GHANAIAN NEWS - DECEMBER 2022

Looking back 40 years ago “Ghana Must Go” The ugly history of Africa’s most famous bag

By Shola Lawal, Mail & Guardian, ACCRA

In 1983, Nigeria expelled two million undocumented West African migrants, half of whom were from Ghana. The sturdy, checked bags into which they packed their belongings have become a symbol of exclusion and intolerance. Nearly four decades later, the region is yet to confront its emotional baggage

BY SHOLA LAWAL IN ACCRA

It was the bags that made up Solomon “Acquaye” Asiedu’s mind. They were cheap, ordinary bags. They had no name and came in blue and red, in big and medium sizes, all checked. They were wanted in Lagos markets with an intensity never experienced before. Nigerian traders sold out of the bags as hundreds jostled to get as many as they could to pack their things into.

The bags had always been popular: they were big and spacious and sturdy enough for long-haul travel. But it was when people started calling them “Ghana must go” bags that the young man knew it was time to leave. The bags followed him home, as he crossed two countries to return to Ghana and, 36 years later, they still stare at him from stores on every corner — with the same cursed name. They represent a period of despair that many Ghanaians would rather forget.

“I was not ready to leave,” said Acquaye, now 67. “I had just one bag with me.”

The year was 1983, the day, January 17. Acquaye had just listened to Shehu Shagari, the Nigerian leader who favoured long hats, declare the expulsion of an estimated two million undocumented migrants living in the country. Half of them were Ghanaian. “If they don’t leave, they should be arrested and tried and sent back to their homes. Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever,” President Shagari said. Acquaye and millions like him with no papers were told to get out within two weeks or risk jail. “If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” said the president.

Refugees leaving Nigeria wait at the boarder to enter Benin as part of their journey back to Ghana (Photo by Michel Setboum/Getty Images)

Two years before, Acquaye had arrived in Nigeria with zero cash and a hundred hopes. He had followed the road trail leading through Aflao in Ghana to Lomé in Togo and then onwards through the Seme border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

He wasn’t the only one, clicking his tongue at the memory. “That time everybody was going. There was money in Nigeria.”

The famous “Ghana must go” bag

Ontario expanding private delivery of public health-care services in 3-step plan

“The way I can describe it, you have a dam, you have a log jam, are you going to just keep pouring the water up against the logs?” Ford said.

“Or are you going to reroute some of the water and take the pressure off the dam? You see what happens when the dam has too much water, it breaks.”

The regulatory organization of doctors, The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, said it told Jones’ office that complex procedures such as hip and knee replacement surgeries should remain connected to the hospital system “to ensure continuity of care and patient safety.”

Making

announcement Monday, Premier Doug Ford lamented “endless

debates” about who should deliver health care and said all he cares about is getting people the care they need quickly and safely.

Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones unveiled a three-step plan Monday to deliver more procedures at private clinics. Both stressed that the surgeries and tests will continue to be paid for by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

There are about 206,000 patients waiting for surgical procedures, the province said.

Ford said it’s time to start thinking differently about the health system.

“One CEO, and I won’t name him, said...’There’s only two places in the world that have the health care that we have, the same system, is Cuba and North Korea,’” Ford said.

“Like, really? We need to improve. So we’re making the changes with the support of the CEOs and with the associations.”

The Ontario Hospital Association said it welcomes the opportunity to work with the province to integrate the new surgical centres into the health-care system.

The Ontario Medical Association said outpatient surgeries in other jurisdictions shows surgeries occur quicker and have lower rates of infection.

The first stage of the plan involves adding 14,000 cataract surgeries through new centres in Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo and Ottawa. The province said these surgeries will be performed with existing staff and will not take any from the hospital system.

As well, the province is putting $18 million in existing centres across the province for MRI and CT scans, cataract surgeries, other ophthalmic surgeries, certain gynecological surgeries and plastic surgeries. Jones said that will help the wait lists for those procedures return to pre-pandemic levels by March.

Subsequent steps in the plan are set to include expanding the scope and capacity of private surgical and diagnostic centres, including more colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures. The third step will involve issuing more licences, opening more centres and seeing hip and knee replacements performed at those clinics.

Ford said the changes are permanent.

Jones said the companies will have to provide “detailed staffing plans” as part of their applications. A “number of physicians” at the new centres will have to be affiliated with local hospitals, the province said.

“CPSO is supportive of expanding access to diagnostic procedures and less complex surgical procedures in community settings,” said Dr. Nancy Whitmore, the registrar of the college, in a statement.

“However, we emphasized our ongoing concern about creating further strain on the present health-care provider crisis particularly in skilled operating room nurses and anesthesiologists.”

Five health-care unions called on the province to abandon the plan, saying it will “siphon provincial funding from public hospital care and hand it to private, for-profit surgical clinics.”

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Service Employees International Union Healthcare and Unifor said province should invest in the public health-care system and implement a staffing retention program.

The head of the Ontario Nurses’ Association called the changes a “terrible plan for providing health care” and said it was unconvinced that staffing at hospitals won’t be affected.

The current health-care system is 25,000 nurses short, said Bernie Robinson, the interim president of the association.

“I fail to understand where the government thinks it’s going to get the human resources to staff these private clinics other than by draining our already-taxed public system,” Robinson said.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario said the province should invest in existing operating rooms across the province that sit quiet on evenings and weekends.

“The premier needs to open the operating rooms, the operating theatres, the recovery rooms in our public hospitals 24/7 like many other countries do,” said Doris Grinspun, the association’s CEO.

Liberal health critic and MPP Adil Shamji, who worked as an ER doctor prior to last year’s provincial election, said it’s “enticing” for doctors and nurses to work at a 9-5 clinic instead of taking on a mix of overnight and weekend work at hospitals.

Shamji said the Liberals have called for greater investment in private health clinics to ease hospital pressures, but only not-for-profit ones.

Premier Doug Ford

EDITORIAL

Taking Stock, Looking Ahead to 2023 and Beyond

Jonathan Annobil

Local Community Reporter Mickson Addo

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Articles appearing in various columns of the Ghanaian News are intended to generate civil and informed public discussions. You do not have to agree with opinions expressed by the writers. That should encourage you to write to express your own views. This is the way we generate lively and civil discussions in the community. Rejoinders are not forums for personal insults and we want readers to adhere to these principles.

The year 2022 just came to an end and we have embraced the year 2023. As we look back at the year that has ended, our minds are filled with the many deaths (around 80) of both young and old people in which many of them happened in the Greater Toronto Ghanaian community alone last year. Unfortunately, we are saddened by the loss of our friends and loved ones in our community. May their souls rest in perfect peace. Such deaths could not be attributed to gun violence as we saw some few years back among our Ghanaian youth population in Canada. There is therefore the need for us to take good care of our health as individuals in our growing community.

As we all know, the previous year was a difficult and challenging year in terms of business growth and community activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now that we are slowly recovering, we are counting the blessings that God has poured on our community during last year in spite of the hardships we have had to go through that brought our Community Businesses and Establishments to a downturn.

While we encourage our community businesses to strive for higher heights this year 2023, the Ghanaian News wish to use this opportunity and this editorial to strongly advise and appeal to our community members to consciously and strongly patronize the businesses in our various Ghanaian communities here in Canada.

As we entered the new year, 2023, we encourage all our community members to unite their efforts and actively participate in events in our community that are aimed at making us a better community. We again encourage all our community members to support all community initiatives and projects. Let us shun apathy and embrace engagement to move our community forward.

We are grateful to God for His provisions throughout the year and also, wish to extend our sincere gratitude to all our community members who have continued to support us in various undertakings to bring improvement to our communities here in Canada.

We therefore earnestly entreat all our community members to recognize the fact that there is always power in numbers. The other Diaspora communities who are succeeding in Canada did so out of, and through their collective efforts. They did not leave their communities’ fortunes in the hands of a few individuals and groups.

The youth in our community are doing great but we need to harness their energies into fruitful collaboration with the adults to achieve something better for our communities across Canada.

The adults and the youth are now working together. That’s good news. They must continue to explore common areas that they can work together more and leave areas that the youth and adults can work separately. This is absolutely necessary if we are to move our community forward.

Finally, we need also to pay attention to events happening in our homeland the Land of Our Birth. After the year of turmoil and declining fortunes of the economy, the situation at home is still very gloomy, unemployment is still high, politicians in parliament fighting each other. The year 2022 really experienced political and economy instability.

We are counting on the government, the politicians, civil servants as well as every Ghanaian to join hands in turning the dire situation into joy and prosperity this year for motherland, Ghana.

We should continue to pray for the government and our people back home because whatever happens there, positive or negative, have impact on our lives here since they trigger chain reactions and demands on us from family and friends at home.

We wish all community members, our friends and supporters the best in this New Year 2023 and beyond.

Former broadcaster and lieutenant governor David Onley remembered as kind and fierce advocate for accessibility

Broadcaster and former Ontario lieutenant governor David Onley, who passed away this weekend at age 72, is being remembered as a bold advocate for disability issues whose warm character endeared him to many.

Onley went on to become Ontario’s 28th lieutenant governor in 2007 following a long career in television. Toronto television pioneer Moses Znaimer, who hired Onley to work as a reporter and anchor at City TV in the 80s, remembered him as someone whose insights made the organization richer

“Almost everyone remembered for their greatness has had to overcome obstacles in their path. If they suffered weakness in one area, that’s called forth compensation in another. As exceptional as David Onley was, he would be the first to tell you there are many more just like him. Any community is only as strong as it is diverse,” Znaimer wrote.

“The perspective and tenacity that people with disabilities need to succeed often lead to original insights and society would be well served to foster this resource. RIP ol’ friend.”

Onley would also go on to anchor on CP24 when the station launched.

In an interview with CP24 Sunday, Newstalk 1010 host John Moore remembered Onley as someone who served as a mentor to new journalists and who had a way of making anyone he spoke to feel special.

“I mean, aside from his groundbreaking work as a journalist and as lieutenant governor, he was just a model of a person who was always more curious about you than any question you could ever bring to him,” Moore said.

Moore said that while it was important for Onley to highlight disability issues, he “never let any of that hold him back” and went on to have an amazing career.

“I think also worth emphasizing… is how many young reporters he mentored because I don’t think it can be overemphasized, first of all that he was a tremendous journalist, but he was also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Moore said. “I mean, he’s the kind of guy who’s just so sweet and enthusiastic in disposition, that you begin to feel shame yourself for ever having a moment of negativity.”

While he was known for his kindness and warmth, he still had an “edge” when it came for fighting for the rights of those with disabilities, former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne said.

She recalled first meeting Onley in the 1990s when he was a reporter and she was a parent advocate in the school system.

“He was a journalist, and he was often very agitated about not being able to get to the top floor of a school or into building in order to be able to be part of the press scrum. And it was that anger, I think, that fueled his activism.”

When he was appointed to lead a committee to review accessibility in the province, he “didn’t sugarcoat” his reports, Wynne recalled. But she added that he was bipartisan and willing to work with anyone to make things better for those with disabilities.

She said his reports were plain and helped others see what should have been obvious.

“I remember thinking we should have had these here all along,” Wynne said, recalling the moment when the government added ramps at the grand staircase in Queen’s Park at Onley’s recommendation. “You know, it was self-evident that nobody who used a scooter or who had mobility issues would be able to mount those stairs.”

He also helped serve as a role model for others who would go on to fight for greater accessibility.

Speaking with CP24, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Chair David Lepofsky said that Onley helped bring him to public advocacy.

He said he first met Onley 28 years ago after Mike Harris, who was then running to be premier, made comments about the disabled community.

“Onley grabbed the story, interviewed me about this – I was totally new with this kind of public community advocacy,” Lepofsky recalled. “But then he tracked down Mike Harris and waited in front of a radio station until he emerged and hit him up for an interview to get him to respond. So it wasn’t just that he symbolized what we

Publisher / Editor

Emmanuel Ayiku

Contributing Editor

Joe Kingsley Eyiah

Director of Operations Comfort Ayiku

Community Reporter

“He was impatient that we as a society do the right thing,” Wynne told CP24 in

an interview Sunday.

former Ontario lieutenant governor David Onley

Former GTA Lawyer Kweku Ackaah-Boafo

to Ghana’s Court of Appeal

Respected attorney elevated after more than seven years on the High Court

Respected GTA attorney Kweku Ackaah-Boafo was December 21, 2022 sworn in as a Justice of Ghana’s Court of Appeal by His Excellency President Nana Addo-DankwaAkufo-Addo at Jubilee House,Accra.

Justice Ackaah-Boafo was one of fifteen Justices of the Court of Appeal sworn into office at a ceremony held at the seat of government and attended by family and dignitaries including senior members of the judiciary and legal community. His elevation follows more than seven years of service as a Justice of the nation’s High Court and vetting for his appointment.

As a High Court Judge, Justice Ackaah-Boafo presided over a series of high-profile cases and completed the Executive Master of Arts in African Integration and Development program at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He is also currently a part-time lecturer at the Ghana School of Law

Prior to joining the Ghanaian bench, Justice Ackaah-Boafo had established a strong track record as a lawyer in Ghana and Canada. In Canada, Justice Ackaah-Boafo was involved in prominent cases including the Jane Creba case in which he assisted Gordon Cudjoe, another prominent Ghanaian lawyer in the GTA. Justice Ackaah-Boafo was also involved in cases resulting from the search of electronic media devices and social media at Canadian border crossings.

