History of Asanteman Association of the Carolinas
The Asanteman Association of the Carolinas was spearheaded by three elders from the Ghanaian community in Charlotte. The three elders were Diana Ahenkora (Nana Maafowaa), Francis Amponsah (Chief), and Kwame Nuako (Dr. Nuako). They had a firm belief that they should unite to form a socio-cultural organization that would promote the interest and the welfare of Asante descendants, Ghanaians, and Africans in the Carolinas. They realized that as one group, they would be able to maintain and promote the Ashanti cultural heritage, explore educational and economic advantages, and strengthen Asante’s social ties with other cultural and ethnic groups.
The three elders formed the Asanteman Association of the Carolinas in 2008. The first meeting of the group was held on April 19, 2008. The three founders were later joined by two exuberant pioneers, namely Frank Danso and Prince Acheampong (Good-Morning), who in diverse ways helped lure more people to join the Association.
In as much as to portray our culture and heritage in the Carolinas, we have instituted chieftaincy in our association. The association’s first chief and queen-mother are Nana Osei Baffour Osei Akoto I and Osagyefo Kusiwah Mmua Baayie, Kokofuhemaa. The current Chief and Queen-mother are Professor Dr. Adusei Danso Abeam and Nana Yaa Fremah Otaatuo. Nana Kwame Poku also serves as the Krontihene, and there are various sub-chiefs as well. The association is guided by democratic principles; hence, the executive branch, which is headed by Mr. Solomon Agyemang and Mr. Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi as President and Vice President, respectively.
The association can pride itself on the enormous engagements it has undertaken. In 2016, we donated medical equipment and healthcare accessories, such as Incubators, Infusion Pumps, Heart-lung Machines (cardiopulmonary bypass (CB) devices), Medical Ventilators, Hospital Beds, Nebulizers, Wheelchairs, Syringes, Surgical caps, gowns, gloves, glasses, Gauze, office chairs and others in a tune of about $400,000 to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana through solicitation and by courtesy of Novant Health (Formerly, Presbyterian Hospital).
Consequential to our objectives of giving back to our community.
- In 2015, we adopted Hawthorn Lane in Charlotte, where we voluntarily cleaned the street every three months.
- We are also frequent volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. We help in sorting, separating, and packaging the food and items donated to the center.
- We regularly donate food and personal hygiene items to the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte. We volunteer our time to serve the food and clean afterward.
- We participated in the Charlotte Tree Planting on March 30, 2019.
“Wherever Charlotte needs us, we will be there.”
Akwaaba!