Afrikan Post feb 2015 issue

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Vol 7 Issue 2

African Community News

Page 17

Mugabe Appointed African Union Chairman

Afrikan Post

February 2015

Top 12 Highest Paid African Presidents 2015

From the Editor

O u r G r ea tes t G lor y is n o t in n ever f a llin g b u t in r is in g ever y time we f a ll .

We ar e committted to b r in gin g th e commu n ity th e bes t in N ews f r om Af r ica a n d th e D ia s p or a . Yo u may als o vis it o u r webs ite a t www.af r ik an po s t.com f or d a ily n ews u p da tes o n Af r ica .

D is cla imer : Th e o p in ion s ex pr es s ed in ar ticles a n d s to r ies in th is N ews pa per ar e th os e o f th e a u th o r s a n d d o n o t n eces s ar ily r ef lect th e views o f Af r ik an Po s t . All co mmen ts a n d s u g g es tio n s a r e welcome.

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 7 Issue 2

1) Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa ($272,000 per year) Jacob Zuma’s annual income is a whopping $272,000. He is the highest paid African president and among the world’s top 10. In 2012, he approved a 5.5 percent salary increase for top public servants.

2) Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria ($168,000 per year) Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been the fifth President of Algeria since 1999.

The annual salary of the President of Algeria is around $168,000.

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Angelique Kidjo Dedicates Grammy Win to Women of Africa

3) Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya ($132,000 per year) Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is the fourth and the current President of Kenya. He assumed charge on April 9 2013. Kenyatta’s earns $132,000 annually. He led by example in 2014 by taking a pay cut. His basic salary of $14,000 per month was reduced to around $11,000.

4) Ikililou Dhoinine, President of Comoros ($115,000 per year) Ikililou Dhoinine has been the President of Comoros since 2011. He earns $115,000 per year. At his inauguration, he pledged to stop corruption. Dhoinine is a pharmacist by training.

Pg. 16

Ghanaian Social Entrepreneur Kwaku Kyei Wins Arab Gulf Prize Pg. 7

Business Lessons From a Refugee Turned Youngest African-American IHOP Franchisee

5) Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Rep. Congo ($110,000 per year) Denis Sassou Nguesso has been the President of the Republic of the Congo since 1997. annually.

Pg. 18

At the Threshold of the Fountain

6) Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia ($110,000 per year) Hifikepunye Pohamba has been the President of Namibia since March 2005. His annual income is $110,000. In the year 2009, President and all other political tax bearers got a 25 percent salary .

7) Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast ($100,000 per year) Alassane Ouattara is the fifth President of Ivory Coast. He has been the President since 2011.

His annual income is $100,000. He is an economist by profession.

8) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia ($90,000 per year) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the President of Liberia. She is Africa’s first female head of state. This 76-year-old Nobel laureate earns $90,000 annually.

Pg. 20

SPORTS Ivory Coast Wins Africa Cup of Nations 2015 Pg. 39

UPDATE

Jackie Appiah to Storm Washington DC Pg. 11

9. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana ($76,000 per year) John Dramani Mahama has been the President of Ghana since July 2012. The President’s monthly salary went up from $4,240 to $6,357.

10) Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda ($85,000 per year) According to many people in Rwanda, the President deserves his earnings because the nation is making rapid economic progress under his presidency.

Source:www.ghanavibes.com

11) José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola ($60,000 per year) Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been the President of Angola since 1979. His official salary is $5,000 a month. In Angola, the monthly salary of the President is 461,319 kz. He is also paid an additional 276,791 kz. He was ranked as the richest African president.

12) Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon ($65,000 per year) Ali Bongo Ondimba has been the President of Gabon since October 2009. His annual income is $65,000. This resource-rich Gabon is the fifth largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and is the Sixth Most developed African nation .

February 2015

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Afrikan Post

February 2015

Rev. Ossei Mensa Sapong

Sunday

9:45-10:55

Sunday School

11:00am - 1:30pm

Weekly Services Monday - Thursday: Prayer line 9pm-10pm

Every Friday 10pm-12:00 midnight - All Night Prayer Meeting

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Te l : ( 5 7 1 ) 2 8 2 - 3 5 2 1 / ( 5 7 1 ) 4 9 0 - 6 0 4 9 Worship Service

5 6 4 9 - L G e n e r a l Wa s h i n g t o n D r i v e , A l e x a n d r i a VA 2 2 3 1 2

Footballer Freddy Adu Now A Nightclub Host?

Afrikan Post

February

2014

Ghanaian Named Among Africa’s Millionaires Under 40

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Club 100 previously christened RLG as the Fastest Growing Company in Ghana, the Leader in Ghana’s ICT Sector and the Best Entrant to the Club 100. rlg

Roland Agambiri is the group chairman of AGAMS GROUP and the founder and CEO of the much-celebrated electronics manufacturer, rlg Communications.

His ascent is a study in determination.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Agambiri established Roagam Links Ghana in March 2001 as a mobile phone repair outlet.

It later became rlg, the pioneer indigenous computer and mobile phone plant and technology institute in Ghana and the West African sub-region.

Freddy Adu was once hailed as US soccer's greatest hope, but after falling on hard times in his playing career the former teenage prodigy has turned to nightclub promoting.

The 25-year-old appears to have a Thursday night spot hosting at the Shadow Room in his hometown of Washington after the event was advertised on the club's Facebook page.

It is the latest fall from grace for the talented youngster who has been left without a club after being released by Serbian side FK Jagodina.

The American hit the headlines in 2004 after signing for Major League Soccer's DC United as a 14-year-old but 10 years on, Adu has failed to live up to his star billing.

The 25-year-old forward was a member of the USA's 2008 Olympics team but was let go by Jagodina having failed to make an appearance during a six-month stint with the club.

Once labelled as 'the next Pele' during the early stages of his career, the Ghanian-born forward has played just 59 minutes of competitive football since the end of the 2012 MLS season.

In 2006 he moved to Real Salt Lake, before Portuguese giants Benfica signed him a year later. He dabbled in Ligue 1 after failing to hold down a first-team spot in Lisbon, joining Monaco on loan for the 200809 season.

The next season he was back in Portugal with Belenenses, before he moved to Greek side Aris in January 2010.

Thirteen months after that he joined Turkey's Caykur Rizespor, but that spell was short-lived and he returned to the US half a year later.

Adu finally appeared to be settled after spending two years at MLS side Philadelphia Union, only to suddenly join Bahia in April 2013.

He was released by Bahia in November and had trials with Blackpool in February and in June former US boss Bob Bradley offered him a chance at Norwegian side Stabaek.

Adu failed to impress Bradley enough to secure a long-term deal, which led to a trial with Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar before his move to Serbia.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

The Chief Executive Officer of AGAMS Group and the founder of electronic manufacturer, RLG Communications has been named among the 10 African Millionaire under 40, ventures.com Africa has revealed.

The 39-year-old Chief Executive Officer(CEO), has reportedly expanded his company’s presence to China, Gambia and Nigeria- where it established a $20 –million assembly plant- and Dubai, the location of its new global headquarters.

Other new class of millionaires under 40 whose ideas have been described as both transforming the continent and making them fabulously -wealthy are Mark Shuttleworth, 39, Ashish Thakkar, 31, Ugandaashish thakkar, 31, Vinny Lingham, 34, Sim Shagaya, 38, among others.

–

Source: Ventures-africa.com

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s Ghana

‘Sugar Mummy’ Agency Operating In Ghana

Investigations has uncovered a male partner ‘hooker’ agency secretly operating in Ghana.

The agency located in Nungua in Accra connects "wealthy" women to young men of their choice after going through some formalities.

According to a staff of the ‘hooker firm’, sugar mummies who are interested in the services of young “strong men” for pleasure will have to pick and a fill a form for Gh¢ 20. “After filling the form, we will link you up to a welleducated guy, a strong guy who can do everything.

“The guys are available and as soon as you are done with the processes you can have one today,” he told Starrfnonline.

The 'firm' has placed their sign posts at vantage points in Accra with their contact details.

Source: starrfmonline.com

February

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Nollywood Actor Hank Anuku, Tests Positive To HIV, Confesses To Sleeping With 80 Women

Original Nollywood bad boy, Hank Anuku has tested positive to HIV. The born-again actor, according to pulse.com.gh, revealed in an interview that he left Nigeria on April 2011 to Zambia where he took part in various plays on teaching about HIV and AIDS without his wife and two kids for six month, and ended up sleeping with 80 women.

“Life in Zambia was heaven on earth because we could enjoy life, moving in all places but I was missing my family. During that time I had quite a number of sexual activities and I slept with different women. When I came back home I never took care of the family. I started drinking life a fish and became an irresponsible husband leaving the entire burden to my wife,” he said.

The veteran actor also revealed he affected his wife knowing well he could be HIV positive “I got tested while I was in Zambia after one of my girlfriends advised me about her pregnancy. She had gone for pregnancy tests and during that time she was tested for HIV and the results was shocking, she was positive. She forced me to get tested but I could not come to terms with the results. After I got tested I came back to Zimbabwe and I kept quiet about the issue. I never told my wife about the issue. I infected her but I regret. I later on received some counseling and it well well,” he explained

“During my peak of popularity I had sex with approximately 80 women, within Harare and Zambia. In 2002 it was so amazing to be on TV. I abused the fame. To make matters worse I lacked counseling and I failed to handle it properly, leaving me in this mud. I am now a born again Christian with UFIC under the guidance of Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa.” He continued.

Culled from pulse.com.gh

Ghanaian Social Entrepreneur Kwaku Kyei Wins Arab Gulf Prize

Mamadou Samba Appointed Director of DC Mayor’s Office of African Affairs February 2015

Source: DC Mayor’s Office of African Affairs

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candidates selected to join the Capital City Fellows program a mayoral initiative to attract and recruit graduate students to work for the District. As a Fellow, he rotated among several agencies, including the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Department of General Services, and the Office on African Affairs, where he served as the agency’s Public Information Officer. While at OAA, he researched and compiled the District’s firstever report highlighting African immigrant population growth since the 1960s, highlighting accomplishments and socio-economic challenges and proposing policy recommendations based on the needs of diverse African communities.

Prior to his appointment, Mamadou worked as a Capital Budget Administration Analyst in the Office of the Chief Mamadou Samba was appointed by Mayor Muriel Financial Officer, where he was primarily responsible Bowser in January 2015 to serve as the Director of for the formulation and execution of the District’s seven the Mayor’s Office of African Affairs (OAA). billion dollar Capital Improvements Plan. He specificalOriginally from Dakar, Senegal, Mamadou was a ly oversaw the District Department of Transportation’s former Commissioner of the DC Commission on (DDOT) capital budget in excess of three hundred milAfrican Affairs, a role in which he served as a strong Kwaku Kyei receiving his Award from His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin lion dollars annually, including local and highway trust advocate for diverse African diaspora communities.

Abdul Asiz Al-Saud, and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus looking on is Dr. funds.

Mamadou, has extensive experience in addressing Y. S. Abdulai, former Director General of the OPEC Fund for International challenges faced by African immigrants in the Development. Mamadou earned a Master of Public Administration District and nationwide. He played a significant role degree from Kennesaw State University, and a Bachelor in securing grants for African nonprofit organizainnovative and creative means of The Founder and President of the Degree in Political Science from the University of South tions, highlighting issues impacting African-born resdevelopmental assistance and financRecnowa Initiative, Kwaku Kyei has won Carolina Aiken, where he was awarded an NCAA athletidents in the United States. He also partnered with the Arab Gulf Program World Prize 2013 ing projects tools. It is the first iniic scholarship. He is fluent in French and Wolof. tiative ever to motivate developmen- community groups to develop capacity building, profor human development projects in the individual category focusing on street chil- tal contributions, pinpoint successful vide cultural sensitivity training, and facilitate education outreach programs to illuminate complex issues, models and disseminate creative dren.

Source:amipnewsonline.com including the negative impact of stereotypes and ideas to support excellent efforts in social stigma.

The prize recognised Kwaku Kyei’s entre- the field of development. By doing so, it aims at introducing a breakpreneurial efforts in sponsoring and supIn 2011 Mamadou was one of six out of nearly 100 porting street youth to pursue sustainable through in developmental work based on scientific grounds. livelihood job skills in recycling plastic and other material waste, into useful prodThe Prize Committee membership ucts for both the local and international comprises a number of renowned markets. international figures representing the world regions, namely: Mrs. Kwaku received the AGFUND Award (fourth Category prize winner) at the just Mercedes Menafra de Batlle, Former First Lady of Uruguay, and President ended Awards held at Rabat Convention The elections, due on 14 February, were postponed of Honor of the All for Uruguay Centre in the presence of Her Majesty over security concerns.

NGO, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, Queen Sophia of Spain, His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Asiz Al- President of the Islamic BBC Nigeria analyst Ibrahim Shehu Adamu says Mr Development Bank Group, Professor Saud with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Obasanjo's decision is a major blow to the PDP, showMuhammad Yunus, Founder of Yunus in attendance. ing the divisions that have hit the party as it battles to Grameen Bank, Chairman of Yunus extend its 15-year rule.

The Prize, conferred annually by the Arab Social Business and Noble Peace 'Serious embarrassment' Prize Winner 2006 and Dr. Y. S. Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations, is one of the Abdulai, former Director-General of In a statement, the PDP described Mr Obasanjo as a the OPEC Fund for International most prestigious of its kind given to "revered leader of our party" and said it was "deeply Development. groups working globally to ease human saddened" by his resignation. suffering.

It added that it was "bewildered" by the former presiSource: .myjoyonline.com/news/ "I am very honored to be recognized by dent's choice to tear up his party membership card in Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo has HRH Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud public. quit the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and an esteemed organization like ahead of the 28 March elections, tearing up his memAGFUND. I do not take the credit for bership card in public. myself alone, but the entire team that I am working with without whose contribution Source: http://www.bbc.com Mr Obasanjo has been fiercely critical of President this will not have been possible,” said Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election on a Kwaku Kyei, President and Founder of the PDP ticket.

Recnowa Initiative

Obasanjo quits PDP after criticising Jonathan

The AGFUND International Prize is an

Mr Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari.

February

2014

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DHS Suspends Rollout Of Obama Immigration Actions After Court Order

The Department of Homeland Security is suspending the rollout of President Obama's immigration actions, after a federal judge issued an order blocking them.

DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson told Bret Baier on "Special Report" Tuesday that he strongly disagrees with the judge's ruling and says it will be appealed promptly.

“At the moment we are standing down our plans for executive action, pursuant to the judge’s injunction but I believe it will be reversed.”

A DHS agency had been set to start accepting applications on Wednesday for the first phase of the plan -- an expanded program shielding young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally from deportation. Johnson said that is now suspended.

Johnson said DHS also will suspend its plans for implementing the broader portion of Obama's immigration overhaul, which was set to launch in May -- a program to give a deportation reprieve to potentially millions of illegal immigrant parents of legal residents.

The decision comes after U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas delivered a blow to the administration. He issued a temporary injunction on Monday after hearing arguments last month, allowing a lawsuit aimed at permanently stopping the actions to make its way through the courts.

He said that if the program were allowed to proceed at this point, "The genie would be impossible to put back into the bottle." The lawsuit was brought by 26 states.

The DHS secretary continued to defend the merits and legality of the program on Tuesday.

A Law Firm with a Difference Call Today 571-285-5242

"The Department of Justice, legal scholars, immigration experts and even other courts have said that our actions are well within our legal authority. Our actions will also benefit the economy and promote law enforcement. We fully expect to ultimately prevail in the courts, and we will be prepared to implement [the actions] once we do," Johnson said.

Republicans, meanwhile, are seizing on the federal court order to build own their case for stalled legislation that would reverse those directives.

The decision "is a major turning point in the fight to stop Obama's lawless amnesty," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement.

Congress is effectively stuck on how to fund the Department of Homeland Security past the end of the month -- and the immigration actions are the sticking point.

Republicans want a bill that would both fund DHS and undo Obama's immigration directives. Democrats, though, want a bill to only fund DHS, with no immigration strings attached -- they want to keep Obama's immigration program in place, and don't think the issue should be debated within a budget bill, anyway.

Senate Democrats repeatedly have blocked a House-passed bill that includes the immigration provision. Each chamber is now waiting for the other to act, with the Feb. 27 funding deadline fast-approaching.

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Best Prices in Town

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DHS Suspends Rollout Of Obama Immigration Actions After Court Order February

2014

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else DHS will face a partial shutdown.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a supporter of the president's immigration actions, on Tuesday put the onus on Republicans to move through a funding bill before the deadline.

He said "it is completely unacceptable for Republicans to hold up funding for the Department of Homeland Security while the case wends its way through the legal system."

Schumer also said the ruling "is very unlikely to be upheld."

For the time being, the Obama administration is set to appeal.

But Republicans see Monday's February 16th court order as a boost for their side, and are using it to urge Democrats to drop their resistance to the bill.

"The Senate Democrats who are filibustering Department of Homeland Security funding should look hard at this ruling," Cruz said.

GOP leaders of the House and Senate hit the same argument.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, in a statement, reiterated the administration's position that Obama's executive actions were within the bounds of the law.

"The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws-which is exactly what the President did when he announced commonsense policies to help fix our broken immigration system," Earnest said, later adding, "The district court's decision wrongly prevents these lawful, commonsense policies from taking effect and the Department of Justice has indicated that it will appeal that decision."

An appeal by the administration would be handled by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

House Speaker John Boehner -- who over the weekend told "Fox News Sunday" that "the House has acted" and he's prepared for a possible partial DHS shutdown -- said in a statement: "Hopefully, Senate Democrats who claim to oppose this executive overreach will now The Associated Press contributed to this report. let the Senate begin debate on a bill to fund the Homeland Security department."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., likewise urged his Democratic counterparts to "end their partisan filibuster of Department of Homeland Security funding."

But despite the round of Republican statements, Democrats did not appear to be budging.

And with Congress out this week, lawmakers have just a few days left to strike a deal -- or

Source: http://www.foxnews.com

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February 2015

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February 2015

Azonto is a dance and music genre originating from Ghana. It is known to have originated from a traditional dance called Kpanlogo from the coastal areas like Chorkor, James Town, La, Teshie, Nungua and in the port town of Tema, all part of the Greater Accra Region.

The dance involves a set of hand movements that either mimic everyday activities or are meant to signal an often amusing intention. It begun with one or two step movements but has been advanced to more complex and almost acrobatic movements. Just like most African dances, knee bending and hip movements are elements to dancing it. The dance has effectively evolved from a few rudimentary moves to embrace depictions of ironing,washing, driving, boxing, grooming, praying, swimming, and others

The term "Azonto" which originally was a rude reference to wayward girls, has been adopted as the handle for a Ghanaian fast-beat dance music genre and the accompanying dance that goes with it. It originates from the word Azontoa (pronounced in some dialects as Abontoa) which means an ugly street girl. Originally used in the early 1990s in songs that were intended to offend female student schools that were not much liked, the word seems to have become an acceptable word since then.[citation needed]

Pop music researcher Jesse Weaver Shipley states that like hiplife, the popularity of azonto is a direct result of its interactions in diaspora.

"Azonto, in content and form, is the embodiment of circulation, though the meanings attributed to its mobility vary. Azonto is identified

Meaning and Origin of Azonto

with Ghanaian indigeneity by those abroad and with cosmopolitanism by those at home."

Azonto was popularized on social media by the music videos that portrayed the dance form with fast-pace tempos, home-made dance instructional videos uploaded on YouTube with no commercial intent, and group choreographers done by mostly Ghanaians and other African nationals living in the UK.

Footballers like Asamoah Gyan and Emmanuel Adebayor have performed the dance as part of their goal celebrations, and John Carew uploaded a video of himself and his son dancing to Fuse ODG's "Antenna".

Following the worldwide interest in the Ghana's Azonto dance, and the name of Azonto itself being used for a varieties of entertaining activities, the Azonto Ghana Commission was created organise the Ghana's most populous arts and entertainment (Azonto) and also use the Commission as a department to support groups or individuals using the Azonto dance and other form to promote Ghana, peace and unity among people from all walks of life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azonto

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Business Lessons From a Refugee Turned Youngest African-American IHOP Franchisee

Afrikan

February 2015

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ment. I lived on the first floor and had tenants on the other floors.

The rent from my tenants covered the mortgage payments leaving me with more cash flow.”

She used excess cash flow for her next investments. She also advises that, “if you get stuck, you must be willing to revisit your ideas and assumptions and be willing to change them. Flexibility is key.”

Give back.

