2020 Reflections and Looking Forward To 2021 With Hope and Optimism !! 

What a year 2020 was!! It began with Happy New Year Wishes and then evolved into totally new acronyms or words such as – Corona Virus, COVID-19, PPE, Social Distancing, Physical Distancing, Quarantine, Isolation, Lockdown, Zoom.  Our community continues to reel from the impact of COVID-19.   

As a mainstream organization in Ontario representing different demographics, Associations, and Churches, our community has had its share of layoffs, business retrenchments, health issues, food security, Church closures, virtual classes, and much more. Considering the rapid and disruptive impact to our community we had to respond to the immediate needs of our community by sourcing some PPEs for some our PSWs, Nurses, and Seniors. We collaborated with our local media to heighten the fatal and disruptive nature of the virus.   

With the massive needs of our community, we got some assistance in grants and in kind, from the RED Cross, City of Toronto, United Way, NABC in assisting vulnerable members of our community with food, PPEs, Zoom Webinars in various fields as in Health, Education, Youth, Women, Welfare.  

With so many of our community members who went to Ghana to visit family members and got stranded due to flights cancellations, we were called upon to embark in evacuation. We collaborated with Global Affairs Canada, Ethiopian Airlines, Ghana High Commission, and Community Leaders in evacuating our community members on two occasions.  

Our community has come of age during this pandemic. We adapted very quickly and pivoted to executing programs for our community. We are exceptionally grateful to our dynamic and exuberant team of volunteers and leaders who have piloted our community to greater heights. They have demonstrated effective leadership through selfless service.  We have also opened a new frontier of partnership with Ghanaian grocery stores as we deliver services to our community members. Strengthening our businesses is a major part of our strategic priorities and we will intensify our efforts through our Ghanaian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.  

To those who lost loved ones, you are in our minds, hearts and prayers. You are not alone. The community is here for you. Please stay strong and reach out. 

We are ushering in 2021 with momentum to scale programs to benefit our community and also planning to accelerate our efforts towards the acquisition of our Ghanaian-Canadian Heritage Center (GCHC). With our strong youth leadership, and vibrant associations and churches, our potential to do great things is immense and I have no doubt our community is set for greater success.   

Please stay informed about the vaccine and do not allow yourselves to be swayed and confused by sensational stories. We will have a health townhall soon. Stay tuned!  Continue to practice social and physical distancing please and observe all the safety protocols. 

Be proud of what we have accomplished together and let us stay focused and united. Looking forward to 2021 with HOPE and OPTIMISM.  

Happy New Year!! Afehyiapa ooo!! 

Emmanuel C. Duodu