The following Timelines highlight where we started and where we are at the moment - i.e. The journey we have chalked so far -

Kwakwaduam Fekuw Timelines

 

PRE CHARITY REGISTRATION

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December 1986

Conception of the Fekuw:

The Year 1986 was a significant event in the history of Kwakwaduam Fekuw(UK) where Akropong community in London, marked both by mourning and the beginning of a new initiative. It was at a solemn Funeral gathering in December 1986 of the late Margaret Apeisiwa Nyante, a junior sister of Madam Kwakoa Nyante that Kwakwaduam Fekuw UK was conceived. Ms Elizabeth Nyante, together with some notable Akropong Akuapem indigenes in London set about to organise all inhabitants and well-wishers of Akropong to form a one family.

 

January 1987:

Initial structuring of the Fekuw:

This took effect by a monthly meetings held at individual members’ houses where the following aims and objectives were progressively outlined –

Initial Aims/Objectives:

• To foster the spirit of togetherness – ‘Biako Ye’.

• To promote and encourage the use of our traditional Akuapem Twi language among ourselves and all other interested parties.

• To meet each first Saturday of the month to address issues affecting the Fekuw and its members at large.

• To render assistance to each member in times of illness or bereavement.

• To share with a member the joy of marriage/wedding, birth of a child and any other support necessary.

• To educate and render advice or assistance to members in times of buying or moving houses, legal problems, healthcare, education and training.

• To support where possible developmental projects in Akropong Akuapem.   

Funding:

Registration fee of £5.00 and an annual Dues at £24.00 were set. Members were also encouraged to participate in our voluntary gifts and a standing fund levy we proposed to set up. Our Financial year was set from 1st January to 31st December of every calendar year.

Total membership by the end of 1987 year was 150

 

January 1988:

Meeting Hall acquisition and Selection of Interim Officers:

Increased in our membership meant our individual homes’ meetings were not suitable and in view of this necessitated us to secure the Methodist Church Hall, 1 - 5 Lambeth Road, Kennington SE1 7DQ as our permanent place for our monthly meetings.

Interim officers: In August 1988, by consensus the following officers were selected to steer the affairs of the Fekuw –

• President: Dr John Akoto Koramoa

• Vice-President: Dr Emmanuel Owusu Akuffo

• Vice-President: Mr Kofi Asiedu Offei

• Secretary: Mr Fred Kwabena Koranteng-Addo

• Treasurer: Mr Godfried Awere Nyante

• Pastor: Reverend Kwadwo Ntiamoah Amaning

Steering Committee members: Madam Elizabeth Kwakoa Nyante, Madam Joana Amma Gyamea Acheampong, Mrs Esther Yaa Yirenkyiwaa Amaning, Mr Pipim Akuffo, Mr Daniel Addo-Adjei, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Amponsah, Mr Mfodwo Koranteng, Mr Stephen Kofi Agyei-Boateng, Mr Godfried Kwame Darko Ofosu-Appiah, Mr Bismark Bekoe, Mr Fred Kwasi Akuffo(Joe Farell), Reverend Kofi Akuffo and the Former IGP Mr Ernest Ako.

Annual events: Two important functions were identified and pencilled into the Fekuw’s calendar, namely Early summer Disco and an Annual Odwira celebration Dinner Dance.

These were all socialising events to enable members and well-wishers of Akropong Akuapem to come and enjoy themselves together. It was at this first gathering of the Odwira celebration Dinner dance that members contributed an amount of £1,000.00(One thousand pounds) in support of Akropong Akuapem Christ Church hosting of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s annual Synod.

 

January 1989:

The need to inaugurate the Association: At the beginning of the Year 1989, we saw the need to formally inaugurate the Fekuw as a result of increase in our membership which was around 300 at that time. We set up the Inaugural organising committee to come up with the Date, venue, time and programme for the occasion.

 

October 1990:

Inauguration Day: On 6th October, 1990 the Fekuw formally outdoor itself at the Battersea Town Hall with an estimated attendees(Members and invited guest) of over 400. The function was chaired by Nana Doe Owusu Ansah II who was supported by our executive committee members and other Ghanaian dignitaries. It was at this ceremony that Reverend Kwadwo Ntiamoah Amaning, then the clergy of the United Reformed Church in Kennington in his sermon at the function mooted the idea which he had had with the Kwakwaduam Fekuw Executives to establishing a Presbyterian Twi Congregational Church in the UK.

 

February 1994:

Crisis Meeting: Members would recall the disturbances between the peoples of Akropong and Abiriw in which several deaths and injuries were reported. The Fekuw viewed this as not only a very serious matter but also a very unwarranted act on the part of both communities which needed our very strongest possible condemnation. In view of this the Fekuw held a joint crisis meeting with members of the Abiriw community in London to discuss and draft a resolution to help end the crisis back home. We formulated a joint communique signed by both parties and sent to elders of the two towns in Ghana which contributed positively to ending the crisis.

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March 1994:

Akropong Clinic donation: An amount of Five Hundred and eighty seven thousand and six hundred old Ghana cedis (C587,600.00) were donated towards the Akropong Akuapem Community Clinic project at Daakye.  We viewed this as a way of contributing meaningfully towards developmental project at Akropong. The Clinic was later on to be renamed, Okuapeman clinic.

