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Vol 4 Issue 10

African Community News

President John Mahama (NDC)

Julius Maada Bio (SLPP)

Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

President Ernest Bai Koroma (APC)

Papa Kwasi Nduom (PPP)

Upcoming Presidential Elections In Africa

Pg. 33

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Afrikan Post

October 2012

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US Visa Lottery 2014 Opens On Oct. 2, 2012

From the Editor

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

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

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

made available for use under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).

George Bright-Abu Publisher and Editor

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Call 703- 725- 6968 or E-mail: editor@afrikanpost.com Address: Bright House Productions 6236 Oscar Court Woodbridge VA 22193 D E PA R T M E N T S Vol. 4 Issue 10

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet Africa's Youngest MP At 19 Pg. 16

Top 10 Destinations in Africa Pg. 6

HEALTH Cancer Death Rates Set For A Dramatic Fall Pg. 13

HER PAGE

The King’s Highway Pg. 20

SPORTS

GLO-CAF Awards 2012 The Race To Crown African Player Of The Year Begins

Pg. 39

UPDATE

2012 Elections in Africa Pg. 33

Afrikan Post Call : 703-725-6968 Email : editor@afrikanpost.com

The 2014 Diversity Visa Program (DV2014) popularly known as the US Visa Lottery will open at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, The annual DV programme makes October 2, 2012, and will close at noon, visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requireEDT, Saturday, November 3, 2012. ments. A computer-generated, random drawing chooses selectees for A statement from the Public Affairs Diversity Visas. The visas are distribSection of the Embassy said applicants uted among six geographic regions, must submit entries electronically during with a greater number of visas going this registration period using the electo regions with lower rates of immitronic DV entry form (E-DV) at gration, and with no visas going to www.dvlottery.state.gov. Paper entries nationals of countries sending more will not be accepted. than 50,000 immigrants to the United “We strongly encourage applicants not to States over the period of the past five wait until the last week of the registration years. No single country may receive more than seven percent of the availperiod to enter. Heavy demand may able Diversity Visas in any one year. result in website delays. No entries will

be accepted after noon, EDT, on November 3, 2012. “

For DV-2014, natives of Guatemala are now eligible to enter the program however, natives of Bangladesh, Explaining the programme, the statement Brazil, Canada, China (mainlandsaid the congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme is born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Section 131 of the Immigration Act of and Vietnam are not eligible to apply 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA because the countries sent more than 203 and provides for a class of immi50,000 immigrants to the United grants known as “diversity immigrants.”

States in the previous five years:

Section 203(c) of the INA provides a maximum of 55,000 Diversity Visas each fiscal year to be made available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Fiftyfive thousand immigrant visas are set aside for DV immigrants; however, since DV-1999, Congress has reserved 5,000 visas from this annual allocation to be

“A “native” ordinarily means someone born within a particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or nationality.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.”

The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the Diversity Visa process more efficient and secure. We utilize special technology and other means to identify those who commit fraud for the purposes of illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.

It said the Department of State will once again implement an online process to notify entrants of their selection, and to provide information about the immigrant visa application and interview.

Beginning May 1, 2013, DV2014 entrants will be able to use their unique confirmation number provided at registration to check online through Entry Status Check at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov to see if their entry was selected.

Successful entrants will receive instructions for how to apply for immigrant visas for themselves and their eligible family members.

Confirmation of visa interview appointments will also be made through Entry Status Check, the statement added.

DREAM Act:

Source: GNA

Questions about President Obama’s immigration order for undocumented children ?

Call Attorney Nana Nketiah Mensah Tel : 206 850 1137 or Email :mensaah@comcast.net

The DREAM Act (acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is an American legislative proposal first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001, by Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch.

This bill would provide conditional permanent residency to certain undocumented residents of good moral character who graduate from U.S. high schools, arrived in the United States as minors, and lived in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment. If they were to complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning, they would obtain

temporary residency for a six-year period. Within the six-year period, they may qualify for permanent residency if they have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States" or have "served in the armed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge". Military enlistment contracts require an eight-year commitment, with active duty commitments typically between four and

six years, but as low as two years. However, the military does not allow illegal immigrants to enlist, and those that have done so under a false identity, or used fraudulent documents. "Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated... shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act. Source:Wikipedia.com

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Nigeria At 52: Time To Unite For Progress

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja

The President solicited the co-operation of all Nigerians in moving the country forward. He spoke in Abuja during an interdenominational church service to mark Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary, which comes up today.

Quoting from 2 Corinthians 10:4, President Goodluck Jonathan said he alone could not solve Nigeria’s problems. The service had the theme: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

This is even as he expressed confidence that there are many Nehemiahs in the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) judiciary, educational and private sectors that would rebuild the nation just like God used Prophet Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

While appreciating Christians, some religious leaders, especially those praying in the remote areas for his government to succeed because they know if it succeeds, their children will succeed, Jonathan assured that no matter the challenges facing the country, they were temporary and Nigeria shall overcome. The President noted for the umpteenth time that his administration had sanitised the electoral process, adding that corruption would soon be a thing of the past.

“On corruption, Transparency International that has never spared Nigeria admitted in its latest rating that Nigeria is second to America in the commitment to the fight of corruption. God willing, we shall overcome it. “On the economic environment, at least, 249 new companies, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, have entered the market. We shall continue to work hard to create jobs for our people.

“I want to assure Nigerians we will not sleep until we stabilise power in this country.

“Leadership at all levels is collective. One, person cannot change a nation. Agreed, the leader matters but he cannot change things alone. All of us Nigerians must work together to rebuild our nation. Our men and women will change things in this country.

There are so many Nehemiahs in the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, our judiciary; our teachers, businessmen and women and I believe God will use these Nehemiahs to rebuild the country. “I can say again that Nigeria will succeed. With your cooperation, we shall succeed,” he said. President Jonathan later flagged off the one-year prayer project.” He said prayers helped the United States in determining the direction of America and can do same for Nigeria.

For people to be surrounded by so much water and yet not have clean pipe – born water to drink.

For men to make incarnations and satanic pro-

nouncements over the nation in shrines and strange altars, all because some of them desire positions at all cost. For people to continue to play politics of religion and ethnicity, while a group of men continue to swell the numbers of widows and orphans on a daily basis.” In his message titled: “God still answers prayers”, and taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, Pastor Ortisejafor said the question that had bothered him for so long is: “Does God hear our prayers or has he abandoned us? According to him, “we cannot judge God’s ability to perform on what we see but what we know about God. “On the scripture we read, God expects the church to fast and pray for Nigeria but so our church does not become a ritual, He gives two very important conditions before God can answer prayer. “One, God says we must humble ourselves. . “The fact that I’m President of CAN does not make me God. “Many of our politicians today especially those elected, are so disconnected from the people and it can be put down to one thing, pride! “When you are disconnected from the people, you become the master and they, your servants. “Pride can hinder prayers and humility brings God’s hand on the people.

As a nation, as a people, if we are serious about getting answers to our national prayers, we must as a matter of urgency, turn from our wicked ways. Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end. “We can have a Nigeria we desire, where no one is oppressed, not judge by religion or tribe but by their content. We can have the Nigeria that we desire”. Also quoting from 1 Kings 18:41, Ortisejafor said: “I speak as a prophet of this nation. In his remarks, the convener of Nigeria Prays and former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon, spoke on the intercessory prayer for Nigeria’s transformation. He said this time calls for sober reflection, greater volume of prayer and supplication.

Gowon said the special independence prayers is the gathering of builders and watchmen of our nation, to seek the face of God for the difficulties facing the country and to set the tone for transformation. He said “together, we can rescue our nation from its present difficulties”. Catholic Pontif, Pope Benedict also sent message praying for peace and hope for Nigeria. Senate President David Mark took the First Bible Reading which was taken from the book of 1 Samuel 17:38-47.

While the second scripture 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 was taken by President jonathan.

Prayers were said for the President and leaders of the Nigerian Nation, moral decadence, indiscipline and corruption, poverty, unemployment and natural disaster, insecurity, terrorism, conflicts, unrest and the church. Some of the dignitaries present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, ministers, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff, Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs, top government functionaries, top politicians and members of diplomatic corps.

Source:www.sunnewsonline.com

October 2012

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Newest African Ambassadors Present Letters of Credence to President Obama The Ambassadors are:

* Her Excellency Marie-Louise Cecile Potter, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles * His Excellency Kaambi Roubani, Ambassador of the Union of Comoros * His Excellency Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Photo courtesy of chellgrove.wordpress.com

The presentation of credentials is a traditional ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an Ambassador’s service in Washington.

On Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 3 new African Ambassadors presented their Letters of Source:amipnewsonline.org Credence to President Obama at the White House.

Senegal Hosts West African Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Workshop

The U.S. Department of State and the Government of Senegal co-hosted the West African Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Workshop in Dakar, September 18 – 20. Coordinator for Cyber Issues Chris Painter led the U.S. interagency delegation and provided opening remarks along with Ambassador Lewis Lukens and the Senegalese Ministries of Justice and Telecommunications.

As the Internet, networked systems and the use of mobile phones expand throughout sub-Saharan Africa, nations are grappling with multiplying cyber threats ranging from transnational crime groups to terrorists. This workshop, a partnership between the U.S. and Senegalese governments, addressed broad issues on cybercrime and cybersecurity while focusing discussions on issues of specific interest to West Africa, such as mobile cellular security, computer forensics, Internet access and affordability, and the development of national computer emergency response teams or CERTs.

The conference was attended by government officials from eight other West African francophone states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Niger, and Togo.

Photo courtesy of dakar.usembassy.gov

Regional organizations ECOWAS, the EU and the Council of Europe, and national delegations from Kenya, Japan, and France also contributed their perspectives on cybersecurity and cybercrime.

The delegations agreed on crucial measures, including the importance of developing national cyber strategies, fostering domestic and regional coordination, developing CERTs, and signing the Budapest Cybercrime Convention.

Source:www.amipnewsonline.org

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Top 10 Destinations In Africa For Tours

1. The Masai Mara, Kenya "Balloon safari Masai Mara, Kenya"Kenya Tourism Board If you want to see the 'big five' in one morning, Masai Mara in Kenya is the place to be. During the dry season from July to October the wildlife spectacle is unparalleled. Nowhere else can you watch the annual migration of over a million wildebeest from a hot-air balloon. The 'Mara' is as close to "Out of Africa" as you can get.

Africa and has reputation for social tolerance.

6. Marrakech, Morocco "Marrakech, traditional door in marrakech medina, Morocco"© Sjaak Zijlma Situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is large, noisy, polluted and fascinating. If you enjoy a daily assault on all your senses then you'll have a lot of fun.

There are so many things to see, you should spend at least 3 days in Marrakech. Stay in a Riad in the medina (old walled part of town), because this is where all the 2. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia "Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe, one of Africa's action is. The Majorelle Gardens offer a lovely respite from the bustle of the souqs and shouldn't be missed. The top sights"Lukonde Mfula There is nothing quite like getting a thorough soaking heart of the medina, the Djemma el Fnaa, should also be from the roaring, powerful Victoria Falls. The spray is a priority for anyone who visits.

Omo River Region, Ethiopia so impressive from the look-out points, it feels like "Karo Woman, Omo River Region, Ethiopia"© Angela you are in the middle of a torrential rainstorm.

Fairbank Combining white-water rafting with an unparalleled culThe Victoria Falls lie in between Zambia and tural adventure is my idea of a perfect holiday. The Omo Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.

River Region of Southwestern Ethiopia, is a fascinating destination. The remote location, which is barely accessiThe Victoria Falls are just over 1 mile wide (1.7 km) and 355 feet (108 m) high. During the wet season over ble by 4 wheel-drive, has meant that traditional customs and beliefs are very much intact for the more than 50 500 million liters (19 million cubic feet) of water tribes who live there. It's advisable to join a tour since it's plummets over the edge into the Zambezi River. This incredible amount of water generates a huge amount of difficult to get around on your own and it'll enhance your understanding of the different cultures you're seeing. spray which shoots 1000 feet into the sky and can be seen 30 miles away, hence the name Mosi-oa-Tunya 8. Virunga Mountains (Tracking Gorillas) , Uganda, (Smoke that thunders).

Rwanda, DRC "Gorilla Family"© Bengt Korpas 3. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt "Image of The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt"© David With only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the world, seeing them in the wild is something only a few people Hutchinson The Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo in Egypt, rep- will ever have the chance to experience. About 300 mountain gorillas inhabit an extinct volcanic region resent one of the greatest architectural feats by man. called the Virunga Range along the borders of Rwanda, The last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of Uganda and the DRC in East Africa. The time you are the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions, built more than 5000 allowed to spend observing them the gorillas is limited, but I can guarantee the hour spent sitting and watching years ago. these incredible animals will be one of the best you've ever had.

4. There are in fact three main pyramids in Giza; the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), The Pyramid of 9. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Kafhre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Each Africa is known as one of the best destinations for advenPyramid is a tomb to a different King of Egypt. ture travel and what can be more adventurous than hiking In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, or Abu al-Hol up the world's tallest free standing mountain. Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at in Arabic, "Father of Terror".

19,340 feet (5896m) and will take you 6 days to conquer.

Djenne, Mali "Grande Mosque made of mud, Djenne, Mali"© Getty The exciting thing about this mountain is that anyone who is fit and determined can make it up. No special Images/Glen Allison climbing equipment or expertise is needed. That said, Djenne (Mali), founded in 800 AD, is one of subSaharan Africa's oldest cities. Situated on an island in almost 75 of attempts fail because people figure it's doable in shorts, t-shirt and a couple of beers for hydrathe Niger River delta, Djenne was a natural hub for tion. Check out these pictures to see what the hike is like. traders who shuttled their goods between the Sahara desert and the forests of Guinea. Through the years Djenne also became a center of Islamic learning and its 10. Zanzibar, Tanzania market square is still dominated by the beautiful Grand "Beach in Zanzibar (Tanzania)"© Steve Outram Mosque. Djenne is located a few hundred miles down- Zanzibar is one of Africa's top destinations because of its fascinating history and its incredible beaches. Zanzibar's stream from Timbuktu. location in the Indian Ocean (off the coast of Tanzania) The market in Djenne, held every Monday, is one of has made it a natural trading center throughout its history. the most interesting and lively markets in Africa, and Famous for its spices, Zanzibar also became an important well worth planning your trip around. slave trading post under its Arab rulers.

The Arab influences are obvious throughout Zanzibar but 5. Cape Town, South Africa especially in Stone Town one of the island's biggest "Cape Town, South Africa"© David Hutchinson attractions. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stone Town Cape Town is a highlight of any trip to Southern Africa. The natural beauty of Cape Town makes it one boasts beautiful traditional houses, narrow alleyways, a Sultan's palace and many mosques. of the most attractive cities in the world. Cape Town boasts beautiful beaches as well as the impressive Table Mountain right in the heart of the city. The Source:http://goafrica.about.com/od/kenya/tp/toprestaurants are world class, and so are the wines. Cape icks.htm Town is also one of the most culturally diverse cities in

Typical Bride Price In Ibo Land (Nigeria)

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2 Page 6

• 6 crates of Minerals • 3 bottles of Seaman’s Schnapps (millennium brand) • 30 bulbs of onions • 1 gallon of red Palm oil (10 -25 litres) • 1 gallon of Groundnut oil (25 litres) • A basin of Okporoko (Stockfish) • 2 pieces of Goat leg (Ukwu Anu ewu) • 25 loaves of Bread • 1 carton of Tin Tomatoes • 1 carton of Tin Milk • 1 carton of Tablet soap • 20 Pieces of Morning Rose powder • 1 gallon of Kerosene • 20 heads of Tobacco Its every man's dream to have a beautiful • 10 packets of cigarettes and decent wife, but in iboland nothing • 5 pieces of good comes easy. Here a list that disGeorge/Hollandis/Nigerian Wax courages men from marrying their cer• 3 pieces of Umbrella tain dreams. Left for me, If i sweat to • 1 Big Box (Apati) pay this ; i see no reason why my wife • 2 Big Basins should ever mention another man's name • 2 pieces of Igbo Blouse in my house not to talk of sleep with • 2 pieces of Headties them.

