Akwaaba Family Magazine - Fall 2014 Edition

LIFESTYLE 8 | What Happened to Family Time 9 | 3 Simple Ways to Make Time for Your Kids

10 | Relax Mom! I’m only 6 Keeping kids busy after school is a good thing, but participating in many activities without planning is inviting miscommunication, forgotten homework, and cranky families.

11 | I Married an Idiot. NOW WHAT? Not a magic pill to make you wake up in another life; we just have some simple ideas that may help.

FAITH 12 | Becoming a Kingdom Soldier The enemy is not after your beauty, intelligence, or anything you have.

He understands that those things don’t count in the kingdom of God. Understand why you are in the army - what you are fighting for, and who you are fighting against.

InFOCUS 14 | Leadership Community & Togetherness When a community puts unique talents and perspectives together, we build a better experience for all. We couldn’t agree more. Read about a commitment to community and pulling everyone along.

All Rights Reserved

EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIP 18 | Back-to-School: Back to Life If back-to-school time has your child wound up, some simple tips can create positive attitude and help.

ENTERTAINMENT 21 | MISSING LINKS - The Castro Tragedy at Ada The date was July 5. Popular Ghanaian musician Castro vanishes in a jet ski accident. The story leaves unanswered questions and pressing concerns.

SPORTS ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO Model - Nicole Owusu– Agyei Photography - Akwaaba Family Magazine On Location - Woodbridge, Virginia

22 | Corruption kills Soccer Development in Africa New report from the Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) exposes corruption and mismanagement in African soccer. Surprise!

23 | Black Stars – Life after Brazil

COVER STORY 6 & 7 | Love, Weddings & Bridezillas The best thing the couple can do is to surround themselves with people who truly care about you and your wedding.

$ 3 Million cash on a plane to Brazil. Michael Essien and Prince Boateng missing in action.

GFA corruption scandal the most embarrassing of all. The list goes on.

The Black Stars will have to shove aside the disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign and look ahead.

FROM THE EDITOR Akwaaba Family Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by Akwaaba News Network.

The magazine is distributed free through libraries, community centers, African markets, local churches, advertisers, and family –oriented businesses in the United States.

We invite you to visit us online at our website www.akwaabafamilymagazine.com for past magazines, upcoming events, resource lists and many more. Be sure to sign up for our free e-newsletter.

Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the written permission from the publisher.

For advertising rates and details, look in the advertising section of our website, or you can also contact our inside sales and advertising representatives directly with an email to the following: adsales@akwaabafamilymagazine.com

PUBLISHER

Nana Manteaw Anobah EDITOR

Eric Amoako Edmonds ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kwasi Awortwi PARENTING EDITOR

Bruwaa Anobah ADVERTISING / SALES MANAGER Nicholas Anobah Patricia Kumah CONTRIBUTORS

Barima Asare Priscilla Koranteng Selassie Banerman Nana Obeng Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri RESEARCH

Jeremy H. Boateng Kevin Myers-Clendon

IT'S ALL IN THE BALANCE! IT IS NO SECRET that the family that plays [and prays] together, stays together. After our first publication, much of the feedback we received from our readers has been overwhelmingly positive. We are working to raise the bar even higher.

Throughout the magazine, our underlying message is simple; today's busy lifestyles especially require parents to deliberately spend more "quality time" together with children.

This is the time spent doing an activity meaningful to the parent and child [not one or the other]. This won’t come as a surprise, but this is the time when family members really get to know each other, and grow together.

Spending time with family means we value the connection. Making time to listen to, laugh with, and play with children are all very important elements of a family’s life. We help children develop positive self-esteem by communicating the value we feel for the child.

In this edition, our featured article Weddings and Bridezillas certainly pokes fun at some of the serious pitfalls of wedding planning, but all true.

Back-to-School time will force parents to snap out of the sum-

mer mode, and has its inherent frustrations. Kids are happy to get back to school and make new friends. That excitement slowly turns into anxiety. The money-saving tips are priceless.

Whether you post a large calendar on the refrigerator where everyone in the family can see, it helps to plan your day and week. It will do wonders for your sanity, -and cholesterol.

What steals the show is the interesting article “Relax Mom, I’m only 6”. We almost made it the cover story. Funny and witty thoughts [without the sarcasm] of balancing a child’s expectation and lifestyle.

Most parents are guilty of the activity trap, and we tend to do things for our kids instead of doing thing with them.

Finally, our spotlight shines on community leaders Mr. and Mrs. Antwi. We like to call them ordinary people doing extraordinary things. From their Virginia home, they share their views on leadership, faith and challenges in the Ghanaian community.

The focus of the magazine is on building strong family units, hence we never miss the opportunity to share stories in that vein with you. Happy reading, and keep your comments coming.

Sincerely, Eric Amoako Edmonds

Editor@akwaabafamilymagazine.com

COVER STORY

Love, Weddings & Bridezillas Simple Truths to save your Wedding (and your sanity)

When it comes to weddings, it should never the case of “Go Big or go Home”. Wearing white doesn't have to cost a lot of green.

S

ummer time is the beloved wedding season. Friends and families travel for miles to celebrate a once -in-a-lifetime occasion.

Weddings leave couples with many lovely memories to cherish. Others walk away in tears, and wonder if the event was worth it in the first place.

Similarly, Bridezillas – and Groomzillas - are not born, they are made.

The wedding day itself will fly by in an instant.

When the music stops, and all your guests are gone home, you will be the one left with the bill. Spending and prices can vary widely.

I think weddings are beautiful, at least I think my wedding was. But the only reason why none of my body parts are sitting in a pawn shop awaiting a loan repayment, is that I decided to not go broke for a wedding.

You should expect to pay, on average, 50% to 100%+ more when choosing well-experienced professionals, designer labels, popular event locations, unique or custom products and services. But the real question is do you really need all of those?

Parents and siblings and best friends have a tendency to evolve into wedding-planner extraordinaire. This kind of attitude comes with its inherent stress, and that is the last thing any bride or groom to be needs at the wedding.

Yet it happens more often than not. There are parents who live vicariously through their children and forces their own wishes on them.

Other parents go with the” our family tradition” line, but the intent and outcome is not different.

The big day should be about the two people making the lifelong decision to spend their lives together, not for their high school friends and overbearing in-laws.

Oftentimes, couples have a budget etched in the minds. Although that is a good starting point, budgets are seldom accurate, and it is best to treat it as such, otherwise the two people who are planning the best day of their lives, turn into bitter enemies sooner or later.

Pick a realistic number and stick with it.

Follow a plan and don’t let emotion rule

simple discussions.

The only one counting how many bridesmaids showed up in your wedding photo, and the perfect height of the groomsmen is - you guessed it, only you.

Frankly many of the people there are spectators looking for punchlines, talking points, and pictures for their FB pages. It is sad to say, but you’re an afterthought.

You can hire a professional event planner for $4000, or make the time to diligently do your research and ask questions, for $0.

Only a few socially challenged people go out of their way to become a bridezilla, and throw tantrums like they did in second grade. There is enormous pressure to have a perfect wedding, for all the stars to align at the exact time, the skies to turn just the right color blue, and the sun to shine just enough for the perfect wedding pictures.

Truth is, there will always be opportunity to panic and throw tantrums. The best thing the couple can do is to surround themselves with people who truly care about you and your wedding.

It is nice to have all you college sorority sisters smiling in their long gowns behind you, but you will be better off with one person who truly wishes you well.

Remember, it’s your day, and a moment you can never get back.

The harsh reality is that the only person who cares about how your beautiful dress you spent 12 months combing the universe for, will look at the altar.

Sure you want your wedding to be perfect, but the only person who truly cares about your event is – you guessed it, only you.

