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October 2016
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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 8 Issue 10
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) Pg. 36
New Malawian Ambassador to the U.S. Presents Letters
of Credence at White House Pg. 5
US Imposes Visa Ban On Gambian Government Officials Over Deportation
Pg. 7
When God Stirs Your Spirit Pg. 11
Obama Lifts Sanctions Against Ivory Coast, Citing Progress Pg. 28 UPDATE Friends Of Mahama In USA Donates 5,000 and T-Shirts To Mahama For Campaign Pg. 29
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October 2016 Page 4
Afrikan Post
New Malawian Ambassador to the U.S. Presents Letters of Credence at White House
AMIP News Washington DC September 23, 2016
On Friday, September 16, 2016, the newest African Ambassador to the U.S. – His Excellency Edward Yakobe Sawerengera, Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi – presented his Letters of Credence to President Obama at an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House.
The presentation of credentials is a traditional ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an Ambassador’s service in Washington.
http://www.amipnewsonline.org/
October 2016
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Coal-Fired Power Plant, Not Solution To Ghana’s Energy Crisis
posed coal-fired power plant at Ekumfi Aboano. The forum, held in the Ekumfi District, was attended by Chiefs, opinion leaders and the inhabitants of the five coastal communities that would be affected by the project. The communities are Aboano, Immuna, OtuamKontankore, Kokodo and Sarfa-Npoano The project, estimated to cost $1.5 billion will be financed by the Chinese African Development Fund and would be constructed by Shenzhen Energy over a five year period and is estimated to add 700 MW to the national grid. Ghana, Nana Amuah said, is richly endowed and has the potential of becoming a solar power producer because of the vast savanna land in the Northern part of the country; along the coastal belt, Ghana also has enough wind to propel windmills to generate power, she added. She said Ghana has enough power generating sources like hydro power from Akosombo, Kpone and Bui, thermal plants in the Western Region and Asogli power plant in the Volta Region. In addition, she said, Ghana also has emergency power Nana Amuah Afenyi VI, (King Peggy ) Chief of Ekumfi plants like the Osagyefo Barge in the Western Region Otuam and Mankrado of Ekumfi Traditional Area in the and Karlpower plants in Tema in the Greater Accra Central Region of Ghana, has expressed her disappointRegion. ment and shock at plans by the Volta River Authority These energy sources, Nana Amuah said, could generate (VRA) to construct a coal-fired power plant at the all the energy needs of Ghanaians if good management Ekumfi Traditional area to ease the erratic power supply practices are put in place for efficient distribution. in Ghana. “This is why I am in support of government’s efforts at Speaking at her Silver Spring residence in Maryland, collaborating with Millennium Challenge Compact United States of America (USA) she told “The Afrikan (MCC) of the US to restructure the Electricity Post”, a Virginia based Ghanaian newspaper “Even Corporation of Ghana (ECG) to make it more efficient in though I understand the anticipation and eagerness of my the distribution of power in the country”, she said. colleague Chiefs and people of the area because for them, On the Health hazard that comes with the coal-fired the project would create jobs for the people to ease power plant, she said coal plants, as source of electricity unemployment in the area but the health hazards from the is under attack all over the world because of its threat to project, outweighs the benefits”. the health of communities wherever coal-plants are Nana Amuah Afenyi, one of the few female Chiefs in cited. Ghana, is therefore appealing to the Government to inter- Research, has shown that communities and workers of vene to stop the project from going ahead since it will coal-fired power plants often suffer from ‘Black Lung’ bring residents more health problems than ease their or pneumoconiosis from breathing in coal dust. This already precarious situation. results in shortness of breath and puts individuals at risk She said she is aware of the daily stress and hardship her for emphysema, bronchitis and fibrosis, Nana Amuah subjects are going through as a result of unemployment said, adding “black lung is now on the rise and is incurbut would not support the citing of a coal-fired power able”. plant in the Ekumfi area because it will present serious Beyond posing threats to communities and worker’s threat to the safety of the community, threaten both water safety, pollution from coal-fired power plant is linked to bodies, including drinking water, the air quality of the chronic illness among residents in communities, she community and even the fishes in the sea. said. Nana Amuah Afenyi,(King Peggy ) known in private life Communities where coal-fired power plants are cited, as Peggielene Bartels and based in the US said, in this stand the risk of developing kidney disease, chronic era of climatic change and the fight against ecological obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema and destruction, it was surprising that Ghana should be pursu- high blood pressure (hypertension), she lamented saying ing coal-fired power plant at a time even richer nations “mortality rates are also very high among coal-fired like the United States and European states are phasing power plant workers and communities”. out power generation from coal-fired power plants. Across the world, surveys conducted among workers and She said the US that is far richer and technologically residents show that individuals living near a coal-fired advanced with over 600 coal plants across the US, has power plant are at higher risk for health problems than started reducing her dependence on coal because of the those who do not live near the plant. health hazards and the desire to use clean energy. Nana Amuah Afenyi said for years, she is been working The Ekumfi Mankrado was reacting to media reports that very hard to find companies that could come to the the Volta River Authority (VRA) was planning to impleEkumfi area to create jobs for her people and should be ment a coal-fired power plant in the Ekumfi area of the jubilating such a project was finally coming to the area Central Region in collaboration with the Chinese to deal but “with my experience in the US, I cannot support a with the power problems facing the country. project that would bring my people more health probThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collabo- lems than the provision of a healthy, happier life. ration with the Volta River Authority (VRA) held a public forum to assess the environmental impact of the pro-
Washington DC Metro New Patriotic Party(NPP ) Picnic The Washington DC Metro Branch of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) held their annual Picnic at the Joseph Hensley Park in Northern Virginia on Saturday September 17. Since membership is the lifeblood of any organization the picnic was an opportunity for the Organization to attract new members and build a strong network of people who share the vision of the Party and the Presidential Candidate who is currently hoping to unseat the current administration in Ghana in the December 2016 elections. Dr. Aaron Adade the Washington Metro Chairman , Mr. Kwaku Boateng, Dr. Abrafi Gyan, Mr. Kwame Ahenkorah , Anim Sampong and some of the community leaders worked tirelessly to galvanize the support base in the Washington Metro Area. The event was overall a success . The New Patriotic Party is a liberal democratic and liberal conservative party in Ghana founded 1992. Slogan: Development in Freedom
October 2016 Page 6
Nigerian Born Nnemkadi Ogwumike Named Women NBA’s Most Valuable Player 2016
Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike also known as Nnemkadi Ogwumike has been awarded the Women’s NBA Most Valuable player of the year award for her fine displays in the USA women’s basketball league this season.
Ogwumike (362 points) received 31 of 39 first-place votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Tina Charles of the New York Liberty received the other eight first-place votes and finished second with 267 points, followed by Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx (197 points), Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky (119 points) and Parker (30 points). Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.
Kwaku Boateng, Kwame Ahenkorah, community activists and friends
Ex-Black Stars Coach Fred Osam-Duodu Dead
Former Black Stars coach Fred Osam-Duodu has passed on at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra on Tuesday October 4.
According to sources close to the highly respected technical brains, he died after a short illness.
Osam-Duodu won the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana in 1978 and also coached in several African countries, winning the 2005 U-17 African title with Gambia.
He won the 1993 African U-20 Cup of Nations and a silver medal at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship. He was also Ghana’s coach during the 2002 African Cup of Nations, held in Mali.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Association of Coaches will officially pay a visit to the family .
Highlife Radio crew at the Event
Source: Starrfmonline.com
US Imposes Visa Ban On Gambian Government Officials Over Deportation
October 2016
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Buhari Orders Sale Of 2 Presidential Jets To 'cut Down On Waste'
The United States said on Monday that it will not grant visas to members of the Gambian government. The US said its position will remain until a dispute over Gambians awaiting deportation back to the west African nation was resolved.
The Gambia has reportedly refused to accept nearly 2000 people the US is trying to deport. The Washington Times noted that Homeland Security took the move after extensive overtures to the Gambian government were not heeded.
‘‘As of October 1, 2016, the US Embassy in Banjul, the Gambia has discontinued visa issuance to employees of the Gambian government, employees of certain entities associated with the government, and their spouses and children with limited exceptions,’‘ a State Department official said.
A number of Gambians in the United States who are under final deportation orders, after “exhausting” all legal channels that would have permitted them to remain are unable to be deported because the Gambian government has refused to issue them with passport and other necessary documents to facilitate the deportation.
Gambia becomes the first country in the last 15 years to face such a diplomatic penalty. The only time the law was triggered was in 2001 against Guyana. The south American nation complied with US demands within two months after the ban.
“Our country respects the laws of the United States, and we are working closely with the U.S. authorities to take care of the situation,” said Hamba Manneh, counselor at the Gambian embassy in the US.
The US has threatened further that they will extend the ban if the Gambia fails to cooperate. ‘‘It’s time we make clear to these nations that blocking US deportation efforts by refusing to take back their citizens has consequences,’‘ a top senator said.
Reports estimate that over 30,000 Cubans, most of them with criminal records, are awaiting deportation but have been released onto the streets in the U.S. because Cuba refuses to take them back.
China is another major offender, placing high on the list of nearly two dozen recalcitrant countries identified by Homeland Security. The Gambia is ranked No. 11 on that list, according to Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Center for Immigration Studies.
Back home, President Yahya Jammeh, who is hoping to win a fifth term in office in December polls after ruling since 1994. The Gambia has seen large-scale migration which has been blamed largely on high levels of youth unemployment.
A European parliament delegation ended a tour of the country last week by threatening to recommend sanctions if the rights situation did not improve.
“In relation to migration per capita, Gambia has more people coming to the European Union than any country, not in total, but as a proportion of a population of 1.8 million,” said British MEP David Martin said.
“You have more Gambians arriving in Europe than any other nationality. That should send the signal to us that we should be doing more in this country,” added the head of the human rights delegation.
http://www.africanews.com/
Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban with VANGUARD NIGERIA
The Nigerian government has advertised the sale of two aircrafts in the presidential fleet. A Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker 4000 are the two aircrafts supposed to be disposed off. The office of the national security adviser is said to be in charge of the sale.
The online news portal, Vanguard, reports that the federal government placed an advertisement in a national daily to that effect. Vanguard further reports that bidders were asked to quote their interests in dollars.
The full page advert gave specifications for both aircrafts including the highlights, the performance data and interior highlights of the aircrafts. ‘‘Interested buyers were asked to inspect the Falcon at the prersidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and the Hawker at Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center, Zurich, Switzerland,’‘ Vanguard further reported.
The fleet of Nigeria’s presidency has been a subject of debate in Africa’s most populous nation. The call to trim the fleet has heightened in times of economic difficulty.
A presidential spokesperson on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, had hinted that the fleet would be reduced in September. His tweet to that effect read, ‘‘There is a government committee already in place, working to reduce the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet.’‘ He said the move “is in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that aircraft in the Presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste.”