• Gold necklaces and Wrist watches Section A : UMUADA (ALL KINDRED (minimum of 2 pieces) DAUGHTERS) • 1 piece of Lantern/Lamp • Wrappers and Blouses– • “Ikpo Onu Aku Nwayi” (Bride (George/Hollandis/Nigerian Wax) price) – Negotiable • Jewelry – (Gold plated earings, necklaces) Other cash gifts that may be demanded • Head ties and Shoes (Different types during the course of the ceremony and colours) “Ego nfotu ite” (cash to bring down • Hand bags and wrist watches symbolic cooking pot) – ₦ 1,000 (Different types and colours) “Ncha kishi udu” (Toasting of wine) – • Toiletries (Body creams, bathing ₦ 1,000 soaps, washing detergents, etc.)

“Ego Ogo cherem” (money for the • Beverages and food items inlaws) – ₦ 50,000 • Cash gift (lump sum) –Ogwe ego “Ego maternity” (money for future • Drinks (Malt & Minerals) maternity) – ₦ 1,000 “Ego Onye Eze” (money for village Section B: NMANYA UKWU (BIG chief) – ₦ 1,500 WINE) – KINSMEN (UMUNNA) The “Ogwe Ego” (lump sum) – ₦ 5,000 items in this category will be shared amongst the heads of the extended family of the bride to be.

• Bottles of Seaman’s Schnapps (milSource:onlinenigeria.com lennium brand) • Kolanuts • Gallons of Palmwine • Cartons of Beer, Malt and Mineral drinks • Heads of Tobacco with potash • Rolls of cigarettes • 1 goat • Cash gift (Lump sum) – Ego Umu’Nna Section C: N’MEPE UZO (OPENING OF GATE) – GENERAL • 30 tubers of Yam • 2 bags of Rice • 2 bags of Salt • 2 cartons of Star Beer • 2 cartons of Guinness Stout • 2 cartons of Maltina

African Population In The United States

The top countries of origin for African immigrants were Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya.

In 2009, the top five countries of origin for the 1.5 million African immigrants in the United States were Nigeria (209,908, or 14.1 percent of all African immigrants), Ethiopia (148,221, or 9.9 percent), Egypt (138,194, or 9.3 percent), Ghana (108,647, or 7.3 percent), and Kenya (87,267, or 5.8 percent). No individually reported country accounted for more than 14.1 percent of the African immigrant population.

Other individually reported countries of birth for African immigrants included: South Africa (82,339, or 5.5 percent), Liberia (72,111, or 4.8), Morocco (58,283, or 3.9 percent), Sudan (35,821, or 2.4 percent), Cape Verde (32,885, or 2.2 percent), Sierra Leone (32,467, or 2.2 percent), Cameroon (30,726, or 2.1 percent), and Eritrea (23,840, or 1.6 percent).

Over one-third of all African immigrants resided in New York, California, Texas, and Maryland.

New York had the largest number of African immigrants in 2009 with 168,426 individuals, or 11.3 percent of the total African-born population, followed by California (143,214, or 9.6 percent), Texas (124,691, or 8.4 percent), and Maryland (117,315, or 7.9 percent). The African-born in these states collectively accounted for 37.1 percent of all African immigrants.

Other states with African immigrant populations greater than 60,000 in 2009 included New Jersey (79,420, or 5.3 percent), Massachusetts (76,832, or 5.1 percent), Georgia (75,692, or 5.1 percent), Virginia (69,941, or 4.7 percent), and Minnesota (63,982, or 4.3 percent).

Almost one-quarter of the African-born population lived in the metropolitan areas of New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJPA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DCVA-MD-WV. In 2009, 14.2 percent (211,560) of the Africanborn population lived in the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA metropolitan area and 9.9 percent (147,336) lived in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MDWV metropolitan area.

Other metropolitan areas with African immigrant populations greater than 60,000 included Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA (67,535, or 4.5 percent) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA (61,326, or 4.1 percent).

Modes of Entry and Legal Status

From 2001 to 2010, African nationals accounted for 28.4 percent of refugee arrivals and 21.2 percent of persons granted asylum.

African nationals arriving in the United States as refugees between 2001 and 2010 accounted for 28.4 percent (149,755) of total refugee arrivals during this period. Refugee arrivals from Somalia alone during this time accounted for 11.3 percent of all refugee arrivals.

Between 2001 to 2010, the leading origin countries of African refugee arrivals were Somalia (59,840, or 40.0 percent of total African refugee arrivals), Liberia (23,948, or 16.0 percent), Sudan (18,869, or 12.6 percent), Ethiopia (11,400, or 7.6 percent), Burundi (9,869, or 6.6 percent), the Democratic Republic of Congo (7,900, or 5.3 percent), Eritrea 6,493, or 4.3 percent), and Sierra Leone (6,280, or 4.2 percent).

During the same period, African nationals accounted for 21.2 percent ( 58,232) of the 274,848 total individuals granted asylum. The leading countries of origin for African nationals granted asylum were Ethiopia (17.1 percent of total African asylum grants), Cameroon (10.5 percent), and Egypt (8.5 percent).

An estimated 4,550 Africans received temporary protection from removal under Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure.

The United States provides temporary immigration status to certain foreign nationals already in the United States who are not able to return to their country of origin due to "ongoing armed conflict," "an environmental disaster," or "other extraordinary and temporary conditions." This blanket form of humanitarian relief is known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Foreign countries are designated for TPS by the US executive branch for a period of six to 18 months, an initial period that can be extended if country conditions remain unchanged. Congress can also grant TPS through legislation, although it has not done so since 1990.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has estimated that 700 individuals from Sudan and 250 individuals from Somalia benefit from TPS. USICS has also estimated that 3,600 Liberians reside in the United States under Deferred Enforced Departure, another form of temporary blanket relief that protects certain foreign nationals from removal.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Overview

Almost half of the African foreign born in the United States have arrived since 2000.

As of 2009, 47.7 percent of the 1.5 million African immigrants in the United States entered the country in 2000 or later, and 28.8 percent entered between 1990 and 1999. Thus, more than three-quarters of the African born arrived in the United States in the last two decades. In terms of earlier arrivals, 13.7 percent of African-born immigrants came to the United States between 1980 and 1989, 6.5 percent between 1970 and 1979, and just 3.2 percent prior to 1970.

In fact, African immigrants are significantly more likely than immigrants overall to be recent arrivals: 31.6 percent of the 38.5 million foreign born entered the United States in 2000 or later, 27.9 percent entered between 1990 and 1999, and 19.6 percent entered between 1980 and 1989.

October 2012

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Eleven percent of the overall foreign-born population entered between 1970 and 1979, and 9.9 percent prior to 1970.

race, compared to 4.6 percent of Algerians, 5.6 percent of Egyptians, 8.1 percent of Moroccans, 13.8 percent of South Africans, 56.7 percent of Tanzanians, and 65.7 percent Among the African born, some origin groups of Cape Verdeans. are more established than others. For example, immigrants from Egypt (23.3 percent), African-born adults were more likely than the Cape Verde (17.7 percent), South Africa native born to have bachelor's degree or high(15.8 percent), and Algeria (13.4 percent) are er level of education. more likely than some other African origin In 2009, 41.7 percent of African-born adults groups to have arrived in the United States age 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or prior to 1980, while immigrants from higher, compared to 28.1 percent of nativeCameroon (71.6 percent), Sudan (60.4 perborn adults and 26.8 percent of all foreigncent), Somalia (58.3 percent), and Kenya born adults. Of these, 25 percent of Africans (58.0 percent) are the most likely among reported a bachelor's degree as their highest African origin groups to have arrived in the credential, compared to 17.9 percent of the United States between 2000 and 2009. native born and 15.8 percent of immigrants, and 16.7 percent of Africans reported having a higher degree than a bachelor's, compared to 10.2 percent of the native born and 11.0 The foreign born from Africa were less likely percent of immigrants. to be age 65 or older than the native born and the foreign born overall.

Among those who reported not having Of the African born residing in the United obtained at least a high school diploma or States in 2009, 5.5 percent were age 65 or equivalent credential, the African born more older (seniors), compared with 12.9 percent closely resembled the native born than the of the native born and 12.4 percent of all foreign born overall. In 2009, almost oneimmigrants. The vast majority (86 percent) third (32.3 percent) of immigrants overall had of African immigrants were of working age not obtained this credential, compared to 11.7 (ages 16 through 64), while a smaller majori- percent of the African born and 11.4 percent ty of the foreign-born population (81.9 perof the native born. The share of African born cent) and the native born (63.3 percent) fell who reported their highest educational attaininto this age range. ment as a high school diploma or some college (46.6 percent) was higher than that of the African immigrants were more likely to be foreign born overall (40.5 percent), but lower age 15 and under (youths) than the foreign than that of the native born (60.5). born overall, with 8.5 percent of the former falling into that age range compared with 5.7 Levels of educational attainment, however, percent of the latter. Among the native born, vary widely among African origin countries. a category that includes US-born children of The majority of immigrants from Uganda immigrants, 23.8 percent were youth.

(66.5 percent), Egypt (61.1 percent), Algeria (61.0 percent), Nigeria (60.0 percent), The African origin countries with the highest Zimbabwe (57.5 percent), South Africa (55.3 share of seniors were Egypt (15.1 percent), percent), Cameroon (54.6 percent), and Cape Verde (12.2 percent), Tanzania (10.9 Tanzania (51.2 percent) reported a bachelor's percent), South Africa (10.3 percent), and degree or more as their highest educational Algeria (10.2 percent). African origin coun- credential. Yet more than a third of immitries with the highest share of youth included grants from Cape Verde (38.4), Somalia (37.5 Kenya (17.6 percent), Cape Verde (12.6 per- percent), and Guinea (35.0 percent) lacked a cent), Sudan (11.3 percent), Ethiopia (10.3 high school diploma. percent), and Guinea (10.2 percent).

Nearly three-quarters of African immigrants reported their race as "Black."

In 2009, 74.4 percent of the African-born Source: http://www.migrationinformation.org population reported their race as Black, either alone or in combination with another race. African immigrants identified as Black at a much higher rate than the native born (14.0 percent) and the foreign born overall (8.6 percent), and accounted for 33.3 percent of all foreign-born Blacks and 2.7 percent the total Black population in the United States.

Racial self-identification varied widely by African country of origin. For example, nearly all immigrants from Ghana (99.7 percent), Somalia (99.3 percent), Cameroon (98.8 percent), Nigeria (98.7 percent), and Ethiopia (98.2 percent) reported their race as Black, either alone or in combination with another

October 2012

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World Vision USA On Cholera Fight In Sierra Leone He said the drugs were provided by World Vision USA and called on the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to use the drugs for its intended purpose warning that world vision drugs are not for sale but to save lives.

He said the drugs were air freighted into the country at 3262kg and transported from Lungi airport to the government’s medical stores; the donated drugs included antibiotics, syringes, needles, plastic sheeting, among other medical drugs.

By: SEM Contributor on September 30, 2012.

In a bid to respond to the emergency call of the government of Sierra Leone over the cholera outbreak that has infected thousands and killed hundreds, World Vision United States of America has donated a consignment of cholera drugs to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. (Photo: Handing over of World Vision USA donated cholera drugs to Ministry of Health and Sanitation)

Handing over the donation to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation at the Government Medical Stores New England Ville in Freetown the World Vision Senior Director for West Africa who also doubles as the National Director Leslie Scott said the drugs should be used for its intended purpose.

He commended the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for facilitating the duty weaver to ensure the speedy transportation of the drugs to the hospitals as far as Sittia Chiefdom in Bonthe Island where the cholera outbreak is reported to be on the increase.

Receiving the donation Dr, Amara Jambai Director of Disease Control expressed thanks and appreciation to World Vision for facilitating the timely donation, and assured that the donated items will be used judiciously.

He said the Ministry of Health and Sanitation is profoundly grateful to World Vision for their continued responds towards the fight against cholera that has killed many lives, stating that the infection rate is at 36 percent per 1,000.

Dr. Jambai explained that significant progress has been made on the fight against cholera but calls for sustained community resilience on environmental sanitation and public awareness on hygiene promotion.

Signing of the certificate of the donation by World vision Sierra Leone staff and the Ministry of Health officers climaxed the brief handing over ceremony.

Source: Sierra Express Media

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Nollywood African Film Critics’ Awards 2012

Page

The Nollywood & African Film Critics' Awards, also known as NAFCA, is an accolade bestowed by the Nollywood Film Critics USA the official movie review organization for Nollywood and African movies to recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry, including directors, actors, writers and humanitarians.

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Nollywood & African Film Critics' Awards is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in North America for the African movie industry and the only awards to boast of over 100 African movie stars and filmmakers from around the world under one roof for the greatest African movie awards event in North America. NAFCA is designed as an award of merit for distinctive achievement in the African movie industry. NAFCA is considered the highest U.S. A. based award honoring excellence in African filmmaking.The Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards took place over the weekend in North Carolina. This was the second time the awards were given out by US based organization founded by Nigerian film critic Dr. Victor Olatoye.Ghana’s leading man Van Vicker was the celebrity host for the evening.

Source: http://www.carolinatheatre.org/events/nafca-awards-2012

Bobby CJ and some of the NAFCA award winners inluding Paparazi Stars, Syr Law(2nd from left) and Chet Anekwe (Extreme right)

Invited guests, Nollywood and Gholliwood stars

Samuel Ruffy Quansah (Right) and a friend

Twissa Performing live at the NAFCA 2012 Awards ceremony

NAFCA 2012 Awards

TeeTee Deslene, Chef Marie Joe, Binta Goudiaby, Taka Tanni and Koby Maxwell.

Ghana’s Paparazzi star: Koby Maxwell Performing at the event

An award Receipient and Host Van Vicker

Nigerian star Benedict Johnson, Venus Labelle & NAFCA winner

Some African Movie Producers At The Event

Best Davies(2nd from left), and some award receipients

Nigerian actress Uche Jombo (3rd from left) and some receipients showing off their awards

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Cancer Death Rates Set For A Dramatic Fall From: BBC

Death rates from cancer are "set to fall dramatically" by 2030, according to Cancer Research UK.

It says fewer people smoking as well as improvements in diagnosis and treatment will lead to a 17% drop in death rate.

About 170 UK deaths per 100,000 of population were from cancer in 2010, and this figure is predicted to fall to 142 out of every 100,000.

Some of the biggest killers - lung, breast, bowel, and prostate cancer - are part of the trend.

The biggest fall is projected to be in ovarian cancer, with death rates dropping by 43%.

Prof Peter Sasieni, from Queen Mary, University of London, said: "Our latest estimations show that for many cancers, adjusting for age, death rates are set to fall dramatically in the coming decades."

As more people live to an elderly age, the total number of people who actually develop and die from cancer will increase - but these deaths will make up a smaller proportion of the total number of deaths, so the death

Africa: South Africa Gets Ready for HIV Vaccine Trial

H E A LT H

NEWS

HIV strains in the world. The Thai vaccine was manufactured to fit strains E and B. In South Africa, the prevalent strain is C. "The first thing you need to do when you try to adapt a study to the local conditions is you change the gene inserts of the vaccine... There was a B and E insert. So, when you make a vaccine you want to match your gene inserts as closer to the epidemic happening in your country to maximise the effect", says Dr Gray.

rate will fall.

'Progress'

However, the death rate for other cancers such as those of the liver and mouth will increase over the next two decades.

October 2012

Photo: Kate Holt/IRIN

A vaccine candidate which showed that it can protect against HIV infection by up to 31% when tested in Thailand three years ago will be further tested in South Africa as In parallel to the South African study, soon as next year. more trials are to be done in Thailand, specifically looking at men who sleep South Africa is the first country outside of with men.

"Research across many areas is hav- Thailand to test the vaccine candidate that ing real impact." made worldwide headlines three years ago.

Results of the RV144 Thai study gave hope "The idea in Thailand would be to test it primarily in men who have sex with The Department of Health said: that it is possible to find a vaccine to premen and the reason is that the Minister "These figures reflect improvements vent HIV infection when it was found that of Public Health in Thailand did an in cancer services, but we know the study vaccine had a 31% efficacy. Coanalysis and it looks like commercial there is still more to do. principal investigator for the HIV Vaccine sex workers, perhaps, but MSM, defiClinical Trials Network, Dr Glenda Gray, nitely, would be a cost-effective inter"Our aim is to save 5,000 more lives says the South African leg of the trial will vention, given the expected level of every year by 2015 - and halve the be a Phase III clinical study, which will efficacy that we hope to have in that gap in cancer survival between us look into the efficacy of the vaccine in the series of vaccine trials... roughly 50 perand the best-performing countries in South African population. cent", says Colonel Jerome Kim, of the Europe."

