The Founder of the Asanteman Profession­als Club (APC), Francis Asenso-Boakye, who is also a Member of Parliament for Bantama constituency, has called on Asantes in the United States to unite behind a bold initiative to support the devel­opment of Asanteman.

Speaking at the 5th Anniver­sary celebration of APC-USA, the Member of Parliament urged members to contribute regularly to a development fund aimed at delivering critical infrastructure back home.

The event began with a solemn moment of silence in memory of the national offi­cers who lost their lives in last Wednesday’s helicopter crash where he paid tribute to their service and expressed condo­lences to their families.

Reflecting on the origins of APC, Mr Asenso-Boakye recounted how 10 years ago, with the blessing of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the organisation was established in Ghana to mobilise Asante’s professionals to contribute to the progress of their homeland. Over the years, APC has undertaken several impactful projects in Asanteman.

He praised APC-USA, formed five years ago, for carrying that mission across the Atlantic.

“You have shown that no matter the distance, our love for Asanteman remains strong,” he mentioned.

In his keynote call to action, the Bantama MP highlighted a proposal for each Asante in the USA to contribute just one dollar a month towards a com­mon development fund.

He credited the idea to his friend, Jude Osei, an Asante’s professional working within the United Nations system in Geneva.

“Together, we can build schools, hospitals, and vital in­frastructure for our people,” he noted, adding that the govern­ment alone could not shoulder the full cost of development.

Mr Asenso-Boakye charged the executives of APC-USA to champion the initiative, which he believed could mobilise significant resources to support the vision of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the development of Asanteman.

The President of APC-USA, Ms Barbara Acheampong, accepted the challenge and pledged to work with her team to make the initiative a reality.

Other speakers at the event also pledged their commitment to advancing development in Asanteman.