Shehu added that the exercise in respect of cutting down the fleet was still ongoing. In a response to a question about the remaining jets, he added, “Some of the aircrafts will be handed over to the Nigerian Air force to boost their operations.” Nigeria, Africa’s second largest economy, officially entered a state of economic recession for the first time in over 20 years. This came after current figures revealed that the economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter.
According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 2.06% in the second quarter. The GDP shrunk by 0.36%.
A recession is a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activities are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.
The cause of the slump is believed largely to be as a result of the slump of oil prices on the world market. That situation has been worsened by renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta region, the attacks on oil installations continue to disrupt production of oil in the region.
October 2016
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OptimumCare Home Care Services Awarded Home Care Accreditation From The Joint Commission
WOODBRIDGE, Va., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OptimumCare Home Care Services today announced it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of ApprovalÂŽ for Home Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of ApprovalÂŽ is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective care.
OptimumCare Home Care Services underwent a rigorous onsite survey from August 29th to August 31st, 2016. During the survey, compliance with home care standards reflecting key organization areas was evaluated, including the provision of care, treatment and services, emergency management, human resources, individual rights and responsibilities, and leadership. The accreditation process also provided OptimumCare Home Care Services with education and guidance to help staff continue to improve its home care program's performance.
Established in 1988, The Joint Commission's Home Care Accreditation Program supports the efforts of its accredited organizations to help deliver safe, high quality care and services. More than 6,000 home care programs currently maintain accreditation, awarded for a three-year period, from The Joint Commission.
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"When individuals engage a home care provider they want to be sure that the provider is capable of providing safe, quality care," said Margherita Labson, RN, MS, executive director, Home Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. "As the home care setting becomes increasingly popular, it is important that home care providers are able to demonstrate that they are capable of providing safe, high quality care. Accreditation by The Joint Commission serves as an indication that the organization has demonstrated compliance to these recognized standards of safe and quality care."
"OptimumCare Home Care Services is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation," added Kwaku Boateng, CEO, OptimumCare Home Care Services. "Staff from across our organization continue to work together to strengthen the continuum of care and to deliver and maintain optimal home care services for those in our community."
This accreditation allows OptimumCare to continue providing services such as, Home Health Aide, Skilled Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medical Social Work, Infusion Therapy, and other Post Surgery and Rehabilitative Care. Call us today, 703-490-8003 or visit our website www.optimumcarehomecare.com to learn more about our services.
Kwaku Boateng, CEO OptimumCare Home Care Services 703-490-8003 kwaku.boateng@optimumcarehomecare.com www.optimumcarehomecare.com
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President Obama Opens Smithsonian’s New AfricanAmerican Museum Designed by Ghanaian Architect, David Adjaye
October 2016
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Ghanaian Architect Who Designed US' African American Museum Honoured A renowned Ghanaian architect, Mr David Adjaye, has been honoured by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for his outstanding achievement in architecture.
He was presented with a citation by the Chairman of the NDPC, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, at the Archi-Afrika Design and Architecture Gallery at James Town in Accra last Friday.
Contributions
Mr Adjaye is best known for his work as the designer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture recently opened by President Barack Obama in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA).
Other works by the architect include the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, USA.
The design of the National Museum of African American History and Culture was inspired by the Yoruba, an African people with origins in Benin and Nigeria. Alan Karchmer for NMAAHC President Barack Obama has formally opened the first US national museum about the AfricanAmerican experience, in Washington DC.
Barack Obama said the $540m Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture would “tell a story of America that hasn’t always taken a front seat”. The building is designed by British-Ghanaian architect, David Adjaye. David Adjaye was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The son of a Ghanaian diplomat, David Adjaye lived in Tanzania, Egypt, Yemen and Lebanon before moving to Britain at the age of nine. He earned a BA at London South Bank University, before graduating with an MA in 1993 from the Royal College of Art.
the opening. It was then-president Mr Bush who signed the law in 2003 that allowed construction of the museum to move forward.
Both Mr Bush and his wife Laura addressed the crowd. They were followed by Stevie Wonder, who performed the song Where Is Our Love. The bronze-coloured museum, designed by British architect David Adjaye, is located on Washington’s National Mall – not far from the White House. It contains 36,000 items, ranging from trade goods used to buy slaves in Africa to a segregated railway car from the 1920s and a red Cadillac convertible belonging to rock’n’roll pioneer Chuck Berry.
Mr Obama’s predecessor George W Bush was also at http://howafrica.com/
Citation
Presenting the citation, Prof. Botchwey commended Mr Adjaye for “demonstrating through your design work an abiding commitment to the principles of inclusion, equity and the creativity of the Ghanaian spirit. For your outstaning achievements in architecture.”
Giving a personal testimony, Dr. Botchwey said, “I once drove past the iconic Museum of African American history in Washington and I wondered who designed it. When I found out that it was a Ghanaian, I was so proud of this country. We must, therefore, duly recognise the work of David to inspire the upcoming generation of architects.’’
The NDPC chairman explained that architecture was an important component in the development of the country owing to the significant role it played in shaping the development of communities.
“Architecture fits into the NDPC’s ongoing preparation for a long-term national development plan which duly recognises the importance of developing sustainable cities marked by architectural beauty of a special African character in the context of a safe community,” he stated.
Prof. Botchwey added that in the long-term national development plan, architects would be at the forefront of addressing what he described as “the chaos and problems of our cities”.
“Architects are needed not only to preserve the beauty of our cities and communities but also to make them sustainable,” he added.
Appreciation
Mr Adjaye expressed appreciation to the NDPC for recognising his works and also bestowing honours on him.
“I am very honoured to receive this citation. It means a lot to me. I love my country and the people who have been supporting me for many years,” he stated.
Mr Adjaye explained that architecture was the backbone of any civilisation across the world: “Architecture defines our civilisation and the mental state of our people.”
“We can, therefore, use it to do a lot to change the lives of our people,” he indicated. Source: Graphic.com.gh
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October 2016
10th Anniversary Celebration of Diamond Club
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A decade ago the Diamond club of Ghana was established in Virginia with the aim of providing welfare support to its members and on the premise that every child regardless of birth circumstances should have equal opportunity to succeed in life. As part of their 10th anniversary celebration the association held a glamorous dinner fundraiser on Saturday September 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Woodbridge at which they raised a huge sum of money for charitable project in Ghana. The association has in the past supported orphanages materially and financially. The President of the association Mr. Ivan Annor commended the efforts of the members for their generosity and willingness to support the underprivileged children in Ghana. He said the association was working in partnership with the London Headquarters and Ghana Branches to construct a multi faceted Orphanage home in Kumasi and upon completion enable them better implement sustainable solutions to some of the most urgent challenges affecting the orphan community. There was a video presentation of their charitable projects in Ghana and the efforts at changing lives through their initiatives. Awards were given to deserving personalities who have served the association over the period of its establishment. The Club's headquarters is in London with a branch in Ghana. About 8 members of the London branch were at the fund raising dinner dance. The event was graced with the presence of Father Anthony Appiah of the Ghana Catholic Community, Dr. and Mrs. Eben Quainoo, Dr. Osei Danquah an industrialist and community leader, Dr. Abrafi Gyan and Osaberima Asante Frimpong Manso as special guest. The Executives of the association are as follows ; Ivan Annor (president) Dr. Kwabina Boakye ( Vice President), Matthew Oduro ( 2nd Vice) , Endie Koranteng - Mensah ( secretary) ,Barfour Senkyire (Advisor) ,Paul Kyei Barfour ( executive member) , Peter Otchere- (logistics) ,Eric Akoagyram (welfare) ,Dan Dankwa (financial Sec) Sam Addo( Organizing Sec) ,Comfort Agyapong Sarpong ( treasurer) ,Nana Serwaa Ampaafo 1 (Queen mother)
Some leaders receiving citations for exemplary service to the Association
Mr. Ivan Annor-President of Diamond Club
Invited guests
Mr. Ivan Annor, President of the Association and his wife being appreciated for their service to the association
Mrs. Endie Koranteng Mensah receiving an award
Members of the London Branch
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When God Stirs Your Spirit
D
Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah
o you want to see God avenge you? Do you want to experience enemies, who are at war with you, who want to stand in the way of your success and peace of mind, experience a change of heart towards you? Do you believe that those who cannot stand the sight of you for envy, jealousy and sheer hatred can be turned around and become gift bearing allies? Well, you better believe it because it has happened before and it is in God’s will for it to happen to you. There is a popular church song with the lyrics: “is there anything, anything, anything too hard for Him, is there anything, is there anything too hard for Him?...Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” So I put it to you, is there anything too hard for God? My answer will always be a resounding NO.God can turn around the hearts of people who dislike you, hate you, resent you, even people who want to see your destruction. He can turn their hearts completely around to love you and even to want to shower you with all sorts of gifts and blessings. That those who once hated you will come to care about you is a miracle that God can perform when He stirs up their spirits and changes their hearts. Most practicing Christianswho truly know the ways and deeds of God will agree with me. We believe that God can change the weather; we believe He can heal the sick, raise the dead and perform countless miracles as recorded in the Bible, and as reported and testified of even today in our modern world. While we esteem these acts, one of the most significant demonstrations of God’s power may not be as theatrical as causing a paralytic to walk or raising the dead at a morgue or a funeral, but it is no less a miracle. One of the greatest miracles God performs is changing the hearts of people and stirring up their spirits to manifest a change. If you are in need of God changing someone’s heart so that you will see mercy, know that He can. The hearts of men are in the hands of the Lord. The hearts of kings and queens are in the capable and mighty palms of the Lord (Prov. 21:1). After all, as the lyrics of the song say, He is “the God of all flesh,”and as a result, no individual can or
should be a stumbling block to the blessings and advancements of a God-fearing Christian, a child of God. It doesn’t matter how manipulative, how conniving, how abusive, how powerful an individual is, that person is not above God and cannot manifest any power above that of God. In the book of Exodus, when the very stubborn and powerful Pharaoh determined in his heart never to free the Hebrews from slavery, there came a point when he had to submit to the power of God; he had no choice but to let the people go. God Himself told Moses that Pharaoh’s heart was in His hands. He said, “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:3). Even when Pharaoh believed that he was in control of his thoughts, emotions and will, God proved that He has the ultimate power. Pharaoh suppressed the will of the Israelites, the chosen people of God, and resisted God’s authority, but ultimately, he had to succumb to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The book of Ezra further substantiates the control that God has over man. The events of the book are truly eye-opening and faith-affirming. It is one thing that the Lord will touch your neighbor or friend to bless you, but when your enemy’s spirit is stirred to bless you with incredible generosity, there are no words, just praise and adulation due God. Having been conquered and captured by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, the children of Israel lived as captives in Babylon. This captivity, as God puts it, was a result of theirdisobeying His ordinances. However, He had promised that after 70 years of captivity, he would free and restore them to Jerusalem. When the 70 years expired, the Israelites were then under the Persian King, Cyrus. And just as God had promised, so it was. The Lord stirred the spirit of Cyrus, directing his heart, causing him to free the very people who, as captured subjects, served him. But even as He stirs Cyrus’ spirit and compels his heart, God also touches the hearts of the Israelites themselves, their friends and neighbors. In the end, there is a great movement and a shifting of history that is difficult to comprehend. Cyrus writes a decree and in it he says, “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem’” (Ezra 2-4).