Quick Facts

• Justice Ackaah-Boafo is accredited as a lawyer by the General Legal Council of Ghana as well as Law Society of Ontario.

• Apart from his legal training

in Ghana and Canada, Justice Ackaah-Boafo holds a Master of Laws degree in Human Rights from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

• Outside his professional life, Justice Ackaah-Boafo has been heavily involved in the All Nations Full Gospel Church in Toronto. He fellowships at Fountain of Glory Assemblies of God Church in Accra and is a life member of the East Legon Chapter of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI)

•

• Purely an appellate court, the Court of Appeal is the second highest Court in the hierarchy of Ghana’s Superior Courts (i.e., the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court).

• All appeal cases from the High Courts, Regional Tribunals and Civil Appeals from Circuit Courts are brought to the Court of Appeal.

• The Court of Appeal also hears appeals from some of the administrative bodies including Commissions of Inquiry set under the Constitution of Ghana.

Quotes

“For any lawyer, being called to the Bench is a great honour. After being called to the talented Ghanaian Bench in 2015 following a truly rewarding experience as a lawyer in Canada, I give all praise to God for the privilege of a new assignment and new challenges as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. I ventured into the unknown when I left an exciting practice in Toronto for the Bench and my experience has been

awesome thanks to great leadership and mentoring by my seniors on the Bench, and really dedicated colleagues on the Bench and at the Bar. I’m very grateful to my extremely supportive family who have sacrificed immensely to make the story of my judicial

experience a positive one. I can’t thank them enough. And, for sure I owe a debt of thanks to our strong network of friends in Ghana, Canada and across the world, who through diverse ways and prayers, have been part of this exciting narrative.”

Source: Dr. Felix Odartey-Wellington

could do, but he put it into action.”

He said the message that Onley helped send with his work still resonates now.

“David Onley’s message to Ontarians and indeed all Canadians is a message that resonates to this day and it is the message that we have to tear down barriers which unfairly impede people with all kinds of disabilities from fully participating in what our great country has to offer,” Lepofsky said.

In a statement released early Sunday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was sad to learn about Onley’s passing.

“Mr. Onley served the province with honour and distinction from 2007 until 2014. As Lieutenant Governor, and throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to raise public awareness

about accessibility issues, encouraging people ‘to see the ability, rather than the disability,” Ford said. “He was also a great champion of expanding reconciliation efforts with Ontario’s Indigenous peoples in his role as representative of the Crown, work that continues to this day.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory also posted a statement to Twitter, calling Onley “gracious and committed” and a “champion” for disability issues who contributed to the community in many ways.

“Starting with his time as a respected broadcaster he remained down to earth and as such maintained the respect and affection of people everywhere,” Tory wrote. “He will be missed.”

Tory said flags will fly at half-mast at Toronto City Hall and at Toronto civic centres until a state funeral is held for Onley at a yet-to-be-announced date. CP24

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Former broadcaster and lieutenant governor David Onley remembered as kind and fierce advocate for accessibility

Justice Kweku Ackaah-Boafo

Bank economists see mild recession likely ahead despite surprising resilience

Economy to ‘feel the pinch’ of interest rate hikes

Desjardins Financial chief economist Jimmy Jean talks about how interest rate hikes will cause Canadians to cut their consumer spending.

Canadian households and the overall economy have proven surprisingly resilient in the face of rising interest rates, said senior economists from the big banks, which could complicate the fight against inflation.

“There’s no question that the economy had much more momentum at the end of last year than really anyone was expecting,” said BMO chief economist Douglas Porter, speaking at an Economic Club of Canada panel Friday about the outlook for the year ahead.

His comments come as data out last week showed the economy added a surprise 104,000 jobs in December, while delinquencies on mortgage payments remain around historic lows.

Porter said however that history shows a recession has been unavoidable after rates rise this fast, and that the resilience could make for a tougher

fight ahead against inflation.

“The reality is if the economy remains too strong, then rates will go even higher.”

While there is the risk of needing higher rates to cool the economy, there is the potential for the resilience shown so far to lead to the gentle cooling that policymakers are attempting, said Scotiabank chief economist Jean-Francois Perrault.

“It’s a worrisome thing in the sense that maybe it means you do have higher rates,” said Perrault. “The flip side of that is maybe this Holy Grail of a soft landing is no longer mythical, that we might actually engineer that.”

TD chief economist Beata Caranci said the health of the economy, along with the fact that many industries like manufacturing are still pretty lean on hiring trends, means that a recession will likely mean far fewer job losses than usual.

“We have about 100,000 job losses occurring this year, which will not be mild or that 100,000 and their family,

if it occurs. However, that is a third of what would normally occur in a recession.”

RBC chief economist Craig Wright said the bank is sticking to its forecast of a recession that it’s been predicting since last July, as a number of longterm tailwinds including free trade, cheap credit and low-cost labour, reverse.

He noted the effects of the rapid rate increases still haven’t played out because of the lag on how long it takes to hit the economy.

“So there’s still a lot of pain to come.”

Wright however expects the slowdown, purposefully imposed through interest rates, will do its job and have inflation back to the Bank of Canada’s target range of one to three per cent by the end of the year.

Others aren’t so confident inflation will be able to come down so quickly, with Porter noting that underlying inflation, which strips out some volatile prices like energy, looks to be settling in at around five per cent

and it will be tough to get that down as expectations shift.

“That’s what’s going to be the tougher nut to crack here. It was relatively easy getting inflation down from eight to six or as gasoline prices retreated, but it’s that next step back down to two per cent that I think is going to be a little bit more of a challenge.”

Caranci also noted that emerging factors, like the reopening of the Chinese economy, could also push energy prices back up, with the bank forecasting oil going back up to US$90 a barrel, which would further complicate the inflation fight.

Overall, it will be some time before economists know how well the sharp rise in interest rates are working, and how it will play out in households and the overall economy.

“Monetary policy takes a long time to have an impact,” said Perrault. “You increase it a lot, and then you got to wait to see if it works or not. And that’s the challenge that we have, and they have.” The Canadian Press

Sunwing ‘incredibly sorry’ after holiday travel disruptions leave customers stranded

Sunwing has issued an apology to passengers left stranded after winter storms upended operations but says “most of our customers enjoyed their holidays with minimal disruption.”

In a joint statement on Thursday, Sunwing Travel Group CEO Stephen Hunter and Sunwing Airlines president Len Corrado said they are “incredibly sorry for letting our customers down.”

“We regret that we did not meet the level of service our customers expect from Sunwing,” the executives said.

“We had clear failures in execution, particularly in responding to weatherrelated delays and the aftermath of severe weather disruptions, which limited our ability to reposition aircraft and crew to other airports to help alleviate the backlog in flights.”

Hundreds of passengers were affected by Sunwing flight disruptions, which

began to pile up on Dec. 22 due to weather.

Some customers were stranded for days in tropical destinations amid a flurry of cancellations, winter storms and a breakdown with the airline’s digital communication service that left some flights with empty seats.

The company said it has completed all recovery flights related to holiday disruptions and has a plan to fix technical issues with flight alert notifications and communication flow to customers.

The airline is also continuing to “actively work to reunite customers who travelled during this period with their baggage in a timely fashion.”

After the airline issued its apology, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra tweeted that he had spoken with the company Thursday.

“What happened is completely unacceptable,” he wrote.

“Canadians expect airlines to keep them informed and manage disruptions. I will continue to work with Sunwing to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Later Thursday, Alghabra’s office noted that the government recently strengthened its Air Passenger Protection Regulations.

“As of September 8th, new regulations are in force that apply to flights that are cancelled, or where there is a lengthy delay, for reasons outside of an air carrier’s control, including major weather events or a pandemic,” said Nadine Ramadan, a spokesperson for the department.

“We will continue to ensure these rights are protected and the Canadian Transportation Agency is there to enforce the rights of travellers. That’s why we gave the Agency $11 million through Budget 2022 to ensure they have the resources to respond to complaints.”

Meanwhile, Sunwing suggested the severe disruption to its flight schedule over the holidays is similar to what several larger carriers faced during their first peak travel season since the pandemic last spring and summer.

“We planned our highest travel schedule since pre-pandemic and invested significantly to mitigate the potential risks that would come with meeting the high demand for travel over our peak winter season,” Hunter and Corrado said in the statement.

“We built an achievable plan which, due to a confluence of factors, we could no longer deliver.”

The airline announced on Dec. 29 that it was immediately cancelling its operations through Feb. 3 at Saskatchewan’s two largest airports.

Sunwing said it has “reduced some capacity during the month of January to ensure that we can execute to the highest standards with the least disruption to customers as we move through the winter season.”

The airline added that it’s actively accepting eligible claims for compensation and will fully comply with Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.

The Canadian Press

FOCUS

The Pathways-Trades at High School are Great Opportunities for Students Success

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

Pathways in education are great opportunities for students success and the trades are definitely part of them. It is no secret that not all students at the end of their education journey could become teachers, doctors, lawyers or engineers. It’s therefore necessary to as expose students to most if not all the opportunities in education at the High School, including the trades, to empower them to make individual choices that will lead to success in life before it’s too late. IT IS SAID THAT PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS BEGIN WITH YOUR DESTINATION IN MIND. This includes early identification of opportunities which suit your strengths and interests as well as planning goals and strategies to achieving them.

I am motivated to write on the topic of Pathways at High School by a recent education tour I made with Grade 8 students to their “home” High School in the vicinity of Toronto in the Ontario Province of Canada to expose them to the trade programs being run for students at the High. The programs include Healthcare, Cosmetology, Food, Media/Computer, Transportation and Masonry.

Skilled Trade Programs at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB): Some High Schools in the TDSB offer programs in the skilled trades and technologies to students as pathways to success in their education journey for local and national development.

According to the TDSB such connectivity, robots and rapid prototyping using 3-D printers are some of the technologies impacting the

learning required for journeypersons, also known as skilled trades people. For example, electricians, carpenters and aircraft technicians are a few examples of trades requiring intensive study, which blends technology with careers and academic learning.

At the TDSB, there are many ways to explore the over 300 skilled trades and technologies that contribute to our economy. These include: the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP) program, technological education programs in 10 broad-based areas of study, the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) and dual credit programs at Toronto’s colleges. Apprenticeship is a post-secondary pathway which incorporates college study with workintegrated experience, hence the term live your learning!

As part of our Student Success Initiatives, the TDSB partners with local colleges to provide Dual Credit and School Within a College (SWAC) Programming. These programs allow students to earn high

school credits in an adult learning environment while experiencing college in their grade 11 and 12 years as part of their transition to postsecondary education. These hands-on educational programs offer students the opportunities to learn about skilled technologies such as brick-laying, carpentry, masonry, electrical, heating and air conditioning needed in the construction industry.

During the one-day visit with my elementary students (grade 8) to the High School to learn briefly about the trade programs offered to students at that level I observed how enthusiastic my students were about such exposure to the available trades at the High School level which they

could pursue as pathways to success in their educational journey. I therefore encourage parents and guardians to support their students/wards in their pursuit of such pathways at the High School level.

Also, as an educationist, I such that the trades should be made available at the Senior High Schools in Ghana to offer early opportunities to students at that level of their education. It should not just be Vocational and Visual Arts studies at that level of education. Let’s catch the students young with the skilled trades and technologies for the needed national development. After all, “the early bird catches the worm.”

Ontario expanding private delivery of public health-care services in 3-step plan

cont’d from pg. 5

When there is a profit motive, there is a danger of patients being pressured to pay out of pocket for tests or treatments above what OHIP covers, he said.

“Physicians, I must emphasize - being one myself - are well intentioned,” Shamji said. “We also want what is best for our patients. But in the setting of corporatized, for-profit practice where there are shareholder and corporate bottom lines that are that are pushing to deliver results, it’s difficult…not to go down that pathway.”

Ontario’s auditor general said in a 2021 report that there isn’t enough provincial

oversight of such add-on fees. Patients might not be aware of their right to only select what’s funded through OHIP or where they can complain, the auditor wrote.

“This means that the issue of inappropriate and unusual patient charges could be much more widespread than the complaints being made to the Ontario Patient Ombudsman and the ministry,” the report said.

The audit found instances of cataract clinics suggesting the OHIP-covered services are inferior or that purchasing specialty lenses was mandatory.

The Canadian Press

Ontario expanding number and range of surgeries offered at for-profit clinics

Ontario is significantly expanding the number and range of medical procedures performed in privately run clinics as the province deals with a surgical backlog made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The change will be introduced over three phases. The first will see surgical and diagnostic clinics in Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Windsor perform an additional 14,000 cataract operations each year, representing about 25 per cent of the province’s current wait list for the procedure.

Next, more private clinics will be able to offer MRI and CT imaging, as well as colonoscopies and endoscopies.

“These procedures will be non-urgent, low-risk and minimally invasive and, in addition to shortening wait times, will allow hospitals to focus their efforts and resources on more complex and high-risk surgeries,” the province said in a news release.

The government intends that by 2024, the third phase will see hip and knee replacements performed at for-profit clinics.

The impending changes were outlined by Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones at a news conference Monday.

Ford and Jones said several times the care will be covered by OHIP, and Ford stressed patients will “never use their credit cards” at the clinics. He didn’t directly answer a reporter’s question about whether or not clinics would be allowed to upsell patients on associated elements of care.

