Afrikan post october 2017

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Vol 9 Issue 10

African Community News

October 2017

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 9 Issue 10

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Nigerian saxophone duo Twinsax invades Ghana with Gospel Jazz Festival

Pg. 31

The IATR Announces Ernest Chrappah, Director of the DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles, as its 2017 International Regulator of the Year Pg. 9

Congolese American Crowned Homecoming Queen At Freedom High school in Woodbridge, Virginia Page 35

Thinking of Leaving a Church?

Why? Pg. 11

Hon. Kojo Yankah launches ‘Our Motherland: My life’ at Ghana Embassy in Washington DC Pg.7

UPDATE Trump Meets African Leaders At 72nd UN General Assembly Pg. 5

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List Of African Countries/Areas By Region Whose Natives Are Eligible For DV Lottery - 2019

The list below shows the countries whose natives are eligible for DV-2019, grouped by geographic region.

Dependent areas overseas are included within the region of the governing country. USCIS identified the countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV-2019 program according to the formula in Section 203(c) of the INA. The countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV program (because they are the principal source countries of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based immigration or “high-admission” countries) are noted after the respective regional lists.

AFRICA

Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cabo Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Djibouti Egypt* Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia, The Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year’s Diversity Visa program.

Source:https://travel.state.gov

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Afrikan Post

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October 2017

Afrikan Post

Trump Meets African Leaders At 72nd UN General Assembly

President Donald Trump congratulated the leaders of African nations on the "business potential" of their countries, telling them that he has "so many friends" going to the continent "trying to get rich."

Trump in a handshake With Nana Akufo-Addo- President of Ghana

The comment came in a speech during a working lunch with the leaders amid the United Nations General Assembly. The bulk of Trump's remarks struck a positive tone on continental efforts to promote "prosperity and peace on a range of economic, humanitarian and security issues."

"We hope to extend our economic partnerships with countries who are committed to self-reliance and to fostering opportunities for job creation in both Africa and the United States," said the president.

"I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you," continued Trump, adding that Africa represented "huge amounts of different markets and for American firms."

"It's really become a place that they have to go, that they want to go," he said.

Trump went on to acknowledge allies on the continent who partnered to fight the spread of terrorism in Africa and pledged the U.S. would continue to monitor violence in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He noted that U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley would travel to Africa to assist in resolving conflicts.

President Trump Meets President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda

http://abcnews.go.com

Trump congratulates African leaders: 'I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich'

With President Buhari of Nigeria

President Macky Sall of Senegal (Extreme Right)

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Hon. Kojo Yankah launches ‘Our Motherland: My life’ at Ghana Embassy in Washington DC October 2017

Our Motherland: My life' is the title of the new book by Honorable (Hon) Professor Kojo Yankah launched September 30, 2017, in the United States (US) at the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C., the book which is the author’s 9th work is also an autobiography.

The welcome address at the book launch was by Mr. Ernest Asare-Asiedu, Consular-General at the embassy represented the Ambassador — Dr. Barfuor AdjeiBarwuah. The event was also sponsored by Erratic Truth Foundation. Prince K. Mensah was MC for the occasion.

Hon Kojo Yankah, a former Member of Ghana’s Parliament said during the launch that this book is “my favorite among my other works as it encapsulates a slice of what I have been able to do for myself, my country and the continent of Africa”, going on to admit that Africans do not write as much he would have wished for and indicating this work was a contribution to reverse the latter.

Hon. Yankah hoped that through his new book, Africans on and off the continent are going to be propelled to learn more about each other and the continent to stop the problem of alienating themselves from what uniquely distinguishes them as Africans. The author praised today’s technology which has brought a lot of revelation about Africa and Africans to the forefront but lamented the use of today’s new media to destroy and divide the legacy of Africa by decrying corruption and wars on the continent.

Why Hon Kojo Yankah wrote the book

He said another reason for writing the book was because he wanted to make “a contribution towards the creation of knowledge that we need as a people to inspire our youth”, and that it was time for Africa to stop working as rivals but work together with one voice towards a United States of Africa in an allusion to the saying by Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah that: “the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent."

The author criticized the stereotyping of Africans by the Western media, intimated to the audience in attendance during the launch that he hoped the book instills nationalism and a keen interest in the history of African by Africans as peoples of the continent join hands with Africans all over to work at lifting Africa to its intended glorious state.

African Union (AU) Ambassador to the US, Her Excellency (HE) Arikana Chihombori-Quao who was a special guest in her remarks thanked the author for his works which sought to remind Africans of who they are, she also highlighted the legacy of Ghana’s first President and what it reminds and does for not only Ghanaians but Africans as well as people of color across the globe.

HE Chihombori-Quao in her remarks shed some light on the formation of the AU spurred by the coming together

of Pan Africanists in 1963 in an effort to undo the unfortunate work done in Africa by colonialists that the latter begun with the infamous ‘Berlin Conference of 1885’. She used the occasion to remind Africans to ponder on the famous Dr. Kwame Nkrumah quote that establishes the fact that “we are not Africans because we were born in Africa, [but rather] we are Africans because Africa is born in us.”

Decolonizing the mind

Although colonialism has ended on the continent, Africans continue to allow colonialists to win because of the lack of unity, the presence of divide-and-conquer as a subtle technique used to keep Africa divided and the absence of a united voice among Africans everywhere. The AU Ambassador suggested the remedy to this might be “for Africans to decolonize their minds”, a thing she felt 'Our Motherland: My life', was going to help ignite in addition to the force of change that was slowly but surely gathering momentum among Africans.

Dr. Joseph Silver Sr., CEO of Silver and Associates who wrote the foreword to the 234-page book published by Ayebia Publishing in the UK in his opinion about the book said the influence of Hon. Yankah’s parents and those of great PanAfricanists' “Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. WEB Du Bois ring loud in the pages of this book. This influence is undergirded by a deep spiritual grounding.”

Legendary Ghanaian Master Drummer and Percussionist OkyeremaAsante who received the first copy of the book at the occasion was on hand to provide thought-provoking African drumming and spoken word storytelling. Later the first book was auctioned off at $500, the rest got sold out in a space of about an hour, Dr. Dolores Opon, an Accra-based consultant in Ghana afterward gave the vote of thanks and urged all to buy the book and be encouraged by its content.

Hon. Kojo Yankah formerly served as a Minister of State in Ghana in 1998. He founded the African University College of Communications and is also a former editor of the Daily Graphic; the widest circulation newspaper in Ghana. He was supported at the book launch by his wife Nana Nyarkoah Yankah, his children, friends, members of the Ghanaian community in the Washington D.C. area and the general public.

Source: Oral Ofori of TheAfricanDream.net

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Hon. Kojo Yankah launches ‘Our Motherland: My life’ at Ghana Embassy in Washington DC October

2017

African Union (AU) Ambassador to the US, Her Excellency (HE) Arikana Chihombori-Quao

Legendary Ghanaian Master Drummer and Percussionist OkyeremaAsante

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Sudan Sanctions: US Lifts Most Economic Restrictions After Two Decades

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

.The US is lifting most of the economic and trade sanctions it first imposed on Sudan two decades ago.

However Sudan will remain listed as a state sponsor of terror.

US officials said Sudan had made progress in counter-terrorism and human rights issues. The process of lifting the sanctions began under the Obama administration earlier this year.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir remains wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

'We Sudanese still feel like pariahs' Profile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir Human rights groups have opposed the easing of sanctions.

Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the US State Department, said in a statement that the decision followed "a focused, 16-month diplomatic effort to make progress with Sudan".

She said the move recognised Sudan's "sustained positive actions" but more progress was needed.

Sanctions were first imposed on Khartoum in 1997, when it harboured fugitives including Osama bin Laden.

A further round was put in place in 2006 in response to Sudanese forces' actions in the Darfur conflict.

Citizens of Sudan were removed from the US travel ban restrictions last month.

Why has US expanded travel ban to Chad and removed Sudan?

Andrew Prasow, from Human Rights Watch, told Reuters that lifting the sanctions "sent the wrong message" when Sudan had "made so little progress on human rights".

Maddy Crowther, from British-based campaign group Waging Peace, said the US government was "wrong-headed" to focus on Sudan's offensive military activity, and not civilians' safety, in making the decision.

An eagerly anticipated move

By Mohanad Hashim, BBC Africa This move has been eagerly anticipated in Khartoum since President Obama partially eased the punitive measures before he left office.

It is expected to boost sectors in the Sudanese economy that have suffered from the trade embargo - these include aviation, agriculture, oil and technology.

The move will be celebrated by some as a victory for the ruling National Congress Party, but it remains to be seen how the average Sudanese will benefit.

For decades, Khartoum has blamed the sanctions for all sorts of ills that befell the Sudanese economy, rather than confronting the chronic mismanagement and the rampant corruption.

Source:http://www.bbc.com/The International Association of Transportation Regulators Announces Ernest Chrappah, Director of the DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles, as its 2017 International Regulator of the YearThe International Association of Transportation Regulators Announces

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The International Association of Transportation Nigerians Hail Super Regulators Announces Ernest Chrappah, Eagles 2018 World Director of the DC Cup Qualification Department of For-Hire Vehicles, as its 2017 International Regulator of the Year October

Austin, Texas -- September 26, 2017 The IATR is pleased to announce that it has selected Ernest Chrappah, and the District of Columbia Department of For-Hire Vehicles, as its 2017 Regulator of the Year, at the organization’s 30th anniversary conference held in Austin, Texas. The IATR’s Regulator of the Year Award is recognition by government transportation professional peers for exceptional public service, leadership, reforms, and innovation in regulating for-hire ground transportation.

Ernest Chrappah is the Director of the Department of For-Hire Vehicles in Washington, DC. During his time as Director, Mr. Chrappah has led the reorganization and rebranding of the former DC Taxi Commission into the new Department of For-Hire Vehicles, to oversee a new ecosystem of ridesharing, taxis, and limousines.

He has helped to change the face of the industry in DC with innovations such as: · Creating the first-ever electric taxi program in DC with 150 all-electric vehicles and 2 fast charging stations that increased awareness of climate change, generated fuel cost savings, and reduced C02 emissions by more than 1,064,896 pounds. · Expanding economic opportunities by implementing grant programs that provided over $1 million to entrepreneurs to start or grow for-hire transportation businesses, provide wheelchair accessible service, and reduce transportation inequities. · Creating the highly successful alternative paratransit service, TransportDC, which generated more $7.2 million in savings for the District. · Launching a public for-hire industry data dashboard showing for-hire industry trips, drivers, revenue, vehicles, and trends to provide transparency into industry performance and data driven public policy.

Director Chrappah has further elevated the modernization of the DC taxi fleet by introducing digital meter apps to streamline the taxi experience for riders and help drivers compete with app-based ride-hailing services.

Taxis in DC are now equipped with attractive features such as reverse surge pricing, fare estimates, digital

receipts, shared rides, on demand deliveries and more. He also led the creation of the first ever taxi shuttle-based micro transit service for underserved areas of the city and nighttime economy workers.

IATR President Matthew W. Daus made the announcement at the IATR’s 30th Annual Conference, which is being held in Austin, Texas this year. Daus stated, “Director Chrappah’s efforts have helped to modernize, innovate, and elevate the for-hire industry in DC while providing the public with safer and more efficient options for meeting their transportation needs. His accomplishments make him a prime example of how a regulator can meet the public safety needs of the people they serve while simultaneously uplifting the regulated industry. Director Chrappah upholds the goals of the IATR, and is a true transportation technology innovator.

This honor is well-deserved, and leaders like Director Chrappah are the future of transportation regulation!”

“I am both honored and humbled to receive this recognition. However, this is not just about my accomplishment as much as an indication of the support of Mayor Bowser and the diligence of the DFHV staff,” said DFHV Director Ernest Chrappah.

IATR Board Chair Jim Ney joined IATR President Daus in presenting the award to Mr. Chrappah.

