who is fully vaccinated and recently received a booster shot, decided to keep to his plans. Ghana and South Africa are approximately 4,000 miles apart, even farther than the distance from New York to California. Adams was expected to return to New York on Dec. 8, according to his spokesman.
New York Post
]]>The newly formed Ghana Chamber of Commerce, USA, Inc. (GCC-USA) held its second official meeting on January 24, 2017 at the Ghana Consulate in New York City. The purpose of the meeting was for the Interim Executive Committee that was constituted at the inaugural meeting on May 13, 2017 to report its progress, be disbanded, and a permanent board of directors be voted on by paid members present. The Interim Chairman, Dr, Kofi A. Boateng reported that in a little over one month, the Interim Executive had ap- proved a draft bylaws, filed and paid the $850 fee for the application to the IRS for the tax exempt status of GCC- USA, opened a bank account, and worked with Mr. Francis Boanoh, a fellow member, to design a logo for the organi- zation that is creative and reflects Ghana’s colors.
The Interim Deputy Treasurer, Mr. Japhet Aryiku reported that 41 members had paid their dues of $100 each to date and that was commendable and demonstrates the potential and appeal of GCC-USA. He emphasized that only paid members would vote, which motivated an additional ten individuals to pay up on the day. Ms. Lucy Asare, Interim Secretary, read the minutes from the inaugural meeting to applause by all.
In his welcome address, Ghana’s Consul -General, Mr. Bernard Quantson, charged GCC-USA to carryout its goals with precision and pro- fessionalism. In this he com- mended the group for starting on time at 11:00am as adver- tised. The non-profit and non- charitable organization seeks to advance business and so- cial entrepreneurship among its members, liaise with sim- ilar entities to promote businesses for mutual benefit be- tween Ghana and others, and to enhance the quality of life for Ghanaians living in the U.S., among others. Once the center has been strengthened, GCC-USA will entertain chapters and affiliates. Lawyer Eric Okyere Darko led the group through the draft bylaws, and members made their contributions for changes as needed. A motion was made and seconded for the members to accept the by-laws subject to the changes noted and carried unani- mously. The bylaws provide for a minimum of nine and maximum of 27 members of the board categorized in three classes with each serving a term of three years and taking a year off before being eligi- ble to be nominated to serve again on the board.
The paid members unanimously voted for Dr. Kofi A. Boateng as Chairman, and for Dr. Owusu Kizito to serve as the Deputy Chairman. The board will continue to request Ms Rose Ivy Quarshie to serve as Treasurer, Ms. Lucy Asare to continue as Secretary, and Mr. Charles Nimmo Ntiamoah-Mensah as Chief Operating Officer. The latter was asked to serve as Vice-Chair of the Media and PR Committee with a charge to quickly develop a web site for GCC-USA.
The slate of the full board members who were unani- mously approved by the members comprised (from left to right in the attached picture): Alhaji Mohammed Mardah, Rose Ivy Quarshie, Charles Mensah, Dr. Kofi A. Boateng, Japhet Aryiku, Dr. Owusu Kizito, Eric Okyere Darko, Samuel Underwood (ex-officio to represent African-American members), Dzifa Adjorlolo, and Lucy Asare. It was a greed that membership meetings will be quarterly and will continue to be held at the Ghana Con- sulate. The board will announce the next meeting that will be held in September.
In commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Ghana’s independence, Her Excellency Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Ghana’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations hosted a reception at the United Nations on Monday, March 6th. The event also celebrated 60 years of partnership with the UN.
In her opening speech, the ambassador noted the important and the mutually beneficial relationship between Ghana and all of the other United Nations’ members over the past six decades. From sending in troops to as- sist with the crisis in the Congo to being on-hand to help eradicate the recent Ebola outbreak throughout several West African countries, Ghana has been a stead-fast ally to the UN. The reception began with the singing of Ghana’s National Anthem by 14-year-old Marie Antoinette, a local and very talented budding artist. An Adowa traditional dance performance was also very well received by the diverse audience of both Ghanaians from the community and UN dignitaries including Her Excellency the Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed. The spirit of the evening was one of jubilation, celebration and Ghanaian pride.
You are all invited to Yonkers Public Library for a Book Signing by Kofi Ayim, Editor and Deputy Publisher of Amandla and the author of “Jack Cudjoe: Newark’s Revolutionary Soldier and First Black Businessman” on December 9, 2012 at 3:00 pm.
]]>
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney are clearly interested in Latino and Jewish votes in the 2012 campaign cycle. But, obviously no mention of votes of Africans in America. Does the African votes exist?
America votes without Africa
Provocative, inspiring, and call for action describes America votes without Africa – a documentary that captures the civic engagement of Africans in America in Obama’s America. You are invited to the launch of the epic documentary in New York September 27, 2012. Book your copy today.
Our Price: $ 20.00
S & H: $ 9.00
For more information: info@cmpimedia.org or call 917-803-5540;347-302-6036;347-393-4938;646-897-2649
]]>