When it comes to weddings, elegance and extravagance are not the same. This is probably the most misconceived notion about the big day. Paying for LED lights and hiring an orchestra or your favorite R&B singer may not be a bad idea for one person, but a horrible idea for someone else.

If you’re looking for your wedding to trend on Social Media, you will be tempted to go over board. That is a subject for another discussion, but I can guarantee that impressing your 500 faux-friends on Facebook is an ill-advised plan.

Finally, one intriguing fact which only weddinggraduates will find funny, don’t count on wedding gifts to offset your wedding expenses. It will take a lot of toasters to pay off a credit card loan, and that is assuming that all 300 of your VIP guests bring theirs.

COVER STORY

BACK TO SCHOOL

The fact is, no couple walks away from a wedding without some financial sacrifices, but don’t let your wedding become a drain on your household budget.

Remember the associated expenses including wedding and other gifts, pre-wedding festivities like bachelor and bachelorette parties, wardrobe, grooming, transportation, accommodation and child care.

It’s easy to leave out the small ticket items, but they can add up quickly, and you’ve heard this before, that “The devil is in the details.”

Your wedding will be the most important day in your life, - if you regard it as such, - so it makes sense to not cut corners and spend the rest of your lives wishing to relive that moment.

To every rule there is an exception. If you happen to have in-laws who would gladly pay for all wedding expenses, you’re in luck.

It’s even better if your cousin is Bill Gates or Oprah owes you a huge favor.

Most people have to plan for their wedding, save for their wedding, and pay for it too, in cold hard cash. Just in case you do not fall in the lucky group, below are some straight forward things to remember.

BEWARE OF THE CON Every bridal story will tell you it takes 6-12 months for your perfect dress to be ready, so “Order Now.” This is the oldest nonsense in the wedding handbook of tricks. Don’t fall for it, look for deals, and find what you absolutely want.

STAY AWAY FROM THE PEAK SEASONS

Unless you live in Minnesota or Chicago, you can save several thousand with a wedding in December.

Your guests will even thank you for your consideration on airfare and hotel rates.

BE A SAVVY DECORATOR Thanks to YouTube, there is probably nothing you have in mind that someone else hasn’t done already, or at least close enough. Put your thinking hat on and be creative.

REMEMBER IT’S NOT BRAIN SURGERY

Planning a wedding should be a fun process. .

If you wait for the last minute to call vendors, book a venue, buy plane tickets, you are setting yourself up for crisis.

Whether your child is a first-timer or an old hand, explore these simple ideas to make this the best back-to-school season ever.

Review the essentials in order to help your child thrive this year.

CHINA, AT YOUR OWN RISK I have nothing against Chinese products; chances are your wedding dress will come from China anyway. But know that buying dresses online is a huge gamble.

STICK TO ONE PLACE

Event planners are notorious for selling the “perfect venue”. Your guests will care if your wedding is by the pool, your grandma’s backyard, or at a church. Be decisive and pick a place. Once you’ve done so, stick to it.

DON’T BE CHEAP

Weddings cost money. If you don’t have the money, try the Justice of the Peace for a cool 60 bucks.

The ‘cheapest’ venue might come without tables, linens, silverware, and many other items that you will need to rent. El Cheapo can cause you a lot of stress.

Create a comfortable place for your child to complete her homework.

Gauge your child's growing self -reliance.

Stock the tools your child needs to tackle homework.

Help your child handle following in his big brother's or sister's footsteps at school.

Avoid the lost-and-found!

Fill out the information, print, and attach this label to your child’s bag (or lunchbox).

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LIFESTYLE

What Happened to Family Time?

As parents, make sure you schedule time for yourself to be with your children, and be intentional about it. Researchers say some of the best interactions occur when parents and kids are just hanging out together – talking,

I

read this: a child and father went sled

The U.S. Department of Health and Human

riding this past winter, and the 4 year old said to his dad, “Take this sled,

Services has developed a program called “Building Blocks for a Healthy Future” out-

Dad, because you can steer it with one

lines practical steps to a healthy parent-

hand. That way you can still look at your

child relationship including the importance

phone all of the time.”

of spending time with family to foster com-

No one has a magic pill to predict which child will become productive citizens of so-

munication, provide positive reinforcement, role model, teach social skills, and to bond.

ciety, and who has the oomph to become

The website can be accessed as follows:

the next president of USA, but spending

www.bblocks.samhsa.gov

quality time with the family is definitely not

If you’re a working parent – even worse if

a bad start. But presence alone is not enough.

you have multiple jobs – this is an all too familiar storyline. Single parent homes

Every parent’s wish is to raise a happy and

make the challenge a little more complex.

well-adjusted child. That’s not an easy gig,

Unfortunately, family time will never be the

especially in 2014 where we are inundated by all kinds of information and social influences.

same as we knew it decades ago. Our mothers spent idle hours – or what seemed

As disturbing as that may sound to have an over controlling parent, I would dare not paint parents with such broad stroke.

The fact remains; spending time is not the

idle to us – watching us play, while our

same as paying attention.

The importance of family time ranges from the child feels important and loved, to being

fathers lounged around the house – or so it

If your hectic schedule makes it harder to find

seems –waiting to play with us.

an excellent opportunity to model parent’s

It seemed like when it got to our turn to be parents, time shrunk and other “important

the time to give each child the attention they need and deserve, you’re not alone. No one is

behavior. The parent can observe and learn about the child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to better guide them. The list goes on.

things” took center stage.

asking you to be Super Dad or Wonder Mom.

It’s easier to blame it one society and the

We can all do our best and take active roles to spending quality times with our children.

“changing times” than it is to identify how

Eat together, pray together, put their activi-

best to be more engaged in your family’s development.

2014 is harshly different from 1984.

There is seldom a dinner table in the house for families to sit around. Families will have to take advantage of any moment together; taking the children to school, helping with homework, bathing them, or just walking around the house.

Before the internet crept in and took over our lives, and social media redefined friendship, families found activities to get involved in together.

ties into your schedule, and finally, let your children know that they are important and have permission to call your cell phone or at work anytime they need to.

A parent’s presence ought not to be confused for spending quality time.

As adults we can fool ourselves to believe our lie, but it will surprise you how quickly kids can navigate through that delusion.

LIFESTYLE

To Make More Time for Your Kids As you head into the back-to-school year, you wonder: Can you really do it again? Pack lunches at dawn, dash from carpools to business meetings, apply mascara at stoplights, help with homework, race to piano lesson pickups -- only to return home, rush everyone off to bed, and then wake up to a go-go weekend of soccer games, and birthday parties?

A growing number of concerned parents are thinking seriously about the enormous costs of life flying by at a dizzying pace. Here are some hints on avoiding a frantic pace.

1.LIMIT KIDS' ACTIVITIES Just say no to overscheduling. Limit your kids to one afterschool activity. Period. This may be harder for some parents than kids to consider. You want Johnny to continue with piano; he really wants to make the hockey team. How to choose?

Think of it this way: Teaching kids to make choices is an essential part of your job as a parent. All these activities build skills, giving children a sense of what they can do, but time spent with family gives them a sense of who they are.

2. LIMIT YOURSELF As a parent, you too have your limits. Basically, you get one evening out during the week. Period. Mom has a book club or a yoga class.

Dad's playing soccer.

Simply put, you can't "be there" for kids when you're not around.

The rituals that build closeness -- bedtime stories, cuddles in front of the fire or a favorite TV show -- can't happen when Mom and Dad use the front door like a revolving door.

3. KILL THE TV Or at least dismember it. Members of Family Life First tell us they turn off the TV during meals. The result, not surprisingly, is better table talk and a less circus-like atmosphere at dinner.

Sitting down to watch a particular show or video can be a great way for families to relax together, but having the tube on in the background just adds another level of noise and stress. Or consider this: No TV Monday through Thursday nights. More time for homework, reading, talking, playing.