About The International Association of Transportation Regulators The International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) is a non-profit organization serving and educating government transportation officials globally since 1987. For further information, visit IATR’s website at www.iatr.global Source: http://iatr.global/index.php/driver-of-the-year-regulator-of-theyear Contact: Matthew W. Daus, IATR President (646) 261-1590

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As the Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 win over Zambia in Uyo, with an unassailable 6-point lead after 5 matches in Group B, Nigerians have continued to shower encomium on the Eagles for an outstanding performance and qualifications.

https://www.vanguardngr.com

Egypt's World Cup Qualification Leads To Country-Wide Celebrations

When it's been 28 years since your last appearance at the biggest tournament in the world, clinching a spot means one thing: Party time!

So it was that, after Mohamed Salah's 95th-minute penalty sealed Egypt's qualification for Russia 2018, the celebrations began in the dressing room and across the country. http://www.espnfc.com

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Sibton Switch Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

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4,281 Nigerians Deported From Europe, U.S., African Countries Mid 2017

The Board of Directors of IT Systems firm, Sibton Switch has announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Denzil Lawson as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective August 1, 2017.

Mr. Lawson is expected to provide critical strategic and operational leadership and direction to guide the operations of the company in its crucial years as it prepares towards the implementation of the Ghana Retail Payment System Infrastructure currently being implemented by the company.

A company statement issued in Accra over the weekend said the new CEO brings to this position many years of international expePhoto: The Guardian rience and achievements in the payments industry gained from Senior Executive roles with the Royal Bank of Canada, ANZ

By Chinedu Eze Group Australia, and MasterCard International among others.

About 4,281 Nigerians were repatriated through various countries in Europe, the United States and even some African Prior to joining Sibton Switch Systems, Denzil Lawson was CEO countries through the Murtala Muhammed International of Mercury Payments Services LLC, where he built and launched Airport (MMIA), Lagos in the first half of 2017. their United Arab Emirate’s domestic payment scheme.

As CEO of Mercury, Mr. Lawson led the development of the domestic scheme infrastructure and launched Mercury in the UAE. A notable innovation by Mercury has been the enabling of 7 million existing transit cards issued by the Roads and Transport Authority for use at selected Retail POS merchants.

He previously contributed to the development of MasterCard for 12 years in various positions including Head of Business Development, SAMEA; Regional; Manager, MENA; Head of Strategic Business Development, APMEA and Managing Director, ACCESS Prepaid, MEA (a MasterCard subsidiary).

“It is this wealth of experience that Denzil Lawson brings to Sibton Switch Systems with a strategic goal to develop a best-inclass retail and payments system infrastructure for Ghana to promote financial inclusion and place the country at the forefront of the payments industry in Africa”, said Board Chairman, Kwame Amankwah-Twum.

Ghana has embarked on an aggressive campaign to promote financial inclusion among its populace with the aim of ensuring among other things that the less privileged and rural dwellers have access to financial services including banking, savings, payment and transfer services as a means of reducing or ending poverty; an agenda Sibton Switch expects to play vital role in realizing.

To find out more about Sibton Switch visit www.sibtonswitch.com.

Source: Sibton Switch Web

the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP).

The document further revealed that in the first half of the year, 691,954 passengers both Nigerians and foreigners used the facilities at MMIA to depart to various destinations from the country.

Out of these numbers, 519,215 were Nigerians with higher number of males while another 179,739 were foreigners departing the country.

Also, a total number of 691,934 travellers departed through the airport while another 560,988 travellers arrived the country within the period under review.

A document made available to journalists through the Ministry of Interior, indicated that the deportees were divided Also, within the period, 550,988 passengers arrived Nigeria through the international wing of the Lagos Airport. into two namely; chartered and regular flights.

The document revealed that January and June, 2017, 2,251 Nigerians were deported through chartered flights mainly from Libya and a trickle of European countries.

The breakdown of the deportees revealed that 1,321 of them were males while the other 930 were females.

About 2,030 Nigerians were deported through regular flights, which were mainly from Europe, South Africa and a few African countries.

The breakdown revealed that 392,237 of them were Nigerians while the other 158,751 were foreigners from various countries..

A source close to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) speaking on the issue said that the statistics were important for the Nigerian government to know the numbers of people entering or exiting the country, adding that this would enable the government to monitor and plan adequately.

The composition of the deportees revealed that just like in the Source: http://allafrica.com/ chartered flights, majority of them were males.

According to the document, males deported in the first half of the year were 1,502 while 528 others were female.

Out of these numbers, those who were involved in criminal activities in their host countries were handed over to the Nigeria Police for further prosecution, some who involved in drug related matters were handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the airport while others were returned to the National Agency for

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Thinking of Leaving a Church? Why?

T

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

hinking about leaving a church? Why? Is it because you believe you have outgrown your current church and need to go somewhere else to be challenged and fed more powerful spiritual meat? Is it because you know that the reason the Lord led you to your current church has been realized and you understand that God is directing you to move on? Or is it because for one reason or another, whether it is the church’s policies, the pastor’s behavior or teachings or issues with some members, you are no longer happy and content to remain in your current house of worship? Well, whatever the reason, there is one thing for sure that a Bible believing, God-fearing Christian must do, that is to seek the face and permission of God in all your decisions and allow His word, and only His word, to lead you; otherwise, you are very likely to falter and go against the will of God, which inevitably will render you unhappy and dissatisfied.

The Bible tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Unfortunately, we Christians too often forget the above scripture when it is time for decision making about many things and especially when we contemplate leaving a ministry.

We forget that God made us, has called us and that His intentions for our lives are all that matter, not our own intentions. What benefit do we believe we are making of our lives, to the work of God and the service of God for His ministry, His vineyard, when we unilaterally make decisions about how we will serve Him and where we will serve Him? Do we understand that that decision is not ours to make? Do we comprehend that He chose us and gave us the talents and gifts and that He placed us in a specific century, geographical space, household and church? Can we finally understand that we are the vessel and He is the Potter? And can we accept as humble children and followers of Jesus Christ, that sacrificial final Lamb that created us, that He knows the thoughts He has for us, plans to prosper us, and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future? (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

The fact is that the decision we make have either positive effects or repercussions and only God Himself, who is the Alpha and Omega, the author and finisher of our faith and lives, knows which decisions will result in blessings and those in hardships and curses. The truth of the matter is that if we are called by God just as St. Peter, St. Paul and St. John were called, then we ought to submit all things to Him, especially those crucial decisions governing the ministry we have been called into. For example, pause for a moment and consider the mentioned saints and remember how their lives and ministry unfolded and how they impacted the Christian faith. St. Peter led the new apostles on the day of Pentecost and saw the anointing power of the Holy Ghost on himself and all the others, not to mention the three thousand souls that were converted that day; St. Paul brought the faith to the Gentiles and I for one am eternally thankful for that, while our dear St. John, while exiled on the Island of Patmos, brought us the Revelations, according to God’s plan. We can’t say to God, Lord, I am leaving this vineyard for another one more to my

liking or that Lord, I don’t like the state of my current vineyard and so I am moving on. Has God given you clear permission to move on? Do not be deceived as Eve was by the serpent in the Garden of Eden, where she allowed the enemy to trick her into making a poor decision, to say the least, that not only brought damnation to her, her husband and children but to all of mankind. Let us not pretend to know God’s mind or intention for our lives and our place in His vineyard and take wrong decisions that will cost us greatly. In the least, a decision to leave one ministry or church for another because you think it is time to move on might very well lead you to be derailed as the enemy is always watching, waiting and roaming about seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Don’t let the call on your life be interrupted or even derailed. Don’t allow the enemy to whisper in your ears and suggest you do something contrary to God’s desires, which will certainly misdirect your calling.

Or are you contemplating leaving a church because somehow, the pastor and/or leadership are getting under your skin with one thing or another that you just can’t deal with or tolerate any more?

Or are you leaving because of a conflict or conflicts with certain personalities within that church? If so, please let me caution you to take it easy, take a moment and retreat to seek God’s face on the matter. You see, too often, when you are feeling you are being pushed out of a ministry because of disagreements with church policies, not doctrine, then you have to pause, wait on God and seek His face about what is actually going on. Are those things or people who are irritating you just a test that you are going through from God that you are supposed to master or are they trials and temptations brought by the enemy to trip you to lose your footing, position and way? I know a number of people who right about the time they were to be promoted to become deacons or placed in leadership positions unfortunately abruptly left the church because of a misunderstanding or a conflict with another member. We become hurt, so we leave. We become incensed, so we leave. We feel disrespected, so we pack up and go, often moving our entire family with us, with the children, too often, suffering the most for this decision.

The Bible tells us that Satan is cunning. He is the serpent in the garden and will do anything to lead you to fail and I have seen this over and over again. Sometimes, people leave a church because they are offended and cannot get over that offence, although God has commanded us to forgive even as He has forgiven us. Yet, too often, we are not willing to let bygones be bygones and we hold things so deeply and bitterly that we can’t see how we could continue in that assembly, so we leave, but when we leave on such terms, we have lost a battle, a test and succumbed to temptation.

We have failed and we move on with that spirit of intolerance, impatience, irreconciliation, and unforgiveness to another church.

But the fact is that because we are not willing to forgive, because we remain in disobedience to the word of God, we are bound to repeat this problem when we are offended, and yet again find ourselves moving on to another church. Some of us have resultantly hopped from church to church to church because we can’t stand to be offended although our Savior was offended and even warned us that we will be offended for His sake (Matt. 11: 6 & Matt 24: 10).

Unless we decide to halt all this church hopping and come to terms with our spirit of unforgiveness and pride, we are doomed to experience this again and again!

I don’t pretend to sit on a high horse and act as if I am without fault. I have been offended and sometimes it is very difficult to let offenses go. Sometimes, some offenses take longer to be released, because the injury is so painful. But even as I have been offended, so also have I offended another intentionally or unintentionally and when this happens, do I expect that person to forgive me or to become so angry that they believe that co-existing with me in the same assembly is intolerable so they must move on to another, altogether? Additionally, having been at the same ministry for over 30 years, a ministry in which I was reared and taught, a ministry that helped shape my identity as a person and as a child of God, a ministry that is peopled with almost my entire immediate and extended family and longtime childhood mates, it will be disingenuous to say that the thought of leaving has not occurred to me. Yes it has crossed my mind on numerous occasions. Despite all the pos-

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itive reasons I should remain in this ministry, I have considered leaving several times because of the drawbacks that it can also impose. O and trust me when I say there are drawbacks to being in a church where your father is the pastor and your family members are there all the time, people who knew you when, people who know your strengths and weaknesses, people who know all your business, people who think they can call you out to the entire congregation just because they too often still see you as that child that you once were etc. etc. etc! Need I say more? Hmmm? But at the times that the thought of leaving occurs to me, I have to ask myself why do I want to leave and also is this what God wants of me? If I didn’t fear God and didn’t care about being in His will, then I would have possibly “packed up” and left. But when you understand that it is He who has placed you and ordered your steps, and that it is He who has clearly directed you to have an impact in one way or another within that ministry, you must at least acknowledge His place and role in your life and understand that you don’t worship Him or obey Him for yourself necessarily, but for Him, because that is what He requires and deserves as God Almighty.

I came to write this article because yet again, the annoyances of “church family” issues have reared their ugly heads. And it is at such times that you wonder if remaining is even worth it when you know very well that despite where you may choose to go, because of who you are, because of what God has put in you, you will be of impact in your newly chosen church. But again, has the Lord spoken? Is He undoubtedly calling you to move on to a determined or undetermined new ground or are you leaving because you are sick and tired of dealing with issues in leadership, conflicts with “annoying and irritating” people and you simply do not have or want to have the grace to endure and master these problems? So you want to say good riddance and be gone, because churches are a dime a dozen and you can choose to attend any church you want? Can you? Do you truly believe you can choose to go to any church, because after all, we are serving the same God anyway? My Christian brothers and sisters, it is not as simple as that. God is particular and specific in His decision making about where He leads you and what church He chooses to plant you. Allow Him to plant you; otherwise, you will never be able to grow roots, strong roots that will cause you to become a mighty tree in that vineyard of His. Not all churches, even Bible-believing and preaching, teaching churches of God are right for you. While you may be endowed with laudable gifts, not all churches will be able and willing to nurture you and your talents to allow you to make the greatest impact you can. Some spaces will frustrate and even disable you, simply because those spaces were not designed for you.

