January 2015 issue

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Vol 7 Issue 1

Afrikan Post

January 2015

Common Immigration Scams

From the Editor

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

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

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

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On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

George Bright-Abu Publisher and Editor

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 7 Issue 1

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Nigerian Billionaire Unseats Oprah As World’s Richest Black Woman

Pg. 5

First 2015 Baby Born In U.S City Is Ghanaian Pg. 5

Meet the New CEO Of INOVA Alexandria Hospital Pg. 18

Our Litany in Time of Trouble ?

Pg. 20

SPORTS

2015 AFCON Fixtures Pg. 39

UPDATE Bill Gates' Latest Passion: A Machine That Turns Poop Into Water Pg. 25

Please see the National Notary Association website "What is a Notary Public" for more information Store Front offering immigration helpSome businesses in your community “guarantee” they can get you benefits such as a: Visa, Green Card, Employment Authorization Document These businesses sometimes charge you a higher fee to file the application than USCIS charges. They claim they can do this faster than if you applied directly with USCIS. These claims are false. There are few exceptions to the normal USCIS processing times. Visit our National Processing Volumes and Trends page for more information.

Dot-com websiteswww.uscis.gov in the browser window

These initiatives have not yet been implemented, and USCIS is not accepting any requests or applications at this time. Beware of anyone who offers to help you submit an application or a request for any of these actions before they are available. You could become a victim of an immigration scam. Subscribe to the USCIS Executive Actions on Immigration web page to Some websites offering step-by-step guidance on completget updates when new information is posted. ing a USCIS application or petition will claim to be affiliatIf you need legal advice on immigration matters, make ed with USCIS. USCIS has its own official website with: sure that the person you rely on is authorized to give Free downloadable forms you legal advice. Only an attorney or an accredited Form Instructions representative working for a Board of Immigration Information on filing fees and processing times Appeals-recognized organization can give you legal advice.

Do not pay for blank USCIS forms either in person or over the Internet.

The Internet, newspapers, radio, community bulletin isa Lottery boards and storefronts are filled with advertisements offering immigration help. Not all of this information is from attorneys and accredited representatives. There Once a year, the Department of State (DOS) makes 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) available via random selection to peris a lot of information that comes from organizations sons meeting strict eligibility requirements and who come and individuals who are not authorized to give you legal advice, such as “notarios” and other unauthorized from countries with low rates of immigration to the United representatives. The wrong help can hurt. Here is some States. During this time, it is common for immigration scammers to advertise in emails or websites that reference important information that can help you avoid comeither the:Image of fake email saying you won a green card mon immigration scams.

Telephone Scams DV lottery Visa lottery Telephone ScamsDo not fall victim to telephone scamGreen Card lottery mers posing as USCIS personnel or other government officials. In most instances, scammers will: request personal information (Social Security num- These emails and websites often claim that they can make it easier to enter the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa ber, Passport number, or A-number); Program, for a fee. Some even identify you as a DV lottery identify false problems with your immigration “winner.” record; and ask for payment to correct the records.

If a scammer calls you, say “No, thank you” and hang up. These phone calls are being made by immigration scammers attempting to take your money and your credit card information. USCIS will not call you to ask for any form of payment over the phone. Don’t give payment over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official.

If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn more about telephone scams and telephone scammers’ techniques by visiting Federal Trade Commission-Telemarketing-Scams.

“Notario Publico”

These emails and websites are fraudulent. The only way to apply for the DV lottery is through an official government application process. DOS does not send emails to applicants. Visit the Department of State website to verify if you are actually a winner in the DV lottery or for information on how to submit an application for a DV lottery visa.

INS or USCIS?Old INS seal with an x over it

To this day, some local businesses, websites and individuals make reference to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This agency no longer exists!

INS was dismantled on March 1, 2003, and most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the component that grants immigration benefits. The other two components are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Image of someone stamping a documentIn many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” (for “notary public”) stands for something very different than what it means in the United States. In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the U.S., however, notary publics are people appointed by state All official correspondence regarding your immigration governments to witness the signing of important docu- case will come from USCIS. ments and administer oaths. "Notarios publico,” are Source:USCIS.gov not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration.

January 2015

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Afrikan Post

January 2015

Page 4

First 2015 Baby Born In U.S City Is Ghanaian

Afrikan Post

January

2014

Nigerian Billionaire Unseats Oprah As World’s Richest Black Woman

Page 5

In May 2012, Alakija, a married mother-of-four, challenged the acquisition and the Nigerian Supreme Court reinstated the 50 per cent stake to her company.

She also has a charity called the Rose of Sharon foundation that helps widows and orphans by empowering them through scholarships and business grants.

Forbes magazine had estimated Alakija’s fortune at $600 million, as of November 2012, but the magazine’s editor-in-chief Uzodinma Iweala said his researchers were ‘closer to the ground.’

A boy named Yaw arrived in Minneapolis at 12:01 a.m. New Year's Day, and he's believed to be the Twin Cities' first baby of 2015.

Yaw was born at the Mother Baby Center and weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds, 9.5 ounces. He was due Dec. 27.

The newborn's mother, Bertha Asare of St. Paul, declined to be interviewed but said through a hospital spokesman, “The timing was perfect.”

“Having the first baby of the year is the most amazing feeling a mother could ever have,” Mrs. Asare said.

Yaw's full name: Okatakyie Yaw Afriyie Asare.

In the custom of her roots in Ghana, the Akan tribe, Asare named her baby after the day he was born. “Yaw” is the name for a boy born on Thursday, Asare said. “Okatakyie” is a title of an important person in society.

“Afriyie” means he came well and at the perfect time, she said.

Yaw is Mrs. Asare's second child. Yaw's older brother also was born on a Thursday and also is named Yaw.

Mrs. Asare said she has lived in the United States for eight years, the past four in Minnesota.

The Mother Baby Center opened in February 2013 and is a joint venture of Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. It's attached to Children's on Chicago Avenue S. and E. 26th Street in Minneapolis.

Move over Oprah, Nigerian oil tycoon Folorunsho Alakija is now the richest black woman in the world with an estimated fortune of $7.3 billion.

Africa boasts 55 billionaires – far more than previously thought – and they’re worth a staggering $143.88 billion in total, according to pan-African magazine Ventures Africa.

Starting her career as a secretary in a bank in the mid 1970s, Alakija, 62, then studied fashion in London and returned to Nigeria to start a label, Supreme Stitches. But her biggest break came in oil.

In 1993, her company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil prospecting license, which later became OML 127, one of the country’s most prolific oil blocks, by thenpresident Ibrahim Babangida.

The company owned a 60 per cent stake in the block until 2000 when the Nigerian government unconstitutionally acquired a 50 per cent interest without duly compensating Alakija or Famda Oil.

Richest African: The overall richest African is Nigerian manufacturer Aliko Dangote, pictured, who is worth $20.2 billion. Twenty Nigerians are listed in total They noted that Brazilian oil company, Petrobas, was looking to sell its 8 per cent stake in OML 127 for $1.5- $2.5 billion, and extrapolated that if they managed to sell it for $1 billion, Alakija’s 60 per cent stake would be worth at least $7.3 billion.

Iweala claims this and other estimates included in the report are actually ‘on the conservative side’ and said the magazine expect to unearth more African billionaires shortly.

The overall richest African is Nigerian manufacturer Aliko Dangote who is worth $20.2 billion. Twenty Nigerians are listed in total.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.9 billion.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma Set To Marry 5th Wife South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has hinted he may be ready to take a fifth wife to accompany him through old age, the daily newspaper The Star said .

During a visit to a Durban township in KwaZulu-Natal, the 72-year-old said in Zulu “Angakayakhi indlu yokugugela… laba ngisabathathile nje” (I do have wives but I’m yet to marry my last one). The crowd, most of them elderly, laughed and cheered, The Star said.

Zuma, who said he was in “perfect condition” after a stay in hospital in June 2014, had earlier given a speech about the need to respect and tend for older people.

Sihawu Ngubane, a professor at KwaZulu-Natal University, was quoted by the newspaper as saying it was fairly standard among Zulu people for a man who practises polygamy to take a last wife for his last years, sometimes the younger sister of one of his wives.

“They call the last wife ‘indlu yokugugela’ (the home in which I will age in) because the responsibility of looking after the husband in their old age predominantly lies with the junior wife, who is often younger than the other

wives and more agile in case there is an emergency,” he said.

Zuma, who has around 20 children, has married six times but currently has four wives on the state’s budget, despite criticism from some tax-payers.

Source:http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/

KNUST Alumni of DC Metro Area (DMV) End of Year Dinner Dance and Fundraiser December

On Saturday January 10, 2015 the DMV Chapter of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni held their end of year Dinner dance and elected new officers to steer the affairs of the association. The event was held at the Comfort Inn in Springfield, Virginia.

The outgoing president of the KNUST Alumni, Mr. Kweku Boateng (Rapsay) expressed his appreciation to the executives who had worked with him over the years in making the association gain strong roots in the community.

The special guest of honor was the new Ambassador from Ghana to United States, Lt. Gen J.H Smith, and The Ambassador was accompanied by his wife and some embassy officials. The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Adolf Kofi Afful , who happens to be the immediate past President of the Council of Ghanaian Associations (COGA) and a KNUST Alumni, used the occasion to appeal to the Government of Ghana ,through the Ambassador , to facilitate the implementation of the Representation of the Peoples Act (ROPA) to enable Ghanaians in the Diaspora to exercise their franchise in elections in Ghana. He also appealed to the Government to re consider the taxes on import duties to facilitate the convenience in trading for Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

His Excellency, J.H Smith who was the key note speaker commended the KNUST Alumni for their individual academic credentials and appealed to them to set aside their political affiliations and focus on contributing their quota towards transforming Ghana into a trade hub in the sub region of Africa.

The Ambassador went to on unveil his passion for establishing a database of Ghanaian Professionals in the United States.

He admonished the gathering to “consider the embassy as your home and utilize the facilities like the library where Ghanaian newspapers are available to read at your pleasure”.

He also admitted the various challenges Ghanaians are facing with the Embassy, the bulk of which he attributed to issues the Consular section is having with their machinery, but he assured everyone that a lot of changes are being implemented and that those issues would very soon be a thing of the past.

He said his primary focus is to endeavor to maintain and strengthen Ghana’s long-established relations with the United States of America and work assiduously to promote and deepen Ghana’s strategic partnership and economic cooperation with the United States.

He concluded his speech,which drew a thunderous applause, by promising to avail himself at various Ghanaian functions if he is called upon.

The annual KNUST fund raising dinner has a hallmark of uniting Alumni in different year groups, old friends and families with the sole purpose of socializing, networking and raising funds to support the University. New officers were introduced

by Augustus Tweneboah-Kodua (Auge), the publicity officer.

After their nomination and acceptance, they were sworn into office by Mr. Kofi Afful.

The new President commended the outgoing officers for the tremendous job they have done and made a firm promise to continue where they are leaving off.

The Newly elected officers were: P Janice Asare Bediako (President), Toni Okine (Vice President), Ben Azumah (Secretary), Chief Boamah (Treasurer), Sally Asare (Assistant Treasurer).

The KNUST North American Alumni Association - DC Chapter is made up of members in the Washington District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia regions. The members are former students, faculty and associates of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology who reside in the Washington Metro area.

Their main mission is to remain connected to their alma mater and improve on the networking of their members.

His Excellency, J.H Smith , Ghanaa’s Ambassador To The United States

2014 Page 6

The Chairman of the occasion, a KNUST Alumni Mr. Kofi Afful

Old and New Executives

Pope Francis Names 20 New Cardinals- 3 from Africa

Pope Francis has named 20 new cardinals, including churchmen from Tonga, Ethiopia and Myanmar.

Fifteen of the new appointees are under 80, making them eligible to enter a conclave to elect the Pope's successor.

Pope Francis said the appointment of cardinals from 14 countries from every continent in the world showed the Vatican's "inseparable link" with Catholic Churches around the world.

They will be formally installed on 14 February.

Pope Francis also announced on Sunday that he would lead of meeting of all cardinals to discuss reform of the Roman Curia, the Vatican's administrative body, on 12 and 13 February.

The list of names includes five retired bishops who will join the College of Cardinals but are over 80 and so cannot take part in a papal election.It is the second time Pope Francis has announced the appointment of new cardinals from a wide variety of countries.

Last January he named 19 new additions, including churchmen from Haiti and Burkina Faso, which a Vatican spokesman said reflected his commitment to the poor.