US military.

"In our first study, what we will do is take the exact regimens used in Thailand and test it in South Africans to see whether the Kim says the initial Thai study whose response that the Thai people got is equiva- results came out three years ago lent to the response our South Africans will involved 16 000 people who were mainly heterosexual. The idea now is to use have", Dr Gray says. small populations who are at most at risk of HIV infection, such as homosexShe says the vaccine would have to be uals and commercial sex workers. modified to fit the circulating strain in The chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Dr Harpal Kumar, said: "These new figures are encouraging and highlight the huge progress we're making.

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins South Africa. There are different circulating

plying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, but also to environmental, food and lifestyle 1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. factors.

These cancer 5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficells do not show up in the standard tests until ciencies, changing they have diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell can- times/day cer patients and by including supplements will strengthen that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies the immune system. after 6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the raptreatment, it just means the tests are unable to idly-growing detect the cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growcancer cells because they have not reached the ing healthy cells detectable in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc., size. and can 2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, times in a heart, lungs etc. person's lifetime.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells 3. When the person's immune system is strong the also burns, scars cancer and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. cells will be destroyed and prevented from multi-

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size.

However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.

Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc. are made

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"Right now what we're doing in Thailand is do small studies designed to look much more intensively at the kind of immune responses that the vaccine induces because when you do a Phase Three trial with so many people you can't collect enough information. So, now, we're getting key and smaller populations and we hope to get information without having the cost and organisational difficulties associated with a trial of 16 000", says Kim.

Having the RV144 HIV vaccine trial in South Africa is an exciting opportunity.

"It will mean a lot because South Africa will be the first country in the world where we test this vaccine and if it is successful it will be the first country where we will license it. We have been doing stakeholder engagement with government to find out what should this vaccine cost. If it works, how do we scale up local production and how do we roll it out? Who is our target population? So, it's exciting and frightening because there is a still lot of work to do. Obviously, we don't plan for success - and now, for the first time, we're actually planning for success", says Dr Gray.

Source: www.irinnews.com

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Algeria Ex-President Chadli Bendjedid Dies

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Algerian former President Chadli Bendjedid has died of cancer at the age of 83, state-run media have announced.

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He served four terms from 1979-1992, and had begun to implement moves towards multi-party democracy.

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Mr Bendjedid died at an Algiers military hospital where he was taken when his condition worsened a week ago.

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But he was forced from office as the military stepped in when Islamists were set to win power in parliamentary elections as a result of his reforms.

died in December 1978. Two months Violence broke out in Algeria as the later he took over as president. army dissolved parliament in 1992 and cracked down on Islamists across the Three days of mourning have been country, sparking a long and bloody declared. civil war.

Mr Bendjedid served as defence minister under Houari Boumedienne who

October 2012

Source:www.bbcnews.com

Libyan Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur Dismissed

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Mustafa Abu Shagur Was Elected By The National Assembly In September To Serve As Prime Minister

Libya's Prime Minister-elect has been dismissed from his post, after failing for a second time to win parliamentary approval for a new cabinet.

Mustafa Abu Shagur had called for the formation of an "emergency government", consisting of just 10 ministries.

The General National Congress (GNC) voted 125 to 44 against the proposal.

Seventeen members abstained.

Mr Shagur was Libya's first elected prime minister following last year's overthrow of Col Muammar Gaddafi.

He had served as deputy prime minister

for more than a year under interim leader Abdurrahim al-Keib.

"In face of the dangers threatening the country, I present to you a crisis government restricted to 10 ministers, rejecting all geographical considerations," Mr Shagur earlier told the GNC.

The GNC now has three to four weeks to elect a new premier.

Source: www.bbcnews.com

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Meet Africa's Youngest MP At 19

Business

appearing dressed in oversized traditional busuti (dresses) alongside the president during the campaigns.

For a fresh Member of Parliament barely out of her teens, Proscovia Oromait Alengot is learning the ways of her trade pretty fast.

Hardly a month after she was elected the Usuk County MP in Katakwi District, Eastern Uganda, Alengot is already a deft hand in the political art of elusiveness. Maybe it is in the DNA of “the people of people”.

This is probably the reason, to this date, a sense of mystery still surrounds the youngest MP in Africa.

Alengot has evaded interviews with journalists through persistent postponing, cancellation, rescheduling of appointments, or simply declaring herself unavailable.

In one incident, she picked up the phone and, in the midst of playful banter in the background, she said she was attending a prayer service.

In just the space of three months, she has had to cope with the transformation of a simple girl waiting to join university to being the subject of flashing cameras and a star in political rallies, a wacky world where shrewdness is essential for survival. And not forgetting that she had to mourn the loss of her father in between.

Today, as ordinary 19-year-old girls the world over invest their energies into starting university education and launching an initial bid at a career, Proscovia Oromait Alengot, now Hon Alengot, spends her time between university theatres and Parliament.

In the end, she won 54.2 per cent of the vote.

It is after the election results were announced that, for many, the reality sank in; Uganda now had a teenage member of Parliament. Critics were quick to spread their opinions of disagreement in all manner of forums, especially online.

“I pity my country Uganda and what has become of it. This little gal knows neither politics nor the problems affecting her people. She should be at school chasing a career,” commented one Tabbyusa.

Others, however, offered their support.

“What are you talking about? That is what we want Uganda to be. If she can pay taxes and serve in the military, why not serve her country?” one Jackson quipped.

Political scientists and psychologists agreed that her age cannot be a hindrance.

Robert Tabaro, who teaches political science and public administration at Kyambogo University, says anybody aged 19 is old enough to legislate at a national level if they have an interest in politics.

drive from Kampala.

Sources from the university describe the young MP as a confident, reserved girl who limits her interaction and socialising to two friends from her former high school.

She cites urgent constituency and parliamentary matters, among other engagements such as appointments with her wardrobe designer and hairdresser, whenever students seek to spend time with her.

Nicki Minaj Offered 31 Million ($200,000) Naira To Perform In Nigeria October 2012

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Alengot attends only morning classes and is always punctual. She sits at the back of the classroom and rarely makes a contribution.

She is chauffeur-driven to school and does not have meals at the university dining hall. She dresses in formal wear that goes below the knees.

The Observer, quoting a former teacher, reported that Alengot won a beauty contest in high school two years ago. The paper also reported that there is controversy over her real age, as some official documents indicate that she is 21.

Alengot went to Madera Girls’ Primary School in Soroti, Kigulu Girls’ Primary It is when the person in question is School, Iganga Girls’ School, PMM Girls’ “pushed”, and has not “chosen” to take up School, and St Kalemba Secondary School in the mantle that they may not be unable to Kayunga. She spent a considerable part of her deliver. childhood in Jinja District, where her father’s Tabaro says that if Alengot was simply main home was. This is about 200 kilometres Nicki Minaj has been offered $200,000 (N31 lured by the forces surrounding her, then from the constituency she now represents.

Million) to perform at Calabar Carnival festival in her tenure in Parliament would be unlikeNigeria. It was created as part of the vision of ly to bear good results for her constituen- Many challenges will face any member of cy.

Parliament in their first term. But the odds are making the Cross River State in Nigeria, the numPaul Nyende, a psychology lecturer at much higher against Alengot because there is ber one tourist destination for Nigerians and Makerere University, says that at 19, one more interest in her performance than that of tourist all over the world. is mature enough to participate in legisla- an ordinary MP. The carnival begins on 1st of December till 31st tion. However, their childhood experiences and knowledge base will determine Every submission on the floor, every point of December. how well they perform. order, every point of information, every word Calabar Carnival festival in Nigeria, also tagged " she says in and out of Parliament will be Africa's Biggest Street Party", has boosted the An individual who has harboured leaderlatched upon by journalists seeking to create cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertainship ambitions and has been exposed to an image of what contributions she can make. ing the millions of spectators within and outside positions of leadership at home and in It will be worse if she does not say a thing school would fit the role, Nyende says. because that will vindicate her critics who say the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.

The influence of one’s parentage would she has nothing to offer. also be important — whether their parents Alengot rose out of the wilderness of obscurity after encouraged them to take up leadership And Kampala’s notorious tabloids will be her father, Michael Oromait, died of hypertension on roles, for example. snooping around for any hint of sleaze. the morning of Saturday July 21, this year. She sucSource: onlinenigeria.com But Nyende says the radical change from ceeded him as MP for Usuk County. a private life into full limelight has the Usuk constituency, and Uganda as a whole, Some people say that Alengot was fronted and potential to wear down a 19-year-old. The now wait to hear what contributions she will talked into the idea by the ambitious district woman young MP will, therefore, need someone make to the country’s development. member of Parliament and minister for Education, to manage her life and offer support and Maj Jessica Alupo. But Alengot says she did it under advice.

There will be interest in what proposals she her own steam.

Alengot seems to have that support from will offer, say in the formulation of the Newspapers have quoted family members as sayMaj Alupo, who appears to be her politiPension Bill or even the Domestic Relations. ing that Alengot took an interest in the requirements cal mentor. It is this protective circle that for one to become an MP after her father’s death. is understood to be shielding her from To many onlookers, the 19-year-old’s candidature journalists and telling her what to say in was a big joke. Few even gave her a chance. After public — and, most importantly, what not Source: Viasat1 News all, she would go nowhere, they thought. to say.

Alengot is a First Year mass communiBut Alengot had powerful backers, one of them cation student at Uganda Christian being President Yoweri Museveni, who campaigned University in Mukono District, a two-hour for her. She enjoyed photo ops with the big man,

Africa’s Two Female Heads of State Accept Distinguished Awards at The Africa-America Institute's 28th Annual Awards Dinner October 2012

The Africa-America Institute, a leading New Yorkbased international education and policy organization,l honored Africa's two female heads of state at its 28th Annual Awards Dinner Gala on Wednesday, September 26, at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.

AAI is dedicated to advancing education and professional training for Africans, and promoting engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue.

Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberial accepted the AAI African National Achievement Award for Literacy to Support Life Skills; and Her Excellency President Joyce Banda of the Republic of Malawi received the AAI Award for Championing Women's Rights and Business Leadership. Maurice Tempelsman, former member and chair of the AAI Board of Trustees and chairman of the Board of Directors of Lazare Kaplan International, received the AAI Distinguished Trustee Award for his decades of support to AAI and service as a member of the AAI Board of Trustees.

The theme of this year's Awards Gala was "Jobs for Africa's Future". Held annually during the opening week of the United Nations General Assembly, distinguished U.S. and African leaders and top diplomats gathered for the most high profile Africafocused event in New York City. Among the Awards Gala's major corporate sponsors were Chevron and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

"It is an honor for AAI to recognize Africa's two female heads of state -- Liberian President Sirleaf and Malawian President Banda -- for their commitment to private sector development, and especially their razor-sharp focus on equipping women and girls with the tools to exert economic power and realize their potential as drivers of sustainable economic growth and broad based wellbeing in Africa," said Mora McLean, AAI President and CEO.

The black-tie event also recognized AAI Alumni who are leading African leaders for their contributions to Africa and the world. Dr. Thelma Awori, Former Assistant Secretary General and Director of Regional Bureau for Africa at United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Founding Chair and Co-President of the Sirleaf Market Women's Fund, received the AAI 2012 Distinguished Alumna Award. Nik Amarteifio, CEO & Chairman of Equatorial Cross Acquisitions Ltd , Lead Director of the Central Bank of Ghana and Chairman of Dannex Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ghana Agro Foods Company, and Omni Media and owner of Citi FM Radio and The Globe newspaper of Ghana will receive the AAI 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Today, AAI counts more than 23,000 alumni, including Wangari Maathai, the late Kenyan environmental and women's rights activist and Nobel Laureate; Prime Minister H.E. Nahas Angula of Namibia; and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D'Ivoire. "We pay tribute to our distinguished alumni for playing leading roles in addressing some of the world's most intractable challenges, and improving the lives of people in Africa," said McLean of the annual awards.

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McLean will step down as CEO and President of AAI after 16 years of outstanding service at the end of September to become a Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University Center for African Studies. "Under Mora's leadership, AAI diversified its portfolio and reestablished contact with members of its multigenerational, transnational African alumni network," said Kofi Appenteng, Chair of the AAI Board of Trustees.

"We know that she will remain an advocate of AAI's mission and wish her every success in her fulfilling her desire to explore new opportunities."

"It has been an extraordinary journey, and I feel privileged to have served and to now pass the baton to my successor to take AAI to the next level," said McLean. Amini Kajunju, former CEO of New York-based Workshop in Business Opportunities, will succeed McLean as AAI President and CEO effective October 1, 2012.

To delve deeper into the gala theme "Jobs for Africa's Future", AAI co-hosted the 2012 Africa Business Investors Conference with UN Women, the African Women's Development Fund and the African Business Roundtable on Thursday, September 27 in New York. The one-day conference, an exclusive high-powered networking and dialogue with African heads of state and U.S. and African leaders, highlighted Africa's emerging market potential, innovative solutions for private sector development, and the pivotal role of African women as powerful drivers of African economic development.

Conference keynote speakersl included: His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President, Republic of Ghana; Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President, Republic of Malawi; His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata, President, Republic of Zambia; The Honorable Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director, UN Women; The Honorable Cherie Blair QC, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women; Florizelle Lizer, United States Trade Representative for Africa; Danielle Walker, Director, Africa Business Initiative, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Thelma Awori, Founding Chair and Co-President, Sirleaf Market Women's Fund, among others.

ABOUT THE AFRICA-AMERICA INSTITUTE (AAI): Founded in 1953, the Africa-America Institute, a leading New York-based international education and policy organization, is dedicated to advancing education and professional training for Africans, and promoting engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. For more information, visit

President of Malawi, Joyce Banda attends The Africa-America Institute's 28th Annual Awards Dinner Gala at the Grand Hyatt on September 26, 2012 in New York City.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of Liberia

Nik Amarteifio Chairman at Dannex Limited Founder and Chairman at Omni Media,Vice Chairman at Ghana Agro Foods Company and Daughter Nicole Amarteifio

Maurice Tempelsman, chair of the AAI Board of Trustees and Kofi Appenteng

Source:www.aaionline.org.

Femi Oke International Broadcast Journalist

(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Dr. Thelma Awori Executive Director for Institute of Social Transformation-Uganda

Afrikan

Post

Taxi driver who returned N18M left in his cab in 2007 gets N2.5M reward

to them at the hotel when he discovered it and since then, he has become some sort of overnight celebrity.

However, despite the recognition and awards he has received for his honesty, this is the first time he will be given such a handsome cash reward for his action.

On Tuesday 25th September, 2012, MrUsuah emerged the winner of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC), maiden Integrity Award.

From: Nigeria | Bella Naija

It might have taken 5 years, but he finally got a handsome cash reward.

In 2007, ImehUsuah, a taxi driver at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport, Abuja picked up some passengers from the Airport, two foreigners, and dropped them at the Hilton Transcorp hotel in Maitama area in Abuja.

Unknown to the passengers and to him, they forgot a bag tucked underneath the seat which contained N18million.

He returned the bag with the money still intact

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A Ghanaian contests in a TV Star Contest, Columbus, OHIO

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We encourage readers to support Justine Appiah-Danquah as she contests to win as the next CW Star.(CWColumbus.com).

Each year, The CW Columbus (WWHO-TV) begins a quest to find the face of our local television station.

This “face” is known as The CW Star and works with the station for one year to gain unparalleled experience both in front of and behind the camera, event marketing, social mediamarketing, internet, radio, cable and much more.

The CW Star reaches out to our station’s young demographic and hits the hot spots to help promote our station and The CW brand.

Justine is a semi-finalist and needs our help to get to the finals and eventually win!. Every time her video is watched from beginning to end, it counts as one vote. She needs as many votes as possible! Watch the video from beginning to end over and over and over again! The more views her video gets, the better!

Mr. Usuah, accompanied with his wife, was awarded a plaque and N2.5 million for his honesty.