Leaving a church and becoming a member of another is not such a simple decision, and clearly, it is not one you should make without the Lord’s direction. So pause and learn to humble yourself where you are currently worshipping. Pause and learn how to listen to the voice of God, the word of God and learn not to be so easily offended and prideful. Pause and know that it is God Who has called you unto Himself and that you should defer to Him always in every situation. Pause and know that to enter another church is to put yourself under that pastor and his leadership’s voice and that you are committing to join yourself to a new group of members, who at one point or another will come to hurt you intentionally or unintentionally. Slow down in packing your bags and allow God the upper hand to call the shots always and you will be glad you did.

Meet The Passionate Master Of Ceremonies Bismark Somuah

up with trends both of the industry and life.

“However, I particularly read the Holy Bible a lot, it has been the secret to my success and perseverance. I really believe I have come this far based on the blessings of the Lord on my life and my faithfulness to the word,” Bismark said to Oral Ofori of TheAfricanDreams.net in an interview.

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South African Airways Extends Group Booking Promotion

*Click here to read more about other personalities

Bismark Somuah is a Master of Ceremonies (MC) and a good one at that if it must be said. Crew members of TheAfricanDream.net had the pleasure of watching him work in Columbus Ohio in the United States early September 2017 where he was a true delight to observe.

The Ohio-based Ghanaian born MC has been following his passion and working in the field for close to two decades, he started out in the year 2000 working in both the English and Ghanaian Akan language.

His most recent assignment was in Columbus, Ohio where he was MC for the 2017 African Picnic. Still in Columbus, Ohio, in September 2017, Mr. Somuah was contracted to be MC for the dinner-dance and fundraiser of the Okwahuman Association of North America.

“Okwahuman Association is a great organization, it was such a privilege for me to have been invited to be the MC for that event, especially when one takes into account the fact that this was their 30th-year-anniversary celebrations too. I gave off my best as usual at this special event” — Mr. Somuah said to TheAfricanDream.net.

Up close with Bismark Somuah

When Bismark is not behind the microphone being an MC, he is probably behind a microphone being a radio DJ at Holyhills Radio — a Christian themed radio station based in Reynoldsburg Ohio, or he has a mic in hand preaching at Pentecost International Worship Center in Columbus Ohio where he is an Elder. He is also a Director at Holyhills Radio. Listeners to his program that TheAfricanDream.net talked to say there is something about his calming voice and insight on whatever subject he delves into.

With over 300 MC’ing assignments under his belt including programs at funerals, parties, weddings and invites from organizations and to special events plus church functions, Bismark certainly has a storehouse of experience and a charm to his personality. He reveals that he gets his inspiration and motivation from reading to catch

When asked what pushed him into the world of MC’ing, he revealed that he was encouraged to become an MC by his senior brother; Dr. Alexander Somuah, a renowned pharmacist based in the US city of Houston in Texas.

The future according to Bismark Somuah

"For me the future is all about being a positive influence on people so I can pull them towards God, I have a lot of experience but I also feel I have a lot more to learn and I want to become much better every day at everything I do — whether on the pulpit or on the mic as an MC", Bismark said of his future.

The MC who is married also has three sisters and according to him, he finds time in his busy schedule to work as an Operational Loss Analyst at Chase Bank in Ohio. He takes assignments all over and his MC’ing ambitions have seen him travel the US east coast. Watch him in the video below and to book Bismark Somuah for your event or functions, email him at bsomuah@hotmail.com, his phone number is +1614-973-3142.

Source: TheAfricanDream.net

https://youtu.be/_DLmjCHB_X4

Get a complimentary* ticket when booking 10 or more passengers traveling to Africa

Fort Lauderdale, FL (October 09, 2017) – South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, has extended its special group booking promotion of offering one free tour conductor ticket* (restrictions apply) for every 10 group passengers traveling on SAA. This offer is valid for new group bookings made and deposits received by October 31, 2017, for travel from October 26 through December 9, 2017, and January 11 through March 31, 2018. Travel is applicable on SAA-operated flights from New York-JFK Airport or Washington, DC-Dulles Airport to any SAA destination in Africa.

“We invite families, friends, coworkers and travel clubs to take advantage of SAA’s low group fares and this special tour conductor offer to explore and experience the wonders of Africa,” said Todd Neuman, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways. “With this tremendous value, your group can experience the vibe of Africa’s cosmopolitan cities, enjoy an exhilarating game safari to view the Big Five, indulge in amazing wine and culinary delights, or spend quality time together under the majestic African skies.”

South African Airways offers the most service from the U.S. to South Africa and an extensive route network throughout the African continent. SAA’s competitive group fares and its dedicated group sales specialists are available to assist with all your group’s travel needs, including complimentary seat assignments. We invite groups big or small to experience SAA’s award-winning in-flight service designed for pure comfort for long-haul travel with a roomy economy class cabin, gourmet cuisine and a selection of complimentary spirits and award-winning South African wines and, generous checked baggage allowance. Also included are individual audio / visual entertainment systems that deliver an extensive menu of first-run movies and music choices. Via our Johannesburg hub, SAA links the world to over 75 destinations across Southern Africa and Africa’s Indian Ocean islands.

To request your group quote, email GroupsNA@flysaa.com, or contact your local professional travel consultant. Visit www.flysaa.com to learn more about the exciting destinations we service.

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2019 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2019) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

ELIGIBILITY 1. What do the terms “native” and “chargeability” mean?

Native ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the individual’s current country of residence or nationality. Native can also mean someone who is entitled to be charged to a country other than the one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Because there is a numerical limitation on immigrants who enter from a country or geographic region, each individual is charged to a country. Your chargeability refers to the country towards which limitation you count.

Your country of eligibility will normally will be the same as your country of birth. However, you may choose your country of eligibility as the country of birth of your spouse, or the country of birth of either of your parents if you were born in a country in which neither parent was born, and in which your parents were not resident at the time of your birth. These are the only three ways to select your country of chargeability.

Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will disqualify your entry.

2. Can I still apply if I was not born in a qualifying country?

There are two circumstances in which you still might be eligible to apply. First, if your derivative spouse was born in an eligible country, you may claim chargeability to that country. As your eligibility is based on your spouse, you will only be issued an immigrant visa if your spouse is also eligible for and issued an immigrant visa. Both of you must enter the United States together using your DVs. Similarly, your minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.

Second, you can be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither of your parents was born in or a resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth. People are not generally considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized, if they were only visiting, studying in the country temporarily, or stationed temporarily for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or government of a country other than the one in which you were born.

If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6.

Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will disqualify your entry.

3. Why do natives of certain countries not qualify for the DV program?

DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons who are not from “high admission” countries. U.S. law defines “high admission countries” as those from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) counts the family and employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status numbers for the previous five years to identify the countries that are considered “high admission” and whose natives will therefore be ineligible for the annual Diversity Visa program. Since USCIS makes this calculation annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not eligible may change from one year to the next.

4. How many DV-2019 visas will go to natives of each region and eligible country?

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines the regional DV limits for each year according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The number UNCLASSIFIED -9-

of visas the Department of State eventually will issue to natives of each country will depend on the regional limits established, how many entrants come from each country, and how many of the selected entrants are found eligible for the visa. No more than seven percent of the total visas available can go to natives of any one country.

5. What are the requirements for education or work experience?

U.S. immigration law and regulations require that every DV entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. A “high school education or equivalent” is defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States OR the successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; correspondence programs or equivalency certificates (such as the General Equivalency Diploma G.E.D.) are not acceptable.

You must present documentary proof of education or work experience to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.

If you do not meet the requirements for education or work experience, your entry will be disqualified at the time of your visa interview, and no visas will be issued to you or any of your family members.

6. What occupations qualify for the DV program?

The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) O*Net OnLine database to determine qualifying work experience. The O*Net OnLine database categorizes job experience into five “job zones.”

While the DOL website lists many occupations , not all occupations qualify for the DV program. To qualify for a DV on the basis of your work experience, you must have, within the past five years, two years of experience in an occupation classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

If you do not meet the requirements for education or work experience, your entry will be disqualified at the time of your visa interview, and no visas will be issued to you or any of your family members.

7. How can I find the qualifying DV occupations in the Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database?

When you are in O*Net OnLine, follow these steps to determine if your occupation qualifies: 1. Under “Find Occupations” select “Job Family” from the pull down menu; 2. Browse by “Job Family,” make your selection, and click “GO;” 3. Click on the link for your specific occupation; and 4. Select the tab “Job Zone” to find the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range.

As an example, select Aerospace Engineers. At the bottom of the Summary Report for Aerospace Engineers, under the Job Zone section, you will find the designated Job Zone 4, SVP Range, 7.0 to < 8.0. Using this example, Aerospace Engineering is a qualifying occupation.

For additional information, see the Diversity Visa – List of Occupations webpage.

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8. Is there a minimum age to apply for the E-DV Program?

There is no minimum age to apply, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.

COMPLETING YOUR ELECTRONIC ENTRY FOR THE DV PROGRAM 9. When can I submit my entry?

The DV-2019 entry period will run from 12:00 pm (noon), Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 3, 2017, until 12:00 pm (noon), Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Each year, millions of people submit entries. Holding the entry period on these dates ensures selectees receive notification in a timely manner, and gives both the visa applicants and our embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance.

We strongly encourage you to enter early during the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period may slow the system down. We cannot accept entries after noon EST on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

10. I am in the United States. Can I enter the DV program?

Yes, an entrant may apply while in the United States or another country. An entrant may submit an entry from any location.

11. Can I only enter once during the registration period?

Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries.

Individuals with more than one entry will be disqualified.

12. May my spouse and I each submit a separate entry?

Yes, each spouse may each submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either spouse is selected, the other is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.

13. What family members must I include in my DV entry?

Spouse: If you are legally married, you must list your spouse regardless of whether he/she lives with you or intends to immigrate to the United States. You must list your spouse even if you currently are separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated. Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remain married but live apart, following a court order. If you and your spouse are legally separated, your spouse will not be able to immigrate with you through the Diversity Visa program. You will not be penalized if you choose to enter the name of a spouse from whom you are legally separated. If you are not legally separated by a court order, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the Diversity Visa.

Failure to list your eligible spouse is grounds for disqualification. If you are divorced or your spouse is deceased, you do not have to list your former spouse.

The only exception to this requirement is if your spouse is already a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, do not list him/her in your entry. A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident will not require or be issued a DV. Therefore, if you select “married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR” on your entry, you will not be able to include further information on your spouse.

Children: You must list ALL your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial DV entry, whether they are your natural children,

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2019 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2019) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

your step-children (even if you are now divorced from that child’s parent), your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the applicable laws. List all children under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, even if they no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to immigrate under the DV program. You are not required to list children who are already U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, though you will not be penalized if you do include them.

Parents and siblings of the entrant are ineligible to receive DV visas as dependents, and you should not include them in your entry.

If you list family members on your entry, they are not required to apply for a visa or to immigrate or travel with you. However, if you fail to include an eligible dependent on your original entry, your case will be disqualified at the time of your visa interview, and no visas will be issued to you or any of your family members. This only applies to those who were family members at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date. Your spouse, if eligible to enter, may still submit a separate entry even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details about all dependents in your family (see FAQ #12 above).