October 2016
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So here, we see Cyrus not only freeing the Israelites to return home and rebuild the temple of the lord that was originally constructed by the great King Solomon, but he also appeals to other inhabitants of Babylon to provide the Israelites with gold, silver, livestock and offerings for the temple. What a miracle indeed! The idea that God, the one God you believe in, the one God you serve, the one and only God you pray to and call upon, can touch your enemies’ hearts and stir their spirits to speak words of freedom and blessings upon your life, to grant you your heart’s desire and your longing of many years is a miracle that only this loving and very capable God can perform. So what stands in your way? Is there anyone more obstinate than Pharaoh? Is there any ruler more powerful than Cyrus at the height of his reign? No. No one was more powerful than Cyrus aside from God, and so it is to God, not to rulers or man that we have to look to, for it is He who can alter their hearts and stir their spirits for your own good. Are you fighting or struggling for something? Are you longing for something special that keeps eluding you? Who has positioned themselves against you? What individual is the face of your challenges? Is it a co-worker who for some reason is working against you making your life at work miserable? Or is it a supervisor, a manager who for one reason or another, not because you have done anything wrong, has it in for you and will not give you the time of day or is withholding promotions and bonuses from you? Is it a neighbor who is not accepting of you and has been busily working to have other neighbors and the Home Owners Association (HOA) against you at every turn? Who is the face of your problem? Does the face of your problem belong to a family member who has always stood in opposition of you even if you were innocent in a matter? Is it someone who has trumped up charges against you to friends and anyone who will listen? Have you identified the face of the one who stands day and night, vexing your soul? If you have, then ask yourself is the person more stubborn than Pharaoh who enslaved millions of people? Ask yourself if the individual troubling you is greater than Cyrus of Persia, who ruled over many nations and the Hebrews in Babylon’s captivity? If the answer is no, then my question is why do you fret? If the answer is yes, my question still remains, why do you fret when God is greater? I am telling you clearly and assuredly that the Lord will cause your enemies to bow down to you. The Lord will stir their spirits and hearts so that they have no choice but to open doors for you and shower you with blessings. I have experienced this very thing first hand. If you believe the account of the Hebrews with Pharaoh then take my word. If you accept the historical account of the Hebrew nation‘s return to Jerusalem from Babylon, then take a step of faith and trust God for your victory over your enemies. That promotion will be had. That contesting and conniving family member or neighbor will have a change of heart when God stirs their spirit for your benefit. Trust in Him. Do His will.Seek His face and your enemies will become your footstool.
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Boxer Fatuma Zarika Becomes First Kenyan To Win WBC World Title
Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika has made history by defeating Jamaican defending champion Alicia Ashley to become the first Kenyan female professional boxer to hold a World Boxing Council (WBC) title. Zarika won the WBC super bantamweight title on points. We celebrate Zarika’s remarkable accomplishment.
Kenyan boxer Fatuma Zarika is the new female World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion after defeating veteran Jamaican boxer and defending champion Alicia Ashley to become the first Kenyan female professional boxer to hold a WBC title.
Zarika won the prestigious WBC super bantamweight title on points.
The Kenyan challenger came all guns blazing, out-boxed and out-foxed the vintage Jamaican boxer to claim the title in Flint, Michigan, USA.
According to WBC, with that remarkable victory on points, the 31 year-old Zarika, improved her record to 28 wins, two draws and 12 losses. Ashley, 49, the oldest all-time world champion now has 23 wins, a draw and 11 losses.
The new champion has received numerous congratulatory messages on social media.Born in 1985, the Kenyan star endured a difficult upbringing, losing her mother and living in one of the toughest neighbourhoods of Nairobi, but that didn’t deter her from chasing her dreams.Zarika started boxing as an amateur at 15, and quickly rose to become one of Kenya’s most promising boxers. Her impressive boxing record is testament to her talent and great determination and her remarkable achievement can only inspire aspiring young boxers to dare to dream.
African female boxers are flexing their muscle on the world stage and proving that they have the mettle to compete and win on the biggest stage. In January, Zambia’s Catherine Phiri made history by winning the WBC bantamweight title when she defeated Mexican Yazmin Rivas in the sixth round.
Source:www.howafrica.com
The A Bridal Show Pulls Weddings Together October 2016
On Sunday, October 2, 2016, the Washington/Reston region will be privy to a rare and elegant "must attend" bridal show. The A Bridal Show is a premiere event that will be held at the Bechtel Conference Center.
Doors open to the public at 2pm. The closing is at 6pm. Showcasing their expert wedding services at the bridal show are talented photographers, makeup artists, bakers, musicians and other fine wedding professionals.
As much as $35,000 in coupons and giveaways are set to be offered to attendees. Brides and grooms. At the intimate The A Bridal Show, brides and grooms get immediate answers to their questions from wedding can explore a variety of wedding options, wedding cake designs, DJ and photography services up close. Forget gathering data by calling wedding experts over the telephone or searching the Internet. At the intimate A Bridal Show, brides and grooms get immediate answers to their questions from wedding professionals on a personal one-on-one basis.
Product samplings, savory top of the line cuisine, reception table designs, and show specials will be on display. Come out and treat yourself to beauty products, decadent desserts, and expert, personal advice from wedding professionals who have decades of industry experience. Take advantage of the make-up trials and touch ups that are performed onsite.
In addition to the amazing prize giveaways, moving live music will create an atmosphere of excitement, romance, and promise. A representative from each major wedding function will be present, freeing brides and grooms up to focus on their wedding guests list at the closing of the plush bridal show.
The event is open to the public. This intimate, experiential bridal show is a masterful production
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of The A. Doors open at Bechtel Conference Center, located at 1801 Alexander Bell Drive in Reston, VA at 2pm on Sunday, October 2, 2016. Sign up now. Early Bird tickets are already sold out.
Remaining tickets are $17 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, visit http://theabridalshow.com.
About The A
The A is a multi-faceted company that specializes in wedding preparations, event planning, management, community events and business promotions. Hosting gala events through its subsidiary, The A Pulse (http://theapulse.com), extravagant wedding decorations, custom wedding invitations, wedding designs and hallmark wedding preparation services are among the company’s hallmarks. The A Bliss is the other subsidiaries of the company. The A Pulse is the oldest division of The A. The A is a premier event planning and management company located in McLean, Virginia.
Abla Doku founded The A in 2012. The visionary has more than 11 years of industry experience. The A works with reputable professionals who operate in the design, mobile, food and entertainment, floral and photographer industries.
Unique events that the company handles include milestone celebrations, anniversaries, weddings, banquets and gala events. Organizations the company has spearheaded events for include the Chamber of Commerce and Girls Scouts of the USA. Source:
The A, +1703-303-1781 info@thebridalshow.com
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African Countries Who Continue to Pay Colonial Tax to France Since Their Independence Till Today!
When Sékou Touré of Guinea decided in 1958 to get out of french colonial empire, and opted for the country independence, the french colonial elite in Paris got so furious, and in a historic act of fury the french administration in Guinea destroyed everything in the country which represented what they called the benefits from french colonization.
Three thousand French left the country, taking all their property and destroying anything that which could not be moved: schools, nurseries, public administration buildings were crumbled; cars, books, medicine, research institute instruments, tractors were crushed and sabotaged; horses, cows in the farms were killed, and food in warehouses were burned or poisoned.
The purpose of this outrageous act was to send a clear message to all other colonies that the consequences for rejecting France would be very high.
Slowly fear spread trough the african elite, and none after the Guinea events ever found the courage to follow the example of Sékou Touré, whose slogan was “We prefer freedom in poverty to opulence in slavery.”
Sylvanus Olympio, the first president of the Republic of Togo, a tiny country in west Africa, found a middle ground solution with the French.He didn’t want his country to continue to be a french dominion, therefore he refused to sign the colonisation continuation pact De Gaule proposed, but agree to pay an annual debt to France for the so called benefits Togo got from french colonization.It was the only conditions for the French not to destroy the country before leaving. However, the amount estimated by France was so big that the reimbursement of the so called “colonial debt” was close to 40% of the country budget in 1963.
The financial situation of the newly independent Togo was very unstable, so in order to get out the situation, Olympio decided to get out the french colonial money FCFA (the franc for french african colonies), and issue the county own currency.
On January 13, 1963, three days after he started printing his country own currency, a squad of illiterate soldiers backed by France killed the first elected president of newly independent Africa. Olympio was killed by an ex French Foreign Legionnaire army sergeant called Etienne Gnassingbe who supposedly received a bounty of $612 from the local French embassy for the hit man job.
– On January 3, 1966, Maurice Yaméogo, the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso, was victim of a coup carried by Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, an ex French legionnaire who fought with french troops in Indonesia and Algeria against these countries independence. – on 26 October 1972, Mathieu Kérékou who was a security guard to President Hubert Maga, the first President of the Republic of Benin, carried a coup against the president, after he attended French military schools from 1968 to 1970. In fact, during the last 50 years, a total of 67 coups happened in 26 countries in Africa, 16 of those countries are french excolonies, which means 61% of the coups happened in Francophone Africa.
Number of Coups in Africa by country Ex French colonies Other African countries Country Number of coup Country number of coup Togo 1 Egypte 1 Tunisia 1 Libye 1 Cote d’Ivoire 1 Equatorial Guinea 1 Madagascar 1 Guinea Bissau 2 Rwanda 1 Liberia 2 Algeria 2 Nigeria 3 Congo – RDC 2 Ethiopia 3 Mali 2 Ouganda 4 Guinea Conakry 2 Soudan 5 SUB-TOTAL 1 13 Congo 3 Tchad 3
Burundi 4
Central Africa 4
Niger 4
Mauritania 4
Burkina Faso 5 Comores 5
SUB-TOTAL 2 32
TOTAL (1 + 2) 45 TOTAL 22
As these numbers demonstrate, France is quite desperate but active to keep a strong hold on his colonies what ever the cost, no matter what.
