Activities for the year 2004

Donation of Beds to Bolgatanga Hospital
BONABOTO Bridge the Gap Project
BONABOTO Secretariat
BONABOTO in Number 10 Downing Street
Social Activities
Memorial Service
Programme for 2005

BONABOTO UK was set up in July 1998 with a membership of 15. Over the years the membership has grown to over 60 and continues to grow. The main attraction of the Union to members is the fact that it provides a focal point of contact for frafras in the UK through meetings and social activities. The Frafra community in the UK is fairly new with many having arrived in the last ten years. It is made up of mainly the young who are here for educational and economic pursuits.

Donation of beds to Bolgatanga Hospital
The first consignment of 14 beds and 7 wardrobes were shipped to Ghana late last year for the regional hospital in Bolgatanga. Despite several efforts by BONABOTO officers in Ghana and some politicians from the Frafra area, the beds are still not cleared from the Tema port. This has affected the shipment of another consignment of 12 beds.

BONABOTO Bridge the Gap Project
During the year, BONABOTO UK secured funding from the South East London Community Chest Foundation to organise a series of Education Awareness Seminars/workshops for members. Below is a list of seminars/workshops that were organised.

Worksop 1: A workshop on the National Health Service to tackle issues such as alcohol abuse, stress management and HIV/AIDS. The aim was to raise awareness on common health issues to members.

Workshop 2: The topic was Gov’t Social Inclusion Agenda. It was organised to focus members on equality legislation and how this impacts on the Black Minority Ethnic Communities.

Workshop 3: Education. This workshop was organised to underline the underachievement of Black Minority Ethnic Children in schools and adult education and how to address these issues.

Workshop 4: Employment and training. It was organised to increase awareness of employment opportunities and jobs as well as access to training opportunities. It also provided information on the different types of benefits for people not in employment and how to qualify for such benefits.

Workshop 5: Community Regeneration and Health.

BONABOTO Secretariat
The Bridge the Gap Project has enabled BONABOTO to set up a Secretariat and has recruited a part time Volunteer coordinator to fundraise, develop office systems procedures and policies for the effective running of the union. A steering committee made up of 5 members oversee the strategic management of the Bridge the Gap Project and other projects.

Networking: The Coordinator has successfully formed a working relationship with a number of organisations. The Race Equality Community Network, and African Health Forum. BONABOTO has also established a strong working relationship with GHARWEG Capacity Building Team Project Officers.

BONABOTO in Number 10 Downing Street
One of the rare opportunities which was made available to BONABOTO as the only Ghanaian community group of its kind when African groups in the UK were invited by the Prime Minister and his wife to discuss his Commission on Africa initiative. Our participation in the meeting has gained us recognition in the highest echelons of the UK government and we shall seek to make good use of this window of opportunity. The Volunteer Coordinator (Mr Donatus Baba Anaba) attended the meeting on behalf of the Union.

Social Activities
In the summer, BONABOTO organised a trip to Portsmouth a seaside town, which was well attended by members and their families and friends.

Memorial Service
BONABOTO contributed and helped in the organisation of the late Mrs Florence Bukari’s memorial service, which was held in November 2004.

Programmes for the Coming Year

• To continue building our membership and setting up new arrivals project to assist the newly arrived frafras to the UK.


• Strengthening our links with BONABOTO Ghana to develop joint working and cooperation.


• The heritage project, to propagate our culture and traditional values and to educate our offsprings.