The Nkosuohene of the Nyamebekyere community in the Akuapem North Municipality in the Eastern Region, Nana Kwabena Duku I, has built a community centre and a library for the residents.
Known in private life as Diallo Sumbry, the benefactor from the diaspora who was installed as the Nkosuohene for the Nyamebekyere community a few years ago, provided the facilities as part of his contribution to the development of the community and other sister communities in the area.
To mark his 50th anniversary, Nana Kwabena Duku I chose to celebrate the milestone by constructing a monument that would be remembered for years to come and serve as a historical legacy for future generations.
Speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the projects, Nana Duku was full of gratitude to his own family for standing with him during the execution of the projects.
“I want to thank every single donor, supporter and the Nyamebekyere community members who gave anything, be it money, your sweat during the construction, your expertise or prayers to support the execution of the project.
You are part of this foundation and you are the bricks and the heartbeat of this community centre,” Nana Duku stated.
He said the community centre and the library projects were seeds sewn, but the true harvest depended on what the two facilities would be used for.
He noted that the community centre in particular stood as a living testimony to what the historical African Diaspora could do when they came home.
Institution
“We have been coming to Ghana for decades, but African Americans have been here 30, 40 and even 50 years and yet we have not built an institution specifically for us to have a space to call our own. Not just a hangout spot or just a social club.
We want an institution that helps our people land safely, integrate properly and thrive collectively,” he stressed.
He said what had happened at Nyamebekyere community was like what happened when they followed the blueprint left by Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, Amy Ashwood Garvey, Marcus Mosiah Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois, who believed in a united, self-reliant Africa built by Africans everywhere.
He, therefore, urged Africans to truly believe in their vision, carry their torch, be willing to do the work, put their minds together, put resources together and above all, put their wallet together.
The Odikro of Nyamebekyere, Nana Yeboah II, expressed the community’s appreciation to the benefactor, Nana Kwabena Duku I, for his generosity towards the development of the community. He said even though the community had some people from the diaspora, no monument was made to remember them.
The Odikro pledged that the leadership of the community would ensure the facilities were constantly maintained to last longer for generations unborn.