An Ethiopian cargo plane overshot the runway at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Saturday January 10, 2015 StarrFMonline.com has gathered.

Appointing cardinals is the most powerful way for the Pope to shape the Catholic Church, says the BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent Caroline Wyatt.

He has now chosen over a quarter of all cardinals able to vote for the next Pope.

With his appointments, Pope Francis appears to be trying to reflect the diversity and growth of the Church in developing nations, our correspondent adds.

In his a pre-Christmas address to cardinals, Pope Francis sharply criticised the Vatican bureaucracy, complaining of "spiritual Alzheimer's" and "the terrorism of gossip".

He wants to see an overhaul of the Church, bringing it closer to ordinary people.

The three-member crew on board are currently receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

The development, according to our sources, caused massive panic among passengers at the airport.

A source within the tower-control room who confirmed the incident to StarrFMonline.com said the situation, although normal, rarely happens in Ghana.

Page 7

Details emerging indicate that the accident was caused by bad weather.

The dry season, otherwise known as the Harmattan, has forced domestic operators to delay, and in some instances cancel, flights from Accra to Kumasi and Tamale due to poor visibility.

The dry season, which is associated with dry winds and poor visibility between the months of November to February, has reduced visibility for air navigation by some 60 percent, according to the Business & Financial Times newspaper.

Kenya - Student Sentenced to a Year in Jail for Insulting President On Social Media

The cargo flight was traveling from Togo to Ghana.

Source:starfmonline.com

A Kenyan student has been sentenced to a year in prison after insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta on a social media site. Alan WadiOkengo, alias Lieutenant Wadi, must also pay a fine of $2,000 or serve a second year in jail.

Kenya has an active and vibrant online social media scene, and BBC's reporter, Emmanuel Igunza has stated that recent cases have ignited a fierce debate about what is acceptable to publish online. Igunza did feel that the personal comments made by Okenga was not appropriate for online publication. This case comes as a Kenyan court suspended sections of a tough new and highly controversial security law.

Google Doodle Honours Oldest Pupil, Kenyan Kimani Maruge

He has previously said the Roman Source:http://allafrica.com Catholic Church must strip itself of all "vanity, arrogance and pride" and humbly serve the poorest in society.

Source:bbcnew.com

Son of the Prime Minister Found Dead

Fidel Odinga, the son of former Kenyan Prime Minister and main opposition party leaderRailaOdinga, was found dead at his home in Karen, Nairobi in the early hours of Sunday 4th January 2014.

Top Kenyan detectives are treating the death as suspicious, and are currently investigating. Fidel Odinga had been out drinking with his friends the previous evening, and had returned home around 2am. Fidel has been closely associated with his father's political activities and was once touted as a possible candidate for the Kibra Constituency seat which his father occupied for several years.

Fidel was born in 1973, and married his Eritrean wife in 2012.

Source:allafrica.com

Ethiopian Cargo Airliner Veers Off Runway At Kotoka; Three Injured January 2015

Google has created a doodle to honour a Kenyan believed to be the oldest person to have enrolled in primary school.

The doodle on the internet giant's Kenya home page marks the 11th anniversary since Kimani Maruge went to school for the first time, aged 84.

Mr Maruge, who died in 2009, said when he started lessons that he wanted to learn to read the Bible and to count.

Google said its doodle was a reminder that it is never too late to learn something new.

Mr Maruge, a veteran of Kenya's struggle for independence from British rule, rose to fame when he enrolled at a school in the town of Eldoret in western Kenya on 12 January 2004.

"Kimani Maruge was an extraordinary Kenyan whose passion for education throughout his life shines as a beacon worldwide on the importance of lifelong learning," said Dorothy Ooky, Google's communications manager for East and Francophone Africa.

"Doodles are used to celebrate the lives of famous scientists, artists, and pioneers throughout history and Google is thrilled to feature a Kenyan whose life stood for such an important cause."

Although he had no papers to prove his age, Mr Maruge was said to have been 84 when he enrolled at Kapkenduiywo primary school.

Two of his grandchildren had attended the same school.

The Guinness Book of World Records lists him as the oldest person ever to have begun primary school.

After starting lessons, he lived for a further five years before dying of stomach cancer in 2009.

December

2014

Page

Yaya Toure Named African Player Of The Year

Manchester City playmaker Yaya Toure has been named African Player of the Year for a record fourth year in a row at a ceremony in Lagos on Thursday night.

The Ivorian, who beat off competition from local favourite Vincent Enyeama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, equals Samuel Eto'o's four titles but becomes the first player to win in back-to-back years.

The 31-year-old scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for Manuel Pellegrini's side in the 2013-14 campaign, as they held off Liverpool's challenge by two points.

Aubameyang enjoyed a fine debut campaign at Borussia Dortmund last season, wowing fans with his direct running and lightning pace.

The Gabon international scored 13 Bundesliga goals last term to help Jurgen Klopp's men to a second-placed finish and the DFB-Pokal final.

Enyeama captained Nigeria at the World Cup and was an ever-present in a Lille side that finished third in Ligue 1 last term, helping the club to the Champions League preliminary stages where they lost to Porto.

Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and Nigeria's Ahmed Musa were previously on a fiveman list, before that was whittled down to three in late December.

Source:bbcnews.com

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January 2015

Page 12

January 2015

Kwaku Opare Kumi on Highlife Radio

"Effective leadership is putting first things first.

Effective management is discipline, carrying it out" Stephen Covey. This quote says it all. On the round table morning show with Mr Kumi on Highlife radio the modeling of Kumasi airport into an international one was a very touchy topic. This is a country where the roads between these two major cities is still not completed.

It takes 4-5 hours or at times even more, depending on the weather, countless of accidents takes place on these roads every day. But no the government would rather build an airport instead of fixing these roads.

In a country where the average Ghanaian makes at least $100 to $200 dollars a month. The average ticket to fly from Accra to kumasi ranges from $200 to $300 dollars.One does not need to be Einstein before you do the math.

The long and short of this story is that, not everyone can afford to fly, therefore the building of this airport is not a necessity. Kotoka International Airport is already mismanaged.

The sanitation of the bathroom is horrible, there are no toiletries available, the runways are not paved and unmaintained.

This is the gateway to the country, Where most people, from first time visitors to investors land every single day. Its not only shameful its a disgrace. Unless there is another rational way to explain why we need an international airport in kumasi when we cant even maintain the one we already have in Accra, I stand to be corrected.

Akosua Yeboah

Page

13

Afrikan

Liberia Senate race: Landslide win for George Weah

Post

BBC News - The former football star George Weah has won a landslide victory in Liberia’s senate elections, in polls disrupted by the Ebola outbreak.

Mr Weah got 78% of the vote for the Montserrado county seat, which includes the capital Monrovia.

He beat Robert Sirleaf, the son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who took nearly 11%.

Low turnout in the poll, which was first planned for October, was blamed on concerns about Ebola.

Strict health controls were in place to try to prevent the spread of the disease.

January 2015

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Samuel Inkoom Blessed With A New Baby Boy

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Liberia has been one of the countries worst affected by Ebola, with almost 3,400 deaths, the UN says.

Other winners in the senate elections include Jewel Howard-Taylor, the ex-wife of the jailed former president Charles Taylor, and the former rebel leader Prince Johnson.

Both retained their seats.

The National Elections Commission chairman, Jerome Korkoya, called the conclusion of the vote “the end of a crucial journey”.

Mr Weah won the first round of the 2005 presidential election, losing the runoff to Ms Johnson-Sirleaf.

Those who came to polling stations had their temperature taken, He is the only African to be named Fifa’s world player of were told to stand a metre (3ft) apart and wash their hands the year, winning in 1995. before and after voting.

Source:bbcnews.com

Samuel Inkoom was already happy on his selection in the squad of black stars for upcoming AFCON 2015 in equatorial Guniea, and the birth of a baby boy doubled the happiness of the former Asante Kotoko defender.

Black Stars right back blessed with an energetic baby boy on Tuesday and name him Samlan Sonny Inkoom.

A 24-year-old Inkoom is glittering with a confident smile on the face after gaining the chance in upcoming AFCON 2015 and blessed with a birth of son.

Inkoom before now has 3 children, two sons Samuel Jnr and Shawnne Inkoom and one daughter Samuel Jnr and Shawnne Inkoom.

Inkoom was previously revealed his happiness and gratitude to the Black Stars new coach Avram Grant for granting another chance in the Ghana football team.

WELLCOME BABY BOY ….…… WELCOME SAMLAN SONNY INKOOM CONGRATULATIONS INKOOM

Three Ghanaians Receive 'Ambassador for Peace Award

Afrikan

Post

Gospel Music Pioneer Andraé Crouch Dies At 72 January 2015

Page

15

Andraé Crouch, a gospel musician who bridged the worlds of church and mainstream music for more than 50 years, died Thursday afternoon. The 72-year-old singer, songwriter and choir director had been hospitalized since Saturday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in the Los Angeles area after suffering a heart attack.

Crouch, sometimes called "the father of modern gospel music," led the choirs that sang on such hits as Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror and Madonna's Like a Prayer. As a songwriter, he wrote several gospel favorites, most notably The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) and Soon and Very Soon, a song sung at Jackson's public memorial service.

Three Ghanaians received Ambassadors for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation. The solemn ceremony took place on December 19, 2014.

The award ceremony was an annual event where the efforts of people "living for the sake of others" are recognized.

The presentation was done by Dr. Thomas Walsh, President of UPF and Her Excellency; Ambassador Masidi Siri Conde of UNESCO, New York Chapter Center for Peace. Universal Peace Foundation is a global network of peace makers.

The three Ghanaians were Francis Boanoh, Publisher of Christian Journal and CEO of Fabweb Solutions, Ashley Frema Weeks, a young woman who led a lobbying effort that led to the Connecticut legislature passing a law to require that lifeguards be stationed at all public swimming pools and Charles Nimo Ntiamoah alias Mr CNN of 3G Media.

Explaining their choice to the awardees, the organization said: "Universal Peace Federation acknowledges as ambassadors for peace those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to practices which promote universal moral values, strong family life, interreligious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, a responsible public media, and the establishment of a culture of peace.

A San Francisco native who grew up in the Church of God in Christ, Crouch wrote his first gospel tune at age 14. By 1960, he had formed the Church of God in Christ Singers, a group that featured Billy Preston on keyboards.

He started another group, Andraé Crouch & the Disciples, in 1965, eventually signing to a contemporary Christian label, Light Records. Crouch brought a contemporary pop and R&B melodic sensibility to gospel, making him uniquely suited to appeal to both black and white audiences during the early days of the countercultural "Jesus movement" and also bringing him attention beyond the church.

Elvis Presley recorded Crouch's I've Got Confidence for his 1972 gospel album He Touched Me, and Paul Simon recorded his Jesus Is the Answer on 1974's Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'. Crouch also became the go-to vocal arranger for Los Angeles recording sessions that needed a gospel sound, working not only with Jackson and Madonna but also Elton John, Quincy Jones, The Commodores, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr.

Crouch's gospel albums often featured guests from the R&B and jazz worlds, including Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Wilton Felder and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey. Chaka Khan, Sheila E. and vocal group Take 6 appeared on his most recent album, 2011's The Journey.

His recordings brought him seven Grammys, and Crouch also received an Academy Award nomination for his arranging work on the 1985 film The Color Purple.

Throughout his life, Crouch struggled with dyslexia, sometimes memorizing words by the shapes of their combination of letters. He often drew simple pictures to help him comprehend words and write songs.

Crouch's sister, Sandra Crouch, served as his spokeswoman, and the siblings were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando, Calif., carrying on a work begun by their parents.

Crouch survived multiple bouts with cancer and also suffered from diabetes. In early December, Crouch was hospitalized with pneumonia and congestive heart failure, forcing the cancelation of his Let the Church Say Amen Celebration tour, which had been scheduled to begin Dec. 6 in Philadelphia. He was readmitted to the hospital Saturday with what his sister characterized in a statement as "serious health complications."

Source:www.allafrica.com

"Transcending racial, national and religious barriers, the Ambassadors for Peace contribute to the fulfillment of the hope of all ages, a unified world of peace wherein the spiritual and material dimensions of life are harmonized. We are recognizing your support to the organization and for dedicating your life for the cause of humanity."

The award ceremony was an annual event where the efforts of people "living for the sake of others" are recognized.