Credit Katy Abel @ FamilyEducation.com

LIFESTYLE

Relax Mom! I’m only 6

Many parents struggle with finding a balance between extracurricular activities and allowing children to be children.

A common mistake is the notion that their children will miss out if they don't participate in everything.

W

ELCOME to the wonderful world of childhood expectations where every child is supposed to be the smartest kids on the planet. No pressure. The kids have to be better than Michael Jordan in basketball, audition for Miss Universe pageants for 5 year olds, and swim 10 second faster than Michael Phelps too.

While we are on the subject of achievement, the little child has to finish taekwondo lessons and tennis lessons, before they can rush off to piano lessons at 7pm. Are your kids overloaded with activities?

As a parent you may be doing the kids more harm than good. This is a tough reality to swallow but efforts we consider enrichment to a child’s development can easily become counterproductive.

In fact my head spins just thinking about it, yet this happens in many homes every day. African parents are no exception.

The world has changed a lot since the good ol’ days. A longtime ago, children played outside in the sun and rain and parents sat back and watched their innocent kids get tired. They played with the next door neighbor, or wandered around the backyard all afternoon until they feel asleep on the couch.

Then came a new age of society filled with sociopaths and strange people who scared kids off the streets. They scared parents too, and parents thought the best option is to stay indoors.

Nintendo and PlayStation took the place of mindless fun that forced kids to be creative and active.

The strange thing with being a parent is we assume our children have nothing better to do with their lives and time so the best way to save their idle minds from drifting into chaos is to occupy them with activities.

These activities are seldom free, and for some parents it has become a drain pipe beneath their wallets sucking them dry.

Even then, we drag the kids along. They smile at other and dread others but parents quickly dismiss that as a typical kid whining, because that’s what kids do.

A recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized the importance of exposing children to different opportunities to excel and enable them to participate in a wide variety of activities.

Of course no one thinks activities that promote healthy self-confidence and emotional maturity is a bad idea.

Then there are parents who will do anything to be sure their child is not the odd one out. Everyone you know signed their child for 12 afterschool programs, 9 summer camps and all 13 youth programs at the local church.

Parents become a big nuisance to a child when the parent spends their time finding ways to use their child to make a point.

The fact that your children play in all softball leagues across America and still volunteer at the Salvation Army donation center on Saturday mornings may look good on college applications in 15 years.

But Ivy League recruiters are not scouting 6 year olds anytime soon.

At the end of the day what will make a difference in your child’s will not be the number of trophies collecting dust on their window sills, but the quality time spent with them, doing the simplest things.

The overused adage, “the best things in life are free” fits here. Don’t read to your children, read with them. Don’t watch them play soccer, actually play with them.

No one expect you to magically turn into international sports icons Ronaldo or Lebron James anytime soon, but you child will cherish those moments more than you can even imagine.

Oftentimes, and as strange as it may appear, it is as if parents become the kids. A parent who has sad memories in kindergarten want their little princess to win Miss America overnight,, and will go to great lengths to make than dream a reality.

I am not suggesting your child can’t be the next Beyoncé or next Albert Einstein.

There is nothing wrong with expecting our children to strive for more, strive for excellence and develop their utmost potential.

There is almost a fine line between being a supportive parent and overloading your kids. Some useful tips to help children reap the rewards of extracurricular activities: 1. Choose activities wisely.

2. Don’t over-commit, 3. Put academics first.

4. Enforce family time.

5. Seek moderation and balance.

Remember they are kids!!!.

LIFESTYLE

I Married an Idiot. Now What?

T

Cut yourself some slack and don’t beat yourself over the head for missing the signs, in case the man you married is not Einstein.

he day after your honeymoon is the first day you wake up to the harshest reality of your life.

For many married women, this is when you will realize your spouse is either a genius or an idi-

ot.

The fact remains: you never really know someone until the day they die, so cut yourself some slack and don’t beat yourself over the head for missing the signs.

Of course, if your newly minted spouse exceeds your expectations, you will be laughing all day. What if you find yourself on the other end of the spectrum? “Till death do us part” suddenly seems like eternity (which is what the phrase means by the way).

Then you look at your wedding dress and wonder how you got stuck with a “science project” for a husband.

Sometimes people get into bad-idea relationships with someone they have no business saying hello to.

Whether desperation, biological clock, or sheer stupidly is the one to blame, many women feel the pinch. And I bet it sucks.

Two shots of tequila don’t help either. Even worse, you can’t post a picture of your idiot spouse on Facebook because everyone in your circle of friends knows he is a dim-bat. [Dimbat is slang for dumb-dumb].

We don’t have any magic pill to make you wake up in another life; we just have some simple ideas that may help.

And no, we are not suggesting you numb the pain either.

My hope is [I can only hope] your idiot spouse is only a “work in progress” dude. Marriage is a beautiful thing and an excellent partnership between two adults who respect and cherish each other, not with a total loser, disguised as a man.

A good friend said it best, “All of us make dumb decisions from time to time. Trouble is, the older you get, those whacky decisions have a little more weight and the impact is a lot more severe.”

The silver lining is, you don’t puke at the mention of his name, so we know it’s not too bad, and nothing you cannot work on.

A few useful tips: DON’T START THE BLAME GAME. After all you married him, no one forced him on you.

DIVORCE SHOULD NOT be an option. That is precisely what the “For better for worse” part in the marriage vows mean.

Remember there is a little idiocy in all of us. Some of us grow out of it faster than others. Avoid insinuations and bad-mouthing him to your friends.

DELETE HIS FACEBOOK PAGE [and yours] before the world knows how frustrating your Do-it-Yourself Home Improvement project has become.

BE HONEST. Idiots are not born, they are made. People can indeed change.

Finally, when in public, steer him clear of the following topics: politics, religion, economics, education, and anything that requires deductive reasoning. Weather and more weather are your safe bets.

Good luck and have a happy marriage. Enjoy each other and make it work.

FAITH

Becoming a Kingdom Soldier!

We must understand that the enemy is not after: your beauty, your ministry, your intelligence, your money, wealth or anything at all you have because he understands and knows that those things do not count in the kingdom of God.

D

ear Friends, I trust the Lord is keeping us all. I was having a conversation with my sister, Pastor Esinu and we began to talk about kingdoms of the world. I want to share with you what we discussed.

There are only 2 kingdoms in this world, the Kingdom of God and that of Satan. The kingdom of God is Righteousness, good, Justice and love and the kingdom of Satan is Unrighteousness, evil, Injustice, and wickedness. I believe as Christians, we all want to belong to the Kingdom of God; what then is the kingdom of God?



Understand why you are in the army - what you are fighting for, and who you are fighting against.



Hears, understands and obeys the master’s (or the shepherd’s) voice John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.



Is courageous & persistent in the face of disruptions, always willing to do what is right and necessary. Deuteronomy 3:16 “So be strong and courageous!

Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”



Disciplined and self-controlled Titus 2:11-14 “ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope— the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.



Has one goal – to destroy the works of the enemy John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The bible says in Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The question then is, what is the devil after if he is not after the things you have? He is after your righteousness; which is you PLEASING GOD, your relationship with God brings you peace and joy. He is also after your MEMBERSHIP in the kingdom, which is your SALVATION. So you see friends, anytime the devil attacks you, he is ultimately looking to take away your focus from the Kingdom of God. Remember the devil is intelligent and hardworking; he does not sleep or rest!

This is why Paul likens Christians to Soldiers in the Kingdom business because the devil is always prowling and walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, 1Peter 5:8, thus as a believer you ought to be alert at all times so that the devil does not overcome you.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE SOLDIER?  Every true soldier is in

uniform (i.e. the whole armor of God.) Ephesians 6:10 -13 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but Royal House Chapel against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

3 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

MINISTER BARIMAH

My friends, we find ourselves in a battle that we have no choice but to keep fighting, the joy is that the lord has given us weapons; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 “ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled”.

