Ghanaian Engineers Urged to M.O.V.E.

The president of the newly formed Ghanaian Engineers & Architects of America (GEAAA), George Korley has urged members of the association to be guided by the acronym M.O.V.E. – , Momentum, Opportunity, Vision and Engagement. Mr. Korley was delivering his welcome address at the official launch of the GEAAA on Saturday, July 28 at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ. He explained Momentum as motivational, Opportunity as chance to be seized to move forward, Vision, to unite for a common goal and Engagement to collaborate with others with like vision. He observed that GEAAA would develop strategic plans to provide guidance for the future of the organization.”

He said the association would engage with universities and institutions of higher learning for partnership in their endeavors. “He acknowledged the challenges ahead of his organization, saying that “these challenges will only make us better.”

Mr. Korley envisaged the formal inauguration of the association not only as “announcing its presence but also to serve as a platform to start the Diaspora debate in the interest and benefit of Ghana by bringing together representatives of other Ghanaian organizations….”

The president asked that GEAAA be considered as a resource group for youth who want to consider engineering and architecture as a profession.

Dr. DeForest B. Soares, a former Secretary of State for the State of New Jersey congratulated the members of the GEAAA for coming together. He saw the association as a vindication of the presence of immigrants in the United States. Immigration is a solution and not a problem for America, he added.

He referred to the inscription “the door of no return” on the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast Castle and the idea embedded in it as defeatist after all. Some Africans in the Diaspora including African Americans are returning while at the same time Africans from the continent are also coming into America, this time voluntarily. He commented on the rush to Africa by the Chinese, Indians and others and added that it is about time African Americans also joined in investing on the continent.

The keynote address was delivered by the Deputy Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Mr. William A. Awinador-Kanyirige, on behalf of Ambassador Ken Kanda, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige, paid tribute to the memory of President Mills and said that the Mills’administration is leveraging energy infrastructural plan for Ghana’s development, adding that “energy is a strategic point in our development.” The political development of the country is on track creating an enabling atmosphere for infrastructural and economic take-off, the deputy ambassador said.

He urged the GEAAA to partner with other organizations in the community here and in Ghana to expedite the development of Ghana.

Other speakers included Ms. Stephanie Dawson of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Mr. Yaw Barima Sarpong an engineer who relocated to Ghana from the U.S .

The vice president of the association, Mr. David Nyarko introduced some young students and members of “Engineers Without Borders” and “Elite Program” from the Columbia University in New York. The young graduates were acknowledged for their voluntary works in Ghana. Mr. Nyarko challenged his colleague engineers to take a cue from the altruistic nature of these young non-Ghanaians to help develop Ghana. A power point presentation showed some projects the youths were undertaking in and around Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

Posted by admin on Aug 12 2012. Filed under Community News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry