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Corona Virus: Shoe On The Other Foot As Africans Turn Away Europeans Pg. 9
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Quarter of world's population under lockdown
From the Editor
O u r G r ea tes t G lor y is n ot in n ever f a llin g b u t in r is in g ever y time we f a ll . We a r e co mmittted to b r in g in 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 po r a . Yo u ju n e als o vis it o u r web s ite a t www. a f r ikan pos t.co m f or d aily n ews u pd a tes o n Af r ica. D is cla imer : Th e o p in io n s ex pr es s ed in ar ticles a n d s to r ies in th is N ews pa per a r e th os e o f th e a u th o r s a n d do n o t n eces s a r ily r ef lect th e views o f Af r ika n Pos t . All commen ts a n d s u gg es tio n s ar e welco me.
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CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Jazz legend Manu Dibango dies of Covid-19 Pg.25
Alassane Ouattara: How Ivory Coast's president stunned West Africa Pg. 33
Olympian Akwasi Frimpong of Ghana at African Youth Survey launch in DC Page 6
Bishop Dag Heward Mills Loyaly and Disloyalty
Streets in Sydney's Central Business District are largely empty
India’s decision to enforce a lockdown on its 1.3 billion people means that at least a quarter of the world’s population of 7.8 billion is now living under tough restrictions on movement and social contact.
From Rwanda to California and New York to New Zealand, the coronavirus has shut down large parts of our planet – leaving normally heaving streets deserted and towering office blocks empty.
More news on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to postpone a vote on constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay in power until 2036.
In a televised address to the nation, Mr Putin - who has ruled the country since 2000 - announced that the public vote due on 22 April was now delayed until a "later date".
He did not elaborate. And there’s more to come – about half the US population are believed to be living under stay at home orders Separately, the president said that Russians would not and measures are expected in further states. From mid- work next week in an effort "to slow the speed" of the night on Thursday, all South Africans will have to stay new coronavirus. at home for a 21-day period. Russia has officially confirmed 658 cases, but no deaths. Over the last few weeks, you will have kept hearing that the coronavirus crisis has changed the world. The Mr Putin's critics have said the authorities may be underreporting the true scale of the outbreak. fact that so many of you reading this will be doing so from home, because you’ve been told to stay inside, is perhaps the starkest illustration of how this has affectSource:www.cnn.com ed all of us.
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Coronavirus - 10 Fake News You Should Ignore Pg. 5
Meet the Ghanaian Professor running for Ohio House of Representatives Pg. 33 The entire region around Manila, the Philippine capital, is under strict quarantine
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Afrikan Post
Coronavirus - 10 Fake News You Should Ignore
March 2020
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The organisation says there is currently "no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019." Clinical trials are, however, ongoing to find a solution to the disease. The explanation is rather that gargling with warm water could help kill the virus at the early stages before it reaches the lungs.
Zimbabwe video
A video surfaced online (Twitter), on Saturday, showing police officers beating Christians who visited a church in Zimbabwe generated a lot of retweets.
The video was viewed by over 80,000 Twitter users, gathered over 2,500 retweets and liked by over 3,000 persons with many hostile comments capable of inciting the public against security operatives.
Meanwhile, a check later showed that the video was old footage from an event in November 2019, in Zimbabwe against the political opposition.
The person who attributed the video to Coronavirus, Segun Awosanya (Sega Link), must have read his comment section because he subsequently released a rejoinder but this came after the video had got to nearly 100,000 persons.
By Adejumo Kabir Since its outbreak in December 2019, coronavirus has affected over 300,000 people in over 180 countries across the globe. The virus has also caused the death of over 11,000 as at Monday March 23.
About 40 of these infections have been confirmed in Nigeria by Tuesday morning and the country has also recorded one death. To stem the spread, Nigeria has placed a travel ban on 15 high-risk Covid-19 countries and also shut all its borders. Several state governors have given orders forbidding gatherings of more than 50 persons, including in religious houses, night-clubs, and schools.
These measures as well as the uncertainty the novel virus brought with it has increased the level at which information is being disseminated and shared across platforms.
Some of the information shared on platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook and other social media platforms are untrue and at best myths. Consequently, this information poses danger to recipients especially those who acted on them immediately.
In this report, PREMIUM TIMES looks at some major fake news and myths that have been debunked since the country recorded its first case of the disease.
Malaria vs COVID-19:
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, condemned Nigerian newspapers for 'over-reporting' of Coronavirus rather than other illnesses killing Nigerians.
He claimed that malaria kills 822 people on a daily basis and this made headlines in major Nigerian newspapers. The tweet, in less than 24 hours, gathered over 2,400 likes and 716 retweets.
A fact check later debunked Mr Shehu's claim. The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows figure on malaria fatality that is three times lower than that put forward by the presidential spokesperson.
No Coronavirus in Nigeria?
A viral picture went online suggesting that Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, said that there is no coronavirus in Nigeria and that the minister of health lied.
Mr Obasanjo, however, denied the claim. His spokesperson, Kehinde Akinyemi, said: "any statement that is attributed to Baba but did not include when and where he made it should be disregarded. Baba didn't say it and couldn't have said it."
Interestingly, the image bears a Punch logo but was never reported. Indeed, all signs point to it being a doctored image.
On driver that took Nigerian first case to Ogun
After the confirmation of the first case in Nigeria, a viral screenshot attributed to a Facebook page - AIT Nigeria News, alerted the public that the driver who drove the Italian man to Ogun demanded N100 million or he he would spread the virus.
A Google reverse image used for fact check later showed that the image conveyed in the screenshot is that of an article from BuzzFeedNews, published in 2018 with the headline: "Inside The Country Where You Can Buy A Black Man For $400."
However, the alleged driver has debunked the claims in a video. He said he had been in Benin and had not been to Lagos in two years.
AIT also issued a circular to distance itself from the viral message which featured the platform's logo. Cocaine cures coronavirus?
A verified Twitter account owned by a Nigerian music and entertainment developer with more than 190,000 followers identified as Bizzle Osikoya, tweeted a doctored image from a television breaking news segment, proposing that cocaine can cure coronavirus.
Findings reveal that only "260 deaths are recorded daily due to malaria."
A fact check, however, debunked this as the French Government disclaimed cocaine as cure to COVID-19.
Saline Solution:
It says; "Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug and using it can seriously harm people's health and create undesirable effects."
A viral Facebook post claimed a Saline Solution of warm water and salt or vinegar is a remedy to Coronavirus, a claim that has not been corroborated by any health institution.
However, a fact check debunked this. NHS recommends gargling with warm saline water for adults suffering from sore throats but not a solution to cure COVID-19.
Also, the WHO in its Q&A about coronavirus on twitter debunked a similar question of whether gargling mouthwash can protect one from COVID-19.
200 cases in Ghana?
A Twitter user with over 13,000 followers on the micro-blogging platform claimed Ghana has up to 200 cases of Coronavirus. Continued from Page 22
Havana Chapman-Edwards Returns to Ghana to Fight for Girls’ Education
Two years ago, TheAfricanDream.net interviewed Havana Chapman-Edwards aka “The Tiny Diplomat” before she made her first trip to Ghana to visit the St. Bakhita Orphanage in Ghana’s capital city Accra. Turn full circle and in March 2020 Havana has another trip to Ghana.
Havana was living in Washington D.C., United States (US) at the time, but she travels around the world with her diplomat family. After living in 6 countries and visiting a total of over 30 countries, she has seen first hand that she can’t make the world strong if she leaves people behind.
Havana and her friend Taylor Richardson aka “Astronaut Starbright” have since raised over $40,000 US dollars for financial support in their bid to not leave friends behind. They as well have collected books, school supplies, etc. for distribution to those that need them.
Havana is now at her next diplomatic post in Germany, and TheAfricanDream.net got the scoop about her plans to return to Ghana for the second time to bring $15,000 US dollars worth of clothing in collaboration with the ‘Look Good Do Good‘ initiative at KIDBOX. Havana is on the Kid’s Board of Directors for KIDBOX for 2019-2020. Boy this girl is on fire!
Additionally, Havana alongside 9 other young children were featured on the Today Show in the US for their philanthropic efforts as shown in her tweet below Over the past few months, Havana fundraised for her upcoming trip back to Ghana through this GoFundMe page. She also donated the profits from her own cloth-
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Olympian Akwasi Frimpong of Ghana at African Youth Survey launch in DC
ing design, encouraging other kids in the process with her catchphrase “I may be tiny, but my voice is not.”
Collaboration with Other Young People Havana has enlisted the help of other young philanthropists for her trip. She strongly believes that people are stronger when they work together. Fighting for girl’s education means caring about all the different obstacles that prevent too many girls around the world from accessing an education.
She has received donations from fellow a KIDBOX board member Jahkil Jackson who runs his own non-profit Project I Am in Chicago to donate blessing bags full of toiletries essentials.
Havana is bringing a large donation of menstrual hygiene products from Nadya Okamoto’s non-profit organization PERIOD Movement with her for the Ghana trip. Finally, Havana is also in her 4th year of Girl Scouts as a Brownie. She is bringing a bag full of journals and pens donated by the Girls Scouts Organization to empower the girls to write their goals and dreams for their future. TheAfricanDream.net will keep you posted as The Tiny Diplomat embarks on her sequel trip to Ghana. Be sure to follow Havana ChapmanEdwards on her trip back to Ghana this March 2020 on Instagram and Twitter via @thetinydiplomat and remember, you’re not too tiny to have a big impact!
According to Akwasi Frimpong: "It was an honor to be invited to the Atlantic Council of the United States (US) in Washington DC as a panelist representing the African youth at the US launch of the very first ‘African Youth Survey’ in partnership with the Atlantic Council and the Ichikowitz Family Foundation (IFF)."
The Winter Olympian from Ghana who disclosed this on his social media also went on to say that being invited to the panel of the Wednesday, March 26, 2020 event hosted by the Africa Center "clearly demonstrates that Africa is a vital part of the conversation. It also is a privilege for me to be the voice and indeed ‘Hope of a Billion’ fellow Africans.” He also told TheAfricanDream.net that “the new African is more aware of the power they possess to become a force for positive change."
Akwasi believes one vital way young Africans are bringing about progress is through the use of their voices and the opportunities social media and faith in themselves present them. Speaking after being a panelist at the official launch of the African Youth Survey event in Washington, DC. The panel discussion started after a short video presentation of the report’s findings to attendees and guests that day.
The Olympian who expressed gratitude to Ichikowitz Family Foundation and the Atlantic Council said events like this one allows him to get closer to achieving his desire "to simply contribute to shaping the African narrative, inspire all underdogs to work hard, and everyone to dream big."
