Okuapeman Fekuw, Chicago, which was inaugurated in 1982, was started in 1981. In the fall of 1981, the late Mr. Jonas Bonsu called on all people of Akuapem descent living in the Chicago metropolitan area to meet at his house and discuss the formation of an association. This was after Mr. Bonsu had learned of the formation of such an association in New York. From that first meeting, Okuapeman Association Chicago was formed and inaugurated in the summer of 1982, having written and adopted a constitution. With an initial membership of about 25 it gradually grew to a little over 50 in a short time.

 

The primary idea was to know ourselves, help each other and help the Akuapem state in Ghana. Okuapeman Association, Chicago helped Akuapems in the tri-states of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia also form an association in 1984, and participated in its inauguration of Okuapeman Fekuw of Toronto.

 

Serving as a good model, other Ghanaians in Chicago with different ethnicities also formed associations. Okuapeman Association, Chicago was very instrumental in the formation of the Ghana National Council of Chicago, and Okuapeman representatives were initially elected to key positions on the Council. Okuapeman Fekuw of Chicago was also one of the first Ghanaian groups to discuss the start of the Ghana Fest event in Chicago.

 

Okuapeman Fekuw of Chicago, between 1983 and 1988 adopted the Maternity wing of the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong Akuapem and funded several projects to the admiration of the chiefs and people of Akuapem