GHANAIAN NEWS - APRIL 2023

Toronto mayor’s race draws more than 100 candidates

By:

More than 100 candidates, including a former police chief are all vying for the chance to be mayor of Canada’s largest city. All the prospective candidates have formally registered before deadline in the mayoral byelection at the end of June. The current three-term mayor, John Tory, abruptly resigned in February, after admitting to an extramarital affair with a former staff member. Tory had won re-election only four months before. The deputy mayor, Jennifer McKelvie, has served as interim mayor since Tory’s departure and is not running as a candidate.

Olivia Chow, who placed third in the 2014 mayoral election that Tory won, is seen as the current frontrunner, ahead of former provincial lawmaker Mitzie Hunter, councillors Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford and Josh Matlow and former police chief Mark Saunders.

Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, who previously said he wouldn’t weigh in on the election, has tacitly endorsed Saunders. “We need someone who has experience dealing with crime. I believe we need someone that has actually run an operation

Mother’s Day celebration at Living Word Assembly of

Six Top Candidates for now and what they’ll need to win

Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON

Group picture of Women’s Ministries

cont’d on pg. 24

Olivia Chow

Mitzie Hunter

Ana Bailao

Mark Saunders

Josh Matlow

Brad Bradford

See detail info about the candidates on pg. 29

By Staff Reporter, Toronto, ON

The

Helen Sterling Clarke, B.A.J.D, LL.B

Lead

Community Leaders, Clergy, Mosque, Parents, Nananom!

Difficult topic but must be addressed….Mental Health, Mental Health!

Do we have Mental Health issues in our community? Yes, Yes, Yes

Do we even know the symptoms of mental health? Only the experts in our community but not a lot.

Is there a stigma regarding Mental Health? Yes

Do we know how to communicate with friends, family members, and community members going through mental health? No

Do we know if we are experiencing mental health but at times in denial? Yes.

Is there any help? Yes

The good news is our community has been granted resources by the federal government to help our community members trained to provide ‘first aid for mental health’.

Very soon you will hear of this program to help our community start addressing this very important issue ‘More Culturally Responsive’

My plea to our leaders and community members is to be open to the leaders who will lead this program/project It is in our collective interest to work together on this project/program.

I am not an expert at all but came across these as symptoms of Mental Health and could be more:

• Feeling sad or down.

• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.

• Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt.

• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.

• Withdrawal from friends and activities.

• Significant tiredness, low energy, or problems sleeping.

Please let us seize the opportunity to help our community members

E. Duodu

KEEPING YOU IN TOUCH WITH NEWS FROM HOME AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ISSUES

EDITORIAL

Publisher

/ Editor Emmanuel Ayiku

Contributing Editor

Joe Kingsley Eyiah

Director of Operations

Comfort Ayiku

Community Reporter

Annobil

Jonathan

Local Community Reporter

Addo

Mickson

The Ghanaian News

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Decision Time Toronto prepares for Mayoral elections on June 26th

Municipal elections are arguably the most important level of government that voters should be paying attention to, especially when it comes to election of your Mayor.

Your mayor has a major responsibilities as follows; Chief Executive Officer of the City Corporation, preside over council meetings, provide leadership to council, represent the municipality at official functions, to carry out the duties of the Head of Council, to perform duties of a member of council in line with the Municipal Act. The Mayor shall also serve as a member of county council and is required to attend all regular and special meetings,

As we know the Mayor’s responsibilities have direct impact on our day to day life. The roads you use to drive to work, the transit system that helps you get around the city, the parks where children play, and development projects contributing to a steady housing supply. In all, the Mayor holds a lot of Leadership power than you think.

With the recent introduction of the “strong mayors” legislation, the cities of Toronto and Ottawa will now see an even greater increase of power with their respective mayors when it comes to fast-tracking local legislation. These new powers would allow the mayor to propose the municipal budget annually, appoint chairs and vice chairs of committees and local boards, establish new committees, and veto certain bylaws approved by Council.

The Ghanaian News take on this issue during these critical times for the simple reason that many of our community members take these election exercises for granted. Many adopt an apathetic attitude to elections of all kinds in this country: Municipal, Provincial and Federal. Some do not care at all to vote during these exercises. It is in the light of this that we are devoting this medium to send a very strong appeal to our community members as well as other immigrant and minority

Over the next few days to this Election date, take the time to learn more about the list of candidates running for mayor, examine their various platform, what their they stand for and decide which of them satisfies your family as well as community interests, so that you can make an informed decision to vote on election day.

Again we appeal to all eligible community members to go out in their numbers to vote. , especially if you have that voter information card, as quickly, as easily as possible. Let us rise up to the occasion and make our Ghanaian Community stand up on this election.

Your vote is your power. Remember that a single vote makes a huge difference and as the saying goes, those that refuse to take part in government are bound to live under a government of fools.

John Mahama wins

Ghana’s opposition presidential primaries

Ghana’s largest opposition party has chosen the country’s former president, John Dramani Mahama, as its flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election.

Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) voted in primaries over the weekend to choose a candidate for both the presidential and parliamentary polls.

Mahama was declared the overwhelming winner after polling 98.9 per cent of the votes while his challenger, former Kumasi mayor Kojo Bonsu, scored 1.1 per cent.

The former president was tipped by most political analysts to win the primary based on his experience and influence in the opposition party.

“He has been tried and tested and comes with a lot of experience,” said Kwame Asah-Asante, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana.

This confidence in Mahama was echoed by many of the more than 355,000 NDC party delegates who converged at 401 voting centres across the country over the weekend for the ballot.

“I believe if NDC takes power, most of the things which we Ghanaians want, NDC can come do it for us. For instance, taking care of our children. The other side promised us so much which they were unable to fulfil,” said marketer Kafur Addo. He says he believes that if the NDC

comes to power, the party will fulfil the promises they have made.

The primaries come as Ghana holds talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a $3 billion bailout to help overcome an economic crisis, and as it faces a growing jihadist threat from a conflict in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Analysts believe Mahama will likely capitalise on the economic crisis facing the country in his presidential campaign, and delegates have confidence in his abilities.

“I believe in John Dramani Mahama. He has been a president before. He has been a vice-president before and he is a communicator too. So, there is no way the sitting president can do something for us,” said businessman Joshua Rockson.

“We have given him eight years now and there’s nothing we are seeing now. But with John Dramani Mahama, he can turn things for us. That’s why we believe in him. That’s why we are here to vote for him.”

The ruling party of incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo will hold its own primaries in November, and the presidential election is scheduled for 7 December 2024.

John Dramani Mahama

Cycling a hot topic in Toronto election as number of mayoral candidates tops out at 102

Friday marked a major milestone in Toronto’s mayoral race. With nominations finally closed, there are a record 102 candidates running for mayor in the city.

That is sure to lead to lots of debate in the remaining six weeks or so of the campaign.

Speaking of which, cycling was a topic which dominated much of the Toronto mayoral race this week.

Mark Saunders vowed that if he becomes mayor, he will put a halt to any new bike lanes on major roads, rip up existing ones on University Avenue and rethink bike lanes elsewhere with a new consultation process.

“This isn’t about being anti-bike lane,” Saunders said. “I’m not against bike lanes, but what I won’t stand for is putting them on major arteries that are already paralyzed by congestion. Bike lane installations must make sense for the communities they’re in.”

His platform prompted Anthony Furey, who promised a similar stance on bike lanes several weeks ago, to brand him once again as a “copycat.” Though the dig did not lessen Furey’s commitment to tearing up bike lanes.

Meanwhile, other candidates in the race who were asked to respond to the idea took issue with it.

Speaking with reporters at an announcement about his plan for transit in Scarborough, Josh Matlow was asked about the idea and said “that’s stupid.”

“He’s wrong. When we drive our cars in traffic, the reality is we are part of

traffic,” Matlow said. “So when other drivers have more options to get around other than being part of the traffic that we are frustrated by, the more people who have a safe and reliable way to bike around our city means fewer people in cars in front of us.”

Speaking with CP24, Cycle Toronto’s Alison Stewart said congestion is a problem which affects all road users.

“Everyone is struggling. So there is no road user that is being well-served right now,” she said. “And part of that challenge stems from the fact that we have far too many single car use trips on our roads and we need to prioritize the movement of people through public transit through biking, through walking.”

She points out that bike lanes give more people options for getting around, noting that health-care workers were asking for a bike lanes on University Avenue during the pandemic so that they could have a safer way to travel to and from work without having to crowd onto transit.

Providing better cycling infrastructure, she said, makes it more attractive for more people to cycle instead of drive, thereby reducing the burden on road traffic.

She said Toronto’s bike share program has seen an “explosion” of 300 per cent usage since 2017.

“Increasingly getting around by bike is the most efficient, convenient and reliable way to get from A to B for five kilometres or less. And right now, the bulk of trips being taken in Toronto are less than five kilometres.”

Data compiled by city staff show that

bike lanes installed on Bloor Street East, Dundas Street East, University Avenue, Danforth Avenue, Bayview Avenue, Wilmington Avenue and Huntingwood Drive in 2020 had minimal impact on peak commute times for motorists in those areas. The greatest increase to travel times was on Bloor Street East, Dundas Street East and Danforth Avenue. Still, bike lanes in those areas added less than a minute to peak afternoon commute times.

Meanwhile, hundreds more cyclists used those corridors daily. The number of cyclists using University Avenue nearly doubled to around 1,080 in 2021 compared to 530 before the lanes were installed. Danforth Avenue saw 1,100 more daily cyclists after the bike lanes were installed – an increase of almost 67 per cent.

Still, speaking with CP24, Mary McDonald of the Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization, said she supports Saunders’ plan to limit bike lane expansion.

“We can’t have bike lanes willy nilly, like it’s spaghetti thrown on a plate. There has to be balance, there has to be common sense. Not everybody can cycle. We’re not Amsterdam, we can’t cycle all year round.”

She said many people have to drive to ferry around kids and elderly parents.

“Not every single person wants to drive but they have to,” she said.

But speaking with reporters at an announcement this week, Olivia Chow said the issue doesn’t necessarily have to be about supporting either cycling or driving.

“Good Lord, let’s not do that,” Chow said when asked about tearing up bike lanes, noting the extra cars that would be added to traffic if all cyclists were suddenly driving.

“I think the bike lanes encourage more cyclists to come out, meaning there’ll be fewer drivers on the street. So I think it’s a win-win situation, I don’t think it’s an either-or.”

She said bike lanes are an “easy target” for any driver frustrated by congestion, but said that frequent road closures for construction and a transit system that doesn’t work properly are problems which have a much greater impact on gridlock.

Toronto has been moving ahead with an “unprecedented amount of new bikeways” over the past few years according to city staff, in order to keep up with “high” demand.

Council adopted a Cycling Network Plan in 2019. Toronto rolled out 65 km of bikeways from 2019 to 2021 and is forecast to roll out another 100 km of new bikeways for 2022-2024, in part by installing a greater proportion of cycle tracks on arterial roadways.

According to the city, the expansion of cycling infrastructure is aimed in part at reducing transit congestion, providing more options for the most disadvantaged groups in society to get around, meeting climate goals, improving safety for road users, and giving people healthier ways to get around the city.

An update on the progress of the Cycling Network Plan is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. Cp24

Lesotho journalist Ralikonelo Joki killed after radio show

Lesotho authorities must launch a credible investigation into the killing of journalist Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashasha’ Joki and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, an unknown number of people shot Joki in the head once and body at least 13 times as he left the privately owned radio station Ts’enolo FM in the capital, Maseru, according to multiple news reports and a statement by the Lesotho chapter of regional press freedom group Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

Joki, the host of the current affairs show “Hlokoana-LaTsela” (I Heard It Through the Grapevine), covered government, agriculture, and corruption, and was best known for breaking a 2021 story about five politicians

Journalist Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashasha’ Joki was shot and killed on May 14, 2023 in Maseru, Lesotho (Screenshot: YouTube/ Lesotho Times Live)

who were illegally trading alcohol

The journalist received at least three death threats from different Facebook accounts in March and April related to his work as a journalist, according to screenshots reviewed by CPJ and Ts’enolo FM’s station manager, Mshengu Tshabalala, and program manager, Rets’epile Maloi,

who communicated with CPJ via messaging app. The threats did not cite specific reporting.

“Authorities in Lesotho must thoroughly investigate the killing of Ts’enolo FM host Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashasha’ Joki and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, in New York. “An attempted murder

trial after a similar killing of Lesotho Times editor Lloyd Mutungamiri in 2016 has dragged on for years. Authorities must send a clear signal to those who believe they can attack or kill journalists without consequence that, in Joki’s case at least, there will be swift accountability.”

On July 9, 2016, an unknown number of assailants shot Mutungamiri twice outside his home in Maseru as he returned from work and left him in a critical condition. The trial is expected to proceed in July 2023

Investigative journalist Keiso Mohloboli, who worked with Joki, told CPJ by messaging app that she believes Joki’s killing was in connection to his work, citing the Facebook threats.

Kananelo Boloetse, chair of the Lesotho chapter of MISA,

told CPJ by messaging app that although the motive behind Joki’s killing remains unclear, they have “every reason to believe he was attacked in relation to his work following threats on his life on Facebook.”

In response to the shooting, the government will impose a country-wide curfew beginning on Tuesday, May 16, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., according to a televised announcement by Minister of Police Lebona Lephema.

CPJ’s app message to Lesotho Police spokesperson Mpiti Mopeli did not receive an immediate response.

In 2015, unknown people armed with guns raided Ts’enolo FM and threatened the presenter on duty over the station’s critical reporting on the government, Maloi told CPJ. By Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ

Why can’t a British citizen withdraw his

money deposited at a Ghana bank without a Ghana card? - Dr. Bawumia

I have just been informed by a British-naturalised Ghanaian citizen of his sad encounter at a bank in Kumasi on Tuesday, 16 May 2023. His sad encounter with a cashier, an Operations Manager and a policeman at the bank went as follows.

This naturalised British citizen of Ghanaian origin deposited about Ghc12,000 with the bank over seven years ago when he went to Ghana on holiday. He used his British passport as his identity when opening the bank accounts and making the deposit. It was acceptable with the bank without issues raised.

However, when he returned to Ghana about four weeks ago and needed money urgently to purchase his expensive medical prescription drugs that he cannot do away with, he called at the bank, but only to be refused the withdrawal of his own money.

Both the cashier and the Operations Manager insisted that without providing a Ghana Card, he can’t withdraw the money.

As he kept insisting on being allowed to withdraw his money for urgent purpose, they classed him as being a nuisance, then called in a gun-toting police officer who ordered him to leave the bank premises without further delay.

Exchanges of words went on until the cashier showed him on the computer how any process taken to withdraw the money for him gets stuck at a point where they were required to put in his Ghana Card number without which the system does not allow the bank to proceed any further with the withdrawal process.

Why has the Ghana government made it obligatory that without the presentation of a Ghana Card in your name, you cannot withdraw your money from the bank, let alone, open a bank account?

Fair enough, every Ghanaian must

IMF deal: Ghana will return to international capital market soon - Govt

Government is optimistic that Ghana will be able to return to the international capital market as soon as possible.

Ghana is on the verge of securing a US$ 3 billion IMF bailout to help with the country’s balance of payment problems, with the first tranche of US$600m expected to be authorized by Wednesday and disbursed within a week.

