Ghanaian news december 2017

JOBS!... JOBS!...JOBS! JOBS Long-Term and Short-Term NOW HIRING!!!

4250 Weston Rd. Suite 202, North York, ON.

December 2017

OVER 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE FLEXIBLE COMMISSION TO SELL YOUR HOME

2200 Martin Grove Rd. Unit 205, Etobicoke, ON Tel: 647-388-5751

TREE OF LIFE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Tel: 416-740-4428 Vol. 21 No.12

SELL

Reality Capital Management Accounting and Tax

Nii Odoi Yemoh

A TOP PRODUCING AGENT AT DREAM MAKER REALTY FREE CONSULTATION SERVICE

Jude Botchway 416.844.6846 905.553.7326

See advert on pg. 11

Display Advertising : 416-916-3700 / Classified Advertising:

Fax: 416-916-6701

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

2256 Sheppard Ave. West, Suite 202, Toronto, Ont., M9M 1L7 Tel: 416-916-3700 Fax: 416-916-6701

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year “Ontario Parents to Enjoy Free Ghanaian News receives distinguished Service Award Medications for their Kids” at the National Ethnic Premier Wynne Press and Media Council of Canada End of Year Gala

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah and Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto From Joe Kingsley Eyiah& Jonathan Annobil, Toronto For the first time ever in the Province of Ontario, Canada, parents with sick kids could pick up free medications for their children as from January, 2018. This good news was revealed by the leader of the Liberal Party in Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne in Toronto on Friday, December 15, 2017.

Premier Wynne was speaking at the annual get-together of the National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) at the Cypriot Community

by over 200 ethnic media practitioners. She said, “In January 1st for the first time ever every parent with a sick child is going to be able to go to the pharmacy show their OHIP card and be handed the medications that they need without paying anything. These are landmark changes that have come into our province beginning from January 1st, 2018.”

She pointed out that her government is doing this now because the economy is doing Premier Kathleen Wynne well. And that, “corporate profits are up; unemployment Centre, 6 ThorncliffeDr, East is lowest in 17 years and, the York in Toronto attended cont’d on pg. 6

Prof. Michael Baffoe of Ghanaian News installed Chief in Ghana

By Staff Reporter, Toronto

Premier Kathleen Wynne with Emmanuel Ayiku, Editor of The Ghanaian News after the presentation

Court clears Ghanaians in diaspora to vote in 2020 A Human Rights High Court has ordered the Electoral Commission to take all necessary steps to enable Ghanaians living abroad to vote in the 2020 elections.

Nana Okogyeaman Dankwa Ameyaw Kokrooko II riding in a plaquin

See pg 24 for more pictures

Administration, but has since not been implemented. The court presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah said the implementation must be carried out within the next one year.

The Representation of the The court in its judgement People Amendment Act 2006, said the Electoral Commission (Act 699) was passed into law has no justifiable reason not 11 years ago, during the Kufuor cont’d on pg. 61

ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, KOFORIDUA, GHANA offers the following programmes:

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3 4.

5.

Computer Engineering Computer Science Electronics & Communications Engineering Oil & Gas Engineering

Accounting Banking & Finance Human Resource Management Entrepreneurship Marketing

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SCIENCES 1. B.A. in Biblical Studies with Business Administration SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE 1.

Biomedical Engineering 2.

Nursing

Equipped For Every Good Work Apply Today: www.anuc.edu.gh * admissions@anuc.edu.gh * registrar@anuc.edu.gh * Ghana: 233-82-21587 / 215888 * Canada: 416-667-9333 * Toll Free: 1-866-845-5505

2

The Ghanaian News December 2017

100 95 75

25 5 0

The Ghanaian News December 2017

3

EHINLAIYE LAW OFFICE Need a Lawyer on matters relating to * Residential and Commercial Real Estate * Business Sales and Purchase * Commercial Transactions * Family Law: Wills and Estate * Immigration Look no further

Our Law Offices are set up to give you sound legal and professional advise specifically on any of the above subject matters in a friendly and efficient manner.

We now have two locations to serve you Suite 300 - 1183 Finch Ave. West Toronto, ON M3J 2G2

207 Cross Avenue Oakville, Ont. L6J 2W9 Tel: 289-837-0906 Tel: 647 748 4664 Fax: 905-582-2694 Fax: 647 748 4774 Mobile: 905 616 0644

Karl Newell, Sales Representative Cell: 416-710-1042 - Office: 416-745-5664 96 Rexdale Blvd. Toronto, ON, M9W1N7 A sizzling Buy $259,900

25 Kensington Rd # 405

Power Sale $505,000

39 Gallagher Cres

Will cost only $1250.00 for mortgage Never lived in! Modern freehold town home with access You will enjoy a spacious condo with private parking, from garage, Master bedroom with a luxurious ensuite security, great amenities, private parking, living and and over size walk in closet. Impressive main floor with dining room and a balcony. This suite is spotlessly clean. 9 foot ceilings, modern open concept and walk out to Why pay rent? Call now! the yard. Don’t be sorry, buy now!

Red tag Sale! $459,700

Stunningly modern! $569,900

64 Sherwood St. Welcome home to an intuitive grand foyer and then a There’s room for laughter. This suite features a modern symphony of openness, flat ceiling, hardwood floor and modern touch. Let the chef prepare his delight in the kitchen with granite countertop and stainless steel appliances. Impressive lay out with 2 large bedrooms and gourmet kitchen while you take a dip in the lovely salt a den. There are 2 entrances to this suite. Impressively water pool or stroll along the shoreline rocks around the home. There is an exceptionally large deck, 4 bedrooms modern and awaits your inspection! and 4 washrooms. Must be seen to be appreciated.

60 Baycliffe Cres # 104

KNewell@thebrij.com http://www.thebrij.com RE/MAX WEST REALTY INC., BROKERAGE

4

The Ghanaian News December 2017

HEAD OFFICE GHANA North Kaneshie, adjacent Assemblies of God Church Ghana, P.O. Box AH 154, Achimota, Accra Tel: +233-302862011/12 +233-302241459 Email: info@blueroselimited.com Website: www.blueroselimited.com

UNITED KINGDOM OFFICE Tel: +44-7951-168767 / +447592-135995 Email: judith.mensah83@ yahoo.com

The Ghanaian News December 2017

5

Finton Travel Ltd. IATA 67501490

TICO # 4308045

Traveling to Ghana, Nigeria or anywhere around the world Call Nana Osei

# 1 VALUE TO THE WORLDD

Tel: 416-746-7028 Fax: 416-746-6806

Serving The African Community Since 1979

2200 Martin Grove Rd., Toronto, Ont., M9V 5H9

Royal African Travel & Cargo Services TICO #50015070

Kwame Agyemang Manager

TDS #96-528773

Tel: 416-740-5617

2428 Islington Ave, Suite 205

We Offer Excellent Fares To And From All Major AFRICAN, European And North American Cities Call Us For Special Fares On KLM, Delta, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines And Many More

For Reservations & Information Tel: 416-964-1950 Fax: 416-964-7546 Toll Free: 1-800-335-2304 info@etravelair.com Sylvester Gyebi Travel Consultant

50011608

Toronto 569 Yonge Street

(Main Floor)Toronto,

(Elmhurst Plaza)

IN CANADA Tel: 416-844-9161/416-277-5375

Ontario

6

The Ghanaian News December 2017

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

EDITORIAL Publisher / Editor Emmanuel Ayiku Contributing Editors Dr. Michael Baffoe Joe Kingsley Eyiah Director of Operations Comfort Ayiku Community Reporter Jonathan Annobil Winnipeg Bureau Dr. Michael Baffoe The Ghanaian News Publishes news and comments from the Community, serves Ghanaians across Canada with good source of information is committed to give good community Journalism The Ghanaian News is published in Canada by The Ghanaian News Corporation Editorial Office 2256 Sheppard Ave. Suite 202 Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 Tel:(416) 916-3700 Advertising Fax (416) 916-6701 Internet: www.ghanaiannews.ca E-mail: cayiku@gmail.com info@ghanaiannews.ca $1:00 per copy Subscription costs $66.00 for one year. including postage U.S. and foreign subscriptions costs US$120 per year.

Letters to the Editor We encourage your feedback and value your comments. Please feel free to write to us. keep letters to a maximum of 200 words, include your full name, Telephone # and mailing address with all correspondence.

Address your letters to the Editor The Ghanaian News 2256 Sheppard Ave. Suite 202 Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 Tel: 416-916-3700 or Fax: 416-916-6701 or e-mail us at info@ghanaiannews.ca 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.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage

We are grateful The year 2017 is gradually coming to an end, giving way to the year 2018 in a few days’ time.

As we take stock of the passing year our minds are clouded with the many deaths of both young and old people in the Toronto Ghanaian community alone this year. 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.

Back home in Ghana the year saw calmness all over the country with swearing in of President Nana Akuffo Addo Dankwa into office. The ‘dumsor’ in the country that brought untold hardships and even deaths to many Ghanaians in our own land has abated considerably with only sporadic light offs. And 2016 election was also peaceful too. The situation at home was very gloomy yet we counted on the government, the political parties, civil servants and the electoral commission as well as every Ghanaian to join hands in turning the dire situation into joy and prosperous for motherland, Ghana which is heartening now. ”Galamsey” which destroyed most of our rivers was tackled by the new government to save our rivers is working and we doff our hats to congratulate the Ghana Government but the battle is not ended yet.

We applaud the decision of the Human Rights High Court presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah that ordered the Electoral Commission to take all necessary steps to enable Ghanaians living abroad to vote in 2020 elections. This versatile newspaper has been advocating for the implementation of the Representation of the People Amendment Act 2006 ( ROPAA) ( Act 699) which was passed 11 years ago. We therefore call on the government to act swiftly without delay. We believe the recent Diaspora Summit Conference in Ghana in August this year has yielded fruitful results.

At the Ghanaian News, we are counting the blessings God has poured on our community during the year in spite of the hardships we have had to go through. We are therefore 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 community here in Canada. We applaud the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario in the launching of Ghana Canada Chamber of Commerce.

We thank all our community members, our well wishers and supporters in mainstream Canadian society for supporting our efforts throughout the year. We are also proud of the 28 award recipients honored at our 17th Annual Ghanaian Canadian Achievement Awards this year.

As we say goodbye to the year 2017 and welcome a new one, 2018, 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. Let us shun apathy and embrace engagement to move our community forward.

We are grateful to God, our customers, sponsors and well wishers. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

“Now is a time for action” affirms Kofi Annan in final Africa Progress Panel report The report presents a bold agenda for African progress, to be taken forward by leaders on the continent and abroad to accelerate Africa’s transformation in the coming decades By 2050 more than one in four people on our planet will be African. Bold action is needed now to ensure that all of them have a fair chance of leading healthy, prosperous and fulfilling lives, urges the newest and final report from Kofi Annan’s Africa Progress Panel (APP) (www.

AfricaProgressPanel.org).

The report, “Making Progress Towards Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa”, (http://APO.af/ xtXMF1) draws from the insights cultivated over the APP’s decade of work (2007-2017), outlining the key opportunities and challenges Africa faces as it strives to realize the Sustainable Development Goals, and create long-term equitable and sustainable prosperity.

The APP’s final report is primarily a call to action. It presents a bold agenda for African progress, to be taken forward by leaders on the continent and abroad to accelerate Africa’s transformation in the coming decades.

“After ten very active years, the Africa Progress Panel will be ceasing its activities at the end of 2017. However, we are convinced that the spirit of our work must continue.” said Kofi Annan, Chair of the APP. According to Mr. Annan, the APP’s work will be taken forward from 2018 by a new entity, provisionally named the Africa Progress Group, which is to be established by Panel member, and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo. The new entity, with operational headquarters at the Centre for Human Security

Kofi Annan and Dialogue of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Nigeria, will seek to create a network of robust regional and international partnerships focused on pushing for the implementation of the recommendations the APP has made over the years in its Africa Progress Reports and policy statements.

Three core priorities for action are highlighted in the final Panel report: Mobilize sufficient financial resources fast for Africa’s “green and blue” (agriculture and fisheries sector) revolutions, rapidly boost investment in Africa’s energy and transport infrastructure, and fight against illicit financial activities and the mismanagement of Africa’s resources.

The majority of Africa’s poor continue to live and work in rural areas, predominantly as smallholder farmers, whilst millions depend on the ocean for their protein and livelihoods.

The absence of flourishing agricultural and fishing industries risks excluding the majority of Africans from the rising tide of prosperity.

More than 600 million Africans still do not have access to electricity, and the number is set to grow in the coming years. In addition to effectively addressing the climate change challenge, Africa must also proactively rethink the relationship between energy and development, and swiftly leapfrog to a new era of low carbon efficient modern energy systems that provide affordable electricity to all Africans. The Panel also emphasises that a culture of accountability, with zero tolerance for corruption at all levels, supported by transparent institutions, especially with regards to financial activities and tax regimes, will also be fundamental to achieving progressive change and positive transformation on the continent.

Additionally, President Obasanjo stresses the importance of ensuring gender equality as soon as possible. “Africa’s future is in the hands of women. Equal education for girls, at all three education levels, is the critical issue”, he said.

Reaffirming the APP’s recognition of the hard work that lies ahead, the final Africa Progress Panel report concludes thus: “We have seen Africa transform over the past decade, and our work has left us with an unshakeable hope for its future.

We also know, however, that this transformation has required hard work, creativity and courage.

This will continue to be vital in the coming years, for much remains to be done” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Progress Panel (APP).

“Ontario Parents to Enjoy Free Medications for their Kids”Premier Wynne cont’d from pg. 1 province’s GDP growth is outstripping the G7 countries. It is therefore our responsibility now to do what we are doing now to ease peoples’ lives.

These are our values we have not only to talk about it but to act.”

The Premier had earlier praised the National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada for the wonderful work they do to help Canada. She continued that apart from the indigenous people we allcame from somewhere else to build a different society in Canada which provides more opportunities for us and our children as well as for our grandchildren.She then remarked, “You are

over 750 outlets in over 100 languages. You are able to reach hundreds of thousands of people many who are new in Canada and they are finding their way and they need you to help them find their way in the country.”

She praised Mr. Thomas Saras, CEO and President of NEPMCC for his dynamic leadership of the National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) over the years and later presented awards to some distinguished members of the NEPMCC. Mr. E m m a n u e l Ay i k u , honored for distinguished service, is the publisher/ editor of the Ghanaian News based in Toronto and was among the 31 individuals,

publishers and editors honored. Mr. Ayiku’s award was presented to him by Hon. Laura Albanese, Citizenship & Immigration Minister and Deputy Government House Leader of Ontario.

Other speakers at the function included Hon Laura Albanesse, Ontario Citizenship & Immigration Minister, Mr. John Tory who is the Mayor of the City o f To r o n t o a n d , a representative of the official opposition in Ontario.

The Ghana Consulate General in Toronto, Hon. Thomas Seshie, was among the dignitaries who graced the occasion with their presence that night.

The Ghanaian News December 2017

7

8

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Family, Friends, Community

THINKING OF SELLING OR BUYING A HOUSE

It's important to know someone you can rely on when it comes to your insurance and financial planning needs For the following products:

Credit Valley Real Estate

 Life Insurance  Disability Insurance  RRSPs & Retirement Planning  Children Education Plans  Critical Illness  Mortgage Insurance

"INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED, BROKERAGE" Nana Asare Contact Nana Asare, B.A. (Hons), BEC Dip Life Underwriter

CALL ME

Agnes Ansong

Tel: 416-630-4000 ext. 335 Fax: 416-630-4022 Cell: 416-578-3417 Email: asare@theleadingedge.ca

Real Estate Sales Representative

Contact Info:

3625 Dufferin Street, Suite 340, Toronto, Ont. M3K 1Z2

Boateng Insurance & Financial Services

Area of Service Include:

INSURANCE: Auto & Home Commercial Life, Disability Critical Illness Health & Mortgages

LOANS Leveraging and Investment Loans A.P.A. B.A. Wealth Creation Specialist

TAXES INVESTMENTS Tel: 416-208-7170 Cell: 416-843-0887 Mutual Funds, Seg Funds Fax: 416-208-7447 Annuities, RESP Email: erboateng@rogers.com RRSP, LLIF, RRIF, LIF

205-5 4117 Lawrence Avenue E., Scarborough, Ont., M1E 2S2

Insurance Services SERVICES * Personal Home & Auto * Life Insurance * Commercial Auto * Mortgage Insurance * Commercial Property * Disability Insurance * Professional Liability * Children Education Plan * And more....

Call: George Asiffo, Registered Insurance Broker Cell: 416-317-9579 Fax: 416-756-1635

Email: georgea@soundinsurance.ca Websites: www.soundinsurance.ca

Toll Free: 1-800-631-5216 Direct: 416-558-8383

Eric A. Boateng

Direct line: 416-987-5766 Toll: 1-888-756-3334

Office: 905-793-5000

www.soundwealth.ca

205 Lesmil Road, Toronto, Ontario, M3B 2V1

Fax: 905-793-5020 Email: agnes@royallepage.ca

10045 Hurontario St. Suite #1 Brampton, Ontario L6Z 0E6

The Ghanaian News December 2017

9

Global attention on Ghana over discovery of special monkey at Atiwa Ghana has attracted global attention as A ROCHA Scientists have discovered Cercocebus Lunulatus, a rare terrestrial Monkey in the Atiwa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region.

Our Services are Auto Insurance, House Insurance, Business and Commercial Insurance.

Save Up to 30 % on your Insurance rates.

Representing Major Insurance Companies.

Tel: 905-683-8484 or Mobile 647-885-9082

George Amoako, President/ Owner Opportunity exist for Licensed Insurance Brokers.

The Scientists discovered the globally threatened White-naped Mangabey (Cercocebus lunulatus) in the Atiwa Forest few d ay s ag o u s i n g infrared camera trap.

The primate was known to live in only a handful of sites in western Ghana, eastern Cote d’Ivoire and southern Burkina Faso but now endangered.

The mangabey – a rare terrestrial monkey – is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species.

Primates are a human closest creature with almost similar biological traits. Primates play a very crucial role i n p h a r m a c o l o g y, biomass formation, research among others hence cherished, but human activities including poaching and deforestation is wiping off the primate population worldwide.

Dr Jeremy Lindsell of

A Rocha International, the lead Scientist for the new discovery lamented that “Unfortunately, this newly discovered population of this endangered monkey in Atiwa is threatened by a bauxite mine being planned for this biologically important forest, as well as by snare traps and hunting for the bush-meat trade”.

Andrea Dempsey, the Executive Director for West African Primate Conservation Action ( WA P C A ) , w h i c h supports a captive breeding programme for White-naped Mangabeys in Accra and Kumasi zoos said: “White-naped Mangabeys are so rare that I think these may be the first photographs of them in the wild in Ghana. Finding them in Atiwa Forest gives hope to our efforts to save them. Protecting critical habitat such as Atiwa Forest will be key for their long-term survival.”

The Atiwa Forest harbours a high diversity of threatened and endemic species including birds, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and amphibians. In recent months, the high economic value of the ecosystem services that Atiwa Forest provides to many Ghanaians was highlighted in a 2016 report to the Government of Ghana titled The Economics of the Atiwa Forest Range, Ghana.

Chief amongst these services is the clean water supply flowing from the Atiwa hills on which over five million Ghanaians depend.

This makes it all the more concerning that the Government of Ghana with the Government of China wants to push ahead with plans to extract bauxite – the ore of aluminium – from the Atiwa Hills at Kyebi.

The hilltops of Atiwa will be completely removed during mining because the bauxite deposits are only found in the top few metres. This will destroy all vegetation and associated fauna because bauxite cannot be extracted using a low impact method.

Re-establishment of the original flora and fauna on areas that have once been mined is virtually impossible especially with highly complex and biologically rich forests like Atiwa. cont’d on pg. 13

10

The Ghanaian News December 2017

President Akufo-Addo launches $1.5bn Marine drive project The marine drive project will employ about 150,000 people from construction to the operational stage and it is estimated at the cost of $1.5 billion.

President Nana AkufoAddo has launched a project to build a $1.5 billion Marine Drive To u r i s m E n c l a v e covering over 240 acres of land from the Osu Christianborg Castle to the Arts Centre within 10 years.

The project will employ about 150,000 people from construction to the

operational stage.

The President expressed hope that the project will be completed on time, and within the stipulated construction period.

“I am confident that all of us, gathered here, will be present again here, very soon, for the commissioning of this project”, he added.

President Akufo-Addo said the project is a

public-private partnership and said Ghana intends to go the path of beachfronts development as seen in other West African states.

“Today, we begin the realization of this pledge, with the construction of the Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project.

We are all aware how cont’d on pg. 32

Call Godfred Boateng

416-528-9275

Call Godfred Boateng - 416-528-9275

Competitive, Experienced, Efficient

Registration # 50016573, GST# 81585 8212 RT0001

We Offer Excellent Fares to AFRICAN, EUROPEAN / ASIA /AUSTRALIA and North America Cities.

We also offer Package Tours and Visitor to Canada Insurance.

Call the Experts: 905-276-0000 Watts 1 888 339 9336 E-mails:sk@airvacations.ca

7900 Hurontario St, Suite 202, Brampton, Ont, L6Y 0P6

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Richard Wagner sworn in as chief justice of Supreme Court of Canada O T TAWA - R i c h a r d Wagner has officially taken the helm at Canada’s highest court.

Substance use among Ont. students down but concerns rise over fentanyl use: report

By Sheryl Ubelacker

The Quebec jurist was sworn in today as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada at a short ceremony at Rideau Hall.

TORONTO - Ontario adolescents are drinking, smoking and using cannabis and other recreational drugs at the lowest rates since the late 1970s, suggests a biennial survey of Grade 7 to 12 students by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Wagner takes over from Beverley McLachlin, who retired Friday after serving for 17 years as chief and a total of 28 years on the court.

But the 2017 survey released Thursday turned up a disturbing finding: almost one per cent of respondents in Grades 9 to 12 reported having taken illicit fentanyl in the previous year, raising a red flag given the opioid’s involvement in hundreds of overdose deaths across the country.

Wagner was also sworn in as a member of the privy council in front of an audience which included his family, McLachlin, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The new Chief Justice of Canada, Richard Wagner, is seen during his swearing-in ceremony THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Appointed to the Supreme Court by former prime minister Stephen Harper, the 60-year-old Wagner could hold the chief justice role for 15 years, should he opt to remain

until the mandatory retirement age of 75.

A l s o t o d a y, A l b e r t a judge Sheilah Martin was formally appointed to the high court. The Canadian Press

Ontario Opening New DriveTest Centres And ExtendingHours of Service Province Making It More Convenient To Access Driver Examination Services Ontario is opening new DriveTest locations and extending hours at high-demand centres, to reduce wait times and make it easier and more convenient for people to get the driver examination services they need.

The province is opening two new DriveTest Centres in Mississauga and Markham. The Mississauga centre will serve an anticipated 300,000 customers and help reduce wait-times at seven nearby centres by summer 2018.

The Markham centre will serve an anticipated 100,000 customers and reduce customer wait-times at eight nearby centres by 2019.

Starting next week, more staff and longer hours will also be available at 13 high-demand DriveTest Centres: · The Brampton, Etobicoke, Newmarket, Downsview, Hamilton, Toronto Metro East, Ottawa Walkley, Kitchener and

11

Port Union locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, starting the week of December 18, 2017 · The Oakville, Windsor, and Orangeville locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays by the end of January 2018, and on Saturdays starting February 3, 2018. · The London location will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays by the end of January 2018.

Other customer service improvements include: · Providing a no-wait dropbox service for some medical reporting transactions at 25 DriveTest Centres across the province, to avoid waiting in line for these services · Piloting an appointment booking service at the Downsview location for certain complex transactions – such as out-of-

province and out-of-country licence exchanges – allowing customers to choose a time that is convenient for them, beginning January 2018 · Launching the new Ontario Drive app to help prepare new drivers for their G1 written test · Ongoing analysis to determine options to reduce wait-times and better serve customers across Ontario.

Improving customer service at DriveTest Centres is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 41 6 - 9 1 6 - 3 7 0 0

Robert Mann, a senior scientist at CAMH and co-author of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), said declines over time in the proportion of adolescents using tobacco, alcohol and cannabis are a positive sign that public health messaging about the harms of such substances are getting through to young people.

In the last 20 years, the proportion of students who reported ingesting alcohol dropped to almost 43 per cent from 66 per cent, while smoking rates fell to seven per cent from 28 per cent, and cannabis use dropped to 19 per cent from 28 per cent.

Non-medical use of prescription opioids, monitored since 2007, declined to

almost 11 per cent from about 21 per cent among those surveyed.