So what do you do? You must keep pressing on with each day toward righteousness, Be focused on JESUS, Understand that every problem has a solution, be positive and strong in the Lord, some people will try to pull you down; don’t let them, If you allow yourself to fall, they’ll step on you and finally, don’t lead yourself astray.

You are a soldier, the kingdom you represent is determined by the choices you make today, what are your choices?

Keep safe and God bless you!

FAITH

O

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Who are These People?

ne may have wondered, what is distinct about Churches of Christ?

What is their Historical background?

How many congregations and mem-

bers do they have? Are they another denomination, and a world-wide organization? What is their Message? How are they governed? How do they worship what do they believe about the Bible?

Churches of Christ simply exist by the promise of Christ to build his Church in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. (Matthew 16:18, 19,

Alfred Koomson (Evangelism Leader), Paul Oppong (Minister) and Robert Weittey (Evangelism Member)

Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-4; Joel 2:28-30; Zechariah 1:16; 2 Samuel 7:11-16 and Luke 24:4650; Acts 1:8, 2:22-41, 47) The church of Christ dates its history from the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (Acts.

2) MEMBERSHIP IN CHURCHES OF CHRIST The Ghanaian Congregation of the churches of Christ is a congregation of sister Churches of Christ of like-minded faith world-wide. In a book titled “Where the Saints Meet, Mac Lynn states that the number Churches of Christ in the United States alone and her territories is about 13,410 with a total membership of 1,277,004.

In a more recent work entitled churches of Christ around the Word, Dr. Lynn States there are 13,908 congregations with 747,568 members outside the United States and her territories. This would make a total of 27,318 congregations with a total of membership of 2,124,572. At the present time, according to

NAME

WORSHIP

We believe it is in line with prophecy to wear

Worship in churches of Christ is very simple and is ordered after the New Testament pattern outlined by the holy apostles.

the name which the mouth of God shall name. (Isaiah 62:2; 65:15; Acts. 11:26; 1 Pt. 4:16; Romans 16:16) and there is no other name given under heaven, on earth and under the earth whereby we can be saved except the name Christ. (Acts. 4:12)

Dr. Lynn, there are 660 American Missionaries

GOD’S ORGANIZATION

in 121 Nations worldwide.

Our Lord Jesus wanted his church to be organized and arranged by a plurality of “elders”.

IT’S FOUNDER Christ is the founder; He is the foundation which no man should lay any in addition to that which has been laid. (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:1011). He promised to build it (Matthew 16:18, 19; Acts 20:28). He is the only Head of the church (Eph. 1:19-22; Col. 1:18, 24) the saved are added to His Church as he is the savior of the body His church. (Acts. 2:47; Ephesians 5:22-23)

Elders should be appointed in each congregation. (Acts.14:23; Titus 1:5) and each is self-ruled and independent.

There are no Presidents, Arch-bishops, General Overseers who exercise authority over a large area and number of congregations in a district, regional and municipality.

It tends toward participation as opposed to one being a spectator as in a performance.

Christians meet on Sunday to sing a cappella, as is authorized in the New Testament.

We partake of the Lord’s Supper and give of our means. (Matthew 26:30, Col. 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; 1 Cor. 11:19-20, 23-30; Luke 22:18-22; Matthew 26:26-30).

The Lord’s Supper is observed upon the first day of the week (Sunday) just as it was done in the 1st century A.D. (Acts. 2:47)

Continue on page 22

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In FOCUS

LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY & TOGETHERNESS Our IN FOCUS (IF) editors caught up with Mr. and Mrs. Akumah, active members in the Gha-

IF: You have seen the community evolve over the

an opportunity to get involved in the commu-

years, what do you think needs to change in our

nity and give back as much as I can.

naian community in the Virginia-Maryland-

community?

Washington D.C. area for a quick chat.

MEA: The drinking. Of course every society has

Their candid insights and observations pro-

its own challenges but that is one thing I find

vide ingredients for

troubling. It especially is disappointing to see

building a successful

community.

In Focus (IF): Having lived in the US for several decades, what do you see as your

young men with so much potential turn to alcohol.

IF: Does volunteering take a lot of your time?

MEA: Yes it really does but it’s a good sacrifice. It’s very important to me nonetheless.

One will need to give up a lot to make that happen. As a leading member of my church, I have been tasked with the respon-

I think most of the young men in the Ghanaian

sibility of ensuring that any visiting

role in the community?

Pastor is well taken care of when

Mr. Eric Akumah (MEA): Just as you

he/she visits.

will find in every culturally-diverse

That alone requires a lot of time and

community across the United States,

sometimes financial responsibility

it helps to always have individuals

as well. But there is a genuine sat-

who assist and lead in many aspects

isfaction that comes from knowing

for the overall benefit of the people.

that we have given our best to the

I see myself as a leading member of

people around us

the Ghanaian Community, and also a

IF:

leading member of the Ghanaian

earlier, how can the youth better

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in

contribute to the community?

Woodbridge, led by Reverend Stephen

MEA: We need to advise our children

Yaw Nkansah.

to get involved in church activities.

IF: What do you like most about our

Getting involved in constructive

community?

activities makes a big difference in

MEA: The togetherness and the sup-

how a young person spends their

port we give to each other in times of

time, and what value it adds to their

need. It may seem trivial but none of

own future.

us exist in isolation. I embrace the

For instance, my Son Brian is cur-

interrelated structure of Ghanaian

rently the president of the Ebenezer

activities, whether it is church, com-

Presbyterian Church youth.

merce, or even recreation.

For example, I am often invited to chair events and I normally see people I have not seen in many years. I see a genuine friendship and celebration even in the simplest of encounters, which is very refreshing.

IF: What values does your church promote?

How is it impacting our Ghanaian community?

MEA: To take responsibility of your Christian life, pray and ask God for our needs instead of relying on our pastors or church leaders. This is a very key value as it helps in selfempowerment.

You talked about young men

community drink too much alcohol and do take care of their health.

He is very much involved in the activities with both the youth and the community, and I think that will be immensely benefi-

A thing to remember, especially here in the US,

cial to him to learn about leadership and ser-

DWI and DUI can drastically affect so many lives

vice.

including their own.

IF: What makes you so involved in community life?

Here in America, there are many things young people can invest their time in.

One important thing is for the youth to see

MEA: My belief in God and also my church has

themselves as important pieces of the puz-

done so much for me since I joined. I think that in

zle.

my own small way, I found it to be a privilege and

In FOCUS IF:

What are the greatest needs of Ghana-

tive activities, respect each other; we should

ians in this area?

MEA: Healthcare. I think we work too much

how low of a priority our own health has become. “

Just as important, we should not take on the

some of the most important things in life.

task of destroying or trying to bring down

Unfortunately most of us generally tend to

each other but rather support and encourage

undervalue the impact of things like healthy

one another.

eating habits, and exercising on our life until

IF: How about young people?

mote self-awareness, a healthy lifestyle and making all aspects of well-being our utmost IF:

spend their time in developing their talents

Why do you think people do not attend

church these days? church, but the churches can do much more

of this community?

to encourage regular attendance. The fellow-

each other.

IF: What do you see as the importance of our community’s and churches?

MEA:

Supporting each other and together-

ness. Our church especially has a lot to offer in helping build a better community and this is area which I think we fall a bit short when it comes to churches in our community.

One aspect we should improve upon is organizing more community events and invite other professionals provide their subject-matter expertise on matters that is known to be affecting the community.

IF: Do you see specific roles or programs/ projects this church could do to strengthen our Ghanaian community’s well being?

MEA: Yes, one project that we used to have in our church and I hope with the help of my wife we can revive it.