The second tranche of $600 million is scheduled to be authorized following a successful first review of the program, which is expected to occur in November or December, with the remainder distributed in equal tranches of $360 million following semi-annual reviews.

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry, feels this paves the road for Ghana’s return to the international market.

Following economic downgrades by international rating agencies and Ghana’s creditworthiness to junk status amidst poor fiscal policy measures, the government has already said, a successful IMF program will make Ghana regain access to the international capital market for economic rebound.

possess a Ghana Card for obvious reasons. However, is it required of a visiting foreigner to compulsorily own a Ghana card if the person is not coming to reside in Ghana?

The person in question opened his bank account when the possession of Ghana Card was not an obligation.

Why can’t there be an exception in such critical situations to allow depositors to withdraw their money using the very foreign identity documents used to open the accounts?

Again, I understand there is only one centre in the whole of Ashanti Region where one can go to procure for themselves a Ghana Card at a fee of Ghc280.00. At this centre, the queue of those seeking Ghana Card snakes for several tens of hundreds of metres in the scorching sun without anywhere to sit, even if, you are physically disabled as in the case of the man in question.

At the Ghana Card centre again, some self-styled contractors are understood to come out from the office shouting, who has Ghc400.00 to pay to be given priority? Those able to afford that sum are taken inside the room ahead of their colleagues in the

“We will go back to the market because we will leverage on the IMF deal to balance our financing needs. We have development partners supporting, but a chunk of our inflows will come from the market so with the IMF approval, we are very confident that investor confidence in Ghana will increase. The institutions upgrading us will look favourably to Ghana and then as a result of all these, we could return to market very soon”, he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, May 15.

“It depends on how quickly we get to sustainable levels. We are hoping at attaining sustainable levels by 2028. If that is achieved, it’s possible. As for borrowing, you can’t say you won’t borrow. In as much we don’t borrow for ourselves so going to the market is a matter of course if the conditions are favourable”, Dr. Amin Adam added. citinewsroom

Fax: 905-793-5020

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry

The vice president of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cont’d on pg. 10

Ontario announces break up of Peel Region, cities to become independent by 2025

The Doug Ford government is breaking up the Region of Peel, paving the way for Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon to become independent cities by 2025.

Legislation was tabled at Queen’s Park Thursday afternoon that kicked off the process by creating a transition board to help “ensure the process is fair and balanced.”

This board will be established sometime this year and would consist of up to five members appointed by the minister of municipal affairs and housing. These members will have expertise in labour, governance and finance, officials said, and will make recommendations in summer or fall of 2024.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark speaks in Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Thursday May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Some areas of analysis include labour relations, disentangling of regional services, property tax arrangements and financial sustainability. The board will also oversee financial decisions of all three municipalities, although it is unclear how much power they will have to interfere in city decisionmaking.

Financing is one of the biggest points of contention for Brampton, whose mayor has said the city of Mississauga would owe them at least $1 billion in infrastructure.

All three municipalities in Peel contribute a large portion of their tax revenue towards the region as a whole.

Brampton provides nearly 40 per cent of its tax revenue to the region while Mississauga contributes 45 per cent. This money is used to help pay for joint core services such as police, water treatment, roads, garbage collection and housing supports.

Once the three cities are independent, these services will most likely rest solely on the municipalities. Officials stressed Thursday that they expect local services to continue uninterrupted during the transition.

It is possible that some services such as police and utility rates for water services could remain regional.

Officials say that further legislation could be proposed in the fall of 2024 to “address any outstanding restructuring matters.”

By Jan. 1 2025, one year before the next municipal election, Peel Region will officially dissolve.

WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS?

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has long called for separation from Peel Region, suggesting the city has outgrown its counterparts and would

save much-needed revenue by standing on its own two feet.

She has suggested the move could save taxpayers in her city about $1 billion over the next decade and, in an interview with Newstalk 1010’s Moore in the Morning, said she” can’t imagine” that Mississauga owes Brampton money for this transition.

According to a 2019 report by Deloitte on the financial impact of services in Peel Region, Mississauga would benefit the most from dissolution while Caledon could struggle to maintain their finances. It found that if Peel Region were to dissolve, “significant effort will be required” to negotiate how assets and services will be divided.

It’s unclear how Caledon, who makes up about 56 per cent of the land area of Peel Region, will be impacted financially.

WHAT HAPPENS TO OTHER REGIONS?

The province says it will name regional facilities to the regions of Durham, Halton, York, Niagara, Simcoe and Waterloo to determine if the government is “relevant to the needs of its communities.”

The government first created the position of “provinciallyappointed facilitators” in November 2022. These facilitators were meant to review the roles and responsibilities of both the regional and municipal governments in the area.

Officials said these facilitators will make recommendations in terms of meeting municipal housing pledges “where regional governments are still required.” The Doug Ford government is using boosting housing supply as a primary justification for splitting up Peel, noting that housing starts in 2022 increased by nearly nine per cent.

It is possible the provincial government could dissolve further regional governments as part of this process. Cp24

•

‘It sort of exploded on us’: Bird collides with Leviathan roller coaster, splatters Canada’s Wonderland guests

•

What happens when Brampton and Mississauga separate? Cp24

Transition from Elementary/Middle School to High/Secondary School

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto-Canada

The months of May and June every year, see a lot of graduation ceremonies in schools, colleges and universities around the world. Happy smiles on the faces of some graduates during the ceremonies could be very deceiving. Not all the graduates are leaving such ceremonies with the desirable diplomas and certificates!

Some graduates from High Schools, Colleges and Universities will have to go back to complete the requisite credits in order to obtain their diplomas and certificates. They have either slackened during the school year to achieve all the necessary credits or have failed in their examinations. Their TRANSITION from one level of the educational system to another level has not been smooth!

I concentrate here on the transition from Middle (Elementary) School to High (Secondary) School and what parents ought to do to ensure their students (children) success from from the Elementary/Middle School to High/ Secondary School level. I must state here that, ‘no one is better qualified to help you navigate your way to succeed in your endeavours than yourself! You must learn from your failures and make use of available resources to achieve SUCCESS!’ Brookview Middle School in Toronto has this as its motto: SUCCESS HAS U IN IT. I couldn’t agree more with this motto!

SUCCESS: A popular definition of success is ‘being able to live your life in your own way, doing only those things that you want to do, with the people/things that you choose, in the situations you desire.’

According to Brian Tracy in his work, ‘The Power of Self-Discipline- No Excuses!’ , “when you begin to define what ‘success’ means to you, you can immediately see things that you should be doing more of or less of in order to begin creating your ideal life. And the biggest thing that holds you back from moving in the directions of your dream is usually your favourite excuses and lack of self-discipline. “ Thus, you can succeed if you choose to succeed!

"Nurturing the Future: The Vital Role of Mothers in Shaping Society"

By Porcia Boateng, Toronto, ON

Mothers have a vital role in shaping our society's future. As the primary caregivers, they are the first teachers, nurturers, and role models for their children. They are the ones responsible for instilling values, beliefs, and knowledge that will guide their children throughout their lives.

Keeping their children safe and secure is one of the most important tasks for mothers. They create a loving and supportive environment, ensuring both physical and emotional well-being. Mothers are there to listen, support, and guide their children through tough times, helping them become strong and resilient.

Mothers also pass on important knowledge and skills to their children. They teach them everything from basic life skills to more advanced abilities. They encourage their children to explore their interests and passions, providing opportunities for learning and personal growth.

Overall, mothers are the guardians of the next generation. They play a crucial role in shaping the future of our society by instilling values, beliefs, and knowledge in their children. As we celebrate Mother's Day and honor the vital role mothers play in our lives, let's recognize their significant contribution to shaping our world's future.

PROMOTED, TRANSFERRED OR RETAINED?

As an elementary school teacher I drew parents’ attention to the June report cards that students bring home. The last statement in the Learning Skills comment box on the report card clearly spells out the appropriate placement of the student in the next classes or school. According to the directions from school boards, for students accessing the current grade level curriculum, the placement statements should read:

1. Name of student is promoted to Grade X

2. Name of student is transferring to Grade X

3. Name of student is retaining in grade X

For the students with a Modified Individual Education Plan (IEP), the placement should read:

1. Based upon achievement on the IEP, Name of student, is promoted. Name of student’s placement is Grade X

2. Based upon achievement on

the IEP, Name of student, is transferred. Name of student, placement is Grade X

3. Based on achievement on the IEP, Name of student, is retained. Name of student’s placement is Grade X The good news for parents to follow up or pay particular attention to their children who are either promoted or transferred ‘at risk’ to the next level is that program interventions or support recommendations should be made for such students. These recommendations should be recorded on a Student Portfolio Support Form and communicated to the parents, students and receiving teacher/school. I therefore encourage all parents whose children are either promoted or transferred’at risk’ from Grade 8 (Middle School) to Grade 9 (High School) to follow up with their High Schools to ensure that the necessary support are put in place to enable their children succeed, A student, by school board policy, has the right to attend the school of their choice in the designated attendance area.

Why can’t a British citizen withdraw his money deposited at a Ghana bank without a Ghana card? - Dr. Bawumia

cont’d from pg. 8

queue to be issued their Ghana Card.

Corruption is clearly going on there if what I have been told is nothing, but the absolute truth.

Going back to the main topic, why has it become so stringent that without the provision of a Ghana Card as your identity, being a non-resident foreigner, you cannot withdraw your money you deposited at a bank in Ghana years ago using your foreign identity documents as your proof of identity?

Could vice president Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia explain this to me and again, tweak the rule a bit to allow those that deposited their money using foreign identities to be able to withdraw the money and or, close their accounts in such critical situations as that of the man in discussion?

There are exceptions to every rule in exceptional cases so this must apply in situations as described above.

Even if you are compelled by the urgency to go for a Ghana Card, as unwilling foreigner as you may be, look at the long one ‘logo logo’ line that you have to join without any hope of getting served for possibly days.

Dr. Bawumia, please use the same digitisation and digitalisation to facilitate the withdrawal of deposits made at the Ghana banks when their owners used their foreign national identity documents such as French, British, German or American passports as proofs when opening the accounts.

I look forward to seeing changes made to permit such foreigners to withdraw money and close their accounts. In the case of the man, he could not withdraw the money despite his health condition.

What is going on in my native country Ghana?

I don’t expect anyone to bring politics into this reported issue but rather, finding solutions to the problems brought about by implementation of new policies and programmes tailored to make life easier and better, thus, the digitisation and digitalisation.

“Basically, digitisation means data and documents from the analog format, to the digital format. For example, taking a physical book, scanning it ... while digitalisation is all about moving existing processes into digital technologies”. – going paperless by using computers.ghanaweb

A Very Rapturous ROYAL Welcome

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto, ON

ECSTATIC! That is about the most appropriate word to describe the akwaaba that was accorded the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on his return from the U.K. after attending the coronation of King Charles of the United Kingdom. It was a euphoric, blissful, delirious occasion.

In England, the King of Asante had taken pictures with the King of England, and rubbed shoulders with him– and the entire goings on had been beamed world – wide, and back home we all saw the pictures. So, if one had remarked that the spectacle on that Saturday, May 13, was a replica of what one saw on the screens from the King’s coronation throne may not be far from right; shares the views of writer Africanus Owusu Ansah.

King Charles’s coronation had been beautiful, colourful, glamorous and hilarious- the euphoria in the land; the array of potentates from all over the world; the kingly ride from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, escorted by the horsemen were all remarkable. The Asantehene wearing the Traditional Kente with Lady Julia in Kaba (cover) and slit, in the style of the monks and nuns of South-East Asia was part of the entourage. It was tradition on display like the Swati (South African) or like Tibetan Dalai Lama (born as Tenzin Gyatso) or the Sulu of Fiji, otherwise known throughout the Pacific as Pareau, lava-lava or sarong.

An elaborate plan had been laid for the celebration of the Asante King’s birthday while in the U.K. Stevie Wonder’s song “Happy Birthday” was well – selected. You may recall when this Motown song hit the streets in 1981 – incredible how it was, and we thought we were the “tough guys” with our Afro haircuts, Afro shirts and Afro trousers with bass 30!

The song sang in the genre of Pop R and B (rhythm and blues) was originally sang to support the campaign for the birthday of Martin Luther King Jnr as a national holiday in the U.S., “… I just never understood how a man who died for good Could not have a day that would be set aside for his recognition …” And Amakye Dede’s “Iron (Young) Boy” put the icing on the cake. It was the majestic “twostep” dance and not a mixture of ‘pilolo’, ‘Kupe’ ‘Azonto,’ ‘Alkayida’ and certainly not ‘One Corner’. This time, Asantehene wore a suit, and President Akufo-Addo and the first Lady, Rebecca were present.

The Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah had issued a Press Release on the “Road closure to welcome His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II the Asantehene from the United Kingdom … His Majesty Otumfuo will parade some principal streets of Kumasi on his arrival through the following routes Airport àAirport Roundabout àSuame Roundabout àAbrepo Junction à Bantama à KATH Roundabout à Kejetia (where the statute of the Asantehene is situated) à Dr. Mensah àApagyafie, àManhyia. In this regard, the above – mentioned routes, which will be used by Otumfuo, the Asantehene, will be closed to the general

public from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm…”

There was a roar of welcome as soon as the “Vista Jet” landed at the Kumasi Airport at around 5:00pm. After the benign and epigrammatic traditional exchanges of welcome, “akyirebokoo”, “bone biaransii ha” (no ‘problems’ here), the motorcade started.The yellow, black and green coloured Rolls Royce first used by Otumfuo Osei Agyemang Prempeh II in 1935 was shining, as colourful in May 2023, as it was in 1935 during the durbar for the reunification of the Asante Confederacy in 1935.

If King Charles was escorted to Buckingham Palace by a parade of motor – cars, motor bikes and horses, Kumasi had a replica of same. It was an enthusiastic welcome of security detail, school-children, chiefs, the general public. Funerals, common in these parts, suffered impromptu cessation, but the mourners were delighted to be part of this history.

You could not fail to notice the sporadic involvement of people of all works of life, waving to the motorcade. Otumfuo Asantehene could have been overwhelmed. The enthusiasm in the display of loyalty by the Kumasi boys (especially the Zongo boys from Alabar, Aboabo,…) was historic. It was not easy for the security people to control and contain the boys in white T-shirts on motor-bikes. They may have broken protocol, yes, but the euphoria of the day carried everybody away like a whirlwind. The cavalry (they were not soldiers though) so we rather call them horsemen, or rather equerry or equestrian were there in their numbers.

Some people could be distinguished by their dressing: white kente cloths full flowing white robes, boubou, kparugu, kpalanga with headgears: turban, zugprisi or sobigarima and the footwear. John Keates says in Endymion “A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness …” Yes, it was a thing of beauty, simply put. It was a time for celebrating our common Asante-ness which includes the Zongos of Alabar, Aboabo, Asawasi, Tafo, Anlos of Anloga, the Nzemas of Agric Nzema, the Fantes of Fanti New Town, the Europeans and Asians…

And the one person who made all this possible was none other than the Asantehene, the peace-maker, who was dubbed King Solomon on ascending the Asante throne in April, 1999. 1 Kings3:7, Solomon asked God for wisdom: “And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: and thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people… Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people… and God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself… I have given thee a wise and understanding heart… I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour”

Whilst many were congratulating themselves and enjoying their fufuo, tuozafi, akple-ati, fetridekyi, kenkey, the Sudanese armed forces loyal to Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burham, the country’s de facto ruler was sweating it out with the Rapid Support Forces in a power struggle, destroying structures and displacing local inhabitants.