“One of the things we also see is that the onset of (substance) use is being delayed until later years. Now the onset tends to occur in later grades,” said Mann, noting that about 37 per cent of 12th graders reported using marijuana.

“And that’s a very positive thing because we know that the later that young people start using alcohol and other drugs, the less likely they are to develop problems with that use, either currently or in the future.”

Such long-term drops in usage point to successful efforts by parents, educators, public health officials - and students themselves - to address substance use and the problems it can create, agreed co-author Hayley Hamilton, a CAMH scientist.

“Nevertheless, we must remember that substance use among students can quickly begin to increase, as we have seen in the past, so a long-term and continued commitment to public health goals is necessary.”

For example, the legalization of recreational marijuana in July could alter current patterns related to the psychoactive drug. cont’d on pg. 12

SIKAMAN-JOHNSON ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICE

12

The Ghanaian News December 2017

FOCUS The Commercialization of Christmas

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview MS, Toronto

When I was a child, Christmas meant a lot to me. Now I care less about Christmas knowing that it has a lot of pagan practices associated with it. Did you know that the Christmas tree was long in existence before Christ was born? And that tree is mentioned in the Bible as the way of the heathen and NOT of God’s children? (Read about it in the Bible from Jeremiah 10 verses 2 to 5). Whatever be your take on Christmas, know that its origin is

not Christian and its celebration is Commerce and not Christ.

However, if you are celebrating Christmas as an honor and worship of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ then remember the words of Christ Himself in Revelation 22:12; And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Lessons of Love, Peace, Joy & Giving The Bible talks about a child who was to be born and that He would deliver mankind from the bondage of sin. That He would be called Prince of Peace, King of Kings- IMMANUEL, meaning ‘God with Us’! (Luke 2:1-20).

‘For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son (Christ)….’ The greatest lesson associated with CHRISTmas is LOVE accompanied by GIVING. Truly, the Christmas season sees a lot of GIVING but is it motivated

by LOVE? Unfortunately, many

cont’d from pg. 11 “There certainly have been concerns expressed that legalizing cannabis might send a message to young people that it’s OK to be using it or it’s OK for more people to be using it,” Mann said.

Four per cent of current users said they intend to smoke up or vape weed more once it’s decriminalized, but almost two-thirds of students overall said they don’t intend to take up the drug once they reach legal age.

H

RT

E RE

D PRO

NA L S I N

A N R E SO U R UM

FE

“So I think we’re looking at a group of pretty levelheaded people here, with exceptions,” said Mann.

“But it doesn’t appear that legislation is going to release a pent-up demand for cannabis in this population.”

IO SS

give to show that they have, and not because they love. The true story of a blind man and his pet (guide dog for many years) could be cited here as true spirit of love. The blind man had unfortunately slipped unto the train tracks while waiting for the train at a subway station. His pet and best friend, the dog named ‘Orlando’ spontaneously jumped on top of him when it saw a train approaching. They laid still in the middle of the tracks for the train to pass over them. The blind man sustained few bruises but his friend, Orlando, was not hurt! While at the hospital, the blind man kept asking about the condition of his pet-friend which, he was to give up for adoption soon because he no longer had enough money to keep it. Such a wonderful friendship was to be broken no sooner than later!

However, their ‘unfortunate’ story moved the hearts of many to give over $80,000 to the blind

man to retain his friend, Orlando!

What a joy!

The season of Christmas is a time of giving and giving brings joy.

Where is the joy in some parts of the world as we celebrate Christmas? There is no peace in places like Syria, the new nation of South Sudan, Yemen and Libya where thousands of human beings including even children who should be singing at this time, ‘joy to the world’ are being massacred! Unfortunately, the world is constantly sacrificing the lessons of Love, Peace, Joy and Giving associated with the birth of Christ on the altar of commercialization of CHRISTmas. Let’s learn the lessons of love, peace, joy and giving that the birth of Christ teaches us!!

Dear reader, Jesus Christ who the ‘noise of Christmas-the Yule’ is all supposedly about is coming again soon! Are you ready for Him? MARANATHA

Substance use among Ont. students down but concerns rise over fentanyl use: report

However, when students were asked whether they agreed that adults should be legally able to purchase pot, responses were mixed, with about onethird giving a thumb’s up, a third against the idea and the other third indicating they weren’t sure.

S

CH A

lessons associated with why Christ was born to the world.

Though we welcome the traditions and sentiments of “peace and goodwill towards all” that Christmas brings with its season, the love of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, should make us live in peace with ALL people at ALL times. Spending money on or showering gifts on the poor ONLY during Christmas is not Christ-like! The commercial houses and other manufacturers wait on the Christmas season to “exploit” the masses.

The origin of Santa Clause (Bishop St. Nicholas from Santa Claus) was associated with gifts-giving. Santa Claus has now taken Centre stage in the celebration of Christmas at the expense of Jesus Christ whose “supposed birthday” is being remembered the world round!

Traders, photographers and some

entertainers always use Santa to commercialize Christmas.

Unfortunately, Christmas has now become Santa verses Christ! I was not surprised to watch in the news from United States of America recently how a house owner was driven with frustration of the apparent commercialization of Christmas at the disadvantage of “Christ” to come up with an unusual Christmas-decoration in front of his house to the displeasure of his neighbors and others. In his decoration, the man has depicted Jesus Christ with a gun pointing to a fallen Santa inferring that Christ has shot dead Santa. Could this thinking be a reflection of what commercialization is doing to the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas?

CE

December 25 is here again and many are those celebrating the season of Christmas (Christmas), the supposed day on which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born onto the planet earth about 2000 years ago. The true origin of Christmas is another thesis to write about!

My question to all (especially, Christians) who celebrate Christmas as an honor to Christ is: Do you truly know Jesus Christ? What many who participate in the festivities associated with Christmas fail to see is the commercialization of the season as its pagan origin rightly invoked-a time for conspicuous consumption and unequaled revelry (see The Buffalo News of Nov. 22, 1984). I personally do not believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born in December which is snow time in Bethlehem (note that the shepherds could not be out there in the field at that time) yet the birth of Christ if is celebrated almost the world-over whenever with love, joy, giving and peace unto humankind then it is the best time to reflect on the life and work of Christ for the world. However, Christmas is increasingly being defined by shallow materialism, and proliferate spending which, is gradually overshadowing the

This year’s OSDUHS involved 11,435 participants, a representative sample of the province’s 917,000 Grade 7 to 12 students.

For the first time in

the survey’s 40-year h i s t o r y, r e s e a r c h e r s asked respondents about fentanyl use. Among those in Grades 9 to 12, almost one per cent said they had ingested the illicit opioid in the previous 12 months - a figure equivalent to about 5,800 students across the province. “ T h a t ’s a s m a l l proportion, but this is a very hazardous drug and these people are taking quite an extreme risk in using this drug,” said Mann.

“It’s very dangerous because a very, very small amount can result in overdose or even overdose-related deaths,” he said, noting that about 900 Ontarians died from drug overdoses last year, with a “substantial portion” related to fentanyl.

Some other findings: - 11 per cent of students puff on e-cigarettes, compared to about seven per cent who smoke tobacco.

- Non-medical use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines rose to 9.2 per cent from 6.4 per cent in 2015, primarily among males.

- Recreational use of ADHD drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, known as

“study drugs,” more than doubled, to 2.3 per cent from one per cent in 2007.

Mann said the survey suggests there’s been huge progress in discouraging alcohol-impaired teen drivers from getting behind the wheel - but not as much for those who take to the road after getting high on pot.

“In the 1970s, when we first began the survey, nearly 50 per cent of Grade 11 student drivers reported driving after drinking, and that’s down to about four per cent now,” he said.

“That’s a huge decline, which is pretty significant because motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death in this age group and alcohol is a leading contributing factor.

“But when we look at driving after cannabis use, it’s up to nine per cent, and that’s concerning because I think there’s a perception out there that you can drive safely under the influence of cannabis, that it doesn’t increase your collision risk.

“And, in fact, the most recent research is telling us that it does ... it increases your chances of being in a collision and injuring yourself or other people.”The Canadian Press

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Ghana is definitely sick!

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto

The Akans have a thought-provoking adage closely translated in English that, when a frog emerges from the stream and informs the land dwellers about the death of the crocodile under the water, it is almost impossible to doubt the credibility of the news.

In our situation, though, many of us already know the crocodile is long dead or it’s on life support at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) somewhere in relations to the Ghanaian political, economic, and socio-cultural milieus.

All that we needed was just a confirmation from the insiders; and there was no other person to do so than outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong!

At any rate, here is the catch, since considerable numbers of us live abroad, nothing that we write or say will make many of our brothers and sisters in Ghana sit up; and have dispassionate reflections on the true state of the moral decay entrenched in the country. So, when the MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyepong, correctly stated on the ADOM TV recently that “Ghana” as societal unit “is sick,” the NPP’s nononsense lawmaker was acting as the proverbial messenger of the frog out of the water.

More significant, not only was the MP bearing the cold truthful news that the “crocodile is dead”

and its putrefying effects all over the place, but also the firebrand legislator’s candid assertion gave many of us who strongly share similar sentiments of the nation’s sickness a protective cover to express ourselves openly, too. The frivolous claim that Ghanaians in diaspora don’t know much about their homeland they have left behind, to offer any constructive critique regarding its prevailing political, economic, and socio-cultural contours is deceptive.

The MP from Assin Central is damned right, Ghana is gravely sick and it is getting worse every day. Clearly, someone needs to be bold and honest enough to tell it like it is. It doesn’t matter where one resides, the world of the Internet/ social media has just eliminated far distances among international borders. What happens in one part of the world instantly becomes known/ old news in the other far corners of the world.

Yes, many of us live far away from Ghana, but we know and strongly agree with Mr. Kennedy Agyepong that the Ghanaian society is sick

13

like a dog, as the North Americans love to say.

Most Ghanaians are the people who eat their bread voraciously and the same time expects to have it back. They complain constantly about not having free education. Now, here comes the introduction of the free SHS under the aegis of Nana AkufoAddo’s administration, and what many of us are witnessing is deliberate sabotage of the Free SHS initiative. The country is sick, indeed.

It’s incredibly depressing, considering the high-level of average Ghanaian’s self-destructive attitude toward everything Ghana.

Many Ghanaians profess their undying love for the country, yet they corruptibly suck the nation to its bare bones. It is common knowledge that besides the police force and the nation’s ports of entry, Ghana education service, including the secondary schools, are the legendary Petri dishes for the incubation of public corruption rooted in ghost names.

unethical tendencies prevalent within the social fabric of the Ghanaian society. The question is how many high schools’ head matrons like the one at GHANASS does the The recent news about a country have? senior matron caught or suspected of stealing large E v i d e n t l y t h e r e a r e food supplies intended for countless crook matrons students at GHANASS in and headmasters with Koforidua, was not only no iota of moral shame shamefully nauseating but yet claim every day to be also the behavior spoke God-fearing Christians ominously to the overall and good Muslims in are mismanaging and stealing daily from their schools and the same time busy shifting the entire blame on the government of the day.

the position of public responsibility. Many Ghanaians fill up church pews almost each day, speaking in perceived “spiritual tongues” and right after their religious services they find crooked ways to demean the values on which the only country/Ghana they have, stands.

For a sizable group of us, when the MP from Assin Central Mr. Agyepong cont’d on pg. 30

Critics are quick to point out inadequate funds and lack of other logistical support for, including how “unsustainable” the newly implemented Free SHS would be. But, they quickly forget to talk about the severe impact of the systemic corruption perpetuated by those tasked to run our public education. The headmasters, bursars, matrons, and other officials of the public educational institutions

Global attention on Ghana over discovery of cont’d from pg. 9 special monkey at Atiwa “Extracting bauxite from Atiwa Forest is incompatible with biodiversity conservation and the ecosystem services that the forest provides. It will spell the end of the unique and irreplaceable species that the forest contains,” says Jan Kamstra of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Netherlands.

A Rocha, IUCN Netherlands and many other stakeholders including international businesses have advocated for Atiwa Forest reserve to be upgraded to a National Park. The creation of a new National Park at Atiwa has substantial local support, including

from the Okyenhene of the Akyem Abuakwa, who is the traditional ruler where the forest is located.

In a letter to the President of Ghana dated 15th December, 2017 Dr Russ Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group, stated that “It is a matter of some urgency that the forest is properly protected both from hunting and from habitat change… I urge that Ghana’s commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity and to the Sustainable Development Goals take precedence in this case and that Atiwa Forest is removed from mining plans once and for all and made into a National Park.”

Seth Appiah-Kubi, Director of A Rocha Ghana said “The discovery of this mangabey confirms that there is more in Atiwa Forest that we are yet to discover, but mined today it will be lost forever.

The threat of destruction has hung over Atiwa Forest for too many years now, so it is time for the Government of Ghana to stand by its commitments to a sustainable future for our people, to honour first of all his commitment to securing our natural heritage, and also our international commitments, and to act to protect this forest in perpetuity as a National Park. It would be appalling to see a decision taken that would push so many species that much closer to extinction “.Starrfmonline.com

B.K OBENG ENT DJ SLIM BLAQ We cover all types of events: Weddings, Small gatherings Birthdays, Funerals, Parties Engagements, Outdoorings We have the best music for your events.

We're now serving: Toronto (GTA), Hamilton Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo ( Area ), London Ontario Windsor Ajax

Contact us today 519-​701-0093 or 289-887-8660

14

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Canadian grocers make $3M per year from penny-rounding: UBC study

By Gemma Karstens-Smith

VANCOUVER - Grocery stores across the country are cashing in on the demise of the penny, according to a young researcher at the University of British Columbia.

Third-year economics and mathematics student Christina Cheung has written a paper that says Canadian grocers are making $3.27 million per year from penny-rounding.

Ottawa announced plans in 2012 to phase out the copper coin, and as a result, cash purchases are now rounded up or down to the nearest five-cent increment.

Cheung wanted to know whether the change was benefiting shoppers or stores. “ P e n ny- r ounding alwa ys becomes a guessing game,” the 19-year-old explained. “It’s a fun guessing game because it might not hurt in the short run, looking at several cents, but in the long run, I wondered if this actually accumulates.”

Curious, she decided to use her spare time outside of class to investigate.

First, Cheung enlisted a friend and they spent about a month and a half documenting more than 18,000 prices at grocery

stores, taking pictures of price tags and entering the data into a spreadsheet.

They found that most prices ended in .99 or .98 - numbers that would result in bill totals being rounded up for cash transactions, if tax is not applied.

Cheung took the data and used a computer simulator to create “grocery baskets” with various items. She adjusted different variables such as the numbers of items and amount of taxes, and factored in data from the Bank of Canada on what payment methods consumers are most likely to use.

Cheung said her analysis found that grocery stores are profiting from penny-rounding.

In the end, Canadian consumers don’t end up paying much extra, but the rounding on cash transactions can mean big money for grocery retailers across the country, with each store standing to collect $157 per year, Cheung said.

In October, a paper Cheung wrote on the research won a competition for the best undergraduate student paper at the International Atlantic Economic Society’s conference in Montreal. Her study is slated to be published next June in the Atlantic Economic Journal.

The Retail Council of Canada disagrees with Cheung’s findings, said Karl Littler, the group’s vice president of public affairs.

The study’s methods don’t reflect real grocery baskets or take into account the impacts of various provincial taxes on bill totals, he said, noting that the average grocery bill is $53 and consists of a larger number of items than Cheung’s simulated baskets included.

Littler said the council’s members have reported anecdotally that pennyrounding is about 50-50, with half of the bill totals being rounded up and benefiting stores, and the other half being rounded down and benefiting consumers.

Government to increase passport fees by 100% “The inputs have been forwarded to the Attorney General as part of the review of Fees and Charges Legislation.

The committee noted that, since August 2009, passport Government plans to increase application fees have not been the cost of applications fee for reviewed, although the cost of a passport by 100 percent. processing and issuing of the document has increased.”

This came to light in a parliamentary committee report The new fees, if approved, during the budget approval of will see the cost of application GHC450 million to Foreign form increase from GHC50 to Affairs Ministry.

GHC100.

A proposal to that effect has been sent to the Finance Ministry by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Reginal Integration.

“The Committee was informed that the Ministry had sent proposals to the Ministry of Finance to increase the Passport application fees from GHS 50 to GHS 100.00 for ordinary passport processing, the report said.

“There’s no nefarious plan here It added: “The fees, which form part of the IGF of the Ministry, to scoop pennies,” he said. is used to defray part of the Cheung said she isn’t looking processing cost, cost of reto demonize Canada’s grocery tooling and for establishment industry, and simply wanted of passport application centers to look at an issue that affects in all regional capitals in order most Canadians on a daily to ease the acquisition process. basis.

Her work on penny-rounding was all done outside of class time as a labour of love, which Cheung said really surprised her professors. “ Ty i n g r e s e a r c h w i t h application is what I love to do,” she said. The Canadian Press

Already, the cost of express passport form is GHC100. The proposal for the price review was silent on that.

The Ministry said the approval would provide it with the need revenue to meet the cost of production of passports.

It, however, it was “mindful of affordability of the service to the public, and entreated the Ministry to take this into account in estimating the cost of the service.”

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 41 6 - 9 1 6 - 37 0 0

Ezekiel & Associates TAXES, HST & ACCOUNTING * Business & Corporate Tax Filing * HST Filing * Accounting & Bookkeeping

If you or your company have not done your taxes for the past five to ten years,

We are here to Help!

Tel: 416-638-2275 / 416-736-8549 Fax: 416-638-2270 Website: www.ekehefinancial.com

Email: info@ekehefinancial.com

4699 Keele St., #204, Toronto, ON, M3J 2N8

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Otumfuor money laundering allegation: Former employee loses case against GIB Mr Arthur was contesting his dismissal after reportedly receiving £350,000 cash from the Asantehene Otumuor Osei Tutu II, without following antimoney laundering regulations.

The case sparked a huge storm in Ghana with some accusing Otumfuo of engaging in money laundering, but the Tribunal in a unanimous decision dismissed the case.

The Tribunal repeated that it’s possible to have some sympathy with the claimant’s position given the King’s status, however there’s no escaping the point that the claimant knew that he should not accept the money when he did.

Mr Miller, the Judge explained that simply accepting the money in a holdall without counting it and taking it to London by a taxi was breaking the rules and put the respondent’s reputation and ability to conduct business as stake as shown by the restriction that was applied.

In those circumstances, it was impossible to say that no reasonable employer could have dismissed the claimant in the circumstances. The complaint of unfair dismissal therefore fails.

There remained the complaint of wrongful dismissal, however for all the evidence given above in relation to the reasonableness of the decision to dismiss the claimant, the Tribunal was satisfied that in doing what he did the claimant had committed misconduct of sufficient seriousness as to amount to a fundamental breach of the employment contract entitling the respondent to terminate the contract without notice.

In conclusion, the complaints in this matter are therefore all dismissed, excerpts of the ruling read.

This was how the UK Telegraph reported the case when it first broke.

The Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, has been cited in a suspected money laundering activity in London after he’s alleged to have personally handed to a bank official at Ghana International Bank to deposit.

The Bank, located in London filed a complaint with the UK’s National Crime Agency after it became suspicious following the transfer of the cash the next day to Jersey, according to documents put out by the court.

The Bank official, Mark Arthur a daul citizen of Ghana and UK was sacked following which he petitioned a London E m p l o y m e n t Tr i b u n a l .

“The King of Ghana gave me £350,000 and I took it to the bank in taxi,” sacked b a n k o ff i c i a l c l a i m s To a Ghanaian King, handing someone a holdall stuffed

with more than £350,000 to deposit in a bank might seem nothing out of the ordinary.

Indeed, when Osei Tutu II, traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Ashanti, summoned Mark Arthur to his multimillionpound residence in Henley-onThames and handed him a bag containing almost £200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 in US currency with consecutive serial numbers, the bank official felt it inappropriate to ask too many questions.

However, the subsequent deposit of the cash at Ghana International Bank triggered a money laundering alert in the City of London and cost Mr Arthur his job.

The King, who once worked at Brent council, summoned Mr Arthur, the bank’s second most senior executive, to his home in August last year. Mr Arthur, from New Barnet, Hertfordshire, a dual citizen of the UK and Ghana, drove to his own home with the cash and then took it in an Uber taxi to the bank’s City offices for deposit in the king’s account, he told an employment tribunal.

Mark Arthur drove to his own home with the cash and then took it in an Uber taxi to the bank’s City offices for deposit in the king’s account, he told an employment tribunal Osei Tutu II, the holder of a diplomatic passport, told him the cash had been withdrawn from banks in Ghana and brought to the UK, he said in his witness statement.

traditional figures in Ghana.?

In his witness statement, Mr Arthur said he was not able to follow anti-money laundering rules when he accepted the cash because of the king’s status.

He said: “Without a policy to follow and did without wishing to offend a sovereign of my country, I found myself in a very difficult situation and one I had never been in before.

“I could not carry out the necessary due diligence by talking to His Majesty so decided it would be best to verify the deposits at the bank and to speak directly to Mr Mensah rather than disrespect His Majesty in a face-to-face meeting.”

The day after the bank accepted the cash and made the transfer to Jersey, it reported the transactions to the National Crime Agency as suspicious.

News of Mr Arthur’s suspension was subsequently passed to the City watchdogs the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA sent inspectors into the bank who severely criticised its handling of cash, the tribunal heard.

Lawyers for Mr Arthur argued that his handling of the deposit was in line with the way the bank previously handled Osei Tutu II’s account CREDIT: HEATHCLIFF O’MALLEY

He had also instructed Mr Arthur to move $200,000 to an account at Standard bank in Jersey.

Lawyers for Mr Arthur argued that his handling of the deposit was in line with the way the bank previously handled Osei Tutu II’s account and that he was aware that the king could travel on a diplomatic passport.

Mr Arthur, a member of the Ashanti tribe, the largest in Ghana, carried out the transfer within hours, the tribunal heard.

They cited a string of large cash deposits in 2013 and 2014 where the source of the funds was not properly recorded.

He was suspended and then sacked following the incident, after an investigation by outside accountants Grant Thornton. He is claiming wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal and failure to protect a whistleblower.

They included a $100,000 that a review of the king’s account said came from a fundraising event. There were no documents recording the source of that cash, however.

Colin Millar, a building society chairman drafted in by Ghana International Bank to adjudicate on Mr Arthur’s appeal against his dismissal, rejected suggestions that the £350,000 holdall was acceptable given the king’s history with the bank.

The bank said he had failed to follow anti-money laundering rules and had violated security policies as it was only insured to carry cash by armoured car up to a maximum of £250,000.

Mr Arthur, an executive director of the bank, alleged the deposit and transfer were approved by Ghana International Bank’s chief executive, Joseph Mensah.

Mr Mensah told an outside reviewer of Mr Arthur ’s dismissal he “didn’t even have the authority to sanction such a huge amount”. Osei Tutu II. Osei Tutu II is estimated to be Africa’s 10th richest monarch, with valuable goldmine and cocoa plantations and remains one of the most influential

He told the tribunal the deposit and swift transfer offshore was a “classic” warning sign of money laundering. kasapafmonline.com Mr Millar told the hearing: “If you want to hide the sources of funds that are from a disreputable source then you move them around until it reaches the point where the authorities can’t trace them back to their original source.

That’s a way of hiding the proceeds of crime.”

15

Bank of Ghana to place temporary ban on new banking licences The Bank of Ghana (BoG) says it will from next year place a temporary ban on the issuance of licences to new universal banks, savings and loans companies or microfinance institutions.

“The central bank is considering not licensing new universal banks or savings and loans companies or microfinance institutions in the country next year as we implement the recapitalisation process,” the Governor of BoG, Dr Ernest Addison, said at the launch of The BEIGE Bank (TBB) in Accra last Friday.

He explained that the measure would help facilitate the full implementation of the recapitalisation process and also ensure solvency of banks and stability in the banking industry by the end of the reforms.

Consequently, he said, the BoG would also introduce a new licensing regime to enable the financial services sector to deliver a strong and well-capitalised financial system that was positioned to support the government’s transformational agenda.

Dr Addison said the measures were aimed at rationalising and making the country’s banking industry efficient.

“As we implement the recapitalisation of the existing banks, we shall not allow potentially insolvent banks to enter the industry. We need to manage entry to ensure that down the line we do not manage the exit of banks as we did this year,” he said.

New capital requirement The central bank in September this year formally directed banks in the country to recapitalise to GH¢400 million, equivalent to about $100 million.

