GADANGME ASSOCIATION OF SWITZERLAND LAUNCHED IN ZURICH,
The newly formed Gadangme of Switzerland was formally launched in Zurich, on Saturday, 16th August, 2008, by His Excellency Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ghana's Ambassador to Switzerland and Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva and Vienna. Representatives of the Gadangme Associations in Holland, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom as well as from the umbrella Gadangme Union in Europe attended the Launching ceremony in solidarity with the new Association.
In his address at the function, which was well attended by Ghanaians in Switzerland, Ambassador Baah-Duodu expressed his appreciation to the Executives and Members of the Association for their bold decision to form the association and praised them for upholding and propagating the languages, customs and traditions of the Gadangme people. He expressed the hope that the Association would grow and be financially sound in order to be able to organise week-end and vacation programmes in Gadangme traditions and languages for the young ones and those who want to learn about the rich culture of the Ga culture. In this regard, he encouraged the Association to teach their children about Ghana's heroes.
Ambassador Baah-Duodu urged the members of the Association to consider investing back in Ghana and to take the advantage of a new financial arrangement which the Swiss Government has put in place to support residents of Switzerland who want to invest in their countries. He hoped that the newly launched Association would help to promote understanding, create an ideal environment for trust and cooperation between Ghana and Switzerland and thereby strengthen relations between the two countries.
During the function, the Chairman of the Gadangme Europe, Mr. Teddy Adzanor, gave a brief history of the traditional festival of the Ga people, Homowo, after which the traditional food, “Kpokpoi” was brought out for all to share, amidst dancing and merry making.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Interim Chairman of the Association, Mr. Jeff Quaye, informed the gathering that his Association intended to initiate and support charitable projects in Ghana to assist the development efforts back in the country. He also promised to work with all Ghanaians in Switzerland to project Ghana's good image in the country. Mrs. Abigail Lamptey, the Interim Secretary introduced the newly elected Executive Members as well as officials from the Embassy of Ghana, Berne.