After Bayoh immigrated to America, she grew up in low-income housing called Fairview Homes. She says, “There were many of us there that were working people who wanted better quality businesses in our community, but better restaurants and grocery stores did not think there was a market. So, I decided that I would bring better quality goods and services to urban markets and pay employees more money and provide them with benefits.

“Through this model,” she continues, “ I saw a way to benefit the community on two fronts: giving them access to quality services and improving their economic conditions, which makes them better able to afford higher quality goods and services.”

If you have ever had a bad day or thought that your circumstances couldn’t be changed on your entrepreneurship journey, you’ve got nothing on Adenah Bayoh. As a young girl, war forced Bayoh from her home country of Liberia and into a refugee camp. She eventually immigrated to the U.S. and about a decade later, became the youngest-ever African-American franchisee of IHOP.

Be sure, though, we’re talking about more than just pancakes and blueberry syrup. Bayoh has diversified her business portfolio to include $200 million in urban redevelopment projects.

Not to mention she’s also a mother. Pretty impressive.

Bayoh was kind enough to share some insights on her own background and how you can learn from her own secrets of entrepreneurial success.

Related: Why Smart People Make Bad Entrepreneurs Work ethic is the key to success.

or you can let those challenges build you up and be the fuel that propels you forward.

See possibilities, even in tough situations.

Due to the aforementioned war, Bayoh was in a refugee camp in Sierra Leone at age 8. It’s there where she first acted upon her entrepreneurial instincts. She explains, “My cousin and I would go back to Liberia to get local vegetables and then cross back into Sierra Leone and sell the vegetables to the people in our camp. I learned that there is always opportunity even in the worst possible circumstances.”

That vision to see something where others do not -- and to act -- stays with her today. “I see possibilities everywhere; I think being young … gives me more flexibility to take risks.”

Related: Never Hire a Honey Badger Ignore the naysayers and gain confidence through preparaBayoh’s biggest entrepreneurial inspiration was her grandmoth- tion. er, who instilled in her the notion that nothing can replace hard work. “There is no substitute for hard work. You have to put the Being the youngest-ever franchisee of IHOP at age 27 is an work in if you want to be successful. My grandmother would accomplishment, but that doesn’t mean Bayoh didn’t always say: ‘You have to wake up before everyone else gets up encounter some naysayers. She says, “I think my ability to and do more than everyone else.’ I watched my grandmother run a successful franchise was met with some doubt. navigate her way through almost any challenge because of her However, my biggest issue was getting over my own insewillingness to put in the work.” curities. It is often not about what the world projects on to you but rather what you internalize. I worked my way That spirit encompasses Bayoh’s actions today and is something through it, I did as much research and preparatory work as I that you can harness, regardless of your circumstances. could to build my confidence. I also relied on the expertise Being a victim -- or not -- is a choice. of those with more experience than me; I sought their counsel and help. The more I learned about the business the On escaping the civil war in Liberia, Bayoh explains, more comfortable and confident I became.”

“Adversity puts you at a crossroads -- you can allow it to victimize you or propel you. Escaping the war made me hungry for When others, or you, have doubt, stack the odds in your opportunity. I figured out that there was no problem for which I favor and build up your own confidence through thoughtful could not find a solution if I dedicated all of my efforts and preparation. smarts to it. So, I bring that tenacity, work ethic and commitGet creative. ment to everything I do.”

Bayoh’s first foray into real estate was done through some Remember, you can always be a victim of your circumstances creative financing. “After college, I was working at a bank and decided to purchase a three-family home as an invest-

You can always look for ways to have your success be in stride with making others successful at the same time.

Don’t over-task.

As an entrepreneur that also has a family, work-life balance remains a challenge. “I work hard to balance both and try not to over-task myself,” Bayoh says. “Being an entrepreneur is part of my identity just as being a mother is. I try to teach my children by example. I don’t try to do it all; I have a great support network on which I rely.

My primary goals are to run successful businesses and to raise children who are well adjusted and socially-conscious.”

Bayoh has created her own success inspired by her life challenges instead of being held back by them. I hope that her wisdom can help you achieve your next goals and successes.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241969

African Billionaires Join Together To Launch African Energy Group

Afrikan

Post

Speaking at a high profile panel on energy at the 2015 annual meeting for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Tony Elumelu emphasized the key priority for 2015 for Africa as “policy, policy, policy.”

Elumelu is among the group launching the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), a multi-stakeholder advocacy group that aims to address Africa’s power deficiency—the continent has approximately 620 million people without electricity.

Elumelu said, “Investors in this space are rational. The risks are huge; the capital requirements are equally huge. If you want to invest in this space, you have to first survey the environment beyond economics; policy, stability, enforceability of rules, the nature of the regulatory framework. If the right policies are in place, investors and financiers will be encouraged to invest.”

AELG will bring the continent’s leaders together in an effort to build public-private partnerships, leverage political support and mobilize funds for sustainable energy and development. Created by a working group of African leaders including billionaires Elumelu, Aliko Dangote; Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank; Prime Minister Daniel Duncan of Ivory Coast; and President John Mahama of Ghana, AELG’s mission takes the form of three pillars—driving universal access, driving efficiency and driving renewables.

“Currently, every single African country is experiencing energy shortages and power outages. This costs the continent 2 percent of its GDP,” said Kaberuka. “We are a continent of miracles; if we are growing at 5 percent without enough electricity, think of what the continent could do with enough electricity.”

Kaberuka also added that the African Development Bank does $5 billion of infrastructure per year; half of that investment is ear-marked for energy, in both the private and public sectors.,

Elumelu, the leading voice highlighting the African private sector agenda at WEF, was the third most tweeted person at Davos after Bill Gates and Kenneth Roth (Executive Director, Human Rights Watch).

Read More at Forbes

Maryland and KwaZulu-Natal State, (South Africa) Sign Sister-State MOU February 2015

Photo (c) AMIP News

Annapolis, Maryland State House Thursday January 15, 2015

By Frederick Nnoma-Addison

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able at the Office of the Secretary of State http://www.sos.state.md.us/international/MSSP.asp x

Maryland prides herself in being one of the few U.S. states with a Governor’s Commission dedicated to African Affairs, aside other ethnic groups http://www.african.maryland.gov/

Maryland and KwaZulu-Natal State, (South Africa) today signed an MOU to become Sister-States under The African Affairs Commission is a part of the Governor’s Commission of Community the Maryland Sister-States Program.

Initiatives. https://www.facebook.com/MDAfrican

Governor Martin O’Malley (Maryland) and Premier Edward Senzo Mchunu (KwaZulu-Natal) signed the agreement on behalf of their respective states at approximately 12:30am EST, at the Governor’s Reception Room of the State House, Annapolis.

About 60 leaders from the diplomatic, business, academic, religious, development, and nonprofit communities witnessed the ceremony.

Before signing the MOU, Governor O’Malley and Premier Mchunu highlighted the importance of the common interests, aspirations and challenges of Marylanders and KwaZulu-Natal citizens, and pledged to collaborate on various initiatives in the coming years. After the ceremony, KwaZulu-Natal State became the 15th State under Maryland’s Sister-State Program, and the fourth in Africa. The governor and premier later exchanged official gifts.

According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the Maryland Sister-State program oversees an array of international exchanges promoting a balance of business, educational, and cultural interests. It is chaired by the Secretary of State, steered by a devoted and spirited Advisory Board of Directors, and staffed by an army of citizen-volunteers. It was established in 1980 to provide a forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding.

A full list of Maryland’s other sister states is avail-

Acknowledgements:

* John P. McDonough – Secretary of State, Maryland * Anna Yankova – Director, International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State * Maryland Sister State Program Board of Directors * Roger Lawrence, President, Maryland Sister State Program Board of Directors

Maryland/KwaZulu-Natal Sister State Committee Members

* Dr. Jean Bailey – Chair * Senator Verma Jones-Rodwell – Vice Chair * Mr. Frank Islam – Member * Sheila Khati Esq. – Member Advisors

* Dr. Sonya Smith * Henry Osborne * Kendal Tyre

15

Angelique Kidjo Dedicates Grammy Win to Women of Africa

Afrikan

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Baby Girl In China 'born Pregnant With Twins' February 2015

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Scans of the fetuses. Credit: Hong Kong Medical Journal

A baby girl in China was born carrying two fetuses in her abdomen the Hong Kong Medical Journal has reported.

African singing star and activist AngĂŠlique Kidjo has won her second Grammy Award - a trophy awarded for the Best World Music Album - in a ceremony. From Benin, Kidjo received the award for the album Eve dedicated to African women.

In prenatal scans a large mass was seen in the baby's abdomen which doctors believed could have been a tumour. When the baby was born she was admitted to a neonatal unit and at 14 days new scans revealed the mass was in fact made up of two separate structures.

When these were removed they were found to be two small fetuses, complete with spines, well-developed rib cages and primitive brain tissue.

"This album is dedicated to the women of Africa, their beauty and resilience," she said when she received her award at the Staples Centre in Los Angelos. She ended her speech "African women, you are wonderful."

The baby girl made good recovery from the operation and has been discharged from hospital.

She won her first Grammy for Djin Djin in 2008, in the category for Best Contemporary World Music album.

It is not yet known how this occurs, some believe it could be the case that a baby in the womb absorbs a twin (or in this case two triplets). Although the World Health Organisation defines it as a type of cancer.

Kidjo is also well-known and respected for her work in climate change projects and improving the public health sector on the continent.

Source:allafrica.com

Less than 200 cases of twin fetus-in-fetu, as this phenomena is known, have been reported worldwide and is estimated to occur in just 1 in 500,000 births.

NATIVE DOCTOR Source: http://www.itv.com/news

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Ohemaa Nyanin Named USA Basketball Women’s National Team Assistant Director February 2015

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Philippines, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Basketball, chaired by Jerry Colangelo, is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety.

USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams between 2012-14 compiled a spectacular 122-4 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the World University Games and the Nike Hoop Summit, and posted a 65-8 win-loss record in official FIBA and FIBA Americas 3x3 competitions.

Bringing with her experience as a basketball player and director of basketball operations at American University and as a USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp volunteer, Ohemaa Nyanin has been hired as the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Assistant Director. She will begin her duties on Feb. 2, 2015.

She will assist in all facets of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Program, including developmental, junior and national team trials, training camps and events.

space are some unique qualities that I hope to bring to this position. In addition, working with the American University women's basketball team, both as an athlete and director of basketball operations, has honed my passion for team work.”

