1. Ing. Matthew Adombire
2. Mr. Lance Adoguba
3. Mr. Apana Adagzina
4. Mr. Edward Adimazoya
5. Ms. Janet Abugre
6. Mrs. Nabilla Williams
7. Ing. Dr. Charles Akayuli
8. Mr. George Akundikiya
9. Mr. Nelson Agolmah
10. Mr. Michael Agana
11. Ms. Atanga Rufina
12. Mr. Godfred Baba Avane
13. Mr Lawrence Anaba
14. Mr Vitus Azeem
15. Mr. Wilbert Namkatoti

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2.2 Bonaboto Newsletter. The meeting unanimously agreed that plans to publish the Newsletter continue. The PRO, Mr Edward Adimazoya was tasked to collate the necessary materials towards the publication.

3.2 Cape Coast Report. The Chairman, Mr Michael Agana informed the meeting that since the Congress, meetings had been held at which issues like BEAF was explained to members. Attendance at meetings averaged 15.The executive attended social functions like funerals at which Bonaboto is propagated. The branch also held an Easter get-together.

3.3 Kumasi Report. The new Interim Chairman, Ing. Dr. Charles Akayuli said his executive came into office in February 2007. Meeting attendances this year had been poor, averaging 15 till May when it increased to 23. This had been due to a new strategy adopted by the new executive of sending reminders to members a day before the meeting. The branch was not performing well financially due to low attendances at meetings. In order to spice up the agenda for meetings and make them attractive, topics for talks like Hepatitis B, Investment/Job Opportunities, History of The Frafra had been earmarked with resource persons to handle them. The National Bonaboto was asked to assist get a resource person to handle the History of the Frafra. Activities like excursions to the Manhyia Palace, Military Museum, and the Kumasi Zoo had been planned for the year. A scheme had also been put in place to encourage members to contribute to BEAF as well as recover unredeemed pledges.

3.4 Wa Report. Branch Vice Chairman, Mr. Nelson Agolmah said the branch’s March, 2007 general meeting was used to whip up enthusiasm for BEAF. He said members complained of going onto the Bonaboto Website and not finding their names among the list of contributors, an example being Mr Richard Yen and some GWCL staff. Attendances at meetings were down averaging 25 due to transfer of some members from Wa. The executive intended fixing five thousand cedis and ten thousand cedis respectively as dues and welfare fee. The branch had carried out a sensitization program among Frafras in Wa as to the need to send their children to school. Plans were afoot to carry out health education and also collaborate with elders to install a new Frafra Chief for Wa. There was also on their plans a meeting with Bonaboto students of the Wa campus of the UDS to address the issue of indiscipline leveled against them by their dean.

Bonaboto was also to recognise the achievements of a Frafra Teacher who won the Best Teacher Award in the region. It was decided that branches should recognise such achievements at the local level and national achievements also acknowledged by NEC

3.5 Bolga Report. Mr. George Akundkiya, the Chairman started by expressing the branch’s displeasure with NEC in their collaboration over the organisation of the last Congress. He complained of the non-payment of the venue fee. He advised that in future NEC should either release money early enough for the branch to start preparations or come home early in order to avoid some of the problems encountered. He said the impressive participation by the branch during the Congress had continued at meetings held so far. The executive intended opening new branches in Zebila, Sandema, and Walewale. A Dagaaba-Frafra game was on their agenda for the year. The branch also fulfilled Congress’ directive that they provide four persons to the Technical Management Committee (TMC) of BEAF with the submission of the following names:
1. John O.B. Salifu (Bongo)    2. Nicholas Kolog (Nabdam)
3. Dedacus Afegra (Bolga)     4. Joseph Abugre (Talensi)

The branch also provided the names of two medical students to be considered for Alhaji Asuma Banda’s scholarship scheme for Bonaboto, namely Lawrence Nsohlebna and Felicia Akuribire.
Mr Akundikiya said the executive had met the Regional Minister and offered to assist in finding a lasting solution to the nagging Beo-Gonno land conflict.