The existing banks have until December 2018 to raise the amount, which represents a 33.3 per cent increase from the current minimum capital of GH¢120 million in line with banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

Although the December 2018 deadline applies to operating banks and those with licences (“Approval in Principle”), the BoG said “all pending applications for banking licence i.e. without “Approval in Principle” are required to meet the new minimum capital requirement and the feasibility reports accompanying such applications are to be a m e n d e d a c c o r d i n g l y. ’ Banks submit feasible plans Dr Addison said all the banks had submitted their feasible recapitalization plans by the end of the November 2017 deadline. cont’d on pg. 30

The Ghanaian News celebrates 20 years of service to the community 1997 - 2017

16

The Ghanaian News December 2017

IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES By: James A. Kwaateng, B.A. (Hons), LLB (Hons)

An Update of Citizenship Application Requirements in Canada With the recent introduction of Bill C-6 by the Parliament on February 25, 2016 which received Royal Assent on June 19, 2017, certain provisions of the Citizenship Act have been amended. Due to the marked changes made recently to the requirements for citizenship applications, applicants are required to use the October 2017 application forms, which are the most recent forms, and not the older forms, for their applications.

One becomes a Canadian citizen either by birth or by naturalization pursuant to the Citizenship Act. Generally, persons applying to become citizens of Canada must meet certain criteria.

The current requirement that the applicants between the age of 14 and 64 years must be able to communicate in either English or French and have adequate knowledge of Canada has changed. It now applies to applicants between 18 and 54 years.

years immediately before the date of application is repealed.

Applicants no longer have to meet this requirement.

The requirement that an adult applicant must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,460 days (four years) during the six years immediately preceding the date of his application, has been repealed.

The physical presence now is 3 out of 5 years. This means the qualifying period for permanent residents to obtain Canadian citizenship has reduced from four years within a six-year period to three years within a five-year period.

Also, the requirement that applicants had to be physically present in Canada for 183 days for the years that are fully or partially within the qualifying

In the recent past, the time an applicant spent as a nonpermanent resident was not to be counted, However, under the revised plan, each day the applicant spends as a temporary resident or protected person can count as a half-day towards physical presence, up to a maximum of 365 days.

In the recent past, applicants were generally required to file Canadian income taxes for four of the last six qualifying years but under the present system, applicants are required to file taxes for three of the last five qualifying years.

The requirements that a citizenship applicant must not be under review for immigration or fraud reasons; must not be under a removal order and must not have any unfulfilled conditions related to his permanent resident status, still hold. There have been no

changes in that regard.

Criminality is still an obstacle to acquisition of citizenship. If you have committed a crime in or outside Canada, you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time. Also, time in prison or time spent under a conditional sentence order cannot be counted towards physical presence; thus those serving a conditional sentence order are prohibited from being granted citizenship or taking oath.

Before you apply for citizenship, check the documents you obtained when you first became a permanent resident to make sure you met all terms and conditions. A substantial deviation from information you provided to the Immigration at the time you applied for

permanent residence could be damaging to your application for citizenship.

The requirements above are not exhaustive. The foregoing is just an overview of the current requirements for citizenship application. Look for details.

The criteria for Canadian citizenship are changing very fast. Applicants are therefore advised to seek proper advice regarding their eligibility and completion of their application forms, if in doubt.

James A. Kwaateng is an Immigration Law practitioner with his offices located at 168A Oakdale Road, Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario. For thorough discussion of your immigration and related social and legal issues, you may contact him at telephone number (416) 7432758.

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 41 6 - 9 1 6 - 37 0 0

Canada Cell: 647-280-8597 Tel: 647-708-2052 USA Cell 1-917-306-0073Tel: 1-914-652-7191 Ghana Cell: +233244-672052 Tel: +233332195630 Web: www.saharaherbals.com Email: atosahara@yahoo.com

The Ghanaian News December 2017

17

FREEMASONRY: “The Invisible Cult In Our Midst”. to the position of Worshipful Master Mason, the highest elected office in Blue Lodge Masonry.

From: Stephen A.Quaye

The confession from the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, that he is a member of freemason in Ghana and very proud of it, has gone viral thereby making more people curious about the origin and beliefs of Freemasonry.

He also passed through all the degrees of York Rite, the so-called “Christian” branch of Freemasonry. Mr. Harris, therefore, speaks on the subject of Freemasonry “as one having authority”.

Otumfuo’s latest confession as member of the freemasonry society in Ghana is swelling the debate about the origins and history of Freemasonry, its basic doctrines and goals, the secret passwords and oaths, the supreme Masonic word, the satanic symbolism and rituals and many more.

The author concisely explains to the reader the basic doctrines and goals of freemasonry; showing how they deviate from Biblical Christianity. All the secret passwords, oaths, obligations and grips of Freemasonry are herein revealed, including the “supreme Masonic word,” known only to Master Masons.

The Asantehene as was reported by Ghana web was speaking at the recent launch of a new book about the society, written by Brother Gyesie, the Honorary Grand Warden of the Freemason Society of Ghana.

If you have ever been curious about the origin and beliefs of freemasonry, FREEMASONRY: THE INVISIBLE CULT IN OUR MIDST IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.

“I am a proud freemason and I confirm that principles and tenets of freemasonry that we are taught in the Lodge, especially in the areas of governance and accountability have always stood me in good stead in my daily functions as Asantehene” according to the report Otumfuo revealed.

READ THE OUTLINE FOR THE BOOK. A former “worshipful Master” of a Masonic lodge, Jack Harris authoritatively speaks about one of the most deceptive cults in United States today.

This secret organization has entangled ministers, elders, deacons, trustees, Sunday school teachers, and people all over the world in a web of lies and satanic rituals-all of which are veiled with the language of the Bible.

Though the debate about freemasonry as a secret cult has been on for a while.

Majority of Ghanaians both home and in foreign destinations were not all that much curious about the society until photographs of former president J.A.kufuor and the Asantehene went viral on social media.

I became curious too about the origin and beliefs of the freemasonry after the story of Otumfuo’s confession broke on the news media on December 1, 2017.

“Hold on,” a sub editor from a Christian book publishing company in America told me on the phone having given them a call to find more about the freemasonry.

Sir, “Kindly hold on and I will let one of our counselors speak to you soon” the sub editor, further asked me to wait on the line an answer.

Hello brother Stephen, sorry for keeping you waiting but we are happy you gave us a call concerning the origin and beliefs of freemasonry and finding out more about the society.

Brother Stephen, we as a Christian book publishing company will like to advise you to read one of our books written about the freemasonry and we believe will enlighten you about the society.

The title of the book is “Freemasonry: The Invisible Cult In our Midst written by Jack Harris, thank you” the sub editor concluded our discussion on the phone.

Revealed in this book are…..

The following morning, with the foreword by Reverend R. Alan Streett together with the outline forwarded to me, I dashed down to Agape Christian Market Place in Toronto and picked up a copy of the book FREEMASONRY: “THE INVISIBLE CULT IN OUR MIDST” as directed.

2. Its basic doctrines and goals

1. The origins and history of Freemasonry

3. The secret passwords and oaths 4. The “supreme Masonic word” 5. The satanic symbolism and rituals.

After reading the whole 145 pages of the book if I should make my decision clear, I will say there is no need for me as a Christian to join such secret society.

According to Reverend R. Alan Streett as the foreword read, Freemasonry: The Invisible Cult In Our Midst, is a straightforward expose of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, more popularly known as Freemasonry.

He noted that Mr. Jack Harris, the author of this interesting book, is an expert witness to the teachings and practices of this worldwide organization.

For a number of years he was a Master Mason, rising

When contrasted with the truth of the Bible, Freemasonry is easily exposed as a satanic cult.

Discover how you can share the light of Christ with those living in darkness of Freemasonry and how they can be set free from its snare.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?

And what communion hath light with darkness?” [2 Corinthians 6:14].

PLEASE GET YOUR COPY NOW AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED.

$5 fee for sending up to $500 worldwide *

Use the Pay in Cash at agent option on our app Finalize your transfer at a participating agent location Download our App today!

moving money for better MOBILE | ONLINE | AGENT LOCATION

*Western Union also makes money from currency exchange. When choosing a money transmitter, carefully compare both transfer fees and exchange rates. Fees, foreign exchange rates and taxes may vary by brand, channel and location based on a number of factors and are subject to change without notice. © 2017 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

18

The Ghanaian News December 2017

CEEKTEX INT'L LTD

AFRICAN By Nature

Importers and distributors of all kinds of African textiles and prints from factories to your door steps

African Design for Fashion and more

• Vlisco Julius • President • Ghana kente

• Meba wo abrokyire And many more!

Prices from $10/6yds

*African Fabric * Lace * Clothing * Accessories * Shoes * Children Clothing * Bags * And more

Two Locations: 242 Eddystone Ave. Toronto, 2544 Weston Rd, Toronto opp. Eddystone meat (HWY 401 & Weston rd S) next to car dealership, Opp. Tel: 647 349 1629 Super store.

647 835 1627(cell) Tel: 647 350 1629

ARE YOU BUILDING IN GHANA

?

We produce, supply and install Precast Concrete Floors for storey buildings in Ghana.

Lace $35 each 3 for $100, 5 yards French lace and Void Lace 5 yards $100 Wax Print 6 yards from $10 and Up Cord Lace 5 yards for $50

Tel: 416-399-3601

Email: africanbynature@hotmail.com

7215 Goreway Dr, 2nd Floor, Unit 2B01, Mississauga, ON

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A

NATURAL PRODUCT TO DEAL WITH

PROSTATE PROBLEMS OR IMMUNE SUPPORT? look no further...

Foster Owusu Serving the commuinity by empowering you with health information

IMMUNOCAL

URBAN KWIK FLOOR SYSTEM Quick, Neat and Saves Cost by up to 30%

Contact us also for your Building

Plans in Ghana.

is a Natural Supplement that Helps to keep the Immune System Healthy!

Some Use Drugs but others have Figured out a way to stay Healthy The Natural way

PROSTATE CANCER IS ON THE RISE...

MAGISTRAL helps prostate enlargement C O N TA C T U S 028 822 7031 020 404 4501 905 781 8434 urbcrete@yahoo.com www.urbanconcreteltd.com Head Office: No. 8 Isaac Street, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana.

and its distressing symptoms.

For men’s prostate and uninary health.

It Includes Saw Palmetto, Ginseng, Ginkgo and Damiana for added sexual vitality.

www.immunotec.com/cch

The Ghanaian News December 2017

19

Afro Caribbean Foods Now Opens in Hamilton Caribbean Tropical Grocers Inc.

(Formerly India Africa) Specials for This Month

Anchor Mackerel - $1.00 special

Indome - $15.99 per box

Also in store specials: Fresh Yams, Smoke Fish, Exeter Corned Beef and Beauty Supply

For All Your Grocery Needs Contact 905-526-4877 193 Upper Ottawa St., Unit 16-18 Hamilton, Ontario

Phoenicia Sardine - 4 for $6.00

2 Locations To Serve You 70 Devon Road (Airport Rd./Clark) Brampton 905-458-5004

2121 Jane St. Toronto, Ontario Tel: 416-241-5435

20

The Ghanaian News December 2017

African Canadian Social Development Council New Executives elected at the Annual General Meeting of the African Canadian Social Development Council on Saturday December 2nd 2017 at North York Civic Center

Group picture of newly elected Executives

KFS Kidoo Financial Services Contact us for your

TAXES Individuals Business

Charity/Non Profit INSURANCE Life Disability/Self-employed

Critical Illness INVESTMENTS RRSP

Guaranteed Investment Funds

RESP (Educational savings) DEBT MANAGEMENT

Credit cards

Line of Credits, etc.

MORTGAGES Consultations Loan

Kwabena Ntim Andoh, BSc MBA

1684 Weston Road, Toronto, ON, M9N 1E3 Tel/Fax: 416-551-1902 Cell: 647-405-8852 Email: Kidoo@rogers.com

Financial Tips

• Review your investments ( RRSP, RESP, Mortgage, Insurance) regularly with your advisor • Learn how to come up with a simple household budget • Manage your debts before they take over your life • Contact me to help you achieve your financial goals

The Ghanaian News celebrates 20 years of service to the community 1997 - 2017

The Ghanaian News December 2017

21

SUE AND CHARLIE’S MEAT AND SEAFOOD IN MISSISSAUGA SPECIALIZING IN AFRICAN GROCERIES, MEATS & SEAFOODS o YAMS

o MACKEREL BOX

o GARI

o HARD CHICKEN

o FUFU

o SMOKED FISH

o PLANTAIN

o STOCKFISH

o COSMETICS

o MOVIES

o HAIR PRODUCTS

o PALM OIL

o KINGFISH BOX

o AND MUCH MORE!

FRESH CHICKEN, GOAT, BURNT GOAT, SHEEP BEEF If we don't have it, we'll get it for you.

Great Price, Great Quality, Great Service

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Tel: 905 896 2226 or 905 896 3663 3057 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, L5A 2G9

22

The Ghanaian News December 2017

AYGC

African Youth

AND GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE AUGUST 5TH - 12TH, 2018 I ACCRA, GHANA

THEME: “Mobilizing Africa’s Youth to Build a Continent Beyond Aid”

Attend or send delegates to join youth from over 35 african Countries and from the worldwide diaspora!

Presidential Dialogue Committee Research

SIDE EVENT A F R I C A N

DIASPORA YOUTH

HOME COMING SUMMIT

General Youth Assembly Development Toolkit Pitching Project Ideas

Special Attraction: Tour to Historical Sites CONTACT US Tel: +233- (20) 901 6886 +260-(977) 783 949 +234-(802) 754 5142 +1(905)-541 2509 +1(416)-274 6556 +1(416)-303 4238 +1(301)-807 4934

- Ghana - Zambia - Nigeria - Canada - Canada - Canada - USA

secretariat@aygconference.net +233 55 378 6943 @aygconference African Youth And Governance Conference www.aygconference.net

h ps://goo.gl/DFQLwA

Ini a ve of

youthbridgefounda on.org

Host

GOVERNMENT OF GHANA

Interna onal Partners

CANADA

Our Endorsement

UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status

The Ghanaian News December 2017

23

Merry Christmas & A HAPPY NEW YEAR As the year 2017 draws to a close, the management and publication team of your versatile community newspaper, The Ghanaian News, take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to all and sundry who have steadfastedly supported the growth of the paper for the past 20years.

To our advertisers whose contributions support the paper’s production, to our numerous readers in Canada, the United States, Europe and the rest of the world as well as our Homeland Ghana, whose continued interests, suggestions and advice have contributed to the papers quality and to our friends and supporters in the larger Canadian community, we say a big THANK YOU for your support.

We also thank our writers contributors and all our distribution team across Canada, We hope we can count on the continuous support and encouragement from all of you. At this holiday season our thoughts turn gratefully to all who have made our progress possible for the past 20 Years.

It is in this spirit we say thank you on this festive holiday season, we wish you all Merry Christmas, enjoyable holiday celebrations, Peace and Prosperity in the coming New Year.

The Ghanaian News salutes YOU All

The People behind The Ghanaian News

Emmanuel Ayiku Publisher/Editor

Prof. Michael Baffoe Contributing Editor/ Manitoba Bureau Chief

Joe Kingsley Eyiah Contributing Editor

Edmund Agbeko Columnist

Dr. David Yaw Twum Barima Columnist

Rev. Isaac Takyi DeGraft Columnist

Philander Baddoo, Ottawa Distributor

Augustine Boahen Calgary Distributor

Alex Bempong Vancouver Distributor

Comfort Ayiku Director of Operations

Nana Akwasi Kwarteng Ghanaian News Radio AM 530 Host

Bob Mensah Bonsu Edmonton Distributor

Jonathan Baah Annobil Community Reporter/ Photo jounalist & Radio Host

Doris Osei Bonsu Columnist

James Kwaateng, Columnist

Golda Abena Quayson Columnist

Kofi Patrick Web Analyst

Nana Kwarteng, Montreal Distributor

The G han ai an New s c el e br a t e s 2 0 yr s o f s e r v i ce t o the c o mmu n it y 1 9 97 - 2 01 7

24

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Ghanaian News Contributing Editor Prof. Michael Baffoe installed Chief in Ghana From Staff Reporter, Ghana

The Contributing Editor and Central/Western Canda Bureau Chief of the Ghanaian News, Prof. Michael Baffoe has been installed as the Chief of Assin Wurakese in the Central Regional of Ghana. The colorful ceremony took place at Wurakese, 15 kilometres north east of the District capital, Assin Foso on Saturday December 16, 2017.

He was installed under the stool name of Nana Okogeaman Dankwa Ameyaw Krokroko II. Addressing his community after the installation, Nana Okogyeaman promised to spearhead development projects in the community especially education for the youth. He promised to use the vast resources of the community for infrastructural development as well as the education attainment for the youth.

Nana Okogyeaman Dankwa Ameyaw Krokroko II Prof. Baffoe is an Associate Professor of Social sitting in state Work at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

Swearing of Oath by Nana Okogyeaman Dankwa Ameyaw Krokroko II

Nana after the installation being carried shoulder high Swearing oath of allegiance Nana at Church

Nana in state with other chiefs and elders Nana in festive mood Nana and queenmother

Nana being carried shoulder high after installation Nana just after the installation

The Ghanaian News December 2017

ROYAL DENTAL CARE

Chiropractic & Rehabilitation

Dr. George Boahene Ansong General Dentistry For the Entire Family

NS UL TA TI

ON

We also offer these services: 1. Motor Vehicle Accident

2. Extended health care

3. Soft tissue massage

4. Custom made orthotics

EE

CO

Tel: 905-264-8010

All Dental Insurance Plans accepted

Al

bio

nR

d.

Reg. $299.00 Limited time Offer

Save $150.00

Royal Dental Care

Martin Grove Rd.

Evening and Saturday Appointments Always Available

Teeth Whitening $69.00 per arch

Fax: 905-264-9010

CLINIC HOURS:

FR

Various Languages Spoken

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY 1. Protruding and Herniating Discs 2. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) 3. Spinal Root Impingment 4. Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) 5. Compression Fractures

Cosmetic Dentistry Gum treatment Surgery Dentures White Fillings

1625 Albion Road, Suite 107

NOW INTRODUCES: STATE OF THE ART TREATMENT FOR:

Emergency & New Patients Welcome

Call Us At: 416-748-8866

ISLINGTON NORTH CHIROPRACTIC Dr. M. Agyemang, B.Sc. (Hons.), D.C.

Your Personal Invitation Come and enjoy your Dental experience with

Family Dentistry Crowns & Bridges Teeth Whitening Root Canal Treatment Cleaning

25

Mondays 9:30am - 6:00pm Tuesdays 9:30am - 8:00pm Wednesdays: 9:30am - 6:00pm Thursdays 9:30am - 6:00pm Fridays 9:30 am -1:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 1:00pm

7007 ISLINGTON AVE., UNIT 14, Woodbridge, Ont, L4L 4T5

(North-East corner of Islington/Steeles)

Jane @ Wilson Medical Centre

P & C Rehabilitation Services Dr. Paul Agyemang, BHK (Hons) CSCS.DC. Chiropractor

Dr. George W. Otto, M.D.

416 652-6223

Kwame Sarpong, BSc, PA-C, CAPA

• Family Practice & Walk-in Clinic • Specialists • Travel Clinic • Driver Medical Examinations • Car Accident & Work Injuries • Disability Applications HOURS Monday - Friday: 9 am - 7 pm Saturday: 12 noon - 5 pm

Tel: 416-241-0515 2111 Jane St., Unit 3

Toronto, Ontario, M3M 1A2

Offering Excellent Services In: Dr. Paul Agyemang, Chiropractic Treatment BHK (Hons) CSCS.DC. Physiotherapy Treatment MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Bureau) Massage Therapy Custom made orthotics Work Conditioning Program Extended Health Care Acupuncture

Clinic Hours Monday Tuesday Wednesday

10 am - 7 pm 10 am - 7 pm 10 am - 1 pm

Tel: 416-652-6223

Thursday 10 am - 7 pm Friday 10 am - 6 pm Saturday

CLOSED

Fax: 416-661-4970

2100 Finch Avenue, W., Suite 310 Located Inside Norfinch Medical Building.

Directly opposite Humber River Hospital-Finch site

26

The Ghanaian News December 2017

African Caribbean Groceries Inc 63 Dundas West, Mississauga, Ont

Tel: 905-281-9515 Business Hours

Monday - Wednesday - 10:00am - 8:00pm Thursday - Friday - 10:00am - 9:00pm Saturday - 9:30am - 6:30pm Sunday - 12:30pm - 5:30pm

63 Dundas West of Hurontario

Kaf African Caribbean Market

SUPPORT

Tel: 905-855-3595

BLACK OWN

We specialize in African, Caribbean Groceries: *Gari Pounded *Yam *Vegetable Salad *Fufu *Potato Starch *Stock Fish *Salted Fish *Smoked Fish *Cerelac *Rice *Bournvita *Milo *Corned Beef *Phone Cards *Cosmetics *Goat meat and many more We are wholesalers and distributors of smoke fish

MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH MONEYGRAM

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Mon-Sat. 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sun.

LOCATION:

Mississauga, Ontario

2642 Liruma Rd, #2A, Mississauga, Ont.,

BUSINESS Message from The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

401 or 403 to South on Erin Mills Pkwy, Exit West on Dundas, 2nd light left Liruma Road, Behind Mr. Lube

New Kantamanto Market

Central Market We Carry All Your Tropical Grocery Items

Under New Management

For All Your Family Grocery Needs

Specializing In African and Caribbean Food & Hair Products

Open 7 Days A Week

* Fresh Ghana Yam (Pona) * Palm Oil * Titus Sardine * Exeter Corned Beef * Accra Kenkey * Akwaabi * Fresh Garden Eggs * Red Snapper And much more at discount prices

* Amane * Palm Oil * Atadwe * Adwene * Zomi Oil *Werewere * Fufu * Fish * Momone * Alata Samina * Rice * Fresh Yam * Nkuto * Garden Eggs * Goat Meat * Apem * Koobi * Shito * Kenkey * Geisha * Kpako * Gari * Kokonte * Asanka

We are open 7 Days a week.

Sundays from 12 noon to 6:00 pm

Food Containers On Sale

Tel: 416-745-5928

1288 Wilson Avenue, Unit #D, Toronto, Ontario

5010 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 2B, Etobicoke (Steeles/Kipling)

Xpress Tropical Foods & Meat

UNCLE SETH TROPICAL FOODS Specializing in African, Caribbean, Asian & Canadian Foods

African and Caribbean Grocery Store

*WHITE RICE

*ACCRA KENKEY WHITE CORN MEAL

* POTATO FLAKES

* OX HEAD SCENTED RICE

*GRACE KENNEDY SCENTED RICE

*GARI

*ALREADY MIXED FUFU

*ADWENE

*KONKONTE

* FRESH PONA YAMS *ASANKA

*QUALITY ZOMI

* WHITE CORN FLOUR

*BODIE FUFU

Twins Sister Tel: 416-235-1470 Cell: 416-948-2531

*POTATO STARCH *PALM SOUP

*KOOBI

*GHANA BREAD

* Fresh Ghana Yams (Pona) The * Palm Oil * Titus Sardine Lowest * Exeter Corned Beef Prices * Accra Kenkey in * Akwaabi * Fresh Garden Eggs Town * Red Snapper * And much more at discount prices

*SHITO Denton * Red Snapper * Tilapia * King Fish Steak * Mackerell

VISIT OUR FISH

MARKET AND BUTCHER SHOP We open 7 days a week. We also deliver

OUR BEAUTY AND HAIR PRODUCTS One of the Largest Selection

Tel:

416-288-9330

2069 Lawrence Ave. E. Scarborough, Ont.

We are open Monday - Friday: 9 am to 8 pm Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Tel: 416-249-7007 1712 Jane Street, Toronto (Jane/Lawrence)

The Ghanaian News December 2017

M A K O L A Tropical Foods THE SUPERMARKET IN THE HEART OF ACCRA-GHANA IS NOW HERE IN THE HEART OF TORONTO QUALITY FOODS

BEST PRICES IN TOWN

fresh yam * plantain * cocoyam * adwene* koobi * abodoi * egusi * gari * konkonte * goat meat * fufu * kenkey * snails * herrings *sugar bread etc. etc.

40 Beverly Hill, Unit # 56, North York, Ontario

NEW ERA MART LTD. AFRICAN & WEST INDIAN GROCERIES

Quality Zome * Yams (Pona) * Gari * Konkonte * Goat Meat * Adwene * Maggi Cubes * Prekese Tel:

416-740-7955

Fax: 416-749-8536

Email: ben@the-wire.com

Jane & WilsonOpposite Sheridan Mall (Behind Burger King Next to Jerry)

1148 Albion Road. Etobicoke, Ont. (at Islington)

Tel: 416-244-4496

African Supermarket & Beauty Supply African Crops * Smoked Fish & Meat * Yam * Plantain * Gari * Fufu etc.