He had earlier been acknowledged and commended by different groups in the country. The 69 year-old taxi driver had received awards from the Nigeria Network of Women and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has given him an award and $200 for his honesty.

The Director- General of SEC, ArunmaOteh, said that the award was the commission’s contributions toward the promotion, recognition and reward for integrity.

“Usuah’s exemplary act of honesty and integrity had sprinkled a burst of refreshing dew upon the national consciousness,” Premium Times quoted her as saying.

In his response, MrUsuah commended the commission for the gesture and devoted the award to the “unsung honest and committed Nigerians across the country.”

Courtesy - www.cwcolumbus.com

Ghanaian Young Star selected among the top 5 of Radio Disney's "NBT" Season 5 and Needs Your Vote If you have been watching Radio Disney's Next Big Thing, Season 5 about to start and one of the competitors is American born with Ghanaian Parentage; Damian Otchere from East Orange.

Damien has made Ghana proud for being selected among the top 5 of "The Next Big Thing". He really deserves a huge round of applause for his courage and his will to win. 3G Media has endorsed Damian as a future music superstar with enormous confidence who loves to entertain an audience. Damian needs the support the full support of the community for reaching this journey.

Here was a young star performer who brought the house with his great singing at the recent Kojo Antwi concert in New Jersey. His rendition of James Brown's "I feel good" and his dance moves impressed the audience and got a standing ovation. His journey has already inspired the youth in America. Rather than being on the street and dealing with the wrong crowd, he chose to sing and becoming a music superstar.

the attention always on him. He was what one would call the class clown. Damian loved music and began to play the drums in the church at a very young age. His vocal skills were limited but he made up with his wonderful personality and his ability to dance. He was the class motivator with a very big heart and would always cheer everyone on and giving them moral support.

One day his music teacher, Ms. Pasterczyk, told him he needed to channel all his energy to being on stage and not doing it in the classroom. She placed him in the chorus and put him in the front row because of his personality however was asked to lip sync only. He was not a very good singer and by fifth grade he was given a small solo. Damian then knew this was what he had wanted to be. He loves entertaining and being in front of an audience. He is natural and entertaining is his middle name. He approached the music teacher and asked if she could teach him how to be a good singer. She said it would be hard work and complete dedication.

will never be good. Damian did not let this get to him or discouraged. Instead, it encouraged him, made him stronger and even more determined to be a show stopper. After several months of hard work, he began to enter vocal competitions and eventually was winning overall vocal titles. He traveled all around the country to compete and just finished his first year at Cicely Tyson of Performing Arts High School. This year was very productive with getting the principal role in his high school musical; "Dream Girls" as Jimmy. He was a hit and won an award for his performance.

Damien got the opportunity to audition for the Radio Disney show called; NBT. (Next Big Thing) through the help of Ms Pasterczyk and Montana Music Management. He was finally chosen to be one of the contestants in the season 5 NBT show.

He is know depending on everyone to keep Damian insisted that he could do it and practiced daily. him to stay in this show. This show is based on people supporting their artist by voting for Here is a profile of Damien Otchere below; There were days he asked his teacher for songs he them 10 times on each Disney website's everywanted to sing. He learned many different genres, day for two weeks. The first round begins; Damian Otchere resides in East Orange NJ and was like classical, country, inspirational, R&B, musicals, October 26. There will be several Disney webborn in Brooklyn NY. At the age of 5 he moved to pop and religious. He looked up to Luther Vandross site's to vote on; Radiodisney.com, New Jersey and attended Jackson Academy and Michael Buble.

Facebook.com/Disney,Twitter/Disney and othElementary School in NJ. Damian was so full of life and spunk that sometimes he found himself Then one day he was told by one of his classmates that ers. seated outside the office because he loved to have he could not sing. The boy told him to give it up he

This information can be found on www.DamianOtchere.com website.

You can keep up with all the news for "NBT" by going on RadioDisney.com/NBT. It is so important to vote everyday starting Oct 26. This will continue with everyone voting everyday for two weeks. Then the one with the lowest votes will be dismissed. Then round two will start with the same process for the next two weeks to get votes etc. Damian's videos can be seen on "Youtube" under Damian Otchere.

Check out his two new songs "Get Up" and "Understand". His songs are now available on Itunes for only .99 cents. Please buy his songs to support his endeavors.

Any comments under his songs or videos would be appreciated.

Acknowledgement - Montana Music Management and Ms Pasterczyk.

Source: www.3gmediaonline.com

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Charcoal Chicken,African Bistros, Jolof Rice, Fried Plantain, Curry goat, etc..

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The King’s Highway Her Page

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

It’s a highway to heaven None can walk up there But the pure in heart It’s a highway to heaven Walking up the king’s highway.

“Highway to Heaven” is one of those rhythmic songs that one cannot help but to clap, tap and dance to at church or anywhere. It is a simple and very upbeat song.

Recently, I was doing something at home when I remembered the song. I began to sing it enthusiastically and became so joyous acknowledging the great benefit the song reminds me of my future with Christ.

So here I am singing the song literally thinking about a highway of gold, as the Bible tells us of the streets of gold in heaven. The more I sang it, the more I became happy, but then a different interpretation of the song made itself known to me and instead of being joyous, I became more thoughtful. Oh, I realized, there is a different meaning that the Lord wanted to impart to me.

The meaning that was being imparted to my spirit as I sang the song was that the highway is not necessarily the literal highway in heaven that we will walk on one day. The highway presently has to do with our experience here in this life as Christians. The highway is walking in the footsteps of Jesus, doing what He requires us to do, not bowing to the devil, but privileging the things of God in our lives. It is the choice we make in response to varying situations that come as a test and/or temptation. As these thoughts were flowing in my mind and impacting my heart, my singing of the song slowed down and so did the rhythmic pep in my step. Thoughts of past situations came back to me, and as I began to learn what the Lord wanted to teach me, I became a little resistant also as a child who just wants to enjoy a moment without it being ruined by a parent or teacher with a lesson. I thought: why couldn’t I just be

happy in my ignorance and continue to sing the song without getting a lesson? But as Christians would know, the Lord’s objective is to teach and cause His children to mature.

So now I can’t say I don’t know better, because I have been taught.

All the thoughts that entered my mind had to do with making a choice to take the “highway.” That is, if there is a highway, then there must be a low way. And the lesson here was consciously taking the highway although the low way was more satisfying to the individual. As suggested earlier, the highway is the way of Christ, what God would want us to do, the decision He would want us to make as in turning the other cheek (Matt.

5:39), withdrawing ourselves from temptation, which will obviously and eventually cause us to compromise our Christian ideals.

The highway is dying to the self, so that the devil will not have anything in us.

Of course, the low way would be quite the opposite. It is the way of the world, the common way and practice of mankind. It is satisfying our flesh and our pride. It is having the loudest, firmest, and the very last word. It is, in our minds, holding our own and not allowing another to think they can take advantage of us or hurt our pride. The low way feels good—very good and it hurts terribly when we do not take it. And because we do not want to endure the pain of hurting and/or foregoing the pleasure of self-satisfaction, we too often, almost instinctively, choose the low way.

The irony is that we are quick to sing and dance to songs such as “Highway to Heaven” without ever desiring to take that highway. It is just like the song “I live for Jesus day after day/ I live for Jesus and come what may/ the Holy Spirit I will obey/ I live for Jesus, day after day.” Sometimes, we can passionately sing this song and dance to it as if we are in heaven when deep in our hearts, we know we in fact obey our flesh more than the Spirit of God. I am not judging anyone. I am talking about myself, because I have been there and sometimes, I am there. I am there when I know the Lord is pressing on my heart to do something that I don’t want to do and I build a wall of resistance to His voice because what He is requesting of me is simply too hard for my pride to swallow and too painful for my flesh to endure. Yet I sing about taking the highway or sing that I will obey the Holy Spirit, forgetting or choosing to ignore the fact that I don’t intend to do so.

While the Lord was dealing with me about the meaning of the song, I recalled an offending incident that required taking the highway. Someone said something rude and disrespectful to me and it stuck with me. I became incensed and just wanted to retaliate.

I felt the Lord’s prodding that I should forgive the infraction, but then I didn’t want to

do so. The Lord was prompting me to initiate a discussion and an apology to resolve the matter, but I resisted repeatedly, saying to myself that it is rather the person who should approach me and apologize because after all, she was the offender. Previously the Lord had been having His way with me, where I would acquiesce to initiate an apology although I didn’t believe I was at fault. This time, I was tired of being the one to resolve the situation. I was beginning to feel as if I was being taken for granted and also that if I am always the one to initiate a resolution and/or apology, then I would be perceived as the one who had erred even if I hadn’t. Who wants that image of themselves? Not I. See how the flesh gets in and imposes itself as more important? And I was buying it. But God knows what we need. He knows that we need healing after a hurt; otherwise, a wound would just fester. Even if the injury was caused by another, the Lord wants us to resolve it even if it means that the victim has to initiate a discussion about it to bring it to a close, because after all, both parties are hurting and something has to give. Finally, I relented and gave up the anger; communication brought about the healing needed between us.

The fact is that as imperfect beings, we will be offended and hurt often. We can’t escape it. We can only try to avoid some situations, but then, we have to remember that although we know how to walk well, we trip and fall inexplicably and we wonder how it could have happened. It is the same way when co-existing with others. But if we call ourselves Christians, then we ought to know how to resolve it properly. We are to forgive each other. But that is where the true test comes in.

We pray to God: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matt.

6:12), but do not want to forgive, while we want to be forgiven by God. My walk and experience with the Lord has taught me that to be in rightstanding with God, it is best to do as He says.

There is joy in knowing that you are free in the Lord. I have learned that it is better to be right with God and not have anything block your blessings than to be right among men.

Even when we have the above knowledge, we sometimes allow conflicts to linger too long because of our pride. I remember that one time I noticed that a particular individual would not speak to me until I spoke with her. I began to think about it and realized that this had been happening for a while. So I also resolved that I wouldn’t be the first to speak to her either.

After all, she wasn’t better than I, so why should I always be the first one to greet? So intentionally I wouldn’t greet her. I would see her, walk by her and if she didn’t say anything, I wouldn’t say anything either. This went on for quite some time. But my spirit was not at ease about it. Consequently, I began to become annoyed about it. I argued in my mind. I justified myself. What had I done to her and why did she

October 2012

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think that I should be the one to always be the first to greet? My flesh got up on its pedestal and began boasting and justifying itself. “After all, I am older than she is; I am also more accomplished than her, so why did I have to belittle myself? Why do I have to be the one to initiate a greeting?

Who does she think she is? Please! I won’t do it.”

One day, when I was entertaining such thoughts again, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart: “why are you belittling yourself in this way?” Why are you bringing yourself down to her standard? Can’t you see you are more mature than she is?

You know better. You are better than this.” And right there and then, my heart grieved and I understood. I realized I was not only being childish, but I was also being stupid. When I thought I was elevating myself, I was rather debasing myself. The next time I saw the person, I took the highway and was the first to greet. That was all it took, a little humility even if you don’t think you should be humble, and things were right again. I love the song, “humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” We don’t need people’s respect, praise or approval; we need God’s.

Some of these things seem petty and they are. But in the end, too much of it is petty and none of it is worth it. When we become upset with someone for one reason or another and hold a grudge, insult or respond in an ungodly way, we are not taking the highway as Christ desires. The fact is that the enemy wants such things to keep us apart, to keep us hurting and angry so that we become separated emotionally and spiritually from each other and from God. It also comes to eat us up and cause us pain. Further, when we are angry and hurt we fail to forgive and that failure to forgive imprisons us and gives the devil an opportunity in our lives. Our refusal to forgive, whatever the case may be, stands in the way of our blessings and our right-standing with God. Christ demonstrated to us that it is always important to take the highway.

Although He was blameless, Christ underwent verbal and physical abuse. He underwent false accusation, but often went without defending himself. He showed us how we should not please the self, but rather God. When we give preference to obeying God’s word by following the spiritual path and not the self-aggrandizing and self–satisfying path, we are walking in the King’s highway.

Ohio Woman Realizes Her Late Husband Was Her Father

The distraught wife and daughter of the late Percy knows of six brothers but is still looking for more of her siblings.

Boy Walks To School On His Hands October 2012

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From: Orange.com

While being raised by her parents, Spruill’s mother visited her frequently but she always thought that she was just a family friend. It was not until she was 9 years old that she found out that their family friend, Christine, was actually her mother.

Christine passed away in 1984. That was when Valerie became aware that the man she thought was her father was actually her grandfather.

Because she did not know who her father was, she later met and married him.

Valerie Spruill’s husband (and father) died in 1998 after being ill for a short time. After hearing rumors that her husband may have been her father, Valerie found his hairs on an old brush and got them tested. The tests revealed that he was indeed her father.

An Ohio woman is so horrified by a recent revelation that she has had to seek therapy.Valerie Spruill found out that her late husband was also her biological father. A DNA test has confirmed that 60 year old Spruill was married to her father, Percy.

The Doylestown, Ohio resident has three children and eight grandchildren. She is now on a mission to find her other siblings from her Father.

Speaking to the Akron Beacon Journal, she said,

“It needs to be told, because children need to know where they come from. And I know it hurts, because I have been devastated by this.”

Since she was three months old, Spruill has been taken care of by her grandparents. Her mother was what she calls a “nightlady” and her father (also her husband) was only 15 years old when he was intimate with her mother.

The confusing part of Valerie’s story is that she suspects that her husband knew he was her father but was afraid to tell her. Since her husband’s death and finding out that he was her father, Valerie has sought therapy to deal with the new information and process it. Valerie has also had several health issues which she attributes to the stress of finding out that her late husband was her father.

A ten-year-old boy has been walking to and from school on his hands every day for the last four years.

Yan Yuhong, of Jiaba village, Yibin, in China's Hubei Province, was left partially paralysed by a childhood illness.

He initially crawled to get around but learnt to walk on his hands when he was just four-years-old.

She hopes that telling her story will help her reach more of her siblings that she didn’t know existed. Yan has to get up much earlier than his classmates - as his journey takes him an hour-and-a-half each way.

‘My biggest goal is to find them and let ’em He can also get about with crutches but says he can walk much faster on his know that [their mother] loved them, no matter hands. what,’ she said. ‘And [to say], ‘Thank God she gave you away like she did me, so you could have His father is also disabled, leaving his mother as the sole bread-winner, but a beautiful life.’

Yan is determined to finish his schooling.

Source: http://blacklikemoi.com

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"I don't want to quit," he said. "I want to study hard, and support myself in the future."

Hiplife Group VIP To Be Honored In Chicago

ONE ON ONE WITH: 2RAS

October 2012

What is the importance of music in society, as a whole?

Music plays a lot of roles in our society. It helps to educate, entertain, comfort, etc.

People express their feelings through music and people identify with it. I also believe music is one of the greatest communication vehicles we ever had. Especially when it sounds nice.

How do you define your music?

I do Hip Hop/Hip Life.

What makes your music/sound different than other musicians?

Apart from beats/instrumentation, my style in terms of word play and rhythm, among other things, differentiate my music.

2ras, a musician in Ghana, is gearing up for his exposure party on October 20,2012, where he will premiere his “First Love” video. 2ras graciously Who were your favorite musicians when sat down with the Afrikan Post for an exclusive you were growing up?

Africa’s international and multiple awards winning music interview.

Bob Marley, Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, group, VIP, will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award Eminem, and Jay Z in Chicago, Illinois, this month.

Tell us a little bit about your backgroundwhere did you grow up and Who are your favorite musicians now?

The group will be honored by African Community Media go to school?

I listen to a lot of Marley Music and Network at the 2nd annual Afro-Entertainment Award on I was born in Nkawkaw (pronounced N-kor-kor), Kaakie now. I also love Sarkodie, Ayigbe October 27, in its esteemed celebration of cultural heritage in the eastern part of Ghana. I did my basic and Edem, Samini, Wiz Khalifa, T.I, and J. and artistic legacy. African Community Media Network secondary school in that area. I attended St. Cole. made the announcement on October 1 and said VIP was the Peter’s Secondary School and later proceeded to first African group to receive the Afro-Entertainment Award Institute of Professional Studies (IPS Legon).

Which Ghanaian musician would you Lifetime Achievement Award. like to work with and why?

