About Us
What We Do
GHASEA is committed to cultural preservation, community support, and personal empowerment. We provide programs and services that strengthen connections, celebrate traditions, and foster growth within the Ghanaian community in Seattle.
We host cultural events that showcase Ghanaian music, dance, storytelling, and food, ensuring that our heritage thrives across generations. Our networking and career development initiatives create opportunities for professionals, entrepreneurs, and students to connect, learn, and advance in their fields.
Through mentorship programs, we support young leaders, helping them develop essential skills and build strong foundations for future success. For newcomers, GHASEA provides social integration assistance, offering guidance on housing, employment, and adjusting to life in the U.S.
Our commitment to philanthropy and social responsibility drives us to support community members in need, organize fundraising efforts, and contribute to causes both locally and in Ghana. GHASEA fosters a welcoming and empowered community built on unity, culture, and service.
Our History
The GHASEA (Ghana Association of Greater Seattle) is a vibrant, community-driven nonprofit organization founded in the summer of 1991 by a group of visionary Ghanaian immigrants. Their goal was to create a unifying, inclusive space free from ethnic and political divisions that could foster solidarity, cultural pride, and mutual support among Ghanaians living in the Greater Seattle area.
Led by pioneering community leaders such as Kofi Baidoo, Matt Afful, Francis Adjepong, Kwadwo Boateng, Kwame Agyei, Nicholas Nuama, James Pappoe, Nketia-Mensa, Julie Djandu, Phillip Attipoe, and the musician Kofi Annan, and their dedicated spouses, GHASEA was born out of a shared desire to provide a welcoming home away from home for both new arrivals and long-term residents.
Since its inception, GHASEA has remained committed to nurturing a strong, culturally rich, and resilient Ghanaian American community. The association has hosted numerous events celebrating Ghanaian culture and community spirit, from festive Christmas parties to joyful summer picnics. A milestone moment came in 1997, when GHASEA hosted a vibrant celebration of Ghana @ 40, attended by then-Ambassador Koby Arthur Koomson, who commended the organization as one of the best-run Ghanaian associations in the United States.
Throughout the years, GHASEA has launched impactful initiatives aimed at community empowerment, including group life insurance programs, youth mentorship efforts, business networking events, and a community college fund. While not all programs reached full maturity, such as the college fund, which faced limited participation, they reflect our ongoing commitment to long-term development and collective welfare. Notably, former president Asare Aboagye made a generous pledge of $5,000 to kick-start the college fund, encouraging a spirit of giving and responsibility among members.
GHASEA has also played a pivotal role in fostering international and inter-African collaborations. During the leadership of Asare Aboagye and Kwadwo Fordjour, the association facilitated a historic Ghana trade delegation visit to Seattle in 1999. Subsequent administrations welcomed distinguished guests, including Ghana’s former Finance Minister Baa Wiredu, Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, Ambassador Adusei, and renowned highlife musician Koo Nimo. GHASEA has led delegations to Ghana, strengthening cross-continental business, cultural, and diplomatic ties, and was proudly featured in The Seattle Times for its role in mobilizing the Ghanaian diaspora.
Today, GHASEA continues to serve as a cornerstone of the Ghanaian community in the Pacific Northwest. We invite all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana, especially the younger generation, to join us in building a stronger, more engaged community. Our mission thrives on participation: we urge members to step into leadership roles, volunteer at events, and contribute their talents and resources to support our shared future.
We honor our heritage, uplift one another, and invest in the next generation. GHASEA is more than an association—it is a family.
Adapted from Kwame Agyei’s Speech in December 2024