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September 2016

South Africa Airways To Fly Straight From Accra To London

From the Editor

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 8 Issue 9 CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Nollywood Actor Healed From Stroke And Gifted N3.5m Jeep Pg. 35

Mark Zuckerberg's Visit Gives Nigerian Startups MuchNeeded Boost Pg. 7

The Gambia’s Ambassador, Sheikh Omar Faye, on the

Presidency of Yahya Jammeh

Pg. 15

You Will Stand!

Pg. 11

SLAMM Technologies Opens New Office In Manassas Pg. 17 UPDATE

Ghanaian Appointed To US Cancer Board Pg. 5

The Ghana Government has granted South Africa Airways (SAA), the Firth Freedom Traffic Right to operate on the Accra-London route.

This means that SAA after satisfying the criteria of the aeronautical agencies of both countries, can fly direct from Accra to London. This was disclosed by Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey at an event to mark the first anniversary of direct flight of SAA to Washington.

According to him, the request which was made by the airline was granted due to the success it has attained with its direct flight to Washington one year on. "We are confident that just as they have done very well on the current route, once this also goes through we will definitely see quite a lot of exciting opportunities on the Accra-London route as well," Mr Kwetey said.

He added that Ghana has adopted a liberalized aviation policy in the bid to make it an aviation hub in Africa.

Since August 2, SAA, the only four-star rated carrier in Africa flies four times a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - to Washington DC on its A340-600s aircraft. According to Gloria Yirenkyi, the country manager of South Africa Airways, the airline currently has 74 percent market share on the route.

The route in the past year has also seen a 14 percent growth. She added that they might increase their frequency on the Washington route considering the demand. South Africa Airways has already been granted the Firth Freedom Traffic Right to operate from Accra to New York and plans to activate its operations on the route by the end of the year.

Source: starr FM

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September 2016 Page 4

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Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard Sworn In as New U.S. Permanent Representative to the African Union

September 2016

Ghanaian Appointed To US Cancer Board A Ghanaian professor of Surgery and Pathology based in the United States of America (USA) has been appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the US National Cancer Advisory Board.

Dr Francis Ali-Osman was appointed among other members to advise President Obama, the US Secretary of Health and Human Service and the Director of the National Cancer Institute on a wide range of issues relating to the US national cancer programme.

The world-renowned cancer researcher and oncology leader is currently the distinguished Professor of Neuro-Oncology Research at the Duke University School of Medicine in the USA. In an interview during a visit to the head office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Dr Ali-Osman said: “It is a great honour because very few people are privileged to have this opportunity.”

Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard (left) Photo: State Department AMIP News

On Friday August 5, 2016 Mary Beth Leonard was sworn in as the new U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Stated with the Rank of Ambassador. The ceremony was officiated by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Heather Higginbottom.

Mary Beth Leonard, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, previously served as the U.S. Department of State Faculty Advisor, U.S. Naval War College, Rhode Island (2015-2016). Her recent service as Ambassador to Mali (20112014), Deputy Chief of Mission to Mali (2006-2009), and Director of the Office of West African Affairs (2009-2011) demonstrated her ability to guide interagency programs and proved pivotal to making the U.S. a leading partner in supporting democratization, development, security sector reform, peacekeeping, and good governance. Ms. Leonard’s deep understanding of the region, bridging long academic interest in African studies through numerous African assignments, makes her uniquely qualified to serve as Ambassador to the African Union.

Previously, Ms. Leonard served as the Department’s Diplomat in Residence, Tufts University (2014-2015), Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Paramaribo, Suriname (2004-2006), and as Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate General Cape Town, South Africa (1999-2003). She worked as Regional Desk Officer, Office of Southern African Affairs (1998), Economic and Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Lomé, Togo (1996-1998), and Desk Officer for Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (1994-1995) and Zaire (1995-1996 ), Office of Central African Affairs. Earlier assignments included as a Watch Officer, Operations Center, and Consular and Economic Officer at U.S. Embassies in Namibia and Cameroon. Before joining the Foreign Service, she was an Analyst with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Ms. Leonard earned a B.A. from Boston University, Magna Cum Laude (1984), a M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (1998), and a M.A. with distinction from the U.S. Naval War College (2004). Her numerous Department of State awards include the 2013 Diplomacy for Human Rights Award. Her languages are French, Spanish, Afrikaans, and Dutch.

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He said his appointment also demonstrated Ghana’s human resource potential.

Supporting his country Dr Ali-Osman, whose speciality is in brain tumours and translational cancer research, has held many positions in the field of cancer and served on many boards, including the Iowa Cancer Center and the Board of Scientific Advisors of the US National Cancer Institute.

With more than 25 years’ experience in cancer and brain tumour research, Dr Ali-Osman said he was bringing his expertise to Ghana to help fight cancer, which is claiming more lives than malaria and HIV.

“If President Obama was able to appoint me as a member of the US National Cancer Advisory Board, then I believe I have a lot to offer,” he said.

Already, he said he had been working with the Neurosurgery Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) on some surgeries and programmes, respectively.

Although Ghana faced the threat of cancer, he said it lacked the infrastructure to deal with the disease.

To bring his expertise on board, Dr Ali-Osman said he was working with the NMIMR to set up a Cancer Research Programme where scientific-based research on cancer would be studied, while a cancer registry would also be established to collect data on cancer cases.

‘Cancer differs by race’

He noted that Ghana and Africa needed their own research on cancer to ensure effective treatment, since the disease differed by genetic factors in race.

“Although the disease is the same, it differs in race by the genes, but most of the medicines are for the White race and so we have to start studying our race, which is the Black race of the disease, to get effective treatment,” he explained.

On the Cancer Research Programme, he said the centre would test herbal medicines and incorporate

them with other medicines to get effective treatment for the disease.

“Currently, we are working to get partners from the US, so that a state-of-the-art cancer research centre will be built in Ghana to serve the West African sub-region,” he said.

The Head of the Neurosurgery Department at KBTH, Dr Thomas Dakurah, who accompanied Dr Ali-Osman to the GCGL office, said there were many renowned Ghanaians who were doing well outside the country.

Considering the poor infrastructure at home, he said it took committed people to come down to bring their expertise to help the country in the medical field.

He commended Dr Ali-Osman for his support to the department over the years and his vision for the country and urged others to defy the odds to help their country.

Academic background

From the Navrongo Senior High School in the Upper East Region through to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where he had his undergraduate training in Pharmacy, Dr Ali-Osman moved to obtain advanced doctorate degrees in Germany.

He pursued doctorate degrees in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Laboratory Medicine from the Free University of Berlin, Germany, and completed a fellowship programme in Neuro-oncology at the Brain Tumour Research Center at the School of Medicine of the University of California, San Francisco.

In the US, Dr Ali-Osman has served in a variety of positions, including Assistant Professor and Director of Brain Tumour Research at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Senior Investigator and Chief Scientific Officer at the Hipple Cancer Research Centre at the Wright State University School of Medicine.

Also, he has been the Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Experimental Pediatrics and Professor and Director of Neurosurgery Research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

September 2016 Page 6

North America Branch Of KUMACA Old Students Upbeat About Science Lab Project

It was a night of glitz, laughter, dancing and nostalgia, as students from the 1960s, 1970s up to 2014 from the North Americas branch of the Kumasi Academy Old Students Association, came together to raise money to help build a science laboratory for their alma mater.

The exercise was the second in a series and from Virginia, Chicago, Atlanta, Maryland, New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, they met in New York for the fun filled Fundraising Dinner Dance at the Radisson Hotel JFK.

The school was built almost 60 years ago by Baptist missionaries to train students in different fields of study. Located at Asokore-Mampong in the Ashanti region, science remains one of its strengths. So, the construction of the laboratory, though not new, will be a boost for the school.

September 2016

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Mark Zuckerberg's Visit Gives Nigerian Startups Much-Needed Boost

Tijani and his business partner had a vision of creating a tech business district and persuaded the government and a local cable provider to install fiber optic cables on their street providing affordable and fast Wi-Fi access to anyone within the hub's vicinity.

When they started there were five tech businesses, now there are 60 and the area attracts an increasing number of entrepreneurs.

During a Q& A streamed live on Facebook on Wednesday, August 31 Zuckerberg talked about plans to make the company's tools and apps more affordable for SMEs in the country.

Mark Zuckerberg meets kids at a coding camp in Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Nigeria, his first to sub-Saharan Africa, has put the country's tech businesses firmly in the world's spotlight.

Zuckerberg staged a surprise visit to the country's economic capital Lagos on Tuesday and his first stop was a local innovation center and tech hub in Yaba, an area on the mainland of Lagos known as Nigeria's Silicon Valley.

There was no fanfare amid tight security and some of those working at the Co-Creation Hub, called CcHUB, didn't even know Zuckberg was coming.

He appeared nervous, a little startled even, as he launched into an impromptu speech about why he was there.

He said: "This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can."

At the CcHUB, he talked to children at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who visit the center to build and launch their apps.

Zuckerberg thrilled Nigerians by walking around the streets of Lagos without any signs of armed guards or heavy security. He was also spotted jogging on the Lekki Bridge Wednesday morning.

Figures released Wednesday show Nigeria has officially dipped into recession as its second quarter GDP fell by more than 2% compared to last year.

However, running a business in the country has always been tough for young entrepreneurs such as Bosun Tijani and Femi Longe, who co-founded the hub Zuckerberg visited in 2011.

Successful startups in Nigeria thrive against the odds of weak infrastructure, anemic power supply and general lack of funding and investment.

Tijani told CNN that Zuckerberg's visit would give Nigeria's fledgling startup scene the shot in the arm it desperately needs.

"By coming here first, he's given a lot of hope to young people here," Tijani said.

He added that entrepreneurs like Zuckerberg were inspiring because his approach to Facebook has never been about making a lot of money.

"It's been about creating something that's going to change the world and obviously if you do that, you are bound to reap the benefit," Tijani said.

Idris Ayodeji Bello, an 'afropreneur' and angel investor from Nigeria, said, "Mark's visit was a much needed external validation of the sweat and immense efforts, mostly unsung, of the young Nigerians who have kept at it. And it was heartwarming to see all the attention his visit got, even from some young people who are rarely excited by much beyond music and entertainment."

Like a lot of entrepreneurs on the continent, the founders of CcHUB have been quietly plugging away before catching the attention of one of the world's biggest tech founders.

Zuckerberg singled out their business because of their proven track record in building and incubating startups that tackle the country's myriad social issues such as Lifebank, an app that locates available blood supplies and delivers it to hospitals.

Another entrepreneur who met Zuckerberg was Adebayo Adegbembo, who runs Genii games, a platform to make it easier for kids to learn about African culture both in Nigeria and the diaspora.

He said Zuckerberg learned a few words of Yoruba and spoke of his love of languages.

"To have Mark show that kind of interest in us is a huge stamp of approval," Adegbembo said.

He added that he was proud of recently putting the Hausa language, largely spoken in northern Nigeria, on the platform and revealed plans to expand to other Nigerian languages.

Nigeria is the largest market in Africa for Facebook; 16 million Nigerians using the platform monthly, with 7 million logging onto the site daily: 97% of them on mobile, according to figures from the network.

Zuckerberg has also made no secret of his interest in Nigerian startups and other African tech industries.

In June, he invested millions of dollars in a Lagos-based startup called Andela via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and in May he launched Free Basics, a partnership with a local telecoms provider, which allows people to browse websites for free, a very appealing prospect in a country where data prices can be prohibitively high.

Although, it is not without controversy as critics have said it violates the central tenets of net neutrality, which stipulate that all Internet content and users should be treated equally. Cherry-picking free content isn't considered fair or right, according to the critics.

But it appears to be more than just the numbers stacking up for Facebook and Zuckerberg. He has said he is in the country to listen and learn and take ideas back to California on how to support businesses across the continent. He's also very interested in the creative partnerships and in exploring where tech and creativity intersect.

While in Lagos, he met with leading figures in Nigeria's Nollywood film industry and talked about how the burgeoning industry could be a huge revenue driver for the country. He said: "One of the things I am most excited about my trip to Lagos is going to check out Nollywood. Nollywood sounds like a national treasure and the ability to produce video content that is moving and emotional transcends boundaries and will help tell stories of the amazing innovation, engineering and culture to the whole world."

By Stephanie Busari

Mark Zuckerberg jogging FREELY on a bridge at Lekki.

September 2016

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South African Mayor Bans Use Of Luxury Cars By Officials

Luxury car manufacturers do not have a friend in the new mayor of South Africa’s capital city.

Solly Msimanga, the recently-elected mayor of Tshwane - which includes the capital Pretoria—has put a ban on government spending on high-end vehicles.

Msimanga, who represents the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), also said that he would donate 10 BMWs purchased under the previous African National Congress (ANC) administration to the city’s police department to form a new anti-hijack unit.

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“I will not allow public money to be spent on luxury cars, while our people struggle for services, houses and jobs,” Msimanga said in a statement Tuesday. “A Hyundai i20 or Toyota Corolla can do the same job for a politician as an expensive sedan.”

Msimanga has also banned the use of blue lights by politicians and government officials in Tshwane, which had been used to avoid sitting in traffic. The measure requires approval, however, from the provincial government of Gauteng—the province in which Tshwane is situated—which is still run by the ANC.

The ANC lost control of Tshwane in August’s local government elections, in which the party recorded its worst result since the end of apartheid in 1994, despite still getting more than 50 percent of the national vote.

The party also lost control of several other urban hubs, including South Africa’s economic hub Johannesburg and the symbolic Nelson Mandela Bay. This was largely to the benefit of the DA, though it now has to bolstered by other opposition parties—including the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters—in places like Johannesburg, where it leads a minority government.

Source: newsweek.com

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I'm In Kenya To Learn About Mobile Money - Zuckerberg

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is in Kenya.

the country's economic capital Lagos on Tuesday.

His message while in Nigeria had glaring similarities to the one he posted on his Facebook page when he landed in Kenya on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Internet entrepreneur and philanthropist announced his arrival via his Facebook page where he pointed out that his mission is to meet with Kenyan entrepreneurs and developers and He said: "This is my first trip to sub-Saharan learn about mobile money.

Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup The post read: “Just landed in Nairobi! I'm here to ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazmeet with entrepreneurs and developers, and to ing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can." learn about mobile money -- where Kenya is the world leader. iHub CEO Sam Gichuru responded to Zuckerberg’s surprise visit to his company with I'm starting at a place called iHub, where entreprea simple Facebook message that read, “Surprise neurs can build and prototype their ideas. Two of visit by @Mark Zuckerberg to the Kenyan tech the engineers I met -- Fausto and Mark -- designed ecosystem.

In Kenya.” a system to help people use mobile payments to buy small amounts of cooking gas, which is a lot safer In June, his foundation the Chan Zuckerberg and better for the environment than charcoal or Initiative made a multi-million dollar investkerosene. It's inspiring to see how engineers here ment in Andela, a two-year-old startup that are using mobile money to build businesses and trains African software developers and gives help their community.” them full-time roles at international companies.

Zuckerberg was also spotted at Mama Oliech's Andela works out of headquarters in Lagos and eatery in Yaya, accompanied by ICT CS Joe Nairobi, Kenya.

Mucheru and PS Victor Kyalo.

"I had lunch in Nairobi with Joseph Mucheru, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Information and Communications. We talked about internet access and his ambitious plans for connecting everyone in Kenya."

The billionaire praised Ugali, a popular Kenyan food, " We ate at MAMA Oliech Restaurant. -- a local place everyone recommended. One of my favorite parts of traveling to a new country is trying the food. I enjoyed ugali and a whole fried tilapia for the first time and loved them both!"

Zuckerberg's surprise visit to Kenya comes after the one in Nigeria where he staged a surprise visit to

Zuckerberg has also put his weight behind an initiative called "Free Basics," which provides free Internet access to cellphone users in underserved countries, including Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.

Late last year, Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan pledged to donate billions.

Source:: the-star.co.ke

September 2016

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Ghanaian Pilot Saves Day For Qatar Airways

A Qatar Airlines’ aircraft A Qatar Airways passenger plane, Airbus 330, bound for Doha and piloted by a Ghanaian, Capt. Albert Barney Abuga, made an emergency landing at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport due to an engine fire believed to have been caused by a bird.

All passengers and crew disembarked as normal.

“Qatar Airways can confirm that today’s QR240 from Istanbul Atatürk airport to Doha has returned to Istanbul and has landed safely,” the Gulf airlines said in a statement.

Aviation officials told AFP the incident, which happened on August 18, was caused by a suspected bird strike that caused one of its engines to catch fire.

The spokeswoman could not confirm a report by CNN that one of the plane's engines caught fire.

Safety procedures

“The pilot followed all proper safety procedures”, Qatar Airways said.

It said the plane, an Airbus, was carrying 298 passengers and 14 crew.

Qatar Airways is one of the biggest carriers in the Middle East.

The pilot who achieved this feat, Capt. Abuga, is a Ghanaian pilot, a product of St. Augustine’s College from 1975 to 1977, coming from St. John’s Secondary School where he had his O’ level.

He was trained and flew with Ghana Airways and left to join Singapore Airlines and on to other airlines. He has over 30 years’ experience as a pilot.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

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September 2016

Ghanaians In US Pray For Peaceful Elections

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The Council of Ghanaian Inter-faith Alliance in collaboration with Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, August 6, 2016 held a special prayer meeting with the theme “Let God Arise Over Our Nation” at the Hope Aglow Empowerment Church in Virginia, USA for Ghana’s fourth coming elections. The Alliance offered prayers for a Peaceful Elections, the Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, accelerated development of the country and national unity.

They also prayed for courage, wisdom and sober minds for the electorate in casting their votes without violence. Speaking at the end of the prayer meeting, His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States commended members of the Alliance for organizing the prayer meeting saying “Ghana is grateful to you” Ambassador Smith conveyed the felicitations of the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to the Alliance and the Ghanaian Community who attended the prayer meeting. For 25 years, Ambassador Smith said, Ghana has had six (6) successful, peaceful elections and transferred power from one political party to the other without any problem and therefore, was hopeful this year’s election will be the same as the previous elections. He asked the Ghanaian community to be proud of the achievements of the country and the role Ghana has played on the African continent and the United Nations especially with peace keeping around the world’s troubled spots, adding “Ghana has become strategically very important around the world because of her leadership role dealing with the international community”. Present were Bishop Dr. Evans Glover of the Shiloh Gospel Church, Apostle Edwin Otabil of End-Time Glory Church International, Rev. Clarke, Rev. Kwasi Gymah and Pastor Michael Sasu, Apostle Dr. Daniel Ahia-Armah. Also in attendance were officials from the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC..

His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States

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You Will Stand!

W

Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah

here are they now? Are they still visible to you? Are they parading in your face at work, at home, family and association gatherings? Do you still see them conniving against you in plain sight or are they doing it in secret?

Have they constructed numerous obstacles against you that you can’t seem to find your way to your moment of triumph, your future of success? Fret not as I assure you. Those enemies you see today, you will see no more.

At the brink of facing what seemed to be a failed attempt to freedom via the Red Sea, when the Egyptians were feverishly pursuing the Children of Israel to return them to captivity, Moses stood confidently in front of Israel’s host and promised them, "do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again” (Exodus 14:13). It had taken Moses many trials, and tests and constant communication with “I Am” to come to the point of having complete confidence in God to make such an assertion. Christians’ real relationship experience with God repeatedly confirms the reckless abandonment that we can have in Him. We can abandon all fear and know that He will show up for us, that He will reward our faithfulness and effort, despite the attempts of the enemy.

Like Moses, we can advise ourselves not to be shaken or dismayed by the works of our enemies.

Rest assured that as a child of The Most High God, anyone who comes against you will fail. It does not matter how much and how long they weigh their opposition to you. They will surely fail. Like the devil whose future is very clear in the Book of Revelations, your enemies, those who are wolves in sheep’s clothing posing as friends will fall. Those wolves that are bold enough not to disguise themselves will also fall. They will tumble and tumble hard and they will crash into the thickest of walls.

They will implode and then explode for all to see your vindication and the glory of God upon your life, so fret not.

Consider the case of Joseph and his brothers.

Young and innocent Joseph, a child born out of love and pain, came only to be hated and betrayed by his own flesh and blood. Does this ring true to you or someone you know? Then encourage yourself and/or encourage that person who has been so hurt by his or her own relatives. Encourage them and assure them that just as the Bible teaches that

Joseph’s brothers may have thought they were hurting him, even through the pain of being dispossessed, cast aside and enslaved, Joseph, through the love, will and plan of God, was elevated to second in command in the land of Egypt. Encourage yourself and your loved one that the very enemies who hate and war against you will come on bended knees to seek your forgiveness and acknowledge you as the great and favored person of God that He intended you to be. Keep in line with God and “with your eyes, you will behold the reward of the wicked” (Psalm 91: 8).

When your enemies are jealous of you, their envy and even hatred can lead them to be conniving and even destructive. But if you are a child of God, if you have devoted your heart and life to God, who can stand against you? No one! Take a look at that great man Daniel, a man who prayed continuously, a man who communed with God despite all threats against his livelihood and life in Babylon, a place of debauchery and evil. He stood up for God, and as a result, God also stood up for him. Intelligent, hardworking, honest and faithful to God, Daniel had risen in the ranks and become an administrator in Babylon, the land of his captivity. You see, even when you don’t seem to belong somewhere, even when people don’t believe you deserve your position in a foreign country, at work or even at church, as long as God has placed you there, and as long as you maintain your relationship with Him, He will lift you up and protect you even when the jealous ones seek your demise.

Because he was a righteous and hardworking man, Daniel found favor with the King of the land, King Darius. Resentful of his success and favor with the king and that he unashamedly worshiped and prayed daily to his God, instead of the gods of the land, those who perceived him as an affront conspired to have him thrown into the lions’ den. So even after they had tricked the king to sign a decree that anyone who worships any other aside from the king himself should be thrown into the lions’ den to be devoured by the beasts, and indeed Daniel was thrown into the den for preferring his God than over law, God saw his faithfulness and not only saved Daniel from the lions, but also punished the conspirators and their families with death (Daniel 6:24).

As in the case of Daniel, many times, the efforts to derail you will be intentionally tailored for you.

The lies will be constructed personally against you.

The false accusations will be tailored made for you and the traps in the paths will have your name on them. But as He did it for Daniel, God will do it for you. The morning after being thrown into the lion’s den to be destroyed, a worried King Darius ran to the den to see if Daniel had been killed. But Daniel said to him, “my God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Daniel 6:22).

Just as Daniel, when your enemies conspire against you expecting your downfall, you will not fall, but stand and be able to declare that you are not

September 2016

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harmed, because you have been found innocent in the sight of the Lord!

Will people and evil forces come against us? Sure! Will they come against us even at our most faithful to God? Of course! They connived against Joseph and they plotted against Daniel, so what makes us any different? They will come, but they will not stand. They were not meant to stand; you were, for they have already been made your footstool (Psalm 110:1). We have illustrated how innocent children of God such as Joseph and Daniel were pursued by evil wishers.

Now we turn to how two infamous pursuers of God’s children, unashamed enemies of God, were dealt with.

All the evil that Jezebel and Ahab cruelly unleashed against the children of God was devastating, yet Ahab and his wife, enemies of God’s children, paid a very terrible price and your enemies who wage war against you will pay a dear price.

One such instance was the evil that Ahab and Jezebel did against Naboth. In I Kings chapter 21, we learn that Naboth owned a land passed down from his family. Ahab wanted that land for a vegetable garden, but Naboth told him he couldn’t sell it because it was family property. But Jezebel, conspired to have Naboth killed so that she could take the land and give it to her husband. She did. She had Naboth stoned and presented the land to her husband. But the Lord sent the prophet Elijah to tell Ahab, “the LORD says, "Haven't you murdered a man? Haven't you taken over his property?…Dogs licked up Naboth's blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!" The LORD says, 'I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will cut off every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free” (I Kings 22: 19-21).

Indeed, the Lord fulfilled all His words. The Books of First and Second Kings teach us that after all the evil he perpetrated, Ahab was killed (I Kings 22: 37) and so were all his children (2 Kings 10:9). The Lord was sure to recompense him for all his atrocities and he, in the end, with all that he had built, particularly as a genealogical legacy, came to nothing short of a horrendous and destructive end. And what happened to his most evil idol-worshipping wife? When she least expected that she would meet her demise, she was thrown out of a window and died upon her violent fall, and just as it had been prophesied by God, she was not afforded a decent burial as her remains were quickly devoured by dogs that she, this powerful queen, was terribly disposed of (2 Kings 9: 32-37).

So after reading all of this, are you still bothered about what people are doing against you? Are you still worried about what your enemies might be plotting against you?

Why? Leave it to God. Know that you cannot defend yourself as well as God can defend you. Know that you cannot recompense them better than God can. Move on with your life and your work in God’s vineyard. Focus on your calling and don’t waste any time with all the noise and chatter around you. You have already overcome, so don’t fret. Your enemies will fall, but you, my friend, will stand!

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Bride Flees From Church After Discovering That Groom Does Not Work For Oil Company

wedding gone TOTALLY wrong – unfortunate- she discovered her groom-to-be wasn’t a Chevron staff ly showing people the disadvantages on online as he had self-proclaimed on his Social media. dating, the runaway bride seen in this photo dashed out of her Church wedding service in Source: http://ultimatefmonline.com/ Akwa Ibom in Nigeria at the Weekend after

Ghanaian Jailed In Canada On Child Porn Charges September 2016

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localxpress.ca – A 58-year-old man from the West African nation of Ghana will have an extended stay in Canada after accepting responsibility Friday for child pornography found on his cellphone as he entered the country.

Thomas Aboagye Acheampong was arrested Monday at Halifax Stanfield International Airport after arriving on an Air Canada flight from London.

Acheampong told a Canada Border Services Agency officer he planned to visit for 17 days but gave inconsistent answers when pressed for details.

During a secondary examination, a border officer discovered three videos on Acheampong’s cellphone showing children having sex with one another.

Crown attorney Perry Borden told Dartmouth provincial court the six children in the videos appeared to range in age from five to 13.

Acheampong pleaded guilty to a Criminal Code charge of possessing electronic media depicting the sexual exploitation of children and a Customs Act charge of smuggling prohibited goods.

Judge Timothy Gabriel accepted a joint recommendation from lawyers and sentenced the Ghanaian national to eight months in jail on each count, with the time to be served concurrently.

Acheampong will almost certainly be deported after he gets out of the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, the judge said.

“If it wasn’t for people like you, sir, who possess this kind of material, there would be no incentive for the monsters doing this to the children,” Gabriel told the offender.

“And you’re bringing it into Canada!

“Let me be very direct. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t care that children are treated this way, that is prepared to contribute to the perpetualization of an industry that treats children this way, you’re not the type of person we want in Canada in any event.”

The judge said the aggravating features were “too many to mention” and deserved strong condemnation.

“No society in the world accepts this kind of conduct,” Gabriel said. “I don’t purport to speak for all of them, but I speak for Canadian society. We don’t tolerate it and we punish it severely.

“We express society’s revulsion and contempt for individuals who participate in that kind of activity, and the sentence must reflect that.”

He said the only mitigating feature was the early guilty plea, which saved the court some time.

Borden said he asked for more than the minimum sentence of six months for possession of child pornography because Acheampong had a previous conviction in Maryland in 2004 for conspiracy to traffic heroin.

“So he’s not coming to court with clean hands,” the prosecutor said.

The judge also ordered Acheampong to provide a DNA sample for a national databank and register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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Medical Doctor Who Had Near-Death Experience Says ‘I Saw Jesus In Heaven And He Knew My Name.’ a long time ago. We were in the Eternal Now, without past or future and I was perfectly at ease, full of joy,” he said.

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Woman Dies After Pastor Lethebo Rabalango Puts Big Speaker On Top Of Her Body To Prove God’s Power

Then suddenly, he saw a shaft of light in the centre of the crowd, and lo and behold, he saw Jesus.

Landry said Jesus looked at him and told him, “Gerry, My peace be with you.”

The doctor was stunned by the thought that out of the billions of people God created, Jesus knew his name!

“In that moment, for the first time, I understood the essence, the completeness, the fullness of the love of God!” he said.

Being doctor, Dr. Gerry Landry, 55, knew he was having a heart attack one day at home when he felt overwhelming fatigue and crushing pain in his chest.

He immediately alerted his wife who called an ambulance to take him to the hospital where he worked, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, according to God Reports.

“All I remember during the ride to the hospital was calling out the name of Jesus, over and over again,” Landry recalled.

At the same Emergency Room where he had treated hundreds of patients, Landry found out that his inferior coronary artery had collapsed.

“The cold clamminess of my hands warned me of collapsing veins,” he said. “Yet, the sweet presence of Jesus continued to enfold me with His peace.”

Then his heart suddenly stopped beating.

Landry then felt Jesus’ hand on his heart as He telepathically told him, “Gerry, you are healed. You will have no more pain, no anxiety, no shame, no guilt. I want you to go back. You’ll be home from the hospital in one week. I want you to tell your family, your friends, your fellowships, everyone I will put you in contact with, about My love.”

Then Landry sensed his spirit returning to his body.

He later found out that his heart stopped beating for four minutes.

“Exactly as Jesus told me, one week later I was home and, to the amazement of my physicians, completely healed,” he said.

Five weeks later, Landry resumed his work at the Texas hospital. “There, I shared Jesus’ love with many critically ill patients and their families,” he said.

He also traveled to many countries where he shared God’s message of love and redemption.

However, on March 24, 1979—23 years after his heart attack and near death experience—Landry suffered a stroke and returned to heaven. This time he stayed there for good, according to God Reports.

“I became acutely aware of my spirit separating from my body and I died – pronounced ‘clinically dead’ at 4:13 p.m.,” he said.

Immediately, he said he found himself in heaven.

