The newly-elected President of the Yankasa Association of the USA, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulai Masigan Zerba, and his executive members have been sworn into office to begin their two-year mandate, taking a bold step to implement campaign promises with immediate effect.
The Bissa man formally took office on Sunday, December 26 as the president of the philanthropic group following his victory in last month’s election.
At an inauguration ceremony held at the Head of Office in Bronx, NY, President Masigan, Vice President Bashir Kabore, and other executive members took the oath of office to officially begin a regime that will run until December 2023.
In his speech, President Masigan said the day represents the fulfillment of a dream journey that saw the establishment of the Yankasa Association.
“In that journey and dream, Today marks a very important day in the history as it is a dream comes true for the founders of this community,” he said at the inauguration attended by thousands of members of the association.
“On July 5th 1984, Our founders pended their signatures on documents to incorporate this organization with the hope that one day their children will take over from where they left off and that dream has come to reality as I am ones their son’s they raised and mentored.
“We thank almighty Allah to bless them and for those are deceased we ask almighty Allah forgive all their wrong doings.”
He officially takes over from Mr. Abdul Salam Obou-Deji, pledging to confront an array of challenges that have confronted the association since its inception in 1984.
He explained that he is set to run an administration that will be guided by strength, unity, discipline, justice, and transparency.
“In fact a big task has been assigned to me which is beyond my power to fulfill except with the help of the Almighty Allah and your whole hearted cooperation, ” Masigan said.
“I wished to see the strongest of men in my place this day.
“Now, it is beyond doubt that I have been elected your President, although I am not better than you. Help me, if I am in the right; set me right if I am in the wrong.”
Mr. Masigan’s inauguration comes exactly 28 days after his landslide electoral victory over Mohammed Laminu Ali.
For Masigan, the swearing-in marks the continuation of a decades-long, hard-fought quest for unity, trust, understanding, and togetherness—and the beginning of a new challenge, as the administration announces the immediate implementation of burial loan funds, a mentoring program, an after-school program, and some other social interventions promised during the campaign.
The four policies, among many others, were in the heart of President Masigan during his campaign and needed no delay to be brought into effect.
He has further outlined steps to meet his first 100 days of promises, which include the implementation of the much-coveted Yankasa Scholarship Fund and other funds to carry the association to higher heights.
In his remarks, the president said he will try to implement a broad agenda while navigating an association in which women “will play very critical roles”.
“Ladies and gentlemen the happening few months back and the election has thought us many lesson that Women and the youth play a very critical roles in our development and so they will play a very critical roles in our administration in the next two years,” he said.
Masigan, a business mogul and philanthropist, won the presidency in the November 2021 election in his first attempt, grabbing 64% of the votes.
Read also: Bissas Masigan Zerba elected president of Yankasa Association in US
He appeared to be the better option to the voters as he polled 552 votes to convincingly beat Mohammed Laminu Ali, who garnered 311 in the two-horse race.
He, supported by his vice president and sworn executive council members, will lead the 37-year-old association until the end of 2023.
About the Yankasa Association
The Yankasa Association of the US has been a philanthropic organisation that promotes and articulates the interest of Ghanaians in the New York metropolis.
It is has been serving the Ghanaian and American community since 1984.
It has carried out lots of development projects across Ghana and other parts of Africa.
Mission of the Association
To promote and articulate the interest of Ghanaians in the NY metropolitan area, Provide a forum for the advancement of the interest of Ghanaians in political, economic, social and cultural affairs, Establish and maintain good relations with other Ghanaian organisations pursuing objectives compatible with ours, Assist members both financially and morally in times of needs.