14. Must I submit my own entry, or can someone else do it for me?

We encourage you to prepare and submit your own entry, but you may have someone submit the entry for you. Regardless of whether you submit your own entry, or an attorney, friend, relative, or someone else submits it on your behalf, only one entry may be submitted in your name. You, as the entrant, are responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete; entries that are not correct or complete may be disqualified. Entrants should keep their own confirmation number so that they are able to independently check the status of their entry using Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants should retain access to the email account used in the E-DV submission.

15. I’m already registered for an immigrant visa in another category.

Can I still apply for the DV program?

Yes. 16. When will E-DV be available online?

You can enter online during the registration period beginning at 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, and ending at 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

17. Can I download and save the E-DV entry form into a word processing program and finish it later?

No, you will not be able to save the form into another program for completion and submission later. The E-DV Entry Form is a web-form only. You must fill in the information and submit it while online.

18. Can I save the form online and finish it later?

No. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted at one time. You will have 60 minutes starting from when you download the form to complete and submit your entry through the E-DV website. If you exceed the 60-minute limit and have not submitted your complete entry electronically, the system discards any information already entered. The system deletes any partial entries so that they are not

October 2017

accidentally identified as duplicates of a later, complete entry. Read the DV instructions completely before you start to complete the form online, so that you know exactly what information you will need.

19. I don’t have a scanner. Can I send photographs to someone in the United States to scan them,save them, and email them back to me so I can use them in my entry?

Yes, as long as the photograph meets the requirements in the instructions and is electronically submitted with, and at the same time as, the E-DV online entry. You must already have the scanned photograph file when you submit the entry online; it cannot be submitted separately from the online application. The entire entry (photograph and application together) can be submitted electronically from the United States or from overseas.

20. According to the procedures, the system will reject my E-DV Entry Form if my photos don’t meet the specifications. Can I resubmit my entry?

Yes, as long as your submission is completed by 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. If your photo(s) did not meet the specifications, the E-DV website will not accept your entry, so you will not receive a confirmation notice.

However, given the unpredictable nature of the Internet, you may not receive the rejection notice immediately. If you can correct the photo(s) and resend the Form Part One or Two within 60 minutes, you may be able to successfully submit the entry.

Otherwise, you will have to restart the entire entry process. You can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent. Once you receive a confirmation notice, your entry is complete, and you should NOT submit any additional entries.

21. How soon after I submit my entry will I receive the electronic confirmation notice?

You should receive the confirmation notice immediately, including a confirmation number that you must record and keep. However, the unpredictable nature of the Internet can result in delays. You can hit the “Submit” button as many times as is necessary until a complete application is sent and you receive the confirmation notice. However, once you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.

22. I hit the “Submit" button, but did not receive a confirmation number. If I submit another entry, will I be disqualified?

If you did not receive a confirmation number, your entry was not recorded. You must submit another entry.

It will not be counted as a duplicate. Once you receive a confirmation number, do not resubmit your information.

SELECTION 23. How do I know if I am selected?

You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status Check available on the E-DV website at dvlottery.state.gov starting May 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. Entrant Status Check is the sole means by which the Department of State will notify you if you are selected, provide further instructions on your visa application, and notify you of your immigrant visa interview appointment date and time. In order to ensure the use of all available visas, the Department of State may use Entrant Status Check to notify additional selectees after May 1, 2018. Retain your confirmation number until September 30, 2019 in case of any updates. The only authorized Department of State website for official online entry in the Diversity Visa Program and Entrant Status Check is dvlottery.state.gov.

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The Department of State will NOT contact you to tell you that you have been selected (see FAQ #24).

24. How will I know if I am not selected? Will I be notified?

The Department of State will NOT notify you directly if your entry is not selected. You must use the Entrant Status Check to learn whether you were selected. You may check the status of your DV-2019 entry through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website at starting May 1, 2018, until September 30, 2019. Keep your confirmation number until at least September 30, 2019. (Status information for the previous year’s DV program, DV-2018, is available online from May 2, 2017, through September 30, 2018.)

25. What if I lose my confirmation number?

You must have your confirmation number to access Entrant Status Check. A tool is now available in Entrant Status Check (ESC) on the E-DV website that will allow you to retrieve your confirmation number via the email address with which you registered by entering certain personal information to confirm your identity.

U.S. embassies and consulates and the Kentucky Consular Center are unable to check your selection status for you or provide your confirmation number to you directly (other than through the Entrant Status Check retrieval tool). The Department of State is NOT able to provide a list of those selected to continue the visa process.

26. Will I receive information from the Department of State by email or by postal mail?

The Department of State will not send you a notification letter.

The U.S. government has never sent emails to notify individuals that they have been selected, and there are no plans to use email for this purpose for the DV-2019 program. If you are a selectee, you will only receive email communications regarding your visa appointment after you have responded to the notification instructions on Entrant Status Check. These emails will not contain information on the actual appointment date and time; they will simply tell you to go to the Entrant Status Check website for details. The Department of State may send emails reminding DV lottery applicants to check the ESC for their status. However, such emails will never indicate whether the lottery applicant was selected or not.

Only internet sites that end with the “.gov” domain suffix are official U.S. government websites. Many other websites (e.g., with the suffixes “.com,” “.org,” or “.net”) provide immigration and visa-related information and services. The Department of State does not endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material on these other websites.

You may receive emails from websites that try to trick you into sending money or providing your personal information. You may be asked to pay for forms and information about immigration procedures, all of which are available free on the Department of State website, travel.state.gov, or through U.S. embassy or consulate websites. Additionally, organizations or websites may try to steal your money by charging fees for DV-related services. If you send money to one of these non-government organizations or webites, you will likely never see it again. Also, do not send personal information to these websites, as it may be used for identity fraud/theft.

These deceptive emails may come from people pretending to be affiliated with the Kentucky Consular Center or the Department of State. Remember that the U.S. government has never sent emails to notify individuals they have been selected, and there are no plans to use email for this purpose for the

2019 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2019) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) October 2017

DV-2019 program. The Department of State will never ask you to send money by mail or by services such as Western Union.

27. How many individuals will be selected for DV-2019?

For DV-2019, 50,000 Diversity Visas are available. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas or not pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected to ensure that all of the available DVs are issued. However, this also means there may not be a sufficient number of visas for all those selected.

You can check the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check to see if you have been selected for further processing and your place on the list. Interviews for the DV-2019 program will begin in October 2018 for selectees who have submitted all pre-interview paperwork and other information as requested in the notification instructions.

Selectees who provide all required information will be informed of their visa interview appointment through the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check four to six weeks before the scheduled interviews with U.S. consular officers overseas.

Each month, visas will be issued to those applicants who are eligible for issuance during that month, as long as visas are available. Once all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program will end. Visa numbers could be finished before September 2019. Selected applicants who wish to apply for visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases. Being randomly chosen as a selectee does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. Selection merely means that you are eligible to apply for a Diversity Visa. If your rank number becomes eligible for final processing, you potentially may be issued a Diversity Visa.

Only 50,000 visas will be issued to such applicants.

28. How will successful entrants be selected?

Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant Status Check, available May 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019, on the E-DV website dvlottery.state.gov. The Department of State does not send selectee notifications or letters by regular postal mail or by email. Any email notification or mailed letter stating that you have been selected to receive a DV that does not come from the Department of State is not legitimate. Any email communication you receive from the Department of State will direct you to review Entrant Status Check for new information about your application. The Department of State will never ask you to send money by mail or by services such as Western Union.

All entries received from each region are individually numbered; at the end of the entry period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered; the second entry selected will be the second case registered, etc. All entries received within each region during the entry period will have an equal chance of being selected. When an entry has been selected, the entrant will receive notification of his or her selection through the Entrant Status Check available starting May 1, 2018, on the E-DV website dvlottery.state.gov. If you are selected and you respond to the instructions provided online via Entrant Status Check, the Department of State’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will process the case until those selected are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate or until those in the United States who are applying to adjust status apply with USCIS in the United States.

29. I am already in the United States. If selected, may I adjust my status with USCIS?UNCLASSIFIED

- 14 UNCLASSIFIED Yes, provided you are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), you may apply to USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent resident. You must ensure that USCIS can complete action on your case, including processing of any overseas applications for a spouse or for children under 21 years of age, before September 30, 2019, since on that date your eligibility for the DV-2019 program expires. The Departnment of State will not approve any visa numbers or adjustments of status for the DV-2019 program after midnight EDT on September 30, 2019, under any circumstances.

30. If I am selected, for how long am I entitled to apply for a Diversity Visa?

If you are selected in the DV-2019 program, you are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during U.S. government fiscal year 2019, which is from October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. We encourage selectees to apply for visas as early as possible, once their program rank numbers become eligible.

Without exception, all selected and eligible applicants must obtain their visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year. There is no carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are selected but who do not obtain visas by September 30, 2019 (the end of the fiscal year). Also, spouses and children who derive status from a DV-2019 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Individuals who apply overseas will receive an appointment notification from the Department of State through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website four to six weeks before the scheduled appointment.

31. If a DV selectee dies, what happens to the case?

If a DV selectee dies at any point before he or she has traveled to the United States or adjusted status, the DV case is automatically closed. Any derivative spouse and/or children of the deceased selectee will no longer be entitled to apply for a DV visa. Any visas issued to them will be revoked.

FEES 32. How much does it cost to enter the Diversity Visa program?

There is no fee charged to submit an electronic entry. However, if you are selected and apply for a Diversity Visa, you must pay all required visa application fees at the time of visa application and interview directly to the consular cashier at the U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are a selectee already in the United States and you apply to USCIS to adjust status, you will pay all required fees application directly to USCIS. If you are selected, you will receive details of required DV and immigrant visa application fees with the instructions provided through the E-DV website at dvlottery.state.gov.

33. How and where do I pay DV and immigrant visa fees if I am selected?

If you are a randomly selected entrant, you will receive instructions for the DV application process through Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov. You will pay all DV and immigrant application visa fees in person only at the U.S. embassy or consulate at the time of the visa application. The consular cashier will immediately give you a U.S. government receipt for payment. Do not send money for DV fees to anyone through the mail, Western Union, or any other delivery service if you are applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

If you are selected and you are already present in the United States and plan to file for adjustment of status with USCIS, the instructions page accessible through Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov contains separate instructions on how to mail adjustment of status application fees to a U.S. bank.

34. If I apply for a DV, but don’t qualify to receive one, can I get a refund of

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the visa fees I paid?

No. Visa application fees cannot be refunded. You must meet all qualifications for the visa as detailed in these instructions. If a consular officer determines you do not meet requirements for the visa, or you are otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer cannot issue a visa and you will forfeit all fees paid.

INELIGIBILITIES 35. As a DV applicant, can I receive a waiver of any grounds of visa ineligibility? Does my waiver application receive any special processing?

DV applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility aside from those ordinarily provided in the INA, nor is there special processing for waiver requests. Some general waiver provisions for people with close relatives who are U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Resident aliens may be available to DV applicants in some cases, but the time constraints in the DV program may make it difficult for applicants to benefit from such provisions.

DV FRAUD WARNING AND SCAMS 36. How can I report internet fraud or unsolicited emails?

Please visit the econsumer.gov website, hosted by the Federal Trade Commission in cooperation with consumer-protection agencies from 17 nations. You also may report fraud to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center. To file a complaint about unsolicited email, visit the Department of Justice Contact Us page.

DV STATISTICS 37. How many visas will be issued in DV-2019?

By law, a maximum of 55,000 visas are available each year to eligible persons. However, in November 1997, the U.S. Congress passed the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), which stipulates that beginning as early as DV-1999, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated DVs will be made available for use under the NACARA program. The actual reduction of the limit began with DV-2000 and will remain in effect through the DV-2019 program, so 50,000 visas remain for the DV program described in these instructions.

MISCELLANEOUS 38. If I receive a visa through the DV program, will the U.S. government pay for my airfare to the United States, help me find housing and employment, and/or provide healthcare or any subsidies until I am fully settled?