The IFF’s inaugural African Youth Survey is the most comprehensive overview of youth perspectives in Africa to date. The report which paints a picture of Afro-optimism, also highlights the challenges of corruption and unemployment, while bringing to light interesting contradictions regarding opinions on climate change, democracy, and foreign influence.
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Africa Center Director of Programs and Studies Ms. Bronwyn Bruton opened a panel discussion with Ghanaian Olympian Akwasi Frimpong and Cathy Hartman — Executive Vice President of the report’s research partner PSB Research. Bruton engaged both on their participation in the survey, allowing Hartman to respond to the survey’s methodology while having Frimpong recount his inspirational story as a skeleton Olympian for Ghana, which is spotlighted in the report. “Being the ‘Hope of a Billion‘ for me is being an example for more than a billion Africans who have been told their dreams are not possible. I want to be the example that any dream, whether it is about being a doctor, a lawyer, a business person, or an Olympian, is possible with hard work, dedication and perseverance. Being that example is one of the things that makes me work so hard, because everything worth doing requires hard work” — Akwasi Frimpong.
“It was also an honor meeting Mr. Ivor Ichikowitz in person and former Commander of US Africa Command Lt. General William Ward (Ret.),” said the Olympian who felt impressed by the quality and content of attendants and guests at the event.
Senior stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector, as well as journalists from the US media and from Africa, attended the event, adding to its color and raising important questions on the survey’s design, applications, and intended audience. Both panelists remarked on the survey’s broad applicability and outlined avenues for further study in forthcoming iterations. Read the survey report here in this link or watch the YouTube video from the event which was streamed live. Source: Africa Center/TheAfricanDream.net Written by Oral Ofori
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Coronavirus: Shoe on the other foot as Africans turn away Europeans
wo Italians were prohibited from entering Ghana from tries not to come to Uganda because the high cases Italy after Accra issued a travel ban against people they are reporting can easily be imported” into the from countries with high rates of coronavirus infection. east African country. On Tuesday, Ghana’s Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the two Italians were “in the air” from their country when Ghana’s government communicated its prohibition with the airline.
“Last night (Monday night) there were two Italians, who it was clear they were coming from the epicenter …even though the aircraft was still in the air, we had to make arrangements at the airport to ensure that they did not get off the aircraft and they are returned to their originating destination,” Nkrumah said. The prohibition was supposed to have started on Tuesday afternoon but the minister said the government thought it wise to go with an early “soft enforcement”. Ghana is not the only country on the continent closing its borders to Europeans for fear of the spread of COVID-19.
Since last week, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Cameroon among others have all indicated that travelers from Europe are not welcome.For many people, this development seems like a crude joke as it represents an opposite reality of a trend before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
For over three decades, it has been Africans who have found it difficult to emigrate to European countries. The issue of African immigration has become a focal point for Europe’s far-right parties.
In this scenario, where the tables have turned, one is not arguing that much has changed in the socioeconomic realities in Europe and Africa.
But however shortlived the coronavirus crisis is, it has exposed the ignorance and arrogance of European nationalism and superiority and invited us to cooperate on a wider global scale in all things.
In these times unprecedented in the last century, Europeans in some of the worst-hit countries are the NII NTREH ones seemingly escaping coronavirus infection by traveling to African countries. https://face2faceafrica.com/ Last week, Tunisia deported Italian tourists who refused to self-isolate in safety precautions against the spread of the coronavirus in the north African country. The 30 tourists were sent back after just a week.
They had arrived on the Tunisian coast of Tabarka via sea voyage. They also refused a compulsory 14-day quarantine measure by Tunisian health officials.
In a similar fashion, Uganda’s Health Minister, Jane Ruth Aceng, was quoted as saying her government “has decided to ask travelers from the affected coun-
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Jack Ma gives 20,000 coronavirus test kits to each country in Africa
China’s richest man and founder of e-commerce company Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, has donated 20,000 coronavirus test kits to each and every African country.
Ma’s generosity also comes with 100,000 masks and 1,000 protective suits and shields for each of the 54 countries.
The tech billionaire’s donations come on the back of having given the United States some 500,00 test kits. France, Italy and other European countries have also been beneficiaries of the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation.
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the kits to African countries, Ma said his donation was to help “take precautions now and get prepared ahead of time.”
The statement also said, “In addition, we will immediately start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.” Ma, who recently toured African countries that included Ghana and Nigeria, is by far one of the world’s richest people who seems to have committed the most resource into the global fight against the coronavirus.
Others such as Bill Gates have also donated kits to the United States government.
Africa still has a lower number of cases when compared to Asia, the Americas and Europe. But the cases of coronavirus infection have been steadily rising over a fortnight.
In all, there are about 300 confirmed cases in Africa with Egypt, South Africa and Algeria sharing the bulk of cases.
The coronavirus pandemic, officially known as COVID-19, began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. Since then, it has spread across the world, with over 7,000 deaths.
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Is the Ghana media already failing the future of Ghana?
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imitate other cultures. Music videos are now flooded with half-naked or virtually naked women twerking to beats like no one’s business. What happened to the Ghanaian morals, identity and those who stood for the right things to be done. The media together with its regulators are failing us. Dear gatekeepers of information, education, and entertainment where are you taking us if you continue to be at the beck and call of politicians. The media must put governments and those in authorities in check. How long should innocent people die or suffer for other’s selfishness, carelessness or misdeed.
The media is a powerful institution. Per the 1992 constitution of Ghana, it is the fourth estate of the realm. No doubt those who put together the constitution knew the powerful role the media must, should and will play as the years go by.
But what do we see these days, the supposed powerful institution of the media has now forgotten its duties, role, and powers because it is now being tossed around by governments of the day.
In this century some people still don’t have access to potable drinking water, basic education, good roads, quality health care, and on the side women still die while giving birth yet these issues seem not to be regularly prioritized by the media in Ghana today.
Developmental issues like mental health and educational challenges still linger on without sustainable policies and programs to solve them. These situations almost stay the same way until people lose lives, embark on demonstrations or threaten to not cast their votes forcing the government of the day to feebly attempt to resolve such problems.
Hmmm, so what’s my point you’re asking?
I will simply put, where is the fourth arm of government that is supposed to push for the betterment of society and the marginalized?
The media is to inform, educate and entertain right? OK, but what do we see and hear now? Curse words and cussing have become the norm of the day on the Ghanaian airwaves, even supposedly responsible politicians and religious leaders freely throw around bad language on TV and radio, like as though kids are not listening or sensibilities are not offended.
Our local Ghanaian music videos, movies, music, and
broadcasters have all joined the bandwagon, without batting an eyelid and we look on thinking it is funny… What, in the name of our ancestors, at all are we teaching the next innocent generation? Music videos are flooded with words that once were forbidden or difficult to mention. Look I know the world has changed and become more liberal but come on, must we force immorality down the throats of our young future generation, must we copy blindly just to fit in, must we ignore the values and morals we in our 40s and above were raised with by our parents and grandparents — all in the name of getting at par with modernity?
I quite remember that in the late ’90s, a jury at the Ghana music awards rejected Batman Samini’s song ‘Linda’ because he used what was felt to be a derogatory word although the song was a huge hit. My point is, what is different now looking back at those days? Read also: 5 Social Media Marketing Trends To Adopt In 2020
Did the rules governing the work of the media change? What had happened to censorship. Where did the authority of the National Media Commission go, that censorship on the media space is now nothing to the media? Nudity, profanity and suicidal comments range on without a blink of an eye or second thought for the future generation.
We fill day time TV with foreign culture and programs, many of which do not represent what we are as Ghanaians or even Africans. And the few times where we allow programs synonymous with our culture we find them trying too hard to
We can put governments of the day in order by simply awakening to our responsibility, if those we trusted have been bought then it’s about time we started looking out for ourselves.