The Russian-Ukraine war was still raging, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviu, Odessa, Bakhmut, Kherson not spared. Are we just lucky? Do we count our blessings? “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, when you are discouraged thinking, all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done…”

IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES

By: James A. Kwaateng, B.A. (Hons), LLB (Hons)

Revisiting the Process and Rules for Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents

This topic is being revisited because of the confusion and frustration generated by the newly introduced process and rules regarding sponsorship of parents and grandparents. As indicated in the earlier article, it is permissible for a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada and a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act to sponsor his or her own parents and grandparents related by blood or adoption.

In a situation where the parent or grandparent is divorced or separated, one can include the spouse or common-law partner of the parent or grandparent as a dependent relative. In the application, sponsors can include their brothers and sisters or half brothers and sisters or step-brothers and step-sisters only if they qualify as dependent children of the principal applicant.

Like all forms of immigration sponsorships, apart from status in Canada, other conditions of eligibility exist. A sponsor must provide a proof of income to demonstrate capability to support the persons being sponsored. And among other things, the sponsor must not be in jail, prison or penitentiary; must not have defaulted in payment of immigration loan, a performance bond or court-ordered support payments; must not have defaulted in any sponsorship agreement; must not be an un-discharged bankrupt; must

not be receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability; must not have been convicted of a violent criminal offence or any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada; and must not be under a removal order.

The process of sponsoring parents and grandparents has changed. Under the current system, the first step to sponsor your parents or grandparents is to fill out an interest to sponsor form. This form is available at the beginning of the year for only a limited time after which submission of the form will be closed.

At the second stage, Immigration will invite potential sponsors to submit a complete application. It is at this time that you complete an application package, pay the necessary fees and submit the application. The complete application should get to Immigration

within 60 days of receiving the invitation.

The current minimum necessary income for sponsoring parents and grandparents is the existing Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) amount plus 30 percent of it. The period for demonstrating the minimum necessary income has extended from one year to three years. Thus, sponsors will be required to demonstrate that they meet the new income threshold for the three consecutive tax years prior to submitting the sponsorship application. This, as opposed to 12 months that used to be the case, will assure the Government that sponsors have income stability and the financial means to provide for the basic needs of the sponsored parents and grandparents. This assurance is further enhanced by the fact that under the new plan, evidence of income for eligibility purposes is confined to Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment.

The sponsorship undertaking period for parents and grandparents has been extended from 10 to 20 years. This means sponsors and co-signers (if applicable) will be responsible for repaying any supplementary health care costs or provincial social assistance benefits paid to the parent and grandparent and their accompanying family members within sponsorship validity period of 20 years, and not 10 years.

While the foregoing measures do not benefit the sponsor and the sponsored relative, it is presumed the lengthened sponsorship undertaking will protect Canadian taxpayers by compelling the sponsors to shoulder financial responsibilities associated with the care and upkeep of their sponsored aged parents and grandparents and their accompanying dependent children.

Notwithstanding the increasingly tough process and measures being adopted in respect of such applications, the Government still places a cap on acceptance of new applications for sponsorships of parents and grandparents. The newly-adopted tough measures however do not seem to have had the dissuasive effect the policy makers might have anticipated. Children and grandchildren still struggle to sponsor their parents and grandparents in large numbers.

Sponsorships of parents and grandparents are becoming increasingly complex due to the ongoing changes to the process, laws and regulations. Contact immigration law professionals for advice and assistance whenever you deem it necessary.

James A. Kwaateng, is an Immigration Law practitioner with offices located at 168A Oakdale Road, Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario. For thorough discussion of your immigration and related social and legal issues, contact him at telephone number (416) 743-2758 for an appointment.

We are Toronto’: FIFA unveils 2026 World Cup brand, emblem

FIFA has unveiled its overarching brand for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and as one of the 16 host cities, Toronto released its own marketing campaign that uses the tournament’s special emblem along with the slogan “We are Toronto.”

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with Toronto and Vancouver chosen as the two Canadian cities to host games. “The ‘beautiful game’ is coming to the beautiful city of Toronto,” the city said in a press release

“Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a proud host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026 along with 15 others in Canada, Mexico and the United States.”

FIFA’s official World Cup 2026 emblem, which each host city will

use for their respective marketing campaigns, shows the World Cup trophy in the centre, surrounded by a multi-coloured pattern that depicts the number 26.

“For the first time in history, an image of the actual trophy and the tournament hosting year is being depicted, forming an innovative design language that anchors the FIFA World Cup emblem for 2026 and beyond,” FIFA said in a release.

“The image of the trophy and the year allow for customisation to reflect the uniqueness of each host, while building an identifiable brand structure for years to come.”

Canada has never hosted a FIFA World Cup, and has only qualified for the tournament twice – 1986 and last year’s tournament in Qatar, where the men’s national teams scored their firstever tournament goal

The last time a World Cup game was played in North America was in 1994, when the U.S. hosted the tournament

for the first and only time.

As host nations, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada have automatic bids, though all three likely would have qualified anyway, as the 2026 tournament has been expanded to include 16 more teams, for a total of 48.

“With more countries, cities, teams and matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to be the most inclusive and diverse sporting event ever, uniting the entire world on a vast stage and engaging millions of fans across 16 stadiums and billions worldwide,” the City of Toronto says.

“The games and their legacy are expected to generate significant economic, cultural and community benefits for Toronto by creating thousands of jobs, welcoming visitors from across the globe and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in local gross domestic product.”

The increased number of teams also means an increase in the number of games being played prior to the

knockout stages, which could mean that more than five matches will be played at BMO Field

When Toronto was first selected as a host site, it was anticipated that it would get a maximum of five games, but FIFA’s decision to stick with fourteam groups in the opening stage added another 24 games to the slate.

FIFA has yet to confirm exactly where those games will be played.

The upcoming World Cup, set to take place in June and July of 2026, marks the first time that three countries – or an entire continent – have jointly hosted the games, and the tournament is set to bring in an unprecedented number of international visitors to Canada.

“While we celebrate here in LA together tonight,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, “an entire continent celebrates that the whole world will unite in North America for the greatest show on Earth in just three years’ time.” Cp24

New Liberal law would make it harder for some repeat violent offenders to get bail

The Liberals’ new bail-reform legislation includes new measures that would make it more difficult for some repeat violent offenders to get released on bail.

Justice Minister David Lametti introduced the bill Tuesday morning amid an ongoing plea from premiers, police associations and victims’ rights groups to strengthen the law.

He said the bill responds “directly” to their concerns.

The legislation introduces reverse-onus bail conditions for people charged with serious violent offences involving a weapon, in cases where the person was convicted of a similar violent offence within the past five years.

It will also add some firearms offences to existing reverse-onus provisions, and expand the provision of that measure in cases where the alleged crimes involve intimate partner violence.

While the burden of proof usually rests on prosecutors to convince judges why offenders should stay behind bars, this means that in some cases, the offender will now be the one who has to prove in court why they should be released on bail.

“You are innocent until proven guilty, and this is a critically important part of our legal system,” Lametti said during a news conference on Tuesday.

“But what we’re doing for certain violent offences is changing the default position and making sure that it is only in cases where there isn’t a threat to security.”

Lametti said he hopes the law will pass with unanimous consent from other political parties.

“This bill responds directly to concerns raised by the premiers, as well as police chiefs and victims’ advocates,” he said.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the announcement is about “keeping communities safe” and “zeroes in on offenders who use guns and other weapons.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during his own press conference that he would go a step further if he was prime minister and waive such offenders’ rights to a bail hearing in the first place.

Poilievre said he would bring in laws that would require repeat violent offenders who are newly arrested for violent crimes to remain behind bars throughout their trial - “jail, not bail.”

He went on to say that the proposed laws would not raise the bar to access bail and instead they create a series of lower bars and will continue to allow repeat violent offenders to be released on bail.

“A common sense Conservative government will reverse Trudeau’s catch and release,” he said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said bail reforms cannot be the only thing considered to keep communities safe, and called for better supervision of people who are released on bail.

“We also know that there are serious concerns around mental health and addictions that are also creating serious problems around safety, and that has to

be addressed as well,” he said.

The proposed changes to the Criminal Code come amid pressure from the provinces and territories to reduce the number of repeat violent offenders who are granted bail. Premiers had unanimously asked the government to expand the reverse-onus provisions.

In a statement, Ontario’s Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Attorney General Doug Downey said too many innocent people have lost their lives due to dangerous criminals not being behind bars.

“If passed, the federal government’s proposed legislation will bring meaningful and much-needed changes to Canada’s bail system,” the statement said.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said in a statement the changes were welcomed.

“We’ve been clear all along that federal action is needed to fix the core of this national issue. Given the challenges we’ve seen, I am glad the federal government has taken B.C.’s concerns seriously,” her statement said.

“While we’ll be looking closely at the details of the federal legislation, the amendments broadly cover the types of violence we are seeing in our communities.”

High-profile cases have recently brought attention to the issue, including the stabbing deaths of a woman and her daughter in Edmonton earlier this month.

The accused killer, whom police did not name but who has been identified in media reports, had reportedly been released on bail for a different crime less than three weeks earlier. The charge in that separate case was reportedly stayed a few days before the stabbings, and the man died in hospital last week.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees that anyone who is charged with a crime will not be denied reasonable bail without just cause.

Lametti promised after a meeting with provincial and territorial justice ministers in March that he would bring in targeted reforms, but they would respect that right.

The Canadian Press

Every Dollar Counts! CRA Family Tax Credits & Deductions, Ways and Means

By: Eddie Twumasi-Smith, (P.Eng, PMP, CPA, MBA )

Becoming a parent is an incredible experience and also very stressful that involves planning, research and at times training and mentorship to prepare for the different seasons and challenges that take place in the lives of parents and children.

The Canadian Government through the Canada Revenue Agency, (CRA) has provided a number of ways to support families with tax credits and tax deductions, either refundable or non-refundable which create new money for spending or investing for your dependents’ futures.

Some of these tax breaks or offers come with some income or affordability assessment tests to ensure the money or credits goes to where “credit” is due or who needs these most.

A few of these credits / benefits are:

Canada Child Benefit

CRA offers Canada Child Benefit, (CCB) which is a non-taxable benefit, for each eligible family to cover the cost of raising children under the age of 18. CCB is $6,997.0 per annum for kids below age 6 years, and $5,903.0 per annum for kids between age 6 years to 17 years. Children with disabilities will receive an additional amount for the Child Disability Benefit (CDB). The benefit is paid when you register the child after birth and will stop automatically when the child turns 18. You have to file your income tax return with your spouse/common-law partner to be able to receive CCB every year. For a single parent, the parent with custody is the one who receives the benefit. For shared custody, the benefit is either split in half or according to the custody agreement.

The CCB is refundable tax credit that is based on the adjusted family net income (AFNI), the number and age of eligible children. You must file a return to get the CCB.

Understanding Income Testing: there is a claw back limit when it comes to CCB, net income ceiling that limits your benefits. Once the adjusted family net income gets over $32,797.00 (ref www.canada.ca/revenue-agency). The CCB starts to decrease, at higher rate when AFNI is over $71,060.00 per annum.

The claw back cause high marginal tax rates. Claw back rates can be as high as 23.0% for low-income families. That results in marginal tax rates of 50.0% or more, as income rises. An important tax move therefore, is your RRSP contributions. Which reduces net income levels and cuts the impact of the claw back zones.

This makes it possible to create higher refundable tax credits in the next CCB benefit year, which runs from July of the current year to June the following year. Therefore, the tax deductions, through your RRSP contributions essentially reduce your marginal tax rates or brackets within which your taxable income is based upon.

Some of the other opportunities to reduce your marginal tax rate (MTR) are:

• Contributions to employer sponsored Registered Pension Plans, RRSP, Elected Split Pension Amounts (from eligible pensions)

• Union and Professional Dues

• Child Care Expenses

• Disability Support Deductions. Business Investment Losses. Moving Expenses, Spousal support payments, carrying charges and interest expenses, deductions for CPP contributions, exploration and development expenses, Clergy Residence deductions, certain legal fees, or social benefits repayments, EI and OAS benefits repayments.

• Families focused on reducing net income may also qualify to claim other refundable tax credits offered by the federal government. The GST/HST credits, WITB (Working Income Tax Benefits/Canada Workers Benefit).

Other Strategies to increase your tax refund with tax planning:

1. 0 Transferred and Pooled Credits

In some cases, tax credits may have no effect on a taxpayer’s return, such as when they are already in refund status. In the case of families, many of these credits — all or the surplus portion — may be transferable to another family member, provided that this individual is either the child’s parent, or your spouse/common-law partner (and you are the child’s parent), or was the individual claiming an amount for the eligible child. In a situation like this, the child care expenses most often must be claimed by the higher income partner.

If your spouse’s income is too low to claim any of the following credits to which they are entitled to; such as, age amount, pension income amount, disability amount, tuition amount, Canada caregiver amount for an infirmed child. You may transfer the portion they do not need to reduce taxes to your return at tax time.

The tuition tax credit can be claimed or carried forward by the student or may be transferred to the student’s parent, grandparent or spouse, or student’s spouse’s parent or grandparent.

2.0 Medical Expenses & Other Birth Related Expenses

All Canadian taxpayers can claim medical expenses that exceed the lesser of either the tax year’s threshold or 3 percent of your net income when

you claim the medical expenses for yourself, spouse/common-law partner, and children under 18. However, if you are claiming the medical expenses paid for other dependents, you can claim the amount that exceeds 3 percent of their net income. Medical expenses are nonrefundable tax credit, which means you can get a credit of 15 percent of the calculated amount against your taxes owed not resulting in a negative amount. You may include birth-related medical expenses that were not covered by your provincial health plan or your health insurance.

3.0 Eligible Dependent Amount

If you are a single parent, you may be able to claim the amount for an eligible dependent. Regardless of how many children you have, you can claim this amount for one child only. You can claim the full amount of the year of birth. If you have shared custody, only one parent can claim the amount. The amount is reduced by the child’s income from all sources such as CPP.

No time to waste in cutting plastic pollution, UN warns ahead of treaty talks

A roadmap for slashing the plastic pollution ravaging the world’s oceans and ecosystems was on Tuesday put forward by UN experts – who say the coming years will be instrumental in curbing millions of metric tonnes of waste and creating a circular economy.

“Reuse, recycle and replace” is the key message of a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report that says single-use plastic could be halved and plastic waste reduced by 80 percent by 2040 if governments make the necessary policy changes and market shifts.

Failure to act on plastic meanwhile could cause the world to overshoot the Paris Agreement target of limiting carbon emissions to 1.5C given that plastic accounts for considerable emissions.

The report’s publication comes two weeks before representatives from 200 countries convene in Paris for a second round of talks aimed at reaching a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution.

“We are calling for a transition from a model based on disposable products to a circular economy,” the report’s main author, Llorenç Milà i Canals, told RFI – adding that products that were once commonly reused – such as bottles being returned to shops – were now used just once.

“We need to return to this system that has been abandoned.”

Plastic drink bottles, in particular, are a major contributor to plastic pollution as are single-use nappies for babies, he said.

Three market shifts

Slashing plastic by 80 percent over the next 17 years means promoting reuse options, such as deposit-return and packaging-takeback schemes; making recycling more economic by limiting the number of polymers in a product so that it’s easier to recycle; and diversifying the materials used to make wrappers, sachets and takeaway containers.

