Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) - Its Historic Perspective By Nana Agyei Yeboah (Past Executive Secretary)

When I started writing this piece, I realized the major dialectical dilemma I'm confronted with. It is a fact that many people have contributed immensely to make ACONA what it is today. It is also a fact that Asantes deeply cherish recognition for their contribution to the success of a particular endeavor. Yet, neither space nor time will allow me to enumerate the names of the many people who have contributed in diverse ways to make ACONA what it is today. I hope that those who I may inadvertently fail to mention will forgive me. Ivor Wilks, the Herskovits Professor Emeritus of African Studies at North Western University, Evanstown, Illinois in the fifth Aggrey - Fraser 4]uggisberg memorial sectures delivered at the University of Ghana, Legon, made and interesting in one of his on Asante Kingdom captioned -The Enigma of Asante. He pointed out that historically, the significance of the Asante-Denkyira war lies not so much in the destruction of Denkyira's power, but rather in the decision of the protagonists to convert their military coalition into some sort of permanent political Union. Hence the "osa nti fo", those who had come together "because of war", took Asante as the name of the new Union. Premised on a similar principle, the leaders of the various Asanteman Associations in the North American continent, having and sharing a common heritage as a people, seeking to uphold and preserve the rich traditional and cultural values as symbolized in the Golden Stool; converged in Chicago on September, 1992, during the installation of Nana Bonsu Wiafe as the Asantefuo-hene, ratified a constitution that gave birth to ACONA. Some sort of a permanent socio - political union - the Asanteman Council of North America was thus formed. When the first Asanteman Association was formed in New York in 1982, thanks to the vision of Nana Tweneboa Bawuah and his compatriots, the conventional wisdom at the time, I believe, was that of one cultural association encompassing the entire USA. It follows logically from that reasoning that it named itselfAsateman Assocation of U.S.A. It's contemporary A.C.M.A.T. Asante Canadian Multi Cultural Association of Toronto was similarly formed to encompass the entire Canada. Later developments and other logistical problems made the realization of that goal impossible. Subsequently, various Asanteman Associations sprung up in the major U.S. cities and metro areas. The Asantefuo in Montreal also found the need to form and independent Association from the one in Toronto. It must be pointed out that the former Asantefuo Ahemfo in New York and Canada helped greatly and actively encouraged the spread and the formation of these Associations. Even though these Associations were autonomous and independent from New York, they all adopted constitutions based on the one Dr. Agyenim Boateng creatively crafted for the New York Association.Realizing the common tread running through all these Associations, coupled with the fact that unity is strength, a consensus was reached that an umbrella organization should be formed to oversee and coordinate the activities of all the Asanteman Union of North America. Note the word Union that Ivor Wilks alluded to earlier in this article. Given the similarity between the acronym ASUNA and that of a name of one Akan clan, members objected to its use. The name was subsequently changed to A.C.O.N.A. Asanteman Council of North America. The name change from ASUNA to ACONA and the shift from Union to Council did not affect the organizational structure. Structured like the National House of Chiefs, the organization was headed by a president who was to be an incumbent Asantefuohene of one of the member Associations, assisted by an executive secretary who was charged with administrative duties. The first election was held in New York City. Nana Fredua Agyeman of Toronto became the first president with Dr. Agyenim Boaten as Executive Secretary. When Nana Fredua's term ran out, his successor, Nana Opoku Boahene became the next president with Mr. John Donkor as Executive Secretary. With time the power struggle for the presidency was impeding the progress of the organization. The majority of the members felt that for the council to run smoothly it would be better to change the structure of the organization to a Secretariat, headed by an Executive Secretary who is not an incumbent Asantefuohene. The Asanteman Association of New England States, headed by Nana Kofi Mensah Aborampa was very instrumental in spearheading the change from the House of Chiefs structure to a Secretariat. It is therefore, not ironic that under the able chairmanship of Nana Effah Appenteng, Omanhene of Bompata, the resolution to change the Council to a Secretariat was adopted by an overwhelming majority of members at a delegates meeting in Hartford Connecticut in the fall of 1995. This writer, Nana Agyei Yeboah was elected the first Executive Secretary to run the Secretariat. The following Executive Offices were also elected, Nana Frimpong Buabeng, Assistant Executive Secretary, Nana Adanse Bonnab, Public Relations Officer, Nana Kofi Owusu Ansah, Financial Secretary and Nana Akosua Dufie as Treasurer. The New York group was displeased with the change and opted to leave the Council. The present structure of ACONA is as follows. The Secretariat headed by the Executive Secretary, assisted by a council made up of the incumbent chiefs of ten member organizations, delegates from the various organizations and a board of directors who advise the council. At the time of writing this article, ACONA consisted of ten member organizations with New York coming back to join the family. In spite of the vicissitudes experienced in the past, ACONA has made some significant progress. It sent a high powered delegation headed by Nana Opoku Boahene who was the President at the time, to Otumfuo's Silver Jubilee celebrations in Kumasi and donated $10,000, ten thousand dollars toward the establishment of the museum at Manhyia Palace. The Executive council under the Secretariat has restructured ACONA. To give the Council corporate identity, ACONA letterheads with an approved logo were made. Two accounts have been established both in USA and Canadian currencies. The financial Secreatary can better state the financial situation of ACONA at the time we came into office. The Council also saw the need to establish a mouthpiece and a forum for dissemination of information and cultural education. Sankofa, a quarterly newsletter was established. On the Diplomatic front also, the Council, with the assistance of some traditional rulers has achieved some major success. The forging together of the splinter groups in Montreal into one Asanteman Cultural Association of Quebec is a major accomplishment. ACONA with the help of delegates from New England and Washington D.C. sent off Nana Effah Appenteng at the end of his diplomatic duties at Washington. One proud achievement of the Council is the ability to admit Asanteman Association of Greater Houston in the ACONA family without opening a floodgate of litigations and threats of secessions. ACONA has been able to establish a strong bond and a solid working relationship with the Asante Students Union Alumni. (ASUA) a dynamic Asante youth group that enjoys popular grassroot support of a wide spectrum of Asantes. ACONA has successfully instituted the yearly Asante Day/Congress with the potential to become the Cultural Olympics which rekindled the entrepreneurial Spirit of Asantes in North America to create jobs here and in Ghana and revitalize the Asante economy. The historical significance of this vision will be left to future historians to analyze. Our participation in the yearly Asante Congress in Ghana continues unabated. Last year ACONA sent a delegation to the Congress with computer chairs and printers to build a computer training center. It is our fervent hope to continue to provide material assistance to the Congress and the Secretariat in Kumasi. The future of ACONA is very bright. With the awakening of the consciousness of the Asante Youth. We hope the youth will learn from our historical past and learn to sacrifice a little for our Nation.