Most recently, she was a senior project manager for the Africa region at Ashoka: Innovators for the Public in Arlington, Virginia, where she had worked since February of 2012.

“We are very excited to welcome Ohemaa to our team, and we know that she will be a valuable addition who will be able to capitalize on her previous basketball experiences,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. “She has been a support staff member with USA Basketball at several national team trials, and we look forward to great things from her in her role as women’s national team assistant director.”

Nyanin also worked as an office coordinator for The Session Law Firm, as an interim associate youth director at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church and as logistics chair for American University’s Latino Youth Conference, all in Washington, District of Columbia.

She was a volunteer support staff member at the 2014 USA Basketball Women’s National Team’s domestic training camp in Annapolis, Maryland, Delaware and Bridgeport, Connecticut; and at the 2011 USA Basketball Women’s U19, World University Games and U16 National Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Originally from Kumasi, Ghana, Nyanin attended Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where she was Friends School League All-Conference selection as both a junior and senior.

As a center at American University, she made 58 appearances for the Eagles from 2005-06 Nyanin graduated from American University with bachthrough 2009-10. As a senior in 2009-10, she elor’s degrees in international relations and foreign lanstarted in 31 of 32 games and led the team with guage and communications media in May 2009 and a 6.3 rebounds per game, good for fifth in the master’s degree in justice and public policy in August Patriot League. During conference play, 2011.

Nyanin’s 7.3 rpg. was second most in the Patriot League. She also averaged 4.5 points From July 2010 through May 2011, she served as the per game and was a Patriot League Academic American University women’s basketball director of Honor Roll selection in 2010. operations.

“I am thrilled and truly humbled for the opportunity to work with USA Basketball, it has been a dream come true,” Nyanin said. “My experiences working overseas with youth and working in the social entrepreneurship

She is fluent in Spanish and Twi (Ghanaian dialect), and she has lived in the USA, Chile,

USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions in the Olympics; men’s FIBA World Cup and women’s FIBA World Championship; men’s and women’s FIBA U19 and U17 World Championships; men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; Nike Hoop Summit; the FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Championship; the FIBA 3x3 Women’s U18 World Championship; and the women’s Youth Olympic Games. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world-ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls.

For further information about USA Basketball connect with us on facebook/usabasketball, twitter/usabasketball, youtube/usab, plus.google/+usabasketball and instagram.com/usabasketball. http://www.usab.com/news-

Simon Ado, Nigerian Man With 58 Wives And 300 Children, Wants More Kids February 2015

A Nigerian man with 58 wives and 300 children has revealed that he wants more children.

According to a report on Worldwide Weird News, Chief Simon Ado from Aji community of Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State wants to even build a separate village for his descendant

The 68 year-old herbalist also known as Onuwa, African Solomon or Satan is Sleeping, believes that such a massive family should be able to form a village on their own which he intends to name Onuwa.

With 58 wives, Chief Simon Ode is not yet done.

According to the report, he wants to marry more and have more children because he is sexually active.

He also said that women find him so attractive that some married ones in the community are contemplating leaving their husbands to marry him.

Sourxe:www.onlinenigeria.com

South African Twin Sisters Marries The Same Man 26 year old twin sisters, Owami and Olwethu Mzazi from Vosloorus, South Africa recently got married to the same man, 51 year old Mzukiseni Mzazi.

When interviewed by a South African magazine, the sisters said they'd always known they'd marry same man as they have shared everything else together since they were born...

“We have always done everything together. We share everything.

That is how our grandmother raised us. So when we decided to marry, we said any man that wants to marry one, will marry the other” Owami told Drum magazine.

Source: Drum magazine

Chris Attoh Weds Damilola On Valentine’s Day Ghanaian actor and TV presenter, Chris Attoh married Nollywood actress, Damilola Adegbite , February 14, Valentines Day in Accra.

The strictly by invitation wedding ceremony was attended by few friends and family of the actor.

The wedding ceremony comes months after the two welcomed their first son, Brian Nii Ayittey Olaferomi Attoh. http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com

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February 2015

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Afrikan Post

At the Threshold of the Fountain Her Page

but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do

the way of our driver and, in the course of this, effecteda collision

find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand”

which resultantly halted both their progress and immediate agenda,

making way for chaos and flared tempers to take over.

Our driver instantly becomes outraged at what he consid-

As the young mother ended her day, feelings of

tiredness and sadness hovered all over her. The sadness in

particular was mixed with guilt she couldn’t shake off

although she had tried. Another stressful day had again

Page

heavy traffic, another driver, also hurried and more aggressive,

could not wait for the other’s generosity and forced his vehicle in

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

February 2015

20

not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I (Romans 7: 18-21). St. Paul rightly explains the struggle that both the

mother and the driver contend with. The reality is that despite our desire to do what is right and pleasing unto God, we are not perfect and neither is

ers the other’s brashness. Now not only is he going to miss his very life, but when one is provoked to the point where they seriously lose their

important meeting, but he will have to take time out of his busy

schedule to repair his vehicle. He angrily throwsboth hands in the

tempers and/or self–control, largely because ofoverwhelming pressure and demands from all angles,then one has to admit that cleansing and a refill-

air and lets them land on the wheel with force all the while shouting ing are in order.We have to acknowledge that we must draw near, stay near

angry accusatory words and curses that he had long forgotten were

once part of his vocabulary. Still spitting such words, with force

and anger, he rushes out of his car to confront the motorist who had

and drink from the fountain of life that can fill us for our own benefit and that of others.

It is critical that we stay close to the fountain of life, for it is

there, at the fountain, where all the impurities of life, the baggage and bur-

managed to turn her into something she didn’t want to

inconsiderately altered his day for the worse.

shameful images of herself at these weak moments flashed

of life’s pressures and demands, our driver is caught in the moment, replenishing takes place. The fountain I speak of is Christ, the only Living

become, a frustrated, impatient, hollering lunatic. As the

through her mind, another shock of guilt shot through her

heart, leaving it heavier. She felt the burden of her heart’s

weight and sighed almost in resignation.She was afraid of

the impact her behavior and lack of control would have on

her children, the innocent and vulnerable ones who unfortu-

nately receive the brunt of her anger. Then she remembered

the lyrics: “fill this vessel with Your Holy Spirit and draw

Under the influence of frustrations, anger and the weight

dens, weighing down our minds, hearts, and souls, are washed away and a

forgetting that he is a husband, father of three, professional,

Water that can eternally quench our thirst. Nothing else can provide the

moment, he is forgetting that the world is not safe and that even as

“…If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in

does not know the reaction and force he will encounter. He risks

living water.’” Christ is the living water and only He can provide such

Christian, a church leader and even more. At this heated and insane purification and refilling we need. Christ Himself says in John 7:37-38,

he angrily rushes out of his vehicle to confront the other man, he

losing all he is and has, even his life in a moment of anger and loss

Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of

water, none else. The purifying water of Christ not only cleanses but also

of control.Somewhere deep in him, he also hears the same lyrics the quickens, giving life. It washes away our frustrations, anger, desperation,

from me to feed your saints….” How could any good be

woman does: “fill this vessel with Your Holy Spirit and draw from

emptiness, and our shame. It thoroughly cleanses these forces from our

lessing to another, even to those little ones? She knew she

me to feed your saints…” However, it was deeply buried under a

thirst like nothing else can, strengthening us to move on focused and victo-

drawn from her and how could she possibly be a source ofb- me to feed your saints; draw from me, draw from me, draw from

was losing herself, her sanity and any worth of goodness in

her.

Does the above sound familiar? Do you share the

experiences of the mother above and feel her very senti-

lot of outrage and as he was overtaken by this very outrage, he just

wouldn’t stop in his tracks to listen, but continued to proceed in his

anger.

Does the man’s experience seem familiar? Even if the

ments? Does living such moments cause you to shake your

actual events are different for you, I am sure that the experiences of

grasp of the self-control you believe you have? Do you feel

ments and reactions. Like you, they are hard-working and well-

head in disappointment at yourself, to see that you are losing both the man and woman are recognizable and so are their senti-

as if any virtue in you is being overshadowed and buried

beneath so much noise and contending forces? Do you feel

highly bothered and short-tempered although you were not

always like this? Do you wonder both silently and audibly

what is happening to you and how you can avoid getting to

meaning individuals. But as well-meaning as they may be, they are

imperfect and limited beings who are subject to the chaos of the

world and at these moments, they are losing their battles.They need

a cleansing and a refilling.

The point is, because we are all vulnerable and destructi-

this point? If so, know that you are not alone. If not, consid- ble as the individuals above, we must be sure to remain close to the

er the following:

The attentive yet hurried driver steered his wheel

to get in the appropriate lane so that he would be positioned

to make a left turn and merge onto the road that would lead

him towards his destination. Matters at home had delayed

his commute and although he was quite a few minutes

behind and had numerous items to accomplish before the

end of the day, the most pressing being the meeting he was

rushing to attend, he had been gracious enough to allow a

fountain of life at all times, otherwise we will be driven to unseem-

ly emotional levels and to points where we are moved to commit

unbecoming and perhaps unspeakable acts thatcan cause us to lose

the respect and confidence that have been entrusted us, our sanity

riously.

Further, staying close to the fountain of life is the act of being

present with God throughout the day, every day. That is, meditating on His word, staying in worship and fellowship with Him continuously.

While it can be quite a challenge, for we are pulled here and there by so many things that rightly need to be dealt with, if we are not careful to

make the space and presence of the fountain real with us, then it is likely

than unlikely that we will often forget who we are and to whom we belong and then lose ourselves in such moments as witnessed above.

When we stay close to this source of life, it is because we want

to be renewed and filled. It is because we acknowledge that there is puri-

fying power that can turn us around, that can make us whole again. This is not a fountain that we must occasionally turn to, but we must always be near its threshold for our sake. This is not to suggest that our lives and

behaviors will be perfect, but it is to acknowledge that what comes out of us when we are filled with this living water is that good and desirable

thing and not the anger and lashing out that we witnessed with the persons

and even more. It is painful to experience and even watch someone above. When we stay close at the threshold of the fountain, we are closer

go through the above situations, because it not only reveals that

to life and it is this life that we willalso be in position to give forth.

being overcome.