Ghana’s Gospel Diva Ohemaa Mercy Singing With Andrae Crouch

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Fiber Optics Inventor Gets Selected As A Fellow For The National Academy of Inventors

January 2015

one of the inventors of the patent assigned to Corning Glass Works.

Curing apparatus for coated fiber

This patent was filed in December 24, 1985 and issued January 13, 1987. Thomas Mensah was one of the two inventors of the patent assigned to Corning Glass Works.

Method and apparatus for coating optical fibers

This patent was filed in October 4, 1984 and issued July 30, 1985. Thomas Mensah was one of the inventors of the patent assigned to Corning Glass Works.

Awards

Patents by Inventor Thomas O. Mensah

Methods of providing an optical fiber package.

This patent was filed in May 2, 1990 and issued November 12, 1991. Thomas Mensah was among the inventors of the patent assigned to AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Guided vehicle system.

This patent was filed in May 1, 1990 and issued July 30, 1991. Thomas Mensah was one of the inventors of the patent assigned to AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Optical fiber package and methods of

making .

This patent was filed in March 27, 1989 and issued September 11, 1990. Thomas Mensah was one of the inventors of the patent assigned to AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Method for coating optical waveguide fiber

This patent was filed in September 25, 1986 and issued December 20, 1988. Thomas Mensah was one of the inventors of the patent assigned to Corning Glass Works.

Apparatus and method for monitoring tension in a moving fiber by Fourier transform analysis

This patent was filed in December 9, 1985 and issued September 8, 1987. Thomas Mensah was

Mensah is a recipient of Turner’s Trumpet Award for Fiber Optics Innovation, Percy Julian Award, Golden Torch Award, the highest award by NSBE, and Eminent Engineers award by AIChE. He has been profiled in Ebony Magazine October 2006 and Chemical Engineering Progress Magazine, October 2008 and March 2009.

He served on the visiting committee in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1988-1992.

Dr. Thomas O Mensah was elected Fellow of the prestigious US National Academy of inventors on December 4, 2014 and then named a member of the AIChE 100 which include 100 engineers selected out of a thousand top engineers during the centenary anniversary of AIChE in Philadelphia in 2008. He was also the Invited Keynote Speaker at Microsoft Corporation Headquarters Redmond Washington on Nov 14, 2014 and is Founder of AIChE MAC Eminent Engineers Forum.

Books and publications

Below are selected publications by Dr. Mensah.

Author, Book "The Right Stuff" Comes in Black,Too Thomas O. Mensah et al., Radiation Effects on Optical Fibers; Proceedings of the European Conference on Optical Fibers, ECOC, Helsinki, 1987.

Thomas O. Mensah. Enhancement of Strauss secondary flow mixing in thin film commercial reactors. Chemical Engineering Communication Journal, 1985.

Thomas O. Mensah et al. Analysis (Finite Element) of Composite Overwrap, Filament wound structures, Proceedings, Army Research workshop Conference, New Orleans, September, 1994.

Thomas O. Mensah et al. Optical Properties of Epitaxial PLT Thin Films, Proceedings of Material Research Society, Annual Conference, Boston, 1995.

Thomas O. Mensah, Editor, Superconductor Engineering, AIChE Symposium Series Book Volume 88, No. 287, 1992.

Thomas O. Mensah, Editor, Fiber Optics Engineering, AIChE Symposium Series, Book Volume 283, 1987.

Thomas O. Mensah, US Patent number 5,035,169 Guided Vehicle System, July 30, 1991.

Thomas O. Mensah, US Patent number 4,692,615, Apparatus for monitoring Tension in a moving fiber, September, 1987.

Nano-based Materials for use in Missile Sub-systems and Components. (American Institute of Aeronautics and

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Astronautics, Proceedings Weapon Systems Effectiveness Conference), 2012. This paper was coauthored by Dr Mensah, Dr. Paul B. Ruffin, Christina Brantley and Eugene Edwards.

Biography

Thomas O. Mensah (Dr.) was born in 1950 in Kumasi, Ghana and attended Wesley College Practice school from where he went on to attend Adisadel College in Cape Coast, one of the highest-performing boys high schools in Ghana. Thomas is a renowned scientist and inventor with 7 USA and worldwide patents in Fiber Optics over a period of six years, also has at least 14 patents to his name in general.[1] He is the first black person to receive such number of patents in a short number of years, and was elected to the rank of Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in the USA.

One of his patents based on boundary layer theory led to the replacement of Nitrogen inert gas with the more soluble carbon dioxide gas permitting optical fibres to be coated at ultra-high speed beyond 50 meters per second producing high strength fibres used for submarine and undersea cables that connect continents and countries, leading to a global infrastructure for the modern day high speed internet.

In one of his patents he used his understanding of boundary layer theory to design a high speed draw and coating manufacturing system that eliminated bubbles and defects in optical fibers. Fiber Optics is one of the greatest innovations in this century, since the internet depends on it. Over one billion people today are connected to the Internet because of fiber optics. All emails, YouTube videos, Tweets and Facebook pictures are transmitted by lasers on fiber optics networks; both terrestrial and submarine platforms to cell phones, tablets and personal computers world wide.

Dr. Mensah worked at both Corning Glass Works Inc, and AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Thomas is currently the President and CEO of the Georgia Aerospace Systems, an Advanced Aerospace Composite manufacturing company which has supplied Nano composite materials structures for unmanned aerial vehicle systems for the US Department of Defense. He is also the Chairman of Lightwave Systems a Fiber Optics Cable Company that builds Broadband networks and Energy Platforms in the United States and Sub Saharan Africa.

Source:Oral Ofori

Deborah Addo, CEO Of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Has Ghana Connection

January 2015

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“We are on the brink of greatness here at Inova Mount Vernon, we will be a market leader” — these are the words of Deborah Addo — Chief Execute Officer (CEO) of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria Virginia (IMVH) — during an interview with his writer.

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital is a 237-bed state-of-the-art hospital that provides services within a community environment. The hospital is recognized in the USA for being home to the Inova Joint Replacement Center and Inova Rehabilitation Center, both ranked among the top orthopedic and rehabilitation programs in USA. It is also the administrative and clinical home for the Inova Wound Healing Center, the largest and most experienced of its kind in the Washington DC area.

Deborah Addo whose father is originally from Ghana, joined the multiple award winning IMVH in June 2014 with nearly three decades of leadership experience in health care operations and management. Prior to joining Inova, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Meritus Health in Hagerstown which is the largest health care provider in Western Maryland.

The CEO has served in numerous executive capacities in management across high profile institutions in the Washington DC area. She started out seventeen years ago working at the Children’s National Medical Health Center in Washington DC from where it has been an upwards journey for her career.

Outlining her vision for IMVH, Deborah said she sees herself responsible for bringing to life the Inova promise of seeking “every opportunity to meet the unique needs of each person we are privileged to serve, every time, every touch”. In her opinion, all practitioners within the health care industry have the privilege to being the extension of the Creator every day in respective ways, which is why it is important to ensure that her leadership is doing what needs to be done to meet needs of patients and clients.

“For us to attain long term success here at Inova I personally intend to have my leadership style lean towards modeling the way, creating a shared vision and just encouraging the heart by removing the barriers that prevent us from doing the work that we really need to do” says Deborah of her philosophy as a leader, adding that it is very important for people to know that the value of the work they do is always appreciated.

Besides appreciating the people she works with, Deborah Addo intends to make more people aware of the services Inova offers.

“This is because some people within the US African and immigrant communities many times shy away from seeking medical attention immediately when they need to either because they are afraid, uninsured or under-insured. Such people unfortunately end up arriving at the hospital too late” she lamented.

Dr. Deborah Addo, CEO of INOVA Alexandria Hospital

Deborah Addo described as unfortunate the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national in his 40’s who was reported by American health authorities as being the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in the USA on September 30, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. “His death however made the gravity of the disease hit home, literally, and it galvanized the American government in adopting a more global approach to attacking the disease.

Youngest and only girl among 3 other siblings, Deborah has yet to visit her paternal homeland of Ghana even though she looks forward to doing that with excitement.

The health administrator, whose areas of expertise include financial management, organization re-engineering, strategic planning, physician engagement and population health among others strongly believes in community hospitals, where “the people you are caring for are oftentimes people you know, and She urged for calm as more research is made into finding a there’s a personal level of accountability”. more lasting cure and solution for the deadly disease while encouraging people to be more informed and aware of it because rumors only go to fuel the fear mongering and misinformation that people initially peddled about the dis- Oral Ofori of #TheAfricanDream ease in its initial outbreak.

“We will try to make people aware first and foremost of the fact that we are a non-profit entity and are obligated by law to provide them with care when they come to the emergency department, we also intend to stress the importance of prevention and link people up to the services that are available, how to access them and encourage them to get in sooner to get the needed help because it is a whole lot easier and much more inexpensive for us in the health care industry to address issues earlier than later” Mrs Addo said.

Responding to a query from this writer about the effects of the Ebola virus disease mostly in west Africa, Mrs. Addo advised the public worldwide to take the simple act of hand-washing very serious as it is one of the first preventative method of keeping away pathogenic infections even though some people unfortunately take it for granted.

INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital

January 2015

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Afrikan Post

Our Litany in Time of Trouble Her Page

January 2015

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today in Africa, tomorrow, who knows what country. These inno- we sit, with our arms folded and awaiting our stops, we recount in our cent ones are captured only to be subjected to molestation, abuse, rape, sex trafficking, forced marriages and/or enslavement,

have hoped in you.”

is our current reality.

have come to know that our help comes from none else but God. We

perhaps never to return to their homes and loved ones again. Such It is a very grim view, but this depressing depiction is

our unfortunate state. Is it not true that even as we go about our

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

To deliver their soul from death

And to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

For our heart rejoices in Him,

Because we trust in His holy name.

Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,

According as we have hoped in you.” (Psalm 33:18-22) The psalm above is ever-appropriate for this New

Year in our postmodern hyper-technological terrorist age.

In this time of uncertainties and violence, the wise must

concede that we must seek God more and ensure we are enveloped in His shelter, for outside of God, there is no safe ground in this our world.

I don’t intend to come across as pessimistic, but

rather as realistic. Our world today is characteristically

catastrophic from one place to another. We tune in to the news stations and are immediately accosted with lasting

horrifying images of building explosions, splattered blood on streets and walls, scattered bodies lying in waste,

images of unrest, terror and haunting screams and wailing of mothers, children, all of humanity. It is happening in

Europe, in the Middle East, Africa, Canada and here, the

United States of America. Another terror attack undetected

by sophisticated surveillance, unstopped by authorities, has

succeeded. What do we say, what do we do? How can we

make ourselves unaffected and even immune to these

attacks?

After September 11, 2001, we have come to real-

ize and accept more and more that our great and awesome

superpower of a nation is not so awesome and cannot pro-

tect us much from the inside or the outside. As much as

the CIA, Homeland Security, FBI and local law enforce-

ment agencies attempt to protect the U.S. and her citizens

from terror, terror, unfortunately has made its way into our

present world locally, nationally and globally. Dozens of

young girls can be easily swept away from the safety of

their classrooms and the care of their mothers and fathers

hearts, “let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we We meditate and continue to pray with the psalmist for we

have ascended the truth that in Him and only Him do we trust (Psalm

31: 1). When all about us seems to be falling apart and when even

day in this our beloved and prideful country that we are halted by

nature hurls its angry winds and storms at our vulnerable bodies and

cent lives of college students who bravely tore themselves from

the midst of great chaos and a world of spontaneous eruptions, we don’t

unimaginable horrors of inexplicable shootings claiming the inno- lives, we remember that while we may appear small and insignificant in the protective arms of their parents to seek knowledge and new

have to cower but we can rest in Him knowing that He holds us still.

found independence? But it doesn’t end with young adults. No.

And that is not only our hope, but it is our truth!

schools where kindergarteners, first graders and their fellow

frontations is that our God tells us, there is nothing to fear. He tells us,

These shootings have dared cross the boundaries to elementary schoolmates, all under 12 years old are rendered victims by

crazed gun men. Their teachers and administrators, under whose care they were committed, have also been violently executed by the weaponry of disturbed characters.

There is no safety to be found. There is no true refuge

anymore in this our great nation and perhaps even in our own

homes. Enemies of nations, religious beliefs, ideologies, cultures and a peaceful humanity are treacherously haunting and hunting

with no other purpose but to kill, demolish and destroy, to inflict terror on whomever they might capture in their trap. We are

shaken—all of us, some for a moment, others for much longer.

