Group photo taken after the meeting
The Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) Saturday held a capacity building seminar for the the Association’s regional leaders.
The one-day meeting took the regional leaders through the history of GAW, structure and organisation of GAW, fundraising and Project management. There was also an open forum that gave the various leaders the opportunity to raise issues affecting GAW in their regions for redress.
National President of GAW ; Mr. Francis Gbormittah during his welcome address revealed that this is the first time such a meeting is being held and believed it will strengthen the organisation in the regions and help make the Association more vibrant.
GAW president; Francis Gbormittah and GAW General Secretary; Anthony Obeng Afrane in a pose during the excursion at the Legon Botanical Gardens
Mr. Edusei Derkyi; a retired banker and a member of GAW who delivered a presentation on the structure and organization of GAW stated that GAW is a powerful tool for change and should be seen as such by members and executives.
He encouraged the regional leaders not to lose sight of the objectives of the Association as they think up programmes and activities for their branches.
Mr. Edusei Derkyi making his presentation
Mr. Ebo Assan Donkor; administrator for GAW called for self-sacrifice and patriotism in order to build the association and the nation as a whole.
He recounted the sacrifice of some past and present members of the Association prominent among them being Prof. Atukwei Okine.
He run the participants through the history of the Association starting from 1920 when the association started as the “Young Men’s Literary Club” , after which it later changed name to “Young Peoples’ Literary Club” in 1937. He said the Association’s name changed again in 1957 to “Ghana Society of Writers” and then finally changed to the “Ghana Association of Writers” in 1960.
He urged the leaders to exhibit the spirit of sacrifice that has sustained the association till now.
Mr. Ebo Assan Donkor calling for a spirit of sacrifice and patriotism
Mrs. Sophia Kafui Tey, another resource person from Republic Bank took the regional leaders through a presentation on fundraising and Project management.
She encouraged the leaders to partner relevant organizations and institutions to make impact and strive to remain relevant to their communities. She also called for accountability from the leaders, saying no one will entrust resources to leaders who could not account appropriately for them.
Mrs. Sophia Kafui Tey teaching the participants fundraising and Project management at the seminar
Mr. Francis Gbormittah at the end of the event expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the meeting and said efforts will be put in place to institutionalize it. He prayed that the lessons learnt would be digested and used to the benefit of the Association and also in the personal lives of the participants.
The meeting was crowned with an excursion to the Legon Botanical Gardens where the participants had fun.
This is a very true reflection of the seminar. He has given the chronology of the events. Mr. Buachi has done very well and needs commendation. GAW truly have the brains and we are going to make good use of all.