Olympio’s dream was to build an independent and self-sufficient and In March 2008, former French President Jacques Chirac said: self-reliant country. But the French didn’t like the idea. “Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third On June 30, 1962, Modiba Keita , the first president of the Republic [world] power” of Mali, decided to withdraw from the french colonial currency Chirac’s predecessor François Mitterand already prophesied in FCFA which was imposed on 12 newly independent African coun1957 that: tries. For the Malian president, who was leaning more to a socialist economy, it was clear that colonisation continuation pact with ”Without Africa, France will have no history in the 21st centuFrance was a trap, a burden for the country development. ry” On November 19, 1968, like, Olympio, Keita will be the victim of a At this very moment I’m writing this article, 14 african countries are obliged by France, trough a colonial pact, to put 85% of their coup carried out by another ex French Foreign legionnaire, the foreign reserve into France central bank under French minister of Lieutenant Moussa Traoré. Finance control. Until now, 2014, Togo and about 13 other african countries still have to pay colonial debt to France. In fact during that turbulent period of African fighting to liberate African leaders who refuse are killed or victim of coup. Those themselves from European colonization, France would repeatedly use many ex Foreign legionnaires to carry out coups against elected who obey are supported and rewarded by France with lavish lifestyle while their people endure extreme poverty, and desperapresidents: tion. – On January 1st, 1966, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, an ex french foreign It’s such an evil system even denounced by the European Union, legionnaire, carried a coup against David Dacko, the first President of the Central African Republic.
but France is not ready to move from that colonial system which puts about 500 billions dollars from Africa to its treasury year in year out.
We often accuse African leaders of corruption and serving western nations interests instead, but there is a clear explanation for that behavior. They behave so because they are afraid the be killed or victim of a coup. They want a powerful nation to back them in case of aggression or trouble. But, contrary to a friendly nation protection, the western protection is often offered in exchange of these leaders renouncing to serve their own people or nations’ interests.
African leaders would work in the interest of their people if they were not constantly stalked and bullied by colonial countries.
In 1958, scared about the consequence of choosing independence from France, Leopold Sédar Senghor declared: “The choice of the Senegalese people is independence; they want it to take place only in friendship with France, not in dispute.”
From then on France accepted only an “independence on paper” for his colonies, but signed binding “Cooperation Accords”, detailing the nature of their relations with France, in particular ties to France colonial currency (the Franc), France educational system, military and commercial preferences.
Below are the 11 main components of the Colonisation continuation pact since 1950s:
#1. COLONIAL DEBT FOR THE BENEFITS OF FRANCE COLONIZATION
The newly “independent” countries should pay for the infrastructure built by France in the country during colonization
I still have to find out the complete details about the amounts, the evaluation of the colonial benefits and the terms of payment imposed on the african countries, but we are working on that (help us with info).
#2. AUTOMATIC CONFISCATION OF NATIONAL RESERVES The African countries should deposit their national monetary reserves into France Central bank.
France has been holding the national reserves of fourteen african countries since 1961: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
“The monetary policy governing such a diverse aggregation of countries is uncomplicated because it is, in fact, operated by the French Treasury, without reference to the central fiscal authorities of any of the WAEMU or the CEMAC. Under the terms of the agreement which set up these banks and the CFA the Central Bank of each African country is obliged to keep at least 65% of its foreign exchange reserves in an “operations account” held at the French Treasury,
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African Countries Who Continue to Pay Colonial Tax to France Since Their Independence Till Today!
as well as another 20% to cover financial liabilities.
The CFA central banks also impose a cap on credit extended to each member country equivalent to 20% of that country’s public revenue in the preceding year. Even though the BEAC and the BCEAO have an overdraft facility with the French Treasury, the drawdowns on those overdraft facilities are subject to the consent of the French Treasury. The final say is that of the French Treasury which has invested the foreign reserves of the African countries in its own name on the Paris Bourse.
In short, more than 80% of the foreign reserves of these African countries are deposited in the “operations accounts” controlled by the French Treasury. The two CFA banks are African in name, but have no monetary policies of their own. The countries themselves do not know, nor are they told, how much of the pool of foreign reserves held by the French Treasury belongs to them as a group or individually.
The earnings of the investment of these funds in the French Treasury pool are supposed to be added to the pool but no accounting is given to either the banks or the countries of the details of any such changes. The limited group of high officials in the French Treasury who have knowledge of the amounts in the “operations accounts”, where these funds are invested; whether there is a profit on these investments; are prohibited from disclosing any of this information to the CFA banks or the central banks of the African states .” Wrote Dr. Gary K. Busch
It’s now estimated that France is holding close to 500 billions African countries money in its treasury, and would do anything to fight anyone who want to shed a light on this dark side of the old empire.
The African countries don’t have access to that money.
France allows them to access only 15% of the money in any given year. If they need more than that, they have to borrow the extra money from their own 65% from the French Treasury at commercial rates. To make things more tragic, France impose a cap on the amount of money the countries could borrow from the reserve. The cap is fixed at 20% of their public revenue in the preceding year. If the countries need to borrow more than 20% of their own money, France has a veto.
#3. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL ON ANY RAW OR NATURAL RESOURCE DISCOVERED IN THE COUNTRY
France has the first right to buy any natural resources found in the land of its ex-colonies. It’s only after France would say, “I’m not interested”, that the African countries are allowed to seek other partners.
#4. PRIORITY TO FRENCH INTERESTS AND COMPANIES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND PUBLIC BIDING
In the award of government contracts, French companies must be considered first, and only after that these countries could look elsewhere. It doesn’t matter if the african countries can obtain better value for money elsewhere.
As consequence, in many of the french ex-colonies, all the majors economical assets of the countries are in the hand of french expatriates. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, french companies own and control all the major utilities – water, electricity, telephone, transport, ports and major banks. The same in commerce, construction,
and agriculture.
In the end, as I’ve written in a previous article, Africans now Live On A Continent Owned by Europeans! #5. EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO SUPPLY MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND TRAIN THE COUNTRY MILITARY OFFICERS
Through a sophisticated scheme of scholarships, grants, and “Defense Agreements” attached to the Colonial Pact, the africans should send their senior military officers for training in France or French ran-training facilities.
The situation on the continent now is that France has trained hundreds, even thousands of traitors and nourish them. They are dormant when they are not needed, and activated when needed for a coup or any other purpose!
#6. RIGHT FOR FRANCE TO PRE-DEPLOY TROOPS AND INTERVENE MILITARY IN THE COUNTRY TO DEFEND ITS INTERESTS
Under something called “Defence Agreements” attached to the Colonial Pact, France had the legal right to intervene militarily in the African countries, and also to station troops permanently in bases and military facilities in those countries, run entirely by the French.
French military bases in Africa
When President Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d’Ivoire tried to end the French exploitation of the country, France organized a coup. During the long process to oust Gbagbo, France tanks, helicopter gunships and Special Forces intervened directly in the conflit, fired on civilians and killed many.
To add insult to injury, France estimated that the French business community had lost several millions of dollars when in the rush to leave Abidjan in 2006 the French Army massacred 65 unarmed civilians and wounded 1,200 others.
After France succeeded the coup, and transferred power to Alassane Outtara, France requested Ouattara government to pay compensation to French business community for the losses during the civil war.
Indeed the Ouattara government paid them twice what they said they had lost in leaving.
#7. OBLIGATION TO MAKE FRENCH THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE LANGUAGE FOR EDUCATION Oui, Monsieur. Vous devez parlez français, la langue de Molière!
A French language and culture dissemination organization has been created called “Francophonie” with several satellites and affiliates organizations supervised by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
#8. OBLIGATION TO USE FRANCE COLONIAL MONEY FCFA That’s the real milk cow for France, but it’s such an evil system even denounced by the European Union, but France is not ready to move from that colonial system which puts about 500 billions dollars from Africa to its treasury.
During the introduction of Euro currency in Europe, other euro-
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pean countries discovered the french exploitation scheme. Many, specially the nordic countries, were appalled and suggested France get rid of the system, but unsuccessfully.
#9. OBLIGATION TO SEND FRANCE ANNUAL BALANCE AND RESERVE REPORT. Without the report, no money.
Anyway the secretary of the Central banks of the excolonies, and the secretary of the bi-annual meeting of the Ministers of Finance of the ex-colonies is carried out by France Central bank / Treasury.
#10. RENONCIATION TO ENTER INTO MILITARY ALLIANCE WITH ANY OTHER COUNTRY UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY FRANCE African countries in general are the ones with will less regional military alliances. Most of the countries have only military alliances with their ex-colonisers! (funny, but you can’t do better!).
In the case France ex-colonies, France forbid them to seek other military alliance except the one it offered them.
#11. OBLIGATION TO ALLY WITH FRANCE IN SITUATION OF WAR OR GLOBAL CRISIS
Over one million africans soldiers fought for the defeat of nazism and fascism during the second world war.
Their contribution is often ignored or minimized, but when you think that it took only 6 weeks for Germany to defeat France in 1940, France knows that Africans could be useful for fighting for la “Grandeur de la France” in the future.
There is something almost psychopathic in the relation of France with Africa.
First, France is severely addicted to looting and exploitation of Africa since the time of slavery. Then there is this complete lack of creativity and imagination of french elite to think beyond the past and tradition.
Finally, France has 2 institutions which are completely frozen into the past, inhabited by paranoid and psychopath “haut fonctionnaires” who spread fear of apocalypse if France would change, and whose ideological reference still comes from the 19th century romanticism: they are the Minister of Finance and Budget of France and the Minister of Foreign affairs of France.
These 2 institutions are not only a threat to Africa, but to the French themselves.
It’s up to us as African to free ourselves, without asking for permission, because I still can’t Understand for example how 450 french soldiers in Côte d’Ivoire could control a population of 20 millions people? Bello Olusayo *Source Silicon Africa
Robert Mugabe’s Net Worth And Biography – Salary, Assets, Cars, Businesses, Education, Quotes etc..
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Kwame Nikrumah. Career In 1960, he joined the National Democratic Party and after it was banned in September, he formed the group; Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU), which was led by Joshua Nkomo. In 1963, he left ZAPU and formed the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), established on the basis of Africanist philosophies of the Pan Africanist Congress in South Africa.
Both ZANU and ZAPU were officially banned on August 26, 1964 after a long spell of political unrest. It was during this time that Mugabe was arrested and imprisoned indeterminately.
Robert Mugabe is a Zimbabwean politician and the current president of the country. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, political career and timeline.
ALSO KNOWN AS Robert Gabriel Mugabe FAMOUS AS Former PM & Current President of Zimbabwe NATIONALITY Zimbabwean RELIGION Roman Catholicism POLITICAL IDEOLOGY National Democratic Party (1960–1961), Zimbabwe African People’s Union (1961–1963), Zimbabwe African National Union (1963–1987), Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (1987–present) BORN ON 21 February 1924 AD BIRTHDAY 21st February Famous 21st February Birthdays AGE 92 Years SUN SIGN Pisces Pisces Men
BORN IN Harare FATHER Gabriel Matibili MOTHER Bona SIBLINGS Michael, Donato SPOUSES/PARTNERS: Grace Mugabe (m. 1996), Sally Hayfron (m. 1987–1992) CHILDREN Tinashé, Bona Mugabe, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, Robert Peter Mugabe, Michael Nhamodzenyika Mugabe EDUCATION University of Oxford University of Fort Hare
In 1974, while still in confinement, he was elected, under the influence of Edgar Tekere, to take over ZANU. The same year, he was released from prison along with other separatist leaders, so that he could go to a conference in Lusaka, Zambia.