“A multitude of radiantly beautiful people surroundhttp://sundayadelajablog.com/ ed me. In spite of the crowd, I looked around and actually recognised some of my late relatives, as well as some historical figures who had preceded me

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Congregates of Mount Zion General Assembly went home with heads down on Sunday after a failed demonstration of power by the church pastor when a girl fainted after he put a very big and heavy speaker on top of her, promising her that she would not feel pain. The woman has now died from internal injuries caused to her lungs.

Pastor Lethebo Rabalango had organised a night of worship at his church in Polokwane where he was teaching about demonstration of power in which he emphasised that if Jesus walked on water, he too could do anything with faith.

It is on this point that he invited a girl from the praise team and asked her to lie down. He then ordered Ushers to carry a big speaker and put on her stomach saying the weight would not harm her. As if it was not enough, he climbed on top of the speaker, adding pressure to suffocate the girl who remained quite for she had already passed out.

After seating on top of the speaker which was still on the girl’s stomach for close 5 minutes, he got up and ordered removal of the speaker, but the girl could not rise because she had fainted.

It took some elders giving her first aid treatment that she came back but complained of a broken rib. The she was then taken to hospital.

However, the pastor blamed the girl and accused her of having little faith for she could not withstand a very simple task. Pastor Lethabo can be accessed via his facebook Account.

Source:http://howafrica.com/

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The Gambia’s Ambassador, Sheikh Omar Faye, on the Presidency of Yahya Jammeh Infrastructure, education, and health services have improved tremendously and The President’s Vision 2016 for agriculture – Grow What You Eat and Eat What You Grow – is on track. We never had the privilege of having a university. It was when President Jammeh came that The Gambia got its first university.

We used to have one major hospital called Royal Victoria Hospital and now that has changed. We have several hospitals in the Gambia. There is room for improvement in the area of press freedom, but there used to be only one private radio station before President Jammeh came into power, apart from the national station. Now we have over 20 FM stations.”

Ambassador Faye referred to Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s bid to seek a third term in 2017. President Kagame has been president since 2000. He was originally limited to two terms, but Rwanda has approved changes to the constitution that will effectively allow him to stay in power until 2034, sparking a new international debate about the merits and demerits of term limits.

Embassy of The Gambia Washington, DC

Interview and Story by Frederick Nnoma-Addison

As the people of The Gambia prepare to observe 22 years under President Yahya Jammeh on Friday July 22, 2016, Ambassador Sheikh Omar Faye has called on Gambian nationals both at home and in the Diaspora to reflect over the gains of the past 22 years, open a new dialogue on national development and existing differences, and write a new narrative for the nation they are all proud of. Ambassador Faye made this call in an interview he granted at his new embassy chancery on 16th street in Northwest Washington, DC, and stressed the need for progressive dialogue instead of negativity and divisiveness.

Speaking about his first two years in Washington, he said: “Lots of positive things have happened, great things! Of course a few hitches here and there. In 2014 my staff and I hosted President Jammeh when he was in Washington for the US-Africa Leadership Summit. I have met with State Department officials on several occasions to work on common interests, attended functions at The White House, and reached out to institutions to let them know that The Gambia is the place to go to. I am also actively engaging the Gambian community across the United States. I have traveled to Atlanta, New York, Michigan, and lots of places just to reach out to our community.

They can call the Ambassador, anytime because I know that is what my community needs.”

About President Yahya Jammeh President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup d’état on July 22, 1994 and has remained in office since then. Presidential elections have been held every 5 years since 1996, and the next one is scheduled for December 1 of this year. While the Jammeh Administration prepares to celebrate the gains of the past 22 years, his critics have also renewed their debate on term limits, and Ambassador Faye was not unaware of that debate, and did not hesitate to comment on that, stating that it would be shortsightedness for anyone to fail to recognize the successes of the Jammeh Administration.

“The issue of term limits in The Gambia must be determined by the people of The Gambia, and not by other nations. It simply depends on what your philosophy is on term limits. Like in Rwanda, what is going on…We can dialogue on this… A lot of Gambians support President Jammeh by the way, because there have been big leaps, big improvements, what I will call colossal gains under him. Even people with different political affiliations agree with him on many issues.

Commenting on President Jammeh’s vision for The Gambia, Ambassador Faye said, “The President wants The Gambia to be a Silicon Valley. He actually has a vision 2020 where The Gambia will be up there, where The Gambia will be the envy not only of Africa but also of the whole world.”

According to the Ambassador, the President, who is a visionary, believes this is achievable due to the size of the country and the great human resource in the country, especially the youth. He challenged the youth to take advantage of the conducive environment created by the Administration and seize the opportunities available.

The Gambia and Democracy Contrary to what many people believe about President Jammeh, The Gambia, and multiparty democracy, Ambassador Faye explained that there are currently several political parties preparing to participate in the upcoming elections in December. He named the United Democratic Party (UDP), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the National Convention Party (NCP), and the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), among others, and said that the Gambian people are free to elect whomever they want as their next President. Ambassador Faye further pointed out that The Gambia, for the first time in its history, has an independent electoral commission Independent Electoral Commission established by President Jammeh, and contrasted it with the model in the First Republic where the Ministry of Local Government was responsible for elections. Ambassador Faye described President Jammeh as a “uniting force in The Gambia” and complimented the President for having the vision to invite his predecessor, President Dawda Jawara to return to The Gambia from the United Kingdom, where he was staying after he was removed from office.

According to Ambassador Faye, Jawara now plays the role of an elder statesman in The Gambia, and is usually seen at national events sitting next to President Jammeh.

About The Gambia The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, and has a narrow Atlantic coastline. She gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965. The country is well known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, hippos, and rare birds. Small fishing villages, nature reserves, and historic slaving stations are all within easy reach of the Atlantic resorts.

The capital Banjul, and nearby Serekunda offer access to beaches running south from Bakau to Kololi, making the country an important tourist destination for Americans and westerners.

Tourism and agriculture are the leading industries in The Gambia

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and offer foreign investors several opportunities.

Remittances from Gambians living abroad also play an important role in economic development.

Last December, President Yahya Jammeh declared his country an Islamic Republic, making it Africa’s second, after Mauritania. President Jammeh reportedly justified his announcement by saying “he was breaking from The Gambia’s colonial past”.

According to Ambassador Faye about 90% of The Gambian population is Muslim but the country has a track record of peaceful between Muslims, Christians, and people of other faiths. He condemned Muslim extremism and said he believes that the new Islamic Republic of The Gambia will show the world a different and positive brand of Islam.

Gambia-U.S. Relations A number of U.S. citizens have set up small businesses in The Gambia and several U.S. companies such as Western Union, MoneyGram, UPS, Motorola, and Coca Cola are represented there, but Ambassador Faye made a call to more U.S. companies to explore business opportunities through the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency GIEPA

The U.S. Government conducts some amount of business with The Gambia but Ambassador Faye believes there are more opportunities for bilateral trade between the two countries. In 2015, The Gambia’s eligibility for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act was suspended alongside Swaziland and South Sudan, but Ambassador Faye hopes to work with his government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to reinstate that.

Ambassador Sheikh Omar Faye concluded his interview by reiterating his call for a culture of dialogue, and the need to recognize and build upon the gains of President Jammeh’s Administration while looking forward.

On behalf of President Yahya Jammeh, the Ambassador thanked the U.S. Government for her partnership, and for facilitating the process of acquiring a new property (Embassy Chancery at 5630 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20011). He wished all Gambian nationals both at home and in the Diaspora a happy July 22nd and also thanked President Jammeh for giving him the honor of representing The Gambia in the United States.

About Ambassador Faye Before being posted to Washington first as Chargé d’Affaires in March 2014, and being appointed Ambassador in August 2015, Sheikh Omar Faye served his government as Minister of Youth, Sports, and Religious Affairs, and later on as Deputy Chief of Mission in Mauritania for 7 years. Prior to entering public service as a civilian, Ambassador Sheikh Omar Faye served in The Gambian Military for 14 years, and retired in 1995 with the rank of Major. His last overseas training was at The Command and General Staff College, Forth Leavenworth, Kansas, United States.

Story Editor Beryl Nnoma-Addison

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Shocker: Wife Crashes Her Own Funeral, Horrifying Her Husband, Who Had Paid To Have Her Killed ALSO READ Top 15 Lowest Salary Countries (13 Countries from Africa make the lists) But, it appeared, he could.

Rukundo came to in the strange building somewhere near Bujumbura. The kidnappers were still there, she told the ABC.

They weren’t going to kill her, the men then explained — they didn’t believe in killing women, and they knew her brother. But they would keep her husband’s money and tell him that she was dead. After two days, they set her free on the side of a road, but not before giving her a mobile phone, recordings of their phone conversations with Kalala, and receipts for the $7,000 in Australian dollars they allegedly received in payment, according to Australia’s The Age. “We just want you to go back, to tell other stupid women like you what happened,” Rukundo said she was told before the gang members drove away.

Noela Rukundo sat in a car outside her home, watching as the last few mourners filed out. They were leaving a funeral — her funeral.

Finally, she spotted the man she’d been waiting for.

She stepped out of her car, and her husband put his hands on his head in horror.

“Is it my eyes?” she recalled him saying. “Is it a ghost?”

“Surprise! I’m still alive!” she replied.

Far from being elated, the man looked terrified. Five days ago, he had ordered a team of hit men to kill Rukundo, his partner of 10 years. And they did — well, they told him they did. They even got him to pay an extra few thousand dollars for carrying out the crime.

Now here was his wife, standing before him. In an interview with the BBC Thursday, Rukundo recalled how he touched her shoulder to find it unnervingly solid. He jumped. Then he started screaming.

“I’m sorry for everything,” he wailed.

But it was far too late for apologies; Rukundo called the police. The husband, Balenga Kalala, ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC).

The happy ending — or, as happy as can be expected to a saga in which a man tries to have his wife killed — was made possible by three unusually principled hit men, a helpful pastor and one incredibly gutsy woman: Rukundo herself.

Here is how she pulled it off.

Rukundo’s ordeal began almost exactly a year ago, when she flew from her home in Melbourne with her husband, Kalala, to attend a funeral in her native Burundi. Her stepmother had died and the service left her saddened and stressed. She retreated to her hotel room in Bujumbura, the capital, early in the evening; despondent after the events of the day, she lay down in bed. Then her husband called.