3.6 Kintampo Report. Mr. Lawrence Anaba, the branch Chairman informed the meeting that though the branch was new they had a registered membership of 40 who attended meetings. Meetings were held fortnightly instead of monthly in order to maintain enthusiasm among members. The branch had a welfare policy in place. Two members who lost their parents were paid five hundred thousand cedis each in addition to voluntary contributions from members. It was felt that the amount was too high to be sustainable, and the branch was advised to review its welfare package. Dagaaba-Frafra games were held with the DCE in attendance. The branch intended holding talks on job creation, the NHIS, voluntary health screening, and identifying farm lands for members. A Bonaboto branch was also planned for the Rural Health School, Kintampo.

3.7 Tarkwa Report. Mr. Godfred Baba Avane, branch Vice Chairman informed the meeting that the branch had a registered membership of 40. Meetings are held regularly and they intend inviting NEC to inaugurate the branch later in the year.

3.8. Students Report. There was confusion at the student’s front as to whether the immediate past executive or the newly elected one had the accreditation to attend the meeting. Explanations by the past President as to why he was present at the meeting and consultations with the new President who had sent his vice led to the dismissal of the former (past President) from the meeting. He could therefore not present his report.

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The National Chairman, Ing. Matthew Adombire presented a comprehensive report which contained his vision for Bonaboto, the budget for the year, the list of members of the Board of Trustees for BEAF, as well as some pertinent issues which had been on the agenda of the previous executive, but remained unresolved. These included the following:

4.1 Cement For Bolga Cathedral. It would be recalled that in 2005 the then Bonaboto National Chairman, Dr Thomas Akabzaa attended the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Monsignor Roger Aboteyuure as Catholic Priest and pledged 100 bags of cement on behalf of Bonaboto for the Cathedral Project. This pledge was made in view of the fact that Monsignor Roger Aboteyuure has not had a long standing relationship with Bonaboto, but was actually involved in the establishment of the Association.
Despite financial constraints, the meeting resolved that it will not do our image any good to renege on the pledge. It was therefore decided to levy branches as a way of meeting the cost of the 100 bags of cement. Branches, based on their performance were categorized and levied as follows:

Branches were to be written to accordingly and the contributions submitted to the National Secretariat by the end of October, 2007.

4.2 Finalization of Congress’ Recommendations on BEAF. The Chairman informed the meeting that the National Executive Committee had made the following nominations for consideration by the EC as members of the Board of Trustees of BEAF:
a. Alhaji M.S. Sulana             f.  Mr Gilbert Abayeta
b. Mr Vitus Azeem                g.  Dr Agnes Apusiga
c. Mr Charles Ayamdoo         h.  Mr David Alleonu
d  Dr Thomas Akabzaa           i.  Mr Francis Zulom
e  Mr Lance Adoguba

NEC had also provided the other complement of the BEAF Technical Management Committee (TMC) in the persons of Messrs Lance Adoguba (Chairman), Wilbert Namkatoti (Accountant), and Apana Adagzina (Secretary).
With the nomination by Bonaboto, Bolga of the following persons as their complement of the TMC: John O B Salifu (Bongo), Nicholas Kolog (Nangodi), Dedacus Afegra (Bolga), and Joseph Abugre (Talensi); the full list of the TMC has been met.
However, there was contention as to whether Congress’ recommendation for the Board of Trustees was 7 members or the 9 that has been settled on. It was agreed that the membership of 9 should stay. NEC was tasked to fix a date for the inauguration of the BOT and TMC to commence their work.

4.3 Redemption of BEAF Pledges. The BEAF Accountant, Mr Wilbert Namkatoti informed the meeting that he had information to attend the meeting too late to prepare adequately in order to update the meeting about the total amount collected so far. He however promised to present an updated list by the end of June, 2007.
The National Chairman and some delegates complained about the omission of some contributor’s names from the list on the website which has raised concerns.

4.4 Reparation from the British Government. This issue was linked to the response from the British government to Bonaboto-UK letter. It would be recalled that Bonaboto-UK wrote a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair during President Kuffuor’s visit to the UK complaining about marginalization of the North by successive Ghanaian governments in terms of equitable distribution of both government and donor development support. The letter cited particularly, the Millennium Challenge Accountant (MCA) which was provided for poverty reduction in Ghana, but was, in Bonaboto’s view, inequitably distributed taking into consideration the level of poverty in the North.