University of London University of South Africa NET WORTH $10 Million AWARDS: 1994 – Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Bath for significant contributions
“Robert Mugabe” by Mangwanani – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Robert Mugabe is a former revolutionary and Zimbabwean politician and is best known for his struggles against the British, when Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia. From a very young age, he was greatly inspired by Marxist and nationalist views and soon, became the publicity secretary of the National Democratic Party or the ‘NDP’. Once he established a strong political foothold, he founded the socialist-nationalist movement, ‘ZANU’ which resolved to drive the British out of their homeland. Despite being detained by Rhodesian authorities for his radical activities, Mugabe remained calm and took an oath to deliver his people from the talons of foreign brutality. Soon after their independence, Mugabe became the prime minister and thereafter the president of the country – a post that he serves till today. During his tenure as president, he managed to unite the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) with the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), challenging all those who threatened to colonize independent Zimbabwe.
Childhood & Early Life Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924 as the third of the six children to Gabriel Matibili and Bona, both of whom were Roman Catholic. His elder brothers died when he was very young and in 1934, his father deserted the family.
He studied in all-exclusive Jesuit, Roman Catholic schools and also attended the Kutama College, where he is believed to have led a solitary life and preferred to keep company with his books.
He was meant to become a teacher but then decided to study at Fort Hare in South Africa, from where he graduated in 1951. He then went on to study at Salisbury, Gwelo, Tanzania and subsequently earned six more degrees in addition to his Bachelor of Arts degree, which he obtained from the University of Fort Hare.
After graduation, he became a lecturer at Chalimbana Teacher Training College in Northern Rhodesia between the years 1955 to 1958. It was around this time he was highly influenced by Marxist works and by the-then Prime Minister of Ghana,
He fled back to the border of Southern Rhodesia and accumulated a troop of Rhodesian rebel trainees. The struggle continued through the 1970s and the economy of Zimbabwe was in a state of pandemonium.
In 1979, the British colonies agreed to observe the switch to black majority rule and the UN raised sanctions. The subsequent year, Southern Rhodesia gained independence from the British and became the independent Republic of Zimbabwe.
Awards & Achievements He holds a number of degrees and doctorates from international universities, all of which were presented to him through the 1980s. He was elected as a UN ‘Leader of Tourism’.
Personal Life & Legacy He tied the knot with Sally Hayfron in April 1961. The couple was blessed with a son who died at the age of three after suffering from cerebral malaria.
His wife died of a kidney problem in 1992. At the time of her death, Mugabe was already in a parallel relationship with his former secretary, Grace Marufu, who was married to someone else and was 41 years younger to Mugabe.
He married Grace Marufu on 17 August 1996. He already had two children with Grace when he married her. She initially became pregnant when he was still married to his first wife, Sally. His wife is sometimes mockingly called, ‘Gucci Grace’ for her ostentatious ways and lifestyle.
The film ‘The Interpreter’ features a deleterious portrayal of a fictional African ruler, which in many ways fits Mugabe’s character in real life. His government later described the film as a ‘CIA-campaign against Robert Mugabe’.
Trivia While this famous personality from Zimbabwe was still in prison, he received three honorary degrees; two Law degrees and a Master of Science degree.
This first prime minister of independent Zimbabwe and the then President won a first prize jackpot of Z$100,000, in 2000. The lottery was accessible for all those clients who had more than Z$ 5,000 in the ZimBank accounts.
by Profile photo of Mathew OgunsinaMathew Ogunsina
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Network of Clergy Concludes 3 day Conference Afrikan Post
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Shepherd To Shepherd Members
Newly Ordained Pastors With their Certificates
Bishop Dr. Daniel Antwi-Boasiako-Founder and President
Ordination of New Pastors
Helena Rhabbles
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CNA Classes Starting In October
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Meet Mare Makhette: The Ivorian Man Who Married 4 White Women And A Father Of 17 Children!!
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Mare Makhette is an Ivorian-Senegalese who got married to 4 white women . Among his four wives are 2 sisters. He is the father of 17 children he had with different women. As a Muslim, he managed to convert his women to Islam.
Islam allows men to have four women when he has the means to support them. Thus the verse authorizing polygamy has “If you fear being unjust to the orphans, marry women
that you like. Have it in two, three or four but if you fear being unjust, one or slaves for fear of being unfair. “.
by Profile photo of Mathew OgunsinaMathew Ogunsina Source: http://howafrica.com/
Rahama Restaurant Goes Hi Tech
Woodbridge, VA - On September 11th, Rahama restaurant became the first African restaurant to allow customers to order from their Woodbridge location through Comefy, pronounced "come fi". Comefy is a cloud-based convenience platform that offers services such as on-demand delivery for restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, dry cleaners and more. With the release of their marketplace, Comefy now allows business owners to sell their food and products locally. Utilizing a platform like Comefy, business owners are able to focus on making quality food and products in a timely manner for their customers. Comefy handles the logistics of getting the food and products from the business to the customer With Comefy, customers are able to order food and products for pickup or delivery. As a Rahama customer, instead of walking in to order and wait for your food, you can order online and get a text notification from the restaurant once the food is ready for pickup. Or if you want your food delivered to your home, work place or any other place you can order your food for delivery through Comefy's on-demand delivery service which starts as low as $5. The great thing about the on-demand delivery service is that there is no minimum order requirement or any restrictions on customer's distance from the restaurant. What Empowers Comefy "Our mission is to save consumers time when they are in need of food and products locally. Not just that, but to enhance the experience for the customer and the business", says the Comefy Team. In collabora-
tion with business owners, Comefy's aim is to improve the local shopping experience and save its users time with their unique and proprietary software approach. Rahama restaurant owners are very excited about the Comefy concept and the platform. "We believe Comefy is different from other online ordering platforms because of their willingness to work hand and hand with us. We think this is the start of something great that will benefit us all", says Rahama owners. Comefy also provides a gateway for businesses which enables them read customers’ orders and with any special instructions about particular menu items, and also notify customers or drivers when orders are finished just to name a few. For those wishing to sign up to use Comefy to order from Rahama, visit www.comefy.com/woodbridgeva/restaurant/rahama or search “order rahama” on Google. For business owners who want to provide convenience to their customers visit business.comefy.com to learn more about what Comefy has to offer your business. Also for those looking for a way to make extra money making deliveries, visit drive.comefy.com to become a driver.
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3 Congolese Nominated for 2016 Nobel Peace Prize
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s ‘Mama Jeanne’, ‘Mama Jeannette’ and Dr. Denis Mukwege are contenders for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their fight against sexual violence.
Mukwege is the director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, which offers physical and emotional treatment to some hundreds of women who are raped in the region each year.
Jeanne Nacatche Banyere (Mama Jeanne) and Jeannette Kahindo Bindu (Mama Jeannette) have used their church network since the early 2000s to seek out survivors of sexual violence all across the country.
The two have also work alongside gynaecologist Mukwege whose hospital has treated more than 46,000 girls and women with gynecological injuries, about half of them, victims, of sexual violence.
The number of women and girls raped in eastern Congo is unknown, but experts and campaigners say the scale is enormous. Swedish Prime Minister and former United Nations’ special representative on sexual violence in conflict Margot Wallstrom has called Congo the “rape capital of the world.”
Violence is frequent in both North and South Kivu provinces, with rebels commonly using rape as a weapon to intimidate and drive communities from their lands. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Oslo on Friday, October 7.
The prize, worth 10 million Swedish crowns (1.4 million U.S. dollars), will be handed over on December 10, 2016. by Profile photo of PhilipPhilip
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from Ghana were Bishop Schambach Amaniampong, Overseer of the Christian Redemption International Ministry (CRIM) and Bishop Dr. Dei Asare Morris. The convention opened on Friday September 23 with an address by Bishop. Dr. Daniel Mensah Antwi - Boasiako, the Founder and President of the Shepherd to Shepherd Network of Clergy. He said “ There are challenges facing the Network in its desire to push forward the vision, the objectives, the mandate and the agenda of this great Network. Notable among such challenges is our desire to champion a code of ethics to regulate the conduct of the clergy profession. We feel such a code is long overdue and vital to help check the nefarious and unprofessional conduct of some ministers of the Gospel, which tend to bring into disrepute the noble virtues of the clergy profession to present the church and the clergy profession in a very favorable manner, and as holy calling from God in tune with His word. As it is now the conduct of some so-called professed ministers of the Gospel leaves much to be desired about, and this tends to present the profession negatively in the eyes of the public and thus casts a slur on the Christian religion. We feel such unholy conduct must cease, hence our call for a code of ethics, and the bad nuts flushed out.
Network of Clergy Concludes 3 day Conference “Be your brother’s keeper “ was the theme of the just ended conference of the Network of Pastors who gathered in Virginia from Friday September 23 to Sunday September 25, 2016 for the inaugural international Conference for the Shepherd To Shepherd network of clergy. Shepherd To Shepherd Network is a Fellowship of Pastors who are committed to the call the Lord has placed upon their lives to provide covenant fellowship among Pastors who desire to build the kingdom of God through the spirit of unity. The main purpose of the network include the following: • To provide a haven for Pastors, Five-fold Ministers and churches • To provide spiritual and apostolic covering • To train and develop God’s people • To promote interaction and relationship between like-minded ministries • To provide a context in which isolated ministers may experience a defined relationship and a larger identity • To draw together ministries that will form apostolic teams for worldwide impact • To help strengthen and edify all member ministries and member churches. • To be available upon request to pastors and local church elders to mediate church related problems • To be involved in discipline of Fellowship members when deemed necessary. • To sponsor annual gatherings for mutual strengthening, deeper relationship and spiritual challenge • This Association will, if requested, assist in training the local church’s ministry of evangelism, education, missions, church planting, • To provide ordination for qualified candidates. With a current membership of 420 pastors from USA and foreign branches. The Network was duly registered on January 31st 2015 with USA as its headquarters. Some of the high profile ministers in attendance
SSNC is therefore seeking official and other form of support to back its efforts at ensuring that a code of ethics and other necessary checks are instituted in the clergy profession to ensure further that no one takes advantage under the guise as a practitioner of the Christian religion to exploit others for personal and selfish gains.” After song ministration by renowned gospel artist Helena Rhabbles, the ministers prayed for unity, growth, peace and many other issues. The gathering of the Shepherds continued on Saturday morning with teachings by various ministers and committed its ending to interactions and questionand-answer sessions. Speakers at the event were Bishop Dr. Mitchell Foster, Archbishop John Carter and Bishop Joseph A. Quest. After a lunch break and a short period of relaxation the shepherds gathered again for an evening session for more teachings and interaction. Bishops AduGyamfi and Antwi Boasiako led the gathering through the various sessions. They also engaged in intensive prayers. The curtain of the convention was drawn to a close on Sunday with the ordination and elevation of ministers to higher offices. The following ministers were elevated to the offices; Rev. Gyamfi and Rev. Apostle Elect Dr Yaw Antwi respectively. The other ordinations were Rev. Yaa Boafo Minlah , Rev. Christian Boache, Rev Edna Agyeman Badu and Apostle Isaac Appiah Dr. Kofi Adonteng-Boateng of Divine Word international Ministries offered his church premises to host the convention.
