GHANAIAN NEWS - FEBRUARY 2022

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GHANA’S 65th Independence: Nationhood under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s rule (1957-1966)

By Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON

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Sixty-five Years ago, on March 6th, 1957, six political leaders led by Kwame Nkrumah stood on a podium at the Old Polo Grounds in Accra and declared the birth of a new nation called Ghana. The declaration was the country’s weaning of itself from the former colonial ruler, Britain. On that night, the British Flag, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the flag of the new nation, formerly known as the Gold Coast, was hoisted.

In his historic independence declaration, the first Prime Minister, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared that the new nation and its citizens reserved the right to “manage or even mismanage its own affairs” . Ghana as a nation has over the past sixty five years fulfilled the declaration and prophesy of its first leader, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who declared on independence night, the right of the country to “manage or mismanage” its own affairs. Overall Ghana has succeeded in “mismanaging” its affairs much better than “managing” its affairs. We have earned very high marks in the field of economic, political and social mismanagement of the nation. The future has looked really bleak for the nation and its citizens.

Power dam, the Accra-Tema Motorway, the Tema Harbour, the Independence Square, among others.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, First President of Ghana

This period also saw the introduction of an accelerated fee-free elementary education which dramatically transformed the hitherto mainly illiterate population.

An affordable and accelerated secondary and technical education was launched under the Ghana Education Trust initiatives. The objective was to train enough manpower to man the civil and industrial services that were created from the early independence years.

Free Teacher Training Education was also introduced that helped to train teachers to staff the numerous elementary schools that were opened across the country. Alongside this was the introduction of what was termed “Mass Education”, a mass literacy drive that targeted illiterate adults in the rural areas to read and write.

Over the past 65 years, Ghana has undergone tremendous changes, some very positive, others not so positive while others have been damaging and even self-destructive. The early years of nationhood under the first President, Kwame Nkrumah and the first postcolonial government run by the Convention People’s Party (CPP) were full of euphoria, promises, and high For post-secondary education, the CPP government expectations. Dramatic infrastructural changes, social expanded the University of Ghana, the Premier and economic development were undertaken in the country. This period saw the construction of the much cont’d on pg. 6

African Canadian Social Development Council Celebrates Black History Month By: Emmanuel Ayiku and Jonathan Annobil, Toronto, ON

The Black History Month is a special time to bring focuses and attention to the experiences, achievements and contributions of people of African descent in Canada. This year African Canadian Social Development Council (ACSDC) celebrated Black History month with the theme: “Breaking Barriers-Contribution of Continental Africans”.

The event which was celebrated in person and in Zoom across Canada was held on Saturday February 27, 2022 at 5145 Steeles Avenue, Toronto.

It started with the playing of the Canadian National Anthem followed with reading of the indigenous land acknowledgement. A short Video presentation about the history of ACSDC followed after the president of the ACSDC Mr. Kabu Asante welcomed all the participants and recounted the purpose of gathering and emphasized on the theme: “Breaking Barriers-Contribution of Continental Africans”.

As part of his contribution, the Consul General of Ghana in Toronto, Hon Hakeem Balogun via zoom stressed that, ”No one will celebrate us except when we trumpet our own achievements and in the same breadth project our potential.

Group picture of the participants at ACSDC celebration

cont’d on pg. 31

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

EDITORIAL Publisher / Editor Emmanuel Ayiku Contributing Editor Joe Kingsley Eyiah Director of Operations Comfort Ayiku Community Reporter Jonathan Annobil Local Community Reporter Mickson Addo 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 1111 Albion Road, Suite 103 Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 1A9 Tel:(416) 916-3700 Advertising Fax (416) 916-6701 Website: 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.

GHANA TURNS 65 IN MARCH 2022!

Have we fulfilled our Dreams as an Independent Nation?

The 6th day of March marks the attainment of nationhood by our nation Ghana which we celebrate each year. It is here again! The day is a public holiday for the citizens of Ghana.