Our truth in the midst of all this destruction and violent con-

“be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And with those words

alone, a wind of strength sweeps over our cowering bones and intimidat-

ed bodies and we are awakened once again, brought back to ourselves,

reminded of who we are and Whose we are. As the psalmist states “God

is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore

we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountain fall into

the heart of the sea, and though its waters roar and foam and the moun-

tains quake with their surging….the Lord Almighty is with us; the God

of Jacob is our fortress…He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with

fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among

We tremble; we worry; we contemplate: what can be done, how

the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46 1-10). Surely, He

fathers, husbands, children, grandchildren? Will we be the next

terror of a destructive enemy.

chologically disturbed individual or religious zealot of the worst

am God,” springs us back to our reality as God-fearing children. What

long will this persist? How close will it draw to us, our mothers, victims of random or targeted terror from an emotionally and psykind?

will be exalted. Only He should be held in awe and not the orchestrated The empowering words of our God, “be still and know that I

are our promises? That He is with us, even unto the end of the world

Within our unsettled selves, we discover that conscious- (Mathew 28:20). What are our assurances? That we shouldn’t let our

ly and often unconsciously, we fold our hands in prayer and more hearts be troubled and that there is a better place where He is preparing than often utter pleading words to our God to assure our safety

and preserve the innocent lives of our loved ones. We hope and we dare trust that He will hear us and not let it come nigh our

dwelling. And so we pray, “let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be

upon us, according as we have hoped in you.”

many mansions for us (John 14:1-2). What are our instructions? That

we should abide in Him and that anything we ask in His name, He will

grant (John 15:7). So even in the midst of the storm, we shall be still

and know that He is God. We shall keep in mind that we are in Him and

that He watches over us. We shall not be moved or persuaded by vio-

When we take our children to school, hug and kiss them lence. We shall not be intimidated and crumble as if we do not have

goodbye until we see them at the end of the day, because we trust hope. We shall be still.

in His Holy Name, we pray, “let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in you.”

Our prayer affirms that our hope is in Christ Jesus. As we utter

the words of prayer, we shall continue in the faith that redeems with the

When we are hesitant to take our children to the theaters blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God, the only anointed one, Christ

on a Saturday afternoon to see the latest children’s movie, we dis- Himself. We shall live fearlessly as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah goes

miss our fears and move on with our plans, because we know that before us each and every day, guiding, protecting, shielding. We shall we cannot live in fear. Still with unsettled hearts, we pray, “let

live and not withdraw. We will be still in our belief in Him and we shall

hoped in you.”

lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in

your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have When we move along our daily routines, making our

way on the subway trains, journeying freely from one point to

another on our path to work and home, even as we board, even as

continue to utter the words of prayer and communion, “let your

you.” It is not only our prayer, but also our gift, our gift of hope and

assurance in The One that never fails.

IS GHANA A CEMETERY?

Joke Center

Three Contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House, one from India, one from China, the third a Nigerian.

They went to White House official to examine the fence.

The Indian takes out a tape and does some measuring, works some figures, he said, the job will cost $900 (material $400, labour $400 & ... $100 profit).

The Chinese does the same and said I can do it for $700 (material $300, labour $300 and $100 profit). The Nigerian didn't measure or figure, but whispers, $2700 to the official.

The White House official say, you didn't even do any measurement, how did you come up with such a high figure?

The Nigerian replied $1000 for me, $1000 for you & $700 to hire the Chinese to do the job. DEAL or NO DEAL? White man smiles, it's a DEAL...!

An Anthropologist proposed one game to the kids of African tribal children.

He placed a basket of fruits near a tree.

And made them stand 100 metres away.

And announced that who ever reaches first would get all the fruits in the basket.

When he said ready steady go...

Curious Mother

Do you know what these small children did?

They said 'Ubuntu' Which meant: 'How can one be happy when all the others are sad?'

Ubuntu in their language means: 'I am because, we are!'

Let's all of us always carry this attitude within us and spread happiness, wherever we go...!

Happy 2015 to you all.

The Glorified Family .... Ubuntu

21

The Contractor

Ubuntu

When the Anthropologist asked them why you did so?

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A Man saw a lion in the bush, he knelt down & closed his eyes & started praying.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the lion kneeling in front of him and was praying too. What a shock! He asked the lion, are you a Christian? The lion replied... don't you pray before you eat?

When Ghanaians loot money, they keep it in Switzerland. When sick, they go to Germany or India. When investing, they go to America. When buying Mansions, they visit London. When shopping they go to Dubai. When on holidays, they visit Paris or Bahamas. When educating their children, they select Europe. When praying, they go to Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem.

BUT, when they DIE, they all want to be BURIED in GHANA! Please ask them for me, is GHANA A CEMETERY?

They all caught each other's hands and ran towards the tree together, divided the fruits among them and ate the fruits and enjoyed it.

Lion

January 2015

Pastor Lesego Daniel ,the head pastor of Rabboni Center Ministries Peutoria South Africa stepping on the congregation as he makes an illustration.

A Nigerian mother was lucky enough to see her 3 daughters get married the same year, so she called them after the wedding and told them "Don't forget to text me your first night experience and text it in code" So....... after a week, the 1st daughter texted "NESCAFE" and the next week the 2nd daughter texted "BENSON" the mother being an intelligent woman went to get a Nescafe tin and read the label "fantastic till the last drop" went to her husband's pack of Benson cigarette and read "Extra long, king size" she smiled and said "not bad for their ages". After the next week, the 3rd daughter texted "NAIROBI-MOMBASA", the mother then called Kenya airways helpdesk to enquire about their Nairo-Mombasa flight and they replied "it's 3times daily, 7days a week, and the flight duration is 75mins". The mother fell down and shouted. "igweeeeeeeee!!! This one will kill my daughter yoooooooh.....

Your Son

Government announced that if U have 5 kids, YOUR salary will be increased to gh500,000.

A man heard the news and said to his wife, I have a kid with my girlfriend. I'm going to bring him so we can add him to our 4 kids.

When he came back, he saw only one of his kids remaining.

He asked, where are the other 3?

His wife replied, you are not the only one who heard the news. THEIR FATHERS HAVE COME FOR THEM. Put a smile on someone's face as I have done.

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Widowhood Rites Abolished In Biu-Kodema

January 2015

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Hundreds of women in the Biu-Kodema community in the Kassena-Nankana municipality of the Upper East Region have expressed joy at the abolishment of dehumanizing widowhood rites which tortured women mourning their deceased husbands. The chief of Biu-Kodema community, Adwina Akantambaninga at a post harvest festival said, the traditional authorities in collaboration with the people of the community have from January 2015, eliminated all dangerous practices associated with the performance of widowhood rites in the community.

According to their culture, women mourning their dead husbands are confined in a dark room with little ventilation for 21 days whilst going through certain rites including shaving of head, eating from a dirty calabash and the pouring of hot water on the widow to determine whether or not she killed her husband. Before the burial of a deceased husband, the widow is made to sit on the ground almost naked, in the presence of her in-laws whilst hot water is poured on her shaved head after which shea-butter is rubbed on her skin. Source:http://www.citifmonline.com/

19-Year-Old Girl Wakes Up During Brain Surgery, Asks Doctors ‘How’s It Going?’

A teenage girl in Poland woke up during brain surgery and asked her doctors how the operation was going, The Daily Mirror reported. Iga Jasica, 19, had been undergoing the procedure to have a cancerous growth removed from her brain.

Doctors say she woke up halfway through the surgery when the anesthetic wore off. Her brain was exposed, but surgeons say the southwest Polish girl’s health was not in jeopardy. “Despite coming round, she didn’t feel anything and was never in danger,” neurosurgeon Dawid Larysz told The Daily Mirror. He added that Jasica wouldn’t have been able to see or feel anything. Jasica doesn’t remember waking up during the sur-

gery. Doctors are investigating whether the anesthetic may have been improperly administered.

Other experts told The Daily Mirror that the operation itself could have triggered her waking up despite the anesthetic. While chatting with doctors during the procedure, Jasica reportedly brought up cats. After the surgery, she reflected on the experience. “I missed Christmas because of this operation, but it is the best present I could have had, as I am now feeling great,” Jasica told The Daily Mirror when the procedure was complete.

Source: Foxnews.com -

Delta State Food Vendor, Confesses Of Maame Dokono's Girl Actress Nana Yaa Dead Using Her Urine To Cook

A food vendor popularly called Mama T who is alleged to be a witch in Ughelli South local government area of Delta on Friday, January 2 confessed to have been using her urine to prepare moimoi which she sells to the public.

According to reports, the woman is well-known throughout Ughelli for her special delicacies but got caught with her evil deeds after allegedly trying to kill a young man.

A young was said to be taking his bath when he was attacked by a rat. The surprised young man picked up a piece a wood to attack the advancing rat. After hitting the rat with the wood, it was alleged that the rat started increasing in size before eventually turning into a human being and disappeared afterwards, leaving two slippers behind.

The young man reportedly ran into town with the tale only to meet an angry mob surrounding a

badly injured woman suspected of witchcraft.

Eyewitness said some parts of the woman’s body were swollen which drew onlookers to her.

The young man was said to notice that the slippers the woman was wearing was the same as the one left by the person who disappeared after turning from a rat to a full human. The surprised unnamed boy raised the alarm which prompted the angry mob to descend on her.

After several minutes of beating by the mob, Mama T alleged confessed to a host of crimes including using her urine to prepare Moi-moi which she sells at her restaurant.

Source: http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/

The late Nana Yaa was also for sometime a panelist on Peace FM’s Wo Ba Ada Anaa’programme.

The one week celebration of her death was held on Wednesday, January 14, at Sekyere Dumase, near Mampong in the Ashanti Region.

The death has been announced in Accra of actress Lily Ameyaw, popularly known as Nana Yaa in the Obra drama series on television. She was 55.

The leader of the Obra drama group, Amankwa Ampofo, described the late actress as a versatile player and a very friendly person. She joined Obra in 1989.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Source:peacefmonline.com

Afrikan

Post

How African Churches in the U.S Welcome 2015 December

2014

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New Year's Eve is celebrated in many communities across Africa. In most African cities, hotels and bars will be full of party goers celebrating the New Year. Liberia lifted the curfew for New Year's Eve which had been suspended due to the intensity of the Ebola Outbreak. In the United States most Africans celebrated with Church services.

Kingslight International Church (Woodbridge, Virginia)

Kings Temple with Rev. Seth Baah (Maryland)

Holy Fire Dynamic Church (Bronx, NY)

Living Faith with Bishop New Love Allotey (New York )

Apostolic Church -Northern Virginia

The Church of the Living God (Northern Virginia)

St Anthony Catholic Church (New York )

Bible Believers Tabernacle (BBT), New York

Ivory Coast's Ex-First Bill Gates' Latest Man Bites Into Lady On Trial Passion: A Machine That Chicken Kebab And Turns Poop Into Water Finds A 3 Inch Drill Bit

Afrikan

January 2015

Post

Top Kebab/Pizza Top in Havering has been fined more than £7,500 after inspectors found decorating materials and drill bits being stored near food.

Garlic sauce with that? Council inspectors said it could have been a lot more serious An unlucky takeaway customer bit off a little more than he could chew when he tucked in to a chicken doner kebab and found a three inch drill bit.

The irate man complained to council health officers that he almost cracked a tooth on the piece of metal and the fas food restaurant has been fined more than £7,500.

Top Kebab/Pizza Top in Havering, north London, was visited by environmental health workers who found the premises undergoing renovations.Huge: This is the drillbit the customer found in his kebab They discovered electrical equipment, screwdrivers, decorating materials and drill bits being stored near where food was being prepared. Owner Nehmatullah Jamalzadah was fined £7,726 by Romford Magistrates for breaking section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990. Havering Council cabinet member for regulatory services, Councillor Osman Dervish, said: “This could have been a lot more serious and I am relieved that the customer did not come to any harm. “The owner of this takeaway had a responsibility to keep customers safe while the building work was carried out and this was clearly ignored.”

Source: Mirror.co.uk -

The trial has begun in Ivory Coast of the ex-first lady, Simone Gbagbo, for her alleged role in post-election violence five years ago.

The wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo has been charged along with 82 supporters of her husband.

Mr Gbagbo is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity.

Some 3,000 people died in violence after the ex-president refused to accept defeat in a run-off vote.

Mrs Gbagbo, who had been held under house arrest for three years, has been charged with "attempting to undermine the security of the state".