Call Rosina Boakye Tel: 905-913-0033 Cell: 647-588-5755 8887 The Gore Rd., #56 Brampton, Ont. (Jaipur Gore Plaza)

Mercies African Supermarket We Specialize in African Caribbean Groceries & much more...

* Red Snapper * Mackerel * Palm Oil * Egusi * Fresh Ghana Yams * King Fish Steak

27

* Adwene * Goat Meat * Creams & Lotions * Braids Open * Gels

7 Days

A Week Business Hours Monday - Saturday - 9:30 am - 8:00 pm Sunday - 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tel: 905-846-2897 15 Brisdale Drive (Bovaird Dr. W. & Brisdale Drive)

Asafo Market R & G African and Caribbean Grocery Inc. * Yam * Gari * Rice * Accra Kenkey * Can Food * Dry Fish * Koobi * Akwaabi Fish * And many more

Call Rita or George

Tel: 416-650-5368 391 Driftwood Court (Jane/Driftwood)

Atwima Marfo Enterprise (Formerly East-End Tropical Market)

287 Morningside Avenue (Behind old store) * African Yam * Chicken * Box of Mackerel * Burnt Goat * Red Mullet * Ram Goat Meat * Carnation Milk * Black Soap

* Obaatan Pa Mackerel * Goat Head * Clean Tilapia * Box of Red Snapper * Ackees * Chicken Legs * Grace Soup Mix

* Roasted Hard * African Snapper * Shea Butter * King Fish Steak * Goudas White Rice * Pig Tail * Yellow Yam

WAAKYE - WEEK-END SPECIAL - $5.99 (TAKE-OUT)

Guranteed Lowest Prices on All African Foods Videos and CDs

Cosmetics Tel: 416-286-0516

28

The Ghanaian News December 2017

ANC’s new leader is playing it safe Behind the scenes here at South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) conference, the turmoil has continued.

They had already secured the top job for him, he said. If others positions had been stolen by their rivals, so be it... for now.

T h e r e h a v e b e e n l e g a l The new leader warned: challenges, more allegations of fraud, and fears that the ANC We m u s t n ’ t a l l o w t h i s conference to degenerate into might yet tear itself apart. controversy and legal suits that But there is a new man in will nullify the result that we’ve charge of the party now - and come up with because what this today, Cyril Ramaphosa urged does, notwithstanding the fact his supporters to play it safe.

that it may not be what we all wanted, it gives us a beachhead, a beachhead to be able to start the process of re-instilling the values of our movement in the ANC.”

Mr Ramaphosa’s first and biggest test comes in the awkward shape of President Jacob Zuma – he’s still in charge of South Africa, and still weighed down by scandal.

Mr Zuma has been fighting off multiple corruption allegations, for years. But the High Court is now moving firmly against him, and against his perceived allies in the justice system.

What Mr Ramaphosa really means is fighting corruption – taking on the crooks who have, in the eyes of many, turned Africa’s oldest liberation party into a looting machine.

Mr Ramaphosa is likely to try to force the president to step down soon. But he’ll need the ANC’s support.

It is still a muddle here. But it does feels as if power is slipping away from the president, and towards the new man - Mr Ramaphosa.

Then again, the courts here may help.

BBC News, Johannesburg

But is that feasible?

New African King Meat Shop

New Kaneshi Market

Under New Management

Lowest Price Guaranteed * Fresh Ghana Yams (Pona) * Accra Kenkey * Akwaabi * Palm Oil * Fresh Garden Eggs * Titus Sardine * Red Snapper * Exeter Corned Beef

1190 Weston Road 416-614-1664 or 416-317-6327

Specializing in African, Caribbean and Asian Wholesale deal on Yam, Gari, Kokonte and more • • • • •

Burnt Goat Fresh Goat Ox Tail Cow Tripe Smoke Fish

• • • • • •

Ghana Yam Maggi Seasoning cubes Trofai Palm Cream, Palmnut Cream, Ghana Fresh Palm Oil and Coconut Oil Veggies

Business Hours Monday to Friday 10 am - 8:30 pm Saturdays 9 am to 8 pm Sundays 2 pm - 6 pm

Consumer Hotline: 647-344-0988 2223 Jane Street (opposite Chalkfarm) Toronto

The Ghanaian News December 2017

29

Ghana needs tougher action on mercenaries and private security to safeguard stability, UN group finds Government figures suggest there are some 400 groups employing around 450,000 people, in a country where the police force numbers around 33,000 GENEVA, Switzerland, December 21, 2017/ -A UN expert group on mercenaries has urged Ghana to introduce tougher measures to regulate the private s e c u r i t y i n d u s t r y, warning that the spread of vigilante groups and armed individuals threatens the country’s p e a c e a n d s t a b i l i t y.

“Ghana is often referred to as an ‘oasis of peace’

in the region and has so far escaped the scourge of mercenarism and foreign armed groups, even becoming a place of refuge for many who have fled armed conflicts and instability in their home countries,” said Anton Katz, one member of the delegation of the U N Wo r k i n g G r o u p on Mercenaries, who took part in an official mission to Ghana from 8-15 December.

“We commend Ghana for achieving this peace and stability. It is crucial that it continues, and addressing current security threats can help achieve this,” he said.

Mr. Katz and fellow delegation member Patricia Arias highlighted many positive practices which form the cornerstone of Ghana’s peace and stability, but raised concerns about the huge number of private security companies and the spread of vigilante groups and armed individuals, including those collaborating with foreigners in illegal mining, known as “galamsey”.

An estimated 1.3 million illegal weapons and reported arms smuggling into the country had worsened these security

GOLDEN GATES RESTAURANT Best African Cuisine * Dine in - Take out Catering

10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Monday to Sunday

Tel: 416-745-1394 2428 Islington Ave., Unit 104Toronto Ontario, M9W 3X8

threats, they added.

“We have seen many times how countries like Ghana, with rich natural resources and porous borders, can fall prey to mercenarism and mercenary-related activities when the security situation is undermined by violence often at the hands of armed groups,” said Ms. Arias.

“Combating these threats effectively now can prevent potential tensions and conflicts that may open the door to mercenary activities.”

The experts expressed concern at the number of illegal private security firms operating in the c o u n t r y, d e s p i t e a n existing law to regulate them. Government figures suggest there are some 400 groups employing around 450,000 people, in a country where the police force numbers around 33,000, they noted.

The delegation highlighted issues including a lack of data and the arming of some personnel, saying an independent oversight body or mechanism was crucial to protect against potential human rights abuses.

and private security personnel, even if the latter are unarmed, is among the most worrying I’ve seen in any country,” said Ms. Arias.

“We are also concerned that many private security personnel do not undergo proper training and often do not satisfy the requisite standards of education. Human rights training does not normally appear to be a common requirement.”

The experts called for strong measures to rein in vigilante groups or so-called “foot soldiers”, who affiliated themselves with various political parties and posed a real threat to national security. These groups were becoming difficult to manage, particularly during election periods, and had sometimes acted in violent mobs, even disrupting a court case and freeing the defendants, the delegation said.

The Working Group said the “galamsey” or illegal miners included foreigners from neighbouring countries and other regions including Asia and Europe. Some were reportedly armed and were damaging the environment

“The ratio between police

while also being embroiled in dangerous confrontations with local communities and law enforcement agents.

The Government’s recent Operation Vanguard was seen as a potentially effective solution, but the experts stressed the importance of ensuring that all police and military personnel incorporated human rights standards in their operations.

The Working Group p r a i s e d G h a n a ’s “exemplary” record in adopting laws that promoted, respected and protected human rights, and urged their full implementation.

The delegation held meetings in Accra and Takoradi with the national authorities, civil society organizations, academics, companies from the extractive industry and private security companies.

The Working Group will present a full report on its visit to the Human Rights Council in 2018.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Afro Continental Bar & Grill We Serve All Kinds Of African Continental Dishes * Fried Yam with Tilapia or Red Snapper * Fried Plantain with Beans * Waakye (Rice & Beans) with Assorted meat * Banku with Okro or Peanut Soup * Dieho (TZ) * Konkonte * Jollof Rice * Fufu with Peanut Soup or Light Soup

BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

- - - - - - -

12 NOON TO 7:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 PM TO 11:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 11:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 11:00 PM

Call Kwame or Adwoa @ 416-519-6740 849 Albion Road (Albion/Islington)

30

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Right and Wrong Signals: A Message to His Excellency, President Akufo-Addo

By Edward Akuffo, PhD Mr. President, I hope that this message finds you well.

At the onset, let me wish you a Merry Christmas in advance and congratulate you on your courage, deftness, and consistent delivery of the Ghana beyond aid slogan which is gradually defining your presidency. You started this inspiring message at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2017, continued in London last month, and made it the focus of your media interaction with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, a little over a week ago. Your will to succeed on this front is something that those of us in the academia, at least, admire because it is a topic that we have learned and taught for decades. Many academics wish to see the Africa beyond aid rhetoric translated into practice. In that regard, I hope that your political will would find concrete meaning in a well crafted and coherent and comprehensive Ghana foreign policy strategy to achieve this noble goal.

To be sure, you are sending the right signal, and Ghana’s partners may be taking careful notes on how to

meaningfully engage the country under your presidency and in the future. As well, foreign investors may be reading that, indeed, Ghana is opened for business and wish to run a modernized economy. Again, foreign policy observers would be thrilled to note that in the past three weeks alone several European leaders have visited Ghana.

This week you are hosting the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on an official visit. Your diplomatic engagements at home and abroad are very impressive for your first year as the President!

Ghana beyond aid as the catchphrase of your government’s external relations, however, cannot be achieved in practice without the active participation of Ghanaians living abroad. Mr. President, Ghanaians in the Diaspora are your transnational ambassadors. They are the unofficial diplomats who are well positioned around the world to build the bridges of collaboration and cooperation with your targeted foreign nations.

Their non-traditional diplomatic clout and the benefits thereof must not be underestimated by your government and Ghanaians as a whole, and that brings be to the second reason why I am sending you this message.

Bank of Ghana to place temporary ban on new banking licences cont’d from pg. 15 He mentioned that currently the banking supervision unit of the central bank was reviewing the plans, adding that the progress of each bank towards compliance would be tracked and where necessary the central bank would provide support to enable compliance within the stipulated period.

“As the banking sector becomes more diversified, we need strong supervisory regimes that effectively identify threat, risk, safety, and stability of the system,” Dr Addison explained.

As a result, the Governor said the central bank would begin the implementation of key pillars of Basel two and Basel three framework of the banking supervision next year to enhance the quality of capital to reposition banks to withstand volatility and unexpected losses associated with operational risk.

The governor commended The BEIGE Bank for creating a niche market in the SME space because the government also intended to use the private sector as an engine of economic development.

He observed that BEIGE was entering the universal banking space at the time when the banking industry was undergoing comprehensive reforms, including recapitalisation and restrategizing, to build strong and efficient banks to support a fast growing economy.

BEIGE

Bank

launch

The BEIGE Bank, which has transformed from a savings and loans company, started a little over 10 years ago. With a strategy to become not only a universal bank, but a onestop shop for financial services, The BEIGE Bank becomes the 35th licensed universal bank in the country.

With a current staff strength of over 2,000, BEIGE Bank is beginning operations with 25 business offices and a clientele base of 700,000 made up of individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BEIGE, Mr Mike Nyinaku, said: “When we started, our strategic intention was that within 10 years we will have laid the foundation for what will become not just a bank but a universal financial service provider and in 15 years that financial services provider should have a world class appeal,” he said.

He observed that presently the BEIGE group had under its canopy an asset management firm, a life insurance company, a health insurance company and a pension’s funds manager.

“Together our subsidiaries and affiliates have provided direct employment for over 5,000 people. This, however, means that the foundation we are working on is gradually taking shape,” he stated.

H o w

i t

s t a r t e d

Touching on the history of the company, he said BEIGE commenced operations in 2008 with a stated capital of GH¢1 million.

According to him, the company s application to operate as a savings and loans company was turned down by the BoG, unlike existing players who had been given time to operate and raise capital, as new entrants needed to cough GH¢7 million minimum capital.

For that reason, he said the company operated as a microfinance institution until 2012, when it successfully upgraded as a savings and loans company and today has evolved into a fully fledged bank. Graphic.com.gh

Mr. President, I am sure that you are aware of the proposed amendment to the NPP Constitution to exclude Ghanaians in the Diaspora from holding offices in the NPP. To put it bluntly, the proposed amendment is not about the Diaspora.

It is essentially about your government and the Ghanaian society. The apparent attack on the right of the Diaspora community to participate in the political life of the NPP is a convenient means to undermine your government, and in turn, the overall socioeconomic development of the Ghanaian society.

The proposal, if passed, will be a major blow to the morale of the Ghanaian Diaspora community to support your development efforts. I can only think about power and argue that the Diaspora is perceived as a soft target to derail your progressive development agenda. Whether this is being done intentionally or unintentionally by the NPP Parliamentary Caucus, ad hoc Constitutional Review Committee, and National Council is hard to tell.

However, it is very hard to imagine that such a delicate decision to exclude an important constituency like Ghanaians in the Diaspora was made without the three groups of decision-makers thinking about the implications and consequences. I will advise that this proposal is struck-down and should not be allowed to get close to the floor of the NPP’s Extraordinary Delegates Conference in Kumasi on Sunday December 17, 2017.

Mr. President, your disposition since you came to power has earned you a lot of goodwill beyond the NPP fraternity. I would not be wrong to say that some of your strongest supporters and admirers are not NPP folks but Ghanaians in the Diaspora who have seen the dawn of Ghana’s century under your leadership.

They smell great opportunities to give back to their motherland. These Diaspora folks are men and women who love their country no more or less than their families and country folks at home. Indeed, their remittances of $2 billion in 2016 alone far exceeded the total tax revenue and foreign aid for that year. This is a strong signal that the Diaspora community is certainly needed in the equation to move Ghana beyond aid.

Further to the establishment of the Diaspora Liaison Office at the

Presidency and the hosting of the Diaspora Homecoming Summit in July this year, Ghanaians in the Diaspora expect leadership from your government to amend Articles 8(2) and 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution to provide equal citizenship to dual citizens.

In your speech on Africa beyond Aid to the Royal African Society in London, UK, you said “We need to have our own bright and sharp lawyers to keep us abreast with the sharp and bright lawyers that our trade partners have. We need to have our own bright and sharp technologists to keep us abreast with our competitors” Yet, the door to fully utilize the vast expertise of Ghanaians in the Diaspora is currently closed by Articles 8(2) and 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution. Mr. President, not only is this inimical to Ghana’s democracy and human rights development, as well, the country cannot exclude the huge human and material resource potential of the Diaspora community and still expect to be competitive in the highly competitive global economy.

I need not belabor the fact that there are enough challenges that Ghana face and the leadership of the NPP are supposed to help to create the enabling environment including the implementation of Diasporafriendly policies, and assisting in the removal of Constitutional constraints against the Diaspora community for your government to succeed. Your government’s success will depend on the full utilization of the human resources at home and abroad.

It is troubling to note that a new Achilles heel is being formed with the proposed constitutional amendment to the NPP Constitution regarding the exclusion of the Diaspora from holding offices in the NPP. That is a wrong signal! Politics of self-preservation and exclusion is not only dangerous to the promotion and protection of human rights, but it attacks the essence of your progressive development agenda that is marked by Ghana beyond aid.

Mr. President, speak and let you men and women listen and act accordingly.

Edward Akuffo is an associate professor of international security and international relations at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

Ghana is definitely sick! cont’d from pg. 13 rightly articulated that “Ghana is sick,” we understood exactly where he was heading with that lamentation. In other words, a country that has many of its public officials entangled in the occultism of corruption; where majority of its citizens do not have respect for its environment because of greed and selfishness; or, in a society where people can urinate or “answer nature’s call” in the street corners and other open places, where these human wastes possibly run into the water supply; certainly, that nation is sick.

In short, when people intentionally throw or dump garbage into gutters blocking them

such that whenever there is heavy downpour of rain it often causes flooding in the cities and towns sewerage system with its consequent loss of lives and properties; also, where there are no enforceable or absence of public decency laws to contain the excesses of the latter-day illiterates/semi-literates “celebrities” running amok at public events almost naked in the vague name of entertainment; or, a country where people never die naturally unless the so-called juju or witchcraft is behind it, that society is definitely sick. These are some of the reasons the honorable MP Mr. Ken Agyepong is damned right that “Ghana is sick!”

And so in this Christmas and new year season, let’s try something modest, but challenging to many. Let’s find our magnifying glass and project it onto our own Christian lives. Let’s identify at least one thing Christ has done for us personally. Then, let’s go out and find one person to whom we can magnify at least one thing about the Lord. Preaching, lending a hand, projecting, and proclaiming Christ and our personal relationship with him are some of the ways we can magnify the Lord. Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers during these end times.

Merry Christmas. and a Happy New Year.

The Ghanaian News December 2017

31

Community Information PART-TIME DRIVER URGENTLY NEEDED Lighthouse Assembly of God is urgently looking for a part-time driver to drive Church bus on Sundays.

Qualifications: • Must have any of the following valid licenses Class: B,D and E • Must have at least 2 years’ experience driving school bus or any bus carrying passengers If you meet the above qualifications, Please call any of the following numbers:

RMA

Raymond Micah & Associates

Your Success Is Our Business!!!

We Help You Achieve Success With: . Charity Applications . Non-Profit Incorporation . Business Registration & Incorporation . Business Plan Writing . Proposal Writing . Charity Fundraising Our Charity Registration & Business Incorporation Services ·Do you want to open your own registered charity to do good works in Canada, Ghana or elsewhere?

·Do you want to register your own private or non-profit business?

416-7401200 or 647- 6280976 ·If so, we can help you succeed – we have helped many others in the community succeed!

·Honest and Professional Service – Straightforward

·Our charity application support fee is less than half (50%) what others charge!

·We can help whether you are: o An Individual or Family o A Church o An Association o A Non-Profit Organization; or o A Private Business Please call Raymond Micah Former Manager, Charities Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency (289) 201-9539 Messages Only, Please!

TV Show

514-548-2277

The Ghanaian News celebrates 20 years of service to the community 1997 - 2017

32

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Ask Aunty Doris From this edition, we start a new Question and Answer Column with our Columnist on Relationships titled: ASK AUNTY DORIS. Readers who want to chat with our Counselor/Columnist should send their questions to: editor@ghanaiannews.ca She will publish your Question and her Answers in our subsequent issues. Please keep your questions short... maximum of three lines.

Dear Aunty Doris,

Dear Aunty Doris, Dear Aunty Doris, My husband’s older sister visits for overnight stays a few times a year. She has never married and has no children. About seven years ago, she started inviting herself for Christmas. She stays for several days.

Our wedding anniversary is two days after Christmas. She gets upset if my husband wants to spend time with me on that day. For the past seven years we haven’t celebrated our anniversary. This year is our 20th anniversary, and my husband promised me we would celebrate alone.

She says she needs a knee replacement and found a doctor near our home whom she likes.

She just told us she scheduled it for Dec. 21, and will need to stay at our house after the surgery.

In any other circumstance, I would have no problem rising to the occasion.

I should point out that she is often mean to me; she seems to dislike each of her siblings’ spouses.

I know my husband feels stuck in the middle, but our marriage has suffered because of this situation and his reluctance to stand up to her.

I don’t know how to handle this. No other family member will invite her to their home, they tell me they don’t want the drama she brings to ruin their holiday.

Maggie, Spouse

After my father died six years ago, I took on the responsibility of hosting family dinners for Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter and birthdays. I always invited my two brothers, their families and my widowed mother. My brothers never reciprocated, so after four years, I cut back on these celebrations, and now, we get together only for Christmas.

My family has never been invited to either of my brothers’ homes for a meal of any kind. One year, when I was undergoing some medical treatment, I told them Christmas dinner would have to be potluck, and asked them to bring something.

One sister-in-law brought a loaf of bread, the other brought a salad. I ended up preparing everything else at the last minute. Last year, one brother didn’t bother to show up at all. A week later, he invited my family to his house to exchange gifts.

His wife served pop and potato chips, and then told us we had to leave because they were going to a party.

I have not had a tension-free Christmas ever. Our three children do not know what a happy holiday meal is like. This year, I don’t want to invite my brothers, but I know it will upset my mother. This is the only time the entire family gets together. Mom is 70, and I do not want to hurt her, but when does my family get to enjoy Christmas? My husband (who is an angel about this) is willing to let me make the decision, and I am asking you, Doris. What should I do?

Ghanaian Canadian

Dear GC, Dear Maggie, Your husband can’t stand up to his sister. You won’t stand up to her. The two of you would do better if you had a thought-out strategy, an actual plan and even a script of sorts to handle this.

You sound like nice people. You need to take care of yourselves, each other and your relationship. In addition to other details, if you aren’t in good shape, you won’t be able to take care of other.

Work with your husband. Decide what works best for you. And then take this plan to your sister-in-law.

Do you really want to devote your Christmas to nursing her after her knee surgery?

No. And so you tell her that the pre-Christmas date will not work.

Do you really want to celebrate your 20th anniversary with your husband? Yes. And so, you say, “Joe and I have plans for our 20th anniversary so we won’t be home that night.”

Write out these simple statements. Call your sister-in-law and put her on speakerphone, if necessary, so you can both speak with her.

Tell her what would work best for you. Don’t budge. She’ll have to learn to work around you. Good luck

President Akufo-Addo launches $1.5bn Marine drive project cont’d from pg. 10 countries all over the world, particularly our neighbours in West Africa, have made good use of their beachfronts, and, as a result, rake in considerable revenues for the development of their communities and countries. We intend to go down that path,” the President said.

With the conception of this project dating back to the time of independence, President Akufo-Addo stated that “I

am happy that, in spite of the many unsuccessful efforts made in the past to undertake this project, today, we are beginning this project.”

He continued, “It is noteworthy, also, that the required consultations have been done prior to this ceremony. I am happy to hear that the Chiefs have given their full support to the project, and that their concerns have been addressed. Nii mei, wƆn da nyɛ shi.”

As long as you are willing to be a martyr and exhaust yourself over these dinners, your family will be more than happy to let you do it. It’s time to put an end to it.

Have a meeting with your brothers and your mother and let them know how you feel about hosting every year. Tell them you would appreciate if this Christmas dinners is pot lucked, and advise them what specifically you want each of them to bring. You can also suggest that the venue be changed on a yearly basis that way you will not spend your day feeling resentful. Good luck

MAGS MECHANICAL Plumbing & Heating Specializing: Service Preventative Maintenance Boilers Furnace Plumbing

Sump Pumps DHW Re'circ Pumps Cold Water Booster Pumps Cleaning of DHW Storage Tanks Garage exhaust fans garage heaters Kitchen/bathroom Exhaust, Etc. Good Rate, Excellent Service Call Magnus Manso

Tel: 905-796-6575

Licence Boiler/FurnaceTechnician 1

Cell: 416-712-1052

P.O. Box 323, Station 'A' Etobicoke, Ont. M9C 4V3 6699 Falconer Drive #41 Mississauga, Ont., L5N 2E3

The Ghanaian News December 2017

C

N

D

33

34

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The Apostles’ Continuation Church Int’l Christmas Party at the Church’s Banquet Hall Sunday December 16, 2017

Displaying their dancing skills Rev. Boakye Yiadom (middle) and wife( 2nd Left) with church elders

Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu and family

Some church members Church members Some members and guests

Elder Ben Donkor and family

Some of the church Elders

Some of the church members

Elder Seth Boateng and a church member

Youth

Fun Time

Some Church mnember

Dancing Time

The Ghanaian News December 2017

35

Living Word Assembly of God End-of-Year Dinner held at Claireport Place Banquet and Convention Centre Sunday December 17, 2017

Elder Appiah Kubi, MC

Rev. Joseph Osei and wife Mama Mary (l) Pastor Chyerrl, Children Pastor (center) Rev. Isaac Takyi DeGraft and Mama Olivia on the opening door

Some of the Church members

Games and fun time Group picture of the Youth and their Pastor Cyril Nana Opku (R)

Some of the church members

Dance, dance, dance

Some of the Deacons, deaconness and their spouses

Some invited guests and members

The Marfo family and some members

John Owusu Ansah and wife Esther (l) Rev. Dr. Dadzie and wife Mary, Sisters Janet and Monica

36

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Community

y in pictures

The Ghanaian News December 2017

37

38

The Ghanaian News December 2017

PEOPLE AND PLACES Women’s Courage Awards and Fundraiser 2017

The Women’s Courage Awards and Fundraiser was another successful event. Attracting more than 200 guest the event for the past 13 years has hosted people from diverse and multicultural communities. It also hosts community leaders, businessmen and women as well s families. the event is the premier event for Endless Possibilities and Hope Development Organization a Canadian and Ghanaian charitable organization dedicated to uplifting humanity through various initiatives.

