WASSA AMENFI YOUTH NETWOK FOR DEVELOPMENT (WAYN-DEV)

LET'S GET TO KNOW WAYN-DEV

WAYN-Dev Constitution

1.0 Introduction

WAYN-Dev, is the abbreviated form of Wassa Amenfi Youth Network for Development. The group was formed in October 2014 as a platform for like-minded youth of Wassa Amenfi to brainstorm on several issues bordering on the pace of development in the Traditional Area. The key propounder of this idea and initiative was Simon Peter Adabor, as he sought to inspire other development oriented youth of Wassa Amenfi to bring ideas together to help augment those of the traditional authorities, district assemblies, as well as other government and private institutions.

WAYN-Dev has therefore come to stay and be known as a platform for progressive and realistic development oriented youth of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, where we invite and share ideas for development from its members and thus partner relevant stakeholders of the traditional Area to promote real development.

It is a NON-PARTISAN pressure group and force for community development. At WAYN-Dev, we neither seek individual wealth, fame, nor glory. We fight for development, development and development.

2.0 NAME

The official name of our group is the WASSA AMENFI YOUTH NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT, popularly called WAYN-Dev.

3.0 SLOGAN

Our Slogan is a call and response where WAYN-Dev is called and responded Amenfi Nsôre, thus WAYN-Dev!!!...........Amenfi Nsôre. This will be our official greetings at all our gatherings and interactions

4.0 LOGO, COLOURS AND LETTERHEAD

The official logo of WAYN-Dev is a black 'Okoben' or 'War Horn' (an Adinkra symbol representing alertness and sense of urgency), projecting out from the left side of a circle with a green inscription of WASSA AMENFI YOUTH NETWORK for Development, on a yellow background, which all together rest on a black 'asesegwa' or 'royal stool' (depicting our allegiance to the paramountcy of Wassa Amenfi), while WAYN-Dev is inscribed in yellow at the base of the stool.

Our official letterhead has our logo to the top left corner, with our name boldly inscribed along with other details of our location and contact information, all in white on a green background on the upper part while our logo again appears as a watermark on the background of the main sheet of paper.

Our official colours are Yellow, representing our abundant mineral wealth, Green, representing our rich, dense and resourceful forest vegetation, and black, representing our origin as Africans.

5.0 MEMBERSHIP

·         Full Membership

a.  Membership is strictly drawn from indigenes of Wassa Amenfi, but also opened to objective, willing, selfless professionals, artisans, intellectuals, self employed, students, and various youth groups within the traditional jurisdiction.

b. Membership shall be based on the successful completion and submission of the Membership Registration Form, and the full payment of Membership Registration Fee.

·         Associate Membership

c. Membership is also open to other Youth, who are not indigenes of Wassa Amenfi but have shown special interest and commitment in the development of Wassa Amenfi, and made intentions known.

d. Associate members shall be admitted after completing sub-section (b) of this article.

6.0 VISION

a. To be the most influential and reliable Think Tank, Pressure Group and Development Partner in Wassa Amenfi and Western Ghana, promoting peace and properity through effective  engagement with other major stakeholders and development partners as well as commitment to advocacy drive concerning education, business, governance and community mobilisation and sensitization

b. To exert influence in the Wassa Amenfi public education and policy sphere through international and local media appearance, publications, research, and seminars

7.0 MISSION

WAYN-Dev sets out to achieve this vision by actively engaging the traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives, the District Assemblies, other stakeholders and development partners, to deliberate on issues and policies that are likely to have systematic implications for development, and then actively engage in public advocacy to publicize the outcomes and or way forwards while deliberately committing our energies to the implementation of the fruitful suggestions, with a view to promoting peace, transparency, and prosperity through human flourishing.

8.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

 To promote advocacy and consciousness for the sense of urgency for the community developmental needs of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional area.

a. To facilitate and advance the Wassa Amenfi Development Agenda through adequate Youth participation

b. To prioritize and intensify the positives of the Wassa Amenfi Identity

c. To initiate interventions to ensure peace and unity among the Youth of Wassa Amenfi

d. To promote and advocate for Youth empowerment, leadership and skills training

e. To help promote total and holistic education through the proper blend of adequate socio-cultural values and norms mong the Youth of Wassa Amenfi

f. To facilitate proper community participation in the development process

g. To be a liaison machinery in the integrated development process within Wassa Amenfi

h. To advance our lobbying potentials towards varied sectors of local and international development agebcies

i. To promote the collective sense of belonging and oneness among the Youth of Wassa Amenfi

90 STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE

We hold that the instituions of the free society are the best ways to empower individuals, to promote respect for people and property and thereby eliminate poverty, improve human health and protect the environment. Therefore, our operations are independent of individual interests and interferances.