Former prime minister Gilbert Ake N'Gbo and Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party head Affi N'Guessan are also being tried along with the former first lady.

Her husband, ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, is facing four charges at the ICC in The Hague, including murder, rape and persecution. Mr Gbagbo, 69, who insists he is innocent, is the first former head of state to have appeared at the ICC.

Mrs Gbagbo, 65, has also been accused by the ICC but Ivory Coast has refused repeated requests to hand her over, saying that she should be tried in a domestic court.

She was arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker in which she and her husband had taken refuge, following a military assault on their residence in the main city, Abidjan.

Violence broke out in Ivory Coast in 2010 when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared the winner of a presidential poll.

The West African leader was ousted in 2011 with the help of French and UN forces backing President Ouattara.

Proceedings at Mrs Gbagbo's trial on Friday were expected to be limited to jury selection, with hearings beginning properly next month.

Source:www.bbcnews.com

Page 25

"I watched the piles of feces go up the conveyor belt and drop into a large bin," Gates, the Microsoft cofounder and billionaire philanthropist, wrote in a blog post on Monday. "They made their way through the machine, getting boiled and treated. A few minutes later I took a long taste of the end result: a glass of delicious drinking water."

The jarring juxtaposition is intentional. Gates intends to get the word out to the masses about the machine, which is part of a Gates Foundation effort to improve sanitation in poor countries.

"The water tasted as good as any I’ve had out of a bottle," Gates continued. "And having studied the engineering behind it, I would happily drink it every day. It’s that safe."

As the video below explains, the machine, called the Janicki Omniprocessor, turns sewer sludge into electricity, clean drinking water and ash. The machine, named after Janicki Bioenergy CEO Peter Janicki, dries the waste and then burns it, creating steam that powers an engine that creates electricity. Meanwhile, the water removed from the sludge is filtered, creating clean water.

The machine addresses a major inefficiency in the developing world. Some 2 billion people use latrines that aren't properly drained. That waste contaminates water, which leads to the death of more than 700,000 children each year, Gates wrote in the post.

This isn't the first time Gates has meditated on the link between poor sanitation and disease. Since 2011, Gates has been pushing for a redesign of the toilet that was off the grid and lacked piped-in water, a sewer connection or outside electricity, but might convert the waste into fuel or fertilizer. Such a device would eliminate the type of contamination that occurs in the developing world.

At the moment, the Janicki Omniprocessor is being used in a pilot project in Senegal. Gates would like to see the idea spread across the developing world to reinvent the sewage treatment plant. Most modern plants don't use the waste as energy, but instead store the dried human waste in deserts and are powered by diesel or some other non-renewable energy source.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: bill gates, Business, philanthropy, Social Good http://mashable.com/

Zimbabwe: Mugabe to Die in 2015, Malawian Prophet

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CONTROVERSIAL but widely popular Malawian prophet, Austin Liabunya, has said President Robert Mugabe will die in 2015, an online newspaper has claimed.

politics to "protect her ill-gotten wealth."

Liabunya however claimed that it would be good for her to contest as she would give back wealth to the Zimbabweans during the campaign period.

The Maravi Post said Liabunya said this during the Liabunya is a controversial figure who has night of cross over service conducted in Area 23 at Music Cross Road tent in Malawi's administrative cap- won himself a following over the last few years predicting political events in Malawi. ital Lilongwe in the wee hours of January 1.

His followers claim that he prophesied former Malawian President Joyce Banda's During the same service Liabunya told his followers defeat in 2014. that Hakainde Hichilema will emerge as the new President of Zambia when the country goes to election President Mugabe, who is currently on his on January 20. The United Party for Development annual leave, has previously joked about peoleader will face Patriotic Front leader Edgar Lungu ple who have predicted his death saying in who recently flew to Zimbabwe to consult with their dreams he had died "more times than President Mugabe.

Jesus."

According to the report, Liabunya said "Mugabe's bioThe 90 year old leader has shown no signs logical clock will not tick beyond this year " after which Zimbabwe will be "restored" to the be in the top yet of wanting to step down soon with his party endorsing him as their preferred leader five of the richest countries in Africa. during the December congress.

The prophet said First Lady Grace Mugabe "will never Source:http://allafrica.com win in Zimbabwean politics" and had simply joined

New President of Tunisia Sworn in

A 'president for all Tunisians'

After years of authoritarian rule, Tunisia has inaugurated its first freely elected president. Beji Caid Essibsi has long held office in Tunis, but insists his administration will not be a continuation of the past.

Beji Caid Essebsi was sworn in as president of Tunisia on in a plenary session of parliament, where his secularist Nida Tounes party holds the largest bloc of seats.

Essebsi is the first democratically elected head of state in the north African country since it gained independence from France in 1956. The 88-year-old veteran of Tunisian politics won 55.68 percent of the votes cast in a run-off election on December 21.

After his swearing-in ceremony was compete, Essebsi was to travel to the presidential palace in Carthage, a suburb of Tunis, for a formal hand over of power from former President Moncef Marouki.

Nida Tounes defeated rival moderate Islamist party Ennahda, to which Marzouki belongs. Marzouki received 44.32 percent of the vote, and his party said it had not ruled out joining a coalition government coming second in the October parliamentary vote.

Tunisia had only two heads of state between gaing its independence from French colonial rule in 1957 and its revolution nearly four years ago. Habib Bourguiba, a nationalist leader who spearheaded the nation's independence, ruled Tunisia as president for 30 years, before Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was overthrown in the Arab spring revolts in 2011 took power. Essebsi served under both, and has been accused by his detractors as being an extension of the Ben Ali regime.

Essebsi has denied these accusations, saying he would be a "president for all Tunisians," adding that Tunisia had turned a page on the past and should look to the future.

Tunisia is the birthplace of the Arab Spring and largely considered its sole success story. Similar uprisings in Libya, Syria, and Yemen have all led to protracted conflicts, while Egypt saw its elected leader, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, deposed by the army after a year in power.

es/pfd (AFP, dpa)

Source:allafrica.com

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Ghanaian Veterans In DMV Form An Association

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Ghana Armed Forces Veterans Association, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (GAFVA - DMV) was on Saturday, December 06, 2014 inaugurated at a ceremony in Lorton, Virginia.

Membership of the Association is made up of former servicemen of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) currently residing in Greater Washington, Maryland and Virginia metro-areas of the United States of America (USA).

At the inaugural ceremony in Lorton, Virginia on Saturday, December 06, 2014, Ex-Sgt Roland Azure was sworn-in as the first President of GAFVA-DMV.

The ceremony was organized under the patronage of the Office of the Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché (DMNAA), Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC and was represented by the Administrative Officer, Chief Petty Officer James Asiedu-Pani.

Delivering the inaugural address on behalf of the DMNAA, Brigadier General Seidu Adams, Chief Petty Officer Asiedu-Pani said the history of GAFVA-DMV, dates back to 2005 but faced challenges with organization and structuring until August 2013 when the current membership decided to rejuvenate the association and have it incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Chief Petty Officer Asiedu-Pani listed the aims and objectives of GAFVA-DMV, which include but not limited to the following: To identify, mobilize and promote unity among all GAF veterans who reside in the metro area of Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

To foster among all GAF veterans, the spirit of comradeship, and to maintain closer links and relationship with the Ghanaian community associations.

To uphold, preserve and perpetuate the traditions and deeds of the military profession at all times; “Once A soldier, Always A Soldier”

To promote the interest, general welfare, empowerment of comrades for the benefit of members seeking opportunities both in Ghana and the USA.

Chief Petty Officer Asiedu-Pani, applauded the founders of the association for the excellent initiative and charged them to respect the contents of the bye-laws of the association.

He further admonished them to be law-abiding and do all within their means to exhibit the good qualities of discipline, tact and patriotism which run through the blood of all persons with military background.

Accepting the charge, the newly sworn-in President of GAFVA, Ex-Sgt Azure pledged to lead the association towards the fulfilment of its aims and objectives.

He regretted the challenges that impeded the establishment of the association and called on members to collectively work hard towards actualizing the aims and objectives of the association: Comradeship – Now & Forever.

He was certain that the Ghana Armed Forces Veterans Association, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia branch has come to stay for good.

Source:www.ghanaembassy.org

America School of Nursing & Allied Health

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January 2015 Page

Begin Your Nursing Education Today

Classes Offered

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

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

Call 703-490-8402 or Visit us at www.asnahonline.com 14910 Jefferson Davis Highway Woodbridge, Virginia 22191 Fax: (703) 490-8403

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Three Africans make It on Black Women Forbes' 30 under 30 List

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Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, 29

Azealia Banks, 23

Azealia Banks may be problematic but she Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is an African-American and deserves to be on the 30 Under 30 team. Last Iranian artist. Her art focuses on sexual harassyear she independently released her long awaited ment and she has used her gift to also create the album and fans loved it. She has also not shied 2013 successfully funded project "Stop Telling away from talking about issues of race and Women to Smil." This project highlighted the racism in the music industry. Topics concerning discomfort women feel when being "cat called" racism are taboo not only for black people, but and the entitlement of men. Born in Oklahoma, especially for black female artists as there are Fazlalizadeh has been inspired by international stereotypical tropes always on hand to "whip" artists, such as Gustav Klimit.fascinating stories them back into place. However, Azealia is not and the rest of the world. Film funding is virtually one to be deterred, and her candor paired with her non existent. This stifles the art. Despite these bar- talent is why she's perfect for Forbes' 30 Under riers though, west Africa, led by Nigeria, still 30 list. manages to have the second largest film industry in the world! A testament to the tenacity of its people and the richness of their stories. Our goal is to help break down this barrier and take our stories to the rest of the world. In the process, we hope to help open up this beautiful continent to the rest of the world!

FKA Twigs, 26

Darlene Okpo, 28 and Lizzy Okpo, 24

Sisters Darlene and Lizzy have a label William Okpo, named for their Nigerian father. Like all prodigies, they started designing when they were young, and even though they were supposed to go to school for medicine, when their father learned of their dreams to start a label, he was as supportive as they wished he'd be. With personal style, perseverance, humility, passion, and confidence the sisters created their first look book and have been a force ever since. Their line is made for women, by women, and has even been rocked by the fierce and beautiful Solange Knowles.

Jhene Aiko, 26

Jhene Aiko has been in the music business for a long time. She has been affiliated with Lil Fizz from B2K and the father of her daughter is Omarion's baby brother, O'Ryan. However, while she has previously been known by who she knows, last year was all about Jhene. Her hit singles and collaborations have not only earned Aiko fan love and esteem, but Grammy nods as well. It goes without saying that Jhene Aiko has earned the love and recognition she is getting.

FKA Twigs first started as a backup dancer but is now nominated for the Best British Album. FKA has said to be inspired by great musicians like Billie Holiday and Marvin Gaye. Twigs believes she is capable of making all kinds of music and doesn't like to be "restricted," and perhaps this is why we adore her. While she has several inspirations, her style is wonderfully original.

Kelli Newman, 29

Kelli Newman is 29 and is the Co-Founder of Paradigm. Paradigm is a firm that helps underrepresented minority women obtain jobs with companies who need qualified and diverse employees.

Paradigm is a spark set off by Kelli's involvement and leadership roles with non-profit Building a Better Legal Profession. Through her involvement she desired to bring "transparency' to law firms and also "pro Bono participation

Keke Palmer, 21

Keke Palmer has been stealing our hearts and gaining love ever since "Akeelah and the Bee," and she only keeps getting better.

As of last year she became the youngest person to have her own talk show, and the first black woman to star as Cinderella on Broadway. Keke is growing up gracefully, despite being in the limelight and her success continues to know no boundaries.

Jessica Williams, 25

Who doesn't love Jessica Williams? There is no role compared to hers on "The Daily Show with John Steward." Jessica brings wit, honesty, sarcasm, satire, and representation and we love to love her. Williams adds to the authenticity of the show and is a perfect addition. Furthermore, she is not only the show's youngest correspondent she's the show's 1st black woman correspondent. What's not to be proud of?

Sarah Kunst, 28

Sarah Kunst is never not busy. Like a true phenomenal woman she is an Investor board member, and she advises and mentors with Venture for America, Code 2040, Technovation, and Tech Women organizations. She quite literally may do it all. It is always nice to see black women balancing their passions and fulfilling their dreams.