No. The U.S. government will not provide any of these services to you if you receive a visa through the DV program. If you are selected to apply for a DV, you must demonstrate that you will not become a public charge in the United States before being issued a visa.

This evidence may be in the form of a combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) submitted by a relative or friend residing in the United States, an offer of employment from an employer in the United States, or other evidence.

Source:travel.state.us

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Welcoming the Ghana Retail Payment Infrastructure Systems was equally aware that aside from the software, hardware and training challenges, ensuring an End-to-End compliance to include every stakeholder or user was non-negotiable. This is because, as a smart grid, the fact that technology deployments must necessarily connect large numbers of smart devices and systems involving hardware and software was not lost on its operators. Simply put, Sibton has constructed a platform capable of linking multiple networks, systems, devices, applications, or components to share and readily use information securely and effectively with little or no inconvenience to the user.

The Uber experience has taught us that road transportation can be made cashless. All that is required apart from the switch are perhaps Ghana has witnessed some positive actions for the country in governmobile phones and Point Of Sale (POS) device so that whether in a ment’s quest to achieve financial inclusion, using it to propel the kind of Ghanaian Trotro, a taxi, a bus or public train, payment transactions are development people have yearned for, for decades. The first action was done without cash. This even reduces the risk associated with a pasthe announcement by the National Identification Authority (NIA) that it senger or a transport operator having to keep a large volume of cash was ready to roll out the National Identification System. This has been on them. The Ports of Ghana are already paperless. The process has to on the drawing board for years and even though at some point portions be complemented with an easy electronic payment process and the were executed, it was not enough to be leveraged. ease of doing business in Ghanaian Ports will be felt by all. This enhances our image in the eyes of local and foreign investors. Even The second thing was the assurance by the government to the effect that though the traditional banks have developed efficient interbank paythe National Address System was being finalized. This, just like the ment systems, courtesy Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Identification system had remained on the drawing board for far too long Systems (GhIPSS), same cannot be said of rural banks, Savings & even though it is a known fact that the two are sine-qua-non-for the Loans entities, Microfinance, and Insurance firms, compelling patrons attainment of a fully digitized payment system in Ghana. of their services to use cash for transactions.

The third but perhaps the most consoling thing to occur is the release of a report by Bankable Frontier Associates, an independent consultant with funds from the Better Than Cash Alliance. The Report diagnosed the progress of digital payments and the challenges that lie ahead. The findings generally affirm that the government means business in creating an economy where everyone can pay and get paid digitally, instead of using cash.

First of all, the findings of the report show the country has made significant gains, including almost 100% of government payments to people and payments within the government is now processed digitally. It particularly predicts that if the government continues to make progress, savings could reach over GH¢250M (nearly $60 million) each year, which may result in more than GH¢1B ($230 million) by 2020, and that “for digital financial services to reach all segments of the society, Interoperability is a key and critical ingredient to evolving larger payment ecosystems”, thus according to Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu Boahen who spoke at the launch of the report. It cited the Government’s plan for improving the levels of financial inclusion, with good internet connectivity and expansive mobile money agent networks as an attestation to its commitment.

In 2016 for instance, the study found that mobile money merchants facilitated GH¢550M financial transactions, even though only 37 percent of the value of all payments were made digitally of the estimated GH¢561B payments processed through electronic channels annually.

That meant that, on the whole, the vast majority of payments, by volume, were still made in cash – about 99.6%, and this is where the problem is, especially when it tells that “Individuals continue to purchase essential goods, including food, in the informal economy, with cash”, but more scaring is the fact that it was estimated that the annual value of GH¢5B transactions made by individuals was done through cash representing 71%, while 29% was conducted electronically.

Aside from having some of the world’s finest brains behind its operation and management, the Sibton Switch is a robust, guaranteed with backups, tested and proven to be flawless to ensure security, confidentiality, hacking and also prevent regular breakdowns which creates inconvenience for users largely. The other good thing is that though a privately-operated Switch, Sibton does not intend to work without close collaboration with the GhIPSS with whom they hope to share synergies.

Another grey area of concern has to do with the payment of utility bills. On a daily basis, many people are compelled to hold cash to pay bills like water, electricity, DSTV, trash or waste management, property rates, phone credits, school fees and even for transactions with the local market women. In 2004 for instance, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formed the GridWise Architecture Council (GWAC) to articulate Interoperability concepts and facilitate the Interoperation of smart grid technologies. Three years later, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) gave the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) the primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards to achieve Interoperability of smart grid devices and systems.

In Africa too, what the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) decided to do was to provide services to the players in Mobile payments to enable them to Interoperate with banks and other financial institutions. This helps Mobile Money providers offer a wide array of services to their clients and subscribers. For example, under the Cashless Nigeria programme, the NIBSS has ensured all bills, such as school fees, electricity and water bills are paid using the ebills pay facility which uses the payment aggregator on the Switch operated by the private sector. Kenya is an undisputed global leader when it comes to mobile money services. In 2007, the telecom operator Safaricom launched its mobile money service M-Pesa as a simple In the view of the experts who conducted the study, improving payment way to text small payments between users. A decade later, M-Pesa has Interoperability, digitizing government procurement payments and lever- become the world’s most successful money transfer service. aging electronic fund transfer infrastructure for business-to-business payments, as well as incentivizing digital payments at the point of sale The platform enables almost 30 million people to pay for crucial servare the immediate action points which must be implemented to ensure a ices, access loans, and send money all over the world. M-Pesa is also totally digitized electronic cashless payment system. a leading revenue generator for Kenya’s government and has spread to

Thankfully, however, the state-of-the-art national switch built by Sibton Switch has taken adequate care of the aforementioned recommendations.

This is because, as a smart grid, the fact that technology deployments must necessarily connect large numbers of smart devices and systems involving hardware and software was not lost on its operators. Simply put, Sibton has constructed a platform capable of linking multiple networks, systems, devices, applications, or components to share and readily use information securely and effectively with little or no inconvenience to the user. This is because the management of Sibton was aware of the dictates of the integrity the Ghana Retail Payment Infrastructure Systems being spearheaded by the Bank of Ghana was interested in and

10 countries, including Albania, Egypt, Romania, Lesotho, and Tanzania.

Still, in Kenya, the downside has always been the inconvenience of sending money across mobile networks. Consumers often complain that the process is tedious and expensive. Mobile operators such as Airtel have also complained that Safaricom’s dominance in the market undermines their business, and called for a leveling of the playing field, something Sibton has learned from, reason why it seeks to put in place a more efficient system to make life more convenient for Ghanaians so Ghana could be ahead of Kenya if it accelerates her processes. Even in Kenya, new Interoperability regulations are being

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adopted among service providers. Officials from both Kenya’s ICT ministry and the Communications Authority of Kenya have been pushing for the adoption of this regulation, allowing users to send money across networks at no additional cost. On Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at the company’s annual conference, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore spoke in positive terms about the regulations, saying that the company “strongly” supported Interoperability and was “committed to delivering that within the next three months.” Experts today have long viewed mobile Interoperability in Kenya as inevitable. The Interoperability measures will drive financial inclusion among subscribers.

Tanzania, which set a precedent as the first African country to adopt full mobile money compatibility among its networks, has reported increased transactions among users. In Kenya, the measures are meant to also create fair competition and allow seamless interaction among the six mobile money transfer platforms: M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Orange Money, Equitel, Mobikash, and Tangaza. Beyond that, Interoperability in Ghana, just like in Kenya will allow consumers the ability to access different services in case of technical hitches. For instance, in late April, Safaricom’s network experienced a countrywide outage affecting voice calls, data, and M-Pesa services. Even though it was restored hours later, the loss of revenue and inconvenience caused an uproar.

In many countries, the big issue has been about misconceptions that Interoperability will shrink profits of service providers or let’s call them stakeholders but that is not so at all. Take the example of ATMs where a customer of any bank can use any bank’s ATM today which wasn’t the case some 10 years ago. Has that reduced the profits of banks, NO! Rather, it has reduced the cost on Banks as more people are using ATM facilities. This can even further increase if all the banks work together and divide the areas for installing ATMs used by all the customers, resulting in reduced cost with increased reach. I think in the same way if we have interoperability in mobile money, it will ultimately increase the market size and every provider would be benefitted with increased market size.

India is one of the countries where technology has facilitated a significant revolution in payment systems. It started with the mechanisation and automation of certain processes by introduction of cheque sorters and readers, MICR-based clearing, etc and moved on to the use of Information Technology for efficient funds transfer mechanisms such as Electronic Clearing System (ECS), National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), Cheque Truncation System (CTS) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS). The Reserve Bank of India has already initiated work towards the introduction of new generation RTGS which will be able to handle rising volumes, provide better functionalities and maintain better technological adaptability. Our journey towards leveraging technology for making our payment systems at par with the best in the world will continue with appropriate contributions from all concerned.

Electronic payment products provide speedier, cost-effective and secure payment mechanisms to customers in comparison to traditional paperbased methods. The Reserve Bank of India has been proactively involved in promoting electronic mode payments. Electronic payment products are expected to provide speedier, cheaper and hassle-free payment experience to customers in comparison to traditional paper-based payment instruments. The evolution of electronic payment products in the country have progressed through two main phases – (i) introductory phase and (ii) rationalization phase and the RTGS system has been exhibiting rapid growth, not only in terms of volume and value of transactions but also in the coverage of branches. During the year 2009-10, a total of 11,172 bank branches were added in the RTGS system, thereby increasing the number of RTGS enabled bank branches to 66,178. Contrastingly In 2004, only 4,800 branches offered RTGS in India. The rapid acceptance of RTGS by users can be measured by the daily transaction volume: today, close to 100,000 transactions a day are settled in the RTGS mode.

Back home in Ghana, mobile money transaction volume rose to GH¢35.4B in 2016, an increment of 216 percent over the previous year.

This was generated by the four mobile networks; MTN, VODAFONE, TIGO, and Airtel doing same network services alone, but from every indication, an efficient Interoperability switch could easily triple these figures when it comes onstream. Sibton is ready and it has what it takes to get revenues swelled by insisting on prudence and maintaining peace of mind in doing business for all stakeholders, the very reason the Ghana Retail Payment Infrastructure System will work and work well.

Source: Elizabeth Ofosu-Danso

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Future Educational Partnerships Around The World Ghana's Ambassador To The US Visits WPI To Discuss A Potential Future Educational Partnership His Excellency Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, the 19th ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States, traveled to campus with his wife and several colleagues to begin exploring the various kinds of relationships WPI could have with Ghana, and how the university’s global presence and expertise could be used to help provide more opportunities for the Ghanaian people.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green announced that the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), led by USAID and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will launch new country programs in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, and Sierra Leone, and expand its existing program in Burkina Faso.

With the addition of five new focus countries in West and Central Africa, PMI will have programs in 24 countries in subSaharan Africa, where malaria remains a significant public health problem. This is in addition to PMI’s two bilateral programs and targeted support in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Asia, aimed at combating antimalarial drug resistance.PMI’s country expansion will benefit almost 90 million additional people at risk of malaria. The U.S. Government will now contribute to ensuring the availability of effective malaria prevention and control interventions to approximately 332 million people at risk across the west-to-central African corridor from Senegal to Cameroon. While launching and expanding PMI, the U.S. Government remains committed to partnering with existing PMI focus countries to accelerate progress in malaria control and continue the momentum towards elimination.

Together with partner countries, under national malaria control program leadership, and in collaboration with malaria stakeholders, PMI scales up a comprehensive, integrated package of lifesaving interventions in communities. This includes both prevention (insecticide-treated mosquito nets, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, and indoor residual spraying) and treatment interventions (malaria diagnosis and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies). PMI support builds overall country capacity and strengthens health systems while improving malaria prevention and treatment services. PMI support includes strengthening supply chain logistics, malaria case surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation of impact.

More than 480 million people at risk of malaria have benefitted from PMI programs. In Fiscal Year 2016, PMI protected over 16 million people by spraying homes, distributed more than 42 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, and provided 57 million treatments of life-saving drugs and 63 million rapid diagnostic tests.