“We have to fight the idea that plastic is a cheap material … When plastic pollutes ecosystems it has a cost,” says Milà i Canals.

“In the ocean it reduces fishing resources and the value of tourist areas. Plastic also endangers the health of animals in agriculture and lowers productivity.”

Some 238 million metric tonnes of waste from short-lived plastics was generated worldwide in 2020, with about half of that amount either dumped or burned.

The UNEP estimates that yearly waste will reach 408 million metric tonnes by 2040 if effective measures aren’t taken to stop the proliferation of plastic.

Systemic change to keep plastics out of ecosystems, however, could see that pollution figure cut to 41 million metric tonnes.

“The next three to five years present a critical window for action to set the world on the path towards implementing the systems change scenario by 2040,” the report warned. Modern Ghana

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Ontario water, air quality a concern: auditor general state of environment report

Deforestation, contaminated air, polluted water and the loss of wetlands are a growing concern, Ontario’s auditor general concluded in a “state of the environment report” released Tuesday.

Bonnie Lysyk also said Ontario’s environment has improved in many areas over the last several decades.

Yet she found the Doug Ford government is not providing clear and transparent information on how its policy decisions are affecting the environment.

“While the province has the primary responsibility to conserve the environment, all Ontarians should have the means to understand whether this is being achieved in an effective, timely, open, and fair manner,” she said.

“Unless the environmental outcomes of provincial decisions and programs are effectively measured, monitored, and publicly reported, there will be limited transparency, accountability, and understanding of their impacts.”

Lysyk authored the report along with the province’s Commissioner of the Environment, Tyler Schulz.

Lysyk said they performed the analysis because the province does not consolidate information to provide an “easily accessible holistic picture of Ontario’s environment.”

The pair took a long view, going back decades and found “many ways” in which the environment has improved during that time.

For example, Ontario’s air quality has “improved dramatically” over the past few decades primarily due to improved pollution control equipment for cars and industry and the phase-out of coal-fired electricity between 2005 and 2014.

But they also flagged numerous concerns.

Ground-level ozone, which can trigger asthma and other breathing issues, has increased by 23 per cent between 1990 and 2019, the report said. Air pollution still causes an estimated 6,580 premature deaths across the province and more than 4,000 hospital admissions and visits per year.

A warming climate from increased global greenhouse gas emissions has affected the province in several different ways, the report found.

“The long-term trend shows a clear gradual increase in Ontario surface air temperature,” Shulz said.

“The number of weather related disasters such as severe rain or ice storms has grown over the past 100 years from almost one per year in the early 1900s to an annual average of about three since the year 2000.”

Ice cover on the Great Lakes is 26 per cent lower than it was 50 years ago, the report found.

“And Ontario’s growing season has lengthened by

about 13 days from 1950 to 2018,” Shulz said.

There are increased algae blooms in Lake Erie and rising levels of microplastics in Lake Ontario.

Dissolved oxygen levels, important for aquatic organisms such as fish, are improving in Lake Simcoe, but do not meet the environment minister’s targets.

The report said 60 per cent of monitored rivers and streams rate “poor” to “very poor” for biological health.

Ontario’s current landfill capacity will fill up in 13 years, the report notes. Population growth, increased levels of consumption and the rise of single-use items have contributed to the problem.

The province had 35 million hectares of wetlands remaining as of 2011, the report noted.

In 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry set targets to stop the loss of wetlands by 2025 and achieve a net gain by 2030.

“However, the ministry has not tracked the status of progress in meeting these targets,” the report said. “The Ministry informed our office in August 2021 that the targets are no longer in effect.”

The report also found the number of hectares lost to deforestation every year is nearly four times greater than the number of hectares of newly established forests.

The province has also not met its biodiversity target, which was set in 2011 to conserve 17 per cent of land and water systems by 2020. As of last year, about 11 per cent of Ontario’s land and water area was being conserved through about 1,400 protected and conserved areas, the report said.

Environment Minister David Piccini defended the government’s action.

“I’m proud of our government’s track record when it comes to protected areas,” he said, saying they’ve protected more than 160,000 hectares of land.

He said they’ve also expanded the wetlands across the province.

“What concerns me is how do we remain a competitive climate in which we take meaningful action on the environment and attract jobs,” Piccini said, “and Premier Ford is doing just that.”

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said he’s worried about the loss of wetlands and forests and not protecting swaths of land as previously promised.

“When you’re seeing an increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather events, we need to be expanding wetlands and expanding protected areas instead of losing them,” he said.

The Canadian Press.

Health Canada issue public advisory for abortion, morning after pills sold on ‘Dr. Pooja’ websites

Health Canada put out an advisory on Tuesday warning against purchasing unauthorized prescription drugs from the website “Dr. Pooja”, which sells pills labelled to contain mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly used as the “morning after” pill.

The agency says Canadians should not buy or use any unauthorized health products from “Dr. Pooja” websites, as the drugs could be ineffective, expired, mislabeled, subject to recalls, or counterfeit versions of authorized products.

Health Canada assesses health products for safety, efficacy, and quality before approval. Unauthorized products, such as the ones on this website, have not gone through this necessary process and are therefore illegal.

To add to the concern, unauthorized drugs could have no active ingredients, the wrong ingredients, or dangerous additives, making them unsafe. The morning after pill is used as a form of emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy in situations of unprotected sex or suspected contraception failure.

Levonorgestrel, a non-prescription drug used commonly in these emergency instances, is also sold on the website in unauthorized over-thecounter drugs.

Prescription drugs should only be purchased from licensed pharmacies, and those who have purchased unauthorized products containing mifepristone and misoprostol should seek immediate medical attention for assessment, Health Canada says.

Health Canada says it has also directed the “Dr. Pooja” websites to stop selling these unauthorized and potentially dangerous drugs and is working to have the two currently active “Dr. Pooja” websites taken down, which lists their products as available for purchase through WhatsApp.

CTVNews.ca was unable to reach the Dr. Pooja clinics for comment through the phone number with a Montreal area code listed on one of the websites, nor through the WhatsApp number. Emails sent to the addresses listed on the websites were unanswered. CTV News

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Supreme Court declares Gyakye Quayson’s election null and void

The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision declared the election of James Gyakye Quayson as Member of Parliament for Assin North as null, void and unconstitutional.

The panel of seven presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, said the election of James Quayson when he owed allegiance to a country other than Ghana is “inconsistent with and violates Article 94(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic o Ghana 1992.”

The court orders Parliament to expunge his name as MP from the records of Parliament.

Justice Jones Victor Dotse, Justice Nene Amegatcher, Justice Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Justice Yonny Kulendi and Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu declared that Mr Quayson was not qualified at the time he contested the election 2020.

According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, all relief sought by the plaintiff were granted and the full reasons of the panel would be ready on June 7.

Background

The application under consideration is anchored on a writ which the Applicant caused to be issued on the

Gyakye Quayson represented the people of Assin North in parliament

Embattled Member of Parliament for Assin North has spoken hours after a Supreme Court order that directed for his name to be expunged from the records as MP.

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, ordered Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson as a Member of Parliament.

In the ruling, the apex court barred Mr. Quayson from holding himself as a Member of Parliament for Assin North.

The ruling further noted that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time he contested the election in 2020.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP has since reacted, expressing disappointment in the court’s decision.

According to him, he renounced his Canadian citizenship, the moment he filed for a renunciation of same in December 2019 because per Canadian laws, allows for the disavowal of allegiance anytime once one’s renunciation is filed.

He also noted that once he applied for renunciation, he left Canada and therefore lost all rights of Canadian citizenship even before he picked up his renunciation certificate from the Canadian Embassy in November 2020.’

He however expressed appreciation to the people of Assin North for giving him the opportunity to serve and for the support showed him since hearing of his case began.

He also said he has turned the page on the matter to the court of conscience. Read his full statement here:

I Remain Committed To The Development Of Assin North Constituency and Her People

This morning, the Supreme Court by a unanimous decision, ordered the Parliament of Ghana to expunge my name from its records as a Member of Parliament. The Court ruled that the Electoral Commission acted unconstitutionally in allowing me to contest the 2020 Parliamentary Elections without proof that I had denounced my Canadian citizenship at the time I filed my nomination in October, 2020 to contest the parliamentary elections in the Assin-North constituency.

In fact, the EC inspected my renunciation certificate in November 2020, prior to allowing me to contest the elections. Thus, I was duly qualified to run, according to the EC’s regulations, which the law presumes to be regular. Yet, the Court holds that I should have offered this proof to the EC at the time of filing for my nomination and then applies the holding retrospectively to disqualify me.

It is a matter of public record that I filed for the renunciation of my Canadian citizenship in December, 2019. It is also a matter of record that I left Canada in February, 2020. It is also a matter of record that as soon as I applied for

24th of January, 2022, invoking the original jurisdiction of this Court for the following reliefs:

1. “A Declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana at the time of filing his nomination form between 5 – 9th October 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections for the Assin North Constituency the Ist defendant was not qualified as a member of Parliament.

2. A Declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2) (a) of the Constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana the decision of the 2nd Defendant to permit the 1st Defendant to contest Parliamentary Elections in the Assin North Constituency when the 3rd Defendant owed allegiance to a country other than Ghana is inconsistent with and violates

Article 94(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic o Ghana 1992.

3. A Declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2) (a) of Defendant as Member of Parliament for the Assin North Constituency was unconstitutional.

4. A Declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2) (a) of the constitution, 1992 of the Republic of Ghana the swearing in of 1st Defendant as Member of Parliament for the Assin North Constituency was unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect.

5. Any further Orders and / or Directions as the Court may deem fit to give effect or enable effect to be given to the Orders of the court.

Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/ Murtala Inusah

renunciation of my Canadian citizenship and left Canada, I lost all the rights of Canadian citizenship. It is also a matter of record that I picked up my renunciation certificate from the Canadian Embassy in Accra in November, 2020.

It is also a matter of public record that Canadian law does not say I owe allegiance to Canada, even after filing for renunciation. In fact, Canadian law is unequivocal that disavowal of allegiance is subjective and can be done at any time, including immediately after swearing the oath of citizenship. Thus, under Canadian law, I owed no allegiance to Canada at all material times.

I am, of course, disappointed by the Court’s decision. I am especially surprised that the Court now says that foreign bureaucrats now determine whether natural born Ghanaians have the right to contest for parliamentary elections in Ghana or not. Thus, a country that does not allow renunciation of its citizenship can bar a natural born Ghanaian, who has severed all relations with a country of acquired citizenship, from ever standing for MP.

Nevertheless, I have turned the page on litigating this matter in the courts of justice. I leave the matter to the court of conscience, which Ghandi reminds us, supersedes all other courts.

Helping to develop my constituency has always been, and remains, my priority. I assure my constituents that nothing has changed, and I will work even harder than before to win their support and to attain these goals.

I thank the good people of Assin-North, the leadership of the NDC, my attorneys, and the numerous Ghanaians, from all sides of the political divide, who have supported me during these turbulent times. Together, we must ensure that we build a progressive and inclusive society that does not treat any of our citizens as second-class citizens.

May God bless our homeland Ghana, and bless my beloved Assin North Constituency and her people.

Thank you.

signed James Gyakye Quayson [Assin North Constituency]

Gyakye Quayson’s final words after court ruling nullifies his parliamentary position

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Toronto mayor’s race draws more than 100 candidates

cont’d from pg. 1

with a number of employees that has the experience,” said Ford. “We need someone in Toronto that knows all of Toronto, not a little ward that they’ve been representing, but all of Toronto.”

Leading candidates are campaigning on fixing Toronto’s transit system, addressing a cost of living crisis in the city and overhauling controversial infrastructure, like the Gardiner expressway. But the record number of entrants has also lured in a cast of long-shot hopefuls.

Early voting begins 8 June until 13 June, with election day 26 June.

Six Top Candidates for now and what they’ll need to win

Mark Saunders

Former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders says he will run to be the city’s next mayor, joining a crowded contest that now includes current and former councillors.

According to Saunders, who unexpectedly stepped down as police chief in 2020, “every corner of Toronto is feeling the unease” from a spate of recent violence. He said that during his nearly four decades as a police officer, he “never experienced this level of fear creep across the city.”

Saunders said his priority would be “restoring” a sense of community safety.

“The citizens of Toronto need to be safe and feel safe, in every neighbourhood,” Saunders said. “I don’t want to see anymore lockdowns of elementary schools. Not another story of a woman getting attacked on a streetcar. No more gangs shooting up townhouses where children are sleeping. Enough.”

Saunders said the city needs to offer better services for those struggling with their mental health and homelessness.

He added that Toronto is at a “pivotal moment” and that his leadership experience in policing would uniquely position him to

Josh Matlow

Coun. Josh Matlow is currently serving his fourth term at city hall. Four-term Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow said he will join the crowded race to be the city’s next mayor, with his first priority being a new “City Works Fund” paid for with a dedicated property tax.

“I know and believe in the promise Toronto holds for so many. But for far too long, our political leadership at City Hall has held this city back from reaching its full potential,” Matlow said in an open letter announcing his candidacy.

Matlow went on to say that the city has seen a noticeable decline in key services like snow-clearing and public transit, and that skyrocketing rents and high house prices are driving young families and newcomers away.

Matlow said his new fund would cost the “average homeowner” about $67 per year and generate some $390 million over five years to improve city services. The proposal comes as the city faces a nearly $1.5-billion budget shortfall coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic — one a new report, heading to the city’s executive committee suggests could worsen in the years

Ana Bailão

Former city councillor Ana Bailão a 3 term as the councillor for Davenport said she will run for mayor in Toronto’s upcoming June byelection.

“I’m running with a plan to fix our city’s services, build housing, and make life more affordable,” she said in a tweet announcing her candidacy.

Bailão was a councillor for 12 years from 2010 to 2022, representing Ward 9 Davenport and its previous configuration Ward 18 Davenport during that time. In her last municipal election in 2018 she won in a landslide, capturing nearly 84 per cent of the vote share.

For the last five years of her tenure at city hall she also served as one of four deputy mayors — the only woman in that group.

Bailão said one of her top priorities would be securing what she calls a “fair deal” for Toronto when it comes to funding from the provincial and federal governments.

Key to this concept, she siad, would be transferring financial responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the province. Those costs were downloaded to Toronto taxpayers in the 1990s, and Bailão said the city needs that money for investments in basic services like the TTC.

She said it would be fair given that drivers from across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) use those highways each day, but only Toronto residents pay for them.

Her decision to run comes after conversations with voters across the city who told her that life has become unaffordable while services deteriorate across the board, she added.

Mitzie Hunter

Scarborough–Guildwood MPP Mitzie Hunter served as education minister in the government of former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne.

Four-term Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter resigned her seat at Queen’s Park and run to be Toronto’s next mayor.

“This election is a turning point for Toronto. We have the choice to either rise to the next level or go off a cliff. I will be the champion that Toronto needs so we can rise to the next level,” Hunter said in a statement. Her campaign will focus on safety on public transit, building more housing and addressing homelessness in the city. cont’d on pg 29

Asante King asks British Museum to return gold to Ghana

Asante King’s bracelet with gold ornaments and glass beads was taken by the British in the 19th Century, and is at the British Museum

The ruler of Ghana’s Asante people has asked the British Museum to return gold items in its collection to his country.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, recently met the museum’s director Dr Hartwig Fischer for discussions.

