E-Pack

WELCOME PACK

contains the

v Brief Profile

v Abridged Constitution

v New Welfare System (effective Sept 2018)

Sixth Edition

September 2018

CHAPTER ONE

PROFILE

1.1 BACKGROUND

The idea of reforming a Ghanaian Union in Bradford was birth at a memorial service held for the late mother of one of our prominent member. At this function Mr Wisdom Sateklah announced to all present that there is the need for us to come together to form a Union. The aim will be to look after each other and provide help to one another in times like this. He further promised to arrange a meeting for all Ghanaians in Bradford to meet and discuss the idea further.

Eventually the idea culminated into a meeting at Park Lane Centre in Bradford on 3^rd July 2010 where an encouraging number of eighteen Ghanaians and two non-Ghanaians attended. In a speech on that day, Wisdom who also chaired the maiden meeting quoted a part of the National pledge to remind all that the heritage and freedom we have today was won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers, and thus it is our responsibility to continue to uphold that heritage. He also emphasised the importance of Ghanaians remaining loyal to our motherland and be prepared to give back to it. He reiterated the usefulness of networking and gave several benefits and examples of what we can achieve as a legally registered group, should we agree to the formation of such a group.

1.2 FORMATION:

Following the positive feedback from that initial meeting, subsequent meeting was held on 7^th August, 2010 attended by twenty people. It was at this second meeting that the motion to form a legally recognised Union to be known as the GHANAIAN COMMUNITY IN BRADFORD (GCB) was carried. The meeting consequently nominated six (6) of the members present to form an interim executive until a general election was called. The following were the interim leaders and their positions.

ü WISDOM SATEKLAH CHAIRMAN

ü CALEB AGBESHIE TREASURER

ü AL-AMIN AL-HASSAN ORGANISER

ü ERNESTINA MATANAWUI WOMEN'S ORGANISER

ü DANIEL NUGBA EXECUTIVE MEMBER

ü BENJAMIN TETTEH SECRETARY

The interim leaders were immediately tasked to prepare and present to the next general meeting for approval a CONSTITUTION for the Union. The leadership spent countless man-hours in researching, debating, writing and re-writing the draft constitution, which was adopted on 16th October 2011. It was agreed also that the Union will meet once in every 3 months.

The Interim Executive remained in office for one year. While they were holding the fort till elected executive took over, they established a few important principles and procedures that set precedence to the direction the Union was to take, and all of those had remind to date.

Either solely or in conjunction with other sister organisations, the GCB has been embarking on events to get its membership involved in numerous social activities with the aim of moving the Union forward while fostering amiable relationship with the local community. These events evidently made the GCB a force to reckon with at its infant stage and won the admiration of other national Union leaders.

1.3 FIRST YEAR MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:

The Executive thought it wise to factor an annual Ghana's Independence Day celebrations into our programs beginning with the 6^th March of 2011. This decision was taken at GCB's 4th general meeting held on 8th January 2011. The interim executive accordingly formed a committee to plan and organise its first ever Celebration in Bradford.

The celebration took place at MAPA in Bradford, were an estimated two-hundred people attended. Among the twenty specially invited guests was then the Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Peter Hill who was also the Guest of Honour. In his speech, he commended the GCB and all Ghanaians living in Bradford and applauded them for peacefully co-existing with their neighbours.

A comprehensive report was produced and a copy was sent to the Ghana High Commissioner in London together with an invitation to be the Guest of honour at the following year's celebration. The invitation was accepted and he subsequently attended the second year celebration in Bradford.

Another annual event the interim leaders started was our participation in the Leeds African cup of Nations (LACoN), which was then in its fifth year. After a successful inter-team 5-a-side football game, the GCB got registered to participate in the annual Leeds African Cup of Nations on 4^th June 2011 to play against other national Union teams in the UK.

Other major events the then Interim executive got GCB to participate in before handing over were;

I. Working closely with the Ghana-Austria group based in Leeds to form a Ghanaian Union in Leeds.

II. Joining the Lord Mayor and Mayoress, and the people of Bradford to celebrate FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT on 5^th march 2011;

III. Designing the Union's website and joining facebook on the Internet. The GCB web address www.ghanabradford.co.uk went live on 1^st April 2011 and has since been one of the main sources of information sharing and dissemination.

IV. Visiting members who are known to have given birth, been sick or in need of any such social uplifting. The leadership had to use their own resources in the early stages to finance transportation and the gifts presented.