As one of the oldest buildings on campus (and part of the National Register of Historic Places), Higgins House has seen its share of historical moments. On Friday afternoon, it was home to a new kind of history as the ambassador paid WPI a visit to discuss a potential educational partnership.

After a brief meeting with President Laurie Leshin, AdjeiBarwuah had the chance to talk with three present and former Ghanaian undergraduate students, Naomi Otoo ’18, Ebenezer Ampiah ’17, and Michelle Addai ’18 The students shared where in Ghana they were from, their majors, details on their IQPs and MQPs, and what brought them to WPI.

“I’m very happy that the first group of people I met were Ghanaian youngsters studying here,” Adjei-Barwuah said.

“That tells me that the future of the country is in safe hands.”

A host of WPI representatives welcomed AdjeiBarwuah to campus, including assistant vice president of government and community relations Linda Looft, professor and dean of engineering Wole Soboyejo, professor and dean of arts and sciences Jean King, dean of interdisciplinary and global studies Kent Rissmiller, professor and director of environmental and sustainability studies Rob Krueger, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering Paul Mathisen, postdoctoral fellow Ali Salifu, PhD student Elsie Bowen-Dodoo (who studies both at WPI and the University of Ghana), and director of precollegiate outreach Sue Sontgerath.

“America means a lot to Ghana,” said Kwabena KyeiAboagye, chair of the Ghana Ambassador Visit to New England Planning Committee. “The students are working toward engineering degrees and science degrees to better the community in Ghana and make a visible difference.”

“This afternoon is an exploratory visit,” Adjei-Barwuah continued. “We want to develop a new skill set that will make it possible for us to make sure that every citizen will have a fair chance at making a living. It calls for skills and a certain kind of attitude that will make it possible for us to give opportunities to everybody. This institution can help us [with that].

“I’m quite sure that I will leave here with a happy song dancing on my mind because I see this institution as a place we should have come to a long time ago, but in development, it’s always a good time [to start].”

The panel began with members of the community touching upon the cornerstones of what makes WPI, WPI. From the reorganization of the university’s curriculum to include project-based learning back in 1970, the Global Projects Program, and building the STEM pipeline with pre-collegiate programs to the Center for Project-Based Learning and the Math and Science for Sub-Saharan Africa (MS4SSA) Conference, His Excellency and his team were introduced to several of the concepts and programs that make WPI a successful and impactful national research university.

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About halfway through the discussion, Soboyejo took a moment to say that, as he listened to explanations of what WPI does and works toward, he realized once again why he decided to come to the university from Princeton, and what WPI has to offer to the country of Ghana.

“I found here all the other things that I really wanted to see blended with scholarly work,” he explained. “I see a lot of people in Africa that are well-trained in theory and some that are skilled in practice. It leads to a continent of two cultures: very good theoreticians, and very good artisans.

“But what you need is a blend of theory and practice and a sense of how to do things effectively. That’s what the WPI approach enables, and it goes right to the roots of WPI, this idea of theory and practice together.”

Professor Krueger, who helped coordinate the ambassador’s visit, said Friday’s event was a logical extension of the relationship between WPI and the West African nation. Krueger points out that he met Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo last year in Worcester when he was campaigning with some of Worcester’s Ghanaian community.

“The visit came about because WPI has done IQPs and MQPs there, and has had connections with Ghana,” said Krueger. “We hosted King Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the king of Akyem Abuakwa in southeastern Ghana, a few years ago.

“The next step was to make more formal contact with the government to extend good will and look at a stronger potential for a collaborative relationship.”

An invitation was extended to His Excellency to visit the annual Washington, D.C., project center reception in December to talk with project sponsors, advisors, and more students to continue discussions surrounding the budding relationship between Ghana and WPI. “I’m grateful for what you’ve done today,” AdjeiBarwuah said, adding that next steps would include a letter listing areas they’d like to work on with WPI, whether another face-to-face discussion should take place, and to touch upon subjects that weren’t covered in the initial meeting.

“We have just begun to open the door to show you WPI,” Looft said at the conclusion of the panel, “and are looking forward to continuing the conversation.”

-By Allison Racicot

Source: https://www.wpi.edu

USAID Expands President’s Malaria Initiative in West and Central Africa

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United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green announced that the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), led by USAID and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will launch new country programs in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, and Sierra Leone, and expand its existing program in Burkina Faso.

With the addition of five new focus countries in West and Central Africa, PMI will have programs in 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria remains a significant public health problem. This is in addition to PMI’s two bilateral programs and targeted support in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Asia, aimed at combating antimalarial drug resistance.PMI’s country expansion will benefit almost 90 million additional people at risk of malaria. The U.S. Government will now contribute to ensuring the availability of effective malaria prevention and control interventions to approximately 332 million people at risk across the west-to-central African corridor from Senegal to Cameroon. While launching and expanding PMI, the U.S. Government remains committed to partnering with existing PMI focus countries to accelerate progress in malaria control and continue the momentum towards elimination.

Together with partner countries, under national malaria control program leadership, and in collaboration with malaria stakeholders, PMI scales up a comprehensive, integrated package of life-saving interventions in communities. This includes both prevention (insecticide-treated mosquito nets, intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, and indoor residual spraying) and treatment interventions (malaria diagnosis and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies). PMI support builds overall country capacity and strengthens health systems while improving malaria prevention and treatment services. PMI support includes strengthening supply chain logistics, malaria case surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation of impact.

More than 480 million people at risk of malaria have benefitted from PMI programs. In Fiscal Year 2016, PMI protected over 16 million people by spraying homes, distributed more than 42 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, and provided 57 million treatments of life-saving drugs and 63 million rapid diagnostic tests.

Office of Press Relations

Telephone: +1.202.712.4320 | Email: press@usaid.govAs one of the oldest buildings on campus (and part of the National Register of Historic Places), Higgins House has seen its share of historical moments. On Friday afternoon, it was home to a new kind of history as the ambassador paid WPI a visit to discuss a potential educational partnership.

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Women from 3 African Countries Participate in 2017 Global Sports Mentoring Program

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From September 25 to October 31, seventeen international delegates and American sports sector mentors will take part in the annual U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP). In its sixth year, this program supports the U.S. Department of State’s global efforts to advance the rights and participation of women and girls through sports.

Working side-by-side with these emerging female leaders, senior executives in the American sports sector open their respective organizations as host sites while sharing personal entrepreneurial and management insights. During the mentorship, emerging global leaders develop business plans to support “sport for social change” initiatives in their home countries. These strategies allow communities at home and around the world to experience the benefits that come from cross-cultural relations and participation in sports, thereby creating more resilient and stable societies. In turn, the American mentors are enriched by new perspectives and an expanded domestic and international network.

The GSMP class of 2017 hails from Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, France, India, Kosovo, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan, Uganda, and Venezuela. This delegation will join the ranks of 82 global alumnae—Olympians, Paralympians, journalists, ministerial officials, civil society leaders, entrepreneurs, and sports administrators—from over 45 countries who are providing opportunities for thousands of individuals to become leaders on the field, in the boardroom, and in their schools and governments.

This year, U.S. mentors represent the following companies and organizations: America East, the Big East, Burton Snowboards, Eli Lilly & Company, ESPN, Fox Sports, Gatorade, Google, the NCAA, the National Hockey League (NHL), PGA of America, Saatchi & Saatchi LA, Under Armour, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the University of Connecticut and the Women’s Sports Foundation. The GSMP is implemented in cooperation with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society.

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #EmpowerWomen. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECAPress@state.gov and ESPN’s Jane Bullock at Jane.Bullock@espn.com.

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World Health Organization Predicts Cancer Sierra Leonean Student Will Kill Almost 1 Million Africans Developing An Alternative Annually by 2030 Breast Cancer Treatment

An African University of Science and Technology, Abuja student is making groundbreaking discoveries in the way cancer is treated.

One of the main challenges that continue to bedevil Africa, decades after many African countries acquired their full autonomy from the colonizers, is poor health. Despite the many efforts made by African governments to improve their respective health sectors, millions of Africans continue to die due to lack of proper health care.

available to researchers and policy makers,” WHO advices.

In an effort to minimize the pangs of cancer in Africa, two international pharmaceutical companies, working in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, have promised to significantly lower the cost of canAside from dealing with unpredicted disease outbreaks such cer drugs in Africa. as Ebola, Africa is also struggling to cope with ancient ailments such as cancer. In fact, cancer still remains the dead- Under this plan, the two companies: Pfizer, based in New York, and Cipla, based in Mumbai, are expected liest disease in Africa, with the World Health Organization (WHO) predicting that at least one million people in Africa to make chemotherapy medicines cheaply available in six underdeveloped African countries, including The will be dying of cancer annually by 2030.

Gambia, Uganda and Kenya.

This means that cancer will be killing more people in Africa than anywhere else in the world. It also implies that cancer Non-Profit Treatment will be deadlier than HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and other According to the New York Times, the companies infectious diseases. have promised to offer the much-needed drugs at extremely low prices to enable poor cancer patients to “Non-communicable diseases – including cancer – have access affordable treatment. become more prominent in Africa over the last decade, as a

result of longer life expectancy due to improved health care and changes in lifestyle. By 2030, 1.4 million new cancer cases and 1 million deaths are foreseen in Africa,” WHO writes.

Way Forward The international health organization points out that for African governments to be able to reduce the burden of cancer they have to make long-term investments and commitments, particularly in the establishment and improvement of radiotherapy facilities on the continent.

It further advises governments and other stakeholders to regularly collect and analyze data about cancer patients, adding that this information is critical in helping authorities to come up with the right policies of dealing with the cancer menace.

Experts have hailed this plan as a phenomenal idea with a perfect chance of turning the tide against cancer. They are also optimistic that the cheap drugs will help to eliminate counterfeits that have recently flooded the African market.

However, some pundits are a bit hesitant in approving the plan because they are not certain about its sustainability. But according to the president of Pfizer’s essential health group, John Young, the two companies do not expect to make profits from the plan.

Sandra Musujusu is developing an alternative treatment for a subtype of breast cancer commonly found in black women, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

“My research is actually centered on the development of biodegradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer,” Musujusu told the Tribune. “I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer, which is actually the aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”

The Sierra Leone native’s research was unveiled on July 6 when World Bank director Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi visited the Nigerian school as a part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centers of Excellence locations, funded to encourage research to benefit African countries facing problems.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women around the world. In 2012, there were 1.7 million new cases worldwide, according to World Cancer Research Fund International. In the United States alone, black women with breast cancer have the highest mortality rate than any other race, according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death among black women.

Musujusu, whose research has been sponsored by the Pan African Materials Institute, told the Tribune that she believes her work is a big step for medical advancements in Africa.

“I believe there is a bright future for Africa, and as a woman there is much more we can do if we are empowered,” she said. “This award given to me by PAMI has empowered me to face my studies with more confidence and actually contribute to the frontier of knowledge and move Africa forward.”

HuffPost has reached out to African University of Science and Technology and will update this article accordingly.

He adds they will only charge a small fee to cover just their manufacturing and packaging costs.

Overall, majority of Africans have welcomed the plan, saying it will take the heavy burden of costly cancer treatment off their shoulders.

“Governments, together with partners from the international FREDRICK NGUGI health community, should train experts to strengthen existContributor, ing registries and establish new ones. Registries are essenhttps://face2faceafrica.com tial for compiling and analyzing the data, and making it

https://www.huffingtonpost.com

Trivia

"I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach." Charles Spurgeon ● "The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history." - Andrew Murray ● "We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." - Oswald Chambers ● "There is no other activity in life so important as that of prayer.

Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency."