While the changes are needed because of the province’s long surgery wait lists, Ford said, they will be kept in place permanently even after the backlog is cleared.

Ontario is moving more medical procedures into privately run health

clinics. The province says the move will cut down on surgical waitlists, but critics argue it will poach staff from already under-staffed public hospitals.

There are currently about 900 privately operated surgical and diagnostic clinics open in Ontario, Jones added. The province plans to approve licences for additional clinics in the future, she said.

Legislation set to be introduced in February would “strengthen oversight” of private health facilities, the news release said, and the province will continue to update its standards for how they deliver care. Various health-care professionals told CBC Toronto last week they are concerned that the plan would drain resources from publicly funded hospitals and benefit the owners of private-sector clinics without improving patient care.

Jones said the changes will not affect staffing levels at hospitals in the province, while Ford lamented “endless debates” about who should deliver health care.

“The way I can describe it, you have a dam, you have a log jam, are you going to just keep pouring the water up against the logs?” Ford said.

“Or are you going to reroute some of the water and take the pressure off the dam? You see what happens when the dam has too much water, it breaks.”

Speaking to reporters, presumptive NDP Leader Marit Stiles said MPPs should be called back to the legislature immediately so the details of the plan can be debated. Stiles accused Ford of manufacturing a staffing crisis in hospitals via his government’s wage restraint law and “following the privatization playbook to a tee.”

“Make no mistake, Doug Ford is misleading you when he says that

cont’d on pg. 35

2022 Qatar Oscars Go To

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto, ON

Perhaps, the most enduring sporting legacy of 2022 was the World Football Cup Finals in Qatar. After losing their opening match 1-2 against underdogs Saudi Arabia, Argentina on 18th December 2022 went on to win the finals defeating defending champions France 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time.

British commentator Peter Drury’s poetic choice of words at the end of the Argentina-France finals summed it up this way: “Argentina are champions of the world again, at last. And the nation will tango all night long, 36 years since Maradona and Mexico. Here, finally is a nation’s new throng of immortals.

Scaloni will be feted, Messi will be sainted; France this time denied, defied. Lionel Messi this time has conquered his final peak. Lionel Messi has shaken hands with paradise. The little boy from Rosario Santa Fe has just pitched up in heaven. He climbs into a galaxy of his own.”

Qatar 2022 appears to have laid to rest the question of who football’s greatest of all times (GOAT) is, in contemporary times. Argentina’s Lionel Messi who won the “golden-boot” award for being the best player of the tournament left no doubt in anybody’s mind that he is this generation’s GOAT of world football, joining football greats like Pele and countryman Diego Maradona.

Indeed, when asked in a recent interview on who he thought the greatest footballer was, Pele’s answer was “Messi is the greatest now!”

Some fans who did not support Argentina were happy for Messi as a person when Argentina beat France. For them, Messi leading Argentina to win the World Cup was simply what Shakespeare calls, poetic justice.

He had been through the mountains and valleys of his football career and had won every trophy except the World Cup. Finally, he did and English commentator Peter Drury summed it up aptly as quoted above.

Many years ago as cadets, we were taught that certain subjects were not to be discussed at the Officers’ Mess. These were Politics, Religion and Sex. The explanation was that, these were highly emotive subjects that could not be subjected to logic or objective reasoning. They were subjective and got discussed from entrenched positions with no room for compromise.

So, as Cadet colleagues met, with reasonableness and civility reduced, politics, religion and women/sex were not to be discussed. Outside however, these subjects could be discussed. Like all Commonwealth militaries, these traditions were inherited from the British military on account of their

C19th to early C20th experiences, lessons learnt and resulting distilled Best Practices!

I have no doubt that, given the emotive nature of football, if football (English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, Ghana Premier League etc) had existed at the time these rules/ regulations were made in the British Army in the C19th-early C20th, it would have been added to politics, religion and sex as a non-discussable subject in the Mess. An example of the passion football can generate happened in Central America in 1969 when two nations went to war over football.

From 14-18 July 1969, two Central American countries, El Salvador and Honduras fought a four-day war in what became known as the “Football War” or the “100-hours War.” Even though there were underlying tensions between the two countries, the immediate cause of the conflict was the three qualifying matches between El Salvador and Honduras who had topped their groups, for a single slot in the FIFA 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Crowd violence between football fans of the two countries in the three matches on 8th, 15th and 23rd June 1969 which saw El Salvador qualify for Football World Cup 1970 provided the spark which resulted in the fourday war.

Apart from their stunning 2-1 victory over Germany, perhaps the greatest victory the Japanese made in Qatar 2022 was the lesson they taught the world by cleaning the stadium after every match even if their team did not play. They reminded the world about the virtue of cleanliness. Isn’t there a saying that “cleanliness is next to godliness?”

In their match against Netherlands on 13th December 2022, Argentina won in a penalty shoot-out. When the goal that made Argentina the winners was scored, all the Argentine players ran to congratulate the goal-scorer Ramirez, except Messi. He alone ran to congratulate Argentine goalkeeper Ramirez who had saved them from losing on penalties. The true leader that he was/is, he appreciated Ramirez’s role in their victory, running alone to congratulate goalkeeper. For the unsung heroes of Ghana, God notices your good works!

Again, after Argentina had won the penalty shoot-out against France, a dejected and inconsolable Mbappe sat on the field, probably dazed. How could he score a hat-trick, the first since Englishman Geoff Hurst in 1966, in a World Cup final, and still lose? President Macron in a show of leadership walked to the field to console the inconsolable Mbappe.

Messi’s triumph leading Argentina to victory over France to win Qatar 2022, perhaps reinforces the saying “where there is a will, there is a way.” After four previous World Cups eluded him, Messi at his fifth attempt at age thirtyfive, finally won.

It shows courage, determination and tenacity and above all humility. Human

AI is

as Messi is, at a point, under a barrage of criticism by Argentines for their team’s failure to win the world cup, Messi decided to call it quits. However, the whole nation rallied behind him, and encouraged Messi not to quit!

Ghanaians whose forte is destructive criticism only, seeing only the seamier side of life, have a lesson to learn from the Argentines. As the legendary boxing coach Angelo Dundee said, “criticism is good, but Encouragement is better!”

Finally from the World Cup, we must also learn from Japan’s reminder to the whole world the “cleanliness is next to godliness!”

Another wrap of a magnificent football extravaganza Oscars recapped!!!!

The role of AI has modified considerably – from its preliminary creation on the threshold of an enterprise of their innovation labs to the modern-day while human beings are starting to recognize that it has the ability to convert businesses from the center out.

According to the reports, AI will be better than human beings in translating languages by 2024, promoting items by 2031, and conducting surgical procedures by 2053.

Meanwhile, let’s see the changes that AI brings in 2022: Machine Learning: Machine Learning (ML) is an application of artificial intelligence that gives systems the capacity to automatically analyze and enhance from experience without being explicitly programmed. ML specializes in the development of computer applications that may access information and use them to analyze for themselves. ML is the idea that computer software can learn and adapt to new information without human intervention. ML keeps a computer’s integrated algorithms up to date and permits the system to pick out data and built predictions around them. ML is beneficial in maintaining an enormous quantity of data and may be implemented in quite a few areas, together with investment, lending, setting up news, fraud detection, and more.

AI at the Border

AI in defense and security are absolutely unlimited.AI is frequently embedded into weapons and surveillance systems to enhance performance. It regularly enhances target recognition, flight simulation and training, and risk monitoring.

Most importantly, the vital and volatile jobs of securing the borders of the country may be delegated to artificially smart robots, unmanned aircraft, drones, UAVs, etc. This might lessen the threat of life for the soldiers at the borders and offer better surveillance measures through the use of advanced Facial Recognition Technologies.

AI in Education

The future of classrooms is virtual. Already, there are lots of courses on platforms that can be distinctly informative and can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. AI can automate the excursion of administrative responsibilities for instructors and educational institutions.

Educators spend a lot of time grading exams, assessing homework, and imparting important responses to their students. AI is permitting the automation of categories and processing of paperwork. The idea of schooling may be redefined from the comfort of the homes, customized in line with each students’

Robots

2022 is the year robot delivery ultimately takes off. Drones will be used for medical applications in towns handing over samples and reagents from hospitals to laboratories quicker than automobiles could drive throughout town. Detecting and deactivating bombs, working in environments wherein people can’t survive, producing items or additives repetitively.

AI in Enterprise

Businesses are using AI to enhance the productiveness of their employees. The advantage of AI for enterprise is that it handles repetitive tasks throughout an organization simply so that employees can focus on creative solutions, complicated problem solving, and impactful work. The idea of the workplace may also be redefined through the arrival of technology. The future work may be distinctly flexible. The concept of Work From Home may be the brand new norm and virtual meetings and conferences will be the normal practice. This might

being a fast-paced technology and ruling the world with its different applications

Nana Osei Achampong $200

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CHURCH DONATION

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OKYEMAN HERITAGE

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Minazy Yaazo wins DMA 2022 Artist of the year and four other Awards

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

Dangme rapper, Minazy Yaazo has emerged the artiste of the year at the just ended Dangme Music Awards (DMA) which took place in Accra on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

Aside the artiste of the year award, he also won four other awards namely Most Popular song of the Year, Song Writer of the Year, Dangme Song of the Year and Fanbase of the year award.

Other artistes who swept home some of the awards at the third edition include Cosbird, Hiphop Artiste of the Year, Stage Waany, Highlife Artiste of the Year while Forqzy Beatz won Best Producer of the Year Award.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian News Canada, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Ayiku Solomon popularly known as Bra Levels said the award which was organised by iShootMedia aim at celebrating and recognising Dangme

musicians to promote their works while connecting them to a wider market to build a network for investors to resource their crafts.

He explained that the awards among other things was to promote the Dangme language and also project the Dangme culture.

Toronto homeowners will face biggest property tax hike since amalgamation

Toronto’s 2023 spending plan will see property taxes increased by their highest rate since amalgamation, costing the average homeowner an additional $233.

The $16.16 billion operating budget, tabled for the first time on Tuesday, is based on a 5.5 per cent increase to the residential property tax rate. However, homeowners will actually see their bills increase by seven per cent in 2023 due to a previously approved 1.5 per cent hike to the city building levy.

Staff say that the owner of an average priced home assessed at $695,268 will pay an additional $233 as a result. The property tax bill for an average priced home would total $3,569.

Tory’s proposed 2023 residential tax hike dwarfs the 2.9 per cent introduced in 2022 -- the highest of his tenure at the time. In 2021, the residential tax increase was 0.7 per cent, the lowest of Tory’s time in office.

The city will also see a three per cent tax increase to water, wastewater; and solid waste rates. The water bill for an average home will go up about $29 a year as a result while garbage fees will rise between $8 and $16 per household, depending on the size of your bin.

Staff say that the increases are needed to offset some of the “unprecedented

inflationary pressures” the city will face in 2023.

They say that increases to the cost of fuel alone will cost the city $46 million in 2023 while higher interest rates will translate into an additional $65 million in capital financing costs.

The city is also expected to face ongoing fiscal challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a whopping $933-million shortfall for 2023 as a result.

Coupled with the $484-million deficit leftover from 2022, the city said it requires support from other levels of government to offset the $1.4 billion COVID-19 has cost the city.

Staff say that without that funding it will be impossible to “avoid service impacts or reductions to capital spending.”

In fact, Toronto has already paused about $300 million worth of planned capital work due to the shortfall.

MONEY FOR NEW POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS

The budget includes money to hire an additional 200 police officers, as well as add 66 new paramedic positions and 52 new firefighter positions.

The budget will also see the subsidy to the TTC increased by $53 million,

cont’d on pg. 21

Bra Levels said through the awards, various industrial talents including Disc Jockeys (DJs), music producers, video directors and musicians were honoured for their unique contribution and role played in ensuring the development of Dangme culture.

He indicated that the 2022 edition of the awards which had 36 categories also has mouth watery prizes aside the silver plaque, bragging title and

exposure which the winners gained. My advice to follow Dangme musicians is let us value ourselves and with that we can appreciate individual talents and together we can sell Dangme music to the world,” Bra Levels added.

He called on DJs, bloggers, event organisers and all other stakeholders to join hands with his outfit to boost Dangme music in and outside the country.

Minazy Yaazo delivering speech after receiving DMA2022 Artiste of the year

IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES

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

Permanent Resident Application in Canada made on Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds should be an option of last resort

This topic is being revisited because of its overwhelming importance. Generally, foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to Canada must apply for and obtain a permanent resident visa from abroad. The option to apply on humanitarian and compassionate grounds arises if the applicant is in Canada and needs an exception from one or more requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or Regulations in order to apply for permanent residence within Canada.

Applicants must be convinced that the circumstances of their cases should justify granting the required exemptions they need on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. This option is generally exercised when the applicant is ineligible to apply for permanent residence from within Canada as a spouse or common-law partner; live-in caregiver; caregivers caring for children or people with high medical needs; protected person and convention refugees; and as temporary resident permit holders.

It is a cornerstone of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) that, prior to their arrival in Canada, persons who wish to live permanently in Canada must submit their applications outside Canada and qualify for, and obtain a permanent resident visa.

However, subsection 25(1) of the Act allows any foreign national who is inadmissible or who does not meet the requirements of the Act or Regulations to make a written request for consideration. A request under subsection 25(1) for an exemption from the in-Canada selection criteria based on humanitarian and compassionate or public policy considerations must accompany an application for permanent residence in Canada.

