Pennsylvania, as one of the States of United States of America with rich American history and historic places, happened to have many residents of West African descends. Among these West African descends is big Ghanaian communities spread all over Pennsylvania.
A striking phenomenon is the densely populated Ghanaian Muslim communities in the city of Philadelphia which happened to be the first capital of the United States, and its catchment areas. Ghanaian Muslims in the city of Philadelphia have been living in the city dating back to the 1970s. The awareness of Ghanaian Muslim residents’ population became very prominent in the late 1980s according to the opinions of those who have lived in Philadelphia during those periods. They hold the opinion that the City’s brotherly love attracted many more Ghanaian Muslims to the city as residents. They also hold the opinion that procreation and the spread of the positives of Philadelphia to relatives and friends back in Ghana, West Africa amplified the awareness of the Ghanaian Muslim community in Philadelphia and its environs.
This gesture they believe contributed to motivating many new immigrants from Ghana to choose Philadelphia as their preferred city to live. It also encouraged many Ghanaian Muslims living in other States in the United States, especially the New York State to make a bold decision to move to Philadelphia to live with their families.
In the 1990s, some prominent Ghanaian Muslim elders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania thought it prudent to come together as a group of Ghanaian Muslims to be there for each other periodically visit each other’s home to pray and dine together. In early 2000, the Ghanaian Muslim community were hit with a painful news of one of our Muslim brothers’ fatal shootings in the open at a Gas Filling Station in Girard, Philadelphia leading to his death.
The news of his death may he rest in peace generated uneasiness in the Ghanaian Muslim community, and questioned our readiness or preparedness as individuals, group, and community to handle life’s inevitable as a people.
Philadelphia Yankasa Association (PHIYA) was then conceived as a group coming together to celebrate Procreation, Marriage, Islamic festivities and help to bury the dead in our community in a befitting manner in line with the tenets of Islam. The need for a space to accomodate our growing number to observe our prayers together and to serve as a meeting place became imminent if the togetherness and physical bond among the growing Ghanaian muslim population was to be firmly positioned.
The selfless elders aforementioned did not give up but managed to create a space in one of their homes, remodelled the space to be a converging place for prayers and meetings. This materialized through individual generous donations from the elders and the then members who were keen in seeing the unity properly anchored for generations to come.
The focus expanded as a resolve by members, now with a majority youthful population, executives, and elders of the Association to restructure the Association with a vision and mission expanded to gear towards seeing to the welfare of all members and their households, the community’s welfare and especially the welfare of children in a renewed mission and vision statements. A resolve that has continued to guide, unite, and strengthen us as an Association/Not-for-Profit registered Organization in the United States.
Dr. Abu Sakara
PRESIDENT
Dr. Abu Sakara
PRESIDENT
Dr. Abu Sakara
PRESIDENT
Dr. Abu Sakara
PRESIDENT
Dr. Abu Sakara
PRESIDENT
The organization focuses on a multifaceted approach to community development. Through skill workshops, they aim to empower individuals by providing training sessions that equip them with practical skills for employment or entrepreneurship. Additionally, their education grants offer financial assistance to bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals.
The organization focuses on a multifaceted approach to community development. Through skill workshops, they aim to empower individuals by providing training sessions that equip them with practical skills for employment or entrepreneurship. Additionally, their education grants offer financial assistance to bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals.
Philadelphia Yankasa Association (PHIYA) is a group that comes together to celebrate Procreation, Marriage, Islamic festivities and help to bury the dead in our community in a befitting manner in line with the tenets of Islam.