As a result, we do not have to sing regretfully or be haunted by the lyrics:

they are being overcome with anger, but also that they are simply In his discussion about the war between the flesh and the

vehicle from another lane merge in front of him. But he was spirit, the Apostle Paul says, “For I know that nothing good dwells

in a hurry and would not allow another.In the press of the

physical and spiritual bodies and our presence and it fills us, satisfying our

in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right,

but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want,

Because we are purified and full, we will be in a position to fill another. “fill this vessel with Your Holy Spirit and draw from me to feed your saints…” Rather, we can sing it freely in worship and without regret,

because we know that we are near the fountain and are being filled and we are confident that God can draw from us to feed others.

February 2015

Joke Center

“DUMSOR� is Officially In The ENCYCLOPEDIA. Google it

Dumsor is a popular Ghanaian term used to describe the state of electrical power shedding by the Ghana Grid Company and Electricity Company of Ghana in Ghana]

The term gained prominence during the term of President John Mahama due to the nation's power problems. Dumsor is formed from two twi words Dum and sor

meaning off and on respectively.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumsor

Ghanaman's Pronunciations

JOB WAHALA!!!

A graduate in Biology from University of Ghana was havin difficulty in finding a job.

He saw an advert in one of the daily newspapers for a job at a zoo.

In the interview, the manager told him that their gorilla, which had been tourists attraction has died so they needed someone to dress up & pretend as gorilla.

The graduate was embarrased, but since the salary was ok, he accepted the job.

The 1st day, he put on the gorilla skin & entered the cage, he started jumpin up and down, beat his chest & roared like gorilla.

The next day, he put on a gorilla skin & started movin around the zoo again & mistakenly entered another cage and found himself starin at a lion.

The lion roared & rushed towards him.

The scared graduate quickly forgot that he is a gorilla & started shouting like human, "Help! Help!"

The lion leaped onto him,knocked him to the ground & whispered in his ear "Jimifo" it's me Asare Boahene, your course mate.

Shut up or we'll both lose our job.

**** 1. Junction - Janshin 2. gang leader - gangaliya 3. traffic indicator -Traffigator 4. balloon -buylooooon 5. By all means - byomis 6. Photographer - camera mine 6. Francis - Flancis 7. toothpaste -pepsodent 8. Light Soup - Lyyyy Soup 9. Hearts of oak -Hass of oaks 10. Hamburger - AM BOOGA 11. Antagonist. - Killer 12. climax -last show 13. underpants -dross 14. Brazil -Braizil 15. Bloody fool - bledi fool 16. The iron shocked - The iron keeked me.

17. Hands up......Ansup 18. Old lady......Olidy 19. Old man.....Oluman 20. Here you are..... Oyiwa 21. Lights out..... Light off

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CPR-Coming Soon Weekend Classes Starts February 23, 2015 Saturdays and some Sundays

Nigerian Doll Created By Man Who Couldn't Find A Black Toy For His Niece Is So Popular In His Country That It's Outselling Barbie February 2015

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In 2007, Taofick Okoya, created a doll that Nigerian girls could identify with 43-year-old based his Queens of Africa dolls on country's biggest tribes They cost roughly ÂŁ4.50 and aim to promote strong feminine ideals

A man who couldn't find a black doll in the shops as a gift for his niece decided to take matters into his own hands.

In 2007, Taofick Okoya, 43, created his own doll that Nigerian girls could identify with by recreating their skin colour and style - and it is now so successful that it is outselling Barbie.

The doll, which is called Queens of Africa, comes with traditional outfits and accessories and costs around ÂŁ4.50.

The dolls' look is modelled on three of the country's biggest tribes and aims to promote strong feminine ideals, like love, peace and endurance.

The doll is now so popular that, according to Reuters, it is selling up to 9,000 units a month - a staggering 15 per cent of the country's toy market.

But the Queens of Africa aren't just selling in their home country.

Thanks to the doll's online presence, customers are coming from as far as America, Brazil and Europe.

He explained that even though they live in Nigeria, there was a lot of Western influence. He said: '[This] might have been responsible for her wishing she was white. It made me aware that I needed to make her proud and happy being a black African girl, and not limit it to her alone as this was a common trend among the younger generation.

The Queens of Africa became a platform to achieve this.'

Unfortunately, Okoya has been told that he won't be able to sell the dolls on the shelves of mainline stories in America and will have to limit his business to specialist stores.

But he is determined to see the decision overturned, he said: 'I am looking to prove them wrong.'

Bianca London for MailOnline

A Nigerian businessman decided to create own doll that Nigerian girls could identify with called Queens of Africa, by recreating their skin colour and style - and now it's outselling Barbie in his native country

Afrikan

Intercessory Prayer Gathering and Fundraising Event for Rev. Steve Agyeman

Post

February

2014

Page 24

Rev. Steve Agyeman is the Founder and Pastor of New Life International Church in Springfiled, Virginia. Late last year he was hospitalised in a facility in Northern Virginia. The African Christian Community in the Washington Metro Area came together for an intercessory prayer meeting and also to raise funds for his hospital bills. He has since been discharged and recovering at home. The event was held on January 18, 2015 at the Auditorium of New Life International Church in Springfield, Virginia The venue was packed and true love rained down.

Apostle Dr. Elvis Acheampong(GICC) paying tribute to Rev. Steve Agyeman

The Wife and Immediate family members of Rev. Steve Agyeman

Rev. Daniel Quartey of Apostolic Church giving a word of exaltation

Rev. Steve Agyeman (Picture taken in 2013)

Rev. Frank Opoku Amoako leading the intercessory Prayers

The Praise and worship team of New Life International Church

A cross section of the gathering

About 70 ministers of God attended the event

Rev. Asmah of All Nations Ministeries (New Jersey) leading the ministers of God in a time of worship

Mugabe Appointed African Union Chairman

Afrikan

Post

Mugabe Fall: 27 Guards Suspended February 2015

By Silence Charumbira and Phillip Chidavaenzi

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been appointed the new chairman of the 54-nation African Union.

Friday's announcement was made during the African Union's two-day heads of state summit at the organisation's headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

The 90-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled his country since 1980, succeeds Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

"During my tenure as chair," he said, "I will deliberately provoke your thoughts to pay special attention to issues of infrastructure, value addition, agriculture and climate change".

The ascension of Mugabe, one of Africa's most divisive figures, to the rotating position has drawn criticism.

"Frankly I don't believe the elevation (Mugabe's appointment) is anything than symbolic," said Piers Pigou, Southern Africa project director for the International Crisis Group. "His elevation sends a negative signal of African solidarity with leaders who've misruled their countries."

Obert Gutu, a spokesman for the Zimbabwean opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said that Mugabe "has trashed democracy in Zimbabwe and he and his party have ruined the economy".

"He lacks the political legitimacy to lead an Africa that should be looking to consolidate democracy and good governance."

Traditionally, the AU chairmanship is given to the leader of the country hosting the next summit, but exceptions have been made as in 2005 when it was the turn of Sudan's Omar al-Bashir but African leaders bowed to international pressures in the uproar over killings in Darfur.

They passed over al-Bashir and instead kept Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo for a second year.

Zimbabwe, a once-prosperous nation of 13 million people in southern Africa, has struggled since Mugabe's government began seizing farms owned by Caucasian people in 2000.

The president is also accused of using widespread violence to win several disputed elections, according to human rights groups. The country had suffered hyperinflation until it abandoned its currency for the US dollar in 2009.

Source: Agencies

Heads have started rolling as the fallout over President Robert Mugabe’s embarrasing fall at Harare International Airport on Wednesday begins.

Sources said up to 27 members of the presidential security and advance team who seemed immobilised as Mugabe tripped and tumbled after addressing hundreds of Zanu PF supporters who had been bussed to welcome him on his return from the African Union summit, have been suspended.

According to the sources, the guards were handed their suspension letters on Friday.

Officials at Munhumutapa government building said an investigation was launched on the night that Mugabe fell at the airport on his return from Ethiopia where he had just taken charge as the new chairperson of the African Union.

But Presidential spokesperson George Charamba yesterday dismissed the reports of a shake up in President Mugabe’s security team as a fallacy.

“There is only one hand that shakes up and that hand has not shaken up [anything]. What is there to shake up? The last time you heard about a shake up it was from us and not from media reports,” Charamba said.

But sources insisted a shake up had indeed taken place and there were indications that some officials could be fired.

Page 25

Another official said although some people were taking the fall lightly, it was a serious matter that had to be dealt with thoroughly.

“There are many departments that are being investigated, from Air Zimbabwe, the advance team and the security. I doubt if some of them will come back,” said the official close to the developments.

“The issue here is simple. The security team was caught napping. They were taking things for granted and failed to adhere to basics. It is protocol that the immediate proximity is, at most, three metres from the President. These are the bullet takers and in cases where he falls they are supposed to hold him either by the arm or by the shoulder and should never take their eyes off him.”

The official added: “He went on to touch the ground on all fours. That should never happen. What if someone pulled a gun? The immediate proximity team should have helped him up because those are the people that are allowed to touch him before anyone else.”

Information gathered revealed that the immediate proximity team was also there to prevent members of the public getting dangerously close to the President as happened when British gay rights activist Peter Thatchell attempted a citizen’s arrest on Mugabe in 1999.

He said the security failed to follow Rule Number 3 of their training manual which outlined the distance they should keep from the President.

The official, however said most of the suspensions could just be decoys by the secret service chiefs who At the State House on Friday afternoon where wanted to appear as if they were doing something President Mugabe was meeting newly-elected Zambian leader Edgar Lungu, new faces could be about the embarrassing incident. seen on his security team.

After the meeting that took almost five hours, Mugabe escorted Lungu outside the State House with both hands in his pockets. The two did not address journalists who had gathered.

When Lungu was departing in his motorcade, Mugabe stood for a few minutes outside before walking back into his office at State House.

Source:Allafrica.com

Afrikan

Post

King Peggy Honored With Global Leadership Award

As a leader who has excelled in the economic empowerment of her people, NanaAmuah-Afenyi VI , known formally as King Peggy has been honored with the Dr. Dorothy I. Height Leadership Award .

The awards ceremony was held at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC on January 18, 2015 as part of activities marking the birthday of the late Martin Luther King.

The annual awards ceremony was started in 1991, to honor the extraordinary legacy of the famed civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the legendary, Dr. Dorothy I. Height and their impacts both at home and abroad.

Dorothy Height, was a leader of the African-American and women’s rights movements who was considered both the Grande dame of the civil rights era.

Nigerian Ambassador and Honorary Chair of the 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Awards ceremony, Prof.