Thus, a foreign national who is criminally or medically inadmissible and other persons in similar situations who simply do not meet the requirements of the Act or the Regulations may apply to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. And, if applicable, a sponsorship in support of the applicant may accompany the application.

Humanitarian and compassionate decisions are more complex and more subjective than most other immigration decisions because officers use their discretion to assess the applicant’s personal circumstances. Even though officers are cautioned to make their discretionary decisions with care and good judgment, the legislation does not provide any explanation or guidance about what constitutes humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

In applications based on humanitarian and compassionate considerations, applicants bear the onus of satisfying the decision-maker that their personal circumstances are such that the hardship of having to obtain a permanent resident visa from outside of Canada would be unusual and undeserved or disproportionate. Applicants must present whatever facts they believe are relevant to their situation but must

know that the Immigration would not consider cost and inconvenience as excessive hardships that should warrant humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

Generally, factors relating to a child’s emotional, social, cultural and physical welfare are taken into consideration when raised - and only when raised. Also, positive consideration may be warranted when the period of inability to leave Canada due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s control is of significant duration and, also, in situations where there is evidence of a significant degree of establishment in Canada.

In determining the applicant’s degree of establishment in Canada, officers are likely to take into consideration, the applicant’s history of stable employment; pattern of sound financial management; and integration into the community through involvement in community organizations, voluntary services or other activities. It’s also most likely that officers would consider any professional and academic studies the applicant has undertaken; the applicant’s family ties in Canada; and whether the applicant

and the applicant’s family members, if applicable, have a good civil record in Canada. Inadmissibility issues like criminality could resurface in the process.

Generally, applications for permanent residence made on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are only approved in exceptional circumstances and it could take up to several years to process an application. And, most discouragingly, there is no right of appeal for a refused application for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. It would therefore be advisable for anybody with such problems to contact a specialist in Immigration Law and discuss specifics of his or her case with the specialist before such applications are made.

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) 7432758 for an appointment.

Canada Cell: 416-825-5885

USA Cell 1-917-306-0073Tel: 1-914-652-7191

Ghana Cell: +233244-672052 Tel: +233332195630 Web: www.saharaherbals.com Email: atosahara@yahoo.com

fatigue’: New study suggests human brains need in-person interaction

a new study by Montreal researchers suggests.

The study’s results, its authors say, could help explain “Zoom fatigue”the discomfort that many felt during the COVID-19 pandemic after spending entire days participating in online meetings.

“Our findings clearly demonstrate the price we pay for technology,” the authors say in the study, called “Technologically-assisted communication attenuates inter-brain synchrony,” published in the December 2022 issue of the open-access journal NeuroImage.

Guillaume Dumas, a researcher with Universite de Montreal and the Sainte-Justine children’s hospital, along with colleagues, used an electroencephalogram - a test that measures electrical activity in the brain - to examine the brains of mothers and their children. Sixty-two mother-child pairs were studied; their brain activity was measured when they were talking in person and through a remote video chat.

The researchers found that participants’ brains “synchronized” when they were in each other’s presence but did not do so when they were chatting through a screen. Researchers said they were able to observe nine important “cross-brain links” between participants during inperson conversation, compared to only one link during the virtual chat.

They said they think the links formed during in-person discussion permit people to communicate emotions or offer non-verbal cues.

“It’s the adage about being on the same wavelength,” Dumas said, adding that it’s clear from the study that certain cross-brain links are absent when people talk through video conferencing software.

cont’d on pg. 27

Broookview Grade 8 Students visit Westview Centennial Secondary School for a day of Tech Learning

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Toronto

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023 some Grade 8 students from the Broookview Middle School in the Jane/Finch area of Toronto paid a day’s visit to the nearby Westview Centennial Secondary School to learn about the trade programs being offered at the High School level there.

The students were put into six groups under Westview students volunteers to visit the various trade programs offered at the high school. Areas visited during the day of tech learning included Healthcare, Cosmetology, Food, Media/Computer, Masonry and Transportation.

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The art of cosmetology at Westview Centennial College Students learning about brick laying

Looking back 40 years ago Ghana must go: The

ugly history of Africa’s most famous bag

There was indeed. In 1958, Nigeria struck oil as a young, soon-to-beliberated country with a population of 100-million. First Shell, then Mobil and Agip set up shop in the country to drill oil commercially.

The oil money was steady and hopes were high that Nigeria could prosper, despite the brutal military regimes that marred that period. In the 1970s the economy exploded when oil prices soared worldwide. The golden decade had arrived and the country became Africa’s wealthiest, securing its title: Giant of Africa. By 1974, Nigeria’s oil wells were spitting out some 2.3-million barrels a day. The standard of living improved. There was an influx of people from the farms into the cities; when they travelled, robust iron boxes were generally preferred over cheap plastic sacks. The influx came not just from within Nigeria, but from across the region.

“Ghana was hell. Nothing was working in this country.”

While Nigeria was booming, its closest English-speaking neighbour, Ghana, was going through quite the opposite. A deadly mix of famine and insurgency was precipitated by a crash in the price of cocoa (Ghana was the world’s largest cocoa producer in the 1960s) and the 1966 coup, which ousted independence leader Kwame Nkrumah. At the time, the country’s population hovered around the sevenmillion mark, but several million people decided to journey east and try their fortunes in prosperous Nigeria.

“Ghana was hell,” said Dr Mawuli Adjei, a retired English lecturer from the University of Ghana. Ghana was close to a failed state and, like Acquaye, Adjei was forced to leave. “Nothing was working in this country,” Adjei said, speaking from the garden chair of his Accra home. Money was hard to come by and when he did have it, he couldn’t use it. Food was scarce: he couldn’t buy even a tin of milk. At grocery stores, queues were common.

Recruiters from Nigeria came to Ghana looking for people who would like to teach or take up casual jobs — the jobs Nigerians themselves were unwilling to do. But Adjei, jobless even with a degree, had missed the call. Determined, he travelled on his own to the Yoruba town of Ejigbo,

in Nigeria’s west and stayed with an uncle. Ejigbo felt like home — many here were also from Ghana and Adjei’s mother tongue, Ewe, flowed like wine from their mouths.

Unlike Adjei, Acquaye was uneducated. That didn’t stop him from making it in Lagos, then the capital city, where big money was rolling in. He made enough to send back to his wife and child. His first job was moulding building blocks. He landed another as a guard in Victoria Island, an elite suburb, where he opened gates for important people. He loved the calm. It was so quiet that, in some places, certain cars were not allowed to move so that they wouldn’t disturb the rich folks.

So many Ghanaians went to Nigeria that it seemed like every Ghanaian family had a relative working there. Across the 19 states that existed then — there are now 36 — primary and secondary schools were filled with Ghanaian teachers, who were well known for their thoroughness and their pankeres — the long, supple beating sticks wrapped lovingly in sticky tape for added sting. Law offices, shoe repair shops, ice cream parlours, restaurants and brothels were flooded with neighbours from the west.

Life was good. Acquaye was lucky to secure a small room meant for domestic workers in one of the mansions that lined Kofo Abayomi Street. There, he made friends with “big” men: “I even knew Captain Gowon Junior. I knew him!” Acquaye swears, jumping at the memory. Captain Isaiah Gowon is the younger brother of General Yakubu Gowon, the one-time military head of state. “He was staying at the Plateau state governor’s house and I was there as a security man.”

On the weekends, he joined the large crowds watching criminals being executed at Bar Beach. Then he ate banku, a Ghanaian specialty, and drank with friends. Even on his small salary, things were affordable. “I [would go] to Agege market to buy food for the whole week and it would not reach five naira,” he recalls incredulously.

Returning refugees at the Ghana border. (Photo by Michel Setboum/ Getty Images)

And then came the oil crash. Global oil prices started to dip in 1982, when large consumer markets such as the United States and Canada slipped into recession and demand was low. By 1983, the price of a barrel had fallen to $29, down from $37 in 1980. At around the same time, the US began producing its own oil, further cutting demand and causing excess supply. Nigeria, its economy almost exclusively reliant on oil, was hard hit. By 1982, 90% of the country’s foreign reserves had been wiped out, according to the Washington Post

Food prices skyrocketed and salaries became erratic. Adjei, who had taken up a job as a public teacher in Kishi, western Nigeria, felt the pinch: state governments could only pay salaries after two months. Poor policy decisions at the highest level of government only made things worse. Ghana’s nightmare was being replayed in Nigeria.

As it began to feel the crunch, Nigeria started to turn inwards. By 1982, politicians started to use words like “aliens” in their manifestos in preparation for the 1983 general elections. They blamed African migrants, especially Ghanaians, for the flailing economy. Ghanaians had taken all the jobs and brought crime to Nigeria and, if elected, they would chase them out, they promised.

It didn’t take long for this animosity to spill over into relations between Nigerians and Ghanaians. Acquaye heard stories of Ghanaians being physically harassed and tried to keep out of trouble. Even with a weakening economy, Lagos’ Victoria Island was a gift and most people were nice to him. So when the announcement came that morning of January 17, Acquaye was stunned. He doesn’t remember now how much it cost to get the legal papers, but he had not bothered about it until then — no one really had.

At first Acquaye thought he could avoid leaving. Ghana was still unstable with a military regime that was battling uprisings. He had no reason to go back. But after the announcements, the hostilities had grown. Rumours spread that the government had ordered locals to beat up any illegal Ghanaian still in the country by the January 31 deadline.

Those plastic checked bags were everywhere. Heavy-hearted, Acquaye packed some for a friend who decided to leave early to beat the crowds to the borders. By the 30th, Acquaye knew he couldn’t risk staying.

“I left there. I remember that it was the 31st I left, that was the last day. I left around 11.30 in the morning,” he said. “You’ll say you won’t go? If somebody kills you, who are you going to ask?”

The borders were a disaster, crammed with desperate people carrying chairs on their heads, dragging their checked bags and selling off whatever they couldn’t lift to make money to pay for fares that had doubled. Millions streamed out through any possible exit they could find — through Shaki, in western Nigeria, to northern Benin. Down south, at the Seme border in Lagos, stampedes would kill many. Dozens were loaded onto open haulage trucks headed for Ghana.

But Jerry Rawlings, Ghana’s military head of state, had ordered the borders with Togo closed, to desist coup plotters and insurgents, so there would be no passage for days. In response, Togo closed its border with Benin to avoid a refugee crisis. Cars stalled bumper to bumper from the Benin-Togo border to Lagos, with people caught in sweltering heat and without water. Diseases spread. The United States prepared to send in aid. The League of Red Cross Societies airlifted 500 tents, 10 000 blankets and thousands of buckets, according to the Washington Post

There was one crucial difference: the Nigerians were rich.

The international community condemned Nigeria’s decision to expel foreigners, but Adjei is convinced it was long coming; that Nigeria’s leaders considered it an overdue and necessary payback.

When he was 14 and in elementary school, back in 1969, he had witnessed the then-Ghanaian prime minister, Kofi Busia, invoke the Aliens Compliance Order and deport an estimated 2.5-million undocumented African

Returning refugees at the Ghana border. (Photo by Michel Setboum/Getty Images)

Charles

Lawrence

Prez Akufo Addo Charges Newly Sworn in Judges to Help Build a Respectable Judiciary

The President said the surest way for the Judicial arm of government to earn the veneration of the citizenry is through quality and informed decisions.

President Akufo-Addo, has charged two newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court, to do all within their mandate to contribute to the building of a Judiciary that will command the respect of the Ghanaian people.

Addressing two newly appointed Supreme Court Justices after administering the Judicial oath, oaths of Secrecy and Allegiance to them at the banquet hall of the Jubilee House today 28 December 2022, President Akufo-Addo said the surest way for the Judicial arm of government to earn the veneration of the citizenry is through quality and informed decisions.

“To our new Supreme Court judges, Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, it is extremely important for you to bear in mind that the growth of our nation demands that we have a Judiciary that commands the respect of the people by the quality of the delivery of justice as well as the comportment of its judges.

“Applications of the laws of the land must occur in the words of the judicial oath that you have just taken, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and therefore, without recourse to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land or any person

before you” President Akufo-Addo observed.

“When a person falls foul of the law, society demands that the person will be dealt with accordingly and law enforcement agencies including the Supreme Court, must ensure that this is done.

“That is the true meaning of the concept of equality before the law and I am confident that you will uphold it and distinguish yourselves in the work of the court” the President added.

Supreme Court Vacancies

President Akufo-Addo in his address noted that the new Justices have been

appointed to fill the vacancies created by the late Justice Samuel Marfo-Sau who died on 10 August 2021, and Justice Yaw Appaw who retired on 2 August 2021.

“I await Parliament’s approval of the two remaining nominees, Justice George Kingsley Koomson and Justice

cont’d on pg. 37

Toronto homeowners will face biggest property tax hike since amalgamation

cont’d from pg. 13

helping to pay for the hiring of 50 more special constables.

There is also an investment of $2.86 million to help ensure seasonal washrooms and drinking fountains in city parks are open earlier in the spring and later in the fall.

Speaking with reporters earlier in the day, Tory noted that the significance of the proposed property tax hike is not lost on him but said the measure is in line with his campaign promise to keep any increases below the rate of inflation.

“I wish it could be lower, because I know that any cost right now is hard for people to bear,” Tory said. “But the bottom line is that this is something that does increase costs for people, this budget. But we have worked to keep

those increases as low as we possibly can.”