Let them work for what they promised the electorate and not be in bed with the media in other to control or put the masses to sleep. Don’t the obsequiousness stop! Rather, set the agenda for governments to follow. That is your duty. The nation needs a media that will go all length to push for the sustenance of development projects and policies in the right direction. We need a robust, professional, modernized and advanced media, if we have it then it must be reactivated because right now it seems it is comatose. To those few that are holding the forte, I say thank you for calling wrong exactly what it is and risking your peace of mind for the sake of truthfulness. God save our mental health, our infrastructure, our culture, and our identity as Ghanaians! Please click on this link https://youtu.be/iVLmIaYcvy0 for the full video by the author of this piece. Written by Philip Ofori-Yentumi
Loyalty and Disloyalty
already within the city. You just wait . They will open those big gates from within and my armies will rush in. That is the only way the enemy can destroy a successful and Powerful Ministry that is doing all the right things. It has to come from within. The 5th comprises the disloyal, double faced double-tongue and discontented people within every ministry. If these people are allowed to wreak havoc as they so very well can, they will destroy the church. I remember years ago when I started out in the ministry, I experienced the the effect of having a disloyal Associate. This official although officially standing on my right hand side did not believe in me and was murmuring against me all the time. His home was the meeting place for all the discontented people in the church. Every time they gathered they would discuss and criticize me. At times they would talk about the way I preached . At other times it was the way I sipped water in the middle of my sermons. Rev. Dag Heward-Mills Yet again , some felt I was not friendly enough. But the Lord revealed all these things to me . I prayed about it and asked the Why teach on the subject “loyalty and disloyalty”. I Lord what to do believe the Lord has laid on my heart this practical subject for God told me “ Get rid of that guy” I said “ Lord you mean he various reasons. First of all I have seen the relevance of the must leave the church. ? subject in the word of God. The scriptures are littered with And the Lord said “I mean exactly that . “Dismiss him otheraccounts of faithful and treacherous people. There was a lot to wise you will never have peace and your church will never grow. learn from these accounts in the Bible . So I called a meeting of the Elders of the church. At the meeting I My few years in the ministry have also made me very said “ I realise that Brother X is not in support of me. He’s conaware of loyal and disloyal people. I have noticed the impact stantly full of bitter criticisms” that it has on churches and Ministries. I will share with you a I said to Brother X . “ I know that you do not believe in my few reasons why the subject of loyalty is such an important leadership anymore. I trained you. I brought you up . And today one. you are too big to remain under my authority.” I asked “ What do you think we should do.:” 7 reasons why the subject of loyalty is important Then the brother said “ Lets work things out.” 1. Loyalty is the principal qualification for every minister An inexperienced person is likely to think that a friendly But the scripture that the Lord had shown me came floating up brother will make a good pastor. He may also think that to my mind. Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out yea, someone with good oratory skills will make the best preacher. strife and reproach shall cease. Proverbs 22:10. Do not make that mistake. The Bible teaches us that the I spoke up, pointed to my assistant and said, “ You know as Cardinal requirement for leadership is faithfulness and not well as i do that its not going to work . You dont believe in me anything else. anymore.” I went on ? from today, I have relieved you of all your …… it is required in stewards, that man be found faithduties in this church, “ ful. 1st Corinthians 4 vrs. 2 He sputtered , “ What !” Then he said, “ I will continue coming I have found many wonderful pastors who work with me. to church even though I may not have certain responsibilities.” Many of them are not overly friendly, flashy, or particularly But I said to him, “ No! You must leave ! You are not part of gifted. But time has proven that they are the best gifts God us. Your presence in the church will only be destructive.” has given to his Church and me . I tell you, it was no easy thing to dismiss a friend and associate of many years . But it had to be doone . 2. To fight the 5th column The Bible tells us that when Abraham was in conflict with Lot Very early in my ministry I realized that the devil is an he directed Lot to go somewhere else !. Abraham was saying “ If expert destroying the church from within. If you are a good we are apart there will be peace and the work of God can go on. Minister called of God and doing the right things, the devil A disloyal person breeds strife, hatred and murmuring . These will have vry little opportunity to fight against you from outdisloyal sentiments are like smoke that fills and entire house. The side. Like Jesus said “ the prince of this world cometh and only way to get rid of the smoke is to get rid of the fire. hath nothing in me . John 14 : 30. If we want to have a large church , we need to minister with You will realize that Satan often does not have the occalove and with oneness. If we cannot be one, lets stop pretending. sion to launch deadly attacks against you from outside. Jesus You see , I encourage people to walk out of my church if their was saying that though the enemy was coming after him, he hearts are not with me. did not have any grounds to destroy him. There are many I will beg you to leave , if I have to. I am serious about this . I anointed preachers in the same category. Satan has no basis will even give you money to pay for your transportation and for which to overcome them so he has to use someone from snacks as you leave us. So that those of us who love one another within. In the case of Jesus it was a traitor (Judah) whom are confident about each other can stay together and continue Satan used. working. I don't know how to pretend . I simply don't know how I recall reading the story of an army General who surto do it. But there are many pretenders in the Church . They prerounded a large city with the aim of conquering it. This city tend to love you and support you but in their hearts they despise was heavily fortified with a high and imposing wall and you. gate. The army General surrounded the city in readiness to attack. One friend of the general came along and asked him, 3.For the love of God to fill the Church “Sir, how do you think you are going to overcome the The Ministry is supposed to operate with the power of love defenses of this city ? No one in recent history has been unity and teamork. able to conquer this great City.” The ministry is supposed to operate with the power of love The army general smiled and said “ It is my 5th column I am depending on to do the trick. “ The generals friend was By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you very interested and asked, “What is this 5th column?. I love one another.” John 13:35 thought you only had four columns.” To minister as effective leader you need to exhibit the love that The army general replied “ I do have a 5th column.” Jesus spoke about. People are attracted by love. When thhy see “Oh, I see. Is it a special commando unit or are they airleaders who flow together in genuine love they are attracted. You borne paratroopers?’ the man asked. must never forget that your church members are not blind. Neither I will fight from within are they deaf. They can see and feel disunity and discord when it The general laughed “ No, it's none of these. My 5th colis there. umn consists of my spies friends and supporters who are
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Sheep Oy Drink from Still Waters. One thing that every pastor must know about sheeo is that they drink from still waters. If the water is murky and rough the sheep will stay away . You see, they are not sure there is no crocodile in the water ! ...... h leadth me beside the still waters. Pslam 23:2 Whenever there is treatury and distrct your church members become scared and wary aa stay away.
4.To have a large and successful ministerial team One man can only do so much . One pastor can only be at one place at a time . He can only minister until his stregth (which is limited) exhausted. Because of this anyone who wants to extend his ministry and bear fruit has to learn to work with many other people . These people are the team that I am talking about However it would be better to work alone than with the team of disloyal disgruntled disunited disaffected people. In fact it is not possible to have an effective team with such people I believe I have only been able to do so as much as I have done because of the team with whom I worked.
5. To Have e Mega Church As I am writing these are lighthouse churches in Ghana , Switzerland and SouAaaca to mention afew. Thes churches are part of a new that is loyal to the headqurters of the church in Ghanaaa. People often ask me how do you sustain churches on all these different locations what are so what sort of controls do you have you see much of the system depends on loyalty the churches are posted by ministers who are loyal to the Lord to me and the lighthouse vision without loyalty every Network or denomination of church constantly and the ghost disintegration they frequently divided into Splinter groups and smaller sub churches. I remember the story of A branch head that disintegrated because of disunity. some long-standing seeds of disloyalty manifested shortly after a fundraising event in the local church as a result of those disagreements the pastor decided to resign and start his own church . He was so angry that he returned all the money he had raised .The church members of course were very surprised that the money they had given to the church was being returned. This pastor spread many bad stories about his denomination and it's senior ministers. Naturally this church virtually disintegrated following the pastors action. Dear friend I can give you story after story of why churches ( especially branched churches in big cities) constantly divide and break off. What I can say for sure is that without principled and loyal pastors the ministry of Our Lord will always be limited. 6.To Have a Long standing Ministry One person has only a few years of practical and effective Ministry. Jesus only Ministered for 3 and 1/2 years but he extended his ministry and his influence through an effective and loyalty team. I noticed that Jesus's Ministry has branched out into the whole world and has spanned almost 2000 years. If I die now the Lighthouse Chapel is going to live on. It does not depend on me I have not built a church around my personality The church will continue. None of us is indispensable. God can do without us that is why we need to build a team of loyal successors.
17. In ordee reap our full reward. Those who benefit from the blessings of success are the faithful and loyal ones. One day we all hope to hear those famous words; Well done good and faithful servant those who stick with you through difficult times are different from those who come in when everything is working well. Jesus himself told his disciples that they will be treated differently from any other famous minister. They would have a special candle and their names would even be written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem Well Done And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles ........Revelations 21:14 Even the great men of God we know today , will not qualify for this special reward. Jesus gave a reason for this special reward.- they had been loyal to Him through the most difficult part of His ministry. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations... I appoint unto you a kingdom. Luke 22:28,29. I appreciate very much the pastors who have stood with me throughout my ministry. They have watched me rise and supported me even in my mistakes. To me they are different from others. Like Jessu said they have a special reward.
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Chad will repay a debt of $100m to Angola with cattle
Is Uganda on the verge of finding cure for coronavirus?
ngola has agreed to be paid 75,000 in cows for a $100 million debt it is owed by Chad. The livestock will be given to the oil-rich country over 10 years for a debt that Chad contracted in 2017.
There’s a raging controversy in Uganda after the country’s speaker of parliament claimed that a local pharmaceutical company is on the verge of manufacturing cure for the deadly coronavirus.
The BBC reported that the first installment of more than a thousand cows was transported by ship to the Angolan capital Luanda earlier this week.
The agreement, which is undoubtedly unusual in modern financial and commercial transactions, values each cow at $1,333. Chad may reportedly send as many as 3,500 cows this month.
The proposal was agreed by Angola as an opportunity to grow its cattle population. Many areas in the country that have been affected by drought have been identified by the Angolan government.
Chad, on the other hand, is a country that has many pastoralist ethnic groups and apparently enough cattle to forfeit its debt.
The World Health Organisation of Animal Health is said to describe Chad as a “livestock farming country par excellence”. There are some 94 million cattle in that country that has just around 15 million people.
Although Chad is a landlocked country, livestock accounts for 30% of the country’s exports.
Angola is a country that is heavily dependent on its largely successful petrochemical industry as well as tourism.
Luanda is one of the most expensive cities on the continent but also a holiday destination for many Europeans, especially those from the Iberian peninsula.
“A professor who manufactured the treatment for coronavirus in the U.S., and he has donated the patent to Uganda and within a fortnight, the treatment will be made here,” Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga said.
“It will be available on the market here, in Uganda. It’s being made by a company called Dei International. Not that we should be relaxed, but there’s hope,” added Kadaga. Kadaga’s comments came on the back of a meeting with Professor Sarfaraz Niazi, a scientist from the University of Illinois in the United States, and the proprietors of Dei Biopharma Uganda Limited, VOA reported.
Ugandan Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng, is, however, of a different opinion, warning that the claims by Kadaga were false.
Aceng has been working closely with the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control since the outbreak.
“There’s no research that has been approved by WHO clearly saying, ‘let the countries implement this.’ Until WHO has said, ‘this is the way to go,’ we still know that the treatment for COVID is supportive treatment, lots of fluids and analgesics for those who are in pain,” VOA quoted Aceng as saying.
“For those who are in the hospital with the severe form, we want to rehydrate them, give them oxygen where it is necessary and treat pneumonia, where there’s pneumonia.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s defense minister believes the pandemic was God’s “punishment” on the US and the West for imposing sanctions on members of the ruling regime.
“Coronavirus is the work of God punishing countries who imposed sanctions on us,” Zimbabwe’s defense minister Oppah Muchinguri said Saturday at a rally. “They are now staying indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to our economy.”
Thirty countries in Africa have confirmed cases including Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Egypt.
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Zimbabwe Parents Face Jail Term If Their Children Drop Out Of School homes and backyards, especially in poor areas of the capital.
These schools operate illegally since they are unregistered and they cost about $3 a month as compared to fees at government-run schools which must be paid upfront and ranges from $30 and $700 a year.
According to Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac), in 2019 at least 60% of the children in primary school were sent home for failing to pay fees. The new law makes it an offence to expel children for nonpayment of school fees or for becoming pregnant.
Prior to the new law, Zimbabwe‘s first leader Robert Mugabe who was a teacher himself had adopted commendable education policies after the country’s independence in 1980.
The school system he implemented saw Zimbabweans ranked among countries with the highest literacy rates in Africa. However, the education system began to crumble when free education ended in the 1990s.
The onus is now on parents as they have to ensure that their children go to school. If their children fail to attend school, they face up to two years in jail or a $260 fine if their children are found not to be attending classes if they can afford to pay it.
Zimbabwean parents could face up to two years in jail if they fail to send their children to school.
In a bid to stem the rising school drop-out figures, the government has made education compulsory up to the age of 16.