Group picture of recipients and Anna Aidoo, (sitting) founder

cont’d on pg. 41

Asa Appiah Agyemang baptized at St. Wilfed Baby Asa Appiah Agyemang baptized at St Wilfred Roman Catholic Church by Fr. Paolos Beraki on Sunday October 22, 2017. Asa is the son of Portia Agyemang and grandson of nana Akwasi Kwarteng of Ghanaian News Radio AM 530 Fr. Paolos Beraki baptizing Asa Appiah Agyemang

Portia Agyemang with siblings and children

Welcome Home Evangelistic Ministry End of Year Community Party

Pastor Winnie and Eleders of the church

Hospitality team

Group picture of church members with Pastor Winnie

Pastor Winnie (r) and some church members

The Ghanaian News December 2017

39

National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada End of Year Party and Awards in pictures

Premier Wynne, Thomas Saras and Maria Voutsianas Hon. Laura Albanese with Emmanuel Ayiku

Premier Wynne (center), Emmanuel Ayiku and

Premier Wynne, Minister Laura Albanese and Consul General Thomas Seshie

Thomas Seshie and Emmanuel Ayiku

Alvin Curling, Zina Isaach (l) and Jedidia Acheampong

Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Emmanuel Ayiku and Thomas Seshie

Zina Isaach, Thomas Saras and Jedidia

Gloria Aquino (l), Jonathan Baah Annobil and Comfort Ayiku

Group picture of Ghanaian News team and Consul General Seshie with Ghanaian Canadian Beauty Queens Thomas Saras, Thomas Seshie and Dr. Rosemary Sadlier

Zina, Emmanuel Ayiku and Jedidia

From left; Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister Laura Albanese, Thomas Seshie and Ethnic Press jounalist

40

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Kumasi Youngsters Club (Hi Blood) Christmas Party at Elite Banquet Hall Saturday November 19, 2017

Group of members

Long Service Award recipients with president Ackah (2nd from left

Newly elected executives

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Let’s Put A Little Fanfare Into SHS Graduation Day IN THE WESTERN world, specifically, United States of America, graduating from SHS is a big milestone that usually, calls for a megawatt celebration with all the trimmings.

They have their Prom nights; when the graduation class dresses up to celebrate its ‘achievement’ .Limousines and prom dresses are rented or purchased to showcase the occasion. Yes, believe it or not, with all its technological advancement and educational attainment, it’s a big deal to graduate from SHS in United States of America.

On top of it, the graduation day is so special, where Awards and certificates are presented to individual students for their achievements—it’s an occasion no responsible parent will leave it for the world!

Unfortunately, on this side of the Atlantic Ocean we don’t put any premium on education. So we take SHS graduation for granted; thinking it’s a “waste of time and resources”. I wonder if that has affected our perception of education and sense of priority. Oh, we will rather spend lavishly on funerals and ‘sow seeds’ at one-man churches.

On the other hand, celebrating SHS graduation day doesn’t have to be as an elaborate as throwing a lavish party or sending an expensive gift. It can be simple get- together for the family of the graduates.

Unfortunately, in Ghana the majority of SHS students’ parents only go to their kids’ schools for PTA meetings and nothing more. The lousy and lazy ones always delegate their responsibilities by sending representatives because they have no time for their dependants. They will rather spend hours at prayer camps to buy the ‘magic oils’ and special water. They careless about their kids’ education.

Why am I writing about this? Since the government is investing heavily in SHS education, we should therefore have to find more ways to entice students to SHS and, get more dividends from it. It’s nice to get them in school but we should do everything to keep them there till graduation.

On economic front, SHS graduation ceremony can oil the local economy very remanrkbly. I’m talking about the rental of gowns, tuxedoes, cars, music, tables and chairs. A lot of money can be generated from buying foods, non -alcoholic drinks, balloons and a whole lot of party paraphernalia. And, these are nothing small to sneeze at.

Folks, let’s put a little trimmings on our SHS graduation day to attract quality students, encourage learning and enrollment and, ultimately help the students to dream beyond their own imaginations and limitations.

Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi(voice of reason)

Women’s Courage Awards and Fundraiser 2017

USAID Promotes Strategic Partnerships in Ghana’s Oil and Gas Sector The conference was held under the theme “promoting sustainable partnerships for economic transformation” TAKORADI, Ghana, December 21, 2017/ -As part of a program to improve the competitiveness of local businesses, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Ghana held a conference in the Western Region on December 14 for stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. At the conference, participants shared lessons learned and best practices and highlighted the achievements of local businesses in the industry. USAID/Ghana Mission Director Sharon L. Cromer; Project

programmes are building a school, reading clubs, programmes for girls including ones on the street and scholarships for students including blind girls. For more information about our organization and our work as well as the founder please visit Wo m e n s C o u r a g e Awards International and ABOUT ANNA AIDOO - www.annaaidoo.com or email the organization at eandlesspossibilities@ rogers.com

Some of the organization

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

Coordinator (Local Content in Petroleum Activities) for the M i n i s t r y o f E n e rg y Afua Amissah; Program Director of USAID Ghana Supply Chain Development Program KB Wilson; business service providers; small and medium enterprises; and international oil companies attended the event.

The conference was held under the theme “promoting sustainable partnerships for economic transformation” and served as a platform for both local enterprises and business service providers to network with key players in the oil and gas industry. The event featured panel discussions on opportunities within the industry; improving

the competitiveness of local enterprises; and building strategic partnerships to ensure sustainable development.

“Increasing the participation of small and medium businesses is crucial to enhancing Ghana’s competitiveness in the oil and gas industry.

This involves building the skills and expertise of local businesses to gain from opportunities within the sector,” remarked USAID/Ghana Mission Director Sharon L. Cromer. “Increasing local content can encourage the development of expertise and create more business opportunities. To drive future expansion, the private sector must take the lead and continue supporting the growth of local businesses to meet

the needs of international oil companies.”

The event was organized

by USAID’s Supply Chain Development (SCD) Program. SCD works to enhance economic opportunities for local Ghanaian enterprises and business service providers. To date, the program has helped local businesses win 78 contracts with oil and gas companies worth more than $18 million. The objective of program is to improve the competitiveness of local businesses and create market linkages between local and international businesses in the oil and gas.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Department of State.

Ghanaians in Denmark express mixed feelings on ROPAL Some Ghanaians in Denmark have expressed mixed reactions to a ruling from a High Court ordering the Electoral Commission (EC) to allow Ghanaians in the diaspora to vote in general elections.

An Accra High Court on Monday directed the EC to implement, within 12 months, the Representation of the People Amendment Law also known as the ROPAL, 2006 [Act 699].

cont’d from pg. 38 This year’s event saw women in various categories being honored of law enforcement, community development, medicine, innovation, banking young leader and so much more. Held at the five star Sheraton H o t e l t h e Wo m e n ’s C o u r a g e Aw a r d i s also held in Ghana to honor Ghanaian women making a difference and to raise funds to support the programmes of the organization.

41

The ROPAL was passed in 2006 and sought to empower eligible Ghanaians outside the country to vote in national elections, however, it has not been implemented by successive governments, leaving many Ghanaians abroad disenfranchised.

have both welcomed the decision, saying it was long overdue.

But Nii Adu Ntre, who has been in Denmark for 23 years, raised concerns about how the integrity of the ballots would be protected in order to avoid election disputes.

“Who is going to make sure that the people who walk into wherever place we are going to vote are the right people, because the truth is that about 80% of the people here are Danish citizens, not dual citizens. So how do we ensure the integrity of the vote?” he quizzed.

Ghanaian diaspora to play key role in national development

Meanwhile some Ghanaians, while speaking in an interaction with Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark Amerley Ollennu AwuaAsamoa, gave varied opinions on the matter.

In another development, Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa, said government is k e e n o n e ff e c t i v e l y mobilizing the resources and skills of Ghanaians in the diaspora to help transform the country.

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch in Denmark, Francis Selorm Sekyi and Organizer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kweku Mensah

According to her, the role of the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development has attained unprecedented recognition from the current government.

Speaking at the maiden end-of-year interaction with Ghanaians in Denmark, she said, “President Nana Akufo Addo’s administration prioritises Diaspora investments. This is evident in his vision on Diaspora inclusiveness in building the new Ghana, the Ghana beyond Aid.” Ambassador Ollennu Awua-Asamoa stated that Government is seeking a partnership with the diaspora that will increase investments, create a vibrant private sector, and the needed jobs for the teeming youth in Ghana.

“There is the need to inculcate in our people the best practices you’ve learnt from working in the top businesses and companies from the around the world. This would be the needed seed we would sow for the transformation of Ghana,” she emphasised in her address to the leadership of the various churches, unions and political parties (NPP&NDC) at the forum.

On the recent state visit by the Queen of Denmark to Ghana in November, She described it as

a big success and that some eight MoUs have been signed in various sectors with the highlevel delegation of 39 businesses that joined the Queen to visit Ghana.

Call

for

Unity

Ambassador Ollennu Awua-Asamoa further called on the various Ghanaian unions, Churches, political groupings and intellectuals to join the Ghana mission to present a united Ghanaian front in activities in the country.

“The mission is bent on pursuing and achieving positive results through close cooperation and trust with the Ghanaian Diaspora. Whatever has happened in the past should stay in the past. I am here now as your ambassador, ready to serve! Let’s start on a new page, afresh with no prejudice or malice”, she added.

The leadership of the NDC and NPP branches in Denmark commended the efforts of the mission to promote closer ties between the Diaspora networks all over the Scandinavian countries. citifmonline.com

42

The Ghanaian News December 2017

647-782-6733

Olivia Akpari

DIVORCE CUSTODY CAS MATTERS ACCESS CHILDSUPPORT SEPARATION AGREEMENTS DIVISION OF ASSETS

Call

B.A. LL.B

Barrister & Solicitor

Olivia Akpari

Tel: 905-565-0059 Fax: 905-565-0559

LITIGATION SERVICES * Motor Vehicle Accidents * Slip and Falls * Long-Term Disability Claims * Short-Term Disability Claims * Wills * No-Charge Initial Consultation 7025 Tomken Rd. #204,

First The Ghanaian

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

News 416

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

916-3700

Mississauga, Ontario, L5S 1R6

Osei Owusu

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

Us

Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public

LAW OFFICE OF OSEI OWUSU

REAL ESTATE LAW

Buying a home may be the most important investment in your life. We ensure that it is done properly * Buying and selling your home * Transfers of property * Placing Mortgages, Refinancing FAMILY LAW CRIMINAL LAW IMMIGRATION Divorce Custody, Access and Support Separation Children Aid Cases

Adult Criminal Code offences Youth Criminal Justice Act (Young Offenders)

Sponsorships Sponsorship Appeals Humanitarian and Compassionate Cases

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

Tel: 416-614-1001

Fax: 416-614-6161

1315 Finch Avenue West, Suite 410, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 2G6 (Keele/Finch)

BANSAH & ASSOCIATES

JAK LEGAL CONSULTANCY Professionals specialized in the following areas of practice:

Immigration Counsel

Areas of Specialization: ♦Immigration Hearings ♦Foreign Sponsorship & Appeals ♦Applications from inside Canada ♦Humanitarian & Compassionate Cases ♦Detention Reviews & Deportation Order Cases ♦Visa Extensions ♦Federal Skilled Worker Applications ♦Family Class Sponsorships ♦Student Visa ♦Provincial Nominee Program.

Contact: Edward Bansah B.A (Hons), CCIC, FCMI Cert. Mig. & Ref Studies Member: Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants

Tel: 416-785-0522

Fax: 416-782-8563

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

Immigration Law Other Practice Areas * Family Class Sponsorships * Uncontested Divorce * Sponsorship appeals * Small Claims Court Matters * Refugee Claims * Landlord and Tenant Matters * Humanitarian Applications * Power of Attorney * Invitation Letters * Agreements and Wills * Visa extensions * Bankruptcy Consultation * Work and Study Permits James A. Kwaateng, B.A. (Hons); LLB (Hons); CCIC Legal consultant; Commissioner of Oaths

Tel. (416) 743-2758 Fax: (416) 743-7027 168A Oakdale Rd., Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario, M3N 2S5.

The Ghanaian News December 2017

43

6 Presidents, Business Leaders, Nominated for African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year 2017 The Presidents nominated for this year’s edition of the awards are H.E. MohammaduBuhari, Nigeria; H.E. Paul Kagame, Rwanda; H.E. John Magafuli, Tanzania; H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya; H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia LONDON, United Kingdom, -- 6 African Heads of States, and 12 Business Leaders are among nominees for various categories of the annual African Leadership Magazine (www.AfricanLeadership.co.uk) Persons of the Year Awards 2017. The Presidents nominated for this year’s edition of the awards are H.E. MohammaduBuhari, Nigeria; H.E. Paul Kagame, Rwanda; H.E. John Magafuli, Tanzania; H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya; H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia. This year’s edition, which is the 6th in the series features 7 categories, including, African of the Year 2017; African Female Leader of the Year 2017; ALM Person of the Year-Educational development 2017; ALM Person of the Year- Employment Generation 2017; ALM Person of the Year-Political Leadership 2017; ALM Person of the Year- Philanthropy 2017; and ALM Young Person of the Year 2017.

As in previous editions, this year’s nominees passed through a thorough vetting process, which includes the selection from a long list of over 250 outstanding individuals who have contributed to the continent’s progress in the year under review. Remarkably, this year, African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year was consigned to three themes - which are jobs & wealth creation, Promotion of Democratic Values; & the promotion of Africa’s image abroad. With Africa’s population tipped to double by the year 2050, and unemployment at the center of the problems confronting the continent, jobs and wealth creators deserve to be especially encouraged and supported. In selecting the nominees for this year, the selection committee took a keen interest in Africans whose activities, policies and actions have contributed to creating jobs and spreading wealth; promoting democratic values; and / or promoting Africa’s image abroad. And then, of course, we add in a dose of our editorial judgment.

In announcing the shortlist of nominees, Publisher of the Magazine, Ken Giami stated that “Africans have continued to break and set new boundaries, making the selection a lot more interesting, albeit, herculean.”

Dr. Giami added that “some African leaders have become increasingly restless, leaving nothing to chance on their journey to make their communities a better place.

The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Award is in keeping with our tradition of presenting the sides of the continent, which hardly finds placement on the global mainstream media, and celebrating exemplary leadership and individuals who have contributed to shaping the global perception of the African continent. These groupof Africans are the Game-Changers, who are doing things differently towards repositioning the African continent.

The winners of the 2017 Persons of the Year Award would be announced on 5thJanuary 2018, by 2.00pm Central African time, and would be formally decorated, alongside the nominees, on 24 February 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa at an investiture and Gala to be attended by some of Africa’s finest in business, politics, and diplomacy.

Past recipients of this prestigious award include: Dr. Mo Ibrahim, founder, Ibrahim Prize for Leadership, 2012; H.E. AtikuAbubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria 2013; H.E. President JakayaKikwete, immediate past President of Tanzania, 2014; His Excellency Dr. GoodluckEbele Jonathan, immediate past President of Nigeria, 2015; Mr. Mo Dewji, CEO MeTL Group Tanzania, 2016.

See full list of nominees below

African of the Year 2017 (Previously Person of the Year) This recognition is open to an African whose actions has greatly impacted the continent positively in the year under review and helped shape his or her immediate society and continues to inspire globally.

1. Nana AddoDankwaAkuffoAddo, President of Ghana 2. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holding 3. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda 4. John PombeMagufuli, President of Tanzania 5. Cyril Ramaphosa, Executive Chairman, Shanduka Group 6. Chief OladipoJadesimi, Chairman LADOL, Nigeria African Female Leader of the Year 2017 This recognition is open to an African woman who has defied the odds, risen above the patriarchal systems cont’d on pg. 59

Abraham

Legal Services

Injured? Or has your claim been denied?

AT FAULT or NOT!We can HELP!

We brings over 19 years of work experience and knowledge of the Insurance Industry.

We provide the following services: • • • • •

Motor Vehicle Accidents Slip and Fall Injuries Landlord Tenant Matters Small Claims Court Matters Commissioner of Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations

• Free Initial Consultation

Tel: 647-696-4898 / 1-844-9WEHURT(993-4878) Fax: 647-696-5119 Email:info@abrahamlegal.ca Website:www.abrahamlegal.ca Office Locations: Scarborough, Toronto, Brampton, and Vaughan

Ghanaian interpreter available, upon request by calling the office

44

The Ghanaian News December 2017

View Point

Community Concerns

Assessing your relationship: Are you a positive contributor or the negative contributor?

Getting past perfect Christmas

Paying attention to issues that can ruin your marriage/ relationship

Doris Osei Bonsu, Crisis Counselor, Toronto

By Golda Abena Quayson People in love enter into marriage/relationships with high hopes for a happy future, but with the divorce rate in the world today estimated to be about 50 percent, many couples find their hopes in shatters.

Marriages/relationships tend to survive when both partners have a deep commitment to the relationship and when they both avoid actions likely to damage the relationship.

One of the major things that couples do that ruin their marriagesisTaking their Spouse for Granted.

Failure to recognize your spouse’s efforts and strengths causes hurt and disappointment. Taking a spouse for granted stems from an attitude of entitlement. These selfish s p o u s e s d o n ’t s h o w appreciation for anything their spouses do. They never give compliments and complain often.

Failure to Communicate Clearly.

Bad communicators aren’t good listeners. They don’t pay attention and aren’t interested in what their spouses say. They frequently interrupt and second-guess what they think their spouse intends to say. Dedicated spouses communicate openly and honestly. When spouses don’t say what they really mean -- saying “yes” when they mean “no” -- trouble often follows.

Couples/partners need to communicate openly and effectively with respect.

Broken Promises. Most couples start off nicely with lots enthusiasm and promises, but fail to keep it up and fall behind. These broken promises erode trust between spouses and shift behaviours. Whether you agree to pick up the dry cleaning and then forget or refuse to follow through with a plan to move to another city, broken promises suggest a lack of commitment to your spouse. This is particularly deadly when you promise to keep a spouse’s secret and betray the confidence of your spouse/partner.

Dirty Fighting. Bringing up past transgressions d u r i n g a n a rg u m e n t escalates the negativity.

Sentences starting with, “you always” and “you never” usually antagonize the other spouse. Making a big deal out of small issues, threatening divorce/breaking up/ keeping your distance and dragging family members into your disputes are all recipes for disaster. Name-calling

play these blaming games as a sign of weakness or preventing themselves from fully committing to the relationship.

and physical violence are almost guaranteed to end your relationship.

Refusing to Correct Faults. This behaviour projects an attitude that claims, “Take me as I am, flaws and all,” demonstrates selfishness.

This shows you don’t care enough about your partner to make an effort to correct your shortcomings, even when you know your spouse is dissatisfied. Some others do no wrong, they are ‘Miss/Mr Perfect” and there is no room for change. These people do not learn anything from their past experiences or learn anything new. They are stagnant in their life style.

Another area that destroysrelationships is Criticism and Sniping.

Criticizing your spouse, especially in front of others and even children, is damaging. If you never give compliments, complain frequently about what annoys you and demand changes from your spouse, the marriage/relationship will suffer. Comparing a spouse unfavorably to an ex is particularly harmful if you are in a new relationship. This attitude does not give you room to grow and be happy in your relationship.

Another area that is even more harmful and this can break your relations easily isLying and Cheating.

Good relationships are based on trust, so dishonesty is usually a deal breaker. Lying about past relationships and current finances are particularly damaging to the relationship. Cheating on your spouse is a definite sign of betrayal, especially if you cheat with your spouse’s best friend or family member or another person.

Blaming Your Spouse.

Immature spouses who don’t accept responsibility for their actions usually have problematic marriages.

They never apologize for their mistakes and blame their spouses for their shortcomings. They make excuses for their bad behavior and accuse their partners of causing their unhappiness. Most people

Withholding Sex. Most of the time one partner will withhold sex due to some reason best known to her/ him. Physical intimacy binds partners together.

Denying this aspect of marriage/relationship can erode the foundation of your relationship. It also increases the likelihood of your partner seeking a physical relationship with someone else.

Communication is the key in this area to resolve some of the issues and must be taken seriously when your partner brings some concerns to your attention. Do not ignore it if you are interested in the relationship.

No Fun together.Couples who don’t engage in fun activities deny themselves the opportunity to bond more deeply. Keeping your life completely separate from your spouse and cultivating new time-consuming interests that exclude your spouse are harmful to the relationship. It is important for couples to set aside time to be alone and focus on each other.

Find opportunities to laugh together. Couples have to learn to have a common interest,and to do fun things together, travel together, plan activities like boat curies, movies and other fun things which both couples can enjoy together. Again, couples must learn to accommodate their partners’ interest and participate in it.

I believe most of these habits are formed and it is hard to break them, but when it comes to relationships it is important to aim at surviving it more than breaking it if is doable.

The key here boils down to proper communication.

Try not using words like; “Always”, always, implies a sense of rigidity and righteousness,”Never.”

“Never” implies a sense of hopelessness a n d f i n a l i t y, ” B u t . ” “But” implies a sense of manipulation and a lack of integrity. When you use “but,” you negate whatever was said before. It invalidates your message and turns a positive statement into a negative one. It’s a conjunction that does not lend itself to building trust, credibility and intimacy. Similar words to avoid include “however” and “although.” It is not too late to make amends if you fall into any of the categories mentioned above.

The traditional image of Christmas is, let’s be honest, incredibly optimistic. Nearly every portrayal shows a cozy cheerful, tastefully decorated home, in which a happy family gathers to share a large dinner cooked.

Sadly, life is just too complex and messy to ever guarantee the mainstream portrayal of a perfect Christmas. And yet, we still expect it. The human tendency to expect the best is the result of a well-known optimism bias, something seemingly inherent in our brains.

Expectationscan cause a lot of stress. And that’s just at the personal level. These days, social media means we can see how great everyone else is at their Christmas efforts, inducing extra pressure to conform, and even do better to maintain your status in your group/community, because losing it is another cause of stress. So not only do people have to do all the extra work required to make Christmas happen, they also have to keep everyone updated as to the antics. Theodore Roosevelt nailed it when he said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Wa t c h i n g C h r i s t m a s m o v i e s h a s always been a tradition in various homes. They inspire, encourage, and remind us of the virtues of Christmas.

As much as Hollywood has to offer through storyline, we must be careful not to fall victim to the subtle images of Christmas perfection displayed in the movies. In many of these films, everyone has plenty of money to spend on gifts; the house is always lovely with no messes or worn-out decorations; and everyone is always happy in the end.

Unfortunately, real life Christmases aren’t always so glamorous. For most of us, money is an ongoing issue, decorations are sorely underrated compared to Hollywood standards, and family circumstances don’t always turn out so well.

It’s tempting to make that Hollywood image of Christmas our goal. But if we give in to the idea that we can recreate a world that lives in someone’s imagination, expectations are set way too high. It’s practically guaranteed we will fail. No matter how hard we try, we won’t be able to reconstruct what Hollywood spent millions on, enhanced with fancy camera angles and professional actors.

Instead, we should cultivate a heart of gratitude this year. Be thankful for all that you have and for what God is going to provide in the future.

I believe thata heart of contentment will always keep your life in proper perspective. When we appreciate and realize all that we have, how can we not be grateful, even in light of all that we do not possess.

We c o u l d a l l h a v e a v e r y h a p p y Christmas like everyone else; if we don’t have a picture in our minds what a perfect Christmas should look like.

Ask anyone to describe his or her “perfect Christmas,” and every description would be different. There’s nothing wrong with excitement about Christmas, it is a joyous occasion. But when one starts to try to create or expect Christmas to be the way he imagines it to be, that’s where the trouble starts.

I know I’ve been guilty. Perhaps you’ve had similar feelings.Ever shop for days for the ideal gift, only to find the recipient didn’t have that look of surprised appreciation you were wanting? .

During this time, a lot of people do have a planner personality—one that likes to have all its t’s crossed and i’s dotted in advance. But when people put so much emphasis on plans and order, it unwittingly undermine the whole meaning and purpose of Christmas.

Suddenly the holiday that is meant to be outwardly focused; giving instead of receiving, putting others first, peace and goodwill towards men, reminding us of the humble, servant life that Christ lived, becomes a selfish one.

The truth is that the real holiday experience will never live up to the potential in our imaginations. There will be last-minute changes, money issues, presents that don’t quite hit the mark, etc., but that’s not bad.

There is no such thing as the perfect Christmas. What makes it perfect is keeping focused on what it’s meant to bea celebration of the Life that came from heaven and changed the world.