It is the clothing drive. Most people have items they would like to donate.

I want us to collect these items and give to needy, whether it is here in the US or in less fortunate areas in Ghana. I would love to see such project happen again.

ing leaders is they should also know that the “The pen is mightier than the sword”. I always

IF: What do you see as the greatest strength

how we are always willing to help and support

MEA: My advice for our youth and up and com-

priority.

MEA: I think most Ghanaians do attend

MEA: As I said earlier, is the togetherness and

talk to each other with respect.

and spend very little time to enjoy life and

it is often too late. What we need is to pro“It’s amazing

MEA: We need to get involve in our construc-

ship is important to a person’s growth.

Church is not a social function, but a place where you’re fed spiritually so the effort is in

urge them to invest in their education and and career for their own future.

As leaders in community, we will do everything in our ability to encourage them and support them, but they will have the ultimate task of forging ahead.

IF: Thank you for your time. Very helpful in-

inviting people to churches, beyond the spe-

sights.

cial occasions.

MEA: Thank you also. I take the opportunity to

The biggest complaint is the length of ser-

thank you for given me the platform to share a

vices. Leaders ought to be conscious of time constraints and plan accordingly. Not many people will be interested in attending a 4 hour church service.

IF: What is your greatest concern for Ghanaian community?

What do you see as its

greatest needs?

MEA: Our health. We do not take the responsibility to ensure that we are in good health.

This is very alarming actually. Most of us do not exercise and do not do any health screenings. It’s amazing how low of a priority our own health has become.

For example our church organizes annual picnic and my wife who is a registered nursing conducts free health screen with some Ghanaian doctors.

Even that, most people refuse to take advantage of this free service.

IF: Any advice you can give that may help us to become more effective in this community?

few thoughts.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Strength vs. Endurance Training WHILE BUILDING MUSCLES is a common fitness goal, it's not what every person needs or wants.

Many people find that endurance training is more up their alley. Both strength and endurance training boast health benefits, but concentrating on one type may be more beneficial for you based on your needs or goals.

Endurance training, or aerobic exercise, is any physical activity that works large muscle groups and uses more oxygen than while resting.

The goal of aerobic exercise is to increase cardiovascular endurance. Examples of aerobic exercise include aerobics, cycling, swimming, running, walking, hiking and fast-paced sports like tennis and soccer.

Strength training is designed to firm, strengthen and tone your muscles, as well as to improve balance, coordination and bone strength. Strength training is also called resistance training or anaerobic exercise, and includes body weight exercises (pushups, pullups, crunches), free weights, weight machines and resistance tubing.

Depending on your fitness goals, you may want to focus more heavily on one type of training.

However, a balance of the different styles is recommended for optimal health benefits and fitness level.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Radio Station embarks on

A

Awareness Campaign

n Accra based radio station XFM

As part of the campaign XFM will partner vari-

The man died on arrival and was bleeding from

95.1 has begun a massive Ebola

ous stakeholders to distribute hand sanitizers

his nostrils when he was brought to the hospi-

sensitization crusade to educate

and also encourage the public to avoid activi-

tal by his relatives, according to reports.

the public about Ebola Virus Dis-

ties that will aid transmission from one person

Fortunately, tests of his blood samples from

ease (EVD).

The UN World Health Organisation said on Friday

the

The hemorrhagic fever is one of the deadliest

that Ebola represents an international health

tute of Medical Research showed negative.

diseases known to humanity and has killed

emergency and could continue spreading for

Blood samples of three other suspected pa-

close to 1,000 people in West Africa this

months.

tients who were isolated at the Nsawam Gov-

year with about 1,700 suspected cases.

Kwaku David opines that Ghana is still not pre-

ernment hospital in the Eastern Region for

“Looking at the way it is spreading through

pared adequately for a possible outbreak adding

showing signs of the virus also proved nega-

the other West African countries, I just felt

that “if one person gets Ebola in this country, it

tive.

that it is very important for us not to be

will cause a lot of mayhem”.

This brings the number of suspected Ebola

taken by surprise or be caught off guard.

He complained bitterly about government’s atti-

cases to seven. Two in Kumasi and one other

We want to be proactive and force the pow-

tude stressing that distribution of pamphlets

person in Accra tested negative.

ers that be to get active with preventive

and posters as well as television and radio cam-

EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up

measures,” a Senior Staff of XFM, Kwaku

paigns in local languages should have been im-

to 90%. No licensed specific treatment or

David disclosed.

plemented already to help people understand

vaccine is available for use in people or ani-

the disease and the necessary steps to take to

mals.

As part of the awareness programme, the station holds discussions about Ebola every

tackle it.

Noguchi

Memorial

Insti-

However two American doctors who contract-

week day on the Xpress Breakfast Show

He also lamented on the porous entry points of

ed the disease while attending to patients in

with Kwaku David where experts dissemi-

the country and stressed that most of the bor-

Liberia are reported to have shown tremen-

nate vital information about Ebola.

ders are not secured enough to conduct screen-

dous signs of improvement after they were

ing processes and even isolate suspected cas-

given ZMapp treatment in isolated hospitals

es.

in the United States.

tion through human-to-human transmission.

He questions how a man was rushed from

The World Health Organization (WHO) is how-

to the other.

Burkina Faso to the Bawku Presby Hospital in

ever committed to finding solutions to the

the Upper East Region without any screening

worst ever Ebola outbreak and said it would

even though the man showed signs of the Ebola

ask medical ethics experts to explore emer-

virus.

gency use of experimental treatments.

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human popula-

Facial Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery Specialist The Johns Hopkins Facial Plastic Surgery Center 10751 Falls Road, Falls Concourse Suite 406 Lutherville, MD 21093 410 502 2145

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EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS

It

BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Back to Life Wrap your kids' textbooks in chalkboard-painted paper for a unique look.

Save money and add some pizzaz to those books with this new twist on an old-school hack: Buying black wrapping paper and using chalk or chalk markers can personalize any wrapped book.

is that one time of the year when every parent and every student agree on virtually everything. Kids are excited to be back in school, see their old friends, and make new ones.

Parents are overjoyed to see the kids bother someone else for a change.

It usually takes a week before kids remember that school is about a little more than just playing in the sun and exchanging the coolest video game stories. Very soon the early morning alarms get annoying and the homework quickly turns from a fun time activity to a chore.

Kids miss their summer swimsuits and the sunscreen. If you’re a parent, all of those kid-issues are the least of your worries. You are just happy to get them out of the house.

In our completely unscientific poll we found that parents often dread back-toschool too.

Teachers are happy to give you a long list of items your child needs. This is in addition to the roomful of stuff you have already bought [most of which your child will never even use during the school year]. The costs can slowly poke a hole in your wallet.

Most parents know that. Suddenly Walmart and Dollar General coupons become a prized possession and your eyes sparkle at the sight of every sale commercials on your television screen. [Dollar General: Seriously how much discount do you want from the dollar store, which they haven’t given to you already?]

Parents, we have good news. We have done the Back-to-School homework for you. As is the case with anything else in life, shopping for school supplies boils down to planning and execution.

There are many time-saving tricks and discounts available online and in stores, but you have to find them, and certainly have to be creative. These are some of the top ideas we found.

Break in new shoes fast by blow-drying them.

You've heard this scenario before, right? The kids love the shoes in the store, mostly because they're just sick of having shoes shoved on their feet.

But as soon as you get home, boom, the temper flairs. Suddenly, the shoes hurt or don't fit. Thankfully, there's a hack for that.

Have your child put on thick socks and then stuff their feet into the shoe. Then, use a hair dryer to blow hot air onto the shoe. Voila! The shoes will be broken-in in no time.

Use apps like RetailMeNot to score discounts at stores.