An estimated 20% of children do not go to school in some parts of the country. Meanwhile, high drop-out rate has been attributed to factors such as the poor state of the economy, pregnancy, early marriages, the long distances to schools and a lack of interest. As a result of some parent’s inability to pay their wards tuition, makeshift schools have been sprouting up in
Afrikan
South African Airways Suspends All International Flights Until 31 May 2020 March 2020
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JOHANNESBURG, 20 March 2020 –
South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will immediately suspend all international operations until 31 May 2020 in response to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
The COVID-19 pandemic and attendant travel restrictions, resulted in substantial decline in demand for air travel.
The situation caused many airlines across the world to ground aircraft, release their employees, and to cancel flights. In the case of SAA, this decision means that SAA will only render services on its regional and domestic routes.
Following the declaration of the State of Disaster after the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Africa, the government announced a travel ban and issued regulations, which introduced certain measures aimed at combatting the spread or transmission of the virus. Amongst other things, the regulations, issued on Thursday state that: “Disembarkation of foreign nationals from the high-risk countries is suspended on airports upon arrival. Embarkation and disembarkation is permissible under the following circumstances: Disembarkation of returning South African citizens and permanent residents; embarkation of departing foreign nationals, disembarkation of a declared medical emergency; foreign nationals must be approved by port health services; upon landing, crew from high risk countries shall be subject to medical screening and quarantined for 21 days”.
SAA operates in three markets that form part of countries listed in the travel ban as high-risk areas. These are the United States (Washington DC and New York, JFK), the United Kingdom (London, Heathrow) and Germany (Frankfurt and Munich). In addition, SAA operates flights to Australia (Perth) and Brazil (São Paulo) which have not been declared high-risk. All of which are now cancelled.
“In support of efforts by government to deal with this pandemic, and in the best interests of our crew, passengers and the public, we have decided to suspend all international flights until 31 May 2020. It is all our responsibility, not just government, to curb further transmission of the virus. In addition, theincreasing risks to our crew of contracting the virus including the possibility of being trapped in foreign destinations as a consequence of increasing travel bans cannot be ignored,” said SAA Acting CEO, Zuks Ramasia.
“We also recognise the fluidity in the conditions we operate in and the need to respond to these changes with speed, to this end we commit to keep all our stakeholders abreast of any changes on an ongoing basis,” said Ramasia . MEDIA RELEASE
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SAA regrets any inconvenience to our customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and we encourage all customers to visit our website, www.flysaa.com, for further updates. Customers are advised to either contact their professional travel advisor, visit www.flysaa.com or for direct bookings, South African Airways Reservations at 1-(800) 722-9675
“We thank customers for their support by continuing to place their trust in South African Airways with their travel plans,” concluded Ramasia.
SAA will provide regular and timely updates through media statements, its official channels and through its travel trade partners. -EndsFor Media Enquiries, please contact: SAA Spokesperson Mr Tlali Tlali Email: TlaliTlali@flysaa.com Mobile: +27 (0)82 333-3880 Office: +27 (0)11 978-2298
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29 Words Of Nigerian Origin To Be Included In Next Edition Of Oxford English Dictionary
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Tema Choir USA Inc. Thrills The International Community At Ghana's 63rd Independence Anniversary Celebration In Washington DC March 2020
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ord English Dictionary (OED) lexicographers are adding 29 words of Nigerian origin to their vocabulary of words that will be seen in the next edition of the dictionary.
In an announcement earlier this month, the publisher described the new words as either borrowed from Nigerian languages or having unique Nigerian coinage.
The words are said to have come from about the middle of the 20th Century.
The OED is one of the most acclaimed dictionaries of the English language. Various editions have served as authoritative references for the history and evolution of the language.
Nigeria’s official language is English and this makes the 191-millionstrong country one of the biggest English-speaking populations in the world.
But the multitude of native Nigerian languages and dialects means that lingual creolization involving the English language is also rather sophisticated.
Through its mass entertainment media, Nigerian-invented pidgin has become the most popular pidgin English in Africa.
Some of the new entries are danfo (commercial vehicular transport), okada (commercial motorcycle transport), K-leg (camel knees), sef (in particular), buka (eatery) and tokunbo (second-hand clothing or vehicle).
https://face2faceafrica.com
Ghana’s 63rd independence celebration at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC had a different flare to it with the electrifying performance of the Tema Choir USA Inc.
The group gave a rendition of the patriotic song “Amansuon Twerampon” in the local Akan language to the admiration of all. A thundering applause exploded in the atmosphere when the song ended.
They also sang the Ghana and USA national anthems powerfully and the spirit of nationalism consumed everyone. Before the introduction of Ambassador Baffour Adjei Bawuah to the podium to give his anniversary speech, the Choir entertained guests with many local repertoires.
The Tema Choir USA Inc. is the newly formed international wing of the Tema Youth Choir in Ghana. It is a newly formed group led by the founder of both choirs Mr. Ebenezer A. Allotey, a renowned musicologist.
Mr. Ebenezer Allotey is currently spearheading an ambitious initiative to explore how music and singing can feature regularly in assisted living facilities across the United States.
The Tema Choir USA Inc. was formed in November 2019 with a mission to create community, foster unity and build a better world through music. Comprised of singers representing a wide range of age, religious beliefs, and cultural backgrounds, the Tema Choir USA Inc. uses choral music as a vehicle for bringing communities together in order to promote and create social change.
As part of the Christmas festivities, the choir visited a number of nursing homes to minister to the elderly residents.
On Saturday, December 28, 2019 the group had a mini
Christmas concert at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Burke, Virginia. They ministered to elderly men and women who are often forgotten, stirring up joy in them and bringing smiles to their faces with the pleasant sound of the choir. Their presence and songs rekindled in the residents a hope that they were not forgotten.
They also visited the Tribute at the Glen Assisted Living Center in Woodbridge, Virginia as well and filled the atmosphere with soothing Christmas carols that brought joy to the residents.
More about the Tema Choir USA Inc. can be found on their website at www.temachoirusa.org The Choir is also available for every occasion and can be contacted via their Gmail account temachoirusainc@gmail.com.
March 2020
www.esthershairwigbeautyshops.com
13895 Hedgewood Dr, suite 317 Woodbridge, VA 22193
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Adjiringano Botwe Rd. Next to Goil StationEast Legon, Accra LOC: Abogba : Near the Cemetary Opposite Shell Petrol Station Accra
Kumasi Patasi Road Next to Mango Down E-Mail: dynacorpltd@yahoo.com E-Mail: dynacorpltd@yahoo.com Contacts: 0244 233 626 /0244 421 303 /0674 026 641
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Coronavirus - 10 Fake News You Should Ignore
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Last Survivor Of Transatlantic Slave Trade Discovered
He later deleted the tweet. As against this claim, Ghana on Sunday closed all its borders to human traffic to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after the country confirmed its first death from the disease.
Ghana's Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, disclosed that travellers from high-risk countries with more than 200 cases of the Covid-19 would not be allowed into the country.
In all, only 21 cases have been confirmed in the country as at the time of filing this report.
Sex kills coronavirus?
A viral WhatsApp message/image claims constant sex kills coronavirus. The image featured CNN's, Wolf Blitzer.
Checks, however, showed that it was doctored. A reverse image search revealed the same picture was used earlier with the caption "Alcohol kills coronavirus". This is not also the original caption by CNN.
Sex is an activity that has to do body contact. This is the first red flag. Coitus or sex involves close contact, close contact means interaction with body fluids, a sure way of contacting coronavirus, a fact check reveals. Putin vs Lions
Social media went agog on Sunday as some reports claimed that Vladimir Putin ordered a release of around 500 lions on the streets of Russia to ensure that people remain inside their houses during the coronavirus outbreak.
Pictures and Videos of lions on a street were being circulated and a tweet also claimed that "Vladimir Putin has given Russians two options. You stay at home for 2 weeks or you go to jail for 5 years. No middle ground."
Meanwhile, a fact check shows that it is false. The picture of a lion on the street is from the year 2016 in South Africa.
If you can hold your breath for 10 seconds, then you don't have the virus?
This long message began circulating early on in the crisis and the claims have been shared more than 30,000 times on Facebook in over a dozen countries, including India, Nigeria and the USA.
It goes saying "If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection."
However, a fact check proved this wrong. The check proved that "Fibrosis is not a feature of coronavirus and you cannot tell... if you've got COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) you won't be able to hold your breath for 10 seconds anyway. And some people who have , the only symptom they've got is a fever and not a cough."
Read the original article on Premium Times.
https://allafrica.com/Last survivor of transatlantic slave trade discovered
Matilda McCrear was captured by slave traders in West Africa when she was two years old
The identity of the last survivor of the transatlantic slave trade has been uncovered as a woman named Matilda McCrear who died in the US state of Alabama in 1940.
Research conducted by the University of Newcastle in England, found that Matilda McCrear was captured by slave traders in West Africa when she was two. She arrived in Alabama in 1860 on board of The Clotilda - one of the last transatlantic slave ships in Africa.
She was sold with her mother to a wealthy plantation owner called Memorable Creagh.
The researcher who made the discovery had previously identified the last survivor as a woman named Redoshi Smith who died in 1937. https://www.bbc.com/
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At 14, self-taught programmer Kutlwano Tshatiwa has nine apps Afrikan
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Ilhan Omar marries her former campaign aide
he Democratic congresswoman for Minnesota’s 5th district, Ilhan Omar, has revealed that she is now married to her former aide, Tim Mynett.
Omar, a prominent target of conservative politicians and Republicans, took to Instagram with a photo of her and Mynett. The caption to the photo read: “Got married! From partners in politics to life partners, so blessed”.
utlwano Tshatiwa is a South African self-taught programmer. Tshatiwa’s creative ingenuity is incredible, which has resulted in the development of nine apps. A native of South Africa’s North West province, he started learning coding at the age of 13.
“When I was 13 years old I decided to learn programming languages and I developed my first app at the age of 14,” Briefly quoted him.
Tshatiwa said to develop apps one needs to get the basics for programming languages citing C, Java, and Python as examples. “I didn’t have a laptop to code in. So I downloaded apps and started coding on my phone,” he said after extensive reading
the ISF.
Last year, it was reported that Beth Mynett, formerly married to Omar’s new husband, told a court that her ex-husband called for a divorce after confessing he was in love with Omar.
Barley is a social entrepreneur who is shaping a world where more African women will be daring enough to lead in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields.
Tim Mynett used to be the chief campaign fundraiser for the Somali-born congresswoman.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian digital Techpreneur, Ivy Barley, has joined tech-giant, Microsoft as a Program Manager.