This year, we should put away our expectations and enjoy the holiday as it comes. No pressure. But first we must find out what we are battling.

Where do these dreams of perfection come from? What makes us believe certain elements must exist in order for Christmas to be “perfect”?

In my life, I’ve found they come from three main sources: childhood memories, Hollywood depictions, and temptations of marketing.

Each of us has our own unique experiences that sway our opinions.

But I believe these three influences are over-arching in our culture and affect almost all of us. By attacking them at the beginning of the season, perhaps we can take down our lofty expectations and enjoy Christmas for what it was meant to be.

Memories are a wonderful way to connect with the past. They allowus to remember personalities that are now gone and experiences that changed our lives. I love to remember my favorite childhood Christmas memories like special gifts.

As wonderful as it is, this can be a p r o b l e m , t o o . Yo u s e e , i n m y Christmas dreams, everyone is content and smiling. As a child, I was naive to the worries of my parents.Either way, when we compare Christmas present with Christmas past, the current times never seem to measure up to our experiences so long ago.It’s good to have fond recollections, but when we allow Christmas memories to dictate our expectations of the present holidays, it’s time to let go of the old, and get ready for the new.

As adults, we should recognize what is in the past and let it stay in the past.

Those times were good and should be learned from and cherished. But the present holds the potential to bring new experiences to treasure.

Allow your Christmases to transform from year to year. This year, put away the old memories in a mental photo album and embrace the changes that occur. Then enjoy watching as we turnthese unexpected adjustments into new memories that will last a lifetime.

Christmas marketing has gone almost out of control in recent times and especially in this part of the world; North America. Marketers know that holiday emotions are a weak spot for consumers,if we don’t navigate the holiday commercialization cautiously, we can easily feel discontent with what we already have, or be disappointed by what we can’t afford. We can even become disillusioned by the marketing lies and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars, only to find that Christmas is no merrier than it was last year.

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Ask The Doctor

Lifestyle

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

45

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

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication Most people who are diagnosed with high blood pressure will eventually require medication to control it in order to avoid complications such as heart attack or stroke. However not everybody needs a drug prescription right away and many people can lower their blood pressure by making some lifestyle changes.

In this article we will discuss 10 lifestyle changes, that can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

be risky.

3. Eat a healthy diet

 Asian men are at

risk if their waist measurement is greater than 36 inches (90 cm).  Asian women are

Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.

Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure and keep it down.

1. Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you’re taking more effective.

You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.

Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general:  Men are at risk

if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters, or cm).  Women are at

risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (88 cm).

at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 32 inches (80 cm).

2. Exercise regularly Regular physical activity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it doesn’t take long to see a difference. If you haven’t been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks.

If you have prehypertension (systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89), exercise can help you avoid developing fullblown hypertension.

If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels.

Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program.

Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help.

But avoid being a “weekend warrior.”

Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn’t a good strategy.

Those sudden bursts of activity could actually

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

It isn’t easy to change your eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet: Be a smart shopper.

Make a shopping list before heading to the supermarket to avoid picking up junk food.

Read food labels when you shop, and stick to your healthy-eating plan when you’re dining out, too.  Cut yourself some

slack. Although the DASH diet is a lifelong eating guide, it doesn’t mean you have to cut out all of the foods you love. It’s OK to treat yourself occasionally to foods you wouldn’t find on a DASH diet menu, like a candy bar or mashed potatoes with gravy.

4. Reduce sodium in your diet Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. Most healthy adults need only between 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day.

But if you have high blood pressure, aim for less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day.

To decrease sodium in your diet, consider these tips:  Track how much

salt is in your diet.

Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.  Read food labels.

If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.  Eat fewer

processed foods.

Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.  Don’t add salt. Just

1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices, rather than salt, to add more flavor to your foods.  Ease into it. If

you don’t feel like you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually.

Your palate will adjust over time.

5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol — generally more than one drink a day for women and more than two a day for men. Also, if you don’t normally drink alcohol, you shouldn’t start drinking as a way to lower your blood pressure. There’s more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol.

If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points.

It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications. Consider tapering off. If you’re a heavy drinker, suddenly eliminating all alcohol can actually trigger severe high blood pressure for several days. So when you stop drinking, do it with the supervision of your doctor or taper off slowly, over one to two weeks.  Don’t binge. Binge

drinking — having four or more drinks in a row — can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure, in addition to other health problems.

6. Avoid tobacco products and secondhand smoke On top of all the other dangers of smoking, the nicotine in tobacco products can raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smoking throughout the day means your blood pressure may remain constantly high.

You should also avoid secondhand smoke.

Inhaling smoke from others also puts you at risk of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease.

7. Cut back on caffeine The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is still debatable. Drinking caffeinated beverages can temporarily cause a spike in your blood pressure, but it’s unclear whether the effect is temporary or long lasting.

To see if caffeine raises your blood pressure, check your pressure within 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee or another caffeinated beverage you regularly drink. If your blood pressure increases by five to 10 points, you may be sensitive to the blood pressure raising effects of caffeine.

Regardless of your sensitivity to caffeine’s effects, doctors recommend you drink no more than 200 milligrams a day — about the amount in two cups of coffee.

8. Reduce your stress Stress or anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Take

some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what’s causing your stress, consider how you can eliminate or reduce stress.

If you can’t eliminate all of your stressors, you can at least cope with them in a healthier way.

Take breaks for deepbreathing exercises. Get a massage or take up yoga or meditation. If self-help doesn’t work, seek out a professional for counseling.

9. Monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor’s appointments If you have high blood pressure, you may need to monitor your blood pressure at home.

Learning to self-monitor your blood pressure with an upper arm monitor can help motivate you. . 10. Get support from family and friends Supportive family and friends can help improve your health. They may encourage you to take care of yourself, drive you to the doctor’s office or embark on an exercise program with you to keep your blood pressure low. Talk to your family and friends about the dangers of high blood pressure.

If you find you need support beyond your family and friends, consider joining a support group. This may put you in touch with people who can give you an emotional or morale boost and who can offer practical tips to cope with your condition.

Reference: Mayo Clinic House call, May 2010

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

46

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Jesus Is The Answer Salon

KAKS Beauty Supplies

1725 Jane St. (Jane/Lawrence) Toronto, ON, M9N 2S9

UP to 5-10 - 15-20 & 25% OFF On Every Purchase, Your One Stop Shop for all Your Beauty Care Products

Specialized In: All Types Of Hair Cuts And Designs

Visit us at 1660 Kingston Road, Unit 2, Pickering, Ont., L1V 5R2

Tel: 905-683-9163 Gladys

416-569-2453 Doris Beauty Supply &

4502 Kingston Road, Scarborough, Ont. Tel: 416-283-8303 Fax: 416-283-6590

Clothing

* Italian Shoes * European Suits * Jewelleries * Perfumes * Watches * Lace

Tel: 416-916-6675 2507 Finch Avenue W. (Milvan Plaza) Finch/Milvan, Toronto, Ont. M9M 2G1

J & I BEAUTY SUPPLY Tel: 416-740-1859

A. & A. Hair Design

Expert Styling * Weaving, African Braiding * Hair Cutting

Business Hours Mon.-Wed. Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

NEW LOCATION 1172 Albion Road, Etobicoke Next Plaza to Tim Horton's (Albion/Islington)

10.00am 9.00am 8.00am 6.30pm 8.00am

- 7.00pm - 9.00pm - 5.00pm - 11.30pm - 7.00pm

Tel: 416-241-7418 2111 Jane Street, (Beside India Africa)

Multiple Mix Inc. Specializing In: * Hair Relaxing * Braids * Weaves * Cornrows TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

* African Wax Prints Fabrics * Beauty Supplies * Lace * Fashion Jewelry * Clothing * Shoes

416-445-4446 Ont. M1R 4C3

o Memorandum of Understanding for combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 660 megawatts o Total investment volume of more than $500 million In order to help Ghana meet its industrialization targets, Siemens (www.Siemens.com) and Rotan Power (www.RotanPower.com) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and build a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 660 megawatts (MW) at the Aboadze Power Enclave located in the western region.

The MoU was signed today in the presence of Brigitte Zypries, the German Federal Minister of Economics and Energy, the Ghanaian deputy president, Dr. MahamuduBawumia. The plant will be the most efficient and environmentally friendly thermal plants, setting new standards in sub Saharan Africa.

It will be built in two phases, with commercial operations date of the first phase scheduled for 2023 with the second phase scheduled for 2025. The German Export Credit Agency and Euler Hermes are set to provide financing for the project, which would be the largest plant in Ghana.

Call Awura Abena 416244-8666 / 647833-4419

Call: Elizabeth

113 Ellesmere Rd., Scarborough,

Siemens and Rotan Power sign agreement for power plant project in Ghana Total investment volume of more than $500 million

1707 Jane Street (Jane/Lawrence -opposite Laura Meat beside Dollar Joint)

Hannah’s Drapery & Hall Decorations SPECIALIZING IN : Custom Drapery, New Zebra Blinds, Window Shades, Austrian Shades,Washroom Sets ETC. Also , specialize in all kinds of event decor such as wedding, engagement, outdooring, graduations, corperate functions and funeral etc.

CALL HANNAH OR OTIS AT : 647 400 9815 OR 647 920 6757 INSTAGRAM PAGE : hannahdrapery

CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa, Sabine Dall’Omo says: “This project underlines the strategic partnership between Germany and Ghana and underpins the engagement of Siemens as leading global technology company in Africa.

Together we will provide electricity to more than five million Ghanaians unlocking the economic potential by using power as a catalyst for socioeconomic development.”

Chairman of Rotan Power, Mr. Kofi Morna says: “Rotan is delighted to partner with Siemens in deploying the first F-Class turbine in sub Saharan Africa with the lowest generation cost among thermal power producers in Ghana. Together with Siemens we will power the country and further improve access to electricity for our population.

Furthermore the partnership will enable us to leverage skills transfer and training for Ghanaians.”

Siemens is responsible for the entire EPC turnkey scope. In addition Siemens - will provide Operation and Maintenance for 20 years.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Siemens AG.

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416916-3700

Shalom Beauty Supply 2065 Lawrence Ave. West, Toronto, Ontario Under New Management

* 100% Human Hair * Relaxers * Beauty Products * Braids (All kind) * Lace Front Wigs

Tel: 416-248-0875

The Ghanaian News December 2017

47

Department for International Development Ghana Country Director’s speech at the launch of Ghana’s Business Regulation Reform Strategy Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Chair - Tony Otteng Gyasi – [chair of BEEP Better Regulation Advisory Committee] Country Director of the World Bank Heads and representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other representatives of private sector institutions Members of the Press Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen A very good morning to you all.

As Country Director for the UK’s Department for International Development in Ghana, it is a pleasure to give remarks at the launch of the Ghana’s Business Regulatory Reform Programme.

The UK Government has had a longstanding partnership with Ghana to help to improve the business-enabling environment for investment.

As a development partner, DFID recognises the critical role of the private sector in creating jobs, supporting economic transformation and contributing to income growth and therefore poverty reduction.

Creating the conditions for the private sector to do this through robust business regulation is key.

ensure that revenues contribute to inclusive growth that benefits all Ghanaians. o And our support to Ghana Revenue Authority is providing technical assistance to broaden Ghana’s tax base.

DFID is also currently designing a new programme to support key elements of the Government’s industrialisation plan. The programme will focus on structuring investment promotion and requisite industrial policy to attract strategic trade and investment into priority industrial sectors.

Honourable Minister, I am delighted that you have laid out a compelling strategy for business reforms over the next three years with a focus on addressing system-wide issues.

I particularly concur with the elements of this strategy that focus on addressing the underlying challenges to reforms, so rationalising current business regulations whilst managing the quality and flow of new regulations. I would also like to commend Mr Chairman and the private sector on how you have engaged with the reform process initiated by the Government. The collective effort to identify The Government of Ghana has set out both an admirable vision of unnecessary regulation and poor implementation of it demonstrates a Ghana ‘beyond aid’ and an ambitious economic transformation driven real commitment to Ghana’s reform agenda. by industrialisation. Two weeks ago in London, the British Prime Minister met with His Excellency the President and noted that, as But we know that implementing regulatory reforms and making them Ghana moves beyond aid, the UK-Ghana relationship is changing from stick will not be easy. Although Government is taking bold steps to one focused on aid to a partnership of mutual economic benefit. become the most-business friendly nation in Africa by 2020, and Ghana is currently ranked as best in West Africa and 12th in Africa on Much of DFID’s work is already supporting a Ghana “beyond aid”: the Doing Business index, the recent drop in Ghana’s ranking needs o Our Business Enabling Environment Programme works with the to be a call to action.

Government to take forward reforms around construction permits, support speedy dispute resolution and help to improve taxpayer Ghana is not alone in facing huge challenges in a reform journey. We services. The programme has supported a high level reform taskforce to in the UK have faced similar challenges. Indeed in the UK, 21,000 begin work on cutting business regulation. statutory rules and regulations were counted to be in force in 2014. o Our Anti-Corruption programme (STAAC) is working with state Reform measures such as the one-in, one-out regime, transparency actors and civil society to strengthen Ghana’s response to corruption. and consistency in the analysis of new regulations and making o Our Oil and Gas programme (GOGIG) is helping to improve “intelligent regulation” a core competence for the UK Civil Service institutional efficiencies in oil and gas regulatory institutions and profession were introduced to drastically cut inefficient regulation.

BOACHIE Import/Export & Financial Services . Income Tax-Personal/Business, (efile), GST Returns . Bookkeeping, Financial Services .Accounts Audits and preparations

As Ghana moves beyond aid and development partners switch emphasis from aid to trade, this is essentially the “final push” - we must take advantage of current resources and expertise to really secure and sustain reform gains. These gains have not always been sustained in the past.

For the UK’s part, and as we transition from aid, the UK will partner with government to secure greater private sector investment flows and responsible investment, including from the UK, to support economic transformation focused on job creation.

Ghana’s business regulatory reforms also need to support government to function efficiently and effectively to deliver on the ground and ensure that the private sector feels confident to invest. This requires sound regulatory frameworks and improved institutional efficiencies.

Red tape needs to be firmly cut. From my conversations with potential British investors it is clear that unnecessary bureaucracy is still stifling the incentives for their businesses to invest in Ghana.

As tomorrow is the world Anti-Corruption Day, it seems fitting to mention the role that perceptions of corruption play in trade and investment decisions. Taking bold steps to tackle corruption will be central to improving Ghana’s ranking on the ease of doing business index. This will require tackling the vested interests and resistance that otherwise will constrain the government’s ability to deliver on the ambitious plans set out here today.

The UK is supporting the government to take forward the commitment they made at the London Anti-Corruption Summit last year on Beneficial Ownership Transparency. This will not only be an important transparency tool for law enforcement agencies - making it harder for companies to obscure or hide their real owners - but will also build confidence for foreign and domestic investors looking to do business in Ghana. Delivering on this would make Ghana a genuine trailblazer, the first country in Africa to establish a public register. cont’d on pg. 61

Cita Beauty Home beauty products, foods, clothing

.We also shipping commercial/Personal Merchandise Worldwide. . Money transfers from Canada to Ghana on 24 hour basis.

Cell: 403 383 2275 Boachie 5103 44 Avenue NE, Calgary AB T1Y 2Z9

Alice Hair Designer Specializing in: Braids (All Types), Weaving, Haircutting, Hair Styling, Relaxing etc.

Tel: 416-266-9221 Cell: 416-880-2144 3545 Kingston Rd., #8, Scarborough, ON, M1M 1R6

CITA, YOUR LAST STOP FOR YOUR BEAUTY SUPPLIES AND AFRICAN FOODS NEW LOCATION: 3334-32 STREET NE (HORIZON AUTO CENTRE) INTERSECTION OF 32 AVENUE AND 32 STREET NE OUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS REMAIN THE SAME,

PHONE: (403)568-7602 FAX: (403) 568-7603

48

The Ghanaian News December 2017

SIX STAR MOTORS

STANDFAST AUTO INC. Certification - Imports & Domestic Vehicles

56 Penn Drive, North York

* TUNE-UPS * MUFFLERS* BRAKES * OIL CHANGE

(Finch/Milvan)

FREE INSPECTION

* Rust *Minor Repairs and Painting

Tel: 905-738-4504 Fax: 905-738-4504 30 Freshway Dr., Unit B5, Concord, Ont.

Specializing In: Air Conditioning Service Tune-ups, Brakes, Mufflers, General Repairs Service to all imports

Sam Auto Body Collusion Repairs Sammy Lartey 647-428-6837 172 Toryork Dr., #9, North York, Ont.

(Jane & Highway 7)

Sam Auto Service

Tuffour

GENERAL REPAIR ON ALL MAKE & MODELS

Paul Nsiah, Manager Tel: 416-746-3275

Dynamic Auto Repairs Auto Repairs For All Makes and Models

Business Hours Monday - Friday - 9:00am - 5:00pm Saturday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Obeng Tel: 905-782-4305 Cell: 647-225-4223 1625 Trinity Dr., Unit 4 Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1W9

Domestic & Import Contact: Sam

Auto Repair Shop

Tel: (416)743-6969

66 Milvan Dr. Units 6& 7, North York, Ont.

Tel: 416-743-6119

Guaranteed Job Satisfaction YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS !!!

41 Brydon Drive, Etobicoke, Ont.

Erico's Auto Repairs

Oppong Auto

Certified Auto Mechanic (All Brands)

Eric Ofori:

Tel: 647-704-4487 Call 647-785-7694

175 Toryork Rd., Unit 1B, North York, ON.

AKAN AUTO SERVICE CENTRE Joe Akrofi Tel: (416) 748-2864

B. B.'S AUTO Inc. Complete general repairs to all foreign & domestic cars, Body and Custom painting

Oil Lube, Grease, brakes, Tune-Ups Electronic Ignition, Fuel Injection, etc 35 Taber Rd. #3, Rexdale, Ont.

Contact: Bismarck Bright or Nick Bright

Tel: (416)745-5690 Fax: (416)745-1514 16 Taber Rd, Etobicoke, Ont.

M.S.B. Driving School Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

Ministry Approved Course Provider

Generator

Out of City Road Test

Sale

* Do Your 'G' Road Test Without Driving On Any of The 400 Highways * We Offer New And Nervous Drivers Until They Pass Their Road Test Contract (some conditions may apply) * Attend Our Classroom 25 hrs. Session To Get Your Certificate for Insurance Discount

Call Yusuf Serbeh (Akwasi)

Tel: 416-627-1100

Call 416 646-0495

15 John Street, Suite #1 (Weston/Lawrence)

Peaceful Driving School Best Driving School In Canada M.T.O. Approved course provider Toronto and out of City Road Test Full Package Includes: * 10 hours in car, 20 hours in class and 5 hours home links, for insurance discount certificate * Private lessons and pre-test packages * Let the professionals lead you to safety.

Solomon Adjei-Yeboah * We also provide driver improvement course as well as defensive driver improvement peacefuldrivingschool.com

Tel: 416-888-4922

230 Eddystone Avenue, Suite 203, North York, Ontario

DANIEL'S Driving School MTO Approved Course Provider Quality Driving Instructions At An Amazingly Low Cost

Sponsored by CAA, Get one year free membership up to 40% discount on Insurance

Area of operation: Brampton, Mississauga and Etobicoke

Daniel O. Oduro Kotoko

For Registration, please call:

416-568-1795

The Ghanaian News December 2017

St Andrew’s Catholic Ghanaian Congregation Christmas Party on December 17, 2017 at The Apostles’ Continuation Banquet Hall

Some Church member

Some Christian Mothers of St. Andrew’s

Dancing time

Chilling all the way

From right, Fr. Alex Osei, Tony Joseph, Deacon Joseph with Emmanuel Ayiku

Fr. Alex Osei with other members

Fun Time

Dance, Dance, Dance

The Ghan aian News celebrates 20 yrs of ser vice to the communit y 1997 - 2017

49

50

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The Ghanaian News December 2017

51

Billionaire couple found dead in their basement had been strangled, Canadian police say

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr. By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

The Shermans were known for their largesse, doling out tens of millions of dollars to universities, hospitals and the United Jewish Appeal, according to the Globe and Mail. Honey Sherman was a board member at several institutions: York University, the Baycrest Foundation and Mount Sinai Hospital.

She had been chair of the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto and the Holocaust Education Centre.

They are survived by their four children, including one who just gave them a grandchild.

Their deaths brought condolences from the highest rungs of Canadian society and government, including from the organizations they had spent years supporting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those expressing grief. The Washington Post

The billionaire couple were found strangled, their bodies

dangling from the railing around their basement lap pool.

Honey and Barry Sherman died of “ligature neck compression,” a form of strangulation in which a cord or rope is used to exert fatal pressure on a person’s neck, Toronto police said.

It was a gory and puzzling detail in the deaths of the Shermans, who made billions in the pharmaceutical industry, then gave a significant chunk of their fortune away to charity.

Shocked neighbors called the Shermans “lovely people.” Now, their deaths are being probed by homicide investigators.

Their bodies were found Friday in the lowest level of their $7 million home by a real estate agent preparing the mansion for an open house.

Since then, family members and people who had been touched by the couple’s philanthropy have been poring over the final weeks of the Shermans’ lives — trying to figure out why investigators had described their deaths as “suspicious.”

“The circumstances of their death appear suspicious, and we are treating it that way,” Constable David Hopkinson said at a news conference outside the couple’s home in Toronto’s affluent North York neighborhood.

Police have been tight-lipped about the case and, until Sunday, didn’t say anything about what might have aroused their suspicions.

Hopkinson said there were no signs of forced entry at the Shermans’ home. No one has been arrested in the case, which police have still not deemed a homicide. Sunday’s news release called them “two suspicious deaths.”

On Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Star reported that police were investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide, but

Barry and Honey Sherman relatives dismissed that theory.

The family released a statement, saying: “We are shocked and think it’s irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true.

“We urge the Toronto Police Service to conduct a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation, and urge the media to refrain from further reporting as to the cause of these tragic deaths until the investigation is completed.”

Barry Sherman, 75, was the founder of Canadian pharmaceutical giant Apotex and one of the richest people in the world. Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.2 billion, earning him the 12th spot on the list of the wealthiest Canadians. He’d appeared on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires for 15 years.

Barry and Honey Sherman

JAGTAR TEXTILE AFRICAN GEORGE WAS $75 NOW $29.99 FRENCH LACE,WAS $12/YARD NOW 6$ YARD AFRICAN WAX PRINT REG.$25 NOW 7 FOR $100 $100 AFRICAN HEAVY QUALITY LACE,WAS $85/EACH NOW BUY 3 FOR $100

ETOBICOKE 101 WESTMORE DR.,UNIT 119 416-745-2700

52

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The Church of Pentecost Canada, London Branch – Musical Concert in support of a Drug Free Society and Mental Health Education in London, ON

By Dr. Lydia Osei-Arthur, London, ON

As part of the Church’s spiritual mandate, social responsibility, and support for the Canadian government’s campaign to minimize the use of illicit drugs and improve mental health, a Community Event dubbed “In Pursuit of a Drug Free Society and Mental Health Educationwas organized. A

Musical Concert, which was free to the public was held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 5pm-10pm at the St. James Auditorium, Brescia University College, 1285 Western Rd, London, ON, N6G 1H2.

In recent times, the city of London

has been in the news for being one of the places with high drug-related incidences; thus, this community event aimed to provide social support to individuals and families affected by the drug menace in the society. Due to the relevance of this program especially for the city of London, the church received cont’d on pg. 61 Dr. Sandra Northcott, Keynote speaker and Rev. Amon

Guest Artist Minister Nii Addo, Columbus, Ohia ministering

Music ministry

Ministration

Praises time

Nana Akwasi Kwarteng and Jonathan Baah Annobil

The Ghanaian News December 2017

3rd Food Drive & Cook Out to Evangel Hall by the Ghanaian Presbyterian Church in Toronto

By Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto

The Ghanaian Presbyterian Church, Toronto embarked on its 3rd Food Drive & Cook Out mission to the Evangel Hall mission (EHM) on 552 Adelaide Street in downtown Toronto. The food drive has become part of its mission programs since 2015. This noble event took place on Sunday, 3rd December, 2017.

Evangel Hall Mission, founded in 1913

by the Presbyterian Church in Canada initially focused on providing settlement services and vibrant faith community for many immigrants in the Queen and Bathurst neighborhood of Toronto. After recognizing the high levels of poverty, it soon began addressing the pressing problems by offering a drop-in centre and soup kitchen.

