The Homework Club of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) on Sunday, February 27, 2022 organized an exciting celebration to mark this year’s Black History Month for its participants and Ghanaians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The program which was done virtually due to the Covid-19 restrictions was attended by about 40 celebrants including the newly elected leaders of GCAO.

It all began at 3 pm with an ice-breaker for the Homework Club kids by Shani Ocquaye-Prempeh (a young Toronto lawyer and equity activist) who is a committed volunteer on kids’ school experiences during this pandemic era.

After the ice-breaker, Mr. Eyiah (Principal of the GCAO Homework Club) and Auntie Mavis Tekpeki (Twi teacher at the Homework Club) took turns to co-ordinate the individual presentations by the kids based on Black History. Some of the kids narrated their stories reflecting on unfortunate experiences of anti-black racism in their schools and how they stood up against such treatment. Others used the Twi language to talk briefly about pioneers in Black History such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

Some adult learners and parents on the Homework Club used the occasion to talk about their Caribbean heritage as well as one Ghanaian born Canadian female athlete who made Canada proud in bobsleigh competition at the recently held winter Olympic Games in China.

A video aided presentation of our motherland, Ghana, was delivered by Auntie Mavis Tekpeki. Dwelling on the different languages/dialects, music and artifacts such as beads in Ghana, she emphasized the beautiful unifying culture that brings all Ghanaians together as one people. Ms. Tekpeki therefore employed our Ghanaian kids in diaspora to learn and cherish our beautiful Ghanaian culture to set them apart in all good things they endeavour to accomplish wherever they find themselves.

Unfortunately, due to some prolonged technical difficulties on her side, the main speaker chosen for the occasion, Auntie Anna Aidoo of Endless Possibilities who is also great motivational speaker could not bring us her prepared presentation. However, in lieu of her presentation, many elected GCAO leaders who had joined the celebration including the President Mr. Emmanuel Duodu; the Vice President Madam Juliet Opoku; Chair of GCAO Advisory Board Dr. Victor Awafo; as well as some members of the GCAO Youth Wing such as Nana Yaw Richie, Nana Nti and Obaa Yaa took turns to praise the kids on their Black History Month presentations. They also encouraged the kids to take their studies both at the Homework Club and their various schools seriously. They were also to respect and obey their parents at home and do not shy away from asking their parents about their Ghanaian cultural background.

Also present at the celebration were the head of the GCAO Seniors Wing, Madam Felicia Botchway and; Madam Harriet Aikins who is the President of the Mfantseman Association of Toronto.

Mr. Osei Benjamin of Youth Unlimited of Toronto who is also a prominent member in the Toronto Ghanaian community offered a powerful prayer for the youth in our community to end the program. He had earlier admonished the youth to be wary of bad influences and criminal records as they try to make history in their areas of endeavour by following the examples of our Black trailblazers.

The vote of thanks was rendered by: Shani Ocquaye-Prempeh

By: Joseph Kingsley Eyiah