The museum’s collection includes works taken from the Asante palace in Kumasi during the war with the British of 1874.

The British Museum told the BBC it is “exploring the possibility of lending items” to Ghana.

The Ghanaian ruler met Dr Fischer last week, after attending the Coronation of King Charles.

The British Museum has been under increasing pressure in recent years to return items in its collection to their countries of origin.

The demands by Greece for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, often still known as the Elgin Marbles, are the most highprofile example in this contested debate.

They were removed by the diplomat and soldier Lord Elgin in the 19th Century and later bought by the British government and placed in the British Museum.

The Parthenon Sculptures were removed from Greece and put on display in London’s British Museum in the 19th Century

Restitution issues more commonly apply to countries which experienced colonial conflict.

Ethiopia wants the British Museum to return ceremonial crosses, weapons, jewellery, sacred altar tablets and other items taken from Maqdala in the north of the country during British military action in 1868.

The Nigerian government has also formally asked the museum to return 900 Benin Bronzes.

These beautiful bronze and brass sculptures were created by specialist guilds working for the royal court of the Oba, or King, in Benin City from the 16th Century onwards. Many were forcibly removed when the British captured the city in 1897.

Benin Bronzes were taken from the ancient city in Nigeria by the British army Ghana’s government has set up a Restitution Committee to look at the return of items taken from the Asante Palace which are now in collections around the world.

Nana Oforiatta Ayim, who sits on that committee, told the BBC: “These objects are largely sacred ones and their return is about more than just restitution. It is also about reparation and repair, for the places they were taken from, but also those who did the taking.”

She added that they are looking for a new relationship “not based on exploitation or oppression, but on equity and mutual respect”.

Last Thursday’s discussions at the British Museum are the first ever meeting between the Asantehene and the museum’s director Dr Fischer. According to the British Museum, the Asantehene requested a loan of items of regalia belonging to his forbears.

The Asantehene visited London last week and met with King Charles before his coronation

In the 19th Century, the Asante state was one of few African states that offered serious resistance to European colonisers.

Its independence ended in 1874 when a British expeditionary force marched into Kumasi in retaliation for an Asante attack two years earlier.

A spokeswoman for the British Museum told the BBC: “Our director and deputy director were pleased to welcome His Royal Majesty Osei Tutu II (the Asantehene) to the museum during his visit to the UK for the Coronation of King Charles III.”

She added that the British Museum “is exploring the possibility of lending items from the collection to mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the third Anglo-Asante war, as well as to support celebrations for the Asantehene’s Silver Jubilee next year”. For some Ghanaians however, loans can never be a long term solution.

Oforiatta Ayim, who is also a special adviser to Ghana’s Culture Minister, said: “Loans can be a first step in that they can open up dialogue in the kind of institutions and structures that are slow to change.

“At the end of the day, objects like the ones taken in 1874

were taken under horrifically violent circumstances… There needs to be honesty, accountability and action”. This Asante gold neck torc was taken by the British in the 19th Century, and is at the British Museum She added that the objects’ homes are “undeniably the places they were taken from” although could then be lent back to British institutions in future.

London’s Horniman Museum returned 72 items in its collection to Nigerian ownership last year.

At the time, Nick Merriman, the Horniman Museum director, told the BBC there was a “moral argument” to return them. He said: “We’re seeing a tipping point around not just restitution and repatriation, but museums acknowledging their colonial history”.

But some of the UK’s most renowned institutions, including the British Museum, are prevented by law from making a decision of this kind. The British Museum Act of 1963 bans the museum from the “disposal of objects” except in very specific circumstances.

It is however free to loan items, if it believes the items won’t be damaged. BBC

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (pictured centre), recently met the British Museum’s director

King Charles III (center) with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Wife Lady Julia President Nana Akufo Addo (2nd right) and wife Lady Rebecca (left) with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and wife Lady Julia

King

King Charles III and Queen Camilla crowned in historic Coronation

Charles and Queen Camilla have been crowned on a historic day of pageantry, capped by cheering from crowds in front of Buckingham Palace.

Thousands packed the Mall despite the rain, after a deeply religious Coronation service at Westminster Abbey and a huge procession through London.

The King and Queen waved from the Palace balcony as the RAF Red Arrows painted the sky red, white and blue.

But the BBC understands Prince Harry was not invited to join them.

The Duke of Sussex had been at the ceremony in the abbey earlier, sitting two rows back from his brother Prince William - the first time they had been seen together since Harry’s sensational memoir, Spare, was released. He left for the US straight afterwards.

The King’s day began shortly after 10:00 BST, with the procession to Westminster Abbey in the horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach, past cheering crowds and an honour guard of 1,000 members of the armed forces.

The King leaves Westminster Abbey wearing the Imperial State Crown and carrying the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre

Faith leaders and commonwealth leaders began the processions, with the King and Queen following behind.

The two-hour ceremony - the first to crown a monarch in 70 years - was

watched on TV around the world, as well as some 2,300 people inside the abbey.

After the crown was placed on Charles’s head cries of “God Save the King” were heard inside and outside, and gun salutes were made across the UK.

Celebrity guests were among those inside Westminster Abbey - including actress Emma Thompson and US singer Katy Perry.

US First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan arrived in a three-car motorcade, although President Biden did not travel to the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska were also in the abbey, as were Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leaders of the Commonwealth countries.

In all, 90 heads of state attended, the Foreign Office said.

“I come not to be served, but to serve,” the King said in his first prayer after reaching the abbey.

Charles was proclaimed as the “undoubted King” in the first stage of the ceremony. The congregation was then asked to show their homage and service, shouting “God Save the King”.

Yet among the music and oaths, there were moments of complete silence as each stage of the ancient ceremony finished.

Traditions rarely seen elsewhere in modern life were maintained - such as the inclusion of the orb and sceptre and the carrying of the gilded Sword of State.

In one part of the service, the King was screened from public for the

anointing - seen as the most sacred part of proceedings.

This was where the King was anointed with holy oils by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The need for privacy, the Palace said, was because it “has historically been regarded as a moment between the Sovereign and God”.

While waiting for the anointed King to reappear, choristers sang Handel’s Zadok the Priest - performed at every

cont’d on pg. 29

King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Prince William with Princess Kate and children

King Charless III

The King and Queen waved at wellwishers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace

The King leaves Westminster Abbey wearing the Imperial State Crown and carrying the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre

Story by BBC

Nigerian Delegates Attend Canadian Municipal Government Program in Toronto

TORONTO – Last week, forty-two municipal officials from across Nigeria were in Toronto attending an informational course highlighting the municipal taxation system in Canada.

The program, a joint venture between Canadian firms GTA Strategies and OZ Consulting, was created to act as an introduction to how municipalities in Canada collect and distribute tax funds to maintain infrastructure. The three-day course included seminars and roundtable discussions covering a variety of subjects, including the organization of city governance, emergency services, public transportation, property assessment and tax levies, and the city’s capital budget.

“This is the third time we’ve run this

program, with over a hundred attendees, and I honestly think it’s getting better each time”, commented Hon. Jim Karygiannis, former Toronto city councillor and principal of GTA Strategies. “Within just a few days, we are able to give these delegates an in-depth look at how our revenue system works.” OZ Consulting president Abi Goodman added, “we have had nothing but positive feedback from the delegates who

have attended – they really appreciate the amount of information we provide.”

The conference was also attended by more than a dozen delegates’ spouses, who attended

a seminar on the topics of empowerment and furthering women’s rights and involvement in local government.

In addition to the training sessions, attendees visited

Toronto City Hall and the 311 Operations Centre, toured the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus and the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades, and visited historic Niagara Falls.

Source: GTA Strategies

Ghanaians no longer fancy promises; it’s better to ‘show working’ - Political expert tells Mahama

Political Communications Lecturer at UniMAC-GIJ, Dr. Paul Ezuah has advised former President John Dramani Mahama to be mindful of the many promises he is making to Ghanaians.

On Monday, May 15, the flagbearer elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) delivered his acceptance speech at the University of Development Studies in Tamale.

During his address, John Dramani Mahama made a lot of promises including fighting corruption, reducing the number of Ministers to 60, and cancelling the payment of ex-gratia among other things.

Speaking to Starr FM in a discussion on the address, Dr. Paul Ezuah admonished ex-president Mahama to hasten slowly with the promises.

He argued that what Ghanaians want to see from leaders is for them to put in the work and actually deliver.

“Looking at how he spoke about the whole thing, it is good. But let us be mindful that we are in Ghana where we have in the past had promises being made everywhere and very little is fulfilled. So for me, I will advise that he’ll hasten slowly as far as promises are concerned because we have the benefit of hindsight and we also know what has happened before even in the NDC and NPP,” Dr. Paul Ezuah said.

The Political Communications Lecturer continued, “The electorate in Ghana do not really fancy promises, they want the work to be done for them to see that the right thing is being done. So, on one hand I will say that it’s good but he should tone down a bit on the promises because if he doesn’t fulfill it, it will be counterproductive as far as the 2024 election is concerned.”

Having been elected flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama will lead the NDC into the 2024 general elections.

He is confident that he will secure a resounding victory for the largest opposition party. Modern Ghana

Delegation Visiting Carpenters Union

Delegation Visiting Queen's Park

Delegation at Toronto City Hall

King Charles and Queen Camilla crowned in historic Coronation

cont’d fro m pg. 27

coronation since 1727.

Screens were held up by soldiers while the King was anointed with holy oil Prince William also made a pledge of loyalty to King Charles, and kissed him on the cheek, before members of the congregation were invited to offer their own support.

Returning to the Palace, it was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry as the newly crowned King and Queen travelled up The Mall in the Gold State Coach flanked by thousands of servicemen and women.

In total, 4,000 armed forces personnel and 19 military bands took partmaking it the biggest state occasion since the coronation of the late Queen in 1953.

Despite the very English weatherconstant rain - there was a celebratory atmosphere on The Mall, with periodic Mexican waves and police officers being cheered.

Among the thousands of spectators, many of whom camped overnight for the best viewing spot, was Alexandra Hornyak, 57, from Montreal, Canada.

“I’ve known for years that I would want to attend this day, and the day that it was announced, I was driving to the office, and my husband just called me and said ‘May 6’,” she told the BBC.

“I knew exactly what it was. And I jumped on the phone to get a hotel reservation and we went from there.” Hours later, the Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted a video of the family’s day, writing: “What. A. Day. Thank you to everyone who made it happen.”

While the vast majority of the assembled crowd came out to cheer the King, there was also a sizeable protest from Republic, the group campaigning to abolish the monarchy and replace it with an elected head of state, and others.

Six Top Candidates for now and what they’ll need to win

cont’d from pg. 24

Mitzie Hunter

In total, the Metropolitan Police said it arrested 52 people for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the Coronation.

Acknowledging concerns about the arrests, Commander Karen Findlay defended Scotland Yard’s actions, saying: “Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation.”

Anti-monarchy groups had defended their right to protest, but the police warned that “tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low”.

“The reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly alarming”, said Human Rights Watch UK director Yasmine Ahmed.

The Metropolitan Police had 11,500 officers on duty in what it said would be its biggest ever single-day deployment.

The Coronation did not formally change the King’s status. Charles became King of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms in September, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne.

Since then, months of intense planning went into the celebrations - the 40th coronation to take place at Westminster Abbey since 1066.

This time, the ceremony emphasised diversity and inclusion, with more multi-faith elements than any previous coronation, with contributions from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh representatives.

A Bible lesson was read by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is Hindu, and music was sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish.

, The Duke of Sussex was not invited to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony, the BBC understands BBC

Hunter also promised she would not use the controversial ‘strong mayor’ powers bestowed by the province late last year, that were then bolstered following a request from former Mayor John Tory. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said the powers will remain in place no matter who is elected mayor in the upcoming June 26 vote..

She was one of only seven Ontario Liberals to win re-election in 2018, when the party lost 48 of its previously-held 55 seats at Queen’s Park. Four years later, she was among the eight Liberal MPPs to win a seat when Ford’s Progressive Conservatives expanded their majority..

“I am determined to be a champion for all of Toronto and ensure that the city is moving in the right direction. It’s time to get Toronto moving forward and to make it a city that works for everyone,” she said.

Olivia Chow

Former councillor and three-term NDP member of Parliament Olivia Chow is running for mayor of Toronto, saying her experience in Ottawa would help her secure money for the city from the federal government.

Ms. Chow was a city councillor from 1991 through 2005. Although members of Toronto council do not run under party banners, she was known to lean reliably left. She ran federally in the 2006 election, as a New Democrat, and represented the downtown Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina until 2014.

“We urgently need to build a city that cares, we have to make a city that is more affordable,” she told media at her campaign launch announcement. “It is still a great city, this wonderful Toronto, but it needs to be a great city for everyone.”

She gave a nod to public concerns about safety, citing the words of Andrea Magalhaes, whose teenage son was killed in a subway station and who urged greater social supports. And she referenced her own difficult time after the death of her husband, long-time NDP leader Jack Layton, whom she did not name, describing the “darkness closing in” after his death.

Ms. Chow offered few specifics of the policies on which she’ll run, promising detailed platform information during the campaign. She deflected a question about whether her plans to improve Toronto would require higher taxes. However, she indicated her opposition to a private spa at Ontario Place, as the province is planning. She suggested plans for the Gardiner East elevated expressway could be adjusted to allow for more housing. And she pledged not to use the strong-mayor powers requested by Mr. Tory to override the majority will of council.

She also promised to pursue a better fiscal arrangement with Ottawa. Toronto has struggled financially throughout the pandemic and is facing a combined $1.4-billion shortfall for 2022 and 2023, a gap it hopes to close through bailouts from Queen’s Park and Ottawa.

“Toronto is a financial centre,” Ms. Chow said. “We are a proud city. We don’t want to go through the annual ritual, humiliating ourselves, begging for crumbs from other levels of government. We surely can do better.”

Brad Bradford

The city councillor vows to be a ‘strong mayor of action’ who would get city council to focus on priorities and not dither or delay.

Vowing to be a “strong mayor of action” if elected, Coun. Brad Bradford is confirming his candidacy in the June 26 byelection to replace John Tory

The 36-year-old avid cyclist and former city planner “City council is constantly consumed in talk, debate, delay on deferral on issues that are really important to residents, so I’m running to be a strong mayor of action and really here to deliver results for people across the city,” Bradford said.

He said his campaign will focus heavily on community safety, especially on the TTC following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes at Keele subway station.

“You line up on any platform, you see people’s backs pressed up against the wall,” said the Beaches—East York representative.

“We talk about ridership needing to return to the city, to return to transit,” after the pandemic. “People are not going to do that if, first and foremost, they’re not safe.”

The chair of the planning and housing committee, who was a strong ally of Tory until his resignation as mayor last month, also plans to focus on housing affordability and reversing a visible “decline” in city facilities including parks and recreation centres.