Adebowale Adefuye, honored six eminent Africans and African-Americans who have contributed to the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., through their efforts in economic empowerment, National and International service, Civil Engagement, Advocacy & Justice and Philanthropy.

February 2015

people.

Through the instrumentality of King Peggy the village of Otuam can now boast an ambulance to support emergency care services . In addition to that a 12 room State-Of-An-Art Western–Style-Lavatory has been built with a two unit shower for the men.

Also King Peggy has spearheaded the enrollment of about 50 children in private school.

These students also have access to free meals in school.

Some of the women in the village of Otuam today have been granted microfinance loans by the 100 Black Coalition Women of California to engage in income generating ventures to support themselves and their families. King Peggy is a staunch Christian and a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Maryland.

In May 22, 2010 Shiloh Baptist Church entered into Covenant to adopt Otuam King Peggy’s town as its spiritual and developmental responsibility. In October 2010 Pastor Colleton who was in charge of the Foreign Mission Ministry led eleven members of the Church to Otuam for the dedication of three clean water boreholes to the Otuam communiThe honorees included; King Peggy (Peggieliene Bartels), who was honored with Dr. Dorothy I. Height ty. One of the boreholes was provided by the Leadership Award. The other recipients were decorated members of Shiloh Baptist Church. As at now with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Awards in the the Community have Seven boreholes. following categories: Honorable John Conyers, Jr, National Service; William R. 'Billy' Martin, Advocacy Pastor Colleton continues to work diligently to bring additional organizations to aid in the supAnd Justice; Igho Charles Sanomi II, International port of Shiloh’s mission in Otuam. During the Service; Frank. F. Islam, International Service and same mission trip, Pastor Colleton and his delCivil Engagement and Benedict Peters, Economic egation distributed an abundance of eyeglasses Empowerment. to the people of the Otuam community. The glasses were generously donated by Shiloh The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem members and friends. Additionally, Spirit and Duke attended the event with a special greeting and Truth Worship Center in California and Sight message from Nigeria.

Ministries International assisted with the donaNana Amuah-Afenyi VI ,(King Peggy) a United States tion. resident is the lady king of the Ebiradzi royal family of In spite of all these King Peggy is not relenting Otuam in the Mfantsiman Municipal District, Ghana. in her efforts to see to the improvement in the Following the death of her uncle, in 2008, she was lives of her people. chosen to replace him.

Nana Peggy spends a lot of time in her community in Ghana each year and engages in income generating ventures and developmental projects to support her

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America School of Nursing & Allied Health

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Begin Your Nursing Education Today

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Nurse Aide Training Medication Aide Training Home Health Aide Phlebotomy Training Pharmacy Technician Practical Nursing (LPN)

LPN Classes start on Jan. 3, 2015 MorningMon-Thursday 8am-2pm Evening 5pm-10pm Weekend Classes Start on January 10, 2015 8am-2pm

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Grieving Husband Gets Revenge Against Crocodile That Ate Pregnant Wife

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After losing his pregnant wife, Demeteriya Nabire, to a crocodile four months ago, husband Mubarak Batambuze was able to get revenge, when he and his community took down the crocodile in Uganda’s Lake Kyoga, according to the BBC.

When wife Nabire was fetching water from the lake with a number of other women, a crocodile — reportedly weighing 600 kg and longer than four meters — snatched her, with no one ever seeing any trace of her again.

At the time, Batambuze replied, “I failed killing it the first time around. I’m not bothered if I die killing this beast.

I’m going to take it on with this spear, and I will make sure that it dies.”

Undeterred, Batambuze began attacking the crocodile, with his dependable friends joining in with the difficult task.

The BBC reports: Batumbuze, a fisherman, explains, “The crocodile ate my wife entirely. Nothing was ever seen of her again – no clothes, no “I had so much fear in me but what helped me to sucpart of her body that I could identify. I just didn’t know what ceed was the spear,” says Batambuze. to do – a mother and her unborn child. It was the end of my world. I was completely lost.”

He tied a rope to the end of the weapon so that once the tip was embedded in the crocodile, he could pull it out at A month later, friends alerted him when the deadly crocodile an angle and the barb would cut into more of the animal’s returned, “Somebody called me and said, ‘Mubarak, I have flesh. news for you — the crocodile that took your wife is here — we are looking at it now.’”

“I put the spear into the crocodile’s side, and while my friends were helping to throw stones at the beast’s back, it And even though the 50-year-old Batumbuze and his friends tried getting its mouth up to attack me again. attempted to assault the crocodile, their efforts were in vain.

“It turned violent, and then there was so much fear in “He was a very big monster, and we tried fighting him with the place. But I was so determined, and I wasn’t afraid of stones and sticks. But there was nothing we could do,” says dying. I just wanted it dead, so I put the spear in its side Batumbuze. and I pulled the rope. That got the crocodile into trouble.”

After taking some time to consider what he was up against, Batumbuze decided to pay a visit to his local blacksmith.

“I explained to him that I was fighting a beast that had snatched and killed my wife and unborn baby. I really wanted my revenge, and asked the blacksmith to make me a spear (pictured) that could kill the crocodile dead.”

An hour and a half later, the crocodile was dead.

And the feat has pegged Batambuze a hero in his community.

“Within myself I’m a very depressed man because I lost a wife and an unborn child,” he explains.

When Batambuze returned to the lake, the crocodile was waiting.

“But the locals keep on saying, ‘Thank you for killing the beast, that’s where we fetch water and we’re sure it would Batambuze says that at the sight of him, his friends begged have taken somebody else. Thank you so much, you did a him to change his mind about attacking the beast because they great job.’” feared he would lose his life just as his wife did.

“So I’m a local hero – people keep on thanking me.” “‘Please don’t attack this beast,’ they pleaded, ‘it’s so huge it may eat you. The spear is not enough – it won’t finish the job.’”

Ohio: Police Arrest Two Ghanaians With More Than $35,000 In Gift Cards, Money Orders February 2015

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WLT5 GOSHEN, Ohio —Police apprehended two suspects Saturday outside of a Kroger store after officials thought their purchases were suspicious.

Goshen Police Chief Rick Combs said the two men, Richard Boakye, 28, and Abama Akanova, 24, both of Ghana, Africa, were arrested outside the Kroger at 6725 Dick Flynn Blvd. Feb. 7.

Authorities said both men live in New York, but are currently residing in Columbus, Ohio.

Combs said after officers interviewed both men, and conducted a lengthy investigation they recovered 192 gift cards and 81 money orders valued at more than $35,000. In addition, officers recovered two laptop computers and a credit card reader from their car.

Combs said both men were charged with receiving stolen property.

According to Combs, the case is expected to elevate to the federal level.

Boakye and Akanova are both being held in the Clermont County Jail.

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February 2015

For All Your Real Estate Needs Buying, Selling, Renting A House

Call 571-277-1368

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Kingslight Chapel Agape Eros Special Valentine Love Night

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Kingslight Chapel Int. Inc created an avenue for couples to celebrate the season of love with a special program for lovers dubbed Agape-Eros Special Valentine Love Night on Valentines's day. This was under the able leadership of Apostle Dr. Daniel and Rev. Mrs. Barbara Armah. A very Romantic and Interactive night where lovers shared special moments as well as ideas on how to rejuvenate their love. Indeed the couples shined their love as they participated in special love photo sessions, a cocktail party and a dinner with sumptuous variety of dishes. Apostle Dr. Armah delivered a brief talk on "Practicing Love in marriage" . It was a very memorable night. AGAPE-EROS -SHINE YOUR LOVE!!! Tel: 571 337 9185, 703 401 9727. www.kingslightchapel.org

Some of the couples pose for a group photo after the event

Cocktail Hour and Photo Sessions

Dancing Time

Special Moments

Love on Display

Proposing of Toast

Couples pose with the Hosts, Apostle and Rev. Mrs. Ahia-Armah

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION – 6 (1 of 2)

Nutrition Corner February 2015

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The Principle of Progressive Revelation

If you have made yourself a devote observer of the Old Testament laws, feast, days, foods, types, shadows and typologies hoping to please God and gain eternal life you are missing the point. The Bible states expressly that ….no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith Galatians 3:11.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith and after the Schoolmaster has come we are no longer under the law Galatians 3:24-26.

The dictates of the law which were over 600 was so grievous, demanding, humiliating and impossible for anyone to observe them comRev George K. Annan Ph.D. pletely (For whosoever shall keep the whole The truth of Scripture was handed to us over a law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty period of some 1,500 years, from around 1450 of all James 2:10) Jesus Christ therefore had B.C. (the time of Moses) to about 100 A.D. to come to our rescue to redeem us from the (following the death and resurrection of Jesus curse of the law (Christ hath redeemed us Christ. A basic understanding of the Bible from the curse of the law, being made a curse therefore is that God chose not to tell us every- for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one thing He intended, all at once. The revelation that hangeth on a tree Galatians 3:13) became fuller in content and meaning as it progressed. This does not mean the former truths Progressive revelation means, then, that each became untruthful, but simply that former truth truth was made clearer by the addition of was made clearer by the addition of more more and more of God's truth. As time unravdetails or information. The most obvious eled, the purpose of God became clearer and example of this is the progression of revelation fuller (e.g., the enlargement of the ideas of from the Old to the New Testament. ethics, worship and redemption in the Bible).

This does not mean the Old Testament does not make sense alone, but simply that the New On the other hand, if the New Testament does Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. For not add to, address, or expand upon the teachexample, "The New Testament do away with ings of the Old Testament, then it stands on its the Old Testament sacrificial, ceremonial and own (e.g., teaching, worship, and attributes of dietary system, by showing the true reason for God in the Psalms). them is found in Jesus Christ. Thus In spite of the Old Testament commands, we are free In conclusion it is worth mention here that from the restrictions because of the New when the Bible was written is not as important Testament teachings that Jesus is the end of the as what was written. However, the when is Law to everyone who believe so that we can important also as we sense how God's presbe saved by grace.(For Christ is the end of the ence persisted through the centuries and gave law for righteousness to everyone that us "in the fullness of time" the full-orbed revbelieveth. Romans 10:4), (Therefore it is of elation of salvation and hope through his son faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the Jesus Christ. promise might be sure to all the seed; not to For more information that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the visit www.redemptionnews.org or father of us all Romans 4:16KJV).

