PART I
ARTICLE I. The name of the Organization shall be the Yankasa Association of New York, Inc; hereinafter shall be referred to as the “Association.”
ARTICLE II. The seat of the Association, till further notice, shall be: P.O. Box 439, Bronx, N.Y. 10467
ARTICLE III. STATEMENT OF PUROPOSE:
A. To promote unity, trust, understanding and togetherness among our members in particular and the general Ghanaian community.
B. To strive for the elimination of all forms of discriminatory practices within our members, within the Ghanaian community, among Ghanaians, and in our beloved country Ghana.
C. To endeavor to make our members law-abiding, peace-loving and hardworking productive residents and citizens of the United States of America.
D. To promote the lawful interest of our members in every possible way and at all times.
E. To consider the possibility of aiding members financially and /or morally in times of need or distress. Specifically, such as:
a. Marriage of members and their children.
b. Naming ceremonies of members’ children.
c. Bereavement of a member or his/her spouse, parents, children, and siblings.
F. To advance the true course of the social, cultural and religious values of our members by organizing Eids, Maulids, Abalabi. Etc.
G. To establish avenues, to share with our members, our common interest, and to educate ourselves and our children to fulfill our common values.
H. To maintain our proud record as a Founding member of the National Council of Ghanaian Associations, to promote its aims and objectives and to support its rules and regulations.
I. To carry on any other purpose that is reasonably necessary to enhance the main objectives of the Association.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP:
A. Membership shall be opened to all Ghanaians of Northern Ghana and/ or Sahelian orientation as well as to all citizens of Ghana.
B. All other Africans, both at home and in the Diaspora, can apply for membership provided they are willing to accept and abide by the constitution and by-laws of the Association.
C. Admission into the Association is subject to:
a. Introduction of the new member at a dully schedule General Meeting.
b. Completion of an application form and the payment of an initiation fee of $25.00.
ARTICLE V. MEMBERS-IN-GOOD-STANDING:
D. Retention of membership-in-good-standing status shall be subject to:
a. Regular attendance at General Meetings.
b. Regular payment of monthly dues of $5.00.
E. Loss of membership-in-good status shall be subject to:
a. Failure to attend General Meetings for four (4) consecutive times without any tangible reasons.
b. Nonpayment of dues for (6) months continuously without any tangible reasons.
ARTICLE VI. EXPLUSION OF MEMBERS:
A. A member shall be expelled from the Association with the approval of the Executive Committee, Council of Elders and a 2/3 majority of members in good standing after a due hearing.
B. The ground for expulsion of a member shall be:
a. Gross misconduct or actions detrimental to the welfare and the reputation of the Association.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS:
A. A General Meeting of all members of the Association shall be held once every month at such time and venue to be decided by members.
B. Written notices for General Meetings, stating place, date and time, shall be mailed to members not less than one (1) week prior to the date of such meeting.
C. An Emergency Meeting shall be called during a period of special crisis by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Elders. Ten (10) members-in-good standing can request, in writing, for an Emergency Meeting.
D. Oral communication (telephone or otherwise), within forty-eight hours (48) shall suffice to convene an Emergency Meeting.
E. Attendance records and minutes of all meetings General or Emergency shall be taken by the Secretary or by the Recording Secretary.
PART II
ARTICLE VIII. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
A. The Executive Committee shall constitute the governing body of the Association. It shall consist of the following Officers:
a. President
b. Vice-President
c. General Secretary
d. Recording Secretary
e. Organizer
f. Assistant Organizer
g. Financial Secretary
h. Treasurer
i. Public Relations officer
B. Members shall decide, at all times, the composition of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 1X. FUNCTIONS OF OFFICERS:
A. PRESIDENT
a. Shall be the chief executive officer of the association having the responsibility of the general management of the Association.
b. Shall preside over and call to order all General, Special or Executive meetings.
c. Shall convene all special meetings
d. Shall be informed by committee chairman of all meetings and all resolutions adopted.
e. Shall make no motion, or amend, or vote on any question or motion at general or special meetings unless to break a tie vote.
f. Shall perform such other duties as may be required by the office.
g. President shall not succeed himself/herself after two consecutive terms in office.