It was in this vein that the Ghanaian Presbyterian cont’d on pg. 61 Hospitality team with volunteers

Tammy Morgan recieving hamper from Elder Nana Adwoa

Group picture of some of the church members

Prayer time Church Elders

Elder Nana Adwoa and Tammy Morgan

Hospitality team

Music ministry

Elder Apraku, Elder Nana Adwoa (4th right) with hospitality team

Hospitality team and volunteers

Hospital team

Singing Carols at the event

53

54

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The Ghanaian News December 2017

55

Emmanuel Ntiri passes away at 68 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Emmanuel Ntiri, age 68 on Monday December 11, 2017. He leaves behind a widow, Veronica Ntiri, 3 children, Lawrencia Ntiri, Vivian Ntiri and Edward Ntiri and 1 grandchild, Eaden Ntiri.

Viewing: DeMarco Funeral Home, 8003 Weston Rd., Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A6 (Hwy 7 & Weston Road) Friday January 12, 2018 Time: 4 pm – 8 pm Saturday January 13, 2018 Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Final Funeral Rites: The Church of Pentecost 2256 Sheppard Avenue W. Saturday January 13, 2018 Time: 8 pm to 1:00 am Contacts: Nana Kojo Asiamah 416-726-3921 Elder DeGraft Quesi 289-700-1190

Elder Geoge Assifo 416-317-9579 Lawrencia Ntiri 416-434-3947

The Late Emmanuel Ntiri

Celebration of life of Lawrence Atta Ofori, a.a.k. Atta Kwabena husband of Mary Nkamaa and father of Gladys and Ashley held at Apostles’ Continuation Church on Saturday Dec. 2, 2017

56

The Ghanaian News December 2017

FOOD AND RECIPES Compiled by Nana Ama

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RECIPES Coated Groundnuts

Apapransa

Ingredients

Ingredients

200g groundnuts 100g flour 50g sugar 1/2 teaspoonful baking powder 1 pinch of salt 1medium egg 125ml diluted milk Oil for deep frying

Method 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Par-boil the groundnuts, peel and dry Prepare batter, leave to set Put the groundnuts into the batter Pass them through the flour Deep fry in hot oil Serve as snack

Ofam Ingredients 4 over ripe plantain 100 palm oil 1 medium size onion 200g ground corn or corn dough/rice flour Pepper and salt to taste Ground ginger

2 margarine tins roasted corn flour 6 medium sized smoked herrings 750ml palm nut liquid 1 small piece of salted fish (optional) 1/2 teaspoonful ground pepper 6 Onions (medium size) 2 Large tomatoes 1/2 margarine tin beans Salt to taste 500ml water

Method 1.

Boil beans till soft 2.

Wash and break fish into pieces and add cut onions and little water to simmer 3.

Add palm nut liquid, tomatoes, pepper, beans and salt 4.

Skim off oil 5.

Add roasted corn flour to soup and stir well with a stirrer to prevent lumps 6.

Mould and pile up smoothly in a bowl and garnish with the palm oil skimmed and crab.

Serve hot

Fried Rice

Method

Ingredients

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

400g rice 100g green beans 2 teaspoon soy sauce 2 medium size carrots Salt to taste 2 tablespoon cooking oil 2 eggs 2 green pepper 1/2 teaspoonful Adobo 2 spring onions 1 shrimp cube

Peel and pound or mash the plantain until free from lumps Mix it with ground corn, or rice flour, pepper, ginger, onion and salt Add the palm oil Put into tins greased with palm oil Bake in a hot oven for about 39 minutes

Savory Rice Ingredients 200g rice 1 teaspoonful puree 1/2 teaspoonful cayenne pepper 500ml white stock 50g onion 250ml cooking oil

Method 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Cook the onion in the oil Add the puree and cayenne and cook for some few minutes Add the rice, braise, then add the stock and leave to simmer Cover the rice and leave to cook Garnish with green pepper and serve

Method 1.

Cook rice and dry it 2.

Wash and peel vegetables, cut carrots, green pepper and beans into cubes 3.

Separate the white and green parts of the onions and cut into small rounds 4.

Heat oil and add white spring onions, stir for 30 to 40 seconds 5.

Beat the egg and salt and pur into the pan and cook for some few minutes unti it sets, stirring all the time. Add other vegetables 6.

Add rice and stir 7.

Mix in the soy sauce and season to taste 8.

Add the green spring onion and serve

The Ghanaian News December 2017

57

CLASSIFIED Classic Videos/Photos * Weddings *Birthdays *Christenings *Portraits Call Albert Aikins Tel: 416-244-3465 Cell: 416-278-9674 15 Lexington Ave, Unit 4, Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 2G4

For All Your Plumbing Needs Call Robert Nyarkoh 416-731-1679

New Home & Renovation All Repairs * Plugged Toilet * Plugged Drains

Isaac Best Photos Inc. Specialize In Weddings: * Christenings * Outdoorings * Parties * Funerals * Private pictures

Brings Your The Best Music In the 21st Century

DJ Services At: * Weddings * Engagements * Outdoorings * Funerals * Birthdays .. etc.

647-783-3981

Amos Labouring and Handyman Service • Basement Repair Chimney Dry Wall Painting Call Alva (Kofi)

905 799-1466

Bella Beauty Supply All Kinds Of Hair Products:

Tel: 905-913-0066 Cell: 416-660-6373

ONE STEP AHEAD IN QUALITY TWO STEPS BEHIND IN PRICE CALL : ACTION NAVIGATOR

(JOE) 416-616-6070

8920 Hwy 50, Unit 5B, (Hwy 50/Ebenezer) Brampton, Ont. L6P 3A3

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

Nana Ebrey Video Production & Barber Shop Super Quality Videos

Wanted vinyl records and Lps-turn your albums into $$$-buying soul -jazz-rock reggae 45s also stereo gear call 647-243-8691

Contact Us Today For Your Appointment

Super Hair Cuts & Designs

21 Pioneer Ave., North York

torontousedlaptops.yolasite.com

“We Are The Best Among The Rest In Toronto” We cover All occasions and gatherings.

We offer the best rate in GTA

Nana's Barber Shop 416-244-2838 416-825-3413

$150 LENOVO COREi5 4GB.RAM 100GB.SSD WIFI WIN10 $99…INSIGNIA TABLET 8” NEW 32GB WIFI WIN10 $6…LAPTOP DEAD BATTERIES--SIX CELLS ACER ASUS DELL GATEWAY HP SAMSUNG TOSHIBA AMAZON GHANA REPRESENTATIVE WANTED

The D.J.’s 911 Soundz

Specializing in: Video coverage: Weddings, Outdooring, General Events, Birthday parties, Broadcasting Videos,

Call Nana Ebrey

LAPTOPS NETBOOKS TABLETS

For more products: 416 668 3790

3 Knightbridge, Brampton, Ont., L6T 3X3

Cell: 647-898-1892

647 787-0027

SPECIAL EVENT VIDEO COVERAGE FOR ALL OCCASIONS QUALITY D.V VIDEO COVERAGE BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, OUTDOORINGS, ANNIVERSARIES PARTIES ETC.

Cynthia High Tech Videos * Weddings * Special Occasions * Christenings * Sporting Events * Birthdays * Anniversaries * Anniversaries * Seminars * And Much More

CALL TODAY START TOMORROW

Action Navigator Video Productions

princadom@yahoo.com

Quality Video Productions

FOR WAREHOUSE AND CLEANING JOBS IN THE AREAS OF BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, AND TORONTO

100% Human Hair, Weaves Extensions, Full Wig, Face & Body Lotion, Lace Holland Wax Prints, Hand Bags, Men & Ladies Shoes, Men Suit, Food Warmer

Tel: 416-614-8144 Cell: 416-890-5515

One Love Entertainment

Prince Adom

Nyarkoh Plumbing

GENERAL LABOURS NEEDED

DJ Emmanuel Osei-Tutu 416-450-6156 DJ (Fine Bee) Charles Addo 905-550-9004 DJ Joseph Osei-Tutu 647-887-5858

58

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Go Seko Shipping Inc. Freight Forwarding Division & Bailing of Used Clothes * Yam * Gari * Rice * Accra Kenkey * Canned Food * Dry Fish * Koobi and Many More We ship Cars, Trucks, Electrical Appliances, Computers, Clothing, Barrels, Personal Effects and many more

www.220v.com We Carry Brand Name 220/50Hz Export Model

BIG GENERATOR SALE Household Products Kitchen Appliances

Call Nana Djan

Generator Unlocked GSM Cellphones Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Siemens

Tel: 647-895-1315, 416-913-1986, Fax: 416-850-0580 E-mail: sekoshipping@gmail.com

LCD/LED/Plasma TVs

52 Carrier Drive, #8 (Hwy 27 & Carrier) BIG Generator Sale Freezer

Tel: 416-646-0495

Gas & Electric Stoves

FREEZERS, REFRIGERATORS, WASHERS, DRYERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, VACUUM CLEANERS, TRANSFORMERS South East Corner of Steeles and Fenmar / Pine Valley

5707 Steeles Ave. West,Toronto, Ont. M9L 1S7

BLACK STAR FAST SHIPPING INC. Freight Forwarding WE BAIL USED CLOTHINGS

Tawiah

The Most Reliable Way to Ship Overseas!

Fast, Reasonable and VERY Great Competitive Rates!

We Ship Trucks to Cars, Personal Items, Building materials, Used Clothes and Electronics. Also Deep Freezers and other.

Linda

Tel: 647-231-4504 or 416-988-1842

11 Canso Rd, Etobicoke, Ont. (Martin Grove/Enterprise Rd.)

DOMINION

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING SERVING YOU WITH PRIDE & INTEGRITY We ship cars, trucks, barrels, personal effects. We sell empty barrels

Contact HOURS OF OPERATION: Samuel Opare Monday to Wednesday Office: 416-740-(SHIP) 7447 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Cell: 647-867-8447 Thursday - Friday Email: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

So.dominionshipping@gmail.com Saturday www.dominionshipping.com 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 92 Arrow Road, Toronto, Ontario, M9M 2L8

The Ghanaian News December 2017

6 Presidents, Business Leaders, Nominated for African

Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year 2017

CARGO - LINK INTERNATIONAL (Freight Forwarders & Consolidators) Competent Commitment & Excellence

cont’d from pg. 43 in the continent to positively affect the continent or influence women to aspire for excellence in various fields.

1. Bethlehem Alemu 2. LinahMohohlo (Botswana) Governor, Bank Of Botswana 3. Bridgette Radebe (South Africa) Founder And Chairman Mmakau 4. Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita (South Africa) CeoArcelormittal 5. MampheleRamphele (South Africa) Ceo Circle Capital Partners 6. Susan Mashibe (Tanzania) Founder And Executive Director Tanjet Aviation 7. Magatte Wade (Senegal) Ceo, Adina World Beat Beverages

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

ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Educational Development This recognition is open to an African, whose contribution to the growth of education and deepening knowledge

has been second to none in the year under review. It is also reserved for a member of the academia whose

research or policy has contributed in shaping his or her country’s economic growth and development

1. Are AfeBabalola, AfeBabalola University

* You don't need to go to the Port * You don't need to see any Agent * Just see a CARGO-LINK Representative in Accra & Kumasi for your Safe & Affordable Shipment * We also do door to door in Accra & Kumasi at very low transportation cost (EXTRA) * We give Bill of Lading too to those who want to clear their own goods Contact: Regina or B'B Manu

2. StriveMasiyiwa, Chairman ECONET 3. Prof. AdmolaTayo, Vice Chancellor, Babcock University 4. Fred Swaniker, Founder, African Leadership University

ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Philanthropy & Charitable Contributions to Society This recognition is open to an African, who has given more to support charitable cause, social justice and promote social good.

1. Manu Chandaria Chairman, Comcraft Group 2. TY Danjuma 3. NaushadMerali – Sameer Group 4. Ashish J. Thakkar – Mara Group 5. Francios Van Niekerk – Mertech Group 6. Mohammed Indimi 7. Tony Elumelu ALM Young Person of the Year 2017 Must be between the ages of 18-38; Young persons of African descent, making a difference globally via diverse sectors such as business, IT, entertainment, sports etc, remaining a positive role model and re-defining creativity, resilience; hard work and ingenuity of the continent’s young people 1. OryOkolloh, Position: Director of Investments at Omidyar Network 2. Pierre-EmerickAubameyang, Footballer, Gabon, 3. Nasir Yammama, IT Guru, Nigeria 4. Joel Macharia, Financial Services, Kenya, 5. Davido, Musician, Nigeria 6. Fahad Awadh, Agro-processing, Tanzania Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership.

Micangel Global Inc. Shipping and Freight Forwarding 270 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke, Ont.

SEA * AIR * LAND Fast Easy And Reliable Service To All African Countries and Other Worldwide Ports CUSTOM CLEARANCE, PICK-UP, DELIVERY Call Angelina Tel: 416-457-1174

Tel: 416-736-1905 416-822-9462 Fax: 416-736-9973

ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Employment Generation This recognition is open to an African, whose actions, policies and business has helped in creating jobs for Africans in the year under review 1. AtikuAbubakar 2. Sam Jonah, CEO Jonah Capital 3. Marius Kloppers CEO, BHP Billiton 4. Brian Joffe, CEO, Bidvest Group 5. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Chairman MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group 6. Kwame Nana Bediako,Businessman, Ghana ALM Person of the Year 2017 – Political Leadership This recognition is open to an African, whose contribution has immensely contributed in deepening democracy and democratic values in the continent.

1. Julius Malema 2. Uhuru Kenyatta 3. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 4. Marc Ravalomanana, Former President of Madagascar 5. BukolaSaraki, Nigeria President of the Senate

59

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

Hi-Tech Shipping Freight Forwarders & Consolidators 230 Milvan Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M9L 2A5

We ship to all African Countries. We are the cheapest, Fastest and most reliable agents in town.

We have been in successful business for twenty years.

We have moved to 14,000 sq ft. facility to serve you better. We have quality mattress for sale all sizes

Call Kobby or Nana Ababio

Tel: 416-744-2300 / 416-640-2310

60

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Bread Price-Fixing Probe Targeting At Least 7 Companies In Canada Canada Bread, Giant Tiger, Metro, Sobeys and Walmart are among those getting scrutiny from the Competition Bureau.

OTTAWA — The Competition Bureau’s investigation into allegations of bread price-fixing includes at least seven companies from bakery wholesalers and discount chains to Canada’s three major grocers, according to court documents.

George Weston Ltd. and Loblaw Companies Ltd. admitted Tuesday to participating in an industry-wide bread price-fixing arrangement for over a decade and tipping off the country’s competition watchdog.

The investigation began on Aug. 11 and was expanded on Oct. 23.

The Competition Bureau executed search warrants at the offices of a number of grocers earlier this fall, but has said there has been no conclusion of wrongdoing and no charges have been laid.

According to those affidavits, the regulator is also investigating the alleged involvement of Canada Bread, Walmart, Sobeys, Metro and Giant Tiger as well as “other persons known and unknown.”

The search warrants and information to obtain them were sealed because of concerns by the watchdog that the release of the information might compromise its investigation.

However, the affidavits sworn by a Competition Bureau investigator to have them sealed were unsealed by the court this week.

“The bureau is collecting facts to determine the precise time frame of, and the participants in, the alleged conspiracy,” Simon Bessette, a senior competition law officer, swore in an affidavit on Oct. 26.

“Analyzing the records the bureau obtains from the search warrants sought in the ITO will take time; however, it would only be after such analysis is performed that the bureau would be in a position to determine whether additional investigative steps are required.”

“Should details of the bureau’s ongoing investigation be made available to the public, the integrity of the evidence available through further investigative steps and/or court authoriza-

tions may be compromised,” Bessette wrote.

Retailers say they’re co-operating Metro said in a statement Tuesday that it continues to co-operate with authorities and it has launched an internal investigation.

“Based on the information processed to date, we have found no evidence that Metro has violated the Competition Act and we do not believe that the bureau’s investigation will have a material adverse effect on the corporation’s business, results of operations or financial condition,” the statement said.

Sobeys Inc., Canada Bread and Walmart Canada also said they

were fully co-operating.

Weston and Loblaw said Tuesday they became aware of an arrangement involving the co-ordination of retail and wholesale prices of some packaged breads from late 2001 until March 2015.

The companies said they established an independent compliance office earlier this year and provided training and re-certification to marketing personnel at Weston Bakeries and all merchants and store managers at Loblaw, as well as senior managers at both companies and at parent company George Weston.

The employees responsible for the companies’ role in the arrangement are no longer employed there.

Loblaw is also offering eligible customers a $25 gift card that can be used at its grocery stores across Canada.

The Competition Act prohibits agreements that “prevent or unduly lessen competition or to unreasonably enhance the price of a product,” according to the bureau.

That could include agreements between competitors to fix prices, or to restrict production of a product by setting quotas or other means would be considered cartel activities. Penalties for price fixing could include fines of up to $10 million, imprisonment to a maximum term of five years, or both.

However, the bureau says price-fixing conspiracies are, by their nature, difficult to detect and prove. The Canadian Press

B.B’s Auto Int’l Ghana Ltd. Nana's Cleaning Services Auto Repair and Body Shop Oyibi on the Dodwa Road For all your car repair contact Bismarck Bright 0277-709000 / 0266-858050 Nick Bright - 416-522-2416

* Car Shampooing * Rim Treatment * Headlight Cleaning * Buffing & Waxing * Area Rug * Carpet & Sofa Cleaning

Call Nana 416-999-5543

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Court clears Ghanaians in diaspora to vote in 2020 cont’d from pg. 1 to carry out the dictates of a law that binds them. The court said the EC’s justification for the delay in implementing is unreasonable and outrageous.

The applicants who are all members of the Progressive Alliance Movement (PAM) – a New York State incorporated nonprofit organization, were seeking “a Declaration that Applicants have fundamental human rights under Articles 17(2), 42 and 33(5), of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2006 [Act 699] Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Article 25 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Protocol 1 (article 3) of the European Convention on Human Rights a) “to be registered as voter[s]” while resident abroad and being outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana, and doing so from/at their places of residence abroad or designated centers close to their places of residence abroad or from/at the Ghana Mission/Embassy within their jurisdiction abroad; b) to be issued voters Identity Cards “to enable” them “to vote in public elections and referenda” while resident abroad and being outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana at the time of such elections, and doing so from/ at their places of residence abroad or designated centers close to their places of residence abroad or from/at the Ghana Mission/Embassy within their jurisdiction abroad; c) “to vote in public elections and referenda” particularly Presidential and Parliamentary elections while resident abroad and being outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana at the time of such elections, and doing so from/at their places of residence abroad

3rd Food Drive & Cook Out to Evangel Hall by the Ghanaian Presbyterian Church in Toronto

or designated centers close cont’d from pg. 53 to their places of residence Church’s choir with the support abroad or from/at the Ghana of the whole church led this Mission/Embassy within their year’s mission to bring smiles to jurisdiction abroad; the faces of the less privileged d) A Declaration that the non- that use the Evangel Hall compliance of 1st Respondent Mission during this Christmas in particular to operationalize season. The mission (to treat the t h e A c t 6 9 9 s i n c e s a m e less privileged) was under the became law on the 24th day leadership Elder Nana Adwoa of February 2006 is a breach who has been coordinating of Applicants’ fundamental the event since its inception in rights under said various laws and legal instruments; e) A Declaration 2nd Respondent’s failure, neglect or refusal to uphold/ensure full compliance/operationalization of the Act 699 since same became law on the 24th day of February 2006 is a breach of Applicants’ fundamental rights under said various laws and legal instruments; f) A Declaration that each of the Applicant’s “right to vote and entitle[ment] to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda” in light of the Act 699 and said various laws and legal instruments is not subject to any condition precedent aside the article 42 age and sanity of mind criteria;

The Ghanaian News 416- 916-3700

2015. In all, about a hundred people were fed. As they were eating, the church choir also sang Christmas carols in the background.

The church not only fed them but also gave some nonperishable food items which were received by Ms. Tammy Morgan. Elder Nana Adwoa supported by other elders did

the presentation on behalf of the church. Ms. Tammy Morgan then thanked the congregation on behalf of the Home in the name of the Triune God. Elder Fred Apraku, Clerk of Session delivered a short exhortation in a special service. The smiles from the people’s faces after hearing the exhortation proved that they were happy.

Department for International Development Ghana Country Director’s speech at the launch of Ghana’s Business Regulation Reform Strategy cont’d from pg. 47

We know that the Government has put in significant work on reforms.

Recent efforts on convening over 33 Government agencies around key reform issues, implementing paperless customs and online business registration are commendable. But in a world where other countries are also rapidly reforming to attract investment, Ghana must set the pace.

This afternoon a number of BEEP supported regulators and private sector will be meeting to review progress on reforms over the last year. We

g) A Declaration that it is discriminatory for Respondents particularly 1st Respondent to continue to register abroad and ensure that a category of citizens studying abroad or working in Ghana’s Missions/Embassies cont’d from pg. 52 abroad vote in public elections immerse support from people and referenda while in abroad and businesses in the city, the to exclusion of the Applicants. entire country and beyond.

The event attracted 250 to 300 h) An Order of mandamus d i r e c t e d a t R e s p o n d e n t s people from near and far and particularly 1st Respondent to this included the clergy from forthwith, uphold/ensure full churches across the country, of Parliament, compliance/operationalization Members Academicians, and the Chief of the Act 699. of Psychiatry for Mental The Electoral Commission Health, London. The media was represented by Baffour - CCTV, London Free Press, Gyawu Bonsu Ashia, Associate and Faith FM- also provided Lawyer at Sory@Law and the support by publishing and Applicants were represented announcing the event. by lawyer Samson Lardy Anyenini. Starrfmonline.com The program kickstarted with an address by the Resident Pastor of the Church, Rev. George Amon who outlined the basis for the involvement of the church in the fight against the use of hard drugs among people in LondonOntario. During his address, Rev Amon enumerated the variousbreak-ins and theft of church properties experienced over the years as clear consequences of drug addiction. The Federal MP for London-West, Hon. Kate Young also graced the occasion to show her unflinching support for such a good

Call Us First

61

are looking to the outcome of these deliberations and the specific actions and commitments that are made for reforms in 2018 and beyond.

Development partners including the UK and World Bank can help, but ultimately it will be up to Ghana to really shift the dial on reforms in order to provide a sounder enabling environment and regulatory framework for businesses to establish, flourish and contribute to Ghana’s national development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, to conclude, Ghana needs to take further steps to remain “investor friendly” and demonstrate that Ghana is truly open for business. It is competing in a period where favourable conditions for We wish you well on the “road to investment flows to emerging markets are sustainable reforms”. now tightening.

Thank you.

The size of the challenge - and the SOURCE opportunity to really reform Ghana’s United Kingdom Foreign and business regulation - is huge.

Commonwealth Office

The Church of Pentecost Canada, London Branch – Musical Concert in support of a Drug Free Society and Mental Health Education in London, ON course taken by the church, but more so informed the audience about the Canadian government’s support and plan for mental health. She expounded on the financial commitments and other roadmaps put in place by the government for the successful implementation of the plan.

Furthermore, the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Sandra Northcott, Chief of Psychiatry for Mental Health (St. Joseph’s in London and South West Center in St. Thomas) delivered a touching note on the subject to the audience. As an accomplished professional in the field of Mental Health, Dr. Northcott, merged her personal and professional experiences with mentally challenged individuals to depict the extent of destruction hard drugs have on society. During her address, she shared her personal ‘fear’ and struggle as a parent of a 17year-old boy surrounded by a society affected by illicit drug use. She described her participation in the event as a “moving experience”.

Also, International musical artists from Columbus, Ohio - USA, Toronto and Ottawa

and other choirs and soloists featured on the program led the audience through a series of heartwarming worship sessions. During the worship segments, participants were given the opportunity to renew their faith in God whilst others used that opportunity to recognize their need for God in their personal or family members’ battle against drugs.

Counselling sessions were also given to interested individuals and an open invitation made to all to fellowship with the church.

This well-organized event has been described as very successful and participants including the keynote speaker have requested that this be repeated often.

More about The Church of Pentecost, visit: http://www. copwca.org/ and http://www. copswo.org/ Contact: Rev. George Amon, District Pastor: (905) 531-9813, gzamon2319@gmail.com Contact: Elder Nathan Bediako, Planning Committee: (519) 694-8722, mynatus@gmail. com

62

The Ghanaian News December 2017

PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY I AM ALPHA & OMEGA MINISTRY INT'L

Ghana Methodist Churches in Canada ( SOCIETIES UNDER THE GHANA METHODIST CONFERENCE)

We invite you to worship with us

The Superintendent Minister-In-Charge

Church Service:

invites you to worship with us

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

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

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

JESUS Loves You

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

Tel: 416-419-6671

EVANGEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

Place of Worship: 19 Penn Drive, North York, Ont. (off 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.