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Giving Back to Our Community. Please Support the Construction of
Eno Mary Hospital Mpatuam Bontefufuom Amansie West District
Gofundme Account https://www.gofundme.com/49c8dbtd
My name is Armstrong Amos. Toe and I created this GoFundme account to recieve donations for a hospital that I am in the beginning stages of building in a small village in Ghana.
One thing I have noticed since living here in America is that Americans have always given back to their community, to those who are in need. I want to give back to my community, I have lived here in America for 30 years plus, I retired from the U.S Postal Service in Virginia, I have been married for 30 years plus, I have 5 children, I want to give back I repeat!
Not only do I want to give back to my village, but the surrounding villages. I have bought the land now, we have cleared the land, and we have the architectural layout drawn out. The plan is now to build the hospital, a place where mothers will be able to safely give birth to their babies and instead of loved ones having to have to keep their deceased loved ones in their home until a proper funeral they will be able to keep the remains in the mortuary.
I have learned and seen a lot from the people here in America. It truly is a blessing to give back and help those without and that is precisely what I am trying and going to do, give back. Please help me! Donate and give back!
*All donations go directly to the expenses of Enomary hospital.
https://www.gofundme.com/49c8dbtd
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18-Yr-Old Zimbabwean Girl Sets Record As Youngest Graduate with B Accounting (Hons) Degree
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Obama Lifts Sanctions Against Ivory Coast, Citing Progress
U.S. President Barack Obama lifted decade-old sanctions against Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cocoa producer, citing a successful presidential election last year and its progress in tackling illegal trafficking of arms and natural resources.
The sanctions were imposed in February 2006 under President George W. Bush against Ivory Coast political figures for blocking a 2003 peace process. The country had been split in two since a 2002 civil war launched by rebels against then President Laurent Gbagbo.
The move follows the lifting a 12-year-old arms embargo and asset freezes and travel bans against six individuals by the UN Security Council in April, including against Gbagbo, who is on trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
"Côte d’Ivoire has taken important steps to strengthen its governing and economic institutions and reconcile the differences that led to war," White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
"Challenges remain as the country continues to tackle difficult land reform issues and works to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are felt throughout the Ivoirian population," he said Five years after the country's civil war that followed a 2010 presidential election, Ivory Coast has been reborn as one of Africa's economic stars and held up by many as a model of post-conflict reconstruction.
History has been made, Zimbabwe’s youngest college student Maud Chifamba, who was enrolled at the country’s top college, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has graduated from the institution with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting (Honours), aged 18. Chifamba becomes the youngest graduate from the university.
The 18 year-old graduate was among 3 667 graduates from nine faculties and the College of Health Sciences who received their degrees from President Robert Mugabe, who is the Chancellor of the university.
Deep-seated tensions between supporters of Gbagbo and President Alassane Ouattara, who won the war with French backing, continue to simmer, however.
After receiving a government scholarship, Chifamba excelled in her A Levels, earning her a place at the prestigious UZ. The teenager attributes her outstanding achievements to the supportive family structure she was raised in.
The teenager has taken to social media to share and celebrate her remarkable feat. She wrote on Facebook: “By Grace through faith! Miss M Chifamba (18) BAcc (Hons) (UZ)…..Who agrees this is the most beautiful I have looked so far? Because 90% of my beauty lies not in what meets your eye; but my Brain!,!”
In 2012 the young genius enrolled for a degree aged just 14 and her historic and remarkable feat received widespread applause.
“Thanks to everyone congratulating; calling; supporting; posting, commenting and spoiling. Thank you for making me a great person!!!”.
Chifamba who was born in 1997 had to study from home and in 2009 when she was only 11, she wrote her Ordinary Level examinations and passed with flying colours. She only needed two years to achieve what normally takes four years for others.
-Thisisafrica
However, the road has not been as rosy as We congratulate Chifamba on her graduation, some might imagine. Her family could barely and for making history. make ends meet and Chifamba had to drop out of school after finishing primary school due to lack of funds.
The White House's Price said tackling difficult land issues and ensuring that everyone benefits from Ivory Coast's economic rise remained as challenges for the government.
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Andrea Ricci and James Dalgleish) http://www.reuters.com/
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Friends Of Mahama In USA Donates 5,000 T-Shirts To Mahama For Campaign
Friends of John Dramani Mahama, USA Chapter, today, donated over 5000 T-shirts and party paraphernalias to his excellence John Dramani ahead of the December polls.
The group which was formed in 2015 in the United States with the aim of seeing to it that candidate Mahama wins 2016 elections, made the donations through the Chief of Staff and deputy General Secretary of NDC, Mr. George Lawson.
The founder of the group, Dr. Lawrence Appiah, led a delegation which included Jacqueline Akweley of Ghana’s Most Beautiful fame, promised to give more support to the party before and after the elections.
Friends of John Dramani Mahama (USA Chapter) was successfully inaugurated in Woodbridge, Virginia on April 25, 2015
For more information or to join Friends of JDM, please call: Lawrence Appiah-Osei (Protocol) Chairman Friends of John Dramani Mahama (USA Chapter) Appiah65@Hotmail.com 703-400-1621
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TheAfricanDream LLC Founder makes US-Ghana Trip aboard South African Airways
Oral Ofori, Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC gives thumbs up to South African Airways (SAA) who were very instrumental in the facilitation of his business trip to Ghana in September 2016. Mr. Ofori is the Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC firm; an information and communication consultancy on African affairs based in the United States (US). On September 1, 2016, Mr. Ofori embarked on a-two-week business trip to Ghana in West Africa courtesy aboard SAA. TheAfricanDream LLC Founder recounts Ghana-trip In a conversation with Mr. Ofori, he said the trip was to enable him visit with family and meet with some business partners of his firm, TheAfricanDream LLC. “My South African Airways experience was a very pleasant one, it was my first trip outside the US aboard an SAA flight and I chose them not only because they were a direct flight to Ghana from the Washington DC area, but I had heard of their legendary in-flight experience.” Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC told this writer that George Bright-Abu; Editor of the Afrikan Post Newspaper, a US-based publication covering Diaspora Africans recommended SAA: “George spoke highly of them and was kind enough to put me in touch with Deborah Droke, the SAA Director of Sales Development in the Mid-Atlantic who is also in charge of International Sales & Marketing. The South African Airways experience According to Mr. Ofori, Deborah was very nice and went out of her way to ensure his Ghana flight on SAA was a very personal and memorable one. South African Airways started their direct flights to Ghana from Dulles airport in the Washington DC area on August 3, 2015, with the Airbus A340-600. Some members of the Ghanaian and other African communities in the US this writer spoke to indicated their appreciation of SAA for playing a great role in helping bridge the air transportation gap between travelers, investors and tourists in the US, Ghana and across Africa with their SA #209 direct flights. “The almost 11hr flight without a transit stop was just perfect for me and my family, the friendly airline crew and entertainment were amazing, the warm South African courtesy was always felt in first, business and economy classes of the plane. When I arrived in Ghana I needed less than 24hr rest to allow me prepare to meet with some old friends and then jump into business as I was not heavily jet-lagged.” — Oral Ofori While in Ghana, Oral Ofori briefly met with Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare – Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Rama Brew — ace Ghanaian actress and jazz musician and Gyedu Blay-Ambolley — Legendary Ghanaian musician. The others were Andrew Asare-Boffo — CEO of Aspects Consult, Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah — veteran sports journalist and President of Ghana Beach Soccer Association, and Ahmed Abdul-Rashed — Administrative Manager of Syphics Studios. The Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC also interacted with Ameyaw Debrah, the award winning Ghanaian blogger and musicians Danny Beatz and AJ Dahottest. “these were rather brief but very fruitful meetings. I know most of these individuals will soon be in the US to finish the discussions we started in Ghana, which is why I will be recommending SAA to them” Mr. Ofori said in conclusion. Email Mr. Ofori with contact@oralofori.com and do not hesitate to contact South African Airways about their direct flights to Ghana from Washington DC, and connecting flights to other parts of Africa and the world or group and corporate deals by emailing Deborah Droke with DeborahDroke@flysaa.com. Find more info also at www.flysaa.com and tell them TheAfricanDream LLC sent you. Source: TheAfricanDream.co / Rexford Nkansah
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WHAT A LIFE Joke A girl was with her father when she saw her boyfriend coming GIRL: Have you come to collect your book titled "DADDY IS AT HOME?" by Ngozi Okafor BOY: No, I want that your hymn book called "WHERE SHOULD I WAIT FOR YOU?" GIRL: I don't have that one but maybe you should take the other one titled "UNDER THE MANGO TREE" by Chimamanda Adichie BOY: Fine, but don't forget to bring "I WILL CALL YOU IN 5 MINUTES" while coming to school GIRL: I will also bring you a new one too titled"I WON'T LET YOU DOWN" by Chinua Achebe Then; DAD: Those books are too many, will he read them all GIRL: Yes dad, he is very smart & intelligent DAD: Okay don't forget to give him the one on the table titled "I AM NOT STUPID, I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN SAYING" by Shakespeare! And also the one on the dinning table titled "IF YOU GET PREGNANT PREPARE TO GET MARRIED" by Wole Soyinka
Trivia
October 2 0 1 6
Message
Rita: hello babe Joseph: yes lover girl Rita: Did you get my message? Joseph: the one you wanted me to send you some money? Rita: yes Joseph: No, I didn't get ite".
Who Killed Goliath ?
PARENTS PLEASE TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO SUNDAY SCHOOL...A teacher came to class and asked a question TEACHER: Who killed Goliath? STUDENT 1: it's not meSTUDENT 2: I wasn't at school that day.STUDENT 3: I don't know.The teacher went to the Headteacher's office and told the HeadMaster that students in that class don't know who killed Goliath. The Headmaster came to that class and asked...Headmaster: Who killed Goliath? CLASS: we r not the ones..!!!Headmaster.:
If u don't tell me who killed goliath, you'll see fire today...!! CLASS : We don't know.The Headmaster turned to the teacher and asked; are you sure Goliath was
killed by someone from this class?? The teacher fainted..
A sick person on hospital bed was visited by relatives. The patient was on an oxygen MACHINE and therefore couldn't speak.
As they stood beside the bed, the patient took a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a note which he gave to one of the relatives who put it in his shirt pocket without reading and they continued with their conversation.
After a few minutes, the patient died. The relative later picked the note from his pocket to know what the dead man had written. And guess what! Sadly the note read.. "please move away from there, you have stepped on the oxygen pipe. I can't breathe again , you are killing me".