B. VICE-PRESIDENT
a. Shall be the assistance Chief Executive Officer of the Association.
b. Shall in the absence, disability or incapacity of the president perform the duties of the president.
c. Shall assist the president at all times.
C. GENERAL SECRETARY
a. Shall be responsible for keeping of all non financial records of the association.
b. Shall give proper and timely notices for all executive and general meetings.
c. Shall record, keep and present minutes of executive, general and special meetings.
d. Shall write all communications as directed by the president or the executive committee.
e. All communications before circulation must be read and approved by the president, vice president or at least three (3) members of the execute committee.
D. RECORDING SECRETARY
a. Shall assume duties and responsibilities of the general secretary in his/her absence.
b. Shall record the presence and absence of all members at all meetings.
c. Shall perform any other secretarial duties assign to him by the executive committee.
E. FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
a. Shall keep all records pertaining to the finance of the Association.
b. Shall keep records of all incomes and expenditures of the Association.
c. Shall receive and record the dues and contributions of all members.
d. Shall notify each delinquent member of his/her financial status
F. ASSISITANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
a. Shall take over the functions of the Financial Secretary during his/her absence.
b. Shall perform any other duties pertaining to finances assigned to him.
G. TREASURER:
a. Shall receive all monies payable to the Association.
b. Shall be the custodian of all funds, securities and check book of the Association.
c. Shall deposit all funds and securities in the Association’s designated bank and withdraw same.
d. Shall make no withdrawal or payment without the authorization of the president.
H. PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER:
a. Shall be responsible for publicizing the activities of the Association.
b. Shall be Chief of Protocol at all functions of the Association.
c. Shall plan publicity goals, public relations programs and present them to the association for approval.
I. ASSISTANT P.R.O.
a. Shall assist the P.R.P. at all times.
b. Shall perform any other functions advised by the executive committee.
J. ORGANIZER:
a. Shall be responsible for the planning, programming and organizing of approved activities of the associations.
b. Shall be responsible for the timely implementation of all approved decisions and recommendation of all committees regarding the time, place, etc; of all approved functions of the association.
c. Shall coordinate all reports and all activities of all the committees of the association to all members.
PART III
ARTICLE X ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
A. A General Election to elect all members of the Executive shall be held in September every two years.
B. An Electoral Committee shall be form in March to draw plans for the election and submit them to general members for approval.
C. Voting shall be by secret ballot cast by members-in-good-standing, present and voting.
D. To qualify for election (to be voted) as an officer of the association, a member:
a. Must be fully registered.
b. Must be up-to-date in payment of dues and other contributions.
c. Must be attending meetings regularly and participated in the association’s extra curricula activities.
d. Must have been a member for at least two (2) years prior to the election.
E. To qualify to elect or to vote for an officer of the association, a member:
a. Must be fully registered.
b. Must be up-to-date in payment of dues.
c. Must have been a member for at least six (6) months prior to the time of the election.
d. Must have attended at least have of the previous year’s meetings.
F. Names of electors and electees under section D and E above shall be tabulated, examined, and sealed in an envelope, two (2) months prior to the date of the election and kept in the custody of the council of elders. The sealed names shall be opened only on the day and the place of the election.
G. The newly elected officers shall assume office immediately but will have one month transitional period in which all the assets and liabilities of the association will be handed over to them.
H. All officers of the association shall hold office for a period of two (2) years.
ARTICLE XI REMOVAL OF OFFICERS:
A. An officer of the Association shall be removed from office with the approval
of the Executive Committee, Council of Elders and a simple majority of members-in-good-standing.
B. Request for the removal of an officer shall be made by the president, vice-president, the executive committee or by five (5) members-in-good-standing stating the grounds of such action in a letter.