 

March 1997:

Election of Officers and Re-organisation of the Fekuw: After a long period of time, we felt the need to re-organise and elect new officers to hold the affairs of the organisation. Two extraordinary meetings alongside our normal ones in 1996 were held  in which we drafted a proposal to re-organise and elect new officers. During the meetings we indeed had our differences of opinions, arguing constructively and allowing the normal democratic processes to take precedence over our individual strong feelings and views. The end result  was the adoption of our new organisational structure on 5th April 1997, as follows –

 

Welfare Committee: Chaired by Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Amponsah with Mrs Stella Kwayisi Boateng, Mrs Augusta Asare-Djan, Ms Elizabeth Kwakoa Nyante and Ms Frances Opoku Pare as members

 

Entertainment Committee: Chaired by Mr Kwadwo Amaning Habbib Hotse with Ms Pearl Offei-Addo, Ms Amoafi Kwapong, Ms Joana Amma Gyamea Akyeampong and Nana Boateng as members.

 

Finance Committee: Mr Godfried Awere Nyante as the Treasurer, Mr Gaddiel Asare Mintah as Financial Secretary with Ms Nicholina Addo as a member of the Finance Committee. 

 

Secretariat: Mr Fred Kwabena Koranteng-Addo as Secretary, Mr David Osei Ofori as Assistant Secretary with special responsibilities for Welfare and Mr Kwabena Mensah Akuran Kumi as Assistant Secretary with special responsibilities for Entertainment.

 

The Presidency: Dr John Akoto Koramoa as President with special responsibilities for Finance and the Secretariat. Dr Emmanuel Owusu Akuffo as the Vice-President with special responsibilities for Welfare and Entertainment.

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1998

Collaboration with the Christ Presbyterian Church and various schools in Akropong(1999 to 2000):

All along we have been liaising with the Church authorities to work together to support and guide the youth in their educational aspirations.

 

March 1999:

Three large cartons of assorted books were sent to the Presbyterian Christ Church Library to be utilised by pupils from Nurseries to the Higher education levels.

 

February 2000:

Another consignment of two boxes of New books were shipped through Book Aid UK to fill the shelves of the Christ Church community library at Akropong Akuapem.

 

September 2000:

Also Teaching and learning materials worth several millions of old Ghana cedis were sent towards the development of knowledge and skills of members of Akropong community and people of Akuapem in general. Items sent included consignment of 12 well reconditioned computers  with all essential programmes, 3 printers, which may need some attention over there and a photocopier. Some accessories of keyboards, spare monitors and leads were also included.

 

November 2000:

Furthermore, we donated an amount of Two million, Five Hundred thousand old Ghana cedis (C2,500,000.00) to overhaul the Library premises.

 

CHARITY REGISTRATION

June 2001:

On 28th of June 2001, The Fekuw formally received its status as a Registered Charity from the Charity Commission of England and Wales with Registration Number 1087211

 

POST CHARITY REGISTRATION

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Further Collaboration with Christ Church(2003 to 2005):

January 2003:

Purchase of Books for Akropong Presbyterian Church Youth Library. An amount of Two Thousand pounds(£2,000) worth of books purchased from Afram Publications, Ghana to stock the Library.

 

March 2005:

An amount of Thirteen million, Five hundred thousand old Ghana cedis(C13,500,000) were sent to purchase Musical instruments for the Boys and Girls brigade to use during Church service.

 

September 2005:

Fundraising and Annual Get-Together Dinner Dance: To raise Funds to Improve the Education of Children in Akropong

 

December 2008:

Proposal to Organise an Essay Competition in English at Akropong Akuapem: 

Our main aim as far as Akropong is concerned is to support education in children as we were moved to this some years back, when through eminent educationists of the town like Mr Ofori Boahene and others, we heard and had documents to show the fallen standards of education among the youth. With these poor performances, we proposed an annual essay writing competition in English for all final year Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) pupils. We were also to accompany this with handsome prizes for those who perform well, so that whoever wins such a prize would at least have some money to help with the Senior Secondary (SSS) entrance requirements.

 

January 2009:

Acceptance by the Committee who are to oversee the implementation of the Essay writing Competition:

We had a small committee made up of Mrs Victoria A. Anti, Mr Alexander Parry, Mrs Doris Asiamah Bekoe, Ms Lucy Mantey all of them seasoned educationists, working alongside our Ghana representative, Mr Godfried Awere Nyante doing the organising of the Akropong side of the scheme. The Akropong Educational Directorate is also involved to ensure the smooth running of the scheme.

 

February 2009:

Akropong School for the Blind: We always had in mind the Akropong School for the Blind which pupils also take part in our annual Essay competitions – In July 2010 and April 2012 an amounts of £1,500 and £1,000 were respectively received from the Freemasons of London to the Akropong School For the Blind for the purchase of educational materials/equipment for the benefit of the pupils.

 

May 2009 to Date:

The JSS Annual Essay Competition has been the Fekuw's Flagship project in Ghana specifically set up in order to create opportunities for pupils to excel in their studies through competition and providing support for further education. In doing so we recognise a significant impact on the lives of young learners, empowering them to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.