- M.E. Andross ● "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day." - John Bunyan ● "Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet." - E. M. Bounds ● "We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring it's power down to earth." - Andrew Murray ● "Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His' voice in the depth of our hearts." - Mother Teresa ● "Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done." - C.S. Lewis ● "The more you pray, the less you'll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You'll feel more patient and less pressured." - Rick Warren ● "I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." - Martin Luther ● "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." - Oswald Chambers ● "He who kneels the most, stands the best." - D.L. Moody Feel free to encourage others to pray by sharing this fact.

PRAYER IS THE MASTER KEY

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"Finland has the most stable economy in world today.

There are less than 20 churches in Finland. Switzerland has the second most stable economy in the world. Switzerland has less than 30 churches.Denmark is the third most stable economy in the world. Denmark has about 23 churches in it.These are countries considered largely atheist in nature, yet so blessed.Come to Owerri town, SE Nigeria, from MCC junction to Toronto junction, there are 36 churches. That stretch of about 5 km harbours 36 churches, more churches than the entire Switzerland.Between Owerri and Mgbidi l counted 97 churches and gave up.

According to CAC, Nigeria has over 23,000 registered churches. We have more churches than schools and hospitals combined. More pastors than doctors and teachers combined.

Everyone is born again. All are covered in the blood of Jesus.

All are filled with the Holy Spirit.Yet none of those claims reflects in the expected moral elevation of society. We are still one of the greediest, laziest, corrupt, deceitful, hypocritical and hateful set of beings on the planet today, with all our Christ and Holy spirit.Our people need to draw the line between religiosity and spirituality."

If you can't be a bridge to connect people, then don't be a wall to separate them. If you can't be a light to brighten people's good deeds then don't be darkness covering their efforts. If you can't be water to help people's crops sprout, then don't be a pest destroying their crops. If you can't be a vaccine to give life, don't be a virus to terminate it. If you can't be a pencil to write anyone's happiness, then try to be a nice eraser to remove their sadness. We can only be each others keeper. SHALOM.

Nigerian saxophone duo Twinsax invades Ghana with Gospel Jazz Festival

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Washington DC Poised To Attract More Ghana Visitors

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Accra, Oct. 03, Ghana News Agency (GNA) – Washington DC, the American Capitol, which hosts the second largest population of Ghanaians outside Ghana is poised to attract more visitors especially from West Africa from its partnership with South African Airways.

The partnership to promote Destination DC, is an effort to showcase the many attractions that Washington has to offer visitors.

Mr Elliot Fergusson II, President and Chief Executive Officer of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, said while it was important to ensure the safety of Americans and visitors to America, it was also important to ensure that the messaging from officialdom did not make people feel unwelcome in America.

“We respect the intentions of the President to try to make sure that America is a safe place and therefore try to keep terrorism out of the country but we want to make sure that the people don’t feel unwelcomed overall,” he stated.

Twinsax of Nigeria was in Ghana for a gospel jazz concert that happened Sunday, October 1, 2017, in the port city of Tema at the TDC Clubhouse. The show dubbed the Gospel jazz Festival was organized in collaboration with Rainbow Christian Centre, TheAfricanDream.net and FunHouz Entertainment.

This show was the first ever performance in Ghana for Twinsax, who are actually identical twins. They were supported by jazz-minded acts like Segun Atoyebi of Nigeria, Young Ghanaian saxophonist Kwame Jnr. and Nathan Sax to thrill the audience with regular and smooth jazz gospel music that day.

FunHouz Entertainment revealed to TheAfricanDream.net that they were very impressed by the audience in attendance and the performance by Twinsax and all the other acts: "we are so overwhelmed by the success that we are seriously thinking of bringing this show back next year for an even bigger performance" said Mr. Akrong who's FunHouz specializes in event planning and hosting, artist promotion and management and publicity.

Ms. Mina Nyamekye Brown also of FunHouz said "the climax of the show for me was the collaboration between Twinsax and Kwame Jnr who rendered beautiful versions of Ghanaian songs with their respective saxophones, I also think the audience enjoyed the very cool ministrations from The twins, Marvelous Taye Ayodele and the Harbor City Mass Choir and Exit Inc Innocent Kehinde Ayodele who make up the group Twinsax said "Ghana has always who led series of praises and worship sesheld a special place in our hearts as far as sions song to which the crowd danced joythe propagation of the gospel through our ously to the glory of God." music is concerned and this show was a great opportunity for us. We had wanted to Twinsax gave their fans in Ghana photo be in Ghana at an earlier date but we guess opportunities and promised to return. The God decided to pick the October 1, 2017, twins are back in Nigeria celebrating their birthday, they were born October 4. To wish date for us. October 1, 1960, is also the them a happy birthday or find out more independence celebration day for Nigeria about them check them out on Instagram so we know this was not an accident" -and Twitter as @Twinsax1 and enjoy the Twinsax. video below with photos of their 2017 Ghana concert rolling to one of their jazz According to Mr. Enock Ako Akrong, Founder of FunHouz Entertainment and his songs. colleague Ms. Mina Nyamekye Brown, both facilitators of the show, the start of the Source: Oral Ofori show was graced by incredible instrumental players who showed their craft on stage Video of Twinsax in Ghana in acts that soothed the audience with great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzLFY ftrtwc worship ministrations.

Source: TheAfricanDream.net

Mr Fergusson was speaking at a luncheon with a section of the media in Ghana to discuss Destination DC and its offerings for Ghanaian customers.

Destination DC, he said, worked closely with the US Travel Association to deliver the messaging and also communicate with elected officials to relay the importance and impact of international visitation and the economic spin from it.

He said they had held discussions with the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation, Homeland Security and all those who play a key role to make sure they understood the situation.

Speaking on the attractions of DC as a travel destination, he explained that the city had a lot to offer beyond the ‘official’ impression portrayed on television.

These include free access to a vast array of Smithsonian museums, theatre experiences and award-winning dining among others.

The most important offering of Washington DC, he said, was affordability, as in many places such as the Smithsonian museums and zoo, which were free, thus reducing the budget for families and individuals visiting the city.

For Ghanaian travellers who love to shop; want cultural experiences, as well as touches of their own culture, while in DC, Mr Fergusson said the city had the second largest Ghanaian population outside of Ghana and also has an array of Ghanaian restaurants.

“…plus all the cultural things you can see and do for free”, he added, continuing to say “the value-added associated with making Washington DC a part of your itinerary in coming to the United States, in our opinion, is incredible, especially if you’re spending the whole day doing things that are free, then you’re able to spend more on a great meal, shopping or going to concerts or sporting events in DC,” — Mr Fergusson.

Washington D.C. invested about $11.8B in new developments, including two new museums, a wharf and hotels, among others.

According to Mr Fergusson, “the Museum of the Bible, which is set to open next month in the heart of DC, will showcase the history and impact of the Bible.”

Destination DC is currently running a campaign dubbed “MyDCcool”, which originated from travellers calling DC, cool. Travellers in this campaign take and post photos of their experiences in DC.

Ms Gloria Yirenkyi, Country Manager of South African Airways in Ghana, said the airline was currently the only one providing direct flights to Washington from West Africa, out of Accra and Dakar, Senegal, through Dulles airport in Washington.

She said the developments in Washington, including developments at Dulles, would help to ease connections for the airline’s passengers.

Source: Belinda Ayamgha, GNA

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DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs MOAA Hosts its Awaited 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration

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On Thursday, September 28, 2017, the Mayor's Office on African Affairs hosted the 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration at the University of the District of Columbia Theater of the Arts, to commemorate African Heritage Month in the District of Columbia as part of its multicultural awareness program. Over 450 members of the public attended the event that was designed and organized to showcase the value of multiculturalism, and support community-building.

The 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration showcased awesome traditional African music, dance and performances. Throughout the year DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs organizes cultural events, dialogues, and discussions that explore the identity of African people, showcases the value of multiculturalism, and supports community-building .

Pictures Courtesy of Matt Andrea

Kofi Annan; Local NAACP President: Criminal justice, educational reforms needed October 2 0 1 7

Black History Month [emphasis]. We’re making a big push for reaching out to the community. In the past, we realized we didn’t do a good job with that aspect. We’re also having membership drive this month to re-engage with the community and let them know we’re fighting for issues they’re concerned about.”

How big is your organization?

“Membership has grown over the past three months, after the [U.S. presidential] election. It was a wake-up call. We are not in a post-racial society. After Obama, we thought we might be entering an era where there would not be racial discrimination. What we’ve been seeing is a backlash to that election.

We’ve seen a surge in membership, with 20 to 30 new members. We’re using that energy and renewed attention to some of our issues to be a more vocal and stronger presence in Fairfax.”

Criminal-justice and educational reforms, efforts to attract younger members and a push for greater community outreach all are on the plate of Kofi Annan, who in January took over as president of the Fairfax County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Chartered in 1944, the Fairfax County organization was the first rural branch of the NAACP. The group will celebrate Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road in Burke. The event will feature breakfast, entertainment and remarks from local NAACP officials about the group’s plans for this year.

Annan outlined for the Sun Gazette his thoughts, concerns and plans:

When did you join the local NAACP and why?

“I’ve been with NAACP for about two years. I joined when policeinvolved shootings were becoming national headlines and was elected president [of the group] last October. The last few years were really troubling to me. I wanted to step up and play a more tangible role. I always knew the NAACP was the best venue to do that.”

How influential is the organization?

“I feel like in the last 50 years, that was the height of our influence. It may have tapered off since then. There was a stretch between then and now when things were happening, like mass incarceration, that were injustices. We probably could have played a more prominent role in sounding the horn on that and education.”

What are your goals now?

“We need to stay relevant, especially with the younger generation. We’re starting a youth chapter to ensure we stay relevant moving forward. We need to make sure we’re fighting for things they’re concerned about.

We’re back in a way. There’s a new push, new energy, a renewed vigor to fight for the things we care about.”

What events and outreach efforts do you have on deck?

“Last year, we had an open house to let the community know what we’re doing. This year, it’s kind of the same thing but incorporate more of a

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It stands to benefit everyone if this information is captured. It’s important to give the public some assurance that there’s transparency. About 80 to 90 percent of police officers support these cameras because it benefits them, too.”

What improvements in education would you like to see?

“The minority-student achievement gap is not getting the attention and funding it needs. We’ll continue to push for that. We’re also working to get more minority parents involved in the education process.

We’re trying to team up with the Board of Supervisors and School Board to do this.

It’s one of those open secrets: Minority parents don’t show up as much at PTA and School Board How do you hope to influence national policy? meetings. We need to understand why that is and get more minority-parent involvement. It’s not a totally “There are different branches of NAACP. We would leave economic solution, but everything costs money. We federal issues to our state or federal representatives. But the can’t just pay lip service and not put funding behind tone and policies definitely trickle down to the local level. For it.” example, Trump’s push to end sanctuary cities.”

What is your group’s view on immigration policies?

by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer “There’s a procedural and constitutional issue with having www.insidenova.com local officials enforce national policies. It’s a resource drain to our local police. From a humanitarian and civil-rights standpoint, we can’t see how this could be implemented without discriminating against minorities, specifically Latinos. We stand with the Latin American community. We fight for the rights of all minorities. We definitely lock arms with all minorities and underprivileged communities.”

How are minorities doing in Fairfax County?

“Fairfax County is now a minority-majority county, but minority issues seem to be a side issue or an afterthought. We think thing they need to be considered up front.”

What issues are on your agenda?

“Criminal-justice reform and education. I think a lot of times people don’t think of those as civil-rights issues, but when you look at the ways these issues disproportionately affect the minority community, especially blacks and Latinos, it becomes more evident.”

What reforms would you like to see in the justice system?

“We’d like to see sentencing reform on some offenses for some drugs, for example those involving crack vs. powder cocaine. We need to recognize this disproportionately hurts the minority community. It’s something the nation as a whole is recognizing.”

Any other criminal-justice reforms desired?

“Locally, we’re hoping to get police body cameras implemented. We need to keep the pressure on and let the [Fairfax County] Board of Supervisors know this is something we want to get done this year. It’s going to cost money, we understand that. But what’s been going on nationally, it does affect minorities. They think their lives aren’t valued the same. The only reason these things make news is when someone captures it with their cell phones.