But the minute Rukundo stepped out of her hotel, a man charged forward, pointing a gun right at her.

Shaken, but alive and doggedly determined, Rukundo began plotting her next move. She sought help from the Kenyan and Belgian embassies to return to Australia, according to The Age. Then she called the pastor of her church in Melbourne, she told the BBC, and explained to him what had happened. Without alerting Kalala, the pastor helped her get back home to her neighborhood near Melbourne.

Rukundo, terrified, did as she was told. She was ushered into a car and blindfolded so she couldn’t see where she was being taken.

After 30 or 40 minutes, the car came to a stop, and Rukundo was pushed into a building and tied to a chair.

Meanwhile, her husband had told everyone she had died in a tragic accident and the entire community mourned her at her funeral at the family home.

On the night of Feb. 22, 2015, just as the widower Kalala waved goodbye to neighbors who had come to comfort him, Rukundo approached him, the very man whose voice she’d heard over the phone five days earlier, ordering that she be killed.

“He told me to go outside for fresh air,” she told the BBC.

“Don’t scream,” she recalled him saying. “If you start screaming, I will shoot you. They’re going to catch me, but you? You will already be dead.”

She could hear male voices, she told the ABC. One asked her, “You woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you?”

“What are you talking about?” Rukundo demanded.

“Balenga sent us to kill you.”

They were lying. She told them so. And they laughed.

“You’re a fool,” they told her.

There was the sound of a dial tone, and a male voice coming through a speakerphone. It was her husband’s voice.

“Kill her,” he said.

And Rukundo fainted.

Rukundo had met her husband 11 years earlier, right after she arrived in Australia from Burundi, according to the BBC. He was a recent refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they had the same social worker at the resettlement agency that helped them get on their feet. Since Kalala already knew English, their social worker often recruited him to translate for Rukundo, who spoke Swahili.

They fell in love, moved in together in the Melbourne suburb of Kings Park, and had three children (Rukundo also had five kids from a previous relationship). She learned more about her husband’s past — he had fled a rebel army that had ransacked his village, killing his wife and young son. She also learned more about his character.

“I knew he was a violent man,” Rukundo told the BBC. “But I didn’t believe he can kill me.”

Balenga Kalala paid $7000 for his partner to be kidnapped and murdered.

“I felt like somebody who had risen again,” she told the BBC.

Though Kalala initially denied all involvement, Rukundo got him to confess to the crime during a phone conversation that was secretly recorded by police, according to The Age. “Sometimes Devil can come into someone, to do something, but after they do it they start thinking, ‘Why I did that thing?’ later,” he said, as he begged her to forgive him.

Kalala eventually pleaded guilty to the scheme. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by a judge in Melbourne.

“Had Ms Rukundo’s kidnappers completed the job, eight children would have lost their mother,” Chief Justice Marilyn Warren said, according to the ABC. “It was premeditated and motivated by unfounded jealousy, anger and a desire to punish Ms. Rukundo.”

Rukundo said that Kalala tried to kill her because he thought she was going to leave him for another man — an accusation she denies.

But her trials are not yet over. Rukundo told the ABC she’s gotten backlash from Melbourne’s Congolese community for reporting Kalala to the police.

Someone left threatening messages for her, and she returned home one day to find her back door broken. She now has eight children to raise alone, and has asked the Department of Human Services to help her find a new place to live.

And lying in bed at night, Kalala’s voice still comes to her: “Kill her, kill her,” she told the BBC. “Every night, I see what was happening in those two days with the kidnappers.”

Despite all that, “I will stand up like a strong woman,” she said. “My situation, my past life? That is gone. I’m starting a new life now.”

Source: Washington Post

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September 2016

Future Africa Foundation and the United Nations Honor Bishop Adonteng Boateng As Peace Ambassador

HRH Prince Duke Adu-Gyamfi IV President and Founder of Future Africa Foundation

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Peter Rogers CEO - VIP Communications

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September 2016

Future Africa Foundation and the United Nations Honor Bishop Adonteng Boateng As Peace Ambassador

Legendary Drummer Okyerema Asante

Dr. Tina Abrefa - Gyan Vice Chairperson - NPP USA

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Evans Asigbee -Member- Friends of JDM

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September 2016

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CNA Classes Starting In October

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Oral Ofori of TheAfricanDreamLLC at Blogger Week 2016 in the USA

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endless opportunities it provides. Africans all over are harnessing the power of social media for the ultimate good of society by putting in handwork and dedication.

J.A.M. Aiwuyor, Blogger Week Founder said of the event that: "The 3rd Annual Blogger Week was a huge success! We had many amazing speakers and attendees from all over the world including the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Honduras, and Ghana."

Aiwuyor went on to reveal that: "this year we focused on social justice and digital storytelling. We wanted to make sure that bloggers from across the Pan African world were equipped with the tools to be successful in digital media. Thus, it was a great pleasure that Oral Ofori came to speak about Google as an all-inclusive digital media tool for African entrepreneurs."

On August 20, 2016, Oral Ofori, the Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC; a multi-platform information and communication consultancy on African affairs based in the Washington, DC area of the United States of America (USA) Mr. Ofori was invited by Black Bloggers Connect (blackbloggersconnect.com) to address their annual Blogger Week gathering.

During his address of the occasion (which is in its third year) held at the Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. Oral Ofori spoke on ‘Google as an all-inclusive digital media tool for African entrepreneurs’.

Mr. Ofori delved into the story behind the formation of his business; TheAfricanDream LLC, how Google as a social media platform plays a major role in activities of young African entrepreneurs and how this is generally impacting lives positively.

The week-long event was from August 15-21 is a multicultural festival of bloggers, journalists, and social media mavens.

Blogger Week culminated in a large gathering at the Trinity Washington University in Washington DC where Mr. Ofori became the first Ghanaian to ever addressed the occasion (which is in its third year) in the Diaspora on the use of digital media by Africans.

The Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC which is encouraged participants to understand social media deeper by learning more about its ever-evolving nature in order to discover the

Other USA based individuals that delivered addresses over the week were: Yvelette Stines, Kierra M. Wagstaff, Brittney Simpson, Kristina Denise Sabrina Kizzie, Rachel Decoste, Gerald Olivari, and Ni’cola Mitchell. The rest are April Reign, Andrea Imafidon, Jason Francis, Ricki Fairley, Rashida Heard, Candice Nicole, and Kendra Webb-Scott.

Over 200 bloggers participated in events for the first annual Blogger Week by Black Bloggers Connect. This third annual gathering featured workshops, panels, and networking events. Find out more about Black Bloggers Connect on twitter as @JoinBBC. Oral Ofori is also @oralofori on Twitter.

Below is the video of Oral Ofori addressing the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlaJXgz a6Fw Source: Rexford Nkansah via phone interview

September 2016

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Chardel Technical and Logistics making inroads into Africa says Ghanaian CEO Charles Manu

Charles Manu heads Chardel Technical & Logistics Ltd., a provider of technical and project management solutions to the mining and petroleum industries in West Africa.

Charles doesn’t like to think of himself as too important of a guy - certainly not as the CEO and President of a fast-growing Washington DC company in the USA. But that’s exactly the case.

With his leadership, the Washington D.C. – based company has carved a strategic niche for itself by providing clients with fire protection engineering design, procurement, and Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) shipping services.

Partnering with a local firm, the company recently won a contract for the engineering design and installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system at a mining equipment workshop in the western region of Ghana.

The fire protection business holds great potential for Chardel Technical & Logistics, with the company seeking to capitalize in an area where few local companies possess the level of expertise that clients require. With the successful completion of the Ghana project, the company hopes for increased business in the country and region.

According to Mr. Manu, “Ghana is a key market for us as we work to increase our footprint in the region. It will be important for us to continue to form strategic partnerships with local companies to execute our long term goals.”

Running a successful business with interests in Africa, and in particular Ghana, can be described as a dream come true for Mr. Manu. He moved with his family from Ghana to the US at age ten but never lost touch with his roots. He foresees Chardel Technical and Logistics also being an avenue for him to give back.

Charles has established a Corporate Social Responsibility plan that will allow him to do give back more in the future – a future that looks very bright for him and his firm Chardel Technical and Logistics Ltd.

To learn more about Chardel Technical & Logistics Ltd and services they offer, visit their website at www.chardeltechnical.com or contact them at info@chardeltechnical.com

Company Profile: Chardel Technical and Logistics Ltd is a provider of integrated technical and project management services to the mining and petroleum industries in West Africa. The company works with local firms to deliver quality projects in fire protection, HAZMAT shipping, and general procurement to clients.

Source: Oral Ofori of TheAfricanDream.net

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Bishop Adonteng Embarks On Pilgrimage To Israel

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Future Africa Foundation Honors Bishop Adonteng Boateng As Peace Ambassador

Future Africa Foundation (FAF) on August 14, 2016, in the United States (US) acknowledged and honored Bishop Dr. Kofi Adonteng Boateng of the Divine Word International Ministries (DWIM) with a citation declaring him as the ‘Peace Ambassador’ for the upcoming 2016 general elections in Ghana.

The honor according to FAF is in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Peace For Africa Initiative recognition of the Bishop’s commitment to the goodwill of all mankind and his outstanding humanitarian works over the years that have positively impacted lives.

According to Prince Duke Adu-Gyamfi; President of FAF, "Bishop Adonteng Boateng’s continued efforts at globally reaching out through his ministries to realize the full potentials of every person, situation or organization he encounters makes him an ideal candidate for FAF Peace Ambassador. His persona will serve as a great positive influence to foster peace and unity both in and out of Ghana as the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections begin in December 2016.

The one week experience in the Holy Land according to Bishop Adonteng will be an important spiritual and physical experience for him personally, which is why he wants to share it with others as he says: “I feel very blessed and humbled to arrive at this juncture of my life where I will be able to be in the land where Christianity originated and feel the spirit and love of Christ.”

When the travelers arrive in Israel they will be hosted by one of the largest African Churches in Tel Aviv under the leadership of Rev. Daniel Jones Boakye of the Amazing Grace Teaching Ministry from October 5-7. Then on Friday October 9, Bishop Adonteng will preach a sermon in a replica boat on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus did the same 2000 years ago.

