On the Brong Ahafo Association Finland

Today, I focus on the Brong Ahafo Association Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions or personalities and their accomplishments as part of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.

The association in Finland has chalked significant achievements or successes which must be made known to the public. 

Aim and mission

The Brong Ahafo Association Finland was established in 2007. The three people who met to plan the birth of the association are Mr Augustine Tweneboah-Kodua, Elder Matthew Anini, and the late Mrs Comfort Dapaah Agyemang. They invited many others to help establish the association, which is officially registered as the Brong-Ahafo Association Finland.

The mission of the Brong Ahafo Association includes the promotion of unity among people from the former Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana, which is currently divided into three regions—Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East Regions.

The association also aims to preserve and promote the Bono and Ahafo culture or traditions. Also, its goals include contributing to developmental projects in the Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions of Ghana. Another key aim is to help strengthen cooperation of its members and other Ghanaian migrants with others in Finland as the host country.

Events and achievements

The Brong Ahafo association acts as a family to its members. In this way, it can be said that although Finland has a robust social welfare system, the association comes in where close family support or interaction is needed.

Living away from one’s home country and family is not easy and as such the Brong Ahafo Association becomes an important part of social networks, vital in providing informal social security that cannot be provided by public institutions.

The association also serves as an ambassador of Ghanaian culture in the Finnish society by promoting cultural engagements. Its members engage in volunteering its time and skills, in helping individual members and for charity projects in their home regions in Ghana. The association also actively participates in cultural celebrations and family gatherings organised by individual members. It also holds an annual Easter party during Easter period.

Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland

The association plays a prominent role in the Ghanaian community in Finland. The association was the first to be formed after the Ghana Union Finland. It is thus a pioneer in that sense of an association representing a Ghanaian ethnic group. The association helps or gives support to its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them and to help them organise the funeral.

The Brong and Ahafo association also collaborates with the Ghana Union Finland, an association for Ghanaian migrants in Finland whose aims include bringing together all Ghanaian migrants resident in Finland and promoting cultural activities for a better intercultural and multicultural understanding. Thus, the group also mobilises members for various activities that help in integration efforts in the Finnish society. 

Displaying a rich culture

By its activities, the Brong Ahafo association proudly displays the Bono and Ahafo culture, as part of the larger Akan culture in Ghana. Like other groups representing the Ga-Adangbe, Mfantseman, Eastern Region, and Nzema, the association endeavours to showcase the culture and values of their ethnic origins as well as hold the general Ghanaian heritage in high esteem.

“The association has been quite effective in maintaining cultural identity of the Bono and Ahafo people, creating social networks among members and with others in Finland”, the Secretary, Mr Kwasi Owusu Afriyie, stated.

Members volunteer to support in informal ways that public institutions may lack the full capacity to accomplish, which also helps to integrate members into the Finnish society. Through social events, traditional celebrations, and home visits, the association acts as family for its members during postpartum periods, child dedication in church, funeral rites, etc. 

Challenges

The pace of organising things for the association can slow down sometimes, but it is quite impressive to note how members revive it and keep the ‘family spirit’ alive.

The COVID-19 period made the association quite dormant. Bringing back people together has been quite challenging, and requires much dedication before reorganisation can pay results, the Secretary hinted.

Finding a suitable venue and the funding for organising cultural events is quite challenging. It is also not easy supporting important life events such as helping nursing mothers who have no family in Finland. Thank you.