Date: Saturday 3rd April 2004
Time: 12pm prompt
Venue: Top of Bookshop University of Ghana, Legon
Number of participants: 50
Organisers: Ghana Humanist Youth Society under the auspices
of the IHEYO
For
more information about humanist youth activities in Ghana, please
e-mail
* Bosman Boakye, E-Mail: humanismghana@yahoo.com
* Kwame Anane Frempong, E-mail: kwame@representative.com
Introduction
The first ever workshop in Ghana on Humanist Vision Of A Developed Africa,
Ghana under the auspices of International Humanist Ethical Youth Organization
(IHEYO) got underway at exactly 12pm due to the late arrival of participant
and the desire of organizers to have as many participant as possible.
Welcome Address
The welcome address was delivered by the President of Ghana Humanist Society
Mr. Bossman Boakye who expressed his gratefulness to the speakers and participants
for responding positive to the workshop though a short notice and thanked
them for their sense of humanism.
Introduction of Chairperson
Miss Berlinda Sarpong a student of the University of Ghana introduced the
chairman Mr. Bright Esifie Kumi who accepted the post of chairmanship by thanking
the organizers for the confidence they have repose in him by choosing him
as the chairman for the occasion.
Opening Address
The chairman after his induction into the post as chairmanship invited the
President of Ghana Humanist Youth Society (GHYS) Mr. Bossman Boakye to give
the opening address for which he stressed on the important role humanism is
to the people of Africa and work of International Humanist Ethical Youth Organization
by saying the organization has brought the sense of identity to people, community,
society and nations. And call on all the participants to join forces to make
the dream of IHYO vision of a Developed Africa a reality. He went on to say
that this workshop is the first of its kind and that there is more to follow.
Volunteerism for Development
The chairman invited Mr. Rashid Zuberu (Focal Point Coordinator for United
African Network of Young Peace builders, UNOY & ANYP in Ghana) after opening
address by Mr. Bossman Boakye.
Mr. Zuberu thanked the organizers for putting up the workshop
ahead of the conference in Uganda before proceeding to give his speech. In
his speech he remarked that volunteerism brings a lot to individuals, society
and nations. He further went on to give empirical evidence of the importance
of volunteerism in economic sense as he stated that in the United States volunteerism
generates 9 million full time jobs and up 225 billion, while in Canada, it
generated 578,000 jobs and 11 billion.
He stressed on the various activities that volunteers are engage in including
democratisation, immunization, environmental action, promotion of human right.
He touched on the fact that volunteerism can be a remedy for massive borrowing
by developing countries. He said the 20th Century has demonstrated that with
invention and igniting it is possible to extend access to every resource of
the community to the physical, social and cultural environments, transportation,
information, technology, justice employment etc.
He went on, in the 21st century we must extend this access from the few to
the many, dismantling all environmental, electronics and attitudinal barriers
to full inclusion in Community life, with that access he remarked, can come
the stimulation of participation and leadership, the warmth of fellowship,
the glorious of shared affection, and the beauties of the earth and universe.
He added by saying there is no development if it is not from all and for all.
Speech by Yemi Johnson
Mr. Yemi Johnson who was the special guest of honour and Secretary General
of International Humanist And Ethical Youth Organization (IHEYO) presented
a speech on behalf of Gea Meijers President of IHEYO.
In the speech the President expressed her thankfulness for the workshop and the great enthusiasm in Ghanaian participants. From her speech she touched on humanism, as been the core set of thoughts that gives a person a good context for developing ones life view on the personal and on the societal level. The speech also touched on the importance of freedom of choice and said humanists have been from the beginning of the development of UN, UNESCO and the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
The speech elaborated on the IHEYO as an international network of young humanist. Stressing that it has collaboration ranging from Europe, Africa, USA, Asia and South America, and said that the conference and other activities is aimed at stimulating humanism in Africa.
The speech thanked all those who made the workshop a reality.
Mr. Yemi Johnson the Secretary General of IHEYO was the last to speak and he touched on HUMANISM, VOLUNTEERING AND AFRICAN EXISTENTIAL PREDICAMENT
Discussion
After his presentations, participants asked questions which were centred on
how Humanist Visions exposed in the various Manifestoes and Declarations relates
to Africa Development and how these visions can be achieved. It was agreed
that things could only get better if everyone can decide to volunteer part
of their time to bring about noticeable changes in the world. A campaign emanated
from the conference.
Participants at the conference agreed that:
The above resolutions were later turned into handbills with which a round the University Campaign was carried out.
Participants had a discussion on NEPAD and MDGs. The discussion was basically on how /what the African youths (and ECOWAS Youths in particular) can do to ensure the success of the visions of the two documents.
Chairman's remarks
The chairman who was enlightened by the various speech from the speakers,
expressed his appreciation by saying he is from now on going to volunteers
his time and energy in pushing the humanist manifesto forward and that the
organisers for inviting him to the workshop. He pleaded with the Secretary
General to help organise more of such workshop in Ghana. He thanked all for
coming.
Votes of Thanks
The votes of thanks was delivered by Miss Eunice Lawer of the INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH AND SYUDENTS FOUNDATION (ISEF), who thanked the various speakers who
were all youth for taking time from their busy schedules to honour the invitation
to the workshop.
She thanked the organisers of the workshop especially Mr. Bossman Boakye and
Mr. Kwame Anane Frempong for the hard work, zeal and initiative spirit to
make the workshop a reality and a success.
Closing time
The workshop finally came to an end at exactly 2:30 pm local time after a
peace song was sung which goes like:
If you believe in love
Join Us Now
If You Believe In Unity
Join Us Now
Together We Can Create A Better World
Report By:
Kwame Anane Frempong
(Interim Secretary General)
Ghana Humanist Society