Historic Jerusalem sermon

The Bishop's historical sermon is expected to be witnessed by the team of 130 travellers accompanying him. Other travelers of respective African origins who will be headed to Israel from countries like Germany, Canada, the UK and Denmark are going to be present during Bishop Adonteng's sermon in what is expected to be one of the largest gathering of African Christians in Israel.

From a religious perspective Israel encompasses an integral part of the Holy Land and holds great significance to religions like Christianity which is the largest religion in the world today, the Druze and Bahá'í Faiths, Judaism, and Islam.

“Yes God through Jesus Christ is everywhere at every time so let’s not forget that fact. It will however be a great experience to be at and see some of the things we read about in the Bible like the Old City of Jerusalem, The Temple Mount, The Sea of Galilee, Jacob’s Well Church, Jericho and The Church of The Nativity (Jesus' birthplace) to mention a few of these amazing places” — Bishop Adonteng.

Information obtained from DWIM indicates that ‘The Holy Land Experience’ tour will begin in the Holy Land with a visit to the Herodion; the fortified palace and final resting place of King Herod the Great. It will then move to Bethlehem and a visit to the Church of the Nativity, where the cave revered as Jesus' birthplace resides in the world's oldest functioning church and continue to check out other exciting landmarks and places.

DWIM began as a small prayer group called Divine Prayer Line on a free conference phone line in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA in 2009. Today it has transformed into a full-fledged ministry with over 3,000 Church members and some 10,000 worshippers on their prayer line network in the USA and worldwide.

The church is located at 6715 Electronic Drive in Springfield, Virginia, USA. More information can be obtained about it and ‘The Holy Land Experience’ by emailing DivineWordInt@Gmail.com

Source: Oral Ofori / TheAfricanDream.net

UN Peace for Africa Initiative representatives Dr. Kennedy Amofa and Michael Eidem read and presented the citation to Bishop Adonteng Boateng.

Nana Adu Gyamfi, President of the Kwahu Obomeng Association of the Washington DC area was the Chairman of the event which was held at the headquarters of the DWIM located in Springfield, Virginia, USA. Also in attendance were Nana Berima Ampofo Wiredu II, the Akyem Bomaahene of Ghana.

The Bishop said after the event that he was firstly thankful to God and his wife Ewura Adonteng Boateng for always being there for him. He pledged to use his new status to diligently work towards a peaceful election in Ghana and to also help strengthen democracy in Africa and around the globe.

Cardiologist Dr. Isaac Opoku-Asare was also present with his wife lawyer Jennifer OpokuAsare at the event to share congratulate and acknowledge Bishop Adonteng Boateng on his new status as Peace Ambassador.

The two leading political parties of Ghana were also represented by Dr. Tina Abrefa-Gyan; Vice Chairperson in the US branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party of Ghana, while Evans Asigbee; member of Friends of John Dramani Mahama (incumbent president of Ghana) in the US stood in for Ghana’s ruling party the National Democratic Congress.

Sensational Ghanaian percussionist Okyerema Asante provided traditional drumming performance for the audience and dignitaries at the event which was MC’d by Kwaku Boateng. The CEO of VIP Communications - Peter Rogers - a US-based telecommunication firm and one of the event sponsors was present to deliver a speech.

Peter Rogers in his speech stressed the importance of voting during elections and called on Ghanaians all over to exercise this privilege during the December 2016 elections. He also said his firm was going to donate a portion of proceeds from calling cards purchased by customers who frequently call Ghana from the USA towards the peace ambassador's initiatives.

The whole event was put together by Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta who is the Executive Director of Future Africa Foundation. To find out more about DWIM and FAF visit their respective websites at divinewordint.org and futureafrica.info

Source: Communication teams of DWIM/FAF

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September 2016 Page

Giving Back to Our Community. Please Support the Contruction 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 exspenses of Enomary hospital.

https://www.gofundme.com/49c8dbtd

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Threads By Dreads Foundation Scholarship Offer In Ghana

Christiana Afotey, owner and designer of the fashion brand Threads by Dreads has informed TheAfricanDream.net that the brand’s outreach arm; Threads by Dreads Foundation, is currently offering scholarship to high school scholars in Ghana.

Olivia A. Semaha Co-Founder of Angelic Love Home Care (ALHC), a family-run and independently owned Non-Medical Home Care agency in Framingham, Massachusetts, in the USA says her institution which has been providing basic assistive comprehensive services to patients in American homes is now seeking to branch out into her native country of Ghana.

“Angelic Love Home Care feel people in Ghana with varying ages that demand personal support at home, in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities will provide us with a great opportunity to go to work doing what we do best. It is also our intention to help create the needed awareness for such persons in their society as far as their need for special attention and fair treatment based on competence is concerned.

It is very important according to Olivia “that we are non-discriminatory and very selfless when caring for these persons. ALHC believes the provision of personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, running light errands and escorting clients to doctor’s visits or simple walks are a few of some of the important things that goes a long way to make life less complicated for clients and their families.”

Scholarship stipulations

In order for candidates to qualify for the Mrs. Fedelia Adokailey Mensah Scholarship Award they must be actively enrolled in a Ghanaian high school and must have no more than five occurrences of lateness or un-excused absences. Besides having an impressive attendance record candidates must maintain credit

US Based Angelic Love Home Care Sets Eye On Ghana

We commend those in Ghana and other parts of Africa that are sticking to standards similar to the services we provide here at ALHC and are glad to say we are excited to join them in lifting these standards and helping society appreciate their needs. — Olivia A. Semaha

“This award will carry on part of my mother’s nurturing legacy — aide in community reinvestment — by giving local scholars an opportunity to further their education and contribute to building a brighter future for young adults in Ghana” according to Christiana Afotey.

Downloadable scholarship applications are available in this link http://media.wix.com/ugd/ed1d2c_174f0c64e0 c74b58b626510ec8ae449f.pdf The forms must be turned in no later than December 31, 2016. Winners of the first edition of the scholarship offer from the Foundation will be notified by March 2017.

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In a conversation with TheAfricanDream.net Olivia said one of her goals was to be able to offer ALHC’s services to clients in her native Ghana specifically to the elderly in need of Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Dementia Care among others in related conditions.

In a conversation with TheAfricanDream.net Christiana Afotey said “each scholarship goes towards the winning candidate’s tuition costs for any University in Ghana” explaining that “the scholarship was established in memory of my late mother Mrs. Fedelia Adokailey Mensah.”

Ten qualified student candidates across respective high schools in Ghana will be awarded with the Mrs. Fedelia Adokailey Mensah Scholarship award. Each award would have a value of $250 US Dollars and will be awarded to the winning candidates in March 2017 during which they will be notified by a surprise visit to their classrooms.

September 2016

grades A and B throughout the calendar school year with a GPA of 3.0 or above.

As part of encouraging the spirit of volunteerism among students in Ghana the Foundation requires scholars to have a minimum of 40 hours on volunteer log. They must also have no prior outstanding tuition balances.

The US based fashion brand behind the scholarship Foundation imports their designs for sale worldwide from Ghana after they are made by a team of local artisans. The Threads by Dreads Foundation was established April 2016 with the mission to empower exemplary scholars into pioneering leaders of tomorrow.

For more information about the brand and Scholarship Foundation visit the website www.threadsbydreads.com or forward all correspondence to info@threadsbydreads.com Source: Oral Ofori / TheAfricanDream.net

As she recounts her inspiration for the founding of ALHC to TheAfricanDream.net Olivia said when her grandmother fell and broke her hip in Ghana and got hospitalized for a long time she saw the toll it had on the entire family especially her mother. There were times when she personally had to take time off personal activities to care for her grandmother.

“Those were some hard times on my family and even though they never complained about the situation I knew it was not easy for them. I had wished I could have helped more and it is on the premise of this burning desire to be of more help that ALHC was founded after discovering the homecare system when my family and I relocated to the US in 2009."

“I thought that it was amazing to receive available help (assistance) from qualified nursing assistants at a very affordable price. From that moment I knew right away that the homecare option will be perfect for our Ghanaian setting.”

“Having our ailing and aged parents and grandparents with us at our homes and knowing that there is available and affordable help when one has need for such provides the peace of mind that we all need. I have seen it work in the US and I want to be part of those helping Ghana to experience it through.”

The Ghana branch of ALHC officially started operations under the name Angelic Love Home Care Gh in June 2016. The parent company hopes to have branches in all fifty states across America by the year 2025, branch out into all 10 regions of Ghana by 2020 and make the homecare business more common and professional in Ghana and Africa.

Find out more about Angelic Love Home Care from their website angeliclovehomecare.com or directly email them using info@angeliclovehomecare.com Their US and Ghana phone numbers respectively are +1508-861-7186 and +233-243-802-470 Source: Oral Ofori / TheAfricanDream.net ==ends==

-Oral Ofori; Founder of TheAfricanDream LLC -- an Information and Communication Consultancy on African Affairs --->> goo.gl/jHbdDt +12027069881

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SLAMM Technologies Opens New Office In Manassas

September 2016

On Saturday August 13th, 2016 exactly at 12 noon the longtime dream of Samuel Boateng aka Dr. & Francisca Boateng came to fruition in Manassas. They opened an office, testing center and classroom for their business SLAMM TECHNOLOGIES, an IT support and training business started in their home in 2008.

Slamm Technologies is a leading IT organization which offers IT support in Computer Networking, Cyber Security, Hardware Support, small businesses IT support, and also IT certification training on-line and in classroom, at various churches and organizations and clients in the United States as well as turnkey solutions to clients in Africa. Present at the grand opening were two Prince William County government officials Senator Jeremy McPike and Supervisor Ruth Anderson. In attendance were pastors from Living Faith Church located in Manassas and other pastors from different churches. Highlife Radio where Samuel and Francisca are presenters for the Dr. IT show was also present.

Friends and family members were also there to extend their support and well-wishes. Dr. Nwatu a professor at both Strayer and Stratford University who will be teaching classes at Slamm also shared his enthusiasm with the crowd. The office is located at 10238 Battlefield Parkway, Manassas. For more information on the class schedules and for IT support you can visit HOME slammllc or call 571-379-8933.