Lesson:
Do you postpone reading posts, ? Or do you ignore picking calls because you are already close to the caller. They might be helpful to you or to somebody... particularly at a most critical time.
Please pick your calls, read that note. NEVER POSTPONE ANYTHING.
A man and his wife were traveling to Italy by air, as they were at the peak of the journey, the pilot announced that: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry to announce that one of the engines has stopped working while the remaining one is not functioning as required therefore, we may crash in a few minutes from now. We advise that everyone should reconcile with God and settle every issues that need to be settled.”At that point, Mr. Manji touched his wife Ellista and said “Honey, please forgive me ooooo, your sister Simi that stays with us is my sex machine,we had several abortions she has even planned to poison you on our returned from Italy so that the both of us will elope for the U.S.A please find a place in heart to forgive me. She responded “No problem dear” She continue, “since it’s a confession moment, let me also confess. Please you must also forgive me oooo, John and Esther among our three children are not your biological children. Your biological child is Victoria the rest belong to Eti Your best friend. You also remember you were robbed by arm robbers last year?” He answered “Yes I remember” she continues “I actually set you up by some gangs who robbed you because I needed to pay for my boy-friend Albrass’ tuition fee. He got admission in Oxford University in England. Even now as we are talking, I have arranged for your death through hired assassins on our return.” Mr. manji responded “no problem I have forgiven you.” Meanwhile as the confessions were going on, the pilot announced again. “Ladies and gentlemen, is like you people are powerful men/women of faith because, God has answered your prayers, the two engines are perfectly ok and we are sure of safe landing” At that point, the whole passengers became mute instead of celebrating the good news. One of the passengers shouted “Pilot, Pilot, this plane must crash ooooooo or we will crash the plane” everybody shouted “YES oooooooo”
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SOMETHING YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT KNOWN And NEED TO KNOW
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Ants Problem: Ants hate Cucumbers. "KEEP the skin of Cucumbers near the Place where they are or at Ant Hole.
To make the Mirror Shine: "Clean with
Sprite" To remove Chewing Gum from Clothes: "Keep the Cloth in the Freezer for One Hour" To Whiten White Clothes: "Soak White Clothes in hot water with a Slice of Lemon for 10 Minutes" To give a Shine to your Hair "Add one Teaspoon of Vinegar to Hair,
then wash Hair" To get maximum Juice out of Lemons: "Soak Lemons in Hot Water for One Hour,
and then juice them" To avoid smell of Cabbage while cooking: "Keep a piece of Bread on the Cabbage in
the Vessel while cooking" To remove Ink from Clothes: "Put Toothpaste on the Ink Spots generously and let it dry completely, then wash" To get rid of Mice or Rats: "Sprinkle Black Pepper in places where you find Mice & Rats. They will run away" Take Water Before Bedtime.. "About 90% of Heart Attacks occur Early in the Morning & it can be reduced if one takes a Glass or two of Water before going to bed at Night" We Know Water is important but never knew about the Special Times one has to drink it.. !! Did you ??? Drinking Water at the Right Time Maximizes its effectiveness on the Human Body; 1 Glass of Water after waking up helps to activate internal organs.. 2 1 Glass of Water 30 Minutes before a Meal - helps digestion.. 3 1 Glass of Water before taking a Bath - helps lower your blood sure. 4.1 Glass of Water before going to Bed - avoids Stroke or Heart Attack
pres-
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SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYSVACATIONS®INTRODUCES ITS 2017 COLLECTION BROCHURE
All advertised air-inclusive packages are commissionable and can be customized for both groups and individuals. Tailor made itineraries are our specialty and our team of Africa Specialists are standing by to assist you in creating a vacation of a lifetime. About South African Airways Vacations® A division of South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of South Africa and Africa’s most awarded airline, SAA Vacations® is highly regarded for its wide array of affordable luxury packages to Africa and uses SAA’s extensive route network to create packages for travel throughout South Africa, Botswana, Victoria Falls, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and East Africa. The program is managed and fulfilled by Destination Southern Africa (DSA), which was founded in 2001 and offers an extensive portfolio of tour programs with a variety of hotels, game lodges and safari companies throughout Southern Africa. DSA was one of three tour operators in the U.S. that was officially appointed by MATCH to develop and sell travel packages for soccer fans visiting South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, making it a partner with extensive knowledge and know-how in planning the perfect African vacation.
Expanded brochure features portfolio of over 70 vacation packages to Africa
Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 29, 2016)–South African Airways Vacations® (SAA Vacations®) launched its 2017 Collection brochure, featuring an expanded portfolio of air-inclusive vacation packages to a variety of destinations throughoutSouthern and East Africa. The new 2017 brochure features 15 pages of product information on South African Airways (SAA)and South African Airways Vacations®,along with highlights of their most popular valuepacked vacation packages. For the third consecutive year, SAA Vacations® is offering a digital version of the Collection brochure to make it easier and more efficient for both travel agents and consumers to book an African vacation of a lifetime. For 2017, SAA Vacations® is offering over 70 affordable packages that feature a multitude of experiences throughout Africa including, adventure, culture, wildlife, culinary& wine tour, honeymoon and family safaris.All SAA Vacations® packages include round-trip air transportation on award-winning South African Airways, with origins from over 100 cities in the U.S., as well as hotel accommodations, airport transfers, sightseeing and a safari experience on selected packages. Highlights of the SAA Vacations®2017 Collection include exceptional value on some of their most popular packages: “South Africa Sizzler”This 9-day / 6-night packages is designed for those travellers who want an affordable package to explore Cape Town and experience the thrill of a South African safari. The package starts at $1,999* (restrictions apply) per person and includes four-nights in Cape Town and two-nights at the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge near the Pilanesburg National Park. “Wine and Safari”This vacation package begins with a three-night stay in Cape Town, a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope. Then off to South Africa’s wine region with a two-night stay in the historical town of Stellenbosch and a private Winelands tour. The experience continues with a safari and accommodationsat Kapama River Lodge for a threenight stay near the world-famous Kruger National to enjoy morning and afternoon game drives to view Africa’s Big Five. The 11-day /8-night package starts at $3,699** (restrictions apply) per person. “Affordable Botswana” Spend six nights in Botswana covering the country’s most celebrated game viewing destinations including; the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve and the Savute Channel in the Chobe National Game Reserve. This 9-day / 6-night package includes all games drives, most meals and national park fees and starts at $6,599*** (restrictions apply) per person. “SAA Vacations®offers exciting and varied itineraries to both Southern Africa and East Africa that are fully customizable to cater to both luxury and budget travelers,” said Terry von Guilleaume, president of South African Airways Vacations®. “Our 2017 portfolio of vacation packages have delivered what our customers have asked for and at the same time introduces new and unique product with a strong focus on value for money.” Travelers are encouraged to contact SAA Vacations’® Africa specialists at 1-855-FLY-SAAV or their professional travel consultant. For more information about our 2017 Collection visit: www.flysaavacations.com.
About South African Airways South African Airways (SAA), South Africa’s national flag carrier and the continent’s most awarded airline, serves over 75 destinations worldwide in partnership with SA Express, Airlink and its low cost carrier Mango. In North America, SAA operates daily nonstop flights from New York-JFK and direct flights from Washington D.C.-IAD (via Accra, Ghana and Dakar, Senegal) to Johannesburg. SAA has code share agreements with United Airlines, Air Canada and JetBlue Airways, which offer convenient connections from more than 30 cities to SAA’s flights. SAA is a Star Alliance member and the recipient of the Skytrax 4-Star rating for 14 consecutive years. *Terms & Conditions – South Africa Sizzler Price is per person based on double occupancy. Valid as of September 1, 2016 for departures from New York (JFK) or Washington, DC (Dulles) between May 1-31, 2017 and also August 11 –31, 2017, with the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Other departure points and domestic flights within the U.S. can be booked. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Package includes all government and airline imposed taxes and fees. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other restrictions may apply.
**Terms & Conditions – Wine and Safari Price is per person based on double occupancy. Valid as of September 1, 2016 for departures from New York (JFK) or Washington, DC (Dulles) fromSeptember 1 - December 09, 2016 and also January 10 –May 31, 2017and also August 11 – November 30, 2017, with the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Other departure points and domestic flights within the U.S. can be booked. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Package includes all government and airline imposed taxes and fees. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other restrictions may apply.
***Terms & Conditions – Affordable Botswana Price is per person based on double occupancy. Valid as of September 1, 2016 for departures from New York (JFK) between November 1 - December 9, 2016 andMarch 2 May 31, 2017 and also November 1 – December 9, 2017, with the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Other departure points and domestic flights within the U.S. can be booked. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Package includes all government and airline imposed taxes and fees. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other restrictions may apply.Free Car Rental excludes contract fee and fuel.
www.flysaavac.com
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BOOK LAUNCH: "Seven Iinvisible Offices That Decides Everyones's Future"
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The Christian Journal, Bronx NY - A host of Ministers, Family, Friends and Co-workers joined Pastor Kwame Acheampong of Calvary Charismatic Center in the Bronx to launch his second book "SEVEN INVISIBLE OFFICES THAT DECIDES EVERYONE'S FUTURE". As the name suggests, the book chronicles about the Seven authorities that decides everyone's future. In a demonstration of the seven offices or authorities and he said " In actually, everyone has a some kind of a future plan. Some have it written on a paper, others have it written on their hearts. Some take life one day at a time and some don't plan. The truth is everyone is directly or indirectly following a plan. He said the reality is how you use each 24hours in a day is basically your plan. Planning is very important because it helps you manage your time and resources. He further said unfortunately some Christians don't plan because they believe that prayer can take care of everything. They seek to replace planning with prayer because they lack understanding of the purpose of planning. Planning is the only approach life respects, is the bridge between imagination and reality. God created the universe with a six-day plan. Planning is the wisdom behind creation. God rewards planners because he calls them faithful stewards of time. All successful people have one thing in common they all plan. Rev. Owusu Bempah who led the launching in an interview said he believed that this book is going to impact our community and society. The Seven offices that he spoke about in his demonstration, if we take it seriously it will be a blessing to us. He urged everyone to buy the book since it was based on the word of God. The books was sold out.