The British government in its response cited instances of direct budgetary support to the Ghana government through DFID towards poverty reduction. The meeting tasked some members like Vitus Azeem and Edward Adimazoya to contact the relevant agencies concerned to source information as to how these funds were disbursed. Chairmen from the North were also implored to obtain relevant statistics on living standards from the various districts to assist NEC to make a strong case of advocacy for development assistance. The National Chairman was to get the copies of the responses from the British Government from Bonaboto-UK branch to enable the two-man committee proceed with their work. Some members expressed their dissatisfaction with the tone of the Bonaboto-UK letter. However, it was generally agreed that the content of the letter was right but stated that NEC should be consulted before such letters are communicated in future.

4.5 Establishment & Running of National Secretariat. The Chairman informed the meeting that Dr Thomas Akabzaa had offered for free for a year a room located at Ashalley Botwe to be used as the Bonaboto National Secretariat. The next line of action was furnishing of the office and to get it functional. He presented a budget of 64 million cedis which was needed to get the office running. Bonaboto branches of UK and the USA which have been enthusiastic about the establishment of the secretariat were to be presented with the budget for assistance.

Another aspect of funding the national secretariat which the Chairman raised was the contentious issue of branches remitting 20% of their dues. The Chairman intimated that a more viable mode of assessing what should be remitted be based on registered membership and not paid up members. He warned that if a reliable mechanism of funding the national secretariat was not found, delegates to EC meetings in future might be sponsored by their respective branches.

The meeting decided that the present mode of collection be maintained and that branches rather intensify the collection of dues as well as membership recruitment. Uniform monthly dues of 10,000 cedis nation-wide was also agreed on. The budget for running of NEC was also discussed and amendments made and attached as Appendix 1.

4.6 Appointment of Vice Treasurer. It would be recalled that the last Congress failed to elect a vice treasurer in line with constitutional stipulation. The Chairman therefore asked for the meeting’s mandate to enable NEC look for a competent member to fill the vacancy. This was granted.

4.7 Proposed Bonaboto Hostel. The meeting was informed that land had been identified at Sumbrungo that is suitable for the construction of a Bonaboto students’ hostel for the Bolga Polytechnic. The meeting lauded the idea and tasked NEC to raise funds for acquiring six (6) plots for the project from sources like dinner- dances and appeals to embassies, DFID, UNDP, GHACEM, DANIDA, and the like.

4.8 Guinea Fowl Hatchery. The meeting agreed that one Dr Williams, a retired veterinarian who has done considerable research on guinea fowls be consulted for his assistance.

5.0 STATUS OF BRANCHES.

The constitution of Bonaboto stipulates that Executive Council (EC) comprises only regional chairpersons. However, there is a new development emerging that some district branches are more vibrant than their regional counterparts. Indeed, at the EC meeting, Kintampo and Tarkwa were in attendance whereas their respective regional branches were absent. The contention at the meeting was what to do in future to avoid a constitutional crisis of more than one chairman attending from any particular region. The meeting decided that in future district branches liaise with their respective regional branches in order to send one delegate.

6.0 OTHER MATTERS.

6.1 Mr. George Akundikiya suggested the fixing of the 2008 Congress fee in order for branches to start early preparations. The meeting concurred and accordingly settled on 250,000 thousand cedis. Ms Atanga Rufina, Students National Vice President appealed for a reduced fee for students. The meeting declined with the reason that depending on the number of students participating, it could affect the Congress budget. The students were rather advised to sponsor a few delegates.

6.2 The Chairman informed the meeting that the design of the Bonaboto cloth was ready and that the next move was to contract a textile company to do the printing. He therefore urged delegates to start marketing the cloth to their members prior to its production.

6.3 Mr. Lance Adoguba suggested that the President of Ghana be invited to our fund raising events in future.

6.4 Mr. Godfred Avane invited NEC to grace the inauguration of the Tarkwa branch at a date to be fixed later.

Mr. Azeem
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CONCLUSION

The Chairman thanked all delegates for taking time off their busy schedules in order to attend the meeting and wished them safe journey back home. He also expressed gratitude to his vice, Lance Adoguba for providing the venue for the meeting. He capped it all with a prayer at 5.20pm to bring the meeting to a close with promise to reconvene in November, 2007 subject to the availability of funds.