When did you get into music- what sparked Kojo Antwi - that man has so many clasics Officially launched in 2011, the Afro Entertainment Award your interest in music? and I love his word play in music. honors the contribution of multi-genre artists and entrepreI have always loved music and music will always neurs in the Afro-Entertainment industry with focus to edu- be a part of me. I started listening to hip hop How does technology impact your cate and inspire. The philanthropic goal of the award is to music? music when I was in junior secondary school. enhance the lives of individuals in need by supporting both During this same era, hip life had started. I appre- Technology has helped create a wider dislocal and international charities through fundraising and tribution and promotion platform for music ciated what people like Reggie Rockstone, community advocacy.

Obrafour, Akyeame, etc. were doing. It was great across the world. It has helped introduce our kind of music to the rest of the world to hear hip hop done in our own language.

Over the past 10 years, VIP has sold over 5million records, faster and easier. The only problem we face making the group one of the best selling recording artistes in How did you get the name “2ras”? here in our part of the world is how to Africa. Made up of Zeal ( Abdul Hamid Ibrahim), Promzy I had that name back in secondary school. I chose monetize it.

(Emmanuel Promzy Ababio) and Prodigal (Joseph Nana my own nickname. I wanted something that was Ofori), the charismatic trio have revolutionized the African If you were not making music, what do funky and meaningful. It simply means journey. music industry by creating award winning compositions that Life is a journey. you think you would be doing in your blend High Life, Hip Hop and traditional African music. life?

I would have been a chef. I love cooking What was the first song you ever wrote?

VIP’s dedication to artistic innovation has resulted in record Surprisingly, the first song I wrote did not have a and I like trying new cuisines. breaking recognition with a roster of esteemed accolades title. It never got released and I don't think it will. including countless international awards, multiple city tours, Listening to that tune, it tells me how far I have What are the latest songs you have been and performances commissioned by United Nations. working on and how can fans purchase come as a musician. them?

“The African community Media Network is honoured to be What was the first song you ever did which Songs for my album are ready but the team presenting VIP with its very first Lifetime Achievement at my record label is still deciding on received national attention?

Award, which will be received by the group on stage at the which songs will make it to the album.

It was “Medebebom” with Obrafour.

2nd Afro-Entertainment Award.

Apart from that, I am also working on other interesting music projects.

How did you feel when the song you recorded “Look out for more details on VIP on www.vipplp.com or with Obrafour was featured on the show AFIA Let’s review two of your songs: First, follow on twitter @VipGhana”.

SCHWARZENEGGER? “My First Luv”. Tell us the Did you ever think you’d be featured story behind that song. in a TV soundtrack?

It’s a subject I realized a lot of guys, including myself, identify I was happy because I had a large platform that with. Most guys or people never end up Source: News One was providing my tune an audience. It gave me with their first love. I wanted to sing about the opportunity to show Ghanaians what I was made of. The greatest feeling about that song was that and I thought a story line would be cool. having Obrafour on it. He appreciated what I was doing at my age and opted for collaboration on a song.

Tell us the story behind “Lighters Up”: "Lighters Up" is the first song I wrote

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when I signed my first record deal. I talk about myself, my style, my hustle, and my dreams.

How do you write your songswhat process do you go through?

I don't do a paper and pen. I “form” the lyrics on my mind and do my verses once the beat is on. I write them down after recording.

What inspires your music writing?

A number of things inspire my music. Beats/instrumentation can get me to write a song. The society and things around me also inspire what I write. I also try to identify with any subject I write on.

What role does Ghanaian music have in the world?

It projects our way of life, culture, and identity, as a people.

Name one thing that has changed in your life since becoming a musician?

Nothing really, I think I have grown to appreciate the way different people think.

If you could look back and give one piece of advice to yourself, like 5 years ago, what would you say?

I would advise myself not to be timid and shy. It kills creativity.

What advice would you give to young aspiring musicians?

Music is just like any profession.

You have to work hard and pay your dues. Success is time bound.

Fun Fact about 2ras: Favorite TV show: Any interesting lifestyle show Favorite song: “My First Luv” by 2ras Favorite place to hang out: My Room Countries you have visited: Japan, Netherlands, South Africa

When was the last time you: Cried?

During the late President's burial Cooked: Today Laughed uncontrollably: I do that a lot of times.

Were scared: I don’t remember Attended a good concert:? I don't remember Travelled outside of Accra:? Sat 1st September

For more information on 2ras, he can be found on twitter :@2rasmusic Interview by Amy Ansong

A Ministry On A Mission Bishop Dr. Kofi Adonteng Boatengs’ Divine Word Ministry Leads The Way To Make A Difference In The Lives Of The Needy

Some believe in amassing wealth, others believe in getting the best things in life but there is a man of God who believes in giving his best to the community. From his humble beginnings in Ghana he has risen within a short span to be one of the most sought after ministers of this age. His deep passion to assist the needy has made his Divine Word International Ministry a household name in the United States.

The Divine Word Ministry under the able leadership of Bishop Dr. Kofi Adonteng Boateng recently embarked on a mission to make provision for orphans, widows and homeless shelters in the community borne out of his concern and desire to be an inspiration to all manner of people regardless of race.

It would be recalled that a delegation from the ministry travelled to Ghana in 2011 and donated items including clothes, cooked food, canned food and presented checks to orphanages in Kumasi and Accra. In addition to the donations, they also paid medical bills for many patients at the country’s premiere hospital who were waiting to be discharged.

Since the beginning of the year 2012, the ministry has not relented in their efforts to reach out to the needy.

Drawing inspiration from the book of James 1:27 which says “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world” his selfless devotion to the poor and needy has earned him and his ministry accolades beyond measure.

The Bishop has personally led his entire ministry to various homeless shelters within the Washington Metro area to clean up and also make provision for the residents of homeless shelters in the community. He prays for the residents, inspires them, and provides food as well as basic hygiene needs.

On Saturday, September 29, 2012 the Bishop led an army of worshippers to the Baileys Crossroads homeless shelter and touched many lives.

They donated several boxes of canned food, organized a cleanup of the premises, prayed and touched the lives of the residents some of whom openly saw the gesture as a transforming moment in their lives. According to a resident, “We are people in great need, there’s no doubt about that, as such your provision for us is truly a God send”.

The community Shelter, a 50-bed, emergency homeless shelter for adult men and women is located in the city of Falls Church in Fairfax County. Bishop Adonteng and his ministry’s provision goes a long way to assist and restore hope to the residents.

The Director of the shelter expressed her profound appreciation for the gesture and mentioned that the exemplary devotion to the needy is worthy of emulation.

According to the Bishop, “This is not going to be a nine day wonder because we are committed and inspired to carry this mission on to every part of the country on a regular basis.”

He continued “I am therefore appealing to each and everyone who shares this passion to join hands with us in making a difference in the lives of the needy”.

Please see pictures of the event on page 29

Ex-Beauty Queen Sworn In As First Female President Of Nigerian Actors Guild October 2012

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Rollas and Steve Eboh as contestants.

After she was announced winner of the election on Friday by Rachael Oniga, who served as the secretary of AGNEC.

Ibinabo was sworn in as the 7th and first female President of the guild at a ceremony at the guild's secretariat in Lagos.

The swearing ceremony was attended by several renowned personalities including, Segun Arinze, Steve Eboh, Ejike Asiegbu, and Charles Inojie.

"The election is now over, all I am now after is to unite everyone in the guild and bring the A-list stars back into the guild," Ibinabo told Nigeriafilms.com Ex-beauty queen, Fiberesima Ibinabo was sworn in a phone interview. in as the first female President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

From: Nigeriafilms.com She was elected by eligible voters at the keenly contested Presidential election held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 which had herself, Emeka

Dora the Explorer Thrills Kids On National School Tour in Lagos

The Lagos leg of the Dora National School Tour activation held yesterday at Meadow Hall School in Lekki. Nickelodeon character and savings teacher, Miss Penny Wise told the kids exciting stories that taught the importance of saving money. The animated heroine and kiddies favourite,Dora The Explorer and her friend Boots later thrilled kids to an energetic sing along session. Organizers of the Dora National School tour gave out Dora The Explorer play books as well as other exciting gifts.

The National school tour will also visit Benin, Enugu and Calabar on September 21, 24 and 26th respectively.

Source: www.ameyawdebrah

Call Afrikan Post At 703 725 6968 To Advertise Your Business And Events

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Highest Oil-Producing Countries In Africa

This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day) as of January 1, 2011. The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors. #1. Nigeria Barrels per day: 2,211,000

Nigeria produces 2.2 million gallons of oil per day, placing them 12th among producers.

But they are the 4th biggest exporter, exporting 2.1 million barrels each day. Much controversy has surrounded oil production in Nigeria. Most recently Royal Dutch Shell is on the defensive following a $100 million fine imposed by a Nigerian court for a 1970 oil spill. Also, past reports show that militants have attacked pipelines and kidnapped oil employees, cutting into Nigeria’s oil production. Last year, a military attack in Nigeria’s Oil Delta killed up to 150 people. #2. Algeria

Barrels per day: 2,125,000

Algeria produces 2.1 million barrels of oil daily. In 2010, Algeria’s president fired the CEO and top managers of the state-owned oil firm Sonatrach following a corruption scandal. #3. Angola Barrels per day: 1,948,000

Angola produces 1.9 million barrels of oil daily, and export 1.8 million barrels, placing them at #7 on the world’s list of exporters. #4. Libya

Barrels per day: 1,790,000 Libya produces 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, while exporting 1.2 million barrels daily.

As violence in Libya currently escalates, the price of oil has skyrocketed. #5. Egypt

Barrels per day: 680,500 #6. Sudan

Barrels per day: 486,700 #7. Equatorial Guinea

Barrels per day: 346,000 #8. Republic of Congo

Barrels per day: 274,400 #9. Gabon

Barrels per day: 241,700 #10. South Africa

Barrels per day: 191,000 #11. Chad

Barrels per day: 115,000 #12. Tunisia

Barrels per day: 91,380 #13. Cameroon

Barrels per day: 77,310 #14. Cote d’Ivoire

Barrels per day: 58,950 #15. Democratic Republic of Congo

Barrels per day: 86,360 #16. Ghana

Barrels per day: 7,081 #17. Morocco

Barrels per day: 4,053

Source:www.:forbes.com

Ghana’s DVLA to Introduce Penalty Points for drivers O c t o b e r 2012

By Economic Tribune

Felix Dela Klutse

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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority undoubtedly, one of the biggest concerns and fears of (DVLA) is in the process of developing penalty every Ghanaian. points for drivers who disobey traffic regulations in the country.

Over the past, DVLA through the able leadership of its CEO, Justice Amegashie, has collaborated with The Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Mr the DVLA/MTTU to undertake a number of road Justice Amegashie, who disclosed this in an exclu- side checks with the aim of preventing old vehicles sive interview with Economic Tribune in Accra, from plying the roads. The Authority has procured said the penalty points is to influence and improve three vehicles dedicated solely to the MTTU taskdriver behaviour in Ghana and also address the force activities. In Kumasi for instance, over 10,000 unacceptable levels of death and serious injury on vehicles were inspected in 2011. Since 2010, all the the roads. communication materials and messages of DVLA are geared towards educating road users on safety.

“Obtaining and acquiring a driving license is not a right but a privilege and we at DVLA believe that “We have realized that people are driving vehicles implementing this penalty points would ensure san- that are over and above the class of driving licence ity on our roads,” Mr Amegashie told Economic they hold. We have, therefore, developed posters to Tribune. educate our clients on the classes of license and the vehicles that one has to drive with a particular The DVLA Boss said his plan was to transform license,” the DVLA Boss added.

DVLA into a world class organization, which is better positioned to deliver improved quality serv- The Authority was also able to license some new priices of international standards and contributes sub- vate testing stations and also develop four draft legstantially towards casualty reduction. islative instruments for driving schools and driving instructors. The procurement of mobile testing equipA penalty point is essentially a formal reprimand ment and the introduction of computer adaptive test endorsed on one's driving license that shows that are among the numerous initiatives taken by DVLA he or she is guilty of a specified driving offence. under the leadership of Mr Amegashie since his While penalty points are endorsed on one's driving assumption of office in 2009. license, the points do not physically appear on the license. Instead, they are recorded on the driving “The computer adaptive test is to ensure credibility, license record. International experience has demon- integrity and transparency in the administration of strated that the penalty points system has proven the driver license administration. We want our clients successful in reducing the number of road deaths in to have more confidence in the test result. The manucountries that introduced it. al way of doing things is now a thing of the past,” the DVLA Boss stated.

Report says in Ireland for instance, no driver is allowed to drive a vehicle while holding 12 current He continued: “There is a great reform in the driver penalty points on their driving license. Any driver license administration. New legislative instruments that receives 12 penalty points in any three year have been drafted for the introduction of probational period will be automatically faced with a sixlicense and private sector participation in vehicle month disqualification from driving. testing. So far, four Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS) have been licensed to operate in the Greater Numerous reports say road accidents cost the Accra Region.” This initiative is expected to be nation $288 million in 2008. The amount does not replicated in other regions very soon as the DVLA include the direct and indirect cost of road accialso prepares to provide the same service to its cusdents to relatives of victims – wives, husbands, tomers in all its offices. mothers, fathers, and children. It does not also include funeral costs and the cost of having to do DVLA is also leveraging on the use of information without loved ones and breadwinners. technology to deliver superior value preposition to its clients. Currently, clients of the entity can access Through road accidents, many children have renewal of their driving license. The Authority become destitute. Companies, businesses, and state opened more offices across the country in order to institutions have lost many experienced and com- bring its services to the door steps of the masses. petent employees through this deadly canker. What makes Ghana's situation worse is that majority of “Infrastructure development is ongoing rapidly. We the people do not have life and disability insurance are building a new head office complex in Accra. policies from which they or their dependants can When completed, it shall have a Research get some financial support when they are involved Department, Conference and Business Development in accidents.

Units, Library, training facilities and a gym,” Mr The aforementioned distressing situation thus calls Amegashie disclosed, adding that, these facilities for drastic intervention by the government and its would augment the efforts of the old staff and help agencies like the DVLA and the Police and indeed push the objectives of the organisation forward. all citizens to play their role in ensuring drastic reduction in road accidents in Ghana. It is very heartening that the DVLA is at long last taking the initiatives to address the problem which remains,

Ambassador Bockarie Stevens Receives Donation Of Chemo Medication In Chicago for Sierra Leone

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From left to Right:Melanie Fiachino, Ahnal Purchit, Phd. President /CEO, Puroht Navigation, Soo Zie Triplett, HE. Ambassador Bokarie Stevens, Joanna Di Domenico and Hanna Smith

Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Desmond Tutu Awarded $1m October 2012

Veteran peace campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been awarded $1m (£620,000) by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for "speaking truth to power".

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The Mo Ibrahim Foundation also offers an annual $5m prize to a former African head of state for good governance.

The most recent recipient of that award was The London-based Foundation called the cleric Cape Verde's former President Pedro Verona "one of Africa's great voices for justice, freeRodrigues Pires in 2011.

His Excellency Ambassador Bockari K. Stevens Post in the United States. dom, democracy and responsible, responsive today received a donation of chemotherapy government".

Winners must have been democratically electmedication from Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc, The Chemotherapy medication donated, 840 vials ed and agreed to leave office.

Chicago Illinois, to the People of Sierra Leone. of Topotecan, is used in the treatment of small cell He won the Nobel Peace Prize - and 10m lung cancer by killing cancerous cells.

Swedish Krona (£935,000) - in 1984 for his In some years the prize has not been awarded The presentation ceremony took place in The donation from Sagent Pharmaceutical was campaign against apartheid. because no-one has been deemed a worthy Chicago Illinois at the Honorary Consulate of facilitated by Dr. Ahnal Purohit of Purohit enough winner. The winner of the 2012 prize, Sierra Leone. Receiving the supplies, Navigation.

Archbishop Tutu responded by thanking his if it is awarded, would be announced later this Ambassador Bockari Stevens thanked the wife, Leah, for her guidance. month. donors for what was described as a very timely The ceremony was also witnessed by Dr. Ankur gesture, noting that treatment for cancer was a Purohit, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Sierra "I have been very fortunate throughout my life Mo Ibrahim was born in 1946 and is a Britishmuch needed intervention in health care deliv- Leone in Chicago and a cross section of Sierra to be surrounded by people of the highest cal- Sudanese mobile communications entrepreery in Sierra Leone.