If there rises any tension between the Old and New Testaments, then, the old gives way to the new because the purpose of the Law in the first place was to make all men guilty before God (Now we know that what thingssoever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God Romans 3:19KJV)

call 2406743706

New Year, New Lunch Bag

Written by: Valerie Agyeman, Dietetics Student Did you receive all that you asked for on Christmas day? Not to be so materialistic, but sometimes a useful gift is all that we need to put a smile on our face. If you didn’t receive a gift this year, you can always treat yourself to something nice. Perhaps buying something as nice as a lunch box sounds good, right? Never thought of that have you? Well I don’t think it is something that people usually look forward to when searching for a gift, but I can guarantee you that it is something that will save you a lot of money…and calories.

According to the National Restaurant Association almost 60% of individuals consume a commercially prepared lunch at least three times per week. Now, let us consider the financial aspect of this, if the average “takeout” lunch is around $10 per day, and you work five days a week, you are spending $50 per week on lunches alone. Over a course of a month, that can easily add up to more than a week of groceries!

So why should you consider getting yourself a lunch bag for this New Year? Well, it will be more beneficial than any of your other gifts. You can think of the lunch bag as some sort of heroic object coming to save you from all the excess weight gain and money. Okay, so maybe it’s not really about the lunch bag I must admit, it is more about the different kinds of foods you pack into it.

Packing your lunch allows you to have control over the types of food you enjoy. At your workplace or in your school cafeterias, there are limited food options. You have to eat whatever the cafeteria or restaurant is serving for the day. If you decide to pack your food at home, you decide what goes into your lunch bag. If you make healthy choices, this food freedom can actually ensure that you eat a lunch healthier than the one you could have bought at work, school, or in the restaurant. Look at it this way; if you pack your favorite nutritious pasta salad, chances are you will fill your stomach with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. But most importantly, you will be very satisfied.

Here are some tips for packing your every day lunch:

• Invest in a good lunch box that includes a cooler for foods that need to be kept cold.

• Make meals over the weekend and divide them into “easy to grab” servings.

• Keep deli containers or purchase reusable containers to pack your lunches ahead of time.

• Pack nutritious snacks: chopped fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt, cheese sticks, or 100 calorie crackers bags.

• Prepare extra food at dinner to leave you with leftovers for lunch packing.

• Choose foods with higher amounts of nutrients: fiber, protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. • Avoid foods loaded with saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

• Pack a beverage low in added sugar and calories.

The next time you decide to spend ten dollars on a meal during your lunch break, think of how you could have used that money to purchase something that can have a positive impact on your overall health. Challenge yourself this year. Who knows, you might start a trend in your workplace. Happy New Years!

Do you have a topic you would like to see in Nutrition Corner? Email topics to vagyemann@gmail.com.

Thank you!

National Restaurant Association: www.restaurant.org

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Bishop Health Centers: Konongo-Mampong Diocese of Ghana

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The Konongo-Mampong Diocese of Ghana, near the city of Kumasi, led by Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Osei Bonsu, serves a population of over 1 million Ghanaians.

Konongo-Mampong was created in 1995 out of two Dioceses namely, Kumasi and Sunyani Dioceses, and consists of 10 Administrative Districts in Ghana. It lies in the middle portion of the country with its boundaries stretching across the greater part of the Ashanti Region.

Through Vatican support, Konongo-Mampong has established extension dioceses for Ghanaian-Americans, including in New York, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Iowa. The GhanaianAmerican diaspora is very active in supporting their home communities, particularly in the areas of health and economic growth.

In the Archdiocese of Washington, Reverend Father Francis Aning Amoah is Parochial Vicar at St. John the Evangelist and Chaplain to the Ghanaian Community, while working closely also with Bishop Bonsu.

Foreign donor support is currently the backbone of Diocesan income, while Bishop Bonsu and diaspora work together on local economic opportunities such as agricultural advancement with local landowners and leading village Chiefs.

Bishop Health Centers is a central medical service to the broader Ghanaian community, providing medical care

February 2015

births. Further, the mortality rate for children under five mortality is 68.5 out of 1,000 live births.

Ghanaian communities are facing over 50% unemployment. Most Ghanaians depend on government funded medical services, free care through charitable and Catholic medical clinics, and a minority are able to pay for healthcare independently. As a result, medical facilities lack fundamental infrastructure, many do not have professional physicians or specialists on staff, standard medical equipment is vacant, medicines are needed, and crucial infrastructure such as water, electricity, sanitation, and air control are in need of vast improvements.

Due to lack of access to medical care, and lack of clean water resources, multiple diseases are life threatening in Ghana. There is a very high risk of infectious disease, including food or water borne, vector-borne, and water contact diseases (i.e., diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, schistosomiasis).

For example, in Ghana the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an estimated 6.6 million cases of malaria, and 172,661 deaths attributed to malaria. In Africa, an estimated 60% of malaria cases are among children under 5 years of age. Worldwide, 77.1% of deaths attributed to malaria are among children. For Ghana, an estimated 4.14 million children have malaria, and 13,119 children die of malaria in a single year.

Bishop Bonsu has been taking a leading role in ailing the Ghanaian population through the Konongo-Mampong medical facilities, which are independently managed and operated by the diocese. In 2013 the Pope John Paul II Medical Center in Jamasi was built with philanthropic support of Manos Unidas in Italy. The clinics receive ongoing assistance from the local medical school at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. There are also visiting physicians from prominent medical institutions in Germany.

Through the advocacy of leading Ghanaian-American Dr. Aaron Adade through 9 clinics in the diocese. in the Washington DC area, recently the Bishop Health Centers development project has been adopted by ABS Community Research, a US 1.

Pope John Paul II Medical Center, Jamasi nonprofit 501c3 based between Washington DC and Florida. ABS 2.

St Joseph’s Clinic, Abira fundraising and advocacy for this project is through advisory board 3.

St. Ann’s Maternity Clinic, Donyina member Carl Sabatino in New York City.

4.

Sacred Heart Health Center, Bepoase Per the request of Bishop Bonsu, the health advancement initiative 5.

Madonna Clinic, Besease focuses first on Pope John Paul II Medical 6.

St. Anthony’s Clinic, Anyinasu Center in Jamasi and St. Joseph’s Clinic in Abira. Dr. Yao Bio inde7.

St. Vincent Clinic, Brobonso pendently manages the Pope John Paul II Medical Centre, 100% owned 8.

St. Luke’s Clinic, Seniagya by the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, and lead. The Administrator is Mr. 9.

Oku Catholic Clinic, Oku Thomas Mensah Ag., and Matron is Rev. Sr. Patricia K. Titigah, FST. St. Each medical clinic is operated through the dedicated sup- Joseph’s Clinic in Abira, operated by Nurses in Charge Sister Amala port of diocese health professionals, nurses, visiting doc- Vezhaparambil and Ms. Theresa Agyemang, with Sister Annie Joseph, tors, and diocese administrators.

CHF.

The facilities are also undergoing long-term development In the words of Most Rev. Bishop Bonsu: to advance treatment capacities through increased access to equipment, medicines, doctors, and water supply.

The vision of the KonongoDemand for healthcare is very high in the community, but Mampong Diocese is a new societhe clinics require substantial resources in order to property where the poor have discovered ly care for the population. that within themselves and their environment there are great potenThroughout Ghana, due to lack of health resources, local tials to make sustainable progress communities, especially in the rural areas lack significant in their living conditions towards access to health resources. Currently there are only 0.085 selfreliance and holistic developphysicians available per 1000 population and 0.9 hospital ment in the light of the Gospel and beds to 1000 population. This is approximately 3.1% of the Church’s Social Teaching. health accessibility in the United States. Infant mortality is While working closely with comextremely high at 39.7 deaths per 1000 births, and maternal mortality is also high at 350 deaths per 100,000 live

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munity health professionals and listening to complaints of our diocese and surrounding village communities, I have witnessed that a large number of rural residents lacked prenatal care, postnatal care, and other comprehensive health services. I believe that quality health services coupled with social-welfare services are essential to reduce infant and maternal mortality significantly, and prevent HIV/AIDS infections. I believe that women and mothers are fundamental to the optimal health of the whole family and community.

Therefore, for the past decade I have sought after donations to build new clinics, renovate existing buildings, and furnish clinics with beds and hospital equipment. This is the first step in my five-year plan to furnish and build Page comprehensive health centres that deliver essential healthcare with surgical facilities, social-welfare and education services to the most vulnerable families in rural areas.

For example, our diocese’s newly completed hospital, Pope John Paul II Medical Centre in Jamasi, opened to the Konongo-Mampong community in 2012 with a daily caseload of approximately 100 patients. Unfortunately, a large number of medical cases have to be referred to the Komfo Anokye Regional Hospital in the regional capital city of Kumasi that is 70 kilometers away. Even minor surgeries for orthopedic accidents cannot be performed at the Pope John Paul II Medical Centre. The dearth of well-trained healthcare professionals will be addressed using our office and influence to form partnerships and relationships with local and international universities for doctors to volunteer, and medical students’ performing practical training internships for college credits.

The diverse medical and social-welfare needs of rural communities steered me towards adopting a comprehensive healthcare model based on a humane value that treating women and families for health ailments alone is insufficient to support communities encumbered by layers of poverty.

Examining issues with the family that may include co-occurring disorders are essential for optimal health solutions. For example, when a woman or family walks into a clinic seeking health care for a specific health ailment, special attention and social workers and health professionals working in tandem take care, to evaluate the patient comprehensively. The patient’s family issues and burdens in their lives are discussed to deliver an integrated and cohesive package of healthcare, education/job advice, and social-welfare services to put the woman and her family on a successful path toward optimum health, stable family units free of violence, and economic independence.

Therefore, adopting a foundation of Christian values to serve and protect the most vulnerable communities, I have sought expert advice to create an effective delivery model of comprehensive healthcare, which is achieved by providing services in the following areas: prenatal care, postnatal care, pediatric medicine, adult medicine, elderly care, mental health services/smoking cessation programs, dental care, social-welfare intervention services addressing abuse and violence in families, and English programmes for adults and young children to increase opportunity. At this time, ABS is working with Bishop Bonsu, Dr. Adade and Diocese leadership on feasibility study, strategic planning and fundraising for long-term medical development. This includes direct efforts with foundations, individual donors, and fundraising campaigns, with focus on health advancement in the areas of birthing, women’s health, infectious disease, and emergency services.