C. Grounds for the removal of an officer shall be based on the conviction by the association of any of the following:
a. Gross, reckless, and negligent use of power.
b. Embezzlement of the funds of the association.
c. Persistent non-performance or neglect of duties.
d. Using the office for personally gain or in an unauthorized manner.
e. Any other act, action and activities considered to be prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest or the good name of the association.
PART IV.
ARTICLE XII. SEAL OF THE ASSOCIATION:
A. The seal of the Association shall be in the custody of the president.
B. The President shall affix the seal on all correspondence on the official letterhead of the association.
C. Any letter on the official letter-head of the association without the seal is illegal and is not binding.
ARTICLE XIII. ACCOUNT OF THE ASSOCIATION:
A. An account shall be opened at a Bank and maintained in the name of the Association
B. All money of the Association shall be deposited and kept in that account.
C. The President, Treasurer and the Financial Secretary shall be the signatories to the account.
PART V.
ARTICLE XIV. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF GHANAIAN ASSOCIATIONS:
A. The Association shall maintain its proud record as a founding –member of N.C.O.G.A.
B. The Association shall strive to project the good name of N.C.O.G.A; as well as to uphold and to protect its Constitution.
C. The Association’s delegates to N.C.O.G.A. shall be the President, the Secretary, and a “Third Delegate” who will be selected among the members of the Association.
D. Their duties at N.C.O.G.A. shall be as follows:
a. The President shall lead all delegates to all N.C.O.G.A. functions.
b. The secretary shall deputize in the absence of the president.
c. The third delegate shall assume the powers of the president and the secretary in their absence.
PART VI.
ARTICLE XV. COMMITTEES:
Standing and special committees shall be created. Members for each committee shall be nominated by the President/Vice-President and approved by members.
A. COUNCIL OF ELDERS:
Eminent members of the association shall constitute this committee. All former Presidents and Vice-Presidents can be members with their consent
and the approval of members. The Council Of Elders will be a Standing Committee and will be charged with these responsibilities:
a. To guide the general welfare of the association.
b. To counsel the President and the Vice-President.
c. To be good Ambassadors of the Association by attending intra-Association conferences and inter-association functions.
d. To have the right to attend any Executive Meeting.
e. To be informed of all developments by the Executive Committee.
f. To consult with Executive Committee on polices that affect the smooth running of the Association.
g. To be and to be seen to be above partisan politics and sectional affiliations.
h. To present the Executive Committee’s program to the entire membership during a specially called annual meeting.
B. COUNCIL OF ULAMAA:
Members with proven expertise in Islamic Knowledge and jurisprudence shall be selected to constitute this committee. The Ulamaa Committee will be a Standing Committee and will be charged with the following:
a. To advise the Executive Committee on the religious well-being of the association.
b. To preside over all religious activities of the Association.
C. MAULID COMMITTEE:
This shall be a Special Committee to be created before a Maulid and terminate after the Maulid.
a. This committee should help prepare, plan, and execute proposals for a maulid.
ARTICLE XVI. REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
A. A committee member shall be removed with 2/3 majority of its members and same majority of the Executive Committee after a due hearing by the Committees only.
B. Grounds for Removal:
a. Repeated violations of their code of conduct.
PART VII.
ARTICLE XVII. CONSTITUTION AND BYE-LAWS:
The day-to-day running of the Association and its procedures shall be governed by the Constitution and the Bye-Laws.
ARTICLE XVII. AMENDMENTS:
Amendments to this Constitution shall be passed by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of all members-in-good-standing present and voting at the general meeting.
ARTICLE XIX. PROCEDURE:
Proposal to amend the constitution shall be submitted in writing to the executive Committee. Upon approval by a simple majority of the committee members, the proposed amendment shall be presented to members to be voted
upon at General meeting.
ARTICLE XX. RATIFICATION:
The Constitution of 1994 shall be ratified by the unanimous consent of members-in-good-standing present and voting at a membership meeting. It will thereafter supersede the 1984 Constitution and will become the instrument of
the Association.