Philadelphia, PA, Aug. 29, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The African Bicycle Contribution Foundation (ABCF), a Philadelphia-based 501(c)3 corporation, today announced an itinerary of events for its Three-City Tour activities, from September 18 – 25, here, which will focus on the achievements of two female business and government leaders, and which are designed to raise funding and visibility for the year-old organization's mission of purchasing and distributing free, Ghanaian-made, bamboo bicycles for under-resourced, transport-dependent, students, small farmers and healthcare workers in rural Ghana.
As part of the week-long program, the Foundation has invited Bernice Dapaah, CEO and founder, Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, and the Hon. Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, deputy minister, Greater Accra Region, and former Ghanaian parliament member, to visit Philadelphia and participate in a series of meetings, speaking engagements and cultural activities, here, in New York City and in the Washington-D.C./Baltimore area.
Since September of last year, ABCF (africanbike.org) has generated funds for the distribution of 140 of the eco-friendly bamboo bikes made by Ms. Dapaah's Kumasi, Ghana-based company, in five locations across the West African country, including Accra, Kumasi, Koforidua, Sekyere Afram District and the Brong-Ahafo Region, in Central Ghana.
Despite Ghana’s expanding economic strength and Sub-Saharan-leading political stability, the Ghanaian Statistical Service reports that 30 percent of Ghanaians don't have a school within their immediate community, and according to UNESCO, young, rural Ghanaian girls' school attendance increases by 600 percent with access to bicycles. In addition, another recent study points out that small Ghanaian farmers with access to bicycles reduced their daily commute time to marketplace by 45 percent and increased their family incomes by 23 percent.
In addition to its free bicycle distribution program, ABCF is also committed to establishing technology-facilitated information exchanges between students and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Ghana, and to expanding trade relationships between Philadelphia and Accra, including opportunities for the export of Ms. Dapaah's Eco-Ride bicycles from Ghana to Philadelphia, for national distribution to cycling enthusiasts through U.S.-based bike shops.
In that regard, there have been recent discussions with the Mayor's Commission for African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, chaired by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, about establishing a Sister City, or enhanced trade, agreement between Philadelphia and Ghana's capital city, Accra. According to the Delaware River Port Authority, imports from Ghana, through the Ports of Philadelphia, now stand at $111 million, annually.
According to ABCF's Executive Director Patricia Marshall Harris, the itinerary for the Three-City Tour includes:
Monday, September 18
- A fundraiser/panel presentation, "Why Women Should Have a Seat at the Table," featuring Ms. Dapaah, the Hon. Mrs. Sackey, Ms. Gerianne DiPiano, CEO, FemmePharma Global Health Inc., moderated by attorney/journalist Renée Chenault Fattah.
- Location: ARAMARK headquarters, 1101 Market Street, Philadelphia, 5:00-8:00pm
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-women-should-have-a-seat-at-the-table-a-panel-discussion-tickets-37137285621
Tuesday, September 19
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey will visit New York City for meetings and participation in a media tour.
Wednesday, September 20
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey will be featured speakers at a "young professionals" fundraiser event.
- Location: Ambrosia Food Group, 114 Market Street, Philadelphia, 6:00-9:00 pm
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-pan-african-party-with-a-purpose-tickets-37290624261
Thursday, September 21
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey will receive a citation from Philadelphia City Council.
- Location: Philadelphia City Hall, 4th Floor Council Chambers, 11:00am
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey will be keynote presenters at a fundraising reception for Philadelphia regional leaders. Mistress of Ceremonies: Renee Chenault Fattah.
- Location: Independence Blue Cross headquarters, 1901 Market Street, 44th floor, Philadelphia, 5:00-7:00 pm
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-bicycle-contribution-foundation-fundraiser-reception-registration-37244400003
Friday, September 22
- Meetings in Washington, D.C., including Dapaah/Sackey speaking engagements at Johns Hopkins University. Potential meeting with the Ghanaian Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah.
Saturday, September 23
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey to attend the Second Annual National Homowo Festival, a Ghanaian cultural event, hosted by Dr. Samuel Quartey.
- Location: North George's Hill, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 2:00pm
Sunday, September 24
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Mrs. Sackey will be featured guests at a fundraising event sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter.
- Location: TBD, 4:00-6:00pm
Tuesday, September 26
- Ms. Dapaah and the Hon. Ms Sackey return to Ghana.
According to Ms. Harris, the Philadelphia area's relationship with Ghana is longstanding, with substantial numbers of Philadelphians tracing their ancestry to that part of West Africa. She also pointed out that it is significant that Ghana's first democratically elected president, in 1957, was Kwame Nkrumah, who attended Lincoln University, just 33 miles outside of the City.
Who Is ABCF?
The African Bicycle Contribution Foundation (ABCF) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to generate funding to underwrite the distribution of bicycles to under-resourced students, small farmers and healthcare workers, on the African continent. The Corporation has made a commitment to finance the free distribution of 2,500 bicycles, in Ghana, over its first five years of operation.
ABCF works in partnership, in Ghana, with the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, Bright Generation Community Foundation, The Respect Alliance, and the U.S.-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. Included among the foundation's corporate and charitable nonprofit sponsors are Independence Blue Cross, ARAMARK Company, Millennium 3 Management, Inc. and the Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
For further information about ABCF, please contact the ABCF office: info@africanbike.org.
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