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Afrikan

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Trivia

September 2 0 1 6

Controlling Wife The Plane

Have u taken Note of the CO-INCIDENCE OF LIFE:

1. CHURCH has 6 letters so does MOSQUE. 2. BIBLE has 5 letters so does QURAN. 3. LIFE has 4 letters so does DEAD. 4. HATE has 4 letters, so does LOVE... .5. ENEMIES has 7, so does FRIENDS. 6. LYING has 5, so does TRUTH. 7. HURT has 4, so does HEAL. 8. NEGATIVE has 8, so does POSITIVE. 9. FAILURE has 7, so does SUCCESS. 10. BELOW has 5, but so does ABOVE. 11. CRY has 3 letters so does JOY. 12. ANGER has 5 so does HAPPY. 13. RIGHT has 5 so does WRONG. 14. RICH has 4 so does POOR. 15. FAIL has 4 so does PASS 16. KNOWLEDGE has 9 so does IGNORANCE.

Are they all by Co-incidence? We should Choose wisely, thismeans LIFE is like a Double-Edged Sword.If u think it is your alarm clock that woke you up this morning, try putting it beside a dead body and you will realise that it is the Grace of God that woke you up. If you are grateful to God, forward this to all your friends to inform that it is JUST BY THE GRACE OF GOD that we are alive.

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I feel sorry for my neighbour, As he unbuttoned his shirt this morning, a button fell off!

He picked his briefcase, the handle came off!

"A pastor announced, "If you know your wife is controlling He wanted to open his house, the door-knob fell off! you, move to the left". All the men in the church moved to left except one man .

He wanted to enter his car, the door handle The pastor was happy there was at least one strong man, and came off in his hand! asked,"How come ur wife can't control you?"The man quiet- Now he is afraid to urinate! ly replied, "it's my wife who told me not to move".

WHAT A LIFE WE LIVE

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A pilot was transporting a bunch of madmen from Tamale to a psychiatric facility in Accra.

The madmen were making noise.

So, one of them entered the Pilot's Cabin; MADMAN: Teach me how to fly a plane!

PILOT: I would, but under one condition.

MADMAN: What?

PILOT: If you can get your colleagues to keep quiet.

(5 minutes later, the plane was very quiet!

PILOT: Wow!! How did you get them to keep quiet?

MADMAN: I opened the door and asked them to go play outside

A man was selling his goat and another man agreed to buy it. The man was using his last money to buy the goat but as soon as he brought the money out to pay for the goat, the goat jumped and snatched the money from his hands and chewed all .Now the question is, who owns the goat ?

The buyer or the seller My friend Veronica from the USA told me, she is working on Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics ....

I was impressed...

Until another friend explained that she washes dishes with hot water ... in a restaurant...!

In church sometime ago and a pastor said,"DO SOMETHING CRAZY FOR THE LORD!" I could see ladies removing their wigs. The pastor said again,"DO SOMETHING CRAVeronica paaaaa!!!

ZIER FOR THE LORD!" I saw people carrying plastic chairs.

Now he was like,"can't you do something?...the CRAZIEST?" Someone from the back In Ghana, two friends went for an interview... came and took the offering and was walking outside the church. The pastor shouted,"Hey! One was educated and the other wasn't, so hey! gyimii! this is not craziness; its MADNESS!!! they agreed to help each otherThey agreed

FACTS OF LIFE: YOU ARE A POSSIBILITY

I was raped at the age of 9 yet am one of the most influential women in the world" - Oprah Winfrey!

"I didn't even complete my university education but became the world richest man" - Bill Gates!"

I was sexually, mentally, emotionally and verbally abused by my father as far back as I can remember until I left home at the age of eighteen yet I am one of the most influential preachers in d world" - Joyce Meyer!

"I struggled academically throughout elementary school yet became d best Neurosurgeons in d world in 1987" - Dr. Ben Carson!

"I told my father we would be very wealthy and rich but he couldn't believe me but today it's a reality" - Christiano Ronaldo!

"I used to serve tea at a shop to support my football training and still became d world best footballer" - Lionel Messi!

"I used to sleep on the floor in friends' rooms, returning Coke bottles for food, money, and getting weekly free meals at a local temple yet founded apple" - Steve Jobs!

"My teachers used to call me a failure yet I became a Prime Minister" - PM Tony Blair!

"I started Living Faith Church from A Lawn Tennis Court with three members only & Preach prosperity. Many of my friends criticised me, but today we have d largest church auditorium in d world & two world-class universities"- Bishop David Oyedepo!"

I was in prison for 27 years and still became president."- Nelson Mandela!"I drove taxi to finance my university education but today I'm a billionaire" - Mike Adenuga!Failures or limitations of the past have no control over the greatness in you. To him that believes, all things are possible.Don't wait for everybody to believe in your ability and dreams...Never design your life like a Garden where anyone can walk in and out......Design it like the Sky where everyone aspires to reach!

that the educated one should go first... And when he comes back, he should give the other answers to all the questionsThe first guy's interview started;QN 1:"When was Ghana's independence?"GUY 1:"It was supposed to be 1956 but it was postponed to 1957 due to many reasons."QN 2:"Who brought independence to Ghana?"GUY 1:"So many participated but it was Kwame Nkrumah who finalised it."QN 3:"It's believed that in planet mars there is life...is it true?"GUY 1:"So many say so, but it has not been scientifically proven."When he left the interview room, he went straight to his uneducated friend and gave him all the answers.Second guy's interview also started:QN 1:"When were you born?"GUY 2:"It was supposed to be 1956 but it was postponed to 1957."QN 2:"What!! Who is your father?"GUY 2:"So many parcitipated but it was Kwame Nkrumah who finalised it."QN 3:"Oh My God!! Are u CRAZY???"GUY 2:"So many say so but it has not been scientifically proven!"

September 2016

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National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 2016 Convention in Washington, D.C During the first week of August, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) held a joint conference with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). The national conference, which was held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C., brought together hundreds of journalists not only from the United States, but from other parts of the world. Throughout the week, participants were free to attend a variety of sessions which covered a wide array of topics. From social media, to race issues, to data mining, the conference sessions focused not only on the latest issues being covered by the news, but also the latest techniques which can be used to tell the news.

On August 4, 2016, NABJ/NAHJ hosted the NBCUniversity session. In the morning, the participants had their news scripts reviewed and analyzed by NBC personnel (Afrikan Post was fortunate to be mentored by Bertha Coombs from CNBC). After the scripts were analyzed, NBC presented many panels. One panel focused on the ins and outs of interviewing with NBC, while another panel provided an up close and personal opportunity for the panelists to share their thoughts and learning experiences as an NBC employee. The day long NBC University session provided participants an in-depth look into the operations of NBC. At the end of the day, NBC hosted an evening cocktail event for its staff and the NBC University participants.

Throughout the conference, apart from the various sessions which occurred, there was also a very active job fair. Many NABJ/NAHJ members interviewed with companies participating in the job fair. Many of the biggest names in journalism were represented at the job fair, including WJLA (which is home to the Nigerian newscaster Jummy Olabanji), FOX Sports, Huffington Post, Bloomberg News, CNN, and more ( including universities with journalism programs) . Also in attendance were federal agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. State Department. The U.S. State Department showcased the various available internship and job opportunities.

Many award ceremonies took place as well, honoring various people who have made significant contributions in their field. On August 5th, during the Sam Lacy Sports Pioneer Awards Ceremony, many great people were honored, including the legendary Earl Monroe, retired New York Knicks. The NABJ//NAHJ was a wonderful conference not only because there were so many opportunities to learn, but also because it allowed members to appreciate and learn about people who have been pioneers in their careers. The night ended with the El Barrio Benefit Concert, hosted by NAHJ. Decorated with flashing tube lights provided by Toyota, the concert attendees were entertained by Jason Cerda and Raquel Sofia.

On Saturday August 6, 2016, NABJ/NAHJ members had special access to the screening of several movies, including Hidden Figures and Queen of Katwe.

Hidden Figures is a movie which highlights the significant contributions of African-American women who worked for NASA in the early sixties. Queen of Katwe is a movie about a girl in Uganda who becomes a chess champion. Both Hidden Figures and Queen of Katwe are based on true stories. As an extra treat for NABJ/NAHJ member, Lupita Nyong’o answered a few questions from the moderator, questions about her role in the movie and the making of the film.

The weeklong NABJ/NAHJ conference was a wonderful learning experience.

Next year, the NABJ conference will occur in New Orleans and the NAHJ conference site is yet to be determined.

Earl Monroe, Retired New York Knicks, receiving Sports Honor at NABJNAHJ

Afrikan Post and Jummy Olabanji from WJLA

AG Ansong

State Dept at NABJNAHJ

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Prempeh College Alumni (AMANFOO) North America Reunion And Fundraising Towards Endowment Fund

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Sunday Church Service at GICC with Apostle Elvis Acheampong

September 2016

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Meet and Greet Night

1987 Year group and their Spouses

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September 2016

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Prempeh College Alumni (AMANFOO) North America Reunion And Fundraising Towards Endowment Fund On Saturday September 3, Prempeh College old boys from all over North America converged at the Waterford in Springfield, Virginia for their inaugural dinner dance and fundraising towards an endowment fund for the school. Amanfoo, as they are called, arrived in the Washington Metro Area on Friday September 2nd. Festivities began with a meet and greet session which turned out to be a reunion of classmates most of whom had not met since completing high school. They spanned across generations with alumni from the 1960’s though the 1990’s.On Saturday September 4, the day commenced with a business meeting. Talks on financial stability and sleep apnea were given by experts.

Also discussed were modalities of the endowment fund. The business meeting concluded with the nomination and election of a nine member board to steer the affairs of the North America Association.By evening the red carpet was rolled for all Amanfoo and their guests at the Waterford.