Afrikan

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THE JOY OF HOMEOWNERSHIP

Dear Reader,

It is a known fact that the best single investment one can make is owning your own home. Homeownership promotes a sense of achievement, positive self esteem and pride. It creates a sense of accomplishment and freedom!

The Biggest Benefit of Homeownership Homeownership makes good sense because there are tax privileges when tax time rolls around: • You get the benefit of deducting the interest paid on the mortgage throughout the year.

• You deduct any points paid, either discount or origination fees paid on loan.

• You can deduct a room in your home if it is solely dedicated for home business use.

• The biggest advantage, though, is the fact that the principle you pay on the mortgage is like putting money in the bank, in the form of equity.

Other Advantages of Homeownship • Owning your home gives you an individualized approach concerning landscaping, decorating, and curb appeal, which in the process can add value to the home.

You do what you please when you please to your home which renting does not provide.

• If you have children, they will find stability in knowing that they aren't going to have to change schools, which can be traumatic for younger children.

They won't have to make new friends, and a sense of place becomes very real to them.

Disadvantages of Renting • When you rent, you do not have the flexibility to make aesthetic or cosmetic changes to the place as you please. You may be able to paint a room, but need to repaint back to the original color scheme when you move.

• You cannot make major structural changes or ground changes such as adding flower beds or even rock gardens and waterfalls to reflect your taste.

• You put up with an obstinate landlord that refuses to repair things in the apartment, or just "doesn't have time." This can build frustration and stress.

• You help the Landlord build equity on their property and gain tax write off while you are left with nothing at the end of your lease term I hope you enjoyed reading this article and it has provided helpful information in making your decision to home ownership a smooth one.

For more information about your real estate needs (buying, selling, leasing/renting a house) call me at 571-229-6694 and I will help you get started. Thank you.

Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® –Licensed in the Common Wealth of Virginia Prince William CountyLocal Expert CONTACT 571-229-6694 Email: borderlessrealestate@gmail.com Borderlessrealestate.com

Secure Your Future Get Life Insurance Call Today 571-778-1917 October 2017

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Outstanding Benefits

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Investments opportunities

Miss Ghana Tourism USA 2017 in Virginia

Afrikan

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Congolese American Crowned Homecoming Queen At Freedom High school in Woodbridge, Virginia October 2017

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Miss Ghana Tourism USA 2016 winner Paulina Clark who represented the Greater Accra region of Ghana will give up her crown to a new queen when the 2017 edition of the pageant takes place come Friday, December 15, 2017, in the state of Virginia USA.

According to officials of the event, the city of Springfield in the state of Virginia will this time host the 3rd edition at 6520 Amherst Avenue. The pageant is scheduled to begin at 6 PM and run through 11 PM Eastern Standard Time.

“Ghanaian descendant women aged from 18 to 25 that are passionate about the history and culture go Ghana and are desirous of promoting the country as a choice tourism and investment destination are encouraged to participate in the 2017 edition”, said Kwame Boakye Danquah, Founder of the event.

Kwame is an entrepreneur known in the Ghanaian and African Community in the USA for his passion for promoting Ghana’s tourism potential and actively engaging with the community on matters that positively project the African agenda in the Diaspora.

In an interview with TheAfricanDream.net Kwame said, “since the very first edition of Miss Ghana Tourism USA in October 2015 where Miss Whitney Osei became the first ever winner we have watched the event grow in participation. I am very excited for the 2017 show and can assure you that we plan to outdo ourselves by making things even better than the last ones.”

Steve Bedi; Ghanaian award-winning Jazz Saxophonist and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador at Ghana Protect the Goal Campaign will be on hand to provide entertainment with his Saxophone. Steve who has become a constant feature at the event will this year be joined by fellow Ghanaian musician Nero X who is also a composer, to thrill the audience.

On October 7th, 2017 Ms. Daniella Kasonga s Freedom High School Senior was crowned the Home Coming Queen .

Daniella’s parents are natives of Democratic republic of the Congo in Central Africa and reside in Woodbridge, Virginia.

It will be recalled that she won Ms. Home Coming Princess at the same High School In October 2015.

According to some of her friends in school Daniella gets along with everyone and a joy to be with.

She is the captain of the School’s Swim team and also part of the school band.

She worked as a life guard during the summer at the veterans park.

Afrikan Post would like to Congratulate Daniella for the Achievement.

This international pageant which seeks to endorse the beauty of contestants from various parts of Ghana and their efforts to sell authentic Ghanaian traditions, ideals, and cultures, is open to every woman with Ghanaian heritage in the USA that meets qualification standards.

For more information on rules and regulations and to become a partner or sponsor visit www.missghanatourismusa.org or call +1571-338-3789

Source: Oral Ofori

Daniella with her mother, Miss Lydia Mabika

Daniella poses with her Dad, Mr. Danny Kasonga

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State of Maryland Salutes African Community at Inaugural “Celebrate Africa” Gala Afrikan

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O c t o b e r 2017

country.”

Governor Hogan also issued a proclamation recognizing African Heritage month, and calling upon all Maryland residents to recognize and observe the month-long celebration.

Celebrate Africa is Maryland’s inaugural Pan African celebration of Africa, Africans and peoples of African descent. The current 21-member African Affairs Commission, headed by Kehinde “Kenny” Oreagba, established Celebrate Africa as an annual event to recognize the economic, social, cultural, political and intellectual contributions of the vibrant African Diaspora community in the state.

The 2017 award winners and sponsors, by category, are: Platinum

Maryland Lt. Governor, Boyd K. Rutherford (above), Secretary of State, John C. Wobensmith, and African Union Permanent Representative to the United States, H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, joined some three hundred Marylanders Wednesday night in Silver Spring to commemorate Maryland’s inaugural Celebrate Africa Gala and Awards Ceremony. The event was jointly organized by the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs (GCOAA) and the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI).

The elegantly dressed guests included state and federal officials, and members of the African Diaspora, diplomatic, faith-based, and business communities.

In his remarks, Lt. Governor Rutherford congratulated the African Commission and the community for their contributions to the state of Maryland, and pledged the Hogan Administration’s continued support.

Ambassador Chihombori-Quao called upon the African Diaspora community to continue to strengthen their bonds, so they share a common and powerful voice that cannot be overlooked. She provided an overview of the evolution of the African Union (AU), formerly Organization of African Unity (OAU), briefed the guests on current developments in Africa, and challenged the African Diaspora and friends of Africa in Maryland to “go back home” and contribute to the motherland.

In his written statement, Governor Larry Hogan stated:

“Maryland is enriched by the diversity of its residents, and we are committed to further promoting acceptance, understanding, and inclusion of our wealth of culture. According to the latest U.S. Census, there are over 120,000 Africa-born Americans living in Maryland, and the African immigrant communities are among the fastest growing in the state. The diverse cultures and traditions of all immigrant groups play a vital role in our state. The annual recognition of African Heritage in September is one way we can share and engage in Africa’s unique traditions, customs, food, music, arts, and language, as well as acknowledge the significant accomplishments and contributions that Africa brings to Maryland and our

Abuja Country Club Midas Express Shipping & Freight Discovery Learning Alliance Gold

Afrique Cuisine Inc. A Unity System Daimler Inc. FTK-Konnect Leeds Realty Group Silver

EMS-IT Children’s First LLC Bronze

Bostat Realty LLC Hebron House Inc. Magnum IT Solutions Inc. Nephrology Associates Zovaya Friends

Artistic Family Dentistry of Silver Spring BANA Tech Solutions Connaisseur Paris Men’s Boutique Ezekiel Olubode Finx Consulting LLC IO Spaces Hampton Conference Center Little Ethiopia Ma Winny Casey Providence Motors Inc. Culture, Food & Entertainment

DJ Donn, Nteboblak of South Africa, Melanie Fonda (3rd Princess, Miss Cameroon USA), Nereida Lobo (Miss Africa-USA), Lilycent Igbani and the Concept & Cultural Heritage Troupe, graced the occasion with their attendance, music or performance. Voice of America on-air talents, Ms. Linord Moudou and Mr. David Vandy hosted Celebrate Africa-2017, after a VOA News Africa 54 Interview on Tuesday September 19, with Mr. Vincent Makori. Afrique Cuisine Inc. (Chef Taba – Cameroon); Epicurean Nutrition Catering (Esther Marandure – Zimbabwe); Shiloh Restaurant

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and Catering (Toyosi Oriyomi – Nigeria); Sunu Halal Catering (Soffie Ceesay – The Gambia); and Ultimate Catering Services (Kehinde Oladimeji – Nigeria) catered delicious African cuisine for the event.

About the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs

The Governor’s Commission on African Affairs was established on May 19, 2009 by an executive order to effectively address the concerns of the African Diaspora in Maryland. It serves as an advisory board to the Governor and agencies within the Executive Department on matters relating to the Immigrant African population of Maryland, including matters relating to economic, workforce and business development.

Diversity continues to be one of Maryland’s greatest strengths. The governor, and government agencies, rely on the Commission to help expand opportunities for the growing African Diaspora population. Commissioners are appointed by the governor to serve 4-year terms. The current commission has four sub committees that reflect the emphasis of its work.

They are:

Culture/ Religion Subcommittee Business Subcommittee Health / Outreach Subcommittee Education Subcommittee About the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI)

The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives houses the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism and Volunteer Maryland, and oversees the Banneker-Douglass Museum, community affairs and engagement within the executive branch of Maryland government, faith-based outreach, and the governor’s ethnic and cultural commissions.

The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives oversees eight ethnic and cultural commissions, established to connect those ethnic communities to state resources, and to effectively address their social, business, education, and health needs. Each commission forms sub- committees to tackle those areas.

The Commissions are:

Governor’s Commission on African Affairs Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs Governor’s Commission on Caribbean Affairs Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs For partnership and sponsorship opportunities for Celebrate Africa – 2018, contact GOCI at 410-697-9260

Story Photos & Photo Album ; Courtesy Afrikan Post – George Bright Abu Civic Center – Silver Spring, Maryland Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Story by Frederick Nnoma-Addison

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Afrikan

State of Maryland Salutes African Community at Inaugural â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebrate Africaâ&#x20AC;? Gala O c t o b e r 2017

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The Commissioners on African Affairs

The 2017 Award Winners and Sponsors

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Hon. Kehinde Oreagba, Chair Governor’s Commission on African Affairs

Cutting of Commemorative Cake

Winner of the Evenings Raffle Draw with friends, officials and Sponsors of the raffle

Nereida Lobo (Miss Africa-USA)

Celebrate Africa Gala

Hon. John C. Wobensmith State of Maryland Secretary of State

Ms. Agnes M. Smith Project Coordinator, Governor’s Ethnic Commissions being honored

Steve McAdams Executive Director Governor's Office of Community Initiatives

Mr. Vincent Makori of Voice of America (VOA)

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H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao African Union Permanent Representative to the United States,

Hon. Frederick Nnoma-Addison Commissioner /Event Director

Hon. Mohamed Bah, (in Smock) , Commissioner

MC’s, Linord Moudou and David Vandy of VOA

O c t o b e r 2017

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All Sufficiency Conference With Rev.Eastwood Anaba (September 2017)

Fountain Gate Chapel , Virginia (Mt. Zion Pastures) is a sister Church of Fountain Gate Chapel, Worldwide. FGC. The All Sufficiency Conference was held in Triangle, Virginia from Thursaday September 14 to Friday September 15, 2017. About 50 Ministers from the Washington Metro Area attended the conference . All Sufficiency is Eastwood Anaba Ministries' theme for 2017

Pastor Alex Fredua-Agyemang-Host and Head Pastor of Fountain Gate Chapel, Virginia

Rev. Anaba in a Chat With Bishop Elijah Saforo

Rev. Eastwood Anaba-Founder of Fountain Gate Chapel Worldwide

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