“I’m glad to be part of Microsoft, a company that’s leading technological advancement globally. I’m even more proud to be associated with a company that loves and supports the work we do at Devinvogue. This is literally ‘Come as you are, do what you love’,” she wrote on Twitter.
Inspired by Thomas Suarez, a developer who created his Barley learned coding all by herself and risen to become first app when he was 12 years old, the first app one of the young female Africans changing the narrative Tshatiwa developed was called Flashlight. about a male-dominated tech industry.
“My favorite one was an app I termed DR Tumi. It is an app that I converted DR Tumi’s website into,” he said.
Tshatiwa is learning how to develop reality apps and has his sights set on creating social media apps such as Facebook in the future.
Tshatiwa was a participant in the Eskom Expo ISF 2019, where he won the highly commended project award, according to Briefly.
Tshatiwa’s latest creation is an app that aids kids hone their mathematics skills.
“I now have developed an Android application which helps learners practice maths, it’s some sort of a quiz application, and I developed in only three weeks using C# programming language,” said Tshatiwa who’s also a recipient of gold and bronze medals at the levels under
She believes she has the potential to make a significant impact in Africa. A holder of an MPhil in Mathematical Statistics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science Barley became the second Ghanaian technologist to join Microsoft after Edem Kumodzi who had earlier joined Microsoft as Program Manager.
Barley is the co-founder and CEO of “Developers in Vogue“, an organization helping women embrace the digital technology industry by training and equipping thousands of women in Africa with digital skills.
https://face2faceafrica.com/
Omar also divorced her former husband Ahmed Hirsi late last year. She had three children with Hirsi.
The 38-year-old Minnesota representative is an outspoken critic of US foreign policy. Her views on US support for Israel have often led to accusations of antisemitism. She is also an advocate for progressive politics.
Omar, together with congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) NY-14, Ayanna Pressley (D) MA-7th and Rashida Tlaib (D) MI-13th, are referred to as The Squad by popular and mainstream media. https://www.africanexponent.com/
Jazz legend Manu Dibango dies of Covid-19
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political prisoners were freed, a state of emergency ended and numerous political parties unbanned.
But the charges of tax evasion he faced in absentia were not dropped and he was sentenced to seven years in jail last October.
Hotel quarantine for travellers
Other measures to curb coronavirus that have been announced by the government include ordering most its employees to work from home from Wednesday and closing all land borders.
Jazz legend Manu Dibango has died in Paris aged 86 after catching coronavirus.
He was best known for his 1972 song Soul Makossa and often fused jazz and funk music with traditional sounds from his home country of Cameroon.
News of his death came from a post on his official Facebook page, referring to him by his nickname 'Papy Groove'.
Top aide to Nigeria's President gets coronavirus
Kalkidan Yibeltal BBC News, Addis Ababa More than 4,000 prisoners will be released in Ethiopia as the government continues to take measures to control the spread of coronavirus.
The country’s attorney general said on Wednesday that prisoners convicted of minor offences and women with babies were among those who would be freed.
Foreigners charged with involvement in with smuggling and drug trafficking would also be released and deported to their countries of origin.
All passengers travelling to Ethiopia are be quarantined for 14 days in eight hotels selected by authorities.
Ethiopian citizens who cannot afford to pay will have their expenses covered by the government.
More than 400 travellers have started their mandatory quarantine, according to a statement by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute.
Ethiopia has 12 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.
Among those to be released is journalist Fekadu Mahtemework.
The magazine editor returned to Ethiopia after Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy came to power in 2018 at a time when thousands of
DR Congo president’s aide dies of Covid-19 Etienne Tshisekedi, the father of the current president.
As a lawyer he represented opposition politician Moïse Katumbi and others who opposed former President Joseph Kabila's attempt to extend his term in office.
Abba Kyari is often described as President Buhari's "right-hand man"
A senior government source in Nigeria has told the BBC that President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff has tested positive for coronavirus.
ruling party attended by the president and his deputy Yemi Osinbajo, who has gone into self isolation as a precaution.
It is believed Mr Kyari may have a Often described as President Buhari’s “right-hand man”, Abba Kyari is reported- complicated medical history. ly in his 70s. Meanwhile, the presidency is currently functioning with a reduced He had visited Germany earlier this staff and had announced the indefmonth with other Nigerian officials. Germany has reported 27,000 confirmed inite suspension of the weekly cabinet meeting to stop the spread cases of Covid-19. of the virus. It is unclear whether Mr Kyari had selfisolated for 14 days when he returned to It is unknown whether the president, who has undisclosed medical Nigeria. issues, has been tested for the But a senior government official did con- virus or not, but it has led to speculation about his health. firm he had tested positive. https://www.bbc.com/ A total of 16 governors were in direct contact with Mr Kyari at a meeting of the
Mr Tshisekedi took over from Mr Kabila in January last year, the first peaceful transfer of power in the country in nearly 60 years.
Jean-Joseph Mukendi wa Mulumba was a key figure in opposition politics
The third person to die of Covid-19 complications in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a respected human rights lawyer and an aide of President Félix Tshisekedi. Jean-Joseph Mukendi wa Mulumba was the acting head of President Tshisekedi’s legal advisory council.
He is likely to have contracted the respiratory illness during his trip to France for a medical check-up.
Mr Mulumba has been a key figure in DR Congo opposition politics and in human rights circles.
He was a close aide of the late veteran opposition leader
Many have described Mr Mukendi wa Mulumba's death as a huge loss, including foreign humanitarians who worked with him.
Rights activist Anneke Van Woudenberg wrote on Twitter: "He was one of the greats. His country, and the human rights movement, will miss him." DR Congo has confirmed 48 cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.
On Tuesday, President Tshisekedi announced the closure of the country's borders and isolated the capital, Kinshasa, where most of the cases have been reported, from the rest of the country. https://www.bbc.com/news
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Victor Olaiya: Nigeria's 'evil genius' trumpeter who influenced Fela Kuti Listening to the recordings now, the gentle swinging rhythm and the prominence of the horn section, you sense a sepia tinge to Olaiya's songs. They evoke memories of the fading British Empire and transition to independence, conjuring up images of afro hair combed into a dome, of middle-class Nigerians appearing overdressed in tuxedos and gowns with a cigarette neatly tucked between the fingers.
By the late 1950s, the colonial administrators were on their way out and a young generation of educated Africans was about to take over.
Nigeria has been mourning music legend Victor Olaiya, who created Nigeria's highlife rhythms and influenced a generation of musicians including Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Nduka Orjinmo looks back at the life of the trumpeter, who died last month at the age of 89.
Just like the well-turned out government filing clerk that he was, Olaiya always carried a pen in his breast pocket. This was not for noting instructions that had to be precisely followed, but rather because he needed to write down the musical notes and phrases as they came to him.
This was at the beginning of the 1950s, his early days as a performer, when the trumpeter was trying to create Nigeria's highlife rhythms.
More musician than bureaucrat At this stage, music was something he did in his spare time and Olaiya thought he had lost his job in the civil service when his boss saw a newspaper photo of him performing at a nightclub.
Instead, he was told that he was a better musician than a bureaucrat at the survey department of Lagos mainland local government.
He left the job and took on music full time.
Born to wealthy Yoruba parents in the southern city of Calabar, Olaiya had an early start in music.
His father was a church organist and his mother a folk singer from the western city of Oyo.
He was also influenced by Caribbean calypso and included the popular song Sly Mongoose in his repertoire that he recalled first hearing when he was nine years old.
As a teenager, though, he was taught Western classical music, and played the clarinet and French horn in his school orchestra in eastern Nigeria.
Years later, wielding his gold trumpet and dabbing his face with a white handkerchief, Olaiya would perform a new type of music in Nigeria that would go on to inspire a young Fela Anikulapo-Kuti among others. After his secondary school, Olaiya moved to Lagos where he joined the Lagos City Orchestra and then the band of composer Sammy Akpabot, playing ballroom music for wealthy urban audiences.
But it was as the head of Bobby Benson's Alfa Carnival Group that his talent would be properly nurtured.
Benson took a number of musicians under his wing and it was here that Olaiya polished the skills that would help him form his own band, the Cool Cats.
As the disco bars and ballrooms gradually thinned out of the British and their music, in stepped the elite class of Africans seeking that same high life but fused with their own culture.
And the bands responded to satisfy their new patrons, incorporating local rhythms and melodies into their repertoire.
The songs were romantic and the lyrics, which to today's eyes appear sexist, often used erotic imagery.
Olaiya's 1961 track Adelebo Tonwoku (Single Lady Looking for a Husband) says that if a woman, referred to as "Cinderella shaking her buttocks", finds a husband she should "forgo education".
As a musical term, highlife was first used in Ghana in the 1920s to describe a band playing a fusion of foreign and local instruments driven by multiple guitars and horns.
Olaiya's influence came from Ghana, as he was a keen admirer of the Tempo band of highlife legend ET Mensah, who toured Nigeria multiple times from 1951.
When Olaiya formed his Cool Cats band, he adopted Mensah's style and had Ghanaian Sammy Lartey as saxophonist. Years later, Olaiya and Mensah would release a joint album.
In bombastic style, Olaiya was once described by a newspaper editor as "the evil genius of highlife", perhaps because once someone heard his music it was impossible not to dance.
His music became so popular that in 1960 he played at the party to celebrate Nigeria's independence in front of Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret.
Fela comes to Olaiya Olaiya was a multi-linguist and sang in Twi, Igbo, Efik, Pidgin and Yoruba and his band would go on to serve as a training ground for musicians who would revolutionise music in Africa.
Chief among those that interned with Olaiya was Fela, creator of the Afrobeat genre and arguably Nigeria's most influential musician.
Fresh from secondary school in 1957, Fela spent time playing with Olaiya's Cool Cats in Lagos and headed another of the maestro's bands.
Olaiya recognised a prodigy and gave him a platform, in the same way that he had been supported by Benson.
Olaiya collaborated with American soul musician James Brown (R) for the 1970 album Up-To-Date Mover Fela's drummer, Tony Allen, was also among those who played with Olaiya. Other notable musicians that passed through his band were guitar wizard Victor Uwaifo, juju musician Dele Ojo and saxophonist Yinusa Akinnibosun.
By 1970, under the influence of James Brown, Olaiya had branched into soul and funk music. His Up-to-Date Mover album of that year included five tracks co-written with Brown.
But Olaiya will forever be associated with highlife, and this gradually faded from the scene until the genre became a stacked collection of dusty vinyl for senior citizens who hung onto the memories of an era when "things were good".