DIVORCE CUSTODY CAS MATTERS ACCESS CHILD SUPPORT SEPARATION

AGREEMENTS DIVISION OF ASSETS

21 Years of Experience in Family Law

Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, York Region Family Law Association, Duty Counsel for 47 Sheppard Avenue Court, Experience in Dealing with Domestic Violence Cases, Former Lawyer for Men’s Divorce Centre, Member of Legal Aid Appeals Committee

Telephone: 416-385-8104 Fax: 416-385-1047

150 Consumers Rd., Suite 201Toronto, Ontario M2J 1P9

JAK LEGAL CONSULTANCY

Professionals specialized in the following areas of practice:

Immigration Law Other Practice Areas

* Family Class Sponsorships

* Sponsorship appeals

* Refugee Claims

* Humanitarian Applications

Law Society launches new resource to support licensing candidates and supervisors

* Uncontested Divorce

* Small Claims Court Matters

* Landlord and Tenant Matters

* Power of Attorney

* Invitation Letters * Agreements and Wills

* Visa extensions

* Work and Study Permits

* Bankruptcy Consultation

James A. Kwaateng, B.A. (Hons); LLB (Hons); CCIC Legal consultant; Commissioner of Oaths Tel. (416) 743-2758 Fax: (416) 743-7027

168A Oakdale Rd., Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario, M3N 2S5.

Osei Owusu

Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public

LAW OFFICE OF OSEI OWUSU

REAL ESTATE LAW

Buying a home may be the most important investment in your life. We ensure that it is done properly

* Buying and selling your home

* Transfers of property

* Placing Mortgages, Refinancing

FAMILY LAW

Divorce

Custody, Access and Support

Separation

Children Aid Cases

CRIMINAL LAW

Adult Criminal Code offences

Youth Criminal Justice Act (Young Offenders)

IMMIGRATION

Sponsorships

Sponsorship Appeals

Humanitarian and Compassionate Cases

Also: Wills, Powers of Attorney, Foreign Divorce Opinions, Affidavits and Declarations, Certifying and Notarising documents

1315 Finch Avenue West, Suite 318, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 2G6 (Keele/Finch) Tel: 416-614-1001 Fax: 416-614-6161

BANSAH & ASSOCIATES

Immigration Counsel

Areas of Specialization:

♦Immigration Hearings

♦Foreign Sponsorship & Appeals

♦Applications from inside Canada

♦Humanitarian & Compassionate Cases

♦Detention Reviews & Deportation Order Cases

♦Visa Extensions

♦Federal Skilled Worker Applications

♦Family Class Sponsorships

Contact: Edward Bansah B.A (Hons), CCIC, FCMI Cert. Mig. & Ref Studies

Tel: 416-785-0522 Fax: 416-782-8563

1111 Albion Road, Unit 207, Toronto, ON, M9V 1A9

The Law Society has launched the Guide to Experiential Training a new series of online learning modules, videos and resources to help experiential training candidates (such as articling students) acclimate to legal practice and prepare supervisors and principals to orient their candidates using effective practice management techniques.

The Guide has differentiated streams for candidates and supervisors. The candidate stream covers a variety of subjects and topics to address the challenges most frequently reported by candidates during experiential training such as: what to expect during experiential training, receiving regular feedback in the workplace, and maintaining work-life balance.

The Guide’s supervisor stream will help supervisors and principals understand their obligations, incorporate best practices for managing and coaching, provide tools to assist with challenging conversations and much more. The supervisor Guide modules qualify for professionalism and EDI Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Hours as well as the LAWPRO CPD credit.

There are four stages which are broken down into short (two- to seven-minute) modules. The staged approach allows users to access the various modules as needed. There’s no set order. The Guide also includes links to other helpful resources.

The Guide is the newest resource that the Law Society has available for experiential training candidates and supervisors. The full complement of resources includes programs such as the Coach and Advisor Network (CAN), Practice Management Helpline (PMH), Member Assistance Program (MAP), and the Continuing Professional Development Bridge to Practice Modules

The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario, and to act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

SOURCE The Law Society of Ontario

zzwiebel@zwiebelandassociates.ca

For your Reliable Export Services - Shipping Services to Ghana, Nigeria, Clearing & Delivery Services in Ghana

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Tel: 416-736-1905

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Fax: 416-736-9973

1111 Finch Ave. W., Unit 31, North York

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52 Carrier Drive, #8 (Hwy 27 & Carrier) E-mail: sekoshipping@gmail.com

The Annual Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Awards a celebration of Excellence Honoring our Community Achievers

Hosted by The Ghanaian News Corporation

Call for 2023 Award Nominations Awards Criteria 2023

This year’s (2023) presentation recognizes achievements in the following areas:

1. Community Service: Persons who have consistently volunteered their time for a minimum of two years to a project or cause in our community or the larger Canadian society which has contributed to the quality of life of our community and/or Canadian society.

2. Professional Excellence: A continuous display of professional competence and excellence, devoid of any ethical violations in a person’s professional field of practice which can serve as a model for other professionals in our community.

3. Academic Excellence: Top class performance in academic pursuits at various levels of the educational ladder from High Schools, Colleges (CEGEP in Quebec), University or vocational/Professional training.

4. Cultural Promotion: An Individual, group or organization which has worked consistently to promote Ghanaian culture for visible recognition in Canadian society.

5. Music and Entertainment Film / Video Production: Individual or group artistes living in Canada who have consistently excelled and promoted Ghanaian music, Arts or other entertainment activities to international recognition levels over the past five years .

6. Sports: A consistent performance and achievement in the sports sector which has won nation-wide recognition and thus brought honour to our community.

7. Community Business: Individuals or groups whose pioneering efforts in the business sector have spurred on and motivated other community members to venture into the business field.

9. Volunteerism

10. Religion: Church groups or Religious organizations that have promoted religious and moral values in our community over the past five years

11. Media: Any individual or group of community media persons who have excelled in their field and thus brought honour to our community and to Canadian society.

12. Community Leadership: This award will go to an individual who have provided responsible and effective leadership in various aspects of our community life.

13. Entrerpreneur: Any individual or business enterprise within our community who have worked innovatively to establish a thriving business that contributes to the financial well-being of our community and Canadian society.

14. Heroism: Any individual who have engaged in any acts of bravery to save lives or present the destruction of property.

15. Young Talent: This award is given to young person (especially under the age of 18) in our community who exhibit exceptional talent towards community or national development.

16. Group of the Year: This category recognizes the efforts of very dedicated group of Ghanaians/Associations in our community who work tiredlessly behind the scenes to make our community better. These are those who toil day and night selflessly, often avoiding recognition and the spotlight and at great costs to themselves in many aspects of our community's life. They get involved in community and national events with just one cardinal principle: the betterment of our community

17. Technical Innovation: Individuals or group of persons/organizations who have new inventions or patents in the area of technical advancement

18. National Honour: A community member whose work/contributions have been recognized nationally in Canada and thus brought recognition and pride to our community

2023 Nomination Form

I wish to nominate: Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss/Dr.........................................................................................

Address...................................................................................Category............................................

For an award at the above event for the following reason :...............................................................

Name of Sponsor.................................................................................Tel #......................................

Please mail, fax or e-mail this nomination form to: The Awards Selection Committee, c/o The Ghanaian News Corporation, 1111 Albion Rd.#103, Etobicoke, ON. Fax: 416-916-6701, Email: awards@ghanaiannews.ca

Deadline for nominations: June 30, 2023

Obituary – Emmanuel Quist 71 a.k.a. Manny

By Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON

A prominent Ghanaian Canadian Businessman an auto mechanic passed away suddenly on April 6, 2023 at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. Funeral arrangements were held at Lotus Funeral Home, Etobicoke on Friday and Saturday evening. Celebration of life was held at the Apostle’s Continuation Banquet Hall and thanksgiving service was held on the following Sunday. Burial took place on Monday 8th May 2023. He left behind 3 children Millicent Quist, Reuben Quist and Deborah Quist. May he rest in peace.

Children and Family members

Friends and some family members

The Late Emmanuel Quist

Dedication of the Apostolic Church International Canada’s New Miracle Assembly Temple

By Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON

Sunday April 23rd 2023 to the glory of God the New Temple at 31 Airview Road, Etobicoke, Ontario was dedicated by Apostle Dr. Aaron Nartey AmiNarh, president of the Apostolic Church Ghana and the Diaspora assisted by Apostle Frederick Yaw Agyemang, Apostle Dr. Christian Koramoah, Apostle Jeremiah Amatei Mensah and Apostle John Kristensen.

It was a joyful occasion for the church in this local Ghanaian community.

Deaconess Josephine Ami-Narh (left) and Deaconess Rschel Amatei Mensah

The Apostles

The Apostles

Perpetual Adjei

Church Elders and some invited guests

Apostle Jeremiah and Emmanuel Duodu, GCAO President

Cross section of congregation

A section of the Women Fellowship

Praise and Worship lead

Group picture Women’s Fellowship with Deaconessess Josephine Ami-Narh and Rachel Amatei Mensah

Cross section of congregation

Apostle Dr. Aaron Nartey AmiNarh, President of Apostolic Church Ghana & Diaspora

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FOOD AND RECIPES

Traditional African Dishes

Waakye is a meal that exhibits Ghanaians’ creative use of rice. The recipe is a merger of beans and rice and originally a Northern dish. However, it can now be found almost everywhere on the streets of Ghana. Eating Waakye will open the door to a range of Ghanaian tastes and flavours as the main dish is served with other sides such boiled eggs, fried plantain, garri (grated cassava), spaghetti and avocado.

Omo Tuo is another traditional Ghanaian food that shows how the population often reinvents the myriad ways of eating rice. It comprises soft boiled grains that are moulded into balls and served with a variety of soups.

This popular Ghanaian dish is a great family meal for festive season. When you see fish being grilled on the streets, it is most likely to be tilapia, a delicacy among Ghanaians, who spice then grill the succulent freshwater fish. It complements banku, a Southern mix of fermented corn and cassava dough, and very hot pepper, diced tomatoes and onions. Banku is one of the main dishes of the people who live by the Ghanaian coast

Northern Ghanaian food is dominated by the use of grains, herbs and meat as these are the main food products of the area. Tuo Zaafi is similar to banku, although it is quite soft and less sticky, and is made by cooking corn dough and adding a little cassava. What distinguishes Tuo Zaafi and makes it a popular meal nationwide is the nutritious and rare herbs used in making the accompanying soup, including dawadawa and ayoyo leaves.

Kenkey is another corn-based staple similar to banku, that is made by moulding fermented corn dough into balls and wrapping them around drying corn leaves, which are then boiled. The meal is served with hot pepper sauce, fried crabs, octopus or fish and is a delicacy of the people of Ghana.

Kelewele is an instant favourite among anyone who tries it, even those who aren’t big fans of peppery food. Usually sold as a snack or side dish all over the country, it is made by frying soft plantains that have been soaked in a medley of peppers, ginger and garlic. The aroma is crisp and strong, while the pleasant plantain adds some sweetness to the sour.

Fufu is a staple food across West Africa but in Ghana, it is made by pounding a mixture of boiled cassava and plantains into a soft sticky paste to go along with aromatic and spicy tomato soup. Fufu can also be found in Northern Ghana, although it is made with yam in this region.

Compiled by Nana Ama, Toronto, ON

1. Waakye

2.Banku and Tilapia

3. Kenkey and fried fish

4. Omo Tuo

5. Tuo Zaafi

6. Kelewele

7. Fufu and goat light soup

PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Ghana Methodist Churches in Canada

( SOCIETIES UNDER THE GHANA METHODIST CONFERENCE)

The Superintendents Minister-In-Charge invites you to worship with us

Toronto Society

Place of Worship: 69 Milvan Drive, North York, Ont. (Finch Av./Milvan) 416-743-4555 (Office) 905-216-2323 (Residence)

BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH-BRAMPTON

PLACE OF WORSHIP-1A KNIGHTSBRIGE ROAD (Senior’s Lounge)

Sunday Divine Service - 2PM-5PM

Online Prayer Meeting Fridays at 8PM -9PM 416-800-4317

Code # 9632581

Contact: Robert Frans (289-541-5579)

Felix Gyimah (289-931-8443)

Redemption Methodist Church

Location: 955 Wilson Ave., Unit 12, North York, ON Weekly Service Schedule: Monday 7 pm - 8 pm

Online Bible Study: Thursday 7 pm - 8:30 pm, Prayer Meeting Friday 7:30 pm - 9 pm

Divine Service, Sundays 10 am - 12:30 pm

Contacts: Agnes Donkor - 647-881-4808, Felicia Owusu - 647-533-1093, Grace Kubi - 647-608-5373

Holy Trinity Methodist Church, Montreal

Place of Worship: 455 Church Street - Beaconsfield Qc H9W 3S6

Day and Time of Worship

Sunday Divine Service: 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Friday Prayer Meetings: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Contact: Bro. Joselin Twumasi 438-881-6640

Ebenezer Methodist Church

Stoney Creek United Church (Chapel)

1 King Street West, Stoney Creek, Hamilton

Contact: Bro. Kofi Bonsu 289-684-6074

Worship Time: 11 am to 1 pm

SERVICES ARE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL GHANA METHODIST LITURGY. PLEASE COME AND JOIN

Peniel Methodist Church Vancouver #2322 1248 82 Ave. Surrey, BC, V3W 3E9

Sister Comfort T. Owusu 647-895-7131

Worship Time: 9 am to 10:30

FOOD FOR LIFE

Bringing the Gospel to our Community

By

Rev. Isaac De-Graft Takyi

THE CHRISTIAN IN 2023: HOW TO REACH OUT IN TOTAL OBEDIENCE

The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God’s will.

George Washington

Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence that creatures can exhibit of their sincere and supreme love to him.

Nathanael Emmons

Text 1 Samuel 15

INTRODUCTION

The concept of total obedience is very essential in the life of the believer. It is said, and I believe, that “what you can get by simple obedience, you can never get through fasting and prayer.” We shall base our article on 1 Samuel 15 and look at what total obedience is, what it demonstrates, what it costs, some examples of total obedience by people, the rewards of total obedience, how to live obedient lives,and last but not the least, pray for grace to live a total obedient life

According to the dictionary, obedience is the act or habit of obeying, compliance with the commands, orders, or instructions of a superior, or with established rules, laws, or regulations.

Biblically, obedience is the act of submitting to the authority of God and following His commands. It is a demonstration of our love for God and a key element of our relationship with Him. The Bible teaches that true obedience involves not only outward actions but also the attitude of the heart. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15), and the apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Obedience to God is not always easy, but it is necessary for our spiritual growth and the fulfillment of God’s purposes in our lives.

Total obedience refers to the act of obeying God completely, not just in certain areas of our lives, but in all areas. It involves submitting every aspect of our lives to God’s will and seeking to follow His commands in everything we do.

Total obedience is a demonstration of our love for God and a key element of our relationship with Him.

Total obedience is important in our relationship with God for several reasons.

1. First, it demonstrates our trust in God and our willingness to follow His plan for our lives. When we obey God completely, we acknowledge that He is sovereign and that His ways are better than our own.

2. Second, total obedience helps us to grow spiritually and to become more like Christ. As we seek to follow God’s commands, we are transformed by His grace and become more conformed to His image.

3. Third, total obedience brings blessings and fulfillment in our lives. When we obey God, we

experience the joy and peace that come from living in right relationship with Him.

In short, total obedience is essential to our relationship with God because it demonstrates our love for Him, helps us to grow spiritually, and brings blessings and fulfillment in our lives. As Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

THE COST OF TOTAL OBEDIENCE

LUKE 9:23-26

Luke 9:23-26 provides insight into the cost of total obedience. In this passage, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

This passage highlights the fact that total obedience to Christ requires sacrifice and a willingness to deny ourselves. Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Him, which means we must be willing to lay down our own desires and agendas in order to follow God’s plan for our lives. This may involve giving up things that are important to us, facing persecution or opposition, and even risking our lives for the sake of the gospel.