If you missed your tax-free weekend, don't fret.

Coupon apps like RetailMeNot list the deals that stores currently offer --all from the convenience of your phone.

No matter where you're shopping, from Staples to J.C. Penney, you can search for deals through the app.

Purchase school supply bundles by grade.

No supply list yet? No problem. Schoolsupplies.com provides "bundles" of age-appropriate materials based on grade.

Also, by shopping for everything at once, you save money by buying in bulk and eliminate purchasing supplies your child won't necessarily need.

Bonus: The supplies arrive in the mail.

Stock up on school supplies during the right time of year.

A lot of deals obviously occur during the month (s) leading up to the first day of school or even during late September.

However, starting earlier than usual doesn't hurt.

The month of May is a great time to buy basic supplies, because they're low in demand. However, tablets and tech gadgets usually go on sale in August.

Donate last year's clothes and get money back.

It's no secret that kids grow like weeds. Organizations like Schoola collects gently used clothes for cash, and is a smart way to donate clothes that no longer fit.

40 percent of the money they gain from selling the clothes is donated to your child's school. Give back to get back!

Back-to-School should be a fun time for parents because kids are naturally excited for a new adventure. That is perhaps an excellent opportunity to nurture their excitement throughout the academic year.

THIS CAN ALSO BE A TIME WHEN MOST PARENTS REVISIT STRATEGIES THAT HELP SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. My suggestion to parents is simple, as your children get back-to-school and resettled into their routines, take some time for yourself.

Get back to life.

WRITTEN BY NANA OBENG Additional Credit to schoolsupplies.com

ENTERTAINMENT

AFM Entertainment Review: Happy by Pharell Williams and Disney’s Frozen We love commonsensemedia.org. That is one place we recommend for parents to check out reviews for age-appropriate movies, books, apps, TV shows, video games, websites, and music.

For our fall season, we featured Happy”, by Pharell Williams and Frozen, the blockbuster Disney movies every child is talking about.

One of the favorite songs of the 2014 will surely be “Happy”, by Pharell Williams. The song found its way onto every wedding’s dance floor and every block party in America.

We thought you should know what the rest of the world thinks about “Happy”. Your children are already singing it, so you may want to do yourself a favor and catch up.

FAMILIES CAN TALK ABOUT...

Families can talk about the music videos.

Why do you think Rapper and producer Pharrell wanted to make a 24-hour music video? What does it mean to celebrate happiness?

The general reviews suggest that song is harmless to children but here is how “Happy” stacks up against some key metrics we care about.

Educational Value – 0/5 Positive messages – 4/5 Positive Role Models – 4/5 Sex – 0/5 Language – 0/5 Consumerism – 2/5 Drinking, drugs, smoking – 0/5

There are worthy messages about everything from sisterly unconditional love to being true to yourself to not getting engaged to someone you literally just met.

In addition to the pithy songs like "For the First Time in Forever," "Let It Go," "In Summer," and "Fixer Upper" -- fabulously composed by couple Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez -- the sweet themes of sisterhood and self-identity make for a delightful tale.

The always adorable Bell doesn't disappoint as the plucky and industrious Anna, who refuses to let Elsa stay away and believe herself a monster.

Groff is perfectly cast as Kristoff, who challenges and surprises Anna -- and in turn is challenged and surprised by the brave princess.

Their romance is a refreshing counterpoint to Anna and Hans' (which, as it turns out, isn't the swoon-worthy love-at-first-sight connection that she imagined) without taking away from the central storyline about the lovely sisters who discover their power.

FAMILIES CAN TALK ABOUT...

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW Parents need to know that "Happy" is a single written and performed by Pharrell for the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack.

The track has two music videos: a traditional one, which features Pharrell and others happily dancing to the song, and one captured over a 24-hour period that shows various people dancing along to the song on repeat.

With an upbeat message, no iffy content, and two equally positive music videos, the track is safe for kids young and old.

IS IT ANY GOOD? It's hard not to dance and sing along with "Happy" and its music videos. The bouncy Motown beat is infectious, and the pure joy on everyone's face in the music video is undeniable.

The song is a bit repetitive, especially once you've watched more than a few parts of the 24-hour music video, but it's nearly impossible to not enjoy the solid, spirited track -and its buoyant message.

Parents need to know that Frozen is a Disney animated musical that's likely to appeal to families with children of all ages.

As in many Disney movies, the parents die, here leaving orphaned princesses who must find a way to survive.

There are a few other violent scenes that involve men with weapons, snarling wolves, a scary snow monster, a severe storm, and a character who nearly freezes to death.

A character falls in love -- twice -- and ends up sharing two kisses at the end of the story.

Messages include unconditional love between sisters after a long estrangement, being true to yourself, recognizing your gifts, and not being afraid of your power.

Families can talk about Frozen's message.

What do Anna and Elsa learn over the course of the movie?

Kids: How can you apply the movie's lessons to your own life?

What do you think of the act of love that saves the kingdom?

There's more music in Frozen than in recent Disney films. How does the soundtrack compare to other Disney movies?

The general reviews suggest that song is harmless to children but here is how “Happy” stacks up against some key metrics we care about.

Positive messages – 4/5 Positive Role Models – 3/5 Violence – 2/5

IS IT ANY GOOD? Make room for two more wonderful Disney princesses.

Frozen is a perfect combination of the best Disney has to offer: catchy, show-stopping musical numbers, empowering heroines who discover the strength within themselves, stunning animated visuals, and scenestealing sidekicks.

Sex – 1/5 Language – 1/5 Consumerism – 3/5

Visit www.commonsensemedia.org for a complete list of reviews for the family.

ENTERTAINMENT

MISSING LINKs - The castro trageDY at ada

I

Originally published on GhanaCelebrities.com 3 days after Castro’s disappearance after a jet ski accident. t is day 3 and the bodies of talented Ghanaian musician-Castro De Destroyer (real name Theophilus Tagoe) and his alleged

girlfriend-Janet

Bandu

who

drowned with him at Ada have still not been found.

I’ve put together my thoughts (which I’ve shared on social media) so far for those interested—as I invite you all to share your thoughts on developments with us.

Day 1 | 6th July, 2014 Though sad, I hope Castro’s death teaches

I know young guys who call themselves fast

A lot is missing from the puzzle and until it is

and furious in Ghana, racing on those pot holes

all solved (which I doubt will happen), we

roads because they’ve seen others do it on

should place great value on our lives—with or

MTV or in some damn movies…

without life jackets

Chris Brown does it so Castro must do it

May His Soul Rest in Peace…

Day 3 | 8th July, 2014

too…

Day 2 | 7th July 2014

Do you see the machines we are using for

I have friends who Jet Ski a lot in Spain but

Now, many people are confused—with some

Castro’s rescue (photo below)? This is why I

these guys can also swim like whales. Any-

saying, Castro was wearing a life jacket and

was saying…Taking some risks in Ghana must

time they jump on these machines, they

others saying, he was not. And so what?

be well evaluated.

have everything intact—-with life guards

A life jacket does not give you another life—

If it was anywhere in the West, you will be

and sometimes coast guards not even far

and it does not make you a superman. It’s only

seeing helicopters and ‘proper machines’. We

from them should there be any danger. These

a protective measure, not an absolute meas-

don’t have the rescue and response stuff for

coast guards have planes and others for

ure.

some accidents, therefore it is prudent we

rescue purposes…

The same way you will not jump out of a plane

stay away and don’t go near activities that can

I understand accidents occur but they occur

because a parachute has been fixed to your

invite such accidents.

most under hazardous and unfit conditions.

back, so should you not jump into any water

It is not even every water body or sea that

These boats/whatever look like something Ja

simply because you have a life jacket on…

people are allowed to really Jet Ski in certain

Rule has in his Miami house. And that is what

What if the parachute never opens—same as,

we use for rescue.

what if the life jacket is even faulty? There can

We have to think twice!

us all a lesson. We ‘Ghanaians’ pride ourselves with everything foreign and we want to do whatever we see the West do, forgetting that there are rules and conditions.

parts of the West.