To date, Diocese leadership has been very supportive in providing extensive detail on current patient services, available

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Bishop Health Centers: Konongo-Mampong Diocese of Ghana

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health personnel, prevalent illnesses, water and electricity resources, and related issues to the feasibility study. Our next steps is for Dr. Adade to join ABS on a visit to KonongoMampong in conducting local survey of the clinics, and obtain additional information on health challenges and infrastructure to finalize the development plan and arrangements with strategic partners.

If you would like more information on the Bishop Health Centers development program, please contact Reverend Father Francis Aning Amoah, Dr. Aaron Adade, or Velma Anne Ruth, President of ABS. To donate, go to www.absnetwork.org

Another Kenya Baby Molesting Incident, This Time In US A 48-year-old Florida daycare worker has been arrested after being caught kicking a child on a security camera.

Linda K. Klemm, a mother-of-four from Tarpon Springs, has been charged with child abuse after the footage captured her attacking a 16-month-old girl who was sleeping on the floor.

The incident occurred at the Kids Stop-N-Play day care in Holiday.

The victim's mother, Crystal Faggione, 24, said she noticed red marks all over her daughter, Lillian, including one underneath her eye, three on her forehead, and a red, bald patch created when the worker kicked her daughter in the head, according toThe Tampa Bay Times.

They noticed the marks on Saturday, which was Lillian's third day at the center.

Faggione called Stop-N-Play and explained what she' had found, but a worker said if there bruises, they did not come from the center.

However after feeding Lillian, Faggione realized there were more marks on her daughter's

head she hadn't realized.

'I took her up to the day care, and I said, ''This did not happen in my house. This happened here'',' Faggione told the newspaper.

When Faggione took her baby to the hospital, the authorities were called.

Police then reviewed the 16 cameras at the center and found the footage of Klemm.

In the video, Klemm can be seen kicking the sleeping child - who was on the floor with a blanket and a teddy girl - at least four times.

The discovery of the video appalled the local officers.

Source:ghanaweb.com

WHY PEOPLE OF AFRICAN Why Life Insurance Policy Should Be An Important Part Of Planning DESCENT MUST INVEST IN REAL ESTATE Afrikan

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Dear reader or potential client, You are reading this piece because you found the title interesting or this is something you have been thinking of for some time now, but don’t quite know how, where and why you should begin the process to buy a life insurance policy. Short answer to your inner debatedon’t hesitate to buy a policy it is actually good and the right thing to do.

There is a negative notion that buying or having a life insurance policy connotes that you are getting closer to death. Contrary to this believe life insurance is actually one of the greatest investments you could make. One thing you and I can agree on is that death has no face; it doesn’t matter if you are poor, rich, and healthy or not;, death can overtake you any day or anytime-we don’t know when it will happen, but the reality is we will all go someday and it will definitely happen one day.

So why buy a life insurance policy? It protects you and your loved ones in a time when you are financially vulnerable. There are different uses for life insurance policies. Some use life insurance as tax sheltered investment policy. It can also be used for long term terminal illness solution to pay off medical and long term care bills. Some use it as mortgage protection for their home or funeral expense planning. Most importantly, it can be used for disability income when you suddenly become disabled and unable to perform your day to day job that generates income to support your family. These are living benefits that life insurance provides; it is not just for when you are dead and your loved ones reap the benefits. You can also reap some benefits from life insurance policy while you are still alife.

As you can see, there are different usages for life insurance policies. There are also different policies that fit individual, group or family needs. I will dive into explaining the different life insurance policies on the market in the next article. However, in the meantime, you can contact me for additional information as to how life insurance policy can help you and your family.

Until next time, blessings in full portion.

Anita Bediako Life Insurance Agent Contact: 571-229-6694 Email: divineconsultingmultiservices@gmail.com

February 2015

Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® – Licensed in the Common Wealth of Virginia Prince William County-Local Expert CONTACT 571-229-6694; Email: abediako@pwrealty.com

I am a 2nd generation of an African descent living overseas and over the years I have realized that the first generation of African descent has a myopic way of thinking and doing things. As a Realtor, I have come across a number of scenarios that I feel burdened and overwhelmed to address. One of the attributes I have encountered is “IGNORANCE”. Of course scripture does say that “for lack of knowledge my people perish” and indeed most Africans are perishing because of the symptom of ignorance.

What I have been trying to wrap my mind around is when you lay the foundation and educate one about the benefits of buying a real estate property in America, they are quick to say “I am concentrating on my project back home where I will spend my golden years!” Over and over I keep hearing this statement. Yet, I have seen people go back home and come back to America in a twinkle of an eye. When I asked the reason for their sudden return back to America, the laundry list of things that drove them back to America goes on and on. Most go back home to find their project in shamble, or the monies that were sent home have been used by their relative (s) for other things; or sadly they go home and tragically die and not even enjoy the fruits of their labor. You know the stories. It puzzles me that we have not learned anything from these atrocious stories. We continue to perpetuate this cycle.

Imagine if you had invested in real estate here in America, you would have greatly reaped the benefits. Here are a few things to consider. You would have gone back home and come back to your real estate property in whole to enjoy, or you could have enjoyed rental income from the real estate property in America while living overseas or you could have sell and cashed out the equity on your real estate in America as you venture off to motherland. You see real estate investment in America is a win-

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win coin for you.

The other side of the issue that troubles me is that our parents have failed to recognize that their decision for not investing has impacted the younger generation. We find it difficult to keep par with our peers who are non-Africans. Most of our peers graduate with minimum or no student loans because their parents were able to use their home equity to support their college education.

Furthermore, our peers tend to get ahead of us because they have the luxury of living with their parents after college and as a result they are able to purchase their own first home and other things that give them an edge over us. Most importantly, our parents have failed to recognize that "us” the 2nd, 3rd etc…generations, the chances of us going back to motherland to acquire or posse your properties are slim. We ask that you keep the investment(s) here so we (your children, grand children, great grand children) can enjoy your labor.

Mommy, Daddy, Uncle, Aunt; the younger generation is crying out loud that you wake up and begin to realize that America is the land of opportunities and investment through home ownership is part of the deal that drove you from motherland to this great country you live in and now call “home”.

When we see you investing or owning a property, it gives us something to look up to and the will to achieve greater things. It is no longer about you and going back to motherland; it’s about investing in our future so we can also enjoy all that America has to offer.

I will leave you with this to ponder; scripture says “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.” So as you start thinking of this, I urge you to start planning and start dreaming. The American dream is achievable and attainable.

Imagine that! It is now 2015 and you continue to say to yourself, I will go back home to settle; may be it has now been 10 years, 15 years, 20-30 years since you have been singing this song. The years have come to pass and you are still here living in America with nothing attached to your name.

Hmm! It is now, a brand new year with unlimited potential. Make owning a home a resolution that can be accomplished this year.

Stay tuned for the next article which will provide a step by step guide on how to achieve the American dream through home ownership.

Blessings in full portion!

For more information about your real estate needs call me at 571-229-6694 and I will help you get started. Thank you.

Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® –Licensed in the Common Wealth of Virginia Prince William County-Local ExpertCONTACT 571-229-6694; Email: abediako@pwrealty.com

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Ivory Coast Wins Africa Cup of Nations 2015

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Ivory Coast defeated Ghana on penalties to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after neither team could manage a goal throughout the match.

By Stewart Coggin,

Past Finals 2015 Ghana -Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Wins 9-8 2013 Nigeria-Burkina Faso Nigeria Won1-0 2012 Zambia 0-0 Ivory Coast (Zambia won 8-7 on penalties) 2010 Egypt 1-0 Ghana 2008 Egypt 1-0 Cameroon 2006 Egypt 0-0 Ivory Coast (Egypt won 4-2 on penalties) 2004 Tunisia 2-1 Morocco 2002 Cameroon 0-0 Senegal (Cameroon won 3-2 on penalties) 2000 Cameroon 2-2 Nigeria (Cameroon won 4-3 on penalties) 1998 Egypt 2-0 South Africa 1996 South Africa 2-0 Tunisia 1994 Nigeria 2-1 Zambia 1992 Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana (Ivory Coast won 11-10 on penalties) 1990 Algeria 1-0 Nigeria 1988 Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria 1986 Egypt 0-0 Cameroon (Egypt won 5-4 on penalties) 1984 Cameroon 3-1 Nigeria 1982 Ghana 1-1 Libya (Ghana won 7-6 on penalties) 1980 Nigeria 3-0 Algeria 1978 Ghana 2-0 Uganda 1976 Morocco 1974 Zaire 2-2 Zambia (Zaire won replay 2-0) 1972 Congo 3-2 Mali 1970 Sudan 3-2 Ghana 1968 Congo DR 1-0 Ghana 1965 Ghana 3-2 Tunisia (aet) 1963 Ghana 3-0 Sudan 1962 Ethiopia 4-2 United Arab Republic (aet) 1959 United Arab Republic 1957 Egypt 4-0 Ethiopia

Cups Won

7 Egypt 4 Ghana 4 Cameroon 3 Nigeria 2 Congo DR 1 Tunisia 1 Sudan 2 Ivory Coast 1 Algeria 1 Morocco 1 Ethiopia 1 South Africa 1 Congo 1 Zambia

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The penalty shootout, which lasted 11 rounds, ended when Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry converted after saving a penalty from Ghanian goalkeeper Brimah Razak. Ivory Coast won the shootout 9-8.

Africa Cup of Nations Winners

February 2015

Pu b lis h ed By Brigh t Ho u s e Prod u ct io n s

AFCON 2015: Ivory Coast Celebrates Win With Public Holiday

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Ivory Coast announced a public holiday to celebrate its dramatic win over Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

A 9-8 victory on penalties on Sunday night gave the Ivorians their second title, in a repeat of the 1992 final.

The game was followed by joyous celebrations on the streets the country's biggest city, Abidjan.

Ivory Coast's win brings to an end a 22-year drought during which they lost twice on penalties.

President Alassane Ouattara announced the paid holiday on public radio and television after the game.

'Unbelievable'

Celebrations in Abidjan went on late into the night on Sunday.

Gozo Maxime Blessing, a 27-year old student, told the BBC that fans had been waiting 23 years for this moment.

"I'm great. I don't know how to express my joy. But this is a very good performance by the Elephants.

"I am happy. I am voiceless. For 23 years, we were waiting for this trophy and by the grace of God we've got it."

The team are due to arrive back home on Monday afternoon, with a celebration planned at the city's Felix Houphouet-Boigny football stadium.

Announcements on local radio requested that fans stay away from the stadium as its 35,000 capacity had already been reached.

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