Source:forbes.com

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Maya Moore, 25

Maya Moore was not only great at basketball while in college, but she was selected before anyone else during the 2011 WNBA draft and in her first year she won the Rookie of the Year Award. Moore's dedication shows in her talent on the court as a professional player. She has helped her team win 3 championships and was recognized as MVP last year.

Lori Adelman, 28

Lori Adelman is not only the executive director of site Feministing, but she also works with Planned Parenthood and is a graduate of Harvard. She is all around fly and virtuous, and that's why she deserves to be on this list.

With so much accomplished it's a wonder she doesn't retire, but like true advocates and passionate people, we don't imagine she'll stop anytime soon. There is still work to be done and her site of 12 years along with other works, makes this world a better place.

Abena Agyemang, 29

Abena Agyemang believes that "kids should not have to travel as far as I did to get a good education." At 29, she holds fast to that belief as she is the National Director of Families for Excellent Public Schools center and it's 120 partners. She is innovative in the ways she seeks to make education work for students instead of students working to be educated. Great schools and access is a "personal" dream of Abena's.

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Ghana Tourist Coach Radio (GTC Radio) Welcomes Congressman Of Virginia, Don Beyer!!!

Somali Actor Star Gets Hollywood Film Role January 2015

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By Grace Kerongo

On Behalf of GHANA TOURIST COACH RADIO and friends of Don Beyer in the African community, we want to congratulate Congressman Don Beyer. He was so honored to be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. We are highly delighted to know that you have won the elections as a congressman for the Virginia 8th District. Your victory with a large majority has filled us with immense joy. Once again, we cease this opportunity to congratulate you and your beloved wife Megan Beyer for your well deserved and overlong success.

You must be very content with this position as you have doubtlessly worked very hard to attain this success.

Your dedication and commitment has helped you attain this post. We know you will be able to put many things back on track in Virginia especially among the minority groups. Brilliant people will be recognized for their talents and encouraged help Virginia move forward. This will benefit the entire country as new and young minds will emerge.

Ghana Tourist Coach Radio (GTC RADIO) believes you are the perfect candidate for this post. All your hard work has been paid off. The quest and the zeal to do something for Virginia and for the young masses of the country have made you winning the elections more realistic.

We trust you easily fulfill all your promises and shine brightly in the future. Wishing you all the best for your noble future endeavors.

Please accept our warm congratulations on your victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office.

As you embark upon your new responsibilities, We wish to assure you and the people of Virginia of the continued sympathetic and friendship and sympathetic interest of the American Government and people of African community in general We also send a Congratulatory message to Senator Mark Warmer, and thank you to Senator Tim Kaine for

a warm welcome to the Virginia Delegation. African community looks forward to working with you to serve the people of Virginia's 8th District!

Sincerely, Kwame Danquah (KB) Ghana Tourist Coach Radio (www.ghanatcradio.com)

Do you remember the Somali-born actor who was also an Oscar award winning contender in last year's awards? His name is Barkhad Abdi . He has just bagged a role in a new Hollywood thriller titled Eye in the Sky.

According to online reports, Barkhad is set to be back on screen in 2015 in a new thriller, after his sterling performance in Captain Philips.

The actor will be starring alongside veteran silver screen star, Helen Mirren (inset).

Eye in the Sky is an action movie about a drone mission whose goal effectively changed due to new findings about their target. Colonel Katherine Powell (Mirren) leads a secret drone mission to capture a terrorist group living led by Jamad Farah (Barhad Abdi) living in a safehouse in Nairobi, Kenya. Unfortunately, the film is currently in production in South Africa.

Source:allafrica.com

Congressman Don Beyer at the Ashanti Day Event in Alexandria

Kwame Boakye Danquah of GTC Radio Introducing Congressman Don Beyer at the Ashanti Day Event

There has been a marked rise of very good secondary schools all over the continent. Whilst government schools within African countries started off the best, following independence, much has changed.

For the most part, private schools (we consider missionary school as private) outperform government schools. In addition, international

schools have taken Africa by storm. Below is the list of 100 best secondary schools.

1. Grey College South Africa 2. Rift Valley Academy Kenya 3. King Edward VII School South Africa 4. Hilton College South Africa 5. St. George’s College Zimbabwe 6. Prince Edward School Zimbabwe 7. International School of Kenya Kenya 8. Accra Academy Ghana 9. Lycée Lamine Guèye Senegal 10. Adisadel College Ghana 11. St John’s College Houghton South Africa 12. Maritzburg College South Africa 13. Lycée Guebre Mariam Ethiopia 14. Selborne College South Africa 15. St Alban’s College South Africa 16. Lycée Lyautey Morocco 17. Durban High School South Africa 18. Grey High School South Africa 19. St Andrew`s College South Africa 20. Gateway High School Zimbabwe 21. Glenwood High School South Africa 22. Rainbow International School Uganda 23. Lycée Moulay Youssef Morocco 24. Kearsney College South Africa 25. St. James High School Zimbabwe 26. Wynberg Boys High School South Africa 27. Pretoria Boys High School South Africa 28. Lycée Français de Tananarive Madagascar 29. Mauritius College of the Air Mauritius 30. International School Moshi Tanzania 31. Le Collège Mermoz Ivory Coast 32. Strathmore School Kenya 33. Parktown Boys’ High School South Africa 34. International School of Tanganyika Tanzania 35. Holy Child School Ghana 36. Christ The King College Onitsha Nigeria 37. Graeme College South Africa 38. Jeppe High School for Boys South Africa 39. Alliance High School Kenya 40. Hillcrest School Jos Nigeria 41. Kingswood College South Africa 42. Hamilton High School Zimbabwe 43. Lincoln International School Uganda 44. Lycée Victor Hugo Morocco 45. Alexandra High School South Africa 46. École Normale Supérieure Guinea 47. Ghana International School Ghana 48. Arundel School Zimbabwe 49. Rondebosch Boys’ High School South Africa 50. Starehe Boys’ Centre Kenya 51. American International School of Johannesburg South Africa 52. Victoria Park High School South Africa 53. Methodist Boys High School Sierra Leone 54. Harare International School Zimbabwe 55. Methodist Girls High School Sierra Leone 56. Lenana School Kenya 57. St. Andrew’s High School Malawi 58. Benoni High School South Africa

Africa’s Best High Schools 59. Waddilove High School Zimbabwe 60. Roedean School South Africa 61. Wykeham Collegiate Independent School for Girls South Africa 62. Lycee Francais du Caire Egypt 63. Christian Brothers’ College Bulawayo Zimbabwe 64. Kamuzu Academy Malawi 65. Mount Pleasant High School Zimbabwe 66. Mfantsipim School Ghana 67. Chisipite Senior School Zimbabwe 68. Gayaza High School Uganda 69. Kutama College Zimbabwe 70. Wheelus High School Libya 71. Michaelhouse School South Africa 72. Westville Boys’ High School South Africa 73. Namilyango College Uganda 74. Government College Umuahia Nigeria 75. Muir College South Africa 76. Wesley Girls High School Ghana 77. Alexander Sinton High School South Africa 78. Lycée Faidherbe Senegal 79. Royal College Port Louis Mauritius 80. Lycée La Fontaine Niger 81. Lycée Lyautey de Casablanca Morocco 82. Settlers High School South Africa 83. Nyeri High School Kenya 84. Pinetown Boys’ High School South Africa 85. Kings’ College Lagos Nigeria 86. Lycée Français Liberté Mali 87. Paarl Boys’ High School South Africa 88. St. Paul’s College Namibia 89. Tafari Makonnen School Ethiopia 90. Wynberg Girls’ High School South Africa 91. Bingham Academy Ethiopia 92. Port Shepstone High School South Africa 93. Clapham High School South Africa 94. Hillcrest Secondary School Kenya 95. South African College School South Africa 96. Lycée Blaise Diagne Senegal 97. St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls South Africa 98. Townsend High School Zimbabwe 99. St.Gregory’s College Nigeria 100. St. Patrick School Zimbabwe

The Raking Methodology:

Expectedly the rankings of the “100 Best Secondary Schools in Africa” were met with displeasure from most of the people who left their comments on the article. Most people emailed the editor regarding the methodology that was used in compiling the list.

I should state here that ranking high schools from different countries across the continent is always going to be difficult as different countries follow different curriculums and take part in completely different regional assessments.

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The author selected the list of schools that have historical prominence at a national and regional level. That is the reason most schools that featured on the list are also quite old, some started well before their corresponding countries became independent. This is especially the case for most public secondary/high schools. Here it is important to note that not all schools take part in regional assessments. Yet, not a single school was eliminated for lack of regional accomplishments.

Schools that were very good at a national level, yet lacked regional presence were also considered given that they did not have any regional assessments to partake.

The author then went over the list of a few hundred schools selecting the schools that continued to lead at a national and regional level especially in the past few years when there has been national and regional rankings for secondary/high schools. It is also important to state that countries have different rakings and they rank different criteria which made it difficult to harmonize the list.

In addition to how the different schools have performed at a national level, schools whose students win prestigious scholarships and fellowships at a national and international level earned points above those that did not. On this, some schools had an advantage over others in that the data was readily available on their own websites or their Wikipedia pages. International schools are a case in point.

And success of individuals did not translate into success of the school that that particular individual attended. For instance, Koffi Annan was not enough to have Mfantsipim School (Ghana) on the list. Performance of a school is much more than what one individual had done. Mfantsipim School (Ghana) has done much more than nurturing a UN Secretary General.

The article mentioned, “Most of these schools are old, with tremendous wealth of history. The performance of such schools did take consistency into consideration to eliminate the quick rise and quick fall cases. In addition, great schools such as the African Leadership Academy have yet to prove themselves over years. Only time will tell whether they will remain at the highest level they are at.”

Some readers may disagree with the way we construct our rankings methodology. Let us know if we missed an important component below in comments.

While we should always celebrate success of private enterprise and involvement of the private sector in education, it is important to ask the question; “Is the high performance of private schools at the cost of public schools?” This is an important question since the majority of the continent lack the means to pay for the skyrocketing costs of private institutions and choose instead to rely on public schools notwithstanding the fact that each African deserves good quality education. While I do not believe that a cap on secondary school fees will help, I stand convinced that African governments need to spend more on secondary school education.

Source: Africa News

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Illegal Immigrant Who Worked In The House Of Commons Is Arrested After Using Forged Passport To Get Job

Woman, believed to be from Sierra Leone, was employed by an agency Employee had been working in Westminster catering team for two months She was allegedly allowed to roam free, despite rules for her to be escorted Incident will raise serious questions about Parliament's security system

An illegal immigrant has been arrested after allegedly using a forged passport to get a job at the House of Commons.

The woman, believed to be from Sierra Leone, had been working in the Palace of Westminster for two months as a casual member of the catering team when the discovery was made.

The employee, who had been supplied by an external recruitment agency, was arrested on Friday over the alleged security breach.

According to The Times, the woman was required to be escorted around Parliament at all times, due to the fact she was a casual employee.

But there were reports that she was allowed to roam free by allegedly using a pass owned by another member of staff.

The woman's role in catering would have given her access to senior ministers and MPs. It is believed the agency was responsible for carrying out the background checks on the employee.

A spokesman for the Commons confirmed the

arrest, saying: 'A worker for an agency contracted by the House of Commons was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on Friday, January 2.

'We cannot comment on ongoing police investigations.'

The incident will raise serious questions about Parliament's security system.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee, said there needed to be a proper inquiry about how it happened, while Mark Field, a Tory member of the intelligence and security committee, said it was a 'pretty depressing' discovery.

The case has echoes of another security blunder in 2008, when a Brazilian woman Elaine Chaves Aparecida, who had been hired as a cleaner, was arrested after trying to enter parliament using another person's security pass.

In a separate incident in 2010, a Nigerian woman was found to have worked for six months in the House of Lords catering team while living illegally in Britain.

Last February, one of Theresa May's ministers Mark Harper resigned after discovering his Colombian cleaner did not have permission to work in the UK. Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk

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Ghana Gets Africa’s First Canopy Walkway On The Sea

A 105-metre long canopy walkway has been constructed on the sea at Tema near the Meridian rock which is believed to be the centre of the world.

The canopy walkway, which cost over $200,000, is the first canopy walkway on the sea in Africa.

It is stringed to the premises of the Ave Maria Resort formerly known as Halcrow beach.

Mr Kenneth Akuffo Asare, the contractor, told the Ghana News Agency that the canopy walkway has a height of eight metres.

Mr Akuffo, who also constructed the Kakum canopy walkway in the Central Region, assured the public of its safety as quality materials were used to build it.