Jesus also emphasizes that there is a cost to disobedience. He warns that those who seek to save their own lives will lose them, while those who are willing to lose their lives for His sake will find true life. He also warns that those who are ashamed of Him, and His message will be ashamed when He comes in His glory.

In short, the cost of total obedience is high, but the rewards are even higher. As we deny ourselves and follow Christ, we can experience the joy and peace that come from living in right relationship with Him. We can also know that we are fulfilling our purpose and making a difference for His kingdom.

without hesitation, showing his complete trust in God’s plan.

2. Moses: In Exodus 4-14, Moses obeyed God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, despite his doubts and fears. He followed God’s guidance and direction, even when it seemed difficult or impossible.

3. Ruth: In the book of Ruth, Ruth showed her total obedience to God by choosing to leave her homeland and follow her motherin-law Naomi back to Israel. She trusted in God’s provision and guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty.

4. Mary: In Luke 1, Mary exhibited total obedience to God when she willingly accepted the call to be the mother of Jesus. She trusted in God’s plan and purpose, even when it meant facing ridicule and persecution.

5. Jesus: Of course, the ultimate example of total obedience is Jesus himself. In Philippians 2:8, we read that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross.” He obeyed His Father’s will completely, even when it meant suffering and dying for the sins of the world.

These are just a few examples of individuals who showed total obedience to God. They

trusted in His plan and purpose, even when it seemed difficult or impossible, and they followed His commands without hesitation. May we all seek to follow their example and exhibit total obedience to God in our own lives.

THE REWARDS OF TOTAL OBEDIENCE (PSALM 119:1-2. MATTHEW 7:24-25

Psalm 119:1-2 and Matthew 7:24-25 both speak of the rewards of total obedience to God.

In Psalm 119:1-2, the psalmist says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” This passage highlights the fact that those who obey God’s commands are blessed. They experience the joy and peace that come from living in right relationship with Him. They are also able to experience the fullness of God’s blessings in their lives.

Similarly, in Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it

cont’d on pg. 49

THE BIBLE EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EXHIBITED TOTAL OBEDIENCE TO GOD:

1. Abraham: In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham’s obedience by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeyed

EVANGEL

ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

314 Rexdale Blvd. Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R6

Tel: 416-242-7950

Fax: 416-242-8573

Church Activities

Sunday School: 10a.m. -11:00a.m.

Church Service: 11a.m. - 1:30p.m.

Sunday Evening: 7p.m. - 8:30p.m.

Wednesday Bible Studies: 7p.m. - 8:30p.m.

Friday Prayer Meeting: 7p.m. - 9:00p.m.

I AM ALPHA & OMEGA MINISTRY INT'L

We invite you to worship with us

Church Service:

Sunday Worship: 10.00a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Studies: 6.00p.m. - 7.30 p.m.

Friday Prayer Meeting: 7.00p.m. - 9.00 p.m.

JESUS Loves You

100 Penn Drive, Unit #6, North York, Ont.

Pastor in Charge Rev. Milton Offei

Bishop John Mensah

Church Of Christ Ghanaian Congregation - Toronto

Address: 101 Westmore Drive, Unit 206, Etobicoke (Highway 27/Finch)

Time of Worship: 10am - 12:15pm

Contact: Bro. Fordjour Acheampong: 416-671-4268

Bro. Agyenim Boateng: 647-656-9905

Bro. Christian Kpodjie: 647-405-2068

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church

SUNDAY SERVICES: 9:30 am-1:00 pm - Ghanaian Service

WEEKDAY SERVICES:

Wednesday - Bible Studies 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday - Holy Ghost Service 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

LOCATION: 42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2 (Hwy 27/Steeles) Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Y6 Tel: 416-740-1200 Fax: 416-740-6435

Email: lighthouseagtoronto.org lighthouseag@outlook.com

Good Shepherd Prayer Ministry

Invites you all to come worship with us

Venue: 95 Eddystone Ave unit 4 North York, ON

Time of worship: Sunday:10am - 1pm

Wednesday bible studies 7pm - 9pm

Friday Prayer / Deliverance 7pm - 9pm

CHRIST REDEEMER CHURCH

Pastor-in-charge: Pastor Eric Amoah

Tel: (416) 748-1242 Cell: (416) 300-9970

Church Services

Sunday Service:

Bible Study: 10 a.m.-11a.m.

Worship Service: 11a.m. - 1p.m.

Wednesday: Bible Study 6:30p.m.-7:30p.m.

Friday Night Prayer: 8p.m.-10p.m.

Pastor Eric Amoah

Location: 14 Haas Rd. , #100, Etobicoke, ON, M9W 3A2

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l

Do you desire to experience the power and the presence of God demonstrated in your life?

Do you want to experience the marvelous work of God's grace in your life?

Pastor Joseph Nash Sarfo Founder & Pastor-in-charge

The thief cometh not , but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.11.l am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Amen. John 10 :10-11

Tel: 416 667-9763 cell 647 500-4415 / 647 718-4819 / 416 300-4258

Email:pastorjsarfo@gmail.com

I encourage you to join us in worship regardless of your situation the power of God is available to make you whole

Then, Bethel Prayer Ministry International would like to invite you to visit their church where the word of God is preached powerfully to release the power of God in your life.

COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED

Pastor Dennis Awuku Senior Pastor

Contact: Cell. 416-400-8211 Church 416-642-0390

Worship Hours:

Sunday Service: 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 2 pm Consultation

Wednesday: 7pm - 9p.m. Friday: 9pm - 12 pm

Saturday (Prayer Warriors) 6pm - 8pm

Location: 52 Carrier Drive, Unit 12, (Albion/Hwy 27) Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5

Lead Pastor: Rev. Nana Boateng

Rev. Nana Boateng

Assembly of God Church, Mississauga Transformation Centre

Join us on Sundays for Worship at: Venue: 161 Lakeshore Road W, Mississauga, ON Time: 10:30am—1:30pm

Contact: Rev. Isaac K. Bonful Tel: 289-814-5482

Email: transformationcentreag@gmail.com

Website: www. transformationcentreag.ca

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind… “Rom.12:2a

The Apostolic Church Int'l.

Canada Miracle Assembly

MOVED TO NEW LOCATION

Apostle Jeremiah Mensah (Resident Apostle)

31 Airview Road

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 1P6

Meeting Schedule

Resident Apostle contact: 437-217-0085 Office Line: 416-740-1979

Glory Pentecostal Ministry of Toronto

Pastor-in-charge: Rev. Rockson Owusu Atwima - 416-708-7742

Invites all Christians and Non-Christians to join us to worship the Almighty God

THE APOSTLES' CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)

10 Belfield Road

Toronto, Ont., M9W 1G1

Tel: 416-247-6629

Fax: 416-247-5308

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

SERVICE TIMES:

Worship With Us At These Branches In Canada

Scarborough Assembly 63 Howden Rd., Unit 'F' Scarborough, ON, M1R 3C7 Tel 647-850- 0142 Fax 416-945- 9445

Pastor-In-Charge: John Arhin

Contact:

Res: 450-687-4916

Cell: 514-654-6178

Welcome Home Evangelistic Ministries

Affiliated with the Evangelical Church In Canada

New address: Heart Lake United Church 85 Sandalwood Pkwy E. Brampton, ON

Sunday Morning Worship Celebration Start from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Gen. Overseer & Founder: Evang. & Prophetess Winnie Manu BRE, M. Div.

Wednesday Discipleship class is 7pm Friday Prayer meeting is 7pm

Contact Info: Tel: 647 210 7057 Fax: 905 495 4789

Website: www.wheministries.org Email: whemtoday@gmail.com

Ont. M3N 1H7

We are more tan our conquerors Romans 8:37 "Come and see the manifestation and the power of the Holy Spirit at work"

Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Entertainment & Music

Hajia4Real extradited from UK to U.S over USD 2million fraud

Mona Faiz Montrage Received Over $2 Million in Fraud Proceeds and Pretended to Marry One Victim to Further the Fraud Scheme

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in a series of romance schemes and for laundering the proceeds of those schemes.

MONTRAGE was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023. MONTRAGE will be presented before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, to whom the case is assigned, later today.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge

Michael J. Driscoll said: “We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major

concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”

As alleged in the Indictment and other publicly filed materials:[1]

From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa

Ghanaian Highlife legend, Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr dies

The Ghanaian music industry has lost a legend following passing of Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr.

The veteran highlife singer died in the early hours of Tuesday, May 16, at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

His son, Highlife singer Akwaboah Jnr, announced the tragic news via his social media channels, sharing a photo of his late father with the caption, “RIP Daddy.”

He was widely celebrated for his contributions to the highlife music scene in Ghana and beyond.

Friends, family, and fans of the late Akwaboah Snr mourn the loss of the talented musician who touched countless lives through his music such as “Awerekyekyere.”

The late Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr’s impact on the highlife genre is immense.

Throughout the years, he has served

as an inspiration for many aspiring artists, including his son, who have gone on to make significant contributions to the Ghanaian music industry.

The legend had been off the music scene for a while after he was diagnosed of glaucoma which took his sight.

Condolences have been pouring in, with fellow musicians, celebrities, and fans expressing their grief over the demise of an highlife legend.

Modern Ghana

that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the United States, including romance scams.

Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who had, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.

MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile, under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.

MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds whom members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were (i) payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas;

(ii) payments to resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation; and (iii) payments to assist a fake United States

army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.

As to one victim, MONTRAGE used her real name and spoke to the victim several times by phone. MONTRAGE sent the victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that MONTRAGE and the victim had been married in Ghana. The victim sent MONTRAGE approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with MONTRAGE’s father’s farm in Ghana.

In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.

MONTRAGE, 30, of Accra, Ghana, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. MONTRAGE is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of MONTRAGE will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Marshals Services, the National Extradition Unit, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI Legal Attaché in London for their assistance in the investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Starfm.com.gh

Kwadwo Akwaboah Snr, Late Highlife singer

Mona Faiz Montrage a.k.a. Hajia4Real

Lifestyle

Top 28 Reasons Why You Should Start Reading Now!

Before the advent of the computer age, almost everyone who wanted to learn acquired a daily reading habit. The benefits of reading didn’t need to be emphasized all the time.

The internet and social media have taken so much of our attention that almost nobody ever considers reading books anymore. Some people might not have time to read, while others might not care.

Reading has several benefits, like increasing your wisdom and enhancing your writing abilities.

In this lesson, I will like to share with you the top 25 benefits of reading.

• Build moral values.

Overall, strict discipline yields hopeful benefits in almost everything people do, and reading is no exception. Acquiring books can impart many fundamental moral principles that will be useful to us throughout our lives.

• Reading challenges our minds.

Instead of watching TV, for example, reading is a much more difficult task for the human intellect. Reading strengthens existing associations in the brain and creates new ones. As a result, if you truly want to stay current, you need to get close to books. Once you do, you’ll benefit from a brain that is well-trained and capable of handling any situation.

• Reading improves one’s capacity for problem-solving.

For children to focus on the story when reading, they must sit motionless and be silent. They will develop the capacity to do this for a longer period of time if they read frequently. As a result of this, I improved my comprehension and an improved capacity for problem-solving.

• Reading teaches children about their broad environment.

Children learn about people, sports, and events that are not directly related to them through reading a variety of books.

• Reading improves a person’s vocabulary and linguistic skills.

As children read, they pick up new words. They intuitively take in knowledge about the best ways to construct sentences, how to use words and other languages, and how to improve both their written and spoken work.

• Reading inspires creativity.

As we read, our brains translate the descriptions of people, sports, and other things into images. We also imagine how a character is experiencing while we are immersed in a story. at such times, children bring this knowledge into their typical play.

• Reading helps us develop compassion.

Reading makes it easier to picture how someone might feel in that situation because we all enjoy creating new things.

• Reading is a relaxing activity.

As long as you have a book in your bag, you can always pass the time because they don’t take up much space and are easy to transport.

• Reading together is a fantastic way to get to know one another.

In recent years, reading aloud on the couch, sharing bedtime stories, and visiting the library have become popular ways to spend time together.

• Those who read extensively perform well at school.

Reading improves performance across the board, not just in books. English. Children with strong reading skills typically perform better in educational modules.

These are only a few benefits of reading books; there are many more that we haven’t covered. It’s best to keep reading because it will help you deal with problems later on in life.

• Assists in preventing cognitive aging

As you age, the National Institute on Aging Trusted Source advises reading books and magazines to keep your mind active.

Studies demonstrate that seniors who read and do math problems every day maintain and increase their cognitive functioning, even if research hasn’t conclusively shown that reading books prevents diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Furthermore, the earlier you begin, the better. Rush University Investigation Medical Center discovered that persons who have always engaged in mentally challenging activities have a lower risk of developing the plaques, lesions, and tauprotein tangles that are common in the brains of dementia sufferers.

• Lessens tension

In 2009, a team of researchers examined how yoga, humor, and reading affected the stress levels of American college students enrolled in rigorous health science programs.

The research discovered that yoga, humor, and 30 minutes of reading all reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and psychological distress equally well.

The authors stated that using one of these approaches for 30 minutes can be done with ease because time restrictions are one of the most often acknowledged causes of highstress levels among health science students without taking a lot of time away from their education, into their schedule.

• Gets you ready for a restful night’s sleep

Reading is recommended by Mayo Clinic medical professionals as a frequent bedtime activity.

The light emitted by your device could keep you awake and have other negative effects on your health, so for the greatest results, you might want to choose a print book instead of reading from a screen.

Doctors also advised that you read somewhere else than your bedroom if you have difficulties going to sleep.

• Reduces the signs of sadness

Sir Roger Scruton, a British philosopher, famously said, “Consolation from imaginary things is not an imaginary consolation.” People who are depressed frequently feel alone and distant from others. And occasionally, novels might evoke that sense.

Reading fiction might help you temporarily forget about your own reality and become sucked into the characters’ imagined experiences. Additionally, nonfiction selfhelp books might offer you methods for symptom management.

For this reason, the UK’s National Health Service launched Reading Well, a program called Books on Prescription where medical professionals prescribe self-help books chosen expressly for various diseases.

• Might even extend your life

Following a cohort of 3,635 adult participants for 12 years, a long-term health and retirement study conducted by Trusted Source discovered that individuals who read books lived about 2 years longer than those who either didn’t read or who read magazines and other media.

The investigation also came to the conclusion revealed individuals who read for more than 3 1/2 hours a week had a 23% higher chance of living longer than those who read nothing at all.

• Improved Writing Ability

Reading more will inevitably help you improve your writing abilities. Regular reading helps you become a better writer since it develops your vocabulary and pronunciation.

We’re not simply discussing writing fiction, nonfiction, or books and novels. Your writing abilities would have increased with regular reading, even if you were writing in your day-to-day personal and professional life.

You will become a better writer the more you read. You would have a tendency to concentrate on different writing-related issues that would help you write more successfully than other people.

• Reading creates quietness

Don’t you ever have the feeling that merely escaping the chaos and stupidity

of everyday life? But organizing a trip to spend some time alone isn’t always the most economical option.

You can achieve a similar sense of calm through reading. What’s more intriguing is that reading can help folks who are anxious or have high blood pressure.