NEW ADDRESS 314 Rexdale Blvd. Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R6 Tel: 416-242-7950 Fax: 416-242-8573 Church Activities

Pastor in Charge

Rev. Milton Offei

Sunday School: Church Service: Sunday Evening: Wednesday Bible Studies: Friday Prayer Meeting:

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

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

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

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

7p.m. - 9:00p.m.

Disciples Revival Church Healing & Deliverance Centre Rev. Dr. & Rev (Mrs) Charles Mantey Founders/Senior Pastors

416-614-7771

Very Rev. Joseph Owusu Atuahene

Toronto Society

Bishop John Mensah

Calgary Methodist - 403-603-2864 Edmonton Methodist - 587-336-1223 Ottawa Methodist - 613-823-2291

In Montreal at: Place of Worship: 6870 Rue de Terreborne, Montreal, Que, H4B 1C5

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: Rev. Joshua C. Doughan - 514-542-0871 SERVICES ARE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL GHANA METHODIST LITURGY. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU

CHRIST REDEEMER CHURCH

Pastor-in-charge: Pastor Eric Amoah Tel: (416) 748-1242 Cell: (416) 300-9970 Church Services Sunday Service: Bible Study: 10 a.m.-11a.m.

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

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

Friday Night Prayer: 8p.m.-10p.m. Pastor Eric Amoah Location: 4 Racine, Unit 9

(Kipling/Rexdale)

Email: info@disciplesrevivalchurch.org www.disciplesrevivalchurch.org

SUNDAY SERVICE - Morning - 10:00 am Mid-Week Service Wed: Bible Study & Prayer: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Friday: Youth Service 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Friday: Adult Intercessory Prayer - 7:00 - 9:00 pm For deliverance & healing, come to Disciples, a Church that caters to your needs Do visit our website and sign up for the Pastor's monthly newsletter

www.disciplesrevivalchurch.org

30 Gordon Mackay Rd, North York, ON, M9N 2V6

The Ghanaian News celebrates 20 years of service to the community 1997 - 2017

FOOD FOR LIFE

The Ghanaian News December 2017

63

Bringing the Gospel to our Community by Rev. Isaac DeGraft Takyi The Christian, From Monday to Saturday: Part Four: “The Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ” “You can achieve the greatest things in the world, but if it is at the cost of your marriage or family, it is worth nothing.”

Os Hillman I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and doneby the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Rom 15:18-19).

For the last four months we have been following Ed Silvoso in his book Anointed for Business where he prescribes for the body of Christ, the four types of Christians in the workplace.

We have looked at “The Christian who is simply trying to survive”, “The Christian who is living by Christian principles”, “The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit”.In this Christmas episode, we will take a look at the fourth type of Christian: “The Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ”. What impact are you making in your home, your school, your community, your company, and your church?

The Level 4 Christian is one who is transforming their workplace for

Christ. Level 4 Christianity is a fruit of Level 3. You can only transform your workplace if you are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of bringingtheKingdomofGod to earth.

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10).

Rarely did Jesus speak of salvation as much as the Kingdom of God. When we talk of transformation we are talking about bringing the Kingdom of God upon the workplace, community and society. The early disciples understood this: The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 5:12-13).

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18).

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and doneby the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Rom 15:18-19).

You see the supernatural was part of the normal Christian life. There are examples of individuals who are transforming their workplaces for Christ. We will consider one person and trust that you will also tell us your transformation story: R.G. LeTourneau, a businessman from the United States, wrestled with the secular versus full-time Christian work idea. LeTourneau was a successful businessman in the early 1900s that recounts the turning point in his understanding of how God desires to

Ghanaian Presbyterian

use business for His glory. His pastor one day said to him, “You know, brother LeTourneau, God needs businessmen as well as preachers and missionaries.”

“Those were the words that guided my life ever since,” said LeTourneau.

“I repeat them in public at every opportunity because I have discovered that many men have the same mistaken idea I had of what it means to serve the Lord. My idea was if a man was going all out for God, he would have to be a preacher, or evangelist, or a missionary, or what we call a full-time Christian worker. I didn’t realize that a layman could serve the Lord as well as a preacher. I left the parsonage in sort of a daze. If God needed businessmen, he could certainly find a lot better material than a dirt-mover with a lot of debts piled up in the garage business. But I said, ‘All right, if that is what God wants me to be, I’ll try to be His businessman.’”

LeTourneau later became known for his generosity for giving 90% of his income to Christian causes. Now that is transformation! Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace, today.

During this Christmas kindly take some time to think about what you can do to make a difference and to be a change agent. As we prepare for 2018 please make time to seek the face of God to help you know what you can do to help bring about transformation in your family, your school, your community, your city and your country. Do not just stay saved, but be saved and be saving others. God is calling all of us to come to Him with what He has blessed us with for Him to anoint it and use it to transform our community. Are you willing?

“If you are a believer in Christ, you have the same, significant calling as any other believer in Christ, no matter what your workday occupation may be. Calling is not just a matter of what job one has. It means living as a child of God.” unknown I wish you all a great time of celebration of the birth of Christ and a gloriously blessed new year.

Living Word

Church of Montreal

Assembly of God Church (Affiliated with P.A.O.C.)

139 Millwick Drive Toronto, Ont. (Steeles/Islington) Tel: 416- 741-6285 Fax: 416- 741-0133

Minister: Rev. Stephen Azundem

Services: Sunday 10:00AM – 1:00PM Divine Worship Service Wednesday 7:00PM – 9:00PM Teaching Service (Bible Study) Friday 7:00PM – 9:00PM – Prayer Service

Tel (office): 514 278 8109 Tel (Cell): 514 660 2422

1345 rue Lapointe St. Laurent, QC, H4L 1K5 Location: At the Corner of O’Brien and Poirier.

Email: livingwordag@bellnet.ca Senior Pastor Rev. Isaac Takyi DeGraft

Church Activities

Sunday Early Morning Prayer: 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service: 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer: 10:00 a.m-12 noon

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

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

Last Friday of the month“All Night Prayer”):

7:30 p.m.-12 mid-night Youth Service (Fridays): 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Departmental Meeting (Every other Sunday): 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

64

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, Toronto Tel: 416-614-6110 647-341-7305 Email: gcmuc.org Invites all Christians to join us to worship and glorify the Living God

Worship Schedule: Sunday Church Service - Akan: English Service

- 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

-

10:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Friday

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

Saturday

- Organizational Meetings Choir Practice, Singing Band Practice

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l Do you desire to experience the power and the presence of God demonstrated in your life?

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

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

Pastor Dennis Awuku COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED Senior Pastor

Contact:

Cell. 416-400-8211 Church 416-642-0390 Worship Hours: Sunday Service: 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 2 pm Consultation Wednesday: 7pm - 9p.m.

Friday: 9pm - 12 pm Saturday (Prayer Warriors) 6pm - 8pm Location: 52 Carrier Drive, Unit 12, (Albion/Hwy 27)

Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5

Harvest Christian Church Invites you for a wonderful time with the Lord

Auxilliary Minister Rev. Samuel Victor Mpereh

-

647-770-8440

Venue of Worship 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto, ON Tel: 416-614-6110 Email: gcmuc.org Hamilton Society Stoney Creek United Church (Chapel) 1 King Street West, Stoney Creek, Hamilton Contact: 289-244-5914, 289-700-6815, 289-698-1388

Worship Hours Sundays (Mornings) 10 - 12:45pm Wednesday (Bible Study) 7 -8:30 pm Friday (All Night Prayer) 8-10:30pm Rev Moses Sarpong

Come and Experience the power of the Word Join us at 196 Toryork Drive(Corner of Weston/Finch)

Tel: 416-743-2507

It’s Harvest Time So Reach Out And Make A Difference

It’s A Great Commission!

The Ghanaian News December 2017

65

The Apostolic Church Int'l.

The Apostolic Church International (Toronto Assembly) is a Branch of The Apostolic Church in Ghana Apostle Nii Aryee (Area Supt. Canada-Wide)

Meeting Schedule Sunday (Worship) Wednesday Teaching Service Friday Prayers Friday: Monthly All Night Service Saturday : Movements -

- - - -

10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

THE APOSTLES'

Field Superintendent contact: 416-454-6141 (cell) 905-913-2037 (Res)

CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)

168 Rexdale Blvd.,

North American Headquarters: 10 Belfield Road Toronto, Ont., M9W 1G1 Tel: 416-247-6629 Fax: 416-247-5308

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 1P6 Church Office 416-740-1979 Field Secretary: Pastor Cyril Williams - 416-875-9616 Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church

SERVICE TIMES:

2017: LIBERTY IN THE SPIRIT 2 Corinthian 3:17

SUNDAY SERVICES: 10:00 am-1:30 pm Ghanaian Service WEEKDAY SERVICES: Wednesday - Bible Studies Friday - Prayer Service LOCATION:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2

Tel: 416-740-1200 Fax: 416-740-6435 lighthouseag@outlook.com Website: http:/www/lighthouseag.ca www.lighthouseagtoronto.org

Rhema Power of Grace Chapel Int'l

Worship Service Bible Studies Service All Night Service Deliverance

Toronto

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

Sunday - Divine Worship - 10a.m. - 1p.m.

Wednesday - Bible Studies 8p.m. - 10p.m.

Friday - Prayer / Deliverance - 7p.m. - 10p.m.

Contact Lines: Tel: 416-321-2796 (Pastor's Res) 416-747-9225 (Church)

Cell: 647-921-2414

Tel: 514-271-9083 Pastor-In-Charge: John Arhin

Contact: Res: 450-687-4916 Cell: 514-654-6178

Immanuel Assembly of God Church, Scarborough Sunday School: 9:30am -10:30am Church Service: 10:30am - 12 noon

350 Deerhide Cres, North York, ON Rev. Bishop Joe Bonnah

378 Cremazie East Montreal, Quebec, H2P 1E5

Scarborough Assembly

Place of Worship:

Founder &Pastor-in-charge

Montreal Assembly

10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629

Invites all Christians, Non-Christians and members of the Resurrection Power Tradition to join us worship the Great Jehovah

Days And Time of Worship

- Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday 9:00 p.m.

- Friday 9:30 p.m.

- Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Worship With Us At These Branches In Canada

Pastor-in-charge: Rev. Boniface Keelson

(Hwy 27/Steeles) Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Y6 Email:

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

Rev. Douglas O. Ansah Pastor-in-charge

LOCATION Don Montgomery Community Centre 2467 Eglinton Ave. E. Scarborough, Ont., (Kennedy/Eglinton Subway Station) For more info contact:

647-880-4216

Email: immanuelscarborough@gmail.com Website: immanuelaog.ca.

66

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The Apostolic Church Int’l Canada Inc. Ghana affiliated Apostolic Churches in Canada)

Heaven In My Heart Ministries 100 Penn Dr, Unit #3 Rev. Eleanor Adu-Anane, Oversea and Founder MRE, ECE

Tel, 647-892-9412 Fax: 905-846-6257 E-mail eleanoraduanane@yahoo.ca

Time of Worship: Apostle Dr. Kwabena Akufo Supervising Apostle

Pastor Rasper Atutornu Senior Pastor, Brampton

Brampton Branch 170 Wilkinson Road #6, Brampton, Ontario Worship Schedule

Wednesday: Bible Studies 7:00pm to 8:30pm Friday: Prayer Meeting 8:30pm to 11pm st 1 . Friday of every month: All Night Prayer Meeting & Deliverance 9pm to 2am Saturday: Youth Meeting: 2pm to 4pm Choir Practice: 3pm to 5pm Sunday: Christian Education: 9am to 10am Celebration: 10:30am to 12:30pm

Wednesdays: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm - Online Studies 416-278-3104, 416-278-0884, 647-835-2251, 416-305-7753 Thursdays: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm - Encounter Movement (teaching, healing and intercessory prayers) @ 170 Wilkinson Road, #6 Saturdays: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm - Women’s Movement Online Program 416-278-0884, 416-476-5211, 647-823-7584 Youth’s Movement - 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm 647-835-2251, 416-303-7753 Sundays: 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm - MAIN SERVICE @ 170 Wilkinson Road, #6

Rev. Mrs Eleanor Adu-Anane MRE, BA, RECE For Counselling & other matters contact the Pastor

647-892-9412 or 905-846-6257 E-mail: eleanoraduanane@yahoo.ca 100 Penn Drive Unit #3, North York, Ontario Canada. M9L 2A9 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Mathew 5:6

Mailing Address: 2 Berwick Avenue Brampton Ontario, L6Z 2P6,

The Ghanaian News December 2017

67

Welcome Home Evangelistic Ministries Affiliated with the Evangelical Church In Canada

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

New address: Heart Lake United Church 85 Sandalwood Pkwy E. Brampton, ON Sunday Morning Worship Celebration start from 1:30 pm Wednesday Discipleship class is 7pm Friday Prayer meeting is 7pm Contact Info: Tel: 647 210 7057 Fax: 905 495 4789 Website: www.wheministries.org

Christian Hope Ministry Int'l Invites You All To Come Worship With Us Apostle-in-charge: Apostle Twumasi Ankrah

Apostle Twumasi Ankrah

Tel: 647-916-0780 / 647-703-9717 TIME OF WORSHIP: Sunday 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Tuesday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Friday 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

VENUE: 1177 Finch Dr. #20, North York "And these signs will follow those who believe, in My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick , and they will recover. Amen (Mark 16:17)

"COME AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD"

Transformation Centre Assembly of God Church, Mississauga Join us on Sundays for worship at: Venue: Clarkson Community Centre (Margaret Marland Room) Address: 2475 Truscott Drive, Mississauga, Ont (Southdown Rd/Truscott Dr. on Winston Churchill Blvd/Truscott Dr.

Time: 10.00AM-1.00PM

Email: whemtoday@gmail.com

Glory Pentecostal Ministry of Toronto Pastor-in-charge: Rev. Rockson Owusu Atwima - 416-708-7742

Invites all Christians and Non-Christians to join us to worship the Almighty God WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Regular Service 11:00 am to 1:30 pm Tuesday Prayer and Healing Service 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday Prayer Night 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

PLACE OF WORSHIP 230 Eddystone Ave., #207, North York, Ont. M3N 1H7 We are more tan our conquerors Romans 8:37 "Come and see the manifestation and the power of the Holy Spirit at work"

Praise Temple of Christ International Snr. Pastor: Apostle Osei-Bonsu 336 Gary Ray Drive @ Signet Worship Schedule Sunday Worship - 10 am - 12:30 pm Wednesday - Bible Study - 7 pm - 9 pm Friday - Prayer Meeting - 8 pm - 10 pm Second and last Friday of each month All Night Prayer Meeting 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Apostle Osei Bonsu

Contact: Pastor Isaac K. Bonful Tel: 289-814-5482 Email: transformcentreag@yahoo.ca www.transformationcentreag.ca "...Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2a

For information call: 905-840-7387, 647-208-1093 416-209-9136, 647-710-2573 Pastor Appiah Jacob

68

The Ghanaian News December 2017

Around the Ghana Sports Scene Eric Ayiah misses out on final CAF shortlist Ghana U17

The lethal forward was omitted alongside South African winger Luther Singh despite his starring role at the U17 African Championship earlier this year.

Eric Ayiah The winner will be announced at the CAF Awards Gala on January 4 in Accra, Ghana. citifmonline.com

Ghanaian defender Roy Boateng scoops double award in US lower-tier league Ghanaian defender Roy Boateng has been named the best Defensive and All Conference Player of the season in the US Conference Big West League.

The budding guardsman was in top form in the just ended campaign for US side UC Davis as his efforts helped the side to its first North Division title since 2012 and became the Aggies two all-region recipient of the award for the first time since 2008.

In total, players from six Big West squads were selected, including two each from Cal State Fullerton, CSUN and UC Davis, with one apiece from Sacramento State, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara.

The All-Far West Region consists of schools from the

Toronto FC captures MLS Cup

By Laura Armstrong

Captain Eric Ayiah failed to make the final three-man shortlist for the 2017 CAF Youth Player of the Year award.

CAF president Dr Ahmad Ahmad supervised the ceremony in Accra on Monday, with Senegal’s KrepinDiatta, Zambia’s PatsonDaka and Mali attacking midfielder Salam Giddou completing the final list.

with Jonathan Baah Annobil

Reds get goals from Jozy Altidore and Victor Vazquez for first Major League Soccer championship, beating Seattle Sounders 2-0 at BMO Field on Saturday.

TFC captain Michael Bradley says taking the MLS Cup became an obsession after last year’s loss to the Seattle Sounders. The Toronto FC took their first-ever MLS title Saturday in a 2-0 win against Seattle.

The most valuable player in the Reds’ 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in Saturday evening’s MLS Cup final was dressed in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Champions” and had ski googles resting on his forehead, protection from the champagne- and beer-fuelled celebration in Toronto’s locker room not minutes earlier.

Altidore lifted his hands in celebration as he climbed onto the platform.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said, plunked into his designated chair while receiving slaps on the back from his grinning teammates.

Better late than never — which applies to more than Altidore’s post-game performance.

Eleven years after joining the league and 364 days after a heartbreaking loss in their first trip to the MLS championship game — against the same opponent — TFC had what they desired most: the MLS Cup trophy, to go along with the Canadian championship and their first Supporters’ Shield as regular-season champions, for an unprecedented treble.

Roy Boateng Big West, Pac-12 and West Coast conferences.

Boateng helped Santa Rosa United win a Cal-Cup title and a State Cup in 2013.

GHANAsoccernet.com

What got them there wasn’t simply a dominant overall performance against Seattle, though they did manage another one of those. Three gamechangers stood out: Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco — who assisted on Altidore’s 67thminute winner — and creative midfielder Victor Vazquez, the missing piece added since last year’s disappointing ending, who put it away with a marker in the 94th minute.

Last time, the Reds offence lacked finish. This year, they came through.

“It’s my job,” Altidore said.

“I’m a striker, Seba’s a striker.

Our job is to create and try and score goals. Hats off to him. He was superb — Seba — again in terms of probing, looking for spaces, being difficult to play against. The spaces opened up.

We have a lot of threats on our team and the spaces, the gaps opened up.”

The trio of Altidore, Giovinco and Vazquez got to play closer together thanks to the 4-4-2 formation coach Greg Vanneyemployed, one that saw the midfielder push further forward than he would in TFC’s typical 3-5-2 look.

Vazquez couldn’t say enough about his running mates after a championship game in which they made it look easy: “We understand each other.”

Vazquez was also involved in Altidore’s goal. The ball went from the ever-present Bradley in midfield to wingback Justin Morrow, who had a careerhigh eight goals in the regular season. He flipped it to Vazquez, who pushed it on to Giovinco — who has had to develop into more of a playmaker in his third year in MLS — before it landed at Altidore’s feet and, ultimately, in the back of the net.

Celebrating TFC — the 2017 MLS champs With seconds, nearly all of the Reds’ top attacking players touched the ball, the kind of

clockwork display that was lacking in last December’s showdown.

“We did it many times this s e a s o n , ” Va z q u e z s a i d , speaking particularly to the collaboration with Altidore and Giovinco. “Of course, today is more special because it opens the game and it’s . . . maybe it’s the only goal that we’re going to score.”

The Spaniard’s insurance goal in injury time was a simple tap-in after substitute Armando Cooper banged a shot, set up by Giovinco, off the post.

“Then I said, ‘OK. Now it’s done. We have it here. MLS Cup is staying in Toronto,’ ” Vazquez said of the aftermath of his goal.

Toronto finished the game with 22 shots to Seattle’s seven.

“We just continued to press them. We continued to find good spots. We won the ball high up the field. We played with confidence. We didn’t let them think for a second that they were going to get in the game,” TFC defender Drew Moor said of the difference between this year and last.

Ever the perfectionist, though, Moor added there was room for improvement — perhaps something to work on after the celebrations were done: “It could have been four, five, six to zero on a better day for us, but it was a complete, total team performance and a pretty dominant one.”

Maidens a step away from 2018 Under World Cup Kwesi Appiah satisfied with performance The Ghana U-17 female team their Gambian counterparts. of Black Stars in 2017 Black Maidens, are a step away to qualify for the 2018 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Women’s U-17 World Cup slated for Uruguay from 13th November to 1st December 2018.

The maidens, who beat their Gambian counterparts by 2-0 at the Cape Coast stadium have advanced to the final stage of the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. S u z z y D e d e Te y e a n d MukaramaAbdulai scored for Ghana to see the national junior female side complete a 7-1 aggregate win over

Coach Evans Adotey’s side left it late to grab a win as Dede Teye scored the opener in the 85th minute, with MukaramaAbdulai sealing the day for the junior female side in the 92nd minute as the first half ended in a goalless draw.

Ghana is to make the last hurdle to Uruguay if they are able to win against Djibouti, who they play in the final stage of the qualifiers with the Black Maidens set to travel for the first leg between February 2-4 and the return encounter set for February 16-18. ghananewsagency.org

Black Stars coach, James Kwesi Appiah, has expressed his satisfaction with the current crop of the Black Stars players.

Appiah since his re-appointment back in May, has handed numerous call ups to new players who have made a strong claim for a possible inclusion into subsequent future call ups.

Speaking to the press at CAF’s unveiling of the final shortlist for the 2017 Africa Player Award, the Black Stars gaffer highlighted how successful his plans for 2017 have been and further shared the team’s

“So, for now, I have invited about 16 players to the team and they all did well and I have attained about 70% to 80% of this particular objective, hopefully, next year I will invite one or two players if they are doing well but so am happy with the team.

Kwesi Appiah vision going into 2018.

“In 2017, my main target was to build a strong team thus having a very good bench and a team that doesn’t depend on certain few players.

“Next year, I will maintain consistency with regards to training and playing together to make sure that by the end of the 2018 they will be a very strong team and familiarize with each other, that will be the main intention next year,” Appiah stated. ghanacrusader.com

The Ghanaian News December 2017

69

70

The Ghanaian News December 2017

The #I Automobile & Cargo Shipping To WEST AFRICA

CARGO SHIPPING: LAND-SEA-AIR

ship@viamar.ca • www.viamar.ca Your Number 1 connection from Canada to TEMA GHANA and all of AFRICA with over 40 Years Experience

• Weekly /Service - Fast Transit times • Full loading service of Single Car / 2 / 3 and 4 cars in Container • Personal Effects / House Hold Goods - BAGS / BARRELS / USED CLOTHING • Commercial Cargo

For free Quote call

416-747-9774

RORO Service for TRUCKS MACHINERY Special Rates for 20' and 40' Containers

ask for Mr. Joe or Mr. Domenic

HEAD Office for Bookings / Inquiry: 4000 Steeles UNIT 9 Vaughan Ontario L4L 4V9

NEW Warehouse and loading yard Located at: 2844 Slough St, Mississauga, ON L4T 1G3

The Ghanaian News December 2017

AYGC

African Youth

AND GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE AUGUST 5TH - 12TH, 2018 I ACCRA, GHANA

THEME: “Mobilizing Africa’s Youth to Build a Continent Beyond Aid”

Attend or send delegates to join youth from over 35 african Countries and from the worldwide diaspora!

Presidential Dialogue Committee Research

SIDE EVENT A F R I C A N

DIASPORA YOUTH

HOME COMING SUMMIT

General Youth Assembly Development Toolkit Pitching Project Ideas

Special Attraction: Tour to Historical Sites CONTACT US Tel: +233- (20) 901 6886 +260-(977) 783 949 +234-(802) 754 5142 +1(905)-541 2509 +1(416)-274 6556 +1(416)-303 4238 +1(301)-807 4934

- Ghana - Zambia - Nigeria - Canada - Canada - Canada - USA

secretariat@aygconference.net +233 55 378 6943 @aygconference African Youth And Governance Conference www.aygconference.net

h ps://goo.gl/DFQLwA

Ini a ve of

youthbridgefounda on.org

Host

GOVERNMENT OF GHANA

Interna onal Partners

CANADA

Our Endorsement

UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status

71

’ LIFE S A

BIG GIG. Live it with more data.

10GB of data (6GB + 4GB bonus) Unlimited global text, picture and video messaging

freedommobile.ca Weston and Finch 3430 Weston Rd. North York, ON M9M 2W1 416-792-6777

Morningside and Kingston Rd. 267 Morningside Ave Scarborough, ON M1E 3G1 647-930-1843

Mon - Fri: 10am - 8pm Sat: 11am - 7pm Sun: 11am - 5pm

Mon - Fri: 11am - 8pm Sat: 10:30am - 7pm Sun: 12am - 5pm

Learn more at freedommobile.ca. *Data offered is valid when connected to the Freedom Mobile network. 10GB of data includes 4GB of bonus data per month. The bonus 4GB of data offer is available for a limited time and is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Bonus 4GB of data will be applied to Pay Before and Pay After lines for new activations on, or existing