It was a fulfilling evening with a big smile on the face of the outgoing Mayor of The Royal Borough of Greenwich, Cllr. Dr. Dominic Mbang when he reeled out his achievements to a full house of dignitaries in London recently.
Starting his speech from the Holy book of Ecclesiastes 3:1, Mbang among many others, thanked the Almighty for His mercies as well as the Lobkuga clan in the Great Kusaug Kingdom of Mother Ghana; the Great King Azoka Abugrago II; The Paramount King of the Kusaasi Kingdom in Northern Ghana; Mr. George Appiah and his family; Cllr. Asli Mohamed, Cllr. Gardener; Cllr Fahy and Cllr. Smith; Alison; Raj; Terry; HRM Queen Florence Okonkwo; the Mayor’s office staff – Darren, Isaac and his Deputy and in-coming mayor, His Worshipful Mayor Cllr. Jit Ranabhat.
He did not forget the Woolwich Dockyard ward residents who re-elected him for his second term; NHS work colleagues, Ghana Greenwich Association members, NDC UK and Ireland, all the communities, organizations charities, volunteers and champions.
After seeing the full scale of work of the mayor as a deputy mayor two years ago, he informed the gathering that he took one-year sabbatical leave to be able to execute his mayoral duties effectively and properly.
He said that he worked throughout the year without going on annual leave, the first time in 26 years in the United Kingdom and enjoyed every minute of his time.
“I did over 700 official and unofficial engagements as Mayor, and still carried on my councillors duties. I shook over a million hands, officiated over 1500 citizenship ceremonies, and raised over £22 000.00 for my two charities, ” Mbang said.
In highlighting what he was able to do in his one year in office, the Mayor stated that he reached out to families and community organisations, reminding them to look after themselves and the family unit.
He supported and advocated for volunteers and champions to make themselves available; supporting charities and local organisations and spreading love and togetherness to everyone; showcasing the Royal Borough of Greenwich and networking with London/ Kent Mayor’s and encouraging tourism to our borough; projecting culture and traditions.
He also celebrated/projected equality, diversity and community cohesion aside attending festivals, carnivals and invited other local authorities from London and Kent to the borough of which he had brought over 40 mayors and their consorts to Royal Greenwich on different occasions.
Part of his achievements include taking part in the London New year parade; visiting different faith groups, schools and local groups with inspiring messages; involving in community centres events, various awards including the prestigious civic awards and carers/volunteers awards; spending time in the Belmarsh prisons; attended carnivals, festivals, anniversary celebrations, party in the park and community gatherings and extended the awareness and support of children and adults with disabilities, stroke and all vulnerable people including the elderly and how best to help them.
He added that Royal Greenwich became a Borough of sanctuary, hard work from councillors and the activists within the borough and the royal visits of the Duke of Kent in Blackheath Halls.
“We were also invited to Buckingham Palace Garden Party and several invitations in Parliament House and a visit by a Napalese Mayor who has officially requested to twin with us.”
Mayor Mbang who would be succeeded by Cllr. Jit Ranabhat the first Nepalese mayor in the borough revealed that he would return to the NHS, but still going to be chairing Health and adult social care in the Royal Borough.