The 2023 proposal is the first to be introduced under Tory’s new so-called “strong mayor” powers, which allow Tory to craft his own budget and veto amendments to the budget presented by council.

It is also the first fiscal plan since the Ontario government unveiled a new housing bill which could cost municipalities billions as a result of reduced development charges.

Toronto’s 10-year capital plan, also released on Tuesday, assumes that the city will be made whole for that revenue loss. Staff, however, warn that if the city is not reimbursed numerous capital projects will be put on hold, including work associated with the

HousingTO plan to build 40,000 new units by 2030.

Speaking with reporters at city hall, Parkdale-High Park Coun. Gord Perks said that the budget “assumes the federal and provincial governments are just going to rain money on us from the sky” and commits the city to cancelling or delaying needed capital work should that not materialize.

He said that without additional revenue tools in place “things will get worse.”

“We don’t know which stuff won’t get repaired. Do we stop buying buses, does the community centre close because the plumbing is broken. We haven’t been given that list but it will be severe,” he said.

Tory will present the budget by Feb. 1 for consideration by council on Feb. 14. CTV News

Ghana: NCA Approves Sale of Government’s 70% shares in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel

The National Communication Authority (NCA) has granted conditional approval for the transfer of 70 per cent majority shares of Vodafone International Holdings B.V. Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Group.

A statement issued by NCA said the approval followed a revised financial and technical proposal submitted by Telecel resubmitted in December 2022, which demonstrated the needed capital investment to extend the deployment of 4G and launch innovative Fintech solutions.

In January 2022, the NCA received an application from Vodafone Ghana for the transfer of 70 per cent of its majority shares to Telecel Group, but the regulator after evaluation rejected the request for failing to meet the regulatory threshold for approval to be granted.

The NCA said it found that the revised proposal provided more clarity and certainty in terms of the funding required for the acquisition and the commitments from both the Vodafone and Telecel.

NCA said Telecel strengthened the overall governance and management team and made firm commitments towards meeting the regulatory requirements of the NCA.

“Based on the above, the NCA confirms that the revised proposal from the Buyer now meets the regulatory threshold and hence has granted a conditional approval for the transfer of shares to the Buyer including submission of strategies for employee retention,” it added.

The NCA therefore assured the general public and all stakeholders that it would continue to work with Vodafone Ghana and the Telecel to complete all outstanding regulatory requirements to ensure a smooth transition as well as continuity of service delivery and improved choice for consumers and competition within the industry.

Vodafone Ghana began operations in 2008 when its parent company paid the government $900 million for 70 per cent of the then Ghana Telecom Company Limited.

The government still maintained 30 per cent stake in the company.

‘Zoom fatigue’: New study suggests human brains need in-person interaction

cont’d from pg. 15

“We pay a bit of a price by using technology to communicate by having lower-quality and less authentic communication, compared to what our brain is used to (and) what it was made for.”

The human brain is the result of tens of thousands of years of evolution, while technology is rapidly evolving, he said. The brain, he added, is configured to manage interactions and communications with others face to face.

Researchers found that during inperson discussions, the frontal regions of the mother’s brain linked to each of the regions measured in the child’s brain. The frontal cortex is associated with high social functions, including social cognition and decision-making in a social context.

In-person communication, Dumas said, makes it easier to convey and identify non-verbal cues, to anticipate what the other person might say and to recognize innuendo - subtleties that are more difficult to identify when speaking over a screen.

The study, he added, raises concerns about youth - who heavily use technology to communicate.

There are neuroscience experiments that show there are critical periods for youth to learn certain social norms that can be harder to pick up later in the developmental process, he said. The use of technology also opens the door to certain habits that were more difficult to do in-person, like cyberbullying.

“People who would not have acted out (in person) have much less difficulty in exhibiting toxic behaviour on the internet,” Dumas said.

“Zoom fatigue,” he said, can be caused by delayed social feedback, difficulty sustaining attention, by people not showing their faces, by posture issues, or by responses that are slow in coming due to muted microphones. Reduced brain synchronization, Dumas said, can be added to that list.

“We may end up concluding that a 15-minute in-person meeting is more effective than an hour-long online meeting.”

The Canadian Press

IN PICTURES

Group picture of both families in Liberty Village Toronto

Run The Flex Ultra Modern Studio Opens

By Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

The state of the art studio of Run The Flex in the heart of Toronto opened its doors to the public on Saturday, January 7th 2023. It is a hip hop dance studio on 893 Yonge Street, Unit 2 for dancers of all levels.

It was founded in 2017 by three people: Aaron Aquino-Annobil, Nicole Rosove who are now a couple and Lisa Heath. Some of the performers at the opening were Killa Beatz (2x Unity 2v2 Beatbox champion 2012, 2013), O’shani Cardwell, Jay, Footnotes, Black Ops, Gian & Aaron, Yarro and Gomez & Jendayi.

Refreshments were served at this well attended event. The MC was Henani Sagra and the DJ was Mia Salaveria. The entertainment was awesome as the performers displayed their dancing moves amidst thunderous applause from the audience.

The Apostolic Church Int’l Canada Ushers in the New Year

Family at the opening to support RTF

Nicole with some RTF dancers

Nicole Rosove

RTF dancers

At the event

Honing their dancing skills

Killa Beatz doing his own thing

Aps. Jeremiah Mensah Praising God Biding goodbye

By Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

Evangel & Transformation Centre Assembly of God Ushers in the New Year

A joint service to usher in the New Year by Evangel & Transformation Centre Assembly of God was held at the premises of Evangel Assembly of God 314 Rexdale Blvd. on Saturday 31st December 2022

Rev. Milton Offei Rev. Isaac K. Bonful

James A. Kwaateng, B.A. (Hons); LLB (Hons); CCIC

Commissioner of Oaths Tel. (416) 743-2758

(416) 743-7027 168A Oakdale Rd., Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario, M3N 2S5.

AI is being a fast-paced technology and ruling the world with its different applications

cont’d from pg. 11

cause, the industrial real estate areas to witness a drop in their demands.

AI in Automobile Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) and selfdriving automobiles are regularly complementary subjects in technology. Car producers everywhere in the globe are using artificial intelligence. AI and machine learning are being applied in how automobiles are built and the way they function on the road. There is an electric-powered automobile in each segment — scooter, motorcycle (Revolt), hatchback (Mahindra e2O), compact sedan (Tata Tigor), compact SUV (Tata Nexon), SUV (MG ZS EV), and several high-end top-class services from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Audi, and BMW.

AI in Traffic Management

AI now using its fast-paced different technologies such as ITMS, ATCS, LMT, Law Enforcement & many more in Traffic Management. The power of AI that propels quite a few information evaluations of these systems, is likewise what powers the navigation systems of ride-hailing in addition to last-mile delivery operators. Deliveries or order fulfillments that needed to be not on time in the past, can now be improved notably as towns retain taking over such shrewd visitors structures.

AI in Metaverse

The metaverse is an immersive, virtual reality (VR) world that you enter through carrying VR goggles. It holds massive promise for quite a lot of sectors — from purchasing to enterprise and the arena of work.

The metaverse describes an imaginative and prescient of a related to 3D digital international, wherein actual and virtual worlds are incorporated the use of technology including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). There are numerous metaverses already – as an instance in digital gaming platforms like The Sandbox and virtual worlds like Decentraland. AI has the ability to parse massive volumes of information at lightning pace to generate insights and drive action. Users can either leverage AI for decision-making (that is the case for maximum agency applications), or link AI with automation for low contact processes.

AI additionally helps such things as computer imagination and prescient and simultaneous location and mapping technology, which assist machines to recognize our bodily environment.

AI in Healthcare

At the 2018 World Medical Innovation Forum (WMIF) on artificial intelligence presented by Partners Healthcare, main researchers and clinical faculty participants showcased the twelve technologies and areas of the healthcare enterprise which might be maximum in all likelihood to look a major effect from artificial intelligence. AI has made specific contributions in anticancer drug improvement and remedy. It can offer critical insights and data that can’t be discovered through human identity and customize remedies for each cancer patient. It is assumed that AI could be an effective riding force for human most cancer studies and remedy in the future. We trust that AI will carry profound modifications to scientific technology in the future. AI can control the usage of chemotherapy drugs and expect the tolerance of chemotherapy drugs so that it will optimize the chemotherapy regimen. AI can assist medical doctors to make accurate remedy choices, lessen needless surgeries, and assist oncologists to enhance sufferers’ cancer remedy plans.

In a recent study, researchers from NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) report that they’ve evolved a unique artificial intelligence (AI) device that achieves radiologist-level accuracy in figuring out breast cancer in ultrasound images.

AI as Workforce

The consensus amongst many specialists is that some of the professions might be definitely computerized. A group of seniorlevel tech executives who contain the Forbes Technology Council named 13, which include insurance underwriting, warehouse, and production jobs, consumer service, studies and information entry, long haul trucking, and a fairly disconcertingly wide class titled “Any Tasks That Can Be Learned.” Accountants, manufacturing unit employees, truckers, paralegals, and radiologists — simply to name a few.

Ex: Chatbots, AI-writers (such as Ryte), AI-Translators, AI-coders, etc.… Source: Analytics Insight

Ghana’s New Debt Exchange Deadline of 31st January is not Sustainable – Economist

I don’t think that that 31st January extension new date will be met because there are very entrenched positions here.

An Economist, Dr. Theo Acheampong, says the new deadline for the domestic debt exchange programme will not be met.

This follows an announcement by the Ministry of Finance on Monday, January 16.

The date for the programme which has been extended three times since it was announced has faced strong opposition from various stakeholders, including individual bondholders who accuse the government of failing to engage them before including them in the programme.

They are demanding extensive engagement from government in order

for an amicable solution to be reached.

However, speaking on PM Express, Dr. Theo Acheampong said, taking into consideration the government’s top-down approach in handling the programme, reaching an amicable solution may remain a dream for a long time.

Debt Exchange Programme to Collapse at Least 5 Banks –Minority Cautions

It says a chunk of the liquidity of these banks is locked up in government bonds.

The Minority in Parliament is predicting the collapse of some five commercial banks if government goes ahead with its Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.

It says a chunk of the liquidity of these banks is locked up in government bonds.

“The banks will collapse. In fact, I project a minimum of five banks collapsing if this [debt exchange] goes ahead. Not only that, a number of banks will have to lay off staff and close some of their branches”, says Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

He adds more people will be impoverished if the programme is carried out.

“The monies that banks have invested is not their money. It is depositors’ money, so there will be liquidity issues. When you go to the banks and ask for your money, there is a possibility that, you won’t get your money.”

The caucus has already called on the government to immediately suspend the Debt Exchange Programme and engage various stakeholders in the exercise.

This comes after the government announced plans to extend the deadline for bondholders to sign onto the Domestic Debt Exchange Program to January 31, 2023, as part of efforts to address the country’s economic challenges.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said the Akufo-Addo government’s reckless borrowing contributed to the seeming failure of the debt exchange

programme.

“How did we get to this pit? Simple. Reckless borrowing! Sadly, the NPP Government led by Nana AkufoAddo-Bawumia has not learned any lesson. The NPP was not only reckless in borrowing, but it has been reckless in announcing and implementing the Debt Exchange Programme. It is clear that the NPP Government did not properly think through this whole idea of a debt exchange programme. This has led to manifest confusion in the implementation of the ongoing debt exchange programme.”

The Minority group called on government to “immediately suspend the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and engage in more comprehensive consultation on the matter with all stakeholders and the Ghanaian people.”

“It is called on all stakeholders for a national dialogue on the state of the economy and debt exchange programme with the view to achieving the most workable and least punitive steps that protect Ghanaians and households from the disastrous effects of the Domestic Exchange Program as currently received.” UTV

“Currently in my view, the process has been bungled because of the sort of i-know-it-all attitude of the government where instead of engaging and consulting widely with the people that are affected, a lot of the things were pretty much thrown at them.

“And this is people’s monies, people’s livelihoods that we’re talking about. And so there was always going to be heavy resistance to it. But what people wanted to see was the government to actually engage in an open and frank manner rather than attempting to force the whole thing on them as a take-itor-leave-it option. And that is really where we have a lot of the challenges now,” he said.

He explained that a lot of work needed to be done for the government’s debt exchange programme to be considered

attainable and sustainable, hence the January 31st deadline will not be met.

“I don’t think that that 31st January extension new date will be met because there are very entrenched positions here. And fundamentally, what this also means in my view is that that 55% debt to GDP number is not sustainable even by 2028.

“So we might have to actually go back and rework those numbers, because you’re talking about having to reduce your debt threshold by half within the space of about 4 years and that is going to impose heavy austerity on the people of Ghana.

“So perhaps it’s really a question of going back to the drawing board and trying to see if we can instead have a gradual reduction of these debt metrics and indicators over maybe an eight to 10 years period,” he said. UTV

Ontario expanding number and range of surgeries offered at for-profit clinics

cont’d from pg. 10

funding surgeries in private, forprofit clinics won’t have an impact on Ontarians,” Stiles said at Queen’s Park, adding believes the changes mark early steps toward a two-tiered health-care system in the province.

Five major health-care unions released a joint statement today decrying the plan. The unions said it will “further starve our public healthcare system of funding and divert frontline staff to enrich shareholders and diminish access to publicly delivered healthcare.”