Leone nationals in Illinois. iber, beginning with my extraordinary wife," neur and philanthropist who made billions said the archbishop in a statement. from investing in Africa.

‘I humbly accept this generous donation on Before agreeing to accept the cancer treatment behalf of Sierra Leone. My appreciation is only drugs Ambassador Stevens conferred with the "It is these generous people who have guided, He argues that his foundation's $5m prize exceeded by those who will benefit from this Chief Medical Officer in Sierra Leone who conprodded, assisted, cajoled - and ultimately the world's most valuable individual prize - is contribution’ firmed that this was a wonderful gesture to the allowed me to take the credit." needed because many leaders of sub-Saharan people of Sierra Leone. The Ambassador further African countries come from poor backWhile noting that the country has made signifi- re-iterated that this was only the beginning as The statement said the retired archbishop of grounds and are tempted to hang on to power cant progress in reducing infant and maternal many companies have promised similar gestures in Capetown was celebrating his and his wife's for fear that poverty is what awaits them when mortality rate by increasing access to treatment the future if adequate accountability can be guar- birthdays with family and staff - he turns 81 on they give up the levers of power. through the elimination user fees for pre/post anteed.

Sunday, while Mrs Tutu's birthday is a week maternal care and under-five childcare delivery, later.

The inaugural prize was awarded in 2007 to Ambassador Stevens said that the Government Embassy of Sierra Leone, Washington D.C, Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique's former of President Ernest Bai Koroma continues to October 3, 2012 The South African cleric remains outspoken on president, who has since acted as a mediator address challenges in the health sector which international affairs, and has been a fierce crit- in several African disputes. remains a key priority in its national agenda. ic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians as He mentioned that he was gratified that these Source: www. Cocorioko.com well as China's treatment of Tibetans.

After announcing the award for Archbishop improvements were being recognized by media Tutu, Mr Ibrahim launched a scathing attack publications in the United States and in Canada In August, he pulled out of a leadership sumon South Africa's governing African National making references to articles published in the mit in Johannesburg because he refused to Congress.

Globe and Mail in Canada and the Washington share a platform with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He told the BBC that the party which led the fight to end white minority rule should "go Archbishop Tutu said Mr Blair and former US back to its roots" and needed some "soulPresident George W Bush should be tried at searching". the International Criminal Court in The Hague for lying about Iraq's weapons of mass destruc- He also said he was "less enthusiastic" about tion in order to justify invading the country. investing in South Africa than he was five or 10 years ago - but said he was still sure the Mr Blair issued a strongly worded defence of country had a great future. his decisions, rejecting the archbishop's allegations as "completely wrong as every single independent analysis of the evidence has shown".

Source: BBC ANC 'soul-searching'

Afrikan

Our Position In Christ A CHOSEN GENERATION Post

generation. He becomes God special child, a peculiar person, God’s treasured inheritance, the apple of His eye Zechariah 2:8. His name is written in the palm of His hands Isaiah 49:16. God uses such persons, family or nation for unique assignments with privileged blessings. 1 Peter 2:9 says God chooses us to declare His praises.

God reveals Himself to His chosen generation for them to know Him (Jeremiah 31:31-34) with the essence that they may do exploits Daniel 11: 32.

Chosen generations are God’s battle axe and spiritual weapons of mass destruction Jeremiah 51:20-23

Pastor George Annan

In other to fulfill His redemptive purpose God chooses certain individuals, family or even a nation to fulfill His purpose through.

Who ever God chose has certain blessings of privilege from Him. It is not that the chosen are better preferred than the others but just that God through them establish principles and lessons that would be example for all generations.

In 1 Peter 2:9 any person delivered from the power of darkness into God’s marvelous light or saved from sin into righteousness is a chosen Two Greatest Commandments 1. Love God with your heart, soul and mind.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Four Last Things 1. second coming 2. judgment 3. heaven 4. hell

Seven Deadly Sins 1. pride 2. greed 3. lust 4. envy 5. gluttony 6. anger 7. sloth

Religion fast facts

About 50 Bibles are sold every minute. It is the world’s best-selling book. Some 1 billion copies of Bibles have been sold.

Christianity is the world’s most widespread religion (2.1 billion Christians – see list of largest religions).

There are about 34,000 Christian denominations in the world.

The Bible was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek.

The Slavonic Orthodox Church has twice as many adherents as the Baptist Church.

The 12 disciples were not were not allowed to carry

Illustration ¬ In Nehemiah 9:7-15 we read that God chose Abraham and for the privilege of being chosen made a covenant with him.

In (Genesis 18:17-19) God revealed His mind and intentions to Abraham regarding the future of Sodom and Gomorrah.

¬ In Genesis 14:14-16 Abraham fought together with his trained servants and won the battle. ¬ In Acts 2 God used a chosen generation to give birth to the church and advance His kingdom whiles in Acts 4:23-31 this chosen generation used their privileged position and prayed for boldness to do exploits for the kingdom of God.

Religion Facts

food, money, or extra clothing.

John was the only apostle who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus.

There are more than 10,000 distinct religious groups in the world.

Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible, and lions 55 times, but domestic cats are not mentioned at all.

The Bible is the world’s most shoplifted book.

The oldest almost-complete manuscript of the Bible still existing is the Codex Vaticanus, dating from the first half of the 4th century, now held in the Vatican library.

The word “Christian” appears only three times in the Bible: Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16.

There are 66 books in the Bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

The 66 books of the Bible is divided into 1,189 chapters consisting of 31,102 verses. The Old Testament has 929 chapters, the New Testament 260 (King James version).

The King James Old Testament consist of 592,439 words consisting of 2,728,100 letters and the New Testament 181,253 words consisting of 838,380 letter (total 3,566,480 letters).

The longest line in the Bible is Esther 8:9 – 89 words, 425 letters.

The longest word in the Bible is Maher-shalal-hash-

Religion

Faith Tabernacle Puts Nigeria In Guinness Book Of World Records

October 2012 Page 26

Faith Tabernacle is the headquarter church of Winners' Chapel. It is in Canaanland, Ota, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle has a capacity of 50,400 worshippers and it is reputed to be the world biggest church in terms of capacity. The Church building was constructed in under a year in 1998 and hosts the annual Shiloh religious festival which comes up every December in the same Canaanland. The Pastor in charge of Winners' Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, said that building the 50,000 capacity, biggest church in the world is from a revelation God gave to him many years before it was constructed.

Source: wikipedia.org

baz: Isaiah 8:1.

The shortest verse in the NIV Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.”

The longest book chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, the shortest is Psalm 117.

There are 594 chapters before Psalm 117 and 594 chapters after it (King James Version), making it the center chapter in the Bible.

Psalm 113:1-2 are the center verses of the Bible (King James Version) – two verses because there are an equal number of total verses: 31,102.

Obadiah, with 21 verses consisting of 602 words, is the shortest book in the Old Testament, and the third shortest in the Bible.

II John has the fewest number of verses (13) of any book in the Bible – it is the shortest book (by verse) in the Bible, consisting of 298 words.

III John has the fewest number of words of any book in the Bible; 294 words in 14 verses.

Job is the oldest book written in the Bible – it was written by an unknown Israelite around 1500 BC. Malachi, written about 400 BC, is the youngest book in the Old Testament.

James, written around 45 AD, is the oldest book in the New Testament.

Revelation, written about 95 AD, is the youngest book in the New Testament.

The chapter in the exact middle of the Bible is Psalm 117; there are 594 chapters before Psalm 117 and 594 chapters after Psalm 117.

St Paul wrote 14 (of the 27) books of the New Testament.

The covering for the tabernacle was made out of ram skins and sea cow hides: Exodus 36:19.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say there were three wise men – Matthew 2:1 only says: “Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” and later they present three gifts.

The word “Lord” appears 1855 times in the Bible.

The word “God” appears in every book except Esther and Song of Solomon.

The word “grandmother” appears in the Bible only once: 2 Timothy 1:5.

The word “eternity” is mentioned only once: Isaiah 57:15.

Seven suicides are recorded in the Bible.

In Old Testament times the Mediterranean Sea was called the Great Sea.

There are 7 different Jeremiahs in the Bible: 1 Chronicles 5:24; 12:4, 10, 13; 2 Kings 23:30; Jeremiah 1:1; 35:3.

Source: http://didyouknow.org

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Sunday 8:AM-10:55 - Twi Service Worship Service 11:00am - 1:30pm

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Wednesday: 12:00 noon - Intercessory Prayer meeting Thursday: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Prayer Meeting

Last Friday of each month - All Night Prayer Meeting

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6415 Little Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 www.clgnova.org

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World Bank Grants Sierra Leone $5.6M for Reproductive and Child Health Projects

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October 2012

Healthcare, and this trend is continuing.

“Immunization coverage for children increased from 67% in 2006 to 82% in 2011 and a threefold increase in the percentage of children sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets.”

The President said Ante-natal care attendance increased three-fold as a result of the Free Health Care Initiative; and there is more than 50% reduction in the number of women dying from pregnancy related conditions at public hospitals. “Between April 2010 and March 2011, the Free Health Care Initiative led to nearly 2 million additional under five consultations, over 39,000 more women delivered their babies in a health facility and 12,000 maternity complications were managed in health facilities with a 60% drop in the fatality rate in these cases.”

By: Pasco Gerald Temple - IA USA on September 30, 2012.

Officials of the Washington DC based World Bank headquarters have demonstrated their satisfaction with the fiscal policy and governance regarding the President Ernest Bai Koroma led government, by supporting the Country’s Reproductive and Child Health Projects with additional funding, in the sum of $5,690,614.

(Photo: l-r Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh, Jan Walliser Acting VP Africa region, and country director Sergiy Kulyk)

The official signing ceremony in respect of the loan which took place during the evening hours of Thursday September 27 2012 at 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC USA, saw Jan Walliser Acting vice President Africa region signing on behalf of World Bank and Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh signing on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone.

Speaking before the signing ceremony, World Bank’s acting Vice President Africa region Jan Wallisser said “we are pleased to inform you that the World Bank hereby agrees to your government’s request, to provide your Country (Sierra Leone) an additional financing in the sum of five Million Six Hundred and Ninety Thousand Six Hundred and Fourteen United States Dollars ($5,690,614) to assist in the financing of the Country’s Reproductive and Child Health projects.”

He said the loan became a reality as a result of the fulfillment of the World Bank’s criteria by the Sierra Leone Government.

Responding, Deputy Chief of Mission Sierra Leone Embassy, Washington DC Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh thanked the World Bank for its support and gave an assurance for the money’s judicious use.

Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh said the continuous support to government projects by the World Bank clearly indicates, that the fiscal policy of the government is on the right track, and monies received by the government have been put to its rightful use.

On 28 April 2010, President Ernest Bai Koroma introduced a groundbreaking free healthcare program (free healthcare for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of five). A program the British government described “a Sierra Leonean initiative” that has helped reduce maternal and child deaths considerably.

During his speech at the closing of Parliament on Tuesday September 25th 2012, President Ernest Bai Koroma recalled assuming governance in 2007, and said his Government was faced with high infant, child, and maternal mortality rates.

He said Health facilities were poorly distributed, and there was a critical shortage of all categories of health workers and professionals. “Key health training institutions provided low turnout of graduates to meet demands and much of the existing health workforce required professional development.

“My Government listed Health amongst its first priorities in the Agenda for Changedeveloped a 5-year National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP-2010-2015), the Free Health Care Policy; and several other policies. According to President Ernest Bai Koroma, Government’s implementation of the “Free Health Care” has resulted in a 250% increase in the number of underfives outpatient consultations compared to the period before the launch of the Free

He said Government has commenced free treatment of malaria for all age groups in all public health facilities (PHUs and Hospitals) when confirmed by the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test. “Malaria control noted significant progress especially in the areas of prevention using Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets. “In 2010, about 3.2 million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets were distributed to all households nationwide.” Said President Ernest Bai Koroma.

He said there has been an increase in the total workforce in the public health sector from 7,164 in 2009 to 8,125 in 2010, which has also been increased further to 8,446 in 2011.

2006. “We built maternity wards in Kabala, Kono, Bo and Kenema government hospitals respectively to facilitate supervised facility delivery by skilled personnel. “We established Five Basic Emergency Obstetric Care (BEMOC) centers each in all the 13 districts. “We constructed a regional referral hospital in Bombali and district hospitals in Moyamba, Kabala and Kono were rehabilitated. “Eleven district hospitals are at various stages of rehabilitation.

“We constructed the central medical store and 13 district medical stores were constructed to enhance optimal storage of medicines and medical products both at national and district levels. Assorted medical equipment including x-rays, oxygen concentrators, laboratory and other diagnostic equipment were procured and distributed to hospitals and Primary Health Units to support quality health services delivery. All district hospitals were provided with ambulances and utility vehicles. Blood Banks were established in all district hospitals to provide safe blood for transfusion. A school for training mid-wives was established in Makeni and we established a telemedicine center at Connaught Hospital.

Through the Strengthening of District Health Service Project, five new maternity wards, 21 PHUs, and staff accommodation were built or rehabilitated in Tonkolili, Bo, Bonthe, Port Loko and Kenema districts. In addition, the primary health care complex in Bo and the old maternity wards in Bo and Tonkolili were rehabilitated. All these health facilities are well furnished and fully equipped to help improve maternal and child health services. The construction of a Lassa fever prevention, control and treatment complex in Kenema started in July, 2012 and will be well furnished and fully equipped.

To address the inequitable distribution of Source:www.sierraexpresmedia.com health workers in the country, the government provides incentive allowances to health workers in remote communities.

“We have also ensured the mobile recruitment of health staff to ensure staff retention especially in the rural areas.” Said President Koroma. Adding, “Since September 2007 to date, the Pharmaceutical Directorate (Drugs and Medical Supplies) has undergone tremendous positive changes ranging from procurement and distribution of supplies from $9m in 2008 to $12m in 2009, $16m in 2010 and $19m in 2011. “This is increasing the availability, accessibility and affordability of safe and effective drugs by over 100% within five years. “With our introduction of Free Health Care, over 80% of the most essential drugs are now available at all times in public health facilities, resulting in the increase of over 60% hospital and PHU attendance by pregnant and lactating women and children less than five years of age.

“As a government of infrastructure we ensured that a total of 1190 health facilities are now functional compared to 843 in

Page 28

October 2012

Making A Difference, Divine Word Ministry Feeds the Homeless

Bishop Adonteng leading the team to off load boxes of food items from a truck

The Bishop and his team praying over the boxes before heading for the shelter

The Divine ladies cleaning up the pantry and making room

Cleaning up the surroundings of the shelter

Assorted items being presented to the Homeless shelter

The Bishop and some members of the ministry pose with the Shelter Management

Setting a table to serve food to the homeless

A member of the Divine team ministering and encouraging a resident of the shelter

Page

The Divine Team Making The Presentation

The Divine ladies getting ready to serve the residents

The Bishop leading the congregation to pray over the items

Bishop Adonteng presenting the items to the Shelter management

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Afrikan Post

October 2 0 1 2 Page 30

Octoberr 2 0 1 2

President Mahama of Ghana Receives Letter Of Uganda Celebrates Credence From New Us Ambassador, Gene A. Cretz 50 Years Of Independence From The Uk Cretz joined the State Department in March 1981, serving his first overseas posting as general services officer and consular officer at the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 1982 to 1984. Back in Washington, he spent one year in the Operations Center and one year as staff assistant in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. He then had three consecutive foreign postings: as a political officer at the embassy in Damascus, Syria, from 1986 to 1988; as a political officer at the embassy in New Delhi, India, from 1988 to 1991; and at the embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, from 1991 to 1994.

His second Washington assignment was in the Bureau of International Organizations as the officer responsible for Middle East Affairs at the United Nations. From 1998-2001, he served in Beijing, China, and from 2001 to 2003, he served at the embassy in Cairo, Egypt, as minister-counselor for Economic and Political Affairs. He then took two deputy chief of mission postings in a row, serving as Number 2, and briefly as chargé d’affaires, at Embassy Damascus from August 2003 to January 2004, and at the embassy in Tel Aviv from August 2004 to August 2007. He returned to Washington to serve as the Near East Affairs Bureau’s deputy assistant secretary for Egyptian, Israeli-Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian Affairs. In August 2008, he also assumed responsibility for Maghreb and Arabian Peninsula Affairs.