1.4 PIONEER LEADERS:

On 9^th July 2011, the GCB successfully inaugurated its first elected leaders in a brief ceremony organised within its general meeting. This was after the interim leadership had handed over to the new executives. Below are the names and positions of the first elected executive members of the GCB:

ü WISDOM SATEKLAH CHAIRMAN

ü DAVID IBRAHIM VICE CHAIRMAN

ü CALEB AGBESHIE TREASURER

ü VIDA CORRIEH ASST. TREASURER

ü BENJAMIN TETTEH SECRETARY

ü PETER TETTEH ASST. SECRETARY

ü AL-AMIN AL-HASSAN ORGANISER

ü ERNESTINA MATANAWUI CO-ORGANISER

ü DANIEL NUGBA EXECUTIVE MEMBER

To fulfill a constitutional requirement, the late Mr Kwabina Atta and his wife Mrs Agnes Atta were nominated to be Patrons (King and the Queen mother) of the Union.

1.5 CHARITY REGISTRATION AND NAME CHANGE:

The end of 2016 marked a new chapter in the journey of the Ghana Community Bradford (GCB as we knew it). At our 2016 end of Year party held on 17th December, The Chairman, Wisdom Sateklah officially announced that on 23rd November 2016 the GCB registration process was finalised. During the final stages, to satisfy the Charity Commission, the Executive had to hold emergency meetings to deliberate on some of the demands and changes that needed to be done to get our registration complete. The major change we had to consider was our name - GHANAIAN COMMUNITYIN BRADFORD. The Charity Commission would not accept our registration under this name and therefore we had to consider a different name.

The Executive came up with the name GHANA UNION BRADFORD (GUB) which was accepted by the Charity Commission. Therefore from that day the Union became known as GHANA UNION BRADFORD (GUB). The GUB is registered as a CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CIO) with charity registration number is 1170324 .

To go with the new name, we also adopted a new logo.

OLD GCB LOGO NEW GUB LOGO

Our registration process was completed with the assistance of Mr Clive Whitaker of Community and Voluntary Services Bradford (CVS),.

CHAPTER TWO

ABRIDGED CONSITTUTION

2.1 WHO WE ARE

The name of our Union is “GHANAIAN UNION BRADFORD”. It is a Non-profit and Non-Governmental Organisation and those who are welcomed to join must be Ghanaians or friends of Ghana.

2.2 WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO

Ghana Focus

2.2.1. To bring together all Ghanaians living in Yorkshire and to help ourselves.

2.2.2 To do activities that promotes our culture.

2.2.3 To work with others towards the development of Ghana.

2.2.4 To work with other Unions with similar objectives.

2.2.5 To promote safety, prevent crime and live peaceful with others.

UK Focus

2.2.6 To promote racial harmony for the public benefit Bradford and surrounding.

2.2.7 To develop the capacity of members so as to participate more fully in society.

2.2.8 To relieve financial hardship among refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers by providing interpreting/translating/advocacy/ health/housing advice and education.

2.2.9 To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life

2.3 HOW TO JOIN US

2.3.1 From 1^st September 2018, interested persons who want to join the Union must be sixteen years of age and must fill in a registration form.

A FULL membership status is attained by;

(a) Submitting a completed membership form, and

(b) Fulfilling a new member’s financial obligations.

FINANCIAL OBLIGATION

1 Pay full Registration fee £ 5.00*

2. Purchase Membership Card £ 5.00*

3. Pay Contributions of the current quarter £15.00 (£10 dues + £5 Welfare)

Total upfront fees for registration £25.00

*New members only (A one off payment)

2.3.2 Children of registered members shall be members but not through as mentioned in (1). They will not have to register nor pay any contributions until they are sixteen years.

2.4 DO WE ACCEPT ANYBODY

The Executive can refuse an application for membership, but this must be in writing to the person, stating why he or she cannot be allowed to join the Union

2.5 THE VARIOUS WAYS YOU CAN LEAVE US

You are no longer considered a member when you die, write to resign, owe dues for more than six months, or when you are removed by a decision of the Executive to protect the interest of the Union. Another way is when you fail to attend four consecutive meetings without telling the executives or the executive knowing of any good reason.

2.6 MEETINGS

An Annual General Meeting must be held once in every year. However at any time the Executive may call a general meeting.

At our first meeting we all agree to meet four times in a year. That is the first Saturday in every quarter. General meetings shall be chaired by the person who has been appointed to chair meetings among the Executives.