He said polyester ropes, galvanised cables, bolts and nuts and safety nets were used.

“Counting the Kakum and Bonsu canopy walkways, this in the third one I have built in the country but it is the first one on the sea in the whole of Africa,” Mr Asare said.

He said the closest one to the canopy walk-

way on the sea was the one he built over a river in Nigeria and appealed to the government and other stakeholders to appreciate people with extraordinary talents and give them the necessary help to promote tourism in Ghana.

Mrs Theressa Ntim, the Managing Director of Ave Maria Resort, said it was their desire to build the canopy walkway to the Meridian Rock but the cost was more than her outfit could bear.

She said the walkway was built with the aim of “promoting leisure and relaxation at the centre of the world,” she said. She added that it was her wish to do something extra to attract people to have a look at the rock.

Mrs Ntim said the canopy walk would be opened to the public at a small fee which would and appealed to the Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism to help develop the many tourism sites in Tema.

Source: Ghana/GNA

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Married At 43, Gave Birth At 60!

Meet The Couple Who Says God Is Never Late

They got married on September 3rd, 1998 and had their first child on December 29th, 2014. Excited 60-year old Tunrayo Alagbe who christened her first child on the 5th of January, 2015, says God is never too late. If you wish to read about their story find it below:

January 2015

ing. However, God sustained us.”

On the most nagging worry during the times of trial, the couple notes that the African tendency to look down on a childless couple was a constant source of concern. According to the mother, “InAfrica, having children is very important. If you’re married and childless, it’s like you have no honour, no respect, no place. You’re nobody, so to speak.”

The father, Paul Alagbe, further stated that “She would sometimes say if she had known that it would be like this, she would not marry me as it seems like she is a problem to me.”

His wife affirmed this by stating that “Medically, I was told he has no problem, but I was the one whose fallopian tubes were blocked. I felt like I was a burden to him, like I shouldn’t have come his way and instead allowed him to live his life.”

‘Childlessness does not mean you are married to the wrong person’

Paul and Tunrayo Alagbe were married on September 3, 1998 and had their first child on December 29, 2014.Rita Okonoboh chronicles the couple’s journey through the years of trials to the unfolding of boundless blessings.I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will seeand fear the LORD and put their trust in him (Psalm 40: 1-3).

The above Psalm verses aptly describe Mrs Tunrayo Alagbe’s testimony of the Lord’s goodness as she finally gave birth to a daughter at a few months shy of 60 years of age.

It was a sunny afternoon on Monday, January 5, 2015, and the atmosphere was radiantly purpled by the stylish outfits of many who had come to witness the naming ceremony of the lovely daughter of the Alagbes.

The crowd was surprisingly large, even for the African setting, as many braced the burning rays beating down on the premises of the Women Missionary Union (WMU) headquarters of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Total Garden area, Ibadan, just to show their solidarity with the couple.

As the President of the NBC, Reverend Dr Supo Ayokunle, affirmed during his address at the naming ceremony, “This child has, from the beginning, started breaking records. I have never seen a naming ceremony that attracted this kind of crowd. Also, no naming ceremony has been conducted on the premises before now. This goes to show that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere and anyhow, pleasantly, for his own people.

For those who wait upon God, it is never over until it is over. This is an occasion for us to understand that God’s ways are not our ways.”

The Retired Executive Director, Women Missionary Union, Nigeria, and a close friend of the family who anchored the naming of the baby, Reverend Mrs Yemi Ladokun, took the audience through the time of waiting. She showed to the crowd some flowers from the bouquet used during the wedding and stated that she had kept the flowers thinking she would use them during the year after the wedding during the naming ceremony of a child but she was wrong as she had to wait for almost 17 years.

The child was given close to 40 names including, Halleluyah, Testimony, Esther, Jesulayomi, Ileri-Ayo-Mi, OkikiJesu, Adepate, Oluwatoyin, Omoronike, Ibiyemi, Oluremi, Motunrayo, Mo-F’Oluwa-ke, Aderonke, Odunola, Eri-Ipe, Ewa-Iyin, Itan-iyanu-ife, IturaOluwa, Favour, Oluwadamilare, Titilayomi-niwaju-Oluwa, among other significant names.

‘A childless woman has no honour, no respect, no place’

Speaking with Sunday Tribune on the experience during the years of anxiety, Mrs Alagbe noted that the many years of worrying, coupled with the delay before marriage, contributed to making the experience quite worrying. According to her, “I wouldn’t say we were not worried, but God wascomforting and encouraging us. It was not a pleasant experience at all.

We experienced delay before marriage but this one was more excruciat-

The president of the NBC, Reverend Ayokunle, who spoke on challenges and godly responses noted that nobility and godliness does not immune an individual from trials. According to him, “Childlessness is not a modern-day challenge. The fact that your family is childless does not mean you are married to the wrong person. Some couples who do not have the problem of childlessness have other problems. Would you rather exchange childlessness for blindness, for instance? A problem is a problem but God is always there.”

On her general outlook during the period of not knowing how things would turn out, Mrs Alagbe, whom many describe as cheerful, warm and always ready with a smile, narrated “I kept hoping. I cherished my personal relationship with God because I know that the day you die, this issue of having children no longer has meaning. So, I was jealously guarding my personal relationship with God, especially in relation to eternity. I tried to enjoy other things God has blessed me with.Although, I was often disturbed by that one thing he had not done, I tried to enjoy what he has done and in my own little way, I served him, hoping He will do it. I thought that if He doesn’t do it, He knows why and knows how to sustain me. That’s also why I didn’t visit all sort of places because I know that if I eventually get a child from the wrong source and I end up in hell, what use will it be? Besides, God encouraged me that He will do it and I trusted in His promise.”

‘There was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child’

Her husband, Mr Alagbe, was not also without his own troubles. According to him, he was constantly reminded about the need to take the alternative option by getting a second wife.

This was further hinged on his position as the only surviving male child of his family. As Mr Alagbe puts it, “We were six in my family; four of them died and it was just me and my sister left. All my siblings who died did not have any children and there was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child. However, I was convinced by my faith not to do anything negative.”

God never comes too late –Mother Mrs Alagbe, who started treatment in early 2014, was confirmed pregnant in April 2014 and the reaction of the couple when the news first broke is too much to sufficiently capture in words.

“I didn’t believe it. It didn’t have much meaning to me. It was like I was dreaming. However, as time went on, I saw it becoming a reality. I just kept thanking God because He said He will do it according to his promise in Psalm 40. I know that this miracle is for God’s name to be glorified and for the hope of people to be reawakened so that they believe that

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God still works miracles. God never comes too late,” Mrs Alagbe stated.

For Mr Alagbe, his reception of the good news was almost unbelievable. In his words, “It was like a dream. I kept asking myself if it was true.”

While echoing the joy of motherhood, Mrs Alagbe stated that “I just praise God. I’m delighted that God kept his word. In January 2013, there was a prophecy in our church that God will do it. Several people came to me and told me to hold on to that prophecy because it was for me. In addition to what others had been telling me, and the support I received, especially from my church, El-Shaddai Baptist Church, Pastor Mrs Olateju and many people, I am happy that God has been faithful to His word.”

‘You can still help people even in your own sorrow’ While acknowledging that going through childlessness is no trivial task, Mrs Alagbe advises couples in this situation to guard their relationship with God whatever the eventual outcome. As she points out, “Even if at the end of the day, God doesn’t do it, it is to the advantage of the couple. I reached that stage where I told God that if He doesn’t do it, I’m okay with His decision because He knows what is best for me. My advice is that they should hold on to God and ensure that their personal relationship with God stands. They should also do other things to serve God because when you serve God, you are not likely to be too sorrowful and you’ll be happy to meet the needs of others and minister to people. Couples should not aimlessly trust God but anchor on a verse on the Bible and trust the eventual manifestation of God’s word. They should also help others. You can still help people even in your own sorrow. When you minister to the needs of people, your burden is lightened. The couple shouldn’t become so averse to others as if barrenness is the only problem in the world. Afterall, God has done other things that they can enjoy and appreciate. Let them hold on to God.” Mr Alagbe, affirmed by friends and church members to be a friend of children and who also teaches children in the church, advises couples in the situation to ensure that they are not hostile to people, especially children, no matter how hard it seems.

Taking more wives is causing more problems –Father

In his advice for men who are currently undergoing the challenge of childlessness and who, like him, had been advised to take a second wife, Mr Alagbe encourages them to fear God, stating that “If they go for more wives, they are asking for more problems. The best thing is to hold on to God and see beyond the immediate situation. Right from time, I knew there was a problem but I also considered what the situation would be if I was the one who had the problem.”

The couple attempted to relive the priceless memory of viewing the child for the first time. For Mr Alagbe, “There was anxiety at the time of delivery. I read Tribune newspapers a lot and I had read something about a similar case in which the operation was not successful and I kept thinking about it. But when I saw the baby, I almost cried. I was very happy.”

For Mrs Alagbe, “I was just happy. I don’t know the words to use. I was excited. I was thrilled that the baby had come at last. I had her through Caesarian section at Vine Branch Medical Centre and at the theatre, when they told me ‘this is your baby; it’s a perfect baby,’ I wanted to scream and say ‘Wow! So this is what was in my womb!’ I lack words to explain. Even though I was in pains, I couldn’t sleep throughout that day. I was just looking at her and I kept saying to myself, ‘So this is you I have been waiting for. Where did you hide?’ I was really very happy.”

Source:nigeriannewsupdate

Afrikan

Nutrition Corner

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New Year, New Lunch Bag

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

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

So why should you consider getting yourself a lunch bag for this New Year? Well, it will be more beneficial than any of your other gifts. You can think of the lunch bag as some sort of heroic object coming to save you from all the excess weight gain and money.

Okay, so maybe it’s not really about the lunch bag I must admit, it is more about the different kinds of foods you pack into it.

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

Here are some tips for packing your every day lunch: • Invest in a good lunch box that includes a cooler for foods that need to be kept cold.

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

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

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

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

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

• Pack a beverage low in added sugar and calories.

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

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

Thank you!

National Restaurant Association: www.restaurant.org

SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE HOME OWNERSHIP A REALITY January 2015

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

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gage credit rating for that previous account.

VA Loan TWO years after a short sale with Zero Down payment: You can buy a house after a short sale with a 2 year waiting period from a major derogatory event including short sale, bankruptcy, or foreclosure.

Buying a House with a VA Loan ONE year or less after a short sale with Zero Down payment: If your former loan on the home you short sold was either a VA loan or a non- VA loan, your wait time may be less than 2 years if you have a clear CAIVRS AND HARDSHIP DOCUMENTATION. CAIVRS is a report pulled by lenders for government loans (FHA, VA USDA) to verify that the borrower does not currently owe money to the government for previous mortgage, student loans, liens, etc. and documentation detailing the circumstance of the short sale.