We need to leave behind those aspects of

be a lot of What IFs, the only SAFE IF is when

foreign lifestyles that we have NOT mas-

we engage in less risky enterprises. And we

tered.

must know when and where to take certain

A 5 year old British girl can swim like hell,

risks.

and I don’t mean ‘Borla beach’ swimming,

Anyone who has been on any water before with

professional swimming!

people will surely have been told that, no mat-

So if you see this girl jumping up and down

ter what, don’t turn yourself into a RESCUER—

into water, you don’t have to jump too! We

even if you are an expert in swimming.

copy everything even when we don’t have the

I am not saying Castro did anything wrong at

foundation…

this stage (nor am I blaming him for anything)

How effective is even our search and rescue

but I am saying, we must learn a lot from this

systems?

and stop the life jacket business….

CHRIS-VINCENT AGYAPONG FEBIRI www.TopVincent.com Email: vincent@topvincent.com

SPORTS

Corruption Kills Soccer Development in Africa New report from the Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) exposes corruption and mismanagement in professional African soccer leagues. By Katja Høiriis

N

ew report from the Forum for

New developments have occurred as FIFA

African Investigative Reporters

on Monday 5 October, announced a ban on

(FAIR) exposes corruption and

Nigeria following court actions against

mismanagement in professional

elected members of the NFF and the step-

African soccer leagues.

ping down of the acting NFF General Secre-

A new report titled “Killing Soccer in Africa”

tary by request of the National Sports Com-

investigates soccer management in eight

mission.

African countries and argues that Africa’s

FIFA argued that this kind of interference

generally poor performance in world soccer should come as no surprise, as the adminis-

Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, with Sepp Blatter in

trators tasked with developing the game are

2009. When Jonathan tried to take action against corruption

more focused on personal gain than on the prosperity of soccer and the development of the national leagues.

The motivation behind the report is to finish the work started by Cameroonian journalist,

in the FA, Fifa turned to the now-suspended Amos Adamu and took his word. Photograph: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images

One recent example of this is Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck, who suspended the country from international tournaments after their

Phillippe Boney, who was severely beaten

poor performance at the 2010 World Cup in an

after he began probing into the financial af-

effort to clean out corruption in the Nigerian Foot-

fairs of CAF president Issa Hayatou. FAIR

ball Federation (NFF).

therefore decided to carry out a transnational investigation into African soccer administration, making the point that ‘you can stop a journalist, but you cannot kill the story’.

Bribery, ‘missing’ funds, improper spending,

This was thwarted by FIFA who gave Nigeria three days to change its decision or face a ban from the soccer governing body.

ciations in Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are unearthed and exposed in the report, which paints a troubled picture of soccer development in Africa.

FIFA protects corrupt African soccer managers but the African soccer administrators are not the only culprits.

The report also states that efforts to clean out corruption in the national soccer associations is made even more difficult by FIFA, which has stepped in and put a stop to it every time an African country has tried to address these problems and threatened to ban countries for government interference.

properly. Corruption is killing African soccer.

The report concludes that African soccer will only achieve meaningful results when its administrators are held accountable for their wasteful and destructive management style. Whether and how this will happen remains to be seen.

With this report, FAIR has exposed many hidden and corrupt activities taking place in the African soccer federations and through that helped shed light on these issues.

Additional credit: www.playthegame.org

Continue from page 12

and other examples of corruption and general mismanagement of the national soccer asso-

meant that the NFF was unable to work

joy and simplicity as we attempt to do The terms of membership are also outlined in the New Testament. They include faith in God and in Christ.

Bible things in the Bible way.

(Heb. 11:6; John 8:24) Repentance of one’s sins, as commanded of all men everywhere (Acts. 17:30) Confession of belief in the son of God (Matthew 10:32); and finally one must be baptized to enter into God’s family his church (Acts. 2:41, 47) Peter said “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts. 2:38)

day at 5pm – 7pm and 8pm – 10pm re-

We, of the Church of Christ (Ghanaian) branch in the Bronx, New York encourage you to visit the church of Christ in your community and again experience the

Church of Christ (Ghanaian) Congregation

You can tune-in to “Search Scriptures on Akwaaba Radio every Tuesday and Saturspectively. “And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall Set you Free” (Jn. 8:31,32) “CHURCHES OF CHRIST SALUTE YOU” (ROMANS 16:16) Place of Worship: 1211 Brook Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451 P.O. Box 1768, Bronx, New York, 10451 Email: cocghinc.bronx@gmail.com

SPORTS

Black Stars – Life after Brazil The Black Stars will have to shove aside the disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign and look ahead. The big question is whether the Black Stars truly understand [and appreciate] the opportunity and responsibility that comes from wearing red, gold and green.

I

f there is any consolation in Ghana’s’ colossal failure in the 2014 World Cup, it would be moving two places FIFA rankings, at Number 36.

Ghana now has 648 points behind the Czech Republic [whatever that means].

On the grand stage in Brazil however, Ghana found a way to show the world that the country was several hundred miles away from becoming serious contenders for the world’s biggest prize, and an eternal bragging right.

No one could have anticipated such chaos; that a plane with $3 million cash from the government had to arrive in Brasilia before the players took the field against a disinterested Portugal side.

This is almost too embarrassing to remember, but there is more to the story than soccer players holding a country’s soccer pride hostage.

No sooner than that crisis reared its head, Sulley Muntari of AC Milan and Kevin-Prince Boateng of FC Schalke, had to be dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team.

Of course there are two sides to every story so I am careful not to throw the players under the bus for allegations and hearsay.

Ghana had bigger troubles still.

There was the widely publicized match fixing allegations [videos on YouTube] which although were not connected to the world cup [at least supposedly], they sure cast a dark cloud over the Black Stars.

The story falls in line with Africa’s general distrust for government agencies, and the government is doing little [at least that we know of] to fix this fiasco.

What’s next for the Black Stars? Russia 2018 is not too distant in the future. The Black Stars will have to shove aside the disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign and look ahead. The performances against both the USA and Germany were impressive, despite the outcomes.

Firing Coach Kwesi Appiah will be a huge mistake, but this will not be the strangest thing to come out of Ghana Football Association.

Kwesi Apiah is a refreshing change from the norm, a long list of foreign coaches who use African teams to build a resume in search to better opportunities.

The team will have to focus on rebuilding, and there are a lot of silver linings from Brazil [if you ask me].

Ghana will finally have to break away from Asamaoh Gyan [Baby Jet], and live with the fact that the country has 4 long years to develop two surefire strikers.

Jordan Ayew has to quickly learn from older brother Andre if he has any aspirations of representing Ghana in 2018.

Most importantly, the captain band ought to be handed to Johnathan Mensah and give him a chance to build an impenetrable defense with John Boye, Daniel Opare, and the rest of the gang.

A collective standing ovation must be given to Michael Essien on his way out of international assignment. The midfield superman lost his cape a long time ago, and Ghanaians are still clinging on to the memory of the past.

The Black Stars’ immediate concern ought to be finding their place for next year’s AFCON in Morocco. The government may never resolve the corruption and management issues [nothing new there], and the only way to heal the wounds from Brazil is to focus on the challenge ahead.

Ghana has made it to the semifinals of the AFCON many times, and despite the jaw dropping performance last month, expectations remain higher than ever.

The big question is whether the Black Stars truly understand [and appreciate] the opportunity and responsibility that comes from wearing red, gold and green.

Your guess is as good as mine.