2.7 THE EXECUTIVES

The Executive members must be aged 16 years or older. Their election for the positions, which are below, must be every two years;

(a) Chairperson – presides over meetings and oversees all administrative works

(b) Vice Chairperson – act in absence of the Chairman

(c) Secretary – convene meetings and record minutes

(d) Assistant Secretary – assists the Secretary and deputise in his absence

(e) Treasurer – be in charge of all monies and account for them.

(f) Assistant Treasurer – assists the Treasurer and deputise in his absence

(g) Organising secretary - mobilise members and disseminate information.

(h) Co-Organising Secretary – same duties as the Organising Secretary

(i) Executive member - assist the Executives in discharge of their duties.

2.8 OTHER RULES

The Executives may from time to time make rules or by-laws, as they may deem necessary for the proper conduct and management of the Union.

CHAPTER THREE

WELFARE (SUPPORT & BENEFITS)

3.1 INTRODUCTION

The GUB's constitution mandates the Union to help relieve financial hardship and help provide social care to members/ Also it was agreed principle that, 'the Executives may from time to time make such reasonable and proper rules or bye-laws, as they may deem necessary or expedient for the proper conduct and management of the Union'. Accordingly, at the General Meeting on September 2018, a new Welfare Strategy Report was proposed by the Welfare Committee and adopted subsequently to replace the existing welfare package with had been in place from July 2011.

The following is a summary of the new welfare system:

· Members’ contribution is £15 a quarter (or £60 per year).

· Contributions will be separated into £10 Dues and £5 Welfare Levy and accounted for separately.

· Four main benefits payments for a paid up member will be;

ü Member's death,

ü Death of Member's Nominee

ü Sickness of member

ü Birth by a member.

· Benefits for a member will ONLY be effective after 12 months of contribution.

3.2 GENERAL NOTES:

Every 2nd quarter (that is June meetings) shall be GUB’s Annual General Welfare Meeting (AGWM). At the AGWM, the Welfare Strategy will be reviewed and accounts statement presented. The Welfare Officer and Assistant Treasurer shall be responsible in keeping, preparing and presenting the Welfare accounts.

3.3 WELFARE CONTRIBUTION

3.3.1. Each member shall contribute £15.00 per quarter or £60.00 per year. All registered members are expected to fulfil this obligation to the Union.

3.3.2. £10.00 of the quarterly dues will be for running of the Union and £5.00 goes into a Welfare Fund. The Welfare Fund is separate from the Unions general acoounts.

3.3.3. The Welfare Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of members’ welfare in the following areas;

v death of a member

v death of a member's nominee

v sickness of a member, and

v child birth by a member.

3.3.4. The Executive can approve exemption of payment for certain category of members based on their;

v age

v health condition, or

v socio-economic status

Any such decision will be made public and reviewed at each AGWM.

3.4 WELFARE BENEFIT

3.4.1. Benefits for any member become effective after 12 months of signing up and bring their contributions to date. Existing members of the Union as at September 2018 must have their dues fully paid off to qualify for benefits under this new welfare proposal.

3.4.2. For the purposes of the sustainability and functionality of this scheme, a minimum of 50 committed members are needed to be up to date with their payments. Benefits over the first three years are graduated as below:

¹Based on previous experience and study of occurrence of these events, benefit payments are not expected to exceed receipts. However, in the unlikely case this happens, the GUB’s main account should support in paying these benefits for the first 3 years. Members must also be encouraged to support.

Please note also that, the welfare reviews take place in the month of June each year. The date of each welfare meeting is the same date any changes agreed takes effect, unless concluded otherwise at the same AGWM

3.5. DEFINITION OF EVENTS AND TERMINOLOGIES:

AGWM: – The second quarter meeting of the GUB. Usually to be held in June for welfare discussions and review of the Welfare Strategy document

CONTRIBUTION: – The total amount of money a member is obliged to pay quarterly or yearly to the Union. That is Dues plus Welfare Levy.

DUES: – The part of a member’s total contribution that goes into the running of the association and its charitable activities.

WELFARE LEVY: - The part of a member’s total contribution that goes into the Welfare of members.

WELFARE FUND: – The total of the welfare levy kept and accounted for separately from Dues.

MEMBER’S LIFE: - This is when a paid-up member loses his or her life. The benefit is given to the pre-nominated next-of-kin.

MEMBER’S NOMINEE: - A paid-up members' living parents or guardians and children. . Records will be kept on beneficiaries.

SICKNESS: - Any member, paid up or not who is severely ill and needs visiting.

BIRTH: - Birth of a child by paid up parents. Benefits to be made available separately to each paid up parent, if both are members.