Buying a house in 2014 after your short sale in 2010, 2011 or earlier years: Those who have completed a short sale in 2009, 2010, 2011, and earlier years are Dear Reader, most likely ready to apply for a loan after a 3 year waitIt is heartfelt joy I ink this piece of real estate lit- ing period has passed from the date of the short sale. erature to you. Over the year, I have had people You may now be able to buy a home again in 2014 and asked me questions about how to get back into apply for a loan without consideration of any special the market after foreclosure or short sale. Indeed, circumstances. the last few years have created a volatile market condition and a great concern for home owners Buying a house in 2014 after short sale in 2013 with and individuals interested in pursuing real estate extenuating circumstances: Your wait time to buy a investment. I share your concerns, the frustrahouse and qualify for a mortgage after a short sale in tions and empathize with you for losing your 2013 could only be 12 months to 24 months if you can hard earned money/ down payment and losing prove that you have extenuating circumstances that led your home and entire real estate investment (s). to your short sale. For example, extenuating circumThe good news is that things have changed since stances are major illness or death of a wage earner, nonyou left the market due to foreclosure or short recurring situations that leads to a sudden, significant, sale or whatever the reason was that made you and prolonged reduction in income or catastrophic lose your home. Though the government has increase in your mortgage payments and other financial tightened the lending rules to eliminate predatory obligations. Note that divorce or a job relocation are not lenders who prey on consumers, it is NOT DIF- typically viewed by lenders as sufficient extenuating FICULT to secure a loan to purchase a real estate circumstances. property. I hope that this information will be Buying a House with a Conventional Loan after a useful to your search to venture back to the real short sale: You may be able to buy a house 2 years after estate market. Now, is the best time to definitely a short sale with 10% down payment if you can docuget back into the market with record low interest ment and verify acceptable extenuating circumstances rate and reasonable pricing of houses. Here are prior to your short sale. It is even better if you have your options to get back to buying a home again: 20% down payment which helps to avoid expensive FHA’s Back to Work Program: FHA is willing mortgage insurance on loans with less than 20% down to back loans for borrowers with as little as payment. Some lenders give you the flexibility of com3.50% down payment one year after having had ing up with the 20% down payment using a combinaa short sale, bankruptcy, or foreclosure. tion of pledged personal assets. With Fannie/Freddie Eligibility require proof of Economic Event Loans, you will have to wait 4 years if you only have which is beyond your control that resulted in a 10% down payment or possibly wait just 2 years if you Loss of Employment, Loss of Income or a com- have extenuating circumstances that lead to the short bination of both, which causes a reduction in the sale of your home. your Household Income of 20% or more for a As of August 16, 2014 Fannie Mae Desktop period of at least 6 months. Note: If you did a Underwriter (DU) has amended the underwriting guideprior short sale or were delinquent on a prior line. They will no longer treat a mortgage included in a FHA loan, you will not be able to buy after one short sale that is reporting as a 9, “Charge Off”, on the year with this program using an FHA loan. credit report as foreclosure. The wait time on a short Rather, you will have to wait the standard 3 sale apply. However, 20% down payment is needed for years after a short sale was completed to apply 2 years, 10% down payment for 4 years and 5% down for a mortgage and 2 years for a chapter 7 bank- payment for 7 years. ruptcy and after 1 year on a chapter 13 with court’s pre-approval.

I hope you have enjoyed this piece and realized that there is still light at the end of the tunnel if you did FHA loan one year after a short sale with 3.5% experience a foreclosure or short sale. I also hope this down payment with NO LATE PAYMENTS has been a useful resource to you. If you need assisprior to short sale: eligibility requirements tance with making your home ownership a reality, call include documentation of hardship condition, me at 571-229-6694 or email me at NOT late r mortgage payments at the time of the ABEDIAKO@PWREALTY.COMand I will help you short sale, proceeds from the short sale served as get started. Thank you. payment in flu for the loan, you have a clear CAIVRS report (Credit Alert Verification Reporting System), and you have an M1 mort-

Afrikan

Post

Wiyaala Shows Class At All Africa Music Awards January

2014

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and Mozambique.

During her conversation with #TheAfricanDream, Wiyaala revealed how humbled she is to have been honored among such greats like Angelique Kidjo, the Grammy award winning singer-songwriter and activist from Benin in West Africa.

"It is such an honor for people to compare me to her, but I will appreciate it even more if people see me for who I really am and discover my very own true uniqueness and style" Wiyaala said. When we asked Wiyaala to talk about something most people will find intriguing about her she responded by simply saying: “I love to wear boxers because they are comfortable” and then she burst out laughing.

Wiyaala says her fans have stood by her through thick and thin and had faith in her when circumstances tried to dissuade her. Another person the musician also had praises for was John Sherren; her manager, who like her mother really "believed in me when no one else thought I could get anywhere" she said.

The 2012 Vodafone Icons winner, Wiyaala, has swept two desirable awards at the maiden edition of the ‘All Africa Music Awards’ (AFRIMA) held in Lagos, Nigeria a few weeks ago.

Wiyaala, a proven ambassador for Ghanaian music, won two 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies for The Most Promising Artiste in Africa and The Revelation of the African Continent.

Since winning the Vodafone Icons reality show in 2012, the young songstress from the Upper East Region has captured a string of awards and citations including Face of Pepsi Ghana, Converse All Stars Brand Ambassador for Ghana, the Youth Achievers Award of the Upper West, Female Personality of the Year at the Sissala Prestige Awards, and Music Ambassador for the Upper West region.

Commenting on the awards to journalists in Lagos, Wiyaala said: “I am grateful for being recognized yet again. I am optimistic that my success as a young woman will inspire many youth in my community and the entire country to strive for greatness”.

Marketing Director for Vodafone Ghana Agnes Emefa-Essah said: “As a company, we are delighted to be at the forefront of music in the country. Wiyaala’s exploits on the African continent gives us more determination to continue to make further inroads and empower young musical talent in the country. This is what we want as a company; to be a driver in the realisation of dreams and aspirations for the youth of this country”.

The All Africa Music Awards was broadcast live on 109 TV stations and attended by a host of international African music celebrities including Davido and 2face Idibia from Nigeria, DJ Arafat from Cote D'Ivoire, Mi Casa from South Africa, Ahmed Soultan from Morocco, Laurette La Perle from Democratic Republic of Congo and a host of others.

Source: http://www.myjoyonline.com

Noella Wiyaala granted #TheAfricanDream an exclusive interview from her base in the port city of Tema in Ghana, where she talked about herself, music and plans for 2015. Wiyaala is a singer-songwriter who writes her own lyrics and classifies her genre as Afropop.

Wiyaala is probably the only artiste in the world recording in the Sissala language which she says is one of the most beautiful languages for singing in. Her lyrics are about where she comes from and "the traditional environment I grew up in and how at the same time it is being influenced by Western cultures both musically and socially" she says.

The award winning musician walked away with two trophies at the maiden edition of the All Africa Music Awards which took place December 2014 on Victoria Island in Lagos Nigeria. Her awards were won in The Most Promising Artiste in Africa and The Revelation of The African Continent categories respectively. Some of the artistes that were vying for the 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies with Wiyaala were respectively from Nigeria, Kenya

"Music has always been a part of my life even though I initially wanted to be a nurse when I was growing up. Then along the line I started receiving praises for my singing prowess. That is when I told my mother that I wanted to be a musician and sing on the global stage because when I become internationally recognized, I would have made enough money to build her a house" said Wiyaala about how she started her musical journey.

The difference in her music is the language in which it is sung, the tone of her voice and her intricate blend of traditional musical instruments of her native Sissala with modern beats found out there today.

Because music is a universal language Wiyaala says she is happy people now sing her lyrics even though they do not understand the words because she sees it as her own small way of popularizing her native language.

“I am grateful for being recognized yet again. I am optimistic that my success as a young woman will inspire many youth in my community and the entire continent to strive for greatness” the musician said of her multiple recognitions as an artiste. She continued to say that she wants to use her music to create awareness against early or forced marriages among young women in certain regions of the world and highlight the lack of education in those regions while preaching the need for people to foster peace all over.

It is very important to Wiyaala for women all over to harness the power of their potentials and look up to other women who have braved the odds and attained higher heights. She referred to Malala Yousafzai who even before she turns 18; the legal age of adult, has become the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate at age 17 and a powerful advocate for women rights across the globe.

My message to people in 2015 is for all to realize that a generation without roots are a lost one, it is therefore very important that “we do not loose sight of our cultures and traditions as a people because the influence of the Internet, Smart phones and other modern inventions and technology is gradually eroding some of the positives of our respective cultures here in Africa. I am therefore asking all to blend the good of modernity with the good of ancient cultures and find a balance between the two” Wiyaala said.

Here at #TheAfricanDream, we believe that Wiyaala is here to carve a niche for herself with her self titled debut album and we ask that you watch out for her because international reggae sensation Rocky Dawuni appropriately describes her as someone who “could possibly be one of the coolest emerging female artistes in Ghana now because she has a lot of potential and charisma”.

Theafricandream Oral Ofori

Afrikan

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The 6 Biggest Prayer Camps In Ghana Now

January 2015

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A prayer camp is a location where believers (especially Christians) meet to pray for answers to their problems. We know for sure Ghanaians don’t play with their God, for instance, some Ghanaians believe God can provide them with basic needs like food, money etc. even more than what working can provide them, hence they spend working days at these prayer camps and church centers for their material and spiritual needs. In Ghana, most churches start by building prayer camps which attract lots of people thanks to their miraculous prayer sessions, miracle encounters and healing of ailments whiles other prayer camps for decades are not really owned by anyone but are there for whoever needs to use it.

Below are 6 of the biggest prayer camps in Ghana now.

2. Hebron Prayer Camp By Elder Donkor

Used to be the prayer camp of the Church of Pentecost before they disassociated themselves from it. Hebron prayer camp now hosts up to 10,000 people and has their stickers all over 1. MOGPA By Rev. Osei Bonsu MOGPA wrist band, stickers and merchandises can be seen all over the place. Though it has been 4 years since it’s existence, MOGPA which can be located in town.

Kumasi has overthrown some of the major prayer camps in the country with a huge patronage by people all over the place. It also holds mega conventions.

3. Resurrection Power New Generation Church By Rev Anthony Kwadwo Boakye Though it’s almost a church now, the resurrection power whose main theme is “prayers and healing”, is one of the leading prayer houses in Ghana now with thousands of members and mega conventions organized across the country.

5. Achimota Forest It is one of the oldest prayer camps in the country and can be located in Accra at the Achimota Forest Reserve. It hosts thousands of individuals and have birthed most of the prominent men of God in the country.

4. Bethel Prayer Camp Bethel Prayer Camp might be one of the few prayer camps you will visit in Ghana with more men than women. Maybe it is because the leader is a woman.

It can be located in Kumasi. This prayer house within a few years has gained grounds thanks to their powerful prayer sessions and healing abilities.

5. Atwea Mountains By Pastor Abraham Osei-Asibey One of the popular praying mountains in Ghana and Africa. An estimated thousands of people go up the mountain each year to pray. It was formed when Local Methodist Pastor, Abraham Osei-Asibey first went up the mountain to pray.

Source: http://ghanavibes.com

2015 AFCON Draw:

Afrikan

Post

Group A - Equtorial Guinea, Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso Group B - Zambia, DR Congo, Cape Verde, Tunisia

Group C - Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Algeria

Group D - Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Africa Cup of Nations Winners

By Stewart Coggin,

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

Cups Won

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

African Cup of Nations | FIXTURES

Saturday 17 January 2015 Equatorial Guinea v Congo Gabon v Burkina Faso

Estadio de Bata Estadio de Bata

Sunday 18 January 2015 Zambia v Congo DR Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín Tunisia v Cape Verde Islands Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín Monday 19 January 2015 Ghana v Senegal Estadio de Mongomo Algeria v South Africa Estadio de Mongomo

11:00 14:00

11:00 14:00 18:00 14:00

Tuesday 20 January 2015 Côte d'Ivoire v Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 18:00 Mali v Cameroon Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 14:00

Wednesday 21 January 2015 Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea Estadio de Bata Congo v Gabon Estadio de Bata

Thursday 22 January 2015 Zambia v Tunisia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín 18:00 Cape Verde Islands v Congo DR Nuevo Estadio d 21:00

Friday 23 January 2015 Ghana v Algeria Estadio de Mongomo South Africa v Senegal Estadio de Mongomo

18:00 14:00

11:00 14:00

Saturday 24 January 2015 Côte d'Ivoire v Mali Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 11:00 Cameroon v Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 14:00

Sunday 25 January 2015 Burkina Faso v Congo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín 20:00 Equatorial Guinea v Gabon Estadio de Bata 20:00

Monday 26 January 2015 Cape Verde Islands v Zambia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín Congo DR v Tunisia Estadio de Bata

Tuesday 27 January 2015 Senegal v Algeria Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 20:00 South Africa v Ghana Estadio de Mongomo

13:00 13:00 13:00

Wednesday 28 January 2015 Cameroon v Côte d'Ivoire Nuevo Estadio de Malabo 13:00 Guinea v Mali Estadio de Mongomo 13:00

Saturday 31 January 2015 Group A Winner v Group B Second Place Group B Winner v Group A Second Place

Estadio de Bata 11:00 Nuevo Estadio de 14:00

Sunday 01 February 2015 Group C Winner vGroup D Second Place Group D Winner v Group C Second Place

Wednesday 04 February 2015 Quarter-Final 1 Winner vQuarter-Final 4 14:00 Thursday 05 February 2015 Quarter-Final 2 Winner v

Saturday 07 February 2015 Semi-Final 1 Loser v Semi-Final 2 Loser Sunday 08 February 2015 Semi-Final 1 Winner v

11:00 13:00

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14:00 13:00 14:00

Sunday 08 February 2015 Semi-Final 1 Winner v Semi-Final 2 Winner Estadio de Bata

January 2015

14:00

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

Next to Blaze N Cuts and Aburi Gardens Restaurant -Opposite Checkers