The 32nd Annual Convention of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) has been held with a renewed call for unity, health-centered development, and greater diaspora involvement in shaping the future of Eweland.
Delivering the keynote address, His Excellency Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple lauded CEANA for its consistent contributions toward education, healthcare, and community development across Ghana, Togo, and Benin. He described the association as “a family, a lifeline, and a vision for a better future” that continues to touch lives through tangible interventions.
“From building schools to providing scholarships for needy students, from renovating clinics to drilling boreholes for safe drinking water, your footprint is visible across villages and towns,” he said, emphasizing that such projects were not just acts of charity but “investments in human dignity.”
Themed “Our Health, Our Wealth,” this year’s convention focused on health as the foundation of sustainable development. Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple reminded participants that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the fragility of societies without robust healthcare systems, stressing that wealth without health was fleeting.
He urged the diaspora to continue supporting initiatives that tackle health challenges in Eweland, including limited access to healthcare facilities, poor sanitation, and unsafe water. He further linked health to other key areas such as education and economic empowerment, noting that CEANA’s support for a computer laboratory at Kpodzi Senior Secondary School in Kpalime was preparing young people for the digital economy.
Highlighting the need for collective responsibility, he said development should not be left to governments alone. “The diaspora community, civic organizations, traditional leaders, and private businesses all have roles to play. CEANA has demonstrated what can be achieved when people come together with a common purpose.”
Calling for unity and resilience, he reminded the gathering of the Ewe proverb: “When the right hand washes the left, both become clean.”
The convention ended with a charge to rededicate efforts toward building healthier communities, empowering the youth, and safeguarding Ewe culture, with Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple stressing that the true measure of wealth lies in the lives transformed.
“CEANA’s legacy is proof that the Ewe identity is not weakened by distance—it is strengthened by it,” he declared.