The West African nation of Ghana has a new ambassador from the United States who has no experience in the region, but plenty with countries that, like Ghana, have large oil reserves. President Barack Obama on April 11, 2012, nominated career Senior Foreign Service Officer Gene A. Cretz to the ambassadorship, subject to Senate confirmation.

Born circa 1950 in Albany, New York, Cretz graduated Albany High School in 1968. He earned a B.A. in English Literature at the University of Rochester in 1972 and an M.S. in Linguistics and Secondary Education at the State University College at Buffalo in 1975. Cretz served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kabul, Afghanistan, from 1975 to 1977, and returned to Albany High School to teach English from 1977 to 1979, when he started graduate school at Stony Brook University.

Cretz’s first ambassadorship was an important first for U.S. foreign relations, for he was sworn in as the first U.S. ambassador to Libya in 35 years on December 17, 2008. His tenure in Tripoli ended in controversy, as he was the first U.S. “casualty” of the Wikileaks release of American diplomatic cables.

In Cretz’s case, Wikileaks exposed cables he had written that speculated on long-time Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s health and described some of his embarrassing personal proclivities, such as his reliance on a “voluptuous blonde” Ukrainian nurse. Cretz left Tripoli in January 2011, although the honesty and prescience of his cables received public praise, and he officially remained ambassador, eventually returning to Libya after Gadhafi’s fall.

Cretz speaks Dari, Urdu, Arabic and Chinese. He is married to the former Annette Williams, a registered nurse from Union City, New Jersey. The couple has two children, Jeffrey and Gabrielle.

Source: www.allgov.com

Page 31

African leaders joined thousands of Ugandans Tuesday, October 9th on an airstrip in the capital of Kampala where 50 years ago Uganda announced independence from British rule.

The East African country has come a long way from the days when brutal dictators were in charge, but it has not had a single peaceful transfer of power since 1962 and the potential for instability remains as opposition activists intensify their campaigns and authorities clamp down.

President Yoweri Museveni took power by in 1986 and has ruled since. He has not said if he intends to run in the 2016 vote, but some in the ruling party are starting to demand his retirement, saying his long stay in power hurts the party's popularity. For opposition activists, the fact that Museveni has held power for more than half the time Uganda has been independent is reason enough to use the anniversary to demand his unconditional exit.

The national celebrations were attended by at least 15 heads of state, including two of the longest-serving leaders in Africa: Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Yahya Jammeh of Gambia. Britain's Queen Elizabeth was represented by Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who in 1962 handed over the symbolic instruments of power to a young Ugandan politician who would be overthrown eight years later by the army chief, Amin.

Uganda's population has since grown from 7 million to 34 million. The World Bank says Uganda has sustained a record of "prudent macroeconomic management and structural reform." In 1996, at least 44 per cent of Uganda's population lived below the poverty line. By 2009, according to the World Bank, the figure had fallen to 24.5 per cent.

Angelo Izama, a political analyst with a Kampala-based think-tank called Fanaka Kwawote, said that while Uganda has made progress on issues such as women's rights, poverty reduction and the rule of law, the country remains in a perpetual state of political crisis.

In 2006 Uganda discovered commercially viable oil deposits in the Albertine Rift, along the border with Congo, raising expectations in a country that exports mostly cash crops such as coffee and tea. Officials now estimate Uganda's crude oil deposits at 3.5 billion barrels, the basis for Museveni's claim last month that the country will achieve middle-income status in about 50 years.

But some suspect the discovery of oil may have given Museveni a new incentive to hang on to power as well as a source of money to build and maintain that patronage networks that have enabled him to rule so long.

Afrikan

Post

Villa Royale calls Africans in the diaspora to Ghana

October 2012

Sperm Selling Business Booming In Ghana

Sperm has become one of the hottest commodities being sold in Ghana and many parts of the world.

The target market for this new booming venture are couples suffering from male infertility, lesbian couples, and single women who pay huge amounts of money to access it.

“Selling of sperm is gradually becoming the new business frontier booming in Ghana because it has many uses in today’s society: making babies, sperm banks, and putting volume in limp hair in order to make it long,” a medical student at the University of Ghana Medical School, who sold sperm five times to a Fertility Centre in Accra for GH¢10, 000, told Economic Tribune (ET).

By Oral Ofori During the last quarter of August 2012, Nana Prempeh was joined by Pastor Kingsley Appiagyei friends and business acquaintances to officially open the Villa Royale located inside the exclusive area of Spintex Road along the coast of Ghana's capital city of Accra. The facility which is designed to be used for the purposes of both business and pleasure is a self catering guest house which aims to give its guests the best in international standard and service in an enabling environment that allows them to pursue their respective businesses with no disturbance or to simply kick back and enjoy the moment of pleasure in a leisurely way.

Nana Prempeh, owner of the property is a UK based Ghanaian business man who says the guest house has been designed to ensure no interruption to a guest's intentions for renting the facility. This is because adequate room has been made to allay any such interruption with the provision of facilities to make the usage of the property--be it for business or pleasure--a smooth and enjoyable experience. Ghanaians and nonGhanaians alike have been invited to experience this for themselves.

The three bedroom facility gives its clients a homeaway-from-home self catering atmosphere with amenities like en-suite bedrooms, a modern fitted kitchen complete with modern gadgets, 24 hour wifi Internet, a spacious living room equipped with an extra large screen TV and surround sound for a theatre experience and relaxation. To create a more personalized experience in a cordial atmosphere, Villa Royale provides an added 24 hour security service, on call medical doctors and exotic chefs to prepare continental and local Ghanaian cuisines for its occupants.

You can get a view of the insides of the Villa Royale and its amenities here https://plus.google.com/photos/118238732236341202086/albums/5791760699905 241297 The facility can come in useful for people who like to entertain frequently or be used as a vaca-

tion rental especially for persons visiting from outside Ghana's capital city or outside the country itself. It is also located minutes from Ghana's business, commercial and political enclave which is very advantageous to people with any such interests.

It costs 160 US dollars to rent and enjoy the entire property for a night and Mr. Prempeh says he sees a lot of good business for the multi-functioning facility which could be rented by high spenders and everyday people who are just looking to escape from their usual routine.

He asked Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians living in and out of the country to take advantage of the reasonably priced but high quality service provided by Villa Royale because it meets international standards.

In the future, the property will also provide site seeing tours for its customers to places of interests in and around the capital city of Ghana and beyond in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board. If a customer is more business oriented, provisions will be made in the future for them to have a chauffeured vehicle to take them on their business errands to enhance networking opportunities whereas plans are afoot to ensure that Villa Royale is capable of hosting VVIP's.

'We want to make both our existing and potential customers enjoy a world-class treatment in a situation that they can relate to by paying attention to their needs with the desire to create an environment they find familiar.... this will be achieved irrespective of wherever a guest may be coming from' Nana says. To have a first hand feel of the true definition of the Ghanaian hospitality, make it a point to book your stay with the Villa Royale when in Accra because 'we believe this is our own small way of contributing to the growth of the economy and sharing the much talked about Ghanaian hospitality' Nana comments.

Oral Ofori, +1202-706-9881, oralofori@gmail.com, Freelance Writer (www.oralofori.blogspot.com), Wikimedia Ghana Enthusiast, Broadcaster, Retail Specialist, Music Promoter, Artiste. http://about.me/oralofori/

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The medical student, who gave his name only as Mensah, said even though selling of sperm was a risky business, it was also rewarding as well.

“I use the proceeds from this business to pay my fees and also support my close pals. Who knows how long I will continue? But whatever happens, I know I can look back on many happy families that I have helped to create,” he stated.

Mrs Naomi Suame, a shop owner at East Legon and many parts of Accra, has been married for 15 years and has two children, none of whom biologically belongs to her husband.

“I discovered my husband was infertile when we got married after two years. But I wanted to experience motherhood. I decided to have artificial insemination. I have never cheated on him. I just got sperm from a willing seller and got two healthy babies. Is that not wonderful?” she asked. In the case of Naomi, she got a young man from the University of Cape Coast, paid him GH¢12,000 and took his sperm, which she used twice to get the babies.

“Sperm is one of the scared commodities for many of us. There is a high demand for it and many young men are going into this venture selling their sperm to help others, who needs it for one reason or the other,” Naomi explained.

Investigations conducted by ET revealed that due to the huge capital outlay of the process, women have now devised a way of beating the system by getting donors (sperm sellers) whom they take to the Fertility Centres for harvesting at a cheaper cost and then having the sperm induced in their uteruses.

OUTSIDE GHANA

Sperm selling is booming in many parts of the world as well. Recently, a San Francisco man has been named by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling his sperm over the internet after helping 14 women become pregnant. The 36-year-old

man claims he's simply providing a free service to women who want to become mothers without going through typical sperm donation process but authorities say he's a public health hazard.

According to media report, Mr Trent Arsenault generously donates his sperm to women he meets on his website, which features multiple pictures of the slender man acting genetically valuable.

The FDA claims that Arsenault is running a business that's in violation of regulations that require sperm banks to have their donors tested for STIs within seven days of donating sperm. Some fertility experts warn that a man who anonymously fathers 14 or more children could be putting those kids at risk for genetic defects as well as one day meeting and having super gross accidental sibling sex with each other.

In a related development, two men from Reading in UK have been sentenced to nine months imprisonment for illegally selling sperm over the internet. Ricky Gage, 49, and Nigel Woodforth, 43, pocketed £250,000 between October 2007 and November 2008 through their unlicensed website, known as Fertility 1st.

Southwark Crown Court jurors said the culprits were able to charge clients £380 for each sample from anonymous donors. The pair, who ran their website from the basement of Woodforth’s Reading home, promised to ‘fulfill the dreams’ of childless couples, charging them an initial £380 to provide contact details from a list of men on their database.

These included descriptions of their ‘height, eye colour, ethnic origin, hobbies and education.’

After selecting a would-be father, the woman would then pay £150 for sperm to be collected and delivered by an independent courier firm.

From this payment, the anonymous donor would receive £50. Hundreds

of women seeking to conceive used the service in a year-long period between late 2007 and 2008, with police finding a list of 792 sperm deliveries.

Source: Felix Dela Klutse/Economic Tribune/Ghana

Afrikan

2012 Elections in Africa

Post

Desejado Lima Dacosta. However, after a military coup, the leading candidates were arrested and the election was cancelled. The junta's Algerian legislative election, 2012 spokesman then announced plans to hold an A legislative election was held in Algeria on 10 election in two years, despite the condemnaMay 2012.The incumbent coalition, consisting of tion. the FLN of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the RND of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, held Lesotho general election, 2012 on to power after winning a majority of seats.

General elections were held in Lesotho on 26 May 2012. The incumbent Prime Minister Angolan legislative election, 2012 Pakalitha Mosisili's newly formed Democratic Legislative elections were held in Angola on 31 August 2012. During campaigning, the opposition Congress won a majority of single-member seats. He also won his seat by the secondUNITA and its offshoot CASA-CE accused and criticised the government of corruption and called largest margin of victory for greater transparency; this also led to protests Libyan General National Congress election, and arrests the day before the election.

2012 Elections for a General National Congress Burkinabé parliamentary election, 2012 (GNC) were held in Libya on 7 July 2012, havParliamentary elections will be held in Burkina ing been postponed from 19 June. Once elected, Faso on 2 December 2012, together with the the General National Congress will appoint a municipal elections.

Prime Minister and Cabinet Cape Verdean local election, 2012 Malian presidential election, 2012 Overall, of the 22 municipalities, the Movement A presidential election was to be held in Mali for Democracy (MpD) won in 14 and the African on April 29, 2012, but following the 2012 Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) won in 8. The MpD won two more than Malian coup d'etat, the election schedule in the last elections and the PAICV lost two.The remains uncertain MpD won 47% of the votes and the PAICV won Congo 40,3% of the votes.The abstention was 34%, up Parliamentary elections were held in the from 19,4% in the last local elections Republic of the Congo on 15 July 2012.[1] A second round was held on 5 August 2012 Egyptian presidential election, 2012 Senegalese parliamentary election, 2012 A presidential election was held in Egypt on 23 and 24 May 2012. The main election was held on Senegalese presidential election, 2012 A presidential election took place in Senegal on 16 and 17 June. The Muslim Brotherhood 26 February 2012, amidst controversy over the declared early 18 June 2012, that its candidate, constitutional validity of a third term for incumMohammed Morsi, won Egypt's presidential elecbent president Abdoulaye Wade. In the runoff tion, which would be the first victory of an on 25 March, Macky Sall defeated the incumIslamist as head of state in the Arab world.[1] It was the second presidential election in Egypt's bent. history with more than one candidate, following Sierra Leonean general election, 2012 the 2005 election, and the first presidential elecPresidential and parliamentary elections will be tion after the 2011 Egyptian revolution during the held in Sierra Leone on November 17, 2012. In Arab Spring April 2009, Ernest Bai Koroma was chosen by Egyptian Shura Council election, 2012 the ruling All People's Congress party as their Shura Council elections were held in Egypt candidate for the 2012 campaign for between 29 January and 22 February 2012.[1] President.The Sierra Leone People's Party is The Freedom and Justice Party emerged as the fielding the former general Julius Maada Bio to largest party in the Council, winning 105 of the be its presidential candidate.

180 elected seats.

This list may not reflect recent changes .

Gambian parliamentary election, 2012 A parliamentary election was held in the Gambia on 29 March 2012. The election was for 48 of 53 seats in the unicameral National Assembly, with five seats being appointed by the president.

Ghanaian Presidential and parliamentary election, 2012 will be held in Ghana on 7 December, 2012, with prospective run-off on 28 December 2012. . Incumbent President John Atta Mills died on 24 July, and was replaced by his VicePresident John Dramani Mahama.

Guinea-Bissau legislative election, 2012 The first round of an early presidential election was held in Guinea-Bissau on 18 March 2012 following the death of President Malam Bacai Sanhá on 9 January. A run-off was set to be held on 29 April after being postponed by a week as announced by electoral commission chief

Somali presidential election, 2012 Indirect presidential elections were held in Somalia on 10 September 2012. The newlyappointed Federal Parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the first President of Somalia since the dissolution of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

Togolese parliamentary election, 2012 Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Togo at an as yet unknown date in October 2012.

Sierra Leone Deputy Foreign Minister Pays Visit To U.S. State Department October 2012

By: Pasco Gerald Temple - IA USA

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Hon. Mrs. Ebun Jusu has said Energy, Infrastructure & Reforms are the key priority areas of the President Ernest Bai Koroma led government. The Hon Minister made this statement on Wednesday October 4,2012, when she paid a one day official visit to the U.S Department of States,Washington DC.

Speaking with representatives from a selected group of African Countries (Sierra Leone, Benin, Gabon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Botswana & Mauritius) at a one day investment dialogue, that was organized by the United States of America, at the Department of State C – Street Washington DC, the Hon. Minister expressed delight at the fact that Sierra Leone was among the chosen few, invited by the United States government to discuss business at the highest diplomatic level and described the action of the United States government “a mark of confidence”.

The Hon. Minister told the gathering – consisting Hon. Jose Fernandez United States Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, Stephen Hayes President Corporate Council on Africa, Liban Soleman Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Gabon and other very important and high profile personalities, that Sierra Leone is not only a business friendly Country, but is also characterized by Internationally approved “business Best Practices” that has seen an increase in the attraction of private sector investment in infrastructure.

During the four sessions, the Hon. Deputy Foreign and International Cooperation Minister said government’s business policy encourages and supports private investment into Sierra Leone.

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33

In addition, “we have land digitalization project, a new Company’s Act – wherein an Investor is strengthened and a director liability improved.

We also have streamline construction permits, whereby the organization of the building approval process has been improved and phased inspections reinstated thereby cutting procedures for obtaining a construction permit.

Also in place is a fast track commercial courts in an effort to expedite commercial cases, including insolvency proceedings; a credit reference bureau to improve its credit information system, a new law that provides for the creation of a public credit registry that makes it easier for companies to get credit, attractive fiscal incentives including numerous tax and non – tax incentives; and special economic zone that was created and offering infrastructure and is financed by a United States based company, first step international.