The Keynote address was given by Dr. OheneFrempong, emeritus professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and president of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana.Dr. Ohene Frimpong belongs to the Class of 1964/66. In his address he told the gathering about his humble beginnings and his journey from being senior prefect of Prempeh College in 1965 to his current position. He intimated that he looks forward to retiring and plans to go back to Ghana.Senior Dr. Lewis Roberts, a professor of medicine and gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic set the ball rolling with his donation. This was followed by Dr Michael K. Obeng, an eminent plastic surgeon who carried on with the donation drive. Dr Obeng brought Hollywood to the event and made a $5000 donation. This was followed by another $5000 donation from Dr. Samuel Borquaye (Alooma). His mate Dr. Kofi Nuako (Zee Pascal) topped it with his own donation of $7600. The excitement grew as various year groups including the '79 year group who pledged $16,000 added their contributions. At the end of the night, over $63,000.00 (63%) of a target of $100,000.00 was raised. On Sunday September 4, Amanfoo worshipped at the Gateway International Christian Center in Alexandria with one of their own, Apostle Dr. Elvis Acheampong(1981), Head Pastor and Founder of the Alexandria based Church. The curtain of the 3-day event was drawn with an outdoor barbecue at the Courtyard Marriot hotel In Springfield. Amanfoo participated in various activities including table tennis, scrabble and cards. As usual, they were treated to various Ghanaian dishes including omotuo, Tuo Zaafi, roasted turkey and tilapia . There was plenty to drink with music from one of the top Ghanaian DJs, Rek One. The Inauguration of Amanfoo North America was a success and it also served for great networking and rekindling friendships. Funds are still being sought for the endowment fund. Prempeh College was founded in 1949 and was the first government assisted secondary school in Ashanti and Northern Sector of the Ghana.

Class of 1964 Freeman House classmates. (1966 SP Sr Ohene Frimpong and Snr Ernest Akyeampong Boateng)

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Keynote Address By Dr. Ohene-Frempong, Professor Of Pediatrics At The Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia,

Fun and games

Nine member board in a meeting

Master Chef on the grill

Nine member board to steer the affairs of the North America Association.

Snr Yaw Berko Nketia, Snr Akyeampong Boateng, Senior Dr. Lewis Roberts and Dr Michael K. Obeng

Afrikan

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THE JOY OF HOMEOWNERSHIP

It is a known fact that the best single investment one can make is owning your own home.

Homeownership promotes a sense of achievement, positive self esteem and pride. It creates a sense of accomplishment and freedom!

The Biggest Benefit of Homeownership

Homeownership makes good sense because there are tax privileges when tax time rolls around:

• You get the benefit of deducting the interest paid on the mortgage throughout the year.

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

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

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

Other Advantages of Homeownship • Owning your home gives you an individualized approach concerning landscaping, decorating, and curb appeal, which in the process can add value to the home. You do what you please when you please to your home which renting does not provide.

• If you have children, they will find stability in knowing that they aren't going to have to change schools, which can be traumatic for younger children. They won't have to make new friends, and a sense of place becomes very real to them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nigerian U17 team wiped out as all but two players fail age test

September 2 0 1 6

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Woman Steals During Prayers

One Fatima Seidu who was in a veil for Friday prayers at the Al-Aziz Muslim Mosque at Burma Camp, Accra has been arrested for allegedly stealing a bag containing the personal belongings of Madam Hajia Zenaibu.

Madam Zenaibu had arrived from Maryland, USA. Fatima told the GNA, she hails from Kowokudi in Nima Accra, but people who knew him said she leaves at Sabon-Zongo near Gaskia in a suburb called Ojo in the Metropolis.

According to Hajia Zeinabu she placed her bag beside her while she was offering the Friday prayers when suddenly Fatima came to kneel behind her.

She said when she bent down her head to pray Fatima stealthily picked the red bag from the upper terrace of the mosque and vanished. The alarm was raised in the

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mosque and the woman was found running into a bush behind the mosque.

A soldier who was around chased Fati and she dropped the bag in the bush and he instructed her to pick it. The soldier collected the bag and handed her over to a Military Police woman who was on guard duties.

She was later sent to the Military Police Office for interrogation.

The bag has since been handed over to the owner.

Source: -GNA

Afrikan

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Nollywood Actress Monalisa & Husband Ride Donkeys in Greece

Newly married couple Monalisa China and Victor Tonye Coker, pictured riding donkeys after getting married in Santorini, Greece on Sept 1st Source: http://www.peacefmonline.com/

Nollywood Actor Healed From Stroke And Gifted N3.5m Jeep

Nigeria Wins 2016 Olympic Men's Soccer Bronze Medal September 2016

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Nigeria dominated the first hour of their 2016 Olympics men's soccer tournament bronze medal match against Honduras to run out a three-goal lead and then had just enough left in the tank to hold off a fierce Honduras fightback in the last 20 minutes to win the match 3-2 and capture Olympics bronze.

The match got off to an exciting start, with much of the first half played at high pace and with great intensity from both teams. Honduras were able to get chances on the counter, but their reliance on the pace of Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto on the counter attack without real support through the middle was easy for Nigeria to shield against, despite the success Honduras had enjoyed with that tactic earlier.

The difference in this match was that while Honduras seemed to lack for a plan B in attack, Nigeria came up with a new approach every time Honduras seemed to figure out what was coming at them.

Their opening goal in the first half came from a clever far-post run from Sadiq Umar, who delayed starting his run just long enough that Honduras' defenders went to the near post to cover the run in from John Obi Mikel, who saw Umar's run and slipped him in perfectly.

Their second came off a lovely breakaway just after halftime, with Honduras keeper Luis Lopez making an excellent save, but he could only push the shot away. The rebound fell to Aminu Umar, who pushed his shot away from Lopez to double Nigeria's lead just a few moments into the second half. Their third goal, scored just before the hour mark, was yet another different type of goal, this time basically just overwhelming Honduras' back line with numbers before Mikel again set up Sadiq Umar to put the game away.

Honduras wouldn't go down quietly -- halftime substitute striker Anthony Lozano scored a lovely 70th minute goal to get his country on the board -- but Nigeria dominated possession. Even as Honduras tried to claw their way back, Nigeria screened their back line well to keep Honduras at bay. Honduras pulled a second goal back in the waning minutes but couldn't come up with enough to find an equalizer before the final whistle.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ernest Asuzu had a bad turn in the movie industry after he suffered partial stroke last year, 2015.

Luckily for him, popular pastor and founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Warri Delta state, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin came to his rescue. Now, his life has been turned around.

After a year in Mercyland, under the care of the Church, Asuzu has been totally healed

of his stroke - he can now walk properly.

The final score means that Nigeria take home the bronze medal, giving them their third Olympic men's soccer medal in their history after winning gold in 1996 and silver in 2008. Considering everything they had to get through before the tournament even began -- travel difficulties that just barely got them to Brazil the day the tournament started and several injuries to crucial players in the squad -- it's an impressive result. Honduras should be proud of what they accomplished to get this far themselves, though they would certainly much rather be celebrating their first-ever Olympics medal in soccer. Still, they played a good match -- Nigeria were just better.

Source:http://www.peacefmonline.com/

Source: By Conor Dowley

The anointed man of God, gave the actor, a brand new jeep worth N3.5M, and a parting sum of N1.5 million to start up a new life.

Afrikan

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September 2016

AFRO CULTURAL PARADE FESTIVAL AT CROTONA PARK BRONX NY

Africans from across the city celebrated Ghanaian culture at the 7th annual Afro Cultural Parade and Festival in Crotona Park on Aug. 13. The Bronx’s Ghanaian community has grown rapidly in recent years, to become a major destination for that West African country’s diaspora.

The National Ghana Parade Council organized the event, along with the National Council of Ghanaians Association, African Friends of United States Incorporated and Aduana Kuo of North America.

The theme of this year’s event was “youth empowerment,” with an emphasis on creating opportunities for young people to become community leaders through mentorships and job opportunities.

African artists performed a traditional Durbar procession, and native fabrics and foods were sold, lending the afternoon a Ghanaian feel.

Dressed in colorful kente clothing, feathers and gold, Mott Haven resident Katherine Cudjoe, president of the National Ghana Parade Council, led the procession into the park as they drummed and chanted Ghanaian folk songs.

She was joined by Prince Sampson Afriyie, the group’s founder.

What started as a loose gathering of community members soon became a colorful display of the country’s culture.

“It’s important for us to share Ghanaian culture, and provide a cross cultural experience in the Bronx,” said Ana Kwa Dwamena, 25, a National Ghana Parade Council volunteer.

John Quansah, a health inspector for the state and a reggae musician, was one of the performers. Quanash grew up in Ghana, left high school in 1991 to emigrate to the Bronx, and has made a home for himself in Baychester ever since.

But entertaining the crowd with his music was just part of what Quanash had in mind. He had also come to urge his fellow ex-pats to take advantage of their opportunities.

“I am trying to get our people economic empowerment by owning a piece of the American dream, which is real estate,” said Quansah. “I want our people to stop renting and start owning.”

New York City has the largest number of immigrants and second-generation residents from Ghana in the country, according to a 2014 report by the Migration Policy Institute. The heaviest wave of immigration began in the 1980s as the result of the country’s growing economic and political instability.

Many have since settled in Melrose, Highbridge, and Claremont. As of 2014, there were 35,000 Ghanaians in the five boroughs.

In 2010, Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., announced the creation of the African Advisory Council, to help identify emerging issues for Africans in the borough.

“Most Ghanaians reside in the Bronx,” said Cudjoe. “This is our home.”

Ghanaian-owned grocery stores, variety shops, travel agencies, and restaurants are prominent along the Grand Concourse and throughout the South Bronx.

“Nowhere in the world will you have 24-hour Ghanaian restaurants,” said Quansah. “Only in the Bronx you can find that.”

Accompanying the excitement over the opportunity to join the middle class in their new homeland, however, many Ghanaians feel a sense of nostalgia for the unique customs of their homeland that was palpable at Crotona Park.

“Some of us see our family member once every 10 years,” said Aramatu Ahmed, 50, a Kingsbridge resident. “We are remembering our forefathers in Africa, and incorporating our culture into our daily life in America.”

Contact Joe Hirsch at joe.hirsch@journalism.cuny.edu

By Samali Bikangaga. Ghanaian-Bronxites take part in a traditional Durbar procession.

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