There is tension and bickering going on among the rank and file of the Ghanaian community in Chicago land. The chiefs of the various Ghanaian regions joined the fray in March when they stayed away from the 56th In- dependence anniversary dance of their homeland, Ghana.
Shortly afterwards, Ghana National Council (GNC) President, John Henry Assabill took the immediate past GNC President, Reuben Hadzide to court for defamation of character. The Ghanaian Christian leaders intervened to no avail. The Chicago Inquirer Editor, Joseph Omoremi approached two of the Ghanaian regional chiefs, Kwame Ampofo, Toghe venya the First and Alhaji Naa Issah Samori of the Northern Union in the Chicago metro area for interview on the crisis and other African issues.
Excerpts:
Inquirer: The Ghanaian chiefs and the elders are among the forces that make things work in the Ghanaian community but the chiefs boycotted the 56th In- dependence celebration. Why?
Chief Ampofo-There is so much going on in the commu- nity. We didn’t boycott celebra- tion but decided not to go. The independence dance is not com- pulsory for the chiefs to attend like the Ghanafest. Some chose to go this year and some chose not to go.
Inquirer: It is unusual for all the chiefs not to go at once going by previous records?
Chief Ampofo-The chiefs were not interested this year hence they didn’t show up?
Inquirer: Why are they not in- terested in an event they nur- tured over the years?
Chief Ampofo-There was an incident that we didn’t like. The interest was not there. There is no need attending an event you are not wanted or you won’t feel happy attending.
Chief Ampofo-The chiefs are the ones holding the Ghanaian community together in Chicago land. However, some have taken it for granted.
The respect which they have to accord the chiefs are not there anymore but if they need you, they run to you for help. There are some people in the Ghana National Council (GNC) who think they are community lead- ers.
We are not fighting with them as community leaders and the GNC is the umbrella organiza- tion which all the associations belong to and the chiefs have been holding the associations to- gether. Some associations have several tribes because the Ghanaian associations were des- ignated according to regions but Nigerians call it states.
The understanding is to prevent
splitting Ghanaians that speak or understand the same language despite the existence of splinter groups within those regions.
In the northern region, there are so many tribes in the region and they all come together for the good of the region. The same for the Volta region. The Ashante region has a huge population too.
Inquirer: What actually prompted the boycott?
Chief Ampofo-In 2012, they had a Ghanafest and the way the tickets were sold, we were not happy about it because account- ability is very important. The chiefs were always on the re- ceiving end. We have to arrive early and sit for hours.
On top of it, we buy our cloths and regalia, yet they don’t con- sider those individual efforts of the chiefs as important. When members started complaining how the tickets were sold, it was a talk of town and we reached out to the GNC and President Ass- abill decided that the financial secretary and treasurer should come and explain to us what hap- pened.
Before the date, Assabill was sending us e-mails that the two were professionals and that they are not coming to waste their time and that we should arrive on time.
Alhali Naa Issa Samori of the Northern Union took over: I asked the question how the tick- ets sold at 2012 Ghanafest were distributed. How do we ensure checks and balance? The only way we can confirm attendance of the event was through the tear sheets. How do we account for the cash payments?
Chief Ampofo-The treasurer came at 6.07 pm for a meeting scheduled for five. We asked for the tickets and he said they were in his car. Why did you leave it in your car when you know that was the essence of the meeting?
He responded that he had better things to do. He became offended and used the f word to all the eight chiefs in attendance and I responded with the same f words.
The chief from his region apolo- gized and urged GNC to prevail on him. So when the independ- ence party came, we felt obliged to boycott it.
Inquirer: Assabill said the issue is being settled. How far is that true?
Chief Ampofo-That was after the praise jam. There were a lot of things going on in the Ghana- ian community but some of the priest felt the need to resolve the conflict in the interest of the community.
I and the treasurer ironed out our differences and they asked me to plead his case before the other chiefs he insulted and I told them
that is not how it is done. He has to be there and they came to apol- ogize to the chiefs.
Inquirer: How do we prevent a repeat of such actions?
Chief Ampofo-We are not beg- ging for respect. It is because of us that the GNC is still standing. There are Ghanaians all over and we are the chiefs mobilizing their regions for participating in the GNC and Ghanafest.
The Mayor and ambassador have been attending the Ghanafest be- cause it is a cultural thing. As a result of the festival, our children born here are so proud to be called Ghanaians or Africans.
They’ve decided to have their in- dependence dance every year in downtown where all the youths of African descent attend. Until the festival, our children only want to be called their Christian names.
Since they started bringing their American friends to the event, they are very bold with their African names. It has given them pride of identity when compared with others.
Secondly, when they are in- stalling a chief here, the para- mount ruler in Ghana called Ashantehene sends representa- tives to the event. In our culture, the chief is the most important leader in the community. Even the President goes to pay respect and homage to the chiefs. Inquirer: Why not amend the
GNC constitution to include a role for the chiefs?
Chief Ampofo-Some in the council don’t want that to hap- pen for obvious reasons. There is jealousy going on. It is frus- trating because we are the most
President Barack Obama with some United African Organization leaders after his senatorial elec- tion victory
educated immigrant and the poorest in the country. Every- body from Africa could read and write. We are losing a lot be- cause there is no structure on ground.
Inquirer: Something has to be done to rectify the situation? Chief Ampofo-It has gone for too long. When Harold Wash- ington was elected, he gave us money for the Ghanafest. Obama met first with Africans on winning the senatorial elec- tions and told us others things to get things done.
At the end, we lost out because of jealousy and unnecessary bicker- ing.
Inquirer: But Ghanaians are the biggest supporter of Ali Kabba at UAO?
Chief Samori: The commu- nity has to revive UAO (United African Organization) for good. We have to work with Ali
Kabba. Nigerians and other African countries must send rep- resentatives to work with Ali Kabba seriously.
It shouldn’t be the only one per- son running the show in the African community. We must or- ganize our ethnic groups and make our representatives and UAO officers accountable to the community.
This is where the grassroots come in. It can’t just be a one man show. But we must know our- selves and be ready to work with each other to get things done.
The back biting and bickering must be put aside for the good of the community. Today, we are a
little bit confused. That is why we become so individualistic and the usual saying of returning home every year until we spend a better part of us here.
We forget that once we arrive and start paying rent and tele- phone bills, you are stock. The best thing is to make this our best home. The Indians came here and became citizens before even thinking of going home but home is a little bit sweet for us. That is why our parents and grandparents don’t want to live here.
If we want to stay and enjoy the benefits of this country where
you are paying tax just like every- body else, you have to think seri- ously about it before you become one of them.
Inquirer: Haziz Ajayi, one of you just returned home?
Chief Ampofo-I’m happy for him. Many of the old guys may not because they are thinking of the benefits awaiting him for the appointment he just got. Unless we become a little bit wiser and change our ways Africans here will be on the receiving end.
Inquirer: Unnecessary bitterness for nothing?
Chief Ampofo-When you see all these Asians here, they are well organized unlike our com- munity. We have to be organized here to make things happen here and in Africa.
When we are organized and put pressure on the system, we can get things done but if we do it in- dividually, they will just say thank you. The Jews who are get- ting things done right left and center are not different than us. And they don’t even have our manpower.
Inquirer: When Obama won the senatorial election in 2004, the first group he met were the Africans but we lost out com- pletely afterwards?
Chief Ampofo-It is not surpris- ing. The late Mayor Harold Washington told us when he won the Mayoral election that he knows Africans and where they live but you never find them.