Earlier, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Hon Jose Fernandez welcomed Ministers and delegates including the new Head of Chancery of the Sierra Leone Embassy to the Washington D C. Mrs. Aisha Sillah from the selected African Countries.

According to Stephen Hayes President Corporate Council on Africa, the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United States and the nations of Africa. He said CCA is the premier Hon. Ebun Jusu gave a synopsis of available American organization devoted to U.S.investment opportunities in Sierra Leone including Africa business relations and includes as Energy, Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Infrastructure members more than 180 companies, which and said “our government is continually updating represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. prithe policy environment for doing business. “It has vate sector investments in Africa. CCA’s improved twenty five (25) places in four years in members range from America’s smallest to the World Bank doing Business index; and Sierra largest corporations. They represent a Leone is also ranked 72nd in ease of starting a diverse pool of industries from more than 20 business. key sectors, including agribusiness, energy, infrastructure, security, power, healthcare, She said Sierra Leone has a new Bankruptcy Act telecommunications and finance. in place and has made trade across borders easier with the Automated System for Customs Data Source:www.Sierraexpressmedia.com (ASYCUDA).

Stella Damasus set to inspire young girls on how to resist men on new talk show

Afrikan

Post

Culture and Arts - Profiles

intense lover of God and is on a new path to mentor and help young girls unlock their potential and stay off men with a program called ADIVA.

Having worked with several organizations around the world in the fight against domestic violence, child enslavement, prostitution and campaign for female empowerment, Stella Damasus has seen the need to re-orientate and mentor young women. Having gone through personal struggles herself and still attained the height of international stardom, her mission is to make sure the average young woman can attain her full potential.

Stella Damasus is a household name in the African entertainment industry but beyond that, she is an accomplished teacher, singer, philanthropist, woman rights activist, mother and an

With the new REALTALK program of ADIVA, she intends to teach young ladies the need to run from every temptation of running after men and money, the dangers of pre-marital sex and how to value their bodies as the temple of God. These are issues that some parents are too afraid to discuss with their daughters. The initial phase is a pilot program she hopefully plans to role out in different cities across the Africa, UK, and America.

Source :onlinenigeria.com

Uche Jombo And Kenny Rodriguez’s Stunning Puerto Rico Destination Wedding Photo

October 2012

NAFCA AWARDS 2012

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GENERAL AWARD CATEGORIES

Best Actress in leading role Uche Jombo Damaged Best Film Damaged Uche Jombo

Best Comedy Joni Waka Van J. Vicker

Best Drama Unwanted Guest Chijioke Ajoku,Chuck Ajoku & Daniel Ademinokan Best Docu-Drama As I Die Slowly Marcus D. Henry

Best Screenplay Single Six Pascal Amanfo

Best Visual Effects Timeless Passion

Best Cinematography Immoral Affair Robert Peters

Best Actor in leading role Justus Esiri The Professor

Best Actor in Supporting role Majid Michel

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS

Best Actress Binta Goudiaby Arik Air/NAFCA Peoples Choice Awards Best Director Amayo Uzo Philip Arik Air/NAFCA Peoples Choice Awards Best Scriptwriter Tchidi Chikere Arik Air/NAFCA Peoples Choice Awards

Bed of Roses

Best Actress in Supporting role Yvonne Okoro Adams Apples Best Director in a Film Lancelot O. Imasuen Adesuwa Best Makeup A Drop of Blood

Best Costume Unges War Okoro Fidelis

Best Indigenous Film Unges War GuGu E. Michael, Bernard Kawaja & Mark Steinberg Best Screenplay Diaspora Film Anchor Baby Lonzo Nzekwe Best Child Actor in a Film Santiago Lopera Anchor Baby Best Sound The Professor

Best Short Film/Trailer The Black List Alvin Nyemah

DIASPORA CATEGORIES Best film in Diaspora Bianca John Uche, Chika Onyima, Uche Agu & Jude Ezeala

Best Drama in Diaspora Treacherous Heart Kathryn Fasegha

Best Actor in leading role Diaspora Film Chet Anekwe Unwanted Guest Best Actress in Supporting role Diaspora Film Marie Solo Peters Immoral Affair Best Director in Diaspora Film Desmond Elliot The Entrapped

Afrikan

Refurbished Computers For Sale

Post

October 2012

Page

35

LAPTOPS

$350 Toshiba Tablet Laptop Refurbished

$280 Dell Latitude Refurbished

$500 Dell Inspiron w/webcam 250 - 320GB, 2-4GB RAM, Windows 7

$450 New Lenovo w/webcam 250GB, 4GB RAM, Fingerprint, Windows 7

$250 HP w/finger print Laptop Refurbished

$199 Dell E Series Refurbished

$599 New HP Eite i5 w/webcam 320 - 500GB, 4GB RAM, Fingerprint, Win 7

Isuzu Rodeo Truck For Sale

Excellent Body Condition New Tires Engine Overhauled One Owner 114 Miles Manual Transmision 3.2 Litre Engine Call 703 725-6968

Tonto Dikeh Reveals How Tb Joshua’s Prayers Ended Her 14 Year Smoking Addiction

Afrikan Post

Story by Ihechukwu Njoku/Nigeriafilms.com

Popular Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has sensationally revealed that the sudden end to her smoking addiction came through the prayers of Pastor T.B. Joshua via his Christian station Emmanuel TV.

“I didn’t quit smoking by myself,” she explained to Biodun Kupoluyi.

“I was watching a program on TV with Prophet T.B. Joshua and he was laying hands on people and praying for them. I love to watch his programs on Emmanuel TV. When he was praying, he said, ‘Lay your hands on the TV’ and I just laid my hands that day. I actually needed something else from God, not to quit smoking because I loved smoking!

However, after praying I sat back and I think I slept off.”

After a short nap, Tonto awoke and attempted to smoke as usual.

However, according to her, something inexplicably supernatural had happened. “When I woke up, I took Dikeh, who rose to fame after becoming a stick of cigarette and I felt crazy. I the runner up in the Nigerian reality show, ‘The Next Movie Star’ in 2006, had couldn’t even imagine that I took it up to smoke in the first place. It felt garnered a controversial reputation in like poison!” An addiction of 14 Nollywood for being a heavy smoker. years was ended through a simple According to Dikeh, she started chainprayer on television. Three months smoking at the age of 13 and there down the line, Dikeh has remained seemed no signs of the habit waning. clean from smoking.

When questioned about her smoking in an interview with Nigeria’s Nation Judging by online reaction to Tonto’s Newspaper early last year, the Rivers revelation, it appears her experience State born star said, “If I want to smoke, I is not an isolated one. Many viewers handle a stick of cigarette and I smoke it of Joshua’s Emmanuel TV testified hard. It is my life I can decide to smoke to similar experiences, including myself to hell. It’s nobody’s business.”

Lovemore Chibvongodze from United Kingdom who told the offiThe habit recently led to a serious clash cial T.B. Joshua Ministries Facebook between her and Ghanaian actor Van Page, followed by close to 300,000 Vicker when he bitterly complained at her people, how his 34 year addiction to smoking on set, culminating in a heavy smoking and drinking alcohol ended exchange of words. When probed in September 2011 about the health implica- through prayers on Emmanuel TV.

tions of her habit, the care-free actress retorted, “My smoking habit doesn’t affect your life in anyway. If I die tomorrow, you’re not going to bury me. My father has the money to bury me. So, why are they talking about it?”

However, there was a sudden twist in the tale in May 2012 when, seemingly out of the blue, Tonto tweeted to her over 80,000 followers on Twitter, ‘I’ve good news for those who wish me well. Its silly good news but ya’ll going to love this. I quit smoking!’ Although the announcement was met with almost unanimous approval from her fans, speculation was rife as to what caused her sudden decision, many doubting whether it would actually last. But in an online article published this week, the sultry actress shed light on the spiritual element to her quitting in an interview with Nigerian entertainment magazine, ‘E24-7’.

Joshua, who was recently adjudged

by Paris-based magazine, ‘The Africa Report’ to be among the 50 most influential Africans, is growing increasingly popular across Africa largely due to the increase in awareness of and intrigue in Emmanuel TV. Speaking on T.B. Joshua’s positive influence in her life, Tonto said, “I watch him every day, I write to him every time I can, I tweet on him. I think that he is a person that influences my life positively in a lot of ways just through the TV alone… I am following him because I think he is following Jesus. I just love him because he is a man of God and he has specially affected my life and my friends too.”

Soure:http://nigeriafilms.com

Geography of WOMAN: A Guide for Tourists October 2 0 1 2

TIME FLIES with LOVE, BEAUTY & OPPORTUNITY

Wow! The things I have said and learnt from these silly scripts working in radio.

Just found these edited words (not mine originally; I only rewrote and imbued them with a sprinkling of collective wisdom and wit) from old scripts saved under T for Tourism dating from the 90s.

Hmmmmmmm. Ns3m piiii!

I guess all of us, men as well as women, must invest in only loving and giving people; put valuable time and effort into worthy relationships in our youth or rely on the government to assign us unwilling helmets and boots for partners when life really begins.

How time flies when we are in good company. How time flies with love, beauty and opportunity!

Geography of WOMAN: A Guide for tourists

Between 16 and 20 a woman is like Africa, mostly undiscovered; part wild, part civilized.

Naturally beautiful and fertile but easily persuaded by all things flashy and foreign.

Needs a sharp focus on education, health and basic infrastucture, not embellishments and entertainment.

Parental guidance desperately required.

Page 36

and her exotic cuisine.

Continues to attract tourists and investors, albeit in smaller quantities due to publicized problems.

Self-awareness desperately required.

Between 36 and 40 a woman is like France, In possession of a well-developed taste for décor, cuisine and entertainment.

Graceful but aging.

Still a warm and desirable place to visit for vacations.

Reality check and humility required.

Between 41 and 50 she is like Yugoslavia; Bruised and battered in a lost war or two, haunted by past mistakes and past unworthy investors.

Radical internal and external reconstruction is necessary if she is to stay competitive in the new world markets.

New strategy and reinvention required.

Between 51 and 60, she is like Russia, very wide with open unpatrolled borders but the frigid climate and chapters of unpleasant history keeps people away.

Openness and kindness desperately required.

Between 60 and 65, a woman is like Mongolia, Between 21 and 30 a woman is like America, with culture, and a glorious all conquering past Well developed, hot and sexy. but alas, read about only in books.

Over-confident in looks and over-rated in abilities.

New associations desperately required Open to trade especially with investors in possession of ready cash After 65, a woman is like Afghanistan. and highly visible collateral.

Almost everyone knows where it is, but no one Over-reliant on the maxim: Turnover is vanity, Profit wants to go there is sanity, Cash is reality. unless visiting family or conscribed by government.

Attracts keen tourists of all kinds and many investors Paid or subdued partners may be acquired. looking for quick dividends.

Aversion to greed desperately required.

Thank goodness, they say, age is just a number. It has nothing to do with how old you are.

Between 31 and 35 she is like India, quite hot, yet relaxed in the conviction that any fading charm Source:http://kkdwisewords.blogspot.com is compensated by a career on the rise, beautiful belongings

Afrikan Post

Otober 2012

Page

37

African Post

Girl: Honey??

Boy: Yes, sweety??

The Smart Guy 5)Stingy.

Girl: Honey, I like this shoe a lot but I forgot my wallet at home, could you pliz give me £2000 to buy it?

6)Genious 7)Selfish

8)Stupid Boy: There is no Atm close here but take this £100, go home and bring your wallet. 9)Foolish?

Question:

Is the guy=

1)Economical.

Source: Carter Clerk

Trivia

Father & His Returnee Daughter From Abroad Conversation.

Girl Returned Home After 30 Years.

Father (Angry): Where The Hell Have You Been All This Years?.

Girl: I Was Working As A Prostitute In Italy.

Father: “What! Get Out Of My House You prostitute, I Don’t Want To See Your Face Again.

2)Sharp minded.

Girl (Crying): Before I Go Papa, I Came To Give You A $5 Million Cheque, And Here Is A $1million For My Brother. I Had Build A Big House For You In The Northern Surburbs With Everything In It Including A Ferarri And A Bugatti. Bye Bye Papa.

3)Wicked.

4)Reasonable.

Father (Smiling): “What Kind of Work You Said You Where Doing?.

Girl (Crying Out Loud): “A Prostitute Papa”

Father: “Come And Give your Father A Big Hug, I Thought You Said You Where A ”Prosecute‘

Source: ommg

Only in Africa Courtesy:www.peacefmonline.com

October 2012

You Are Now Baptized!

Page 38

A Pastor baptized Atongo and dipped him in water three times. On the third time, the pastor said: You are now baptized, You are a new creation, the old creation is gone.

No more drinking of alcohol. Your new name is Abraham". Atongo went back home and headed straight into the fridge.

He took a bottle of beer, dipped it in water three times and said; " YOU ARE A NEW CREATION, YOUR NEW NAME IS ORANGE JUICE ...

Source:www.peaceonline.com

P

Ex-Ghana U17 Star Barnes Eyes Hearts Coaching Job

ence to help move the club forward, this was where I started and I deem it right to come back and take the club to greater heights,” Barnes is quoted by goal.com

“Kumasi Asante Kotoko have done it with their former player Maxwell Konadu and it yielded dividends so I think with my huge experience as a player and coach in Germany, I can bring the glory days back.

Ex-Ghana Under-17 captain Sebastian Barnes is relishing the prospect of coaching Hearts of Oak in the future.

The 35-year-old has acquired his Uefa license B coaching certificate and has now set his eyes on coaching his former club when the opportunity presents itself.

“I would like to bring my experi-

He is currently the Under-17 coach of German side Bayern Leverkusen.

He captained Ghana to win the 1991 Fifa Under-17 World Cup which was played in Italy.

Source: ghanasoccernet

GLO-CAF Awards 2012 The Race To Crown African Player Of The Year Begins

By Editor

The Confederation of African Football announces the beginning of the process to select the continent's top footballer of 2012, with the publication of a list of 34 players nominated for the crown currently held by Ivorian Yaya Toure. In addition a list of 32 names has been drawn from which the African Player of the year (Based in Africa) will be selected.

The GLO-CAF Awards Gala 2012 will be held in Accra, Ghana at the Banquet Hall, State House on December 20th.

This year has seen three players make it on both lists. Zambia duo of Rainford Kalaba and Stoppila Sunzu from club side TP Mazembe join Tunisian, Youssef Msakni from club side Esperance on the African Footballer of the Year list which is largely dominated by African players playing club football outside the continent.

The selection was based on performances for club and country. CAF will announce the top ten nominees for the African Footballer of the Year and the top five African footballer of the Year (based in Africa) by late October after the voting by CAF relevant Standing Committees, namely the Media, Technical and Football committees.

The names of the respective ten and five finalists will be sent to National Association head coaches and secretary generals to select the top three.

The other categories for which winners will be announced on Awards Gala are as following: 1.

National Team of the Year

2.

Women's Footballer of the Year

4.

Club of the Year

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Women's National Team of the Year Most Promising Talent of the Year Coach of the Year

Referee of the Year Legend Award

Fair Play Award

10. Platinum Award

11. Africa Finest XI

October 2012

Afrikan Post

Page 39

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Correspondents Ohio

Cincinnati - Frank Adjei-Mensah Columbus- Big Ben Photos

Georgia - Frank Amponsah Maryland - Fred Nnoma -Addison California - Isaac Amo- Kyeremeh Florida - Samuel Kissiedu

Worcester- Patricia Sagoe New York - Kwaku Kyei/ Francis Boanoh New Jersey-Juliana Asante Kentucky-Edmund Kwakye Accra- Eric Bright-Abu

Kumasi- Gloria Bright Germany-Kwabena Kyeremeh UK-Regina Bright-Abu

Affiliates-Kumasimail Newspaper www.kumasimail.com

www.ghanaianpost.com www.amipnewsonline.org

C on t rib u t in g C olu m n is t s M ir iam G yimah, P H D S amuel K is s eadu F r ed N noma- A d dis on ( A mipnew s .org) O r al O f or i A my A ns ong

Ed it orial C on s u lt an t s F r ed N noma- A ddis on S amuel K is s eadu

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