The Cool Cats were no longer cool, as first Fela's Afrobeat and later Afro hop swept succeeding generations off their feet.
Olaiya tried to keep up in later decades by doing things like shooting music videos but he never looked comfortable with the format. He was used to the disco bars, the big orchestra and the largerthan-life bands performing for dandy crowds. Recognised by a later generation There were attempts to introduce his music to a new audience.
In 2013, Tuface Idibia, a music legend in his own right, remixed Olaiya's Baby Jowo. It was a homage to another era but only underlined how things had changed.
A handful of highlife musicians are still scattered in the eastern and western parts of Nigeria but their tunes are now mostly heard at funerals.
When Olaiya is laid to rest, perhaps a band led by an immaculately turned out trumpeter will be at the front of the procession?
And when he is lowered into the ground, it may be more than flesh that is returning to dust. The highlife music he pioneered may just be buried along with him.
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Arizona cop fired after stopping black man for hanging air freshener in car
Sudan's defence minister dies in South Sudan March 2020
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Sudan's Defence Minister Lt-Gen Jamal Omar has died of a heart attack in South Sudan, Reuters news agency reports, quoting a spokesman for the Sudanese army.
Gen Omar is reported to have been engaged in negotiations with armed movements in South Sudan's capital, Juba.
The black man, Phillip Colbert, said he was driving down Arizona State Route 95 on September 19 to meet his father for lunch when he realized that the officer was following him
Ultimately, Colbert was not arrested; he also didn’t receive a ticket. He filed a complaint about Max to the sheriff’s office while his video caught attention nationwide. Colbert later sued the sheriff’s department, and the case was settled for $15,000, Deputy Eli Max was fired from the La Paz County Newsweek reports. Sheriff’s Office in Arizona last month, March 19, La Paz Sheriff’s Captain Curt Bagby announced recentApparently, that was one of the many times Max ly. had been involved in incidents of racial profiling. La Paz, Arizona police officer who pulled over a black man last September over an air freshener in his rear-view mirror has been fired.
The black man, Phillip Colbert, said he was driving down Arizona State Route 95 on September 19 to meet his father for lunch when he realized that Max was following him.
According to 22-year-old Colbert, he was driving below the speed limit, nevertheless, the deputy went ahead to follow him closely for about 10 minutes. At that moment, Colbert said he started recording the incident. The video, which was uploaded on YouTube and soon went viral, shows Max telling Colbert that he was pulled over because of a “small pine tree air freshener dangling from his rear-view mirror.”
A couple named Larry and Janet Briggs told ABC 15 that Max racially profiled them on Labor Day Weekend in 2019. They said the deputy stopped them after they accidentally rolled through a stop sign.
For over an hour, Max repeatedly asked them if they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol, even though they had tested negative on their field sobriety tests and being unlawfully detained for a dog search.
“I remember his parting words were, ‘I know you’re under the influence of something I just can’t provide it,” Larry Briggs said. “I was like how many times Max is further seen asking Colbert eight times if he can you be wrong about something in the same smokes marijuana and if he had any cocaine or hero- day.” in in the car. Police records show that before getting fired, Max was placed under internal investigation and put on The deputy then asked the 22-year-old what his father does for a living before trying to compel him administrative leave on September 30.
to take a field sobriety test and allow his car to be searched.
“I denied any of the sobriety tests,” Colbert said. “I denied him checking the car because I felt as soon as he checked the car, he was going to try to put something in there.”
He is, however, appealing his firing.
MILDRED EUROPA TAYLOR | Associate Editor https://face2faceafrica.com/
He became defence minister after long-time leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted last April following months of nationwide protests.
After the coup, Sudan's military rulers went on to sign a power-sharing deal with opposition leaders. The country is now being led Sudan's Sovereign Council, which is made up of six civilians and five military officers.
An official funeral will be held for the minister in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, the Anadolu news agency reports, quoting a statement from the Sovereign Council. https://www.bbc.com/new
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1635 Woodside Drive Woodbridge VA 22191
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Cameroon’s National Assembly Chloroquine poisoning hits Nigeria after Speaker tests positive for coro- Trump suggests it cures COVID-19 navirus
overnment officials who have traveled recently to other parts of the world are at risk of getting the novel coronavirus. Hence, health experts advise they selfquarantine for 14 days to ensure they are not exhibiting any symptoms.
However, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports via hospital sources after refusing to comply with instructions to self-quarantine.
Sadly, the condition of Right Honorable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has now put the lives of 167 deputies and their families at risk of contracting the virus. The speaker was aboard an Air France flight deemed to be a high-risk flight after assessment by medical experts of the Yaoundé Nsimalen international airport.
Upon realizing the passengers aboard the flight could be carriers of COVID-19, the Minister of Health entreated all passengers on the flight to self-quarantine for the stipulated number of days recommended by the WHO.
Djibril had other pressing things to attend to and is said to have “confused parliamentary immunity with sanitary immunity by rushing to the national assembly,” Daily Times reports.
As expected, he had been re-elected president of the National Assembly chamber once again. After not obeying the self-isolation orders from the Health minister, Djibril has attended at least two plenary sessions in the Cameroonian National Assembly since he returned from his trip with the Air France plane that was declared a high risk.
Many are concerned about the status of the 167 deputies in the lower house and are wondering if they should all undergo self-isolation just to be sure none of them have contracted the coronavirus as well.
There are genuine concerns as to how there will be a succinct contact tracing for all the 167 deputies who also attended the plenary sessions and have been up and about from last Tuesday to date.
It is known that Djibril has been in contact with ministers and newly elected member of parliament Cabral Libi. However, many wonder how the lower house will function if all the deputies are quarantined. https://www.bbc.com/news
t least, three people have been hospitalized in Nigeria for what health officials say is chloroquine poisoning after US President Donald Trump boasted that the drug was promising in the fight against COVID-19.
Multiple reports from Nigeria as well as in international media say that the anti-malaria drug had become widely trusted among Nigerians to treat the coronavirus after Trump’s statement last week.
But CNN says that three people were hospitalized on Sunday in Lagos for overdosing on chloroquine. Nigeria’s health officials had to respond with a statement calling on citizens to disregard Trump’s endorsement. The country’s Center for Disease Control tweeted: “[The World Health Orgniazation] has NOT approved the use of chloroquine for #COVID19 management. Scientists are working hard to confirm the safety of several drugs for this disease.”
On Saturday, Trump himself took to Twitter to double down on his chloroquine conspiracy.
“HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real
chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains – Thank You!,” the US president tweeted.
Residents of Nigeria’s two biggest cities, Lagos and Abuja, were in a mad rush for chloroquine after Trump first suggested that the anti-malaria drug could be used to treat the novel coronavirus.
Following his announcement at a press conference on Thursday, drug stores across the cities were besieged by local folks to acquire the drug.
Trump said the drug had gone through the approval process despite FDA Commissioner Steven Hahn stating categorically that he is still looking at data around numerous drugs to determine if they can be used to treat COVID-19. NII NTREH
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Alassane Ouattara: How Ivory Coast's president stunned West Africa
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Konan, the veteran journalist who runs the state newspaper, Fraternité Matin.
"He came to power after a very difficult period, after a war. After nine years he has succeeded in rebuilding this country," he added.
But opposition politicians - and many Ivorians - say that the president has not done enough to bring the nation together, and heal the wounds of the bitter conflict that divided Ivory Coast, and then brought him to power.
'Hoping for fresh blood' Around 3,000 people are thought to have died in the war sparked by Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to accept he had lost the 2010 elections to Mr Ouattara, before troops loyal to the current president arrested Mr Gbagbo in April 2011 and handed him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stand trial for crimes against humanity.
Mr Gbagbo was acquitted but the prosecution is considering appealing against the ruling. The tactics used by Mr Ouattara's supporters during his time in power have been criticised too.
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has stunned his critics by announcing that he will not run for a third term, putting pressure on other regional leaders to follow his example, writes the BBC Newsday's James Copnall from the main city, Abidjan.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: an African politician comes to power, likes his time in office, and changes the constitution to run again.
This story has an unusual ending though - and one that has led to both applause and consternation in West Africa and further afield.
Earlier this month, Alassane Ouattara, 78, formally announced that he would not run for a controversial third term as president of cocoa-rich Ivory Coast, even though a recently modified constitution appeared to allow him that possibility.
There were gasps from the politicians who had gathered to hear him speak in the capital Yamoussoukro and perhaps even louder sounds from the vicinity of the presidential palace in neighbouring Guinea.
'Lesson in democracy' For months opposition politicians in Guinea have been insisting that President Alpha Condé, 82, is intent on using any means he can to extend his stay in power.
There have been huge protests - and even deaths - in several places in Guinea over the issue, and Mr Condé is attempting to organise a referendum which would allow him to run again, even though he is in what is currently his second and final term.
According to one person who was in the room in Yamoussoukro, a Guinean minister telephoned an Ivorian counterpart just after Mr Ouattara made his announcement to express his dismay at the impact it might have on Mr Condé's attempt to remain in office in Guinea.
The Guinean opposition politician Sidya Touré, who used to work with Mr Ouattara, expressed his approval.
For example, Mr Billon - who used to be close to Mr Ouattara - said that when he broke with the president and his team, his businesses were audited for months in an attempt to intimidate him.
He called the decision a "lesson in democracy", saying Mr Ouattara would be remembered for it, and added that he hoped "others would be inspired by it for the good of the region".
There can be no doubt he was thinking of Mr Condé.
It would be interesting to know what former Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré makes of it all.
He now lives in exile in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, in a house not far from Mr Ouattara's.
He was forced from power in 2014 by popular protests, after he tried to get the constitution changed to stay in office.
Mr Ouattara's decision was surely motivated by a desire to leave on a high note, applauded around the world as a democrat - rather than condemned as a man who outstayed his welcome, like his guest Mr Compaoré.
'Wounds have not healed' Mr Ouattara's announcement even drew praise from Ivorian opposition leaders.
So, was he a democrat who developed the country, or a man who failed to bring the country together? Ivorians will have a chance to show which view of Mr Ouattara's legacy they agree with in the elections in October.
He and his political movement are backing his Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, as their candidate.nIt will be interesting to see the final outcome of Mr Gbagbo's legal battle with the ICC, and whether it will have an impact on the October elections.
Mr Gbagbo's supporters are desperate for him to run again - which might be possible if his legal issues are resolved. However, it is difficult to see how he could go back to Ivory Coast without certain assurances from Mr Ouattara.bMr Ouattara's former key ally Guillaume Soro is in a similar position.