Meanwhile, the CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the agency that regulates doctors in the province, said in a statement that she met with the Ministry of Health last week and voiced opposition to some elements of the changes. “We reiterated our position that

complex procedures such as hip and knee joint replacement surgeries should remain connected to the hospital system to ensure continuity of care and patient safety,” Dr. Nancy Whitmore said.

“CPSO is supportive of expanding access to diagnostic procedures and less complex surgical procedures in community settings. However, we emphasized our ongoing concern about creating further strain on the present health care provider crisis particularly in skilled operating room nurses and anesthesiologists.”

One health-care provider in Ontario sees the Ford government’s plan to expand for-profit services as a positive step to reduce some surgical backlogs, while another sees it as a ratcheting up of competition for needed health-care workers. But both agree that something has to change. CBC News

Prez Akufo Addo Charges Newly Sworn in Judges to Help Build a Respectable Judiciary

Ernest Yao Gaewu to fill the vacancies created as a result of the retirement of Justice Clemence Honyenuga which took place on the 24 September 2022 and Justice Agnes Dodzie, who retired on 2 October 2022” President AkufoAddo stated.

Fidelity to constitution

Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu on behalf of his colleague, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu and on her own behalf, registered their appreciation to the President, the Council of State, Parliament, the Judicial Council, the Chief Justice and the Ghana Bar Association for the trust reposed in them.

“While we give thanks to the people of Ghana on whose behalf, we have been called upon to administer justice, we assure the people that we shall keep faith and keep fidelity to the constitution and shall remain committed to our judicial oaths. God be our helper” Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu said.

Nomination

President Akufo-Addo in a letter dated 26 July 2022 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, in accordance with Article 144(2) of the Constitution, announced the nomination Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, for the high office of justices of the Supreme Court.

The President by the letter also sought the approval of the legislature, noting that the appointment has become

necessary due to pending and projected vacancies on the Supreme Court before the end of 2022.

A.C recommendation

The Appointments Committee (A.C) Parliament in its 27th report on the nominees of the President for appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court recommended by consensus the nomination of Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu. The recommendation was subsequently adopted by the plenary after the report of the Appointments Committee was laid.

Justice George Kingsley Koomson and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu on the other hand had their nominations approved by a majority decision of the Appointments Committee of Parliament. Their appointment is still subject to the final approval of the plenary before they can be sworn into office.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest Court in the administration of justice in Ghana. The Court is presided over by the Chief Justice and in his absence the most senior of the Justices of the Supreme Court, as constituted shall preside. Judges who sit in the Supreme Court are referred to as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and not less than nine Justices. It has exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters relating to the enforcement or interpretation of the 1992 Constitution. It also has

supervisory jurisdiction over all the Courts in Ghana. It is located only at the Headquarters in Accra.

Justices of the Apex Court

There are currently twelve (12) Supreme Court Justices according to the website of the Judicial Service of Ghana (www.judicial.gov.gh). The newly sworn in justices therefore bring the number to 14.

The Justices of the Supreme Court are His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah, Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Jones Dotse, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie, His Lordship Justice

Gabriel Pwamang, and His Lordship Justice Nene Abayaateye Ofoe Amegatcher.

The remaining are His Lordship Justice Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey, Her Ladyship Justice Mariama Owusu, Her Ladyship Justice Avril Lovelace Johnson, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, His Lordship Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu.

Her Ladyship Justice Prof. Henrietta Joy Abena Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu, His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, Her Ladyship Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu and His Lordship Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu.

Freight

Tel: 647-231-4504 647-724-2295 647-361-6026 416-246-0101 Fax: 647-557-2428

Linda

Crossover Service at The Apostles’ Continuation Church

By

Apostle Clement Brakatu, Chairman, was the preacher during the crossover service at their premises on 31st December 2022.

The theme was “Crossing over to redeem”.

Chairman Apostle Clement Brakatu

Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Presiding Elder Brefo Mensah(l) Rev Martin Boakye Yiadom

Rev. James Yeboah (L) Thomas Yeboah (Sec)

Congregation

Women leaders praying

Praising God

Cross section of congregation

Congregation

Congregation

Rev. Seth Boateng (R) Min. Adu Patrick

Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON

The Ghanaian Congregation of St. Andrews Catholic Church, 2547 Kipling Etobicoke celebrated the New Year 2023 with a mass service on Sunday January 1st. Homily was given by Father Matthias Kotoka Amuzu.

Fr. Matthias K Amuzu (c) Deacon J Owusu-Afriyie (L)

Albert Aikins-Mensah

Mass servers

Church choir

St. Joseph Men Fellowship

Christian Mothers & Fathers Association

By Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

St. Sergeant Don Yirenkyi celebrates 50th birthday on January 7, 2023

By

Okuapemman Cultural Association of Ontario’s (OCAO) End of Year Dinner & Dance

By Jonathan Baah Annobil,

The Elegant Classic Ballroom of the Paradise Banquet Hall & Convention Centre, 7601 Jane St. Concord, Ontario was the venue for last year’s Okuapeman Cultural Association of Ontario’s End of Year Dinner & Dance.

It was held on Saturday December 17th, 2022 and was a sold out event as all the tables were full.

Opening prayer and blessing of the food (a four course meal) was done by Rev. Fr. Kenneth Korsah of St. John’s Anglican Church, Toronto. Omanhene Nana Sasraku La-Kumi in

his speech recognized the contributions and active engagement of those he called “Associate members” such as the spouses of the members etc. He thanked them all for their contributions to the association. He concluded that as the Omanhene and elder of the Ghanaian-Canadian community, he wishes to emphasize the readiness of the association to embrace with open arms all Ghanaian-Canadians and other Canadians into our fold and allow them to contribute to the success of our plans.”

Consul-General Hakeem Balogun

conveyed greetings from H E President Nana Addo and H E Anselm Sowah, High Commissioner. He stated that the 1 District 1 Factory initiative

alongside other flagship projects in Ghana have been progressing well, but some liquidity issues have arisen, due cont’d on pg 49

Nana Sasraku La-Kumi

President Kwabena Asante-Frempong

Queen mothers of the association

Juliet Opoku, Hon. Hakeem Balogun, Ana Aidoo

Michael Ansu presenting voucher to a winner

Scholarship recipients with OCAO leaders

MC Alex Darku

Revelers

Old & New Executives

Having fun

Kwabena Asante-Frempong & Akwasi Agyeman(New Jersey President)

VIPs table

Grand Prize winner of 65”

Sony Bravia TV

Some members enjoying themselves 2nd Prize winner of 55” Sony Bravia TV

Mrs. Esther Mireku presenting grocery voucher to winner

DJs Shorty (L) Alex jnr. & Alex snr

Toronto, ON

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)

Day and Time of Worship:

Sunday: Bible Class Meeting: 10:00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

Church Service: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Jericho Hour Prayer Meeting - 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday Mid-day Prayer - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Friday: Bible Teaching/Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.

Saturday Organizational Meeting: 6.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Sunday Brampton Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m. Edmonton Methodist

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

BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH-BRAMPTON

PLACE OF WORSHIP1A 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)

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

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

THINK THROUGH THESE QUOTES:

1. “All experiences convince me, not only that God is ever present, but also, that it is by contact with the Spirit of God that the spirit of man reaches its highest and its best”— Right Honorable Lord Denning.

2. “Take the challenge of your life.Reach out to your goals. There is no limit to what you can achieve.”—Lailah Gifty Akita

3. “We are what we do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”— Aristotle

4. “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.”—Nelson Mandela

5. “Without clear goals, step by step plan to reach them, and the discipline to take action, you are like a ship that has set sail with no end.”—Isaac DeGraft Takyi.

THINK THROUGH WHAT I CALL “ISAAC’S PRINCIPLES”:

GENESIS 26

Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”

6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug

in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.

16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

26 Meanwhile, Abimelek had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?”

28 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the Lord.”

30 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31 Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they went away peacefully.

32 That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “We’ve found water!” 33 He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.

For many people, January is a time when we reflect on our life and question whether we’re fulfilling God’s purposes for our life.I trust that you are one of those and therefore you are asking the right questions. Why are you here on this earth?Do you know why you are alive in 2023? How do you want your life to be by December 2023? How are you going to reach your best in 2023?

To reach your best learn and practice the principles that Isaac used:

1. Understand that famine is part of life 2. Know that famines do not last forever 3. Arise and do something about

your life amid the famine 4. Listen to the voice and the instruction of God to you specifically 5. Obey God wholeheartedly and completely 6. Plant your crop. Focus on your business and diligently work hard 7. Keep working hard till you become very wealthy 8. Relate very well with every person including your enemies 9. Be wise during times of disputes and in dealing with oppositions 10. Never give up on your dreams 11. Always depend on God and on His promises to you, and 12. Always connect with God in worship, praise and thanksgiving

Thank you so much and please read through Isaac’s story and share with me any other principles you find.

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How Pope Benedict will be remembered

Ignoring exhortations for decorum at the end, some in the crowd held banners or shouted “Santo Subito!” -- “Sainthood Now!” -- echoing the spontaneous chants that erupted during St. John Paul II’s 2005 funeral.

Bells tolled and the crowd applauded as pallbearers carried Benedict’s cypress coffin out of the fog-shrouded St. Peter’s Basilica and placed it before the altar in the square outside. Wearing the crimson vestments typical of papal funerals, Francis opened the service with a prayer and closed it by solemnly blessing the simple casket -- decorated only with the former pope’s coat of arms.

In between, Francis made only fleeting reference to Benedict in his homily, offering a meditation on Christ instead of a eulogy of his predecessor’s legacy before the casket was sealed and entombed in the basilica grotto.

Heads of state and royalty, clergy from around the world and thousands of regular people flocked to the subdued ceremony, despite Benedict’s request for simplicity and official efforts to keep the first funeral for a pope emeritus in modern times low-key.

Many mourners hailed from Benedict’s native Bavaria and donned traditional dress, including boiled wool coats to guard against the morning chill.

“We came to pay homage to Benedict and wanted to be here today to say goodbye,” said Raymond Mainar, who traveled from a small village east of Munich for the funeral. “He was a very good pope.”

The former Joseph Ratzinger, who died Dec. 31 at age 95, is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest theologians and spent his lifetime upholding church doctrine. But he will go down in history for a singular, revolutionary act that changed the future of the papacy: He retired, the first pope in six centuries to do so.

Francis has praised Benedict’s courage in stepping aside, saying it “opened the door” for other popes to do the same.

Some 50,000 people attended Thursday’s Mass, according to the Vatican, after around 200,000 paid their respects during three days of public viewing.

Only Italy and Germany were invited to send official delegations, but other leaders took the Vatican up on its offer and came in their “private capacity.” They included several heads of state, at least four prime ministers and two delegations of royal representatives. In addition, a host of patriarchs joined 125 cardinals in the seats to the side of the altar, and the Russian Orthodox Church sent its foreign envoy.

Among those attending was Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who was given special court permission to attend the funeral. Zen was detained in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a China’s national security law after he fell afoul of authorities over his participation in a now-silenced democracy movement

Pope Francis, centre, sits by the coffin of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI St. Peter’s Square during a funeral mass at the Vatican, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

His passport was revoked when he was detained.

Benedict’s close confidants were also in attendance, and the former pope’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, bent down and kissed a book of the Gospels that was left open on the coffin before the ceremony began.

Matteo Colonna, a 20-year-old seminarian from Teramo, Italy, said he came in part because of the historic nature of the funeral -- but also because it had personal resonance for him.

“The first spark of my vocation started under the pontificate of Benedict, but

then it became even stronger under Pope Francis,” Colonna said, while sitting in prayer in St. Peter’s Square at dawn. “I see a continuity between these two popes and the fact that today Francis is celebrating the funeral in Benedict’s memory is an historical event.”

But the service was also significant for what it lacked: the feeling of uncertainty that would normally accompany the passing of a pope before a new one is elected. With Francis in place, Benedict’s death marked the end of an unusual decade in which a reigning pope lived alongside a retired one.

“Benedict has been the bridge between

CHRIST REDEEMER CHURCH

Pastor-in-charge: Pastor Eric Amoah

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

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Pastor Assembly of God Church, Mississauga Transformation Centre

Pope Francis joined tens of thousands of faithful in bidding farewell to Benedict XVI at a rare requiem Mass Thursday for a dead pope presided over by a living one, ending an unprecedented decade for the Catholic Church that was sparked by the German theologian’s decision to retire.

cont’d on pg. 49

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How Pope Benedict will be remembered

John Paul and Francis,” said Alessandra Aprea, a 56-year-old from Meta di Sorrento near Naples. “We could not have Francis without him.”

Early Thursday the Vatican released the official history of Benedict’s life, a short document in Latin that was placed in a metal cylinder in his coffin before it was sealed, along with the coins and medallions minted during his papacy and his pallium stoles.

The document gave ample attention to Benedict’s historic resignation and referred to him as “pope emeritus,” citing verbatim the Latin words he uttered on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced he would retire.

The document, known as a “rogito” or deed, also cited his theological and papal legacy, including his outreach to Anglicans and Jews and his efforts to combat clergy sexual abuse “continually calling the church to conversion, prayer, penance and purification.”

Francis didn’t mention Benedict’s specific legacy in his homily and only uttered his name once, in the final line, delivering instead a meditation on Jesus’ willingness to entrust himself to God’s will.

“Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to

Okuapeman Cultural Association of Ontario’s (OCAO) End of Year Dinner & Dance

cont’d from pg.43

mainly to the combined effect of the two major global crises plaguing the global economy in our time, being the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine.

He added that he has been directed by President Nana Addo to extend his personal assurances that, his government is feverishly addressing those liquidity challenges with the support of our international development partners. It is anticipated that by the end of year 2023 these challenges would have been effectively dealt with and the economy restored to its otherwise positive trajectory, which was the case prior to the onset of those global crises.”

Consul General Balogun concluded that as a result of the progressive implementation of the Diaspora Engagement Program, many Ghana Missions abroad are equipped to issue passports and visas with much ease and also, in due course of time, hopefully in the first quarter of 2023, issue of the National Identification Cards to all our compatriots in the diaspora.”

The President of the association Kwabena Asante-Frempong after observing all protocols, welcomed all

to the event. He urged all present at the event to pay their $100 minimum contribution towards the building of the GCAO Heritage Center. He said the association contributed $2000 to Okuapeman Association of US and Canada (OKUSACA) towards the rehabilitation of Pantang Hospital in Ghana.” He added that the association continues to grow and that since May 10 new members joined. He ended by wishing all happy holidays.

Some deserving members were honored with plaques. The outgoing executives were also honored with plaques as they handed over to the incoming executives. Also some children of the association members who have gained admission to Colleges and Universities were given $500.00 as part of the association’s School Assisted Program.

As part of the dinner & dance funds were raised through raffle draws with winners winning high-end prizes. A 55’’ Sony Bravia TV, a voucher for Air Ticket, Langostina Cookware Set, Grocery Voucher and the grand prize of a 65” Sony Bravia TV were won. The MC was Alex Darku and music provided by DJs Shorty and Alexis. There was an open bar but the revelers were advised to drink responsibly

follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father,” Francis said at the end.

During St. John Paul II’s quartercentury as pope, Ratzinger spearheaded a crackdown on dissent as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, taking action against the left-leaning liberation theology that spread in Latin America in the 1970s and against dissenting theologians and nuns who didn’t toe the Vatican’s hard line on matters like sexual morals.

His legacy was marred by the clergy sexual abuse scandal, even though he recognized earlier than most the “filth” of priests who raped children, and actually laid the groundwork for the Holy See to punish them.

As cardinal and pope, he passed sweeping church legislation that resulted in 848 priests being defrocked from 2004 to 2014, roughly his pontificate with a year on either end. But abuse survivors still held him responsible for the crisis, for failing to sanction any bishop who moved abusers around, refusing to mandate the reporting of sex crimes to police and identifying him as embodying the clerical system that long protected the institution over victims.

Mike McDonnell of the U.S. abuse survivor group SNAP said while

Benedict passed new canon laws, he could have done far more to influence John Paul to take firm action. Referring to Benedict’s nickname as “God’s Rottweiler,”’ he said: “You know, in our in our view, it was a dog bark without a bite. Certainly he could have done more.”

A group representing German clergy abuse survivors called on German officials attending Benedict’s funeral to demand more action from the Vatican on sexual abuse. Eckiger Tisch asked German leaders to demand that Francis issue a “universal church law” stipulating zero tolerance in dealing with abuse by clergy.

The funeral ritual itself is modeled on the code used for dead popes but with some modifications given Benedict was not a reigning pontiff when he died.

After the Mass, Benedict’s cypress coffin was placed inside a zinc one, then an outer oak casket before being entombed in the crypt in the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s Basilica that once held the tomb of St. John Paul II before it was moved upstairs.

While Thursday’s Mass was unusual, it does have some precedent: In 1802, Pope Pius VII presided over the funeral in St. Peter’s of his predecessor, Pius VI, who had died in exile in France in 1799 as a prisoner of Napoleon.

Associated Press

Lifestyle

This column is devoted to answering your questions on health and discusions of diseases which are common among the African Canadians.

Women’s health risks

By David Yaw Twum-Barima, MD , MSc, FRCPC

Do you worry excessively about developing breast or ovarian cancer? Your anxiety may be misplaced. Although these cancers can cut your life short, your risk of having either one is far lower than is your risk of having — and dying of — cardiovascular (Heart) disease.

That’s not to say you should forgo regular mammograms or ignore symptoms that may suggest ovarian or breast cancer, particularly if you have a high-risk family history. But it does mean you might benefit from a realistic appraisal of your true health risks — if only to put your mind at ease. Better still, understanding your top health risks is the first step toward reducing them.

In this article I will review the leading causes of death for women in North America in order of prevalence. Of course, every woman is unique, so you should always discuss your personal risk profile and preventive plan with your own doctor. These figures serve as a frame of reference for that discussion.

Please note that most of the data presented here reflects numbers from the United States but are considered similar to Canadian data as well.

No. 1 — Heart disease

Heart disease is responsible for more deaths in women than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease is the most significant health concern for women in the United States and Canada today.

But doesn’t heart disease affect mostly men? No — and that’s a dangerous myth. In reality, more women than men die of heart disease in North America each year.

The good news is that heart disease is one of the most preventable health conditions. You have the power to reduce some of your risks:

? Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

? Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products.

? Exercise regularly.

? Control other health conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

If you’re at increased risk of heart disease, your doctor also may suggest a daily low dose of aspirin.

No. 2 — Cancer

It’s easy to believe cancer is a major threat to women’s health, but the kinds of cancer women are dying of might surprise you. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common cause of cancer death in U.S.

women is lung cancer. It’s estimated that more than 70,000 women in the United States die of lung cancer each year, with the majority of these deaths linked to cigarette smoking. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, responsible for about 40,000 deaths each year.

The third-leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States is colorectal (bowel) cancer. Like heart disease, colorectal cancer is often mistakenly thought of as a man’s disease, but equal numbers of men and women die of colorectal cancer each year.

Many cancer deaths are related to nutrition and other controllable lifestyle factors. Do all you can to reduce your risk:

• Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.

• Exercise regularly.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Avoid excessive sun exposure.

• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

• Have regular preventive health screenings.

• Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.

• Women over age 50 should have colonoscopy for screening. If the first one is normal, it should be repeated in 3 to 5 years. If there is a family history of bowel cancer, it should be done every 1 to 2 years.

No. 3 — Stroke

Nearly 160,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year, and almost two-thirds of them are women. Stroke not only is women’s No. 3 killer, but also is one of the leading causes of disability in America.

Smoking and uncontrolled high blood pressure are important risk factors for stroke. Although stroke is highly preventable, certain risk factors — such as family history, age, sex and race — can’t be controlled. Even if you’re at increased risk of stroke, you can still take steps to prevent it, preventive measures for stroke are same as those for heart disease avoidance.

No. 4 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is an overall term for a group of chronic lung conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking, and it’s strongly associated with lung cancer, the No. 1 cause of cancer death in women.

About 65,000 women in the United States die of COPD each year. The quality of life for a person with COPD diminishes as the disease progresses. As shortness of breath and activity limitations increase, you may eventually require oxygen use or even mechanical respiratory assistance to breathe.

How do you reduce your risk of dying of COPD? This one’s easy: Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. No. 5 — Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that goes beyond simple forgetfulness. What may start as slight memory loss

and confusion eventually leads to irreversible mental impairment.

More women than men have Alzheimer’s. In fact, approximately 45,000 women die of Alzheimer’s disease each year — more than twice the number of men. One reason more women may be affected is that women generally live longer, and the risk of Alzheimer’s increases with age.

Current treatments focus on stabilizing the signs and symptoms, improving well-being and easing caregiver burden.

No. 6 — Diabetes

Diabetes, a group of diseases that affect the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose), is a serious health condition that affects about 18 million Americans, 5 million of whom are unaware that they have the disease. Many people learn they have diabetes only when they develop one of its life-threatening complications. Advanced diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure and

cont’d on pg. 51

Looking back 40 years ago “Ghana Must Go”

The ugly history of Africa’s most famous bag

migrants, the majority of whom were Nigerians.

The Nigerians had grown annoyingly enterprising, their business acumen sharper, to the detriment of Ghanaian businesses. Even in Ghana’s instability, Nigerian traders managed to have everything — and at cheaper prices — Adjei said.

The resulting fear shook the Nigerians affected. Most had intermarried, and traced their roots back to trade relationships between the two regions, even before colonial rule.

There was one crucial difference between the Nigerians expelled from Ghana in 1969 and the Ghanaians expelled from Nigeria in 1983: the Nigerians had money, said Green Ndume, a Nigerian media entrepreneur who has lived in Ghana for a decade. “I’ve interacted with those who were affected. Unlike the artisans and teachers expelled in Nigeria, they were rich. They were traders in kola nut who made big money and built houses. They left their houses or sold them cheaply.”

Nonetheless, in their haste to flee, the Nigerian deportees suffered. “I saw what it was. They were stuck at the Aflao [Togo] border. People died there and it was a humanitarian issue,” Adjei said. The government’s announcement had emboldened ordinary Ghanaians, who taunted the foreigners. Even before the deadline, Adjei remembered chants of: “Go home, go home! What are you still doing here?”

The deadlock in 1983 was finally broken by Ghana which reopened its borders and sent ships to Cotonou in Benin to reduce the numbers travelling by road. Many fell into the sea because of the sheer volume of people scrambling for a place on the ships.

Squeezed into one of those ships, Acquaye looked around, marking fallen faces and identifying people he knew. “All my friends [were there]. I saw my brother too. I didn’t even know he was in Nigeria, we met in the ship.”

He went back to farming and raised six more kids through Ghana’s bad times. Nowadays, he prefers to remember the exodus in 1983 with grace. “What will you do?” he asks. “The person who

Women’s health risks

cont’d from pg. 50

severe nerve damage. People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to die of heart disease and experience stroke. Diabetes as the 6th commonest killer is deceptive because most people with diabetes will die of heart disease or stroke so we can really classify diabetes as at par with these 2 conditions.

The most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes, generally developing after age 40, can often be prevented. Follow these steps to reduce your risk:

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Exercise regularly.

• Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.

No. 7 — Accidents

Each year, more than 38,000 women die from accidents (unintentional injuries). Although the statistics on accidental death are unclear, these trends may surprise you:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Trafficrelated accidents were responsible for more than a third of all accidental deaths for women in 2003. You can reduce your chances of a fatal crash by routinely using your seat belt, keeping your speed within limits and not driving while sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Falls. About 8,300 women in the United States die from falls each year. Women of any age can fall, but the risk increases as you get older. The majority of falls occur in the home, so common-

sense safety measures, such as avoiding throw rugs and installing handrails, can reduce the risk substantially. Regular eye exams help, too, as does routine exercise, which maintains your strength and mobility and may improve your balance.

Putting health risks into perspective

This ranking of health risks applies to the entire population of adult women in the United States — all ages included. But for specific age groups, the leading cause of death can shift. For instance, it’s true that during the course of your entire lifetime, heart disease is your No. 1 health threat. However, in your 20s, your risk of dying from an accident is your top health threat. Likewise, from ages 35 to 64, your greatest risk is cancer.

Whenever you read about health risks, think about the cited numbers in real terms. For example, the 2003 total of nearly 350,000 heart disease deaths in women in the United States seems enormous. But if you consider the total number of women in the United States that year — more than 149 million — the number represents just a small fraction of the female population as a whole.

The bottom line? Be concerned about health risks, but don’t panic. Do whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle — including eating healthy foods, staying physically active, getting regular checkups and paying attention to your environment. Such measures can reduce your risk factors for these conditions and help you lead a long and healthy life.

Source: Modified from Mayo Clinic Housecall: July 2008

owns his thing is ready to take it from you, you don’t have anything to say, you just give him.”

Adjei is not so forgiving, not for what Ghana did and not for how Nigeria returned the favour. He had left his teaching job in 1984 as Nigeria crumbled and headed to Libya to teach English. A year later, then military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria’s current president) announced another expulsion — this time, of all foreigners, including those who had residence permits. About 700 000 were again forced out.

It was another stab in the back for a Ghana that was already doubled over. In neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, where Ghanaians had once migrated to en masse, the phrase tombé comme le Ghana (fallen like Ghana) became a common idiom. The country’s economy suffered some more before a steep climb up after interventions from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The tit-for-tat expulsions haunted relations between Ghana and Nigeria for many years. They still do. Even though Nigerian music plays on Ghanaian radio stations every morning, Ghanaian actors are a Nollywood staple and trade between the two countries is in ruddy health, Nigeria has never officially apologised to Ghana for 1983 and 1985 and Ghana has never apologised for 1969.

Adjei blames bad leaders who, he said, in their failure to deliver, whip up nationalist sentiments and use foreigners as scapegoats, even though there is little evidence to suggest that the absence of foreigners leads to a healthier economy. “What they did was unethical, illegal and just some kind of populist nonsense and they got the population behind them,” he said. “It’s very easy because the majority of citizens are so vulnerable, easy to manipulate and they buy into these things and say ‘Yes, we’re suffering because these people are here.’”

The Nigerian anti-foreigner directives happened despite the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) protocols, introduced the decade before, that allowed for some form of free movement for West Africans in the region, provided they have the right paperwork. But that’s not the point, argues Adjei: paperwork is foreign to the region, where people have, for centuries, moved around unencumbered by the often-arbitrary borders imposed by colonial powers.

Ghana’s banning order, meanwhile, was a betrayal of Nkrumah’s lauded pan-Africanism, he says. But, like a song stuck on replay, antiNigerian sentiments are building up a second time.