You feel better and your spirit is lifted when you read self-help or spiritual books. However, reading habits can also help persons with mood disorders feel better.

• Facilitates Travel

The novel you’re reading may transport you to one or more of the seven continents or to various nations and cultures. It might serve as a time machine that transports you to World War II or, via science fiction, a bleak future. Reading George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, which transports me to King’s Landing, winter fell, the Wall, and the region beyond the Wall, always makes me think about traveling via books.

• Reading introduces you to new pals.

Characters in a book are what make it what it is, and readers connect with them and develop new friends as a result. Aside from virtual buddies, there are websites like Goodreads where you can join book clubs, talk about a book you just read, and meet other readers who share your interests and loving companions.

• Reading makes it easier to reflect on oneself

cont’d on pg. 48

How does food get contaminated?

The unsafe habits that kill more than 400,000 people a year

Food-borne illnesses usually present as diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pains. - Source: Getty Images

Unsafe foods, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), contribute to poor health, including impaired growth and development, micro-nutrient deficiencies, noncommunicable and infectious diseases, and mental illness. Globally, one in ten people are affected by foodborne diseases each year. Antonina Mutoro, a nutrition researcher at the African Population and Health Research Center, explains what causes food contamination and how we can lower the risk of disease.

What is food contamination?

Access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right which many do not enjoy, partly because of food contamination. This is defined as the presence of harmful chemicals and microorganisms in food that can cause illness. According to the WHO, food contamination affects about one in every ten people globally and causes about 420,000 deaths annually .

Food contamination can be:

• physical: foreign objects in food can potentially cause injury or carry disease-causing microorganisms. Pieces of metal, glass and stones can be choking hazards, or cause cuts or damage to teeth. Hair is another physical contaminant.

• biological: living organisms in food, including microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and protozoa), pests (weevils, cockroaches and rats) or parasites (worms), can cause disease.

• chemical: substances like soap residue, pesticide residue and toxins produced by microorganisms such as aflatoxins can lead to poisoning.

What are the most common causes of food contamination?

The most common cause of food contamination is poor food handling. This includes not washing your hands at the appropriate time – before eating and preparing food, after using the toilet, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Using dirty utensils, not washing fruits and vegetables with clean water, and storing raw and cooked food in the same place can also be harmful. Sick people should not handle food. And you should avoid consuming undercooked foods, particularly meat.

Poor farming practices can also contaminate food. This includes the heavy use of pesticides and antibiotics , or growing fruits and vegetables using contaminated soil and water. The use of inadequately composted or raw animal manure or sewage is also harmful.

À lire aussi : Power cuts and food safety: how to avoid illness during loadshedding

Fresh foods can lead to a number

of illnesses. In Kenya, for instance, the contamination of meat , fruits and vegetables with human waste is relatively common. This is attributed to the use of contaminated water to wash food. Flies carrying contaminants can also directly transfer faecal matter and bacteria onto plant leaves or fruits.

Street foods are another common source of food contamination. These foods are widely consumed in lowand middle-income countries because they’re cheap and easily accessible.

What are the signs that you’ve eaten contaminated food?

Biological and chemical substances are the most common food contaminants. They account for more than 200 foodborne illnesses , including typhoid , cholera and listeriosis . Food-borne illnesses usually present as diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pains.

In severe cases, food-borne illnesses can lead to neurological disorders, organ failure and even death. It’s therefore advisable to seek immediate medical attention if you begin to experience symptoms like persistent diarrhoea and vomiting after eating or drinking.

Children aged under five are the most vulnerable to food-borne illnesses. They bear 40% of the food-borne disease burden. A child’s immune system is still developing and can’t fight off infections as effectively as an adult’s.

In low- and middle-income countries, reduced immunity in children can also occur as a result of malnutrition and frequent exposure to infections due to poor hygiene and sanitation, including a lack of access to safe water and toilets. Additionally, when children are ill, they tend to have poor appetites. This translates to reduced food intake. Coupled with increased nutrient losses through diarrhoea and vomiting, this can lead to a cycle of infection and malnutrition and, in extreme cases, death.

Pregnant women and people with reduced immunity due to illness or age are equally vulnerable and extra care should, therefore, be taken to prevent food-borne illnesses among these groups.

What can we do to prevent food contamination?

Food-borne illnesses also have negative economic impacts, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The World Bank estimates it costs more than US$15 billion annually to treat these illnesses in these countries. So it’s important to have preventive strategies in place.

Food contamination can be prevented through simple measures:

• washing your hands at key times (before preparing, serving or eating meals; before feeding children, after using the toilet or after disposing of faeces)

• wearing clean, protective clothing during food preparation

• storing food properly

• washing raw foods with clean water

• keeping raw and cooked foods separate

• using separate utensils for meats and for food meant to be eaten raw.

Good farming practices, such as the use of clean water and application of approved pesticides in recommended amounts, can help prevent food contamination.

Food vendors also need to be trained on food safety, and provided with clean water and proper sanitation.

As part of the research team at the African Population and Health Research Center, I’m working on the Healthy Food Africa project , which aims to boost food security in urban informal settlements through the

promotion of food safety. In Kenya, the project is working closely with the Nairobi county government to develop a food safety training manual targeting street food vendors. This will go a long way towards improving food safety in the city.

Antonina Mutoro ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

By Antonina Mutoro, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center

Disclaimer: “The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana’s position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here.” The Conversation

Importance of Early Detection and Intervention for Hearing Loss

We are all plugged in all the time, pushing our senses to the limit, in an effort to survive in a demanding, stressful, and ever-changing world. Perhaps the most important of our sensory capabilities, listening helps orient us to the environment and serves as a means of communication between individuals. Listening happens at home, during the commute, and at the workplace for recreational or occupational reasons.

Occupational and Recreational Hearing Loss

In occupations such as gardening or carpentry, individuals are exposed to sounds around 85 dB. Exposure of a mere two hours to such volume without protection for one’s ears can cause hearing damage. Recreational listening is believed to be safe. But personal listening devices are tuned to reach volumes of 105 to 110 dB. What’s concerning is that it takes as little as five minutes at such a volume to suffer hearing damage.

Impacts of Hearing Loss

According to the CDC, more than 360 million people are today living with hearing loss. In adults, waiting too long to address hearing loss can detrimentally affect the HRQoL (Health-related quality of life) of individuals and their families. Hearing loss is often associated with feeling isolated, increased depression and anxiety, and lessened self-efficacy. In the elderly, it is also linked to increased cognitive decline and with global brain atrophy, particularly in the temporal lobe.

But where hearing loss has still more severe outcomes is in children.

Children who suffer from hearing loss from birth or in their early years suffer from speech, language and behavioral problems. Their academic performance is also affected. The cost of not addressing hearing loss globally is high. The good news: Early diagnosis and intervention for slightto-mild hearing loss can help arrest these patterns and restore hearing in adults and children.

Intervention for Hearing Loss

The type of intervention depends on the underlying cause of the hearing loss. If the cause is earwax, then its removal may restore the hearing to normal. To do so, a doctor may use a suction tube, dissolve the wax using a liquid, or use an instrument. In the case of an ear infection, the suggested course of action may be surgery. If there is irreversible hearing loss, especially from damage to the inner ear, then the doctor resorts to the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants.

There are both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-style hearing aids. OTC hearing aids can be bought directly from medical stores without consulting an audiologist or a doctor. These are suitable for mild hearing loss. For moderate to severe hearing loss, prescription-style hearing aids are available, which are pre-programmed for the degree of hearing loss a person has. Hearing aids also come in various styles such as behind-the-ear, in-theear and canal. The style of hearing aid is picked by the ENT specialist after taking into account the occupation, extent of hearing loss, and age of the patient.

Authored

by Dr.

Girish Anand M S, Consultant - ENT Surgery, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore

Top 28 Reasons Why You Should Start Reading Now!

THE CHRISTIAN IN 2023: HOW TO REACH OUT IN TOTAL OBEDIENCE

cont’d from pg. 41

cont’d from pg. 46 had its foundation on the rock.” This passage emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ’s words. Those who hear His words and put them into practice are like a wise person who builds their house on a solid foundation. They are able to withstand the storms of life and enjoy the security and stability that come from following Christ.

Writing memoirs is a great method to reflect on oneself. Memoirs describe the issues people encountered and how they dealt with them. We can ask ourselves how we would approach a challenge like this after reading them. You may begin to reconsider your actions. It may assist you in accepting yourself as you are.

• Reading saves money

Books are affordable. Much less expensive than any other pastimes or routines. Now since e-books are available digitally and on the Kindle, they are even free. Join a library to receive an unlimited number of books for a very low cost.

• A hobby requiring no effort

I’ve been told that reading too much ruined me. The house is messy after painting. Your kitchen and utensils get dirty as you cook. It takes work to hike. It requires originality to write. Exercise is demanding. A good book, yourself, and your set are all you need to read.

• Making the most of your time

Reading while you wait in line for your doctor’s visit will help the time fly by. Pick up a book while riding in a packed bus to and from work, and you’ll forget where you are. A weekend well spent is one in which you unwind with a good mystery book, coffee, and popcorn.

• Laughing while reading a book

Don’t you ever want to relax in a warm tub with a cozy mystery or sappy romance book after a long day at work? I do. Why? Because I am aware that reading will make people happy

my mentally and physically worn out. Yoga and meditation may also help, although occasionally even those methods are too demanding. Reading in the morning makes my day better than anything else. Sometimes, after arguing with someone, I pick up one of my favorite funny books and start laughing right away.

• Reading can help you achieve your goals

Stories of others who overcame extreme adversity in their life and succeeded always serve as an example for us and a source of motivation. We are able to move closer to our objectives and aspirations by reading about them and their situations. Why not me if he or she could? We’ve all heard that Thomas Edison tried and failed a thousand times before coming up with the light bulb. Don’t we find ourselves in awe of his perseverance?

I didn’t fail 1,000 times, read what he stated after that. The light bulb was a 1,000-step creation.

•

It Mentors You

Self-help books are a tremendous source of knowledge. They provide you with all the knowledge and guidance a veteran spent years acquiring in a succinct 300page book. People discuss their secrets to success, their tales of overcoming adversity or rising from poverty, or even the quickest way to learn a new computer language

Through their writings, these experts seek to guide others. The first thing you should do to reach this big accomplishment is read their book.

• Reading broadens your thinking

You are exposed to new perspectives through reading. The tale in your book could be set in a different time period, a person who resides in a distant country. Your intellect is subsequently expanded as a result of learning about their circumstances, way of life, habits, and viewpoints. It helps you comprehend something more fully.

• Minimizes Stress

Reading is consoling, as any reader may attest. It has a Zen-like calmness. When you lose yourself in a book, your mind is freed from its concerns, issues, and anxieties. Unknowingly, maintaining our daily routines and keeping up with our surroundings causes us stress. Reading helps one relax and let go of life’s daily stresses, which in turn lowers stress. I always read romance novels when I’m under pressure, and it makes me quickly recover my smile.

Summary Reading is incredibly healthy for both kids and adults. This is because:

Conclusion The simplest and healthiest habit one can form is reading. Although you can choose the books you read, there are no drawbacks to this habit. Anyone and everyone can enjoy the habit, regardless of age group, as there are books for infants and toddlers as well as some fantastic novel series and many other kinds of books produced specifically for the old. Since reading has long-term advantages, Children and even adults should read as much as they can. it’s never too late to begin taking advantage of the numerous physical and psychological benefits that may be found in a good book.

Talking about reading, I invite you to get a copy of my new ebook Five Things I wish I had known before working. Click here now. You’ll be glad you did.

1. It builds moral values.

2. It challenges our minds.

3. It improves one’s capacity for problem-solving.

4. It teaches children about their broad environment.

5. It improves a person’s vocabulary and linguistic skills.

6. It inspires creativity.

7. It helps us develop compassion.

8. It is a relaxing activity

9. Make new friends

10. Those who read extensively perform well in school.

11. It assists in preventing cognitive aging

12. It lessons tension

13. It gets you ready for a restful night’s sleep

14. It reduces the signs of sadness

15. It might even extend your life

16. It improved Writing Ability

17. It creates quietness

18. It Facilitates Travel

19. It introduces you to new pals.

20. It makes it easier to reflect on oneself

21. Reading saves money

22. It is a hobby requiring no effort

23. Making the most of your time

24. Reading makes you Laugh

25. Reading can help you achieve your goals

26. It Mentors You

27. Broadens your thinking

28. Minimizes Stress

In summary, the rewards of total obedience to God are many. They include blessings, joy, peace, security, and the fullness of God’s blessings in our lives. As we seek to obey God’s commands and follow Christ, we can experience these rewards and enjoy the abundant life that He has promised to us.

LIVING A LIFE OF TOTAL OBEDIENCE—THE HOW?

Living a life of total obedience to God is a daily journey that requires a deliberate and intentional commitment. Here are some practical steps to help you live a life of total obedience:

1. Seek God’s will through prayer and study of His Word. Make a habit of spending time with God each day, seeking His guidance and direction for your life. Read and meditate on His Word, and let it shape your thinking and your actions.

2. Surrender your will to God. Recognize that God’s ways are higher than your ways and submit your desires and plans to His will. Ask Him to help you surrender your will to Him each day.

3. Repent of sin and seek forgiveness. Confess any sin in your life and ask God for forgiveness. Allow His grace and mercy to transform you and empower you to live a life of obedience.

4. Surround yourself with like-minded believers who can encourage and support you in your journey of obedience. Seek out a community of believers who share your commitment to following Christ and who can hold you accountable in your walk of faith.

5. Take practical steps to obey God’s commands. Identify areas of your life where you need to obey God more fully and take practical steps to do so. This may involve forgiving someone, giving generously, or sharing the gospel with others.

6. Trust in God’s faithfulness. Remember that God is faithful and will reward those who seek to obey Him. Trust in His provision and guidance, and rest in the knowledge that He is with you every step of the way.

In summary, living a life of total obedience to God requires a deliberate commitment to seek His will, surrender your will to Him, repent of sin, surround yourself with likeminded believers, take practical steps to obey His commands, and trust in His faithfulness. As you follow these steps, you can experience the joy and peace that come from living in right relationship with Him.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, total obedience to God is an essential aspect of our relationship with Him. It requires surrendering our will to His and seeking to follow His commands in every area of our lives. The cost of obedience may be high, but the rewards are even greater. As we obey God, we can experience His blessings, joy, peace, security, and the fullness of His blessings in our lives. Living a life of total obedience requires a daily commitment to seek God’s will, surrender our will to Him, repent of sin, surround ourselves with like-minded believers, take practical steps to obey His commands, and trust in His faithfulness. May we all strive to live a life of total obedience to God, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.

LET US PRAY FOR GRACE TO LIVE A TOTALLY OBEDIENT LIVES

• Father, help me to surrender my will to You completely, and to follow Your commands in every area of my life. Give me the strength and courage to obey You, even when it is difficult or costly.

• Lord, please reveal to me any areas of my life where I am not fully obeying You. Help me to see where I need to make changes and give me the grace to do so. May Your Spirit guide me and empower me to live a life of total obedience.

• Heavenly Father, surround me with like-minded believers who will encourage and support me in my journey of obedience. Help me to find a community of believers who share my commitment to following You and who can hold me accountable in my walk of faith. Strengthen our bonds of fellowship and unity and help us to grow together in obedience to You.

22 But Samuel replied:“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” —1 Samuel 15:22-23NIV