A one-time rebel leader who went on to serve as prime minister and parliamentary speaker, he wants to run for president. But he had to abort an attempt to return to Ivory Coast in December, after several of his allies were arrested, and an arrest warrant was issued for him after he was accused of plotting a coup.
The long-running political disputes between him, Mr Ouattara and another former President Henri Konan Bédié have been disastrous for Ivory Coast.
It is unclear whether Mr Bédié will also make way for a younger candidate from his party.Lots of Ivorians have told me over the last few days that the country needs a new generation of leaders.
Pascal Affi N'Guessan, a former prime minister and a The region will be watching the election closely: any turmoil in Ivory Coast has an key opposition figure, told the BBC he had to applaud the decision, saying it was a positive step for economic and political impact in places like Burkina Faso, Liberia and Guinea. democracy in Ivory Coast. If Mr Ouattara's decision to stand aside helps lead to peaceful elections in October, the pressure for other leaders in West Africa and further afield to follow Mr Other opponents, including the man reported to be Ouattara's lead could grow.The long-running political disputes between him, Mr the richest in Ivory Coast, Jean-Louis Billon, made Ouattara and another former President Henri Konan Bédié have been disastrous for similar statements. Ivory Coast.
That does not stop them criticising the president's time in power, of course.
Mr Ouattara's supporters say he brought economic growth, stability and a renewed standing for Ivory Coast on the international stage.
"I think he has been a good president," said Venance
It is unclear whether Mr Bédié will also make way for a younger candidate from his party.
Lots of Ivorians have told me over the last few days that the country needs a new generation of leaders.
The region will be watching the election closely: any turmoil in Ivory Coast has an
Meet the Ghanaian Professor running for Ohio House of Representatives He is running for office to represent the voiceless and pursue justice for the working people of Ohio. His vision is to help all people live in dignity, prosperity, equality, justice and peace”.With the motto:” Progress Together” he will fight for Ohio’s families and support legislations for well-paid jobs and careers, quality public education, affordable healthcare and housing, green energy economy, solutions to opioid crisis, and prosperity through diversity. District 25 primary race is rated among the top 10 Ohio legislative primaries to watch in 2020. With the Ohio Democratic Party primary scheduled for March 17, it is highly anticipated that Dr. Kofi Nsia-Pepra whose campaign has received the most endorsement from various groups including women and the current incumbent will win the primary and the general election slated for November 3.
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4 BEDRROM HOUSE FOR SALE $110,000
House for sale $110,000
This home is newly built, carefully planned with appealing spaces. Upon entering this cozy home., you are greeted by an open plan lounge and dining room where your family and friends relax and socialize. The house has a separate visitor’s bathroom/toilet and a fully fitted and functional The year 2020 is known to be election year for many countries kitchen with a stress-free space to enjoy. Ready Incumbent, Representative Bernadine including the United States of America. Many are the aspirants to leave in with electricity and water on a 100 x Kennedy Kent has endorsed Dr. Kofi Nsiaat the various stages in the democracy of U.S.A. Pepra as the most qualified and competent 50 ft plot of land situated on the main road to candidate to win the Democratic Party’s nom- Millennium City, Kasoa, Built to last with origiAmong these candidates aspiring for the various positions to serve the people in the legislature of the American Democracy is ination. nal features in a quite desirable area.The home a Ghanaian born Professor of Political Science in Ohio. offers 4 bedrooms each with en-suite bathroom In a publication in the Columbus Dispatch, that has a shower, basin and toilet. Original plan she said “Kofi’s professional and life experiDr. Kofi Nsia-Pepra is a democratic candidate for the office of was for an Airbnb.Main features are as follows:A Ohio State House representatives for District 25 in 2020. He is a ences distinguish him far above the other beautiful kitchen, dining room and lounge.4 large names on the primary ballot. Kofi holds no professor of political science at Ohio Northern University. bedrooms and four large bathroomsTank for allegiance to anyone but the people of this water and hot water, molded ceiling3 biodegraddistrict. He carries his principles and values He holds a Doctorate in Political Science, Wayne State with dignity and responsibility. I trust he will able manholesBig purposely build underground University, Master of Laws in International Human rights law, Essex University, and Bachelors in Social Sciences, Cape Coast prioritize justice and opportunity for all peo- water tank linked with water harvest ple, and I believe he is the individual most pipesParking space for 3 cars, airElectric University. capable of carrying on the work I’ve done. To fence/fire & smoke alarm, air conditions, those who have supported me, I ask that you fansAntique and modern lights from London all He was an officer of the Ghana Air Force with United Nations Peacekeeping experiences in Rwandan and Sierra Leonean wars. give your vote to the candidate fighting for in boxes ready to be fixedSmall landscaped garsocial, economic and environmental justice den (still growing)All finishing/fittings are from for all Ohioans. I ask that you vote for Kofi Born to poor farmers in Ghana, Africa, Dr. Kofi Nsia-Pepra UK: other fittings still in import boxes.Contact experienced difficult life challenges but he overcame them with Nsia-Pepra on March 17.” Nana Kwasi on:703-725-6968 or Phyllis on the help of his community. He has therefore dedicated his life to WhatsApp 0447440225799 for further informaserving his community and humanity and ensuring all are given tion. Ntiamoah Williams, Contributor the same opportunities he has been afforded.
Despite living in the richest country in the world, most people in District 25 face poverty, poor housing, poor healthcare, poor education, poor environment, gun violence and opioid crisis.
According to Dr. Nsia-Pepra, these are social, economic and political injustices that urgently need to be remedied.
He says that the time has come to elect progressive and transformative leaders to boldly address these challenges for the betterment of the people. He says “It will be my honor and privilege to serve you.”
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Is 2020 the Year of Resolution or REVOLUTION
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and Social Security Number for all borrowers (for instance, you and your spouse). If you’ve been at your current address for less than two years, you may need to provide former addresses for the past seven years. • Employment information: Provide a history of where you’ve worked and for how long. If you haven’t been at your current job for at least two years, you’ll need to provide information on all employment for the past two years. • Monthly income and combined housing expense information: List your monthly gross income (how Step 2: Regularly check your credit to see what is taking place on your credit. How do much you make before taxes or deductions) and monthly expenses. you do that? Every US consumer with Assets and liabilities: Include how much you Social Security Number has the capability to • have in bank accounts, savings, retirement accounts and check your credit status using annualcredinvestment accounts, as well as the value of vehicles, itreport.com. This website allow you to homes and other property for assets. For liabilities, check your credit report FREE once a year. itemize all of your current bills, loans and other debts, Although, the free report does not give you a credit score, you can purchase your credit including current balances and monthly payments. score at a fraction-$10 or so. it is important Debts include automobile loans, credit cards, student to check what items are listed on your credit loans and existing mortgages, including home equity loans. ***Please note that the debts you are being asked report. Any delinquency reported by credito list on the application is also going to be reflected on tors on your credit report could have an adverse impact on your credit score or your your credit report when the bank pull your credit report. Be as accurate as possible*** ability to obtain a loan. card with a small loan amount; or you can even inquire at any department store such as Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club or BJ’s , furniture stores, etc.…. Although, departmental store credit cards typically carries higher interest rate, the trick is use the credit card to make small purchases, such as buying gas, groceries etc and pay it off immediately. As you do that, you will build credit over time.
It is with great excitement to have the privilege
and opportunity to ink this article to you. Today, we will discuss “The Home Buying Process”. This is an important topic to discuss because, over the years as a realtor, I have had many clients expressed that, if they knew what they know now, they would have made the decision to buy a home sooner. They wish they had acquired information about the home buying process sooner; as it is one of the greatest investment ever acquired. Therefore, to you my reader thinking about pursuing home ownership venture but have no idea what steps to take, I dedicated this piece to you. What are the necessary steps required to buy a house?
Step 1: Make sure you are credit worthy. What does it mean to be credit worthy? It means that you have established a good credit with the financial institutions such as the banks, credit unions, private lenders etc… It does not matter how much money you have sitting in your account, if you do not have an established credit, it will be difficult or close to impossible to make big purchase such as buying a house or even a car. You need credit.
How do you begin to establish a credit, if you do not have any? I recommend you get in touch with the bank(s) you bank with. I also recommend that you begin by obtaining a credit
Step 3: How do I know I have a good credit? You will know you have a good credit based on your own purchasing power or by your consistency of paying off credit card bills, medical bills etc …or periodically checking your credit report. What is considered a good credit score and qualify to buy a home? A good credit score is sometimes determined by the lender in house qualification guidelines; although there are also federal guidelines that are considered in the loan lending process. Some lenders who finance home buying loans could consider minimum/lowest 580 score or 620 credit score. Of course, the higher the credit score the better, but if you have a 580 credit score, you cannot count yourself out, there is still hope for you to pursue home ownership.
Once you have been pre-approved by the bank/credit union for the loan amount you are looking for, is time for you to contact a local realtor such as myself. I will guide you and help you find a property or your desired home that you are looking for.
I hope this article has provided a wealth of information for you to move from debating the idea of buying a home; into finally making the transition to buy. For more real estate information contact me at 571229-6694 or email me at borderlessrealestate@gmail.com or visit my website at www.borderlessrealestate.com . Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR®
Samson Properties Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia and Maryland Step 4: Now that you know that you have an Licensed Life and Health Insurance established credit. The next step is to contact CONTACT 571-229-6694 your local bank or credit union to apply and Email: borderlessrealestate@gmail.com qualify for a loan. The bank would need Website: borderlessrealestate.com some documents from you in order to approve you. Some of the information the bank would ask for are:
• Borrower information: Include the name, address, phone number, date of birth
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Senegal Sets the Pace With West Africa's Kenya: Trump Notifies Biggest Wind Farm Congress of Trade Deal With Govt March 2020
By Nellie Peyton Dakar — With the wind farm, Senegal will get 30% of its energy from clean sources, in a push to cut its dependence on fossil fuels
Senegal inaugurated the first large-scale wind farm in West Africa on Monday, a facility that will supply nearly a sixth of the country's power when it reaches full capacity later this year.
With the wind farm, Senegal will get 30% of its energy from renewable sources, which has been a goal of President Macky Sall.
"The energy mix we have today allows us to move past our dependence on petrol," said Papa Mademba Biteye, director-general of Senelec, the national electricity company, at an inauguration ceremony in the rural community of Taiba N'Diaye.
The 158 megawatt wind farm was built by British renewable power company Lekela, which also has wind farms in South Africa and Egypt and an upcoming one in Ghana.