For a younger generation, the tension is often expressed in friendly social media banter, and in debates on which country has the better accent or cooks the better jollof rice — a West African delicacy. The young ones do not remember much about the expulsions, apart from what their parents have told them, nor do they feel particularly vindictive. But the thoughts of “Ghana

must go” linger. “[Nigeria] chased us away, and now we’re doing better,” a young, Accra-based journalist said matter-of-factly.

As Nigeria battles insurgents and a crumbling economy, present-day Ghana is stable — boosted by revenue from gold, cocoa and oil. Its electricity has attracted more foreign investors and more West Africans, including an estimated two million Nigerians (on the other hand, about 500 000 Ghanaians currently live in Nigeria).

On almost every street is a store displaying Nigeria’s green and white flag, while markets in Makola and Kumasi vibrate with Yoruba and Igbo, Nigerian languages.

But, like a song stuck on replay, antiNigerian sentiments are building up a second time. In Kumasi, stores owned by Nigerians were forcefully shut last August for not complying with harsh national laws. The laws disregard ECOWAS agreements that encourage free trade.

In reality, said Ndume, the Nigerian media entrepreneur living in Ghana, it is because “locals feel like Nigerians are taking over, so they come up and ask Nigerians to leave their market”. Many point out that non-Africans, including Lebanese, Indians and Chinese who trade in the country, are treated less harshly.

Nigerians living in Ghana complain of being targeted and blamed for rising crime levels. A bad international reputation only gets worse: recently, a kidnapping case was linked to a Nigerian convict. Between 2018 and now, 723 Nigerians have been deported from Ghana for prostitution and “Yahoo Yahoo” or cybercrime.

Meanwhile, Ghana, keen on attracting a different group of people — not Africans, but from the black diaspora — continues to promote its Year of Return celebrations. This is a marketing stunt that plays on the brutal history of slavery; 2019 makes it 400 years since the first boat packed with enslaved Africans left the coasts of Ghana.

Acquaye hasn’t visited Nigeria since he left in 1983. He hasn’t had cause to and he doubts he ever will. But he treasures the memories regardless, he says, wandering away from the noise of the school where he now works as a security guard and down a hilly path from where he can see Accra sprawled over hilltops in the distance.

He has seen Ghana at its lowest, felt the rejection of being alien in Nigeria and is now baffled at the news of the Nigerian traders facing trouble in Kumasi. “If something is here and I meet it, I will buy. This is not force. To say you’re spoiling my market because you’re not from Ghana? Ah! How can one person sell everything?” he asks, his hands spread out, questioning.

He shakes his head, turns and lumbers back up the hill, past the stores still selling Ghana Must Go bags and back towards the school.

Kobbie Mainoo shocked by Manchester United debut

Ghana prospect Kobbie Mainoo concedes he was nervous when he knew he will start for Manchester United against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup.

WHAT HAPPENED: The 17-year-old Mainoo made his debut in Manchester United’s 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday and lasted 60 minutes before Casemiro replaced him.

Marcus Rashford scored a brace with Anthony getting the other goal to ensure the Red Devils made it to the last four.

Mainoo made one big chance on that match and completed 82 percent of his passes which warranted him a standing ovation when he was subbed. The teenager, however, reveals it was not easy.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I looked at the team sheet and I was starting. I was a bit shocked but I had to do my job. Yeah, there were some butterflies but it was just exciting,” Mainoo said as quoted by the club’s website.

“I played at Old Trafford in the Youth Cup and I remember that feeling was an amazing feeling. To have that again is brilliant.

“I’ve been in training with the

[first team] quite a few times. They all made me feel welcome and gave me words of advice and encouragement. So I felt at home.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Mainoo is eligible to represent Ghana’s Black Stars having been born to Ghanaian parents. He has represented the England U17 team and is currently in the U18 setup.

WHAT NEXT: Mainoo might be involved when Manchester United play Nottingham Forest in the two-legged Carabao Cup semi final. goal.com

Eddie Nketiah awarded by England

for U-21 record

Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah has been presented with a golden boot for being England U21 all-time top scorer.

The English-born Ghanaian broke Alan Shearer and Francis Jeffers’ longstanding record of 13 goals after scoring against Turkey in 2020. He went on to set a new record with 16 goals in 17 games for the young Three Lions.

Nketiah’s international future has been heavily debated in the media as the Ghana Football Association try to persuade him to switch allegiance.

“Wow. I am grateful for the award and to everyone at the FA. I loved my time being there [with the Under21s] and working with the boys in training. I improved so much,” said Nketiah after receiving the award.

“I am grateful and hopefully there are

English FA representative, Michael Johnson said: “On behalf of the FA, Gareth [Southgate] and the technical director [John McDermott], I just want to say a massive congratulations to you.

“To break Alan Shearer and Franny Jeffers’ record is not a little thing so this is a small token to show that you are now the all-time goalscoring record holder for the Under-21s. It is a massive achievement and thoroughly deserved.” ghanasoccernet.com

GBA keen on grooming Ghanaian boxers to become World champions

Abraham Kotei Neequaye, President of Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) says the association is committed to helping Ghanaian boxers rise to the level of becoming world champions through the Ghana Professional Boxing League (GPBL).

GBA organised its first GPBL last year in a quest to unearth and groom young talents to represent Ghana at the global level.

The GBA President in an interview with GNA Sports said the GPBL has come to stay and would also provide the platform for boxers to be active for world bouts.

“The more we get our boxers into the world ratings, we can talk of world titles. Before a boxer can get the

chance to compete for the continental titles, he should fight about eight bouts locally, fight for the national title, before he would qualify for the continental stage, that is why this league is very important,” he added.

According to him, the GBA was still working very hard to ensure that the GPBL would be held across the country to develop talents in the other Regions.

Mr. Kotei commended former world champion, Isaac Dogboe for raising the bar for young boxers to also learn from, as he edges close to becoming a two-time world champion when he fights Cuban Ramirez Robeisy in April this year.

He urged the various stakeholders to come on board to support the GBA achieve its target. GNA

Check out Mohammed Salisu’s game by numbers in Southampton’s surprise win over Man City

Black Stars defender, Mohammed Salisu, was in his element as Southampton stunned Manchester City in the Carabao Cup to reach the semi-finals.

Salisu put up a solid performance, helping the Saints to keep a clean sheet in their 2-0 win over Manchester City at the St Marys Stadium.

The Ghanaian lasted the whole game and had more shots on goal, one, than Man City.

Salisu had a total of 47 touches and completed 27 out of his 33 attempted passes.

Defensively, he made 5 clearances, won 4 out of 4 aerial duels, made 3 ball recoveries, made 2 interceptions, and 1 block.

The 22-year-old put in the shift at the back and worked for the clean sheet against City’s powerful attack.

Southampton will face Newcastle, who eliminated Leicester City. www.ghanaweb.com

Ghana earned $9.5 million from the World Cup - GFA

The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has disclosed that the country earned $9.5 million from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

According to Henry Asante Twum, the GFA intends to invest the money in developing football in Ghana by refurbishing the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence.

“Ghana earned $9.5 million at the group stage of the World Cup,” Henry Asante Twum said on Asempa FM.

Centre of Excellence into at least a 3-star hotel with a 60 to 70 capacity. We want to raise the standard of the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence so that it can host matches of all our national teams.”

He also revealed that the Association is yet to receive the World Cup money.

Ghana exited the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the group stages after losing their games to Portugal and Uruguay. The Black Stars only win was against South Korea. www.ghanaweb.com

with Jonathan Baah Annobil

Ghana prospect Kobbie Mainoo

Southampton defender, Mohammed Salisu

“The plan now is to turn Ghanaman

more achievements to come in the future.”

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

FOOD AND RECIPES

Compiled by Nana Ama

DINNER BUNS

Dough

1 cup warm homogenized milk (250 ml)

¼ cup sugar (60 ml)

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (60 ml)

½ Tbsp salt (7 ml)

3 cup all-purpose flour (750 ml)

1 egg

1 envelope (1/4-ounces) active dry yeast flour, for bench flour

Assembly

1 egg

1 Tbsp milk (15 ml)

Directions Dough

1. In a small bowl, combine sugar with ½ cup warm milk and mix well. Add the yeast and stir. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes, until it foams.

2. In another bowl, combine the egg and remaining ½ cup warm milk and melted butter

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour and salt by hand. Add the yeast mixture and the egg mixture. With the stand mixer, start mixing the dough on low speed. Increase speed as flour is incorporated. Continue to mix until dough comes together. Increase machine speed, knead dough until it comes together.

4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 6 to 8 minutes, adding more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Put the dough into a large oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Leave overnight in the fridge or alternatively let proof until doubled in a warm spot for 45 minutes.

Assembly

1. Punch down dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Tear off pieces of the dough and form sixteen 1 ½-inch balls. Roll them onto a surface to make smooth. Place in a buttered 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan. Let rest, covered, in a warm spot, until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

2. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk to make an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, generously coat the top of the buns with the egg wash. Bake the dinner buns for about 13 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Serve warm and pull apart at the table.

4. Yield: 16 servings

PANETONE

Ingredients

4 tbsp warm milk

2 x 7g sachets fast-action dried yeast

100g caster sugar

250g butter

, softened

5 medium eggs

, lightly beaten

2 tsp vanilla extract

grated zest of 1 lemon grated zest of 1 orange 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting

80g raisins

80g sultanas

3 tbsp dark rum

100g good-quality candied lemon and orange peel, finely chopped

For the topping 30g whole blanched almonds

, roughly chopped

1 tbsp caster sugar

1 tbsp egg white

1 tbsp icing sugar

Method

Grease a panettone tin (see Tip) or a 20cm deep cake tin, or use a panettone case. Place the warm milk in a bowl and add the yeast and 1 tsp of sugar and leave for a few minutes.

Put the remaining sugar in a large bowl and beat together with the butter and vanilla extract until really light, creamy and pale. Stir in the lemon and orange zest. Add the eggs a little at a time until all are well

HOT CROSS BUNS

These sweet spiced buns, best when freshly hot out of the oven, are traditionally served on Easter, marked with a cross to symbolize Jesus's crucifixion.

Ingredients

1 lemon

1 navel orange

1 cup sugar

3⁄4 cup currants

1⁄8 tsp. allspice

1⁄8 tsp. cinnamon

1⁄8 tsp. nutmeg

1 1⁄2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 cup milk, warmed to 115° F

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 cups bread flour

1⁄2 cup sugar

2 tsp. kosher salt

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1⁄4 cup orange marmalade

1⁄4 cup confectioners sugar

Instructions

Remove sections of the lemon peel in 1-inch strips and, using a paring knife, trim off any of the white pith. Julienne the strips and repeat the process with the orange. Combine sugar and 1 cup of water in a 1-qt. saucepan over high heat; bring to a boil and cook until sugar has dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add lemon and orange pieces; simmer for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Drain and combine with currants and spices; set aside.

In the bowl of an stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine yeast and milk; let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add the butter, half the eggs, and the dry ingredients; mix on low speed for 8-10 minutes, until a smooth dough forms. Remove from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface; fold in the fruit mixture, working until just evenly distributed. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise until doubled in size, about 60–80 minutes.

Divide dough into 10 equal sized pieces; working with one piece at a time, roll into balls. Place balls onto a sheet tray lined with parchment paper; cover with a kitchen towel and let rise again until doubled in size, about 45 min.- 1 hour.

Heat oven to 325° F. Combine remaining egg with 1 tbsp. water; lightly brush each roll with egg wash. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.

In a 1-qt. saucepan over low heat, combine orange marmalade and 1 tbsp. water; stir until marmalade loosens. Brush each roll with the marmalade glaze and let stand an additional 10 minutes until glaze sets.

Combine the confectioners’ sugar with 2 tsp. water. Pour into a piping bag and pipe crosses on rolls. Serve warm.

PANETONE - Cont’d

incorporated. Spoon in a tablespoon of the flour if the mixture starts to curdle and beat this in with the eggs.

Place the flour in a large bowl and mix with a good pinch of salt and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture then the butter and egg mixture, folding in with a large spoon to make a soft dough. Knead for 5 mins in the bowl until it all starts to come together. It will be a pretty sticky dough at this stage.

Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for a further 10 mins, until everything has come together and you have a very soft and stretchy dough. Add a light sprinkling of flour to the surface and your hands as you go to stop the mixture sticking, but try not to add too much. Place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with cling film. Leave in a warm place for 2 hrs until doubled in size.

Place the raisins and sultanas in a small saucepan with the rum and heat gently for 5 – 7 mins until the fruit has absorbed the liquid and is plump and juicy. Set aside to cool.

When the dough is risen, tip it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for another 5 mins. Gradually knead in the soaked raisins, sultanas and chopped candied peel. Shape the dough into a ball and pop into the prepared tin. If using a 20cm cake tin, wrap a layer of baking parchment around the outside of the tin, to come up about 5cm above the rim, and secure the paper with string. This will help contain the dough as it rises. Cover lightly with cling film and leave to rise for another hour until it has risen to the top of the tin or paper.

Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Adjust the oven shelf to the right height. Mix together the almonds, caster sugar and egg white for the topping and gently brush over the top of the panettone. Place in the oven and bake for 40 - 50 mins until golden and risen and a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a wire rack. Leave to cool completely before dusting lightly with icing sugar and cutting into wedges to serve.