10.0 STATUS OF THE ORGANISATION

a.  Wassa Amenfi Youth Network for Development is a registered voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-partisan organization.

b. WAYN-Dev has legal status and personality; it has the legal right to sue or to be sued in its own name and generally, subject to this constitution, capable of doing anything that corporate bodies may lawfully do.
c. WAYN-Dev is a corporate body with perpetual succession; capable of acquiring and holding property separate from its members.

d. It shall be registered with the National Youth Authority.

11.0 MAIN PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

a. Community Development Advocacy

b. Skills Training

c. Capacity Building

d. Mentorship Schemes

e.  Professional Summits

f. Seminars and Workshops

g. Community Sensitization

h. Communal Sanitation exercises

i. Fundraising exercises

j. Public Lectures

k. Any other development motivated activities

12.0 FIELDS OF OPERATION

a. Media Attention

b. Public Advocacy

c.  Publications

d. Research

e. Social Commentating

13.0 SCOPE AND MODE OF OPERATION

a. Our major operations are focussed on, but not limited to, the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, where there are three districts namely Wassa Amenfi East, Wassa Amenfi Central, and Wassa Amenfi West, with their corresponding constituencies.

b. Our operations are self-facilitated and self-engineered to achieve our mission and vision, and where necessary for implementation, we partner with other development partners as well as with other local youth groups.

14.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISATION

Wassa Amenfi Youth Network for Development will be structured in the following
manner:
§ Board of Patrons / Trustees
§ Executive Director / Coordinator
§ Coordinating Team

·         Deputy Director (Administration)

·         Deputy Director (Finance)

·         Deputy Director (Training and Research)

·         Secretariat Staff

§ Members
§ Partners / Volunteers

14.1. PATRONS
a. The purpose of the patron is to act as advisory board that will help WAYN-Dev achieve its mission.
 b. The Patrons are those who support the work of our Network and have made a significant financial contribution to the programme in accordance with its membership policy. The trustees’ membership will be reviewed each year at its Annual General Meeting (AGM)
c.The Patrons will hold an AGM every year in July and may hold an
extraordinary meeting if two-thirds of its members request one.
d. The responsibilities of the Patrons are:
i. Approving the constitution and membership policies
ii. Reviewing the achievements of the previous year
iii. Contributing to the design of annual strategic plan

14.2. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ COORDINATOR

a. Promoting the objectives of within and outside the organization.

14.3. COORDINATING Team
a. The purpose of the Coordinating team is to implement WAYN-Dev's daily activities and manage respective departments or projects of the Organization.
b. The Coordinating team is answerable to the Executive Director
c. The Coordinating team comprises of the Director, Deputy Director, zones coordinators, sub-committee heads..
d. The members of the Coordinating team will meet on a bi-monthly basis
 

e.. The responsibilities of the Coordinating team are:
i. Implementing daily activities by supporting sub-committees heads in managing the Network's resources.
ii. Assist the Director in making managerial and strategic decisions making.
iii. Regularly report the status of ongoing activities to the Director.
iv. Promoting the objectives of WAYN-Dev within and outside our Network.

14.4 VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers shall be recruited as and when required for specific projects/programmes. Responsibilities shall be described by a memorandum of agreement between the volunteers and WAYN-Dev.

15.0  Finance of the Organization
a. The income of WAYN-Dev shall be derived from dues, sponsorships, aid, donations, and interest on investments, funds raised and generated by WAYN-Dev's local and international affiliates, and income generated by the Network's income generating arm.
b. Receiving, disbursement, reporting of the Network’s finances will be defined by WAYN-Dev's Coordinating Team through a memorandum of understanding
c. The fiscal year begins 1st January of each year and ends 31st December of the same year.
d. All funds received by or on behalf of WAYN-Dev shall, in the first instance, be deposited in such bank accounts that operate on behalf of the Network, as shall be decided by the executive committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

e. Three (3)  persons shall be signatories to the account.  The signature of the Executive Director and two other persons shall sign all accounts.  The signature of the Executive Director and any other one of the two others shall be sufficient for withdrawals..
f. The Executive Director, with the Deputy Director (Finance) shall ensure that full and proper accounts are kept in respect of all WAYN-Dev's transactions involving the receipt and expenditure and the acquisition of property.
g. WAYN-Dev's accounts shall be audited each year by a person registered as a public auditor who is appointed by the Board of Patrons at WAYN-Dev's Annual Board Meeting.

16.0. Property of the Organization
a. All property of WAYN-Dev shall be registered in the name of the organization and managed accordingly.

17.0 Dissolution of the Organization

Wassa Amenfi Youth Network for Development will only be dissolved by joint resolution of the Patrons,  Director, and the Coordinating team supported by a vote of not less than 4/5 of all members present. If less than 2/3 of all members are present, then the vote may not be passed, regardless of its outcome.

(1st March 2016)