By Selassie Bannerman

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MARKET PLACE

Y

ou may not think you have many options when it comes to debt repayment, but there are several tools and strategies you can use to help pay off debt on time or ahead of schedule, or even to decrease your overall debt burden.

First, list your debts in a spreadsheet or budget program. Include outstanding balances, interest rates and minimum payments. Then use a debt repayment calculator to determine how long it will take to pay off existing debts.

Next, write up a budget listing your monthly income and expenses. This is a great way to help you stay on top of payments, identify high areas of spending and locate extra money to put toward your debt. Ideally, budgeting will also prevent you from accruing any further debt. When making payments, always pay off higher-interest loans first to save money over time.

Depending on how much and the type of debt you have, refinancing, consolidating or even filing bankruptcy may be beneficial options for you. Consult a financial professional to learn more.

The Daily Sudoku

by Andrew Stuart

Enter numbers in the squares so that each row, column and the boxes with the same color contains all the numbers 1 to 9.

Best of luck!

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MARKET PLACE OUTLETS - AFRICAN CHURCHES IN UNITED STATES WASHINGTON DC

Obeng International Grocery 300 Morse St NE Washington, DC (202) 544-8255

NEW JERSEY

Makola African Market Imports 375 Lyons Ave. Newark, NJ. (973) 926-3919

Sam Product Marketing 5772 2nd Street NE Washington, DC. (202) 248-2856

Sands African Imports, Ltd 923 Frelinghuysen Ave. Newark, NJ. (973) 824-5500

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

Check out these businesses and community establishments for printed copies, and be sure to tell them you saw their ad in

Akwaaba Family Magazine

TEXAS

African Food Store 11332 Fondren Road Houston, TX. (713) 728-8308

African Market 8673 Sudley Rd Manassas, VA 20110 (703) 365-8760

African Market Bronx Terminal Mkt. #48A New York, NY. (718) 1665-6524

African Village Market 10217 Club Creek Houston, TX. (713)541-1060

Makola Market Inc 7856 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, Va 22306 (703)799.3865

West African Grocery 524 Ninth Avenue New York, NY. (212) 695-6215

Afrikiko Restaurant 9625 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036 (713) 773-1400

Rahama African Restaurant & Catering Woodbridge 12744 Darby Brooke Ct Woodbridge, VA 22192

NORTH CAROLINA

Woodbridge International Market 14350 Jefferson Davis HWY Woodbridge, VA 22191 (703) 491-9291

MARYLAND

Accra International Foods 10051 North 2nd Street #12 Laurel, MD. (301) 317-4440 Adom African International Market 10400 Shaker Dr. Columbia, MD 21045 Kantanka African Market & Int'l Foods 1354 Travis View Court Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (301) 519-9712 Red Apple Farmers Market 7645 New Hampshire Ave. Langley Park, MD. (301) 434-1801

Oja Village International Market 3114 summit ave Greensboro, NC. (336) 358-8260 Sankofa Int. Market, Inc. 3209 Yanceyville Street Greensboro, NC. (336) 375-4111

OHIO

North Hill African Market 212 E Cuyahoga Falls Ave Akron, OH. (330) 374-1168

WISCONSIN

African Market & Beauty Supply 805a South Gannon Rd. Madison, WI 53719 (330) 374-1168

Woodlawn United Methodist 1425 NE Dekum Street Portland, OR. 1-503-289-0284 Royal House Chapel 3600 East West Hwy #300 Hyattsville, MD 20782 Philadelphia Ghana SDA Church 7501 Frankford AVE Philadelphia, PA Church of the Lamb of God 7030 S. Lewis Tulsa, OK. 1-918-481-6557 Jesus House DC 919-921 Philadelphia Avenue Silver Spring, MD. 301-650-1900 African Evangelical Baptist Church 770, East Warrior Trail Grand Prairie, TX.

10 Things Men find ANNOYING in Women

Published as a companion article to an originally Portuguese, soon-to-be translated "15 Things that Women Find Annoying in Men," this article finds the worst complaints coming from men about women.

L

adies, there are a few things in life even your best friends may have the courage to tell you. There is also the likelihood that they are just as oblivious to these, else they would have poked you a longtime ago.

At one point or another in your life, you will cross paths with someone of the opposite sex who may lose interest in you just as quickly as they were mesmerized by your glamour.

The guys didn’t feel like telling you how your habits grind his nerves, so he quietly walked away.

Contrary to what you saw on Real Housewives of Atlanta [or Los Angeles, or wherever else] some attitudes are completely unattractive. We recently stumbled upon an article that hit the nail on the head.

Almost literally.

While we are on this subject, ladies please refrain from asking your men questions to which you already know the answers.

“Honey am I really fat?”

What is the answer supposed to be to this trick question?

Men generally pretend to sympathize, but in fact they are all biting their lips to keep them from telling you what they are really thinking upstairs.

Back to the annoying habits topic. Well, sooner or later, someone ought to tell you how unflattering some of the attitudes you think are cool really are.

Of course this is not for you; let’s just say, this article is written for your “friend” you know — the one with all the issues, and needs a little smack on her head from time to time.

1. The Trouble Makers Most readers will agree with this one. A man gets easily annoyed when a woman cannot let go of the things she does not like. Men do not like a woman who tries to solve problems by arguing about it in front of everyone.

To onlooker: “What you looking at? Don’t you see that he is got someone already?”

2. The Drama Queens The dramatic women love to create a storm in a glass of water. Crying helps them seem more convincing.

“That outfit is awful! I’m not going anymore! You can go by yourself, if you like!”

3. The Jealous Among the worst complaints are against those women who are almost neurotically untrusting.

“Who is that woman in front of us? She’s looked in the rear-view mirror twice now!”

4. The Fault Finder She is the type of woman that finds faults in everything. Nothing is the way she wants it.

“It would have been better had you done it my way.”

5. The Madonnas These women do not like the fact that men have freedom of choice. They believe that men do not know how to use their agency well or even that they do not possess the maturity to do so. Generally, they act as if they were his mother. “You are no longer allowed to use that shirt! It is horrific!”

6. The Insecure These women do not think they are worthy of their companions. They always question themselves about their feelings and the man’s taste in women.

“You think that she’s prettier than me, don’t you? I bet if she looked this way, you would totally go after her and leave me behind.”

7. The Overly-Attached Emotionally dependent women are a burden to men. They do not understand that men need to breathe, have some personal time, and demonstrate total dependence on their love.

These kinds of women are similar to gum on a shoe. “You haven’t even left yet and I already miss you!” “Without you, I would die!”

8. The Sloppy The greatest complainers are married men, since single women don’t usually make this mistake during dating times.

Men like having a good-looking woman by their side!

9. The Vulgar Women like to fish for attention at whatever cost, including being revealing in their attire.

“My body is beautiful, so I’ll show it.”

10. The Liars They do not like to do things openly and do not feel comfortable exposing the truth. They prefer to omit a fact or two to telling the truth.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Credit: Erika Strassburger is a Brazilian LDS mom, freelance writer and oil painting artist.

Continue from page 19 When Problems Arise These recommendations can contribute to a positive and productive school experience for most children. Some children may exhibit more extreme opposition to or fear of school or may be coping with more specific learning or psychological difficulties.

If your child demonstrates problems that seem extreme in nature or go on for an extended period, you may want to contact the school to set up an appointment to meet with your child’s teachers and school psychologist. They may be able to offer direct or indirect support that will help identify and reduce the presenting problem. They may also suggest other resources within the school and the community to help you address the situation.

While children can display a variety of behaviors, it is generally wise not to over-interpret those behaviors. More often than not, time and a few intervention strategies will remedy the problem. Most children are wonderfully resilient and, with your support and encouragement, will thrive throughout their school experience.

Back-to-School Transitions: Tips for Parents National Association of School Psychologists www.nasponline.org