GHANA SCHOOL AID

Opening remarks for the 2023 Annual General Meeting held at St Mary’s Crypt, Islington, London on 15th June, 2023.

Thank you everyone for attending today, whether you are in person or online, in Ghana or the UK.

One of the ‘lessons’ from the pandemic has been how better we can use technology. Certainly, we in Ghana School Aid through the use of Zoom can now include Kofi and Baako in our meetings. I give a special welcome to them. I am sure we all agree this is a real advantage, as it is for our Committee members and supporters who otherwise cannot or do not wish to travel to London.

I commend our splendid 2023 Newsletter to you all. Please share and spread the news of Ghana School Aid widely. Not only does it show our supporters what we do and how we spend their donations, but it represents a link to our formation and those who established Ghana School Aid 37 years ago. Indeed, this AGM was originally called the ‘Reunion Lunch’.

I wish to note our appreciation and sincere thanks for Jennifer. She and her daughter, Anna, have worked together on the Newsletter for nearly 20 years. Jennifer, as you know, will be stepping down, so if this interests you as a role then please let Jo or myself know. Thank you again to Jennifer and, please, pass on our thanks to Anna.

I wish to acknowledge Jo as Secretary and Nigel as Treasurer. But there are, as we know, many others. Indeed, we will hear more from, amongst others, Rita and her work with Abigail in the north. This is a team effort, and we are more than the sum of our parts.

Today, in particular, we thank Penny for her role in coordinating our AGM. I also pay tribute to our patron, Lord Paul Boateng, for his unwavering support. He cannot be with us today, but has asked I pass his warm greetings to you all.

I have been chairman since 2021. Power or responsibility is held in trust. To that end, I have three aims: to, at a suitable time, encourage a successor; to be as much use as I can to Jo and Nigel; and, finally, as a Committee to seek and welcome new members.

Ghana School Aid has a pedigree and contribution that is unmatched. No other charity or NGO has existed as long as we have, not offered our continued, effective support. Our history is entwined with that of Ghana. We represent in miniature the strong ties of friendship and common destiny that bind Ghana and the UK together. I saw this first hand from Kofi in his explanation of Ghana School Aid and his history to the teachers at Cape Coast Primary School.

The need for what we do – classrooms, toilet blocks and desks – remain as a strong as ever. This is a special endeavour. Baako used the term ‘sacrificial giving’, which, captures well our task.

Let us today enjoy each other’s company, celebrate what we do and prepare for another busy year.

William Spooner

Chair, Ghana School Aid