If March 6 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is also observed as a holiday. Ghana Independence Day is also known as Ghana National Day. The celebrations commemorate Ghana’s independence from the British colonial rule in 1957. The day is celebrated in public offices with various cultural activities, parades, and other events. Private citizens celebrate the day with music and taste of Ghanaian dishes, and some may even hoist the national flag at home and abroad. However citizens of Ghanaians Abroad at different locations are celebrating our great milestone: sixty-five (65) years of nationhood and nation-building in a special way.

This year Ghana’s 65th Independence Day Celebration is expected to be officially marked in Cape Coast with parades across all the cities. It has been launched with the theme: “Working together; Bouncing Back Better. Dubbed; Cape Coast, 2022 Well, God has granted Ghanaians another year in our life as a nation. By Ghana’s public service provisions, Ghana as a nation, is five years past the retirement age for which 60 years is the top of the maturity age when public servants in that country retire from active work, “go on pension”, In this regard, Ghana is matured and consider at pension age that we should have managed our affairs well, but we have not achieved much in our adult life so far.

Collectively though, we should all take responsibility for the problems we find ourselves in at this age of our nationhood.

We have not developed as we should due to challenges we face in the area of governance such as nepotism. For example, some politicians and persons in leadership positions, push their family members into areas they have less or no knowledge about which often leads to underperformance.

There is also the issue of “Protocol”- order from above when there is a need for employment at any institutions. Such unfortunate behaviours have affected the development of Ghana negatively.

Our Health and Education systems lack the physical facilities they need to make more accessible to the population. Unfortunately, they are not the Government’s PRIORITY. Government officials when they are sick run to seek medical attention in overseas. WHY? Is it because they don’t believe in the systems themselves or the project money is been misused. Again is it because they don’t believe the Health care professionals?, This is very SAD situation indeed.

Corruption has become endemic in the Ghanaian society that it is being openly practiced at almost, if not all government establishments. Efforts are been made to deal with corruption by appointing Special Prosecutors but so far no results. It is expected of the Government to put its foot down to stamp out such practice that is pushing us back instead of moving us forward as a nation.

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 1111Albion Rd., Suite 103 Etobicoke, Ont., M9V 1A9 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.

The collective apathy and wanton disregard for public property and institutions is ingrained in all of us. The desire to get rich quickly at the expense of the nation and the general good continues. The desire to get into politics and government with the sole purpose of stealing public money is still alive among many of our citizens after 65 years of Independence.

Everyone knows that Ghana has all it takes to develop in a big way to provide good quality of life for its citizens. The country is endowed with great natural resources including productive lands, minerals and good weather almost all year round. Food production should be no problem, but many of our citizens routinely go hungry. We have crude oil in commercial quantities and started production and export to generate additional revenue. The nation has more intellectual capacity and in almost every sphere of national endeavour that we can embark on, Ghana has enough educated people with the requisite skills to execute the jobs if these human resources are well harnessed.

We have abundant sunshine 365 days a year if we care to tap into solar energy. In fact, our list of abundant resources is endless. To all intents and purposes therefore, Ghana has no excuse and reasons for failure and non-performance as a nation up to its current “Maturity age”. As President Nana Akufo- Addo Dankwa said, “We’re sitting on Resources but we’re hungry” It is in recognition of all the above that Ghana should not be poor and hungry. On this anniversary of 65 years, the leaders and citizens of our country have no excuses at all not to perform to achieve good standards of living for its citizens.

We salute Ghanaians, at home, and in the diaspora, on this anniversary of the nation’s birth.

GHANA’S 65th Independence: Nationhood under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s rule (1957-1966) cont’d from pg. 1 University, opened earlier by the colonial government in 1948.

Two more universities were established: The University of Science and Technology in the nation’s second largest City, Kumasi to train the nation’s needed technical personnel. A third University was opened in the Central Region City of Cape Coast, the cradle of Ghana’s education network, the Cape Coast University originally mandated to train teachers to staff the numerous secondary/technical and teachers’ colleges that had sprang up all over the country. In terms of education, this period can be described as the finest in Ghana’s history.

On the industrial front, a number of industries were established which were grouped and managed under the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC). The Nsawam Cannery, GIHOC Distilleries, the Kumasi