Wind farms remain scarce throughout sub-Saharan Africa compared with solar plants, partly because they can cost more and take longer to build and because strong wind is generally less plentiful than sunshine, said Silvia Macri, an energy analyst at IHS Markit.
"Senegal pushed ahead its renewables agenda quite aggressively," Macri told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Senegal's first solar plant came online three years ago, and the country has since built several more. Other countries in the region are following suit with solar but are much further behind in terms of wind, Macri said.
In Taiba N'Diaye, 46 giant wind turbines rise over scrubland about 90 km (56 miles) from the seaside capital. One-third are operating, and the rest are due to come online by June.
Outside the cities, much of Senegal is still not electrified. Electricity reached only about 60% of the 16 million population in 2017, according to the World Bank.
The wind farm will provide enough electricity for 2 million people and prevent the emission of 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, according to Senelec.
"The next challenge is universal access," said Biteye.
(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, and covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)
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By Allan Olingo US President Donald Trump has officially notified Congress of its intention to negotiate a trade agreement with Kenya.
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Charles Shumer.
"Under President Trump's leadership, we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional trade agreements across Africa," Ambassador Lighthizer said in his letter.
"Kenya is an important regional leader, a strategic partner of the United States and a commercial hub that can provide substantial opportunities for US trade and investment."
NEXT STEPS
It is now expected that in the next 30 days, the US trade representative's office will publish a notice in the Federal Register, requesting the public's input on the direction, focus and content of the trade negotiations.
It will also publish the objectives of the negotiations a month before formal trade negotiations begin.
Trade between the two countries rose by 4.9 per cent last year to Sh113.26 billion.
According to the trade representative, 2019's top US imports from Kenya were apparels (Sh46.76 billion) followed by edible fruit and nuts (Sh5.66 billion).
Titanium ores and concentrates stood at $5.35 billion while coffees exports stood at Sh3.5 billion. Kenya imported aircraft worth Sh6.07 billion from the United States, plastics worth Sh5.97 billion, machinery worth Sh4.22 billion and wheat worth Sh2.78 billion.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Launches Women's Center as Change Catalyst
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The three former women presidents were joined by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Liberian President George Weah and other senior Liberian officials including former Liberian President Amos Sawyer and Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, the only female Senator in the Legislature.
Former President Obasanjo spoke for the entire assemblage when he noted that Ellen had raised the bar for other African presidents' post-office achievements. Equally important, she inaugurated and ensured a stellar pipeline of accomplished, confident women ready for senior leadership for decades to come.
The second important component of the EJS Center is its archives, an ongoing effort to collect and preserve Ellen's papers. In an era that demands documentation, the archives will encourage female literacy as well as comprise a permanent record of her legacy. The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Foundation, a U.S.-based complement to the EJS Center, has been established to support the archives.
The Bridges Institute (Washington, DC) GUEST COLUMN By Vivian Lowery Derryck On March 8, in the midst of the global Coronavirus crisis, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf offered a bright, glittering antidote to the fear and uncertainty of Covid-19 with the International Women's Day (IWD) launch of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center on Women and Development.
The Monrovia-based center aims to advance women's public leadership in Africa with an emphasis on political participation.
The launch was not a moment too soon for Angela O., still haunted by the memory of going to bed elated that she had won her primary but waking up to read in the newspaper that her party had named her opponent as its election standard bearer. Or for Catherine W., named one of the ten best finance ministers in Africa, but summarily dismissed from the cabinet for opposing corruption and having the audacity to argue with her president for needed reforms.
As the first and only democratically elected female African president, "President Ellen" remains an iconic role model and inspiration to countless women across the continent. And she hasn't let them down. She is using her 2017 Mo Ibrahim Democracy Award of $500,000 a year for ten years and an additional $200,000 per year for public interest projects for up to ten years, to methodically develop a plan for a Liberia-based center with a mission to promote African women's leadership in the public arena, especially in politics.
The Center's first project, Amujae (a Kru word meaning moving up together), brings together 15 up-andcoming women leaders from across the continent--Anglophone, Francophone and Lusaphone-- for a long weekend three times a year to meet with senior leaders and veteran women politicians to give the younger women new skills and deeper insights into the complex role of a female leader.
To underscore the gravity and urgency of the Center's mission Ellen invited former Malawi President Joyce Banda and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza to join her for the workshop and launch.
The workshop's carefully curated curriculum was a rich mix of practical sessions and intimate meetings with the women presidents. In one session on women and the media participants learned that the mere mention of what the candidate wore dropped her polling numbers by six to eight percent. What to do!!
Listen to and learn from your elders: The highlight of the weekend was the full participation of the three women presidents. Each of them had been harassed, jailed and/or violently attacked. Yet each has summoned the courage to face the unimaginable vitriol and ultimately prevail to manage complex post-conflict recoveries, govern democratically and advance their countries' economies. Their willingness to spend hours with the younger women, patiently answer their questions and offer advice grounded in gritty experience gave the younger women concrete take-aways. As a bonus, the younger women learned the power of storytelling and the importance of controlling their own narratives.
To launch the Center on international Women's Day, Ellen invited African leaders from across the continent, including Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security; Finda E.M. Koroma, the (first female) vice president of ECOWAS; K.Y. Amoako, president and CEO of ACET, Africa's premier economic think tank; Antoinette Sayeh, the Liberian economist and former Minister of Finance, who has just been named Deputy Managing Director of the IMF; and countless other high profile African dignitaries.
The IWD launch of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center for Women and Development was a watershed for Africa, especially its women. When Angela, Catherine and their 13 counterparts departed Liberia, they left armed with a personal development plan, new strategies for enhanced political participation, a tensile network of likeminded women activists and a confidence that only caring former female presidents could bestow on their potential successors.
The weekend stretched and strengthened the 15 women participants in ways that not even the Coronavirus could tarnish, for the EJS Center is a gift that will keep on giving, continuously nurturing women leaders and enriching the continent.
Vivian Lowery Derryck is Founder and President Emerita of The Bridges Institute – Strengthening African Democracy through Global Partnerships. She previously served as Assistant Administrator for Africa of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State, Executive Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women, Vice President of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, and President of the AfricanAmerican Institute
https://https://allafrica.com/
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Induction Service For Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku District Minister, Washington Dc District And Minister In Charge, Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, Woodbridge, VA
Rev. James Kumi-Duodu, the Chairperson of North America Australia performing the Act of Induction for Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku, Washington DC District Minister The Washington DC District in the North America Australia Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has a New District Minister in the person of the Rev. Sam OkyereMireku. He is also serves as the Minister In Charge of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, the Head Station of the Washington DC District located in Woodbridge, VA On January 19, 2020 the Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku was officially inducted into office by the North America Australia Presbytery. The Officiating Minister for the Induction Service was the Rev. James Joseph Kumi-Duodu, Chairperson of the Presbytery and he was assisted by the Rev. Frank Addo, Clerk of the Presbytery. In attendance at the Induction service were some ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the Presbytery and the District, other Ministers from other Church Denominations in the Woodbridge, VA area and members of the Ghanaian community in the area. It is also worth mentioning that leaders and members of all the congregations and Preaching Posts which come together to form the District attended the Induction Service in their numbers. Preaching the Sermon on the theme: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord” Rev. James Joseph Kumi-Duodu admonished the new District Minister to rely only on the power and guidance of God in the discharge of his duty and mandate as the Chief servant of the District. Again, the Presbytery Chairperson called on the Presbyters and other officers of the church not forgetting members of the church in both the District and the local congregation to give of their maximum cooperation and support to the District Minister so that together
they can work and achieve much and also lift up the image of the church in the District for the glory of God. In a short address after the Act of Induction, the Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku, the District Minister of the Washington DC District gave thanks to God for his help that has brought him this far. He also acknowledged with gratitude the support that his wife, children and entire family not forgetting friends and other senior ministers of God in the church continue to give to him and his ministry. He outlined his vision for the District and the congregation. Among other things, he mentioned promotion of spiritual renewal through prayer and the study of the word of God, growth to existing congregations and planting of new ones, financial discipline aimed at ensuring financial wellness, church discipline and compliance to church policies. He finally used Nehemiah 2:18 to call on members of the church in the District to look at the current state of the District and the congregation and resolve to rise up so that together they can build for the glory of God. The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. He was born on November 3 to Rev.& Mrs Otchere-Mireku, both natives of Bepong-Kwahu in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He holds Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Management from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Master’s Degree in Divinity from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX Before his appointment as the District Minister of the Washington DC District, He was serving as the Minister in Charge of the Resurrection congregation in Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex in the State of Texas. He has also worked in the fields of Education, Clinical Research, Immigration and Pastoral Chaplaincy in Ghana and United States of America The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku is married to Mrs Justina Okyere-Mireku and they are blessed with three children.
Brief History of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, Woodbridge, VA, the Head Station of the Washington DC District in the North America Australia Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church (EPMC) located at13403 Baxter St, Woodbridge, VA 22191 was established as a response to the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as written in Matt. 28: 19- 20, and reiterated by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, a group of dedicated immigrant Presbyterian Christians in the United States of America, Virginia who were also members of Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) started EPMC in the year 2004. In the past sixteen years since its founding, EPMC under the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and in North America Australia Presbytery of the church, has played a major role by bringing together Ghanaian immigrants’ community of true believers under the direction and leadership of our Savior, Jesus Christ. EPMC is a church home and a house of prayer where seekers or new members are welcomed with the love of Christ. It is a place where believers are motivated and empowered with the word of God to be worthy ambassadors of Christ as they live their lives in the community
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and impact on others with the good news for the glory of God.EPMC also provides for the maintenance of worship, the edification of the body of Christ and the redemption of humankind.
The Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku, District Minister-Washington DC District
Mrs. Justina Okyere-Mireku and some other Ministers’ spouses in the Presbytery.
Rev. & Mrs Sam Okyere-Mireku, The Washington DC District Minister, wife and children
Afrikan
Induction Service For Rev. Sam Okyere-Mireku District Minister, Washington Dc District And Minister In Charge, Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church, Woodbridge, VA Post
March 2020
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EPMC Men’s Fellowship
Ministers and their Spouses Present at the Induction Service
Some Ministers, Catechists, Caretakers, Presbyters, Ministers’ Spouses Present
EPMC Singing Band EPMC, Woodbridge VA Choir,
Cross section of members and invited persons present
From R-L Dr. Samuel Agyem Bediako - District Clerk Mr. Eric Frimpong District - Lay Rep Mr. Paul Osei Akrasi-Senior Presbyter, Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church Mrs. Cynthia Boamah-Session Clerk, Emmanuel Presbyterian Mission Church
EPMC Women’s Fellowship