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Bill Clinton Delivers Emotional Defense Of Family’s Charitable Work As The Final Meeting Of The Clinton Global Initiative Ends In New York The Clinton Foundation has thrown its last Clinton Global Initiative, the star-studded conference on the margins of the United Nations annual General Assembly meeting. Considered a prime forum for movie stars, captains of industry and global leaders to put their good names to good works ended with a formidable list of accomplishments. What started with 600 commitments in the first two years has grown to a portfolio of more than 3,500 commitments that are improving the lives of over 430 million people in 180 countries around the world. Because of these commitments: • More than 46 million children have access to a better education; • More than 2.7 billion metric tons of CO2 were cut or abated; • More than $313 million in research and development funds have been spent on new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics; and, • More than 27 million people have increased access to safe drinking water and sanitation. President Bill Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative in 2005 as an endeavor that has inspired leaders from business, government, and civil society to take specific and measurable action on some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Bill Clinton delivered an emotional defense of his family’s charitable foundation applauding those who have contributing for having “validated hope and possibilities.” The former president spoke at the close of the final meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, an arm of the broader Clinton Foundation. “This has been, I believe, a profound advance in the conduct and impact of modern philanthropy,” Clinton said as he closed the final Clinton Global Initiative event in New York. “But I think it's fair to say that none of us who were there at the beginning could have fully foreseen it.” ‘’I have been a proud member of CGI since 20015.I have witnessed its unique practical and measurable contributions in the world,the opportunities it created for marginalized voices to be heard and how it helped push social issues otherwise ignored into the limelight’’ said Zainab Salbi,the founder of Women for Women International at a panel earlier this week.’‘This may be the last annual meeting,but the work and the spirit of President Clinton’s vision and the CGI committed community will live on forever’’ Bill Clinton had written in a 2007 book, “Giving,” that he wanted the annual meetings to continue for at least a decade to build a global network of citizen activists The Initiative's final gathering was marked by a deep sense of satisfaction about the philanthropic work its participants have done in the decade since its inception. Bill Clinton and many of the speakers at the conference vowed to continue their focus on setting and working toward specific charitable goals no matter what course the Clinton Foundation takes in the future.
Bill Clinton delivering his final speech at the CGI
Chelsea Clinton in a heart to heart talk with girls activist and rapper Sonita Alizadeh and Memory Banda Girl Leader Rise Up.
Zainab Salbi,the founder of Women for Women International quoted in the article endorsing a Ghana made shoe.
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DECISIONS, DECISIONS DECISIONS“Should I Buy or Continue to Rent”
Most people are torn with this imminent decision to either buy a house or to continue the pilgrim of renting from someone. When you rent from someone, it means you are throwing your money away—more as if you are in constant chain of helping someone increase their wealth. Ask yourself then; what do you gain for helping someone increase their wealth? Nothing! You are losing out-period. It is a known fact that the best single investment one can make is owningyour own home. Homeownership promotes a sense of achievement, positive self esteem and pride. It creates a sense of accomplishment and freedom! Let’s read down and dig deeper as to why owning a home is vital. The Biggest Benefit of Homeownership Homeownership makes good sense because there are tax privileges when tax time rolls around: • You get the benefit of deducting the interest paid on the mortgage throughout the year. • You deduct any points paid, either discount or origination fees paid on loan. • You can deduct a room in your home if it is solely dedicated for home business use. • The biggest advantage, though, is the fact that the principle you pay on the mortgage is like putting money in the bank, in the form of equity. Other Advantages of Homeownship • Owning your home gives you an individualized approach concerning landscaping, decorating, and curb appeal, which in the process can add value to the home. You do what you please when you please to
your home which renting does not provide. • If you have children, they will find stability in knowing that they aren't going to have to change schools, which can be traumatic for younger children. They won't have to make new friends, and a sense of place becomes very real to them. Disadvantages of Renting • When you rent, you do not have the flexibility to make aesthetic or cosmetic changes to the place as you please. You may be able to paint a room, but need to repaint back to the original color scheme when you move. • You cannot make major structural changes or ground changes suchas adding flower beds or even rock gardens and waterfalls to reflect your taste. • You put up with an obstinate landlord that refuses to repair things in the apartment, or just "doesn't have time." This can build frustration and stress. • You help the Landlord build equity on their property and gain tax write off while you are left with nothing at the end of your lease term I hope you enjoyed reading this article and it has provided helpful information in making your decision to homeownership a smooth one. For more information about your real estate needs (buying, selling, leasing/renting a house) call me at 571229-6694 and I will help you get started. Thank you.
Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® –Licensed in the Common Wealth of Virginia Prince William County-Local Expert
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United Sierra Leoneans: New Texas Community-Based Organization
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introduce themselves to new areas of locality interests.
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The United Sierra Leoneans will be conducting fundraiser events as a non-profit organization to help remedy some of the problems in its community and back home. USL is therefore respectfully calling the attention of all Sierra Leoneans for their support to accomplish their goals.
By Sanpha Sesay, Texas Chief
(Photo: The High table with Honorary Consul Gerneral Patrick Jackson in the middle) Dallas, Texas: September 22, 2016: Just as the population of Texas is growing faster, so as the Sierra Leone community in the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas is growing faster than many cities in the United States. The Sierra Leone community is spreading all across the metropolitan making it difficult to meet and socialize together therefore; finding ways to better meet their communities’ need and expectation became critically important. At Fort Worth area, another organization, the United Sierra Leonean (USL) was launched on Saturday September 17 with its leaders, Mr. Mambu Koroma as President and Mrs. Doris Bright as the vice President. The United Sierra Leoneans is now becoming a new engine in the Sierra Leonean organizations at the Dallas Fort Worth area to enhance community development and growth in Texas.
The USL has its main objective which is to reinforce a common identity and give individuals a sense of belonging within the various counties of Fort Worth. The organization also has its main goal to liaise with other organizations including churches, social clubs, alumni organizations, and to be part of the umbrella organization, the Association of Sierra Leonean Organizations in Texas (ASLOT).
The launching attracts many community leaders including the Honorary Consul general, Mr. Patrick Jackson who delivers a keynote address and Mr. Patrick Dangawalli as Grand Chief Patron. Other community leaders including the ASLOT boss, Mr. Reuben Ndomahina and the Mandingo Chief, Dr. Foday Christian Sesay, and many others were all there to support the new organization. The Tegloma president, Ms. Elizabeth Bockarie was the Master of Ceremony (MC) In his speech, the Grand Chief Patron, Mr. Patrick Dangawalli informed the audience that it was a wise decision for the formation of USL, noting that it creates a profound competition to capture the American dreams. He said, competitive self-interest is destructive and will not take us anywhere, but united to come together as this way is good to help us achieve our Diaspora cohesive goals. Mr. Patrick Dangawalli, President of Sierra Stars Soccer Association believes in mechanism of changes for progress and development, but advised the USL to be steadfast so that they can make a difference in the community taking into consideration the great number of organizations that have already formed.
During its launching at the Torch of Class Event Center, members put on their African fashion designed to showcase their cultural values, and performed cultural dancing where the DJ played mostly Sierra Leone melodies as a significant aspect of the launching ceremony. Since the emergence of different community organizations in the metropolitan area of Dallas Fort Worth, community structure reflect the natural tendency of individuals living closer to each other and organizes their social groups in order to better achieve common goals. Recently, another Mandingo organization, headed by Mr. Sorie Tejan was formed after the Mandingo Association headed by Dr. Foday Christian Sesay was formed almost two years ago. Many community members were astonished to learn about a division of the Mandingo Association.
Critics’ evaluation of too many organizations in one metropolitan area may has an incongruous effect, but others looked at it as a valid reason because individuals are exploiting their closest connections to
United Sierra Leoneans of Texas
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The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA)
The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) ended the 2016 Asante Day Celebration at RAMADA Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio last month with great joy and enthusiasm.
It was hosted by the Asanteman Association of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, which is the home of the ACONA President, Nana Adu Poku. The Asante Day is an annual event organized by ACONA, the umbrella organization that coordinates the activities of the various Asanteman associations in North America which comprises the United States and Canada.
The event was very colorful and well attended. In fact, there was an absolute display of exuberance especially during the dinner dance. An observer said, you could see the look of ecstasy on the faces of most members as you watch them eating, drinking and dancing.
A reliable source close to the Secretariat attributed the high attendance of the event to nothing less than a response to a "Clarion Call" made by the leadership because of the challenges the Association has encountered during the past year and said, ACONA has "stood its ground".
Listed below are the current members that participated in the Day Celebration: The Asanteman Association of Toronto, Canada. The Asanteman Association of Chicago and Midwest. The Asanteman Association of Southern California. The Asante Kroye Kuo of Greater Houston, Texas. The Asanteman Association of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. The Asanteman Association of the Carolinas Charlotte, North Carolina. The Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio. The Asanteman Association of Tennessee. The Asanteman Association of Worcester, Massachusetts. The Asante Unity Association, Washington Metro Area.
Nananom of ACONA in conjunction with the Secretariat, headed by Professor Samuel Kwaku Agyeman Duah would like to express their utmost appreciation to the general public and the members for making this occasion a memorable one. Thank you and may God bless you all.
ASANTE KOTOKO TEASE DAA !! ACONA BOHO PIM !
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Ethiopia Launches Africa’s First Electric Rail
Ethiopia will on Wednesday launch Africa’s first modern electrified railway line which will link the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa with the port of Djibouti.
The full length of the railway is 752.7 kilometers, with a designed speed of 120 km per hour.
With a total investment of $4 billion, it is was built by China Railway Group and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
“The railway is constructed on the basis of Chinese railway technology standards while taking into account the national conditions of Ethiopia and Djibouti,” saidZeng Deli, a project manager of the China Railway Group, to Xinhua.
It was designed and constructed in a most economical way, taking only six years for its final completion, which should be viewed as some kind of miracle even in China, Zeng said.
The modern standard-gauge Addis AbabaDjibouti railway runs parallel to a decrepit meter-gauge version built over 100 years ago by Europeans.
Over 90% of Ethiopia’s imports and exports, in particular energy and food, are made via the sea port of Djibouti.
The capacity of the current road system has long been overwhelmed.
When the new railway becomes operational, transport time from Djibouti to the Ethiopian capital will be reduced from 7 days to ten hours.
Besides faster transport, the Chinese firms have an even greater ambition. That is, the railway will serve as a catalyst for Ethiopia’s national economic development.
The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway is only one of
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many major projects currently under way in the framework of China-Africa cooperation. For the Chinese contractors, the construction of a railway with a designed speed of 120 km per hour is not difficult. But it takes nothing short of a great feat to complete it with no compromise on quality and timeliness when there are inadequate construction materials and technical staff in Ethiopia. With careful planning and patient coordination, the Chinese firms managed to make sure construction materials imported from abroad arrived on time. To ensure good quality and no delay in construction, they even took the pains to manufacture the materials themselves, despite their higher cost.
For the Chinese firms, a lack of local technical personnel with adequate railway technology knowledge is a more serious problem.
For example, it took 20,000 workers to complete a specific section of the railway, and it would be impossible to have the posts filled all by Chinese, said Fu Xun, another project manager with the China Railway Group.
To tackle the challenge, the Chinese firms made the training of local technical workers a daily routine of their operations in Ethiopia. For the past few years, more than 15,000 local workers went through various training programs, thus ensuring enough manpower for railway construction and a talent reserve for future management of railway operations.
To protect its precious wildlife resources along the railway, the Ethiopian government set a high environmental protection protocol. To meet these high ecological standards, the Chinese companies did their best not to alter the original landscape along the railway.
They also spent more than $4 million to build overpasses specially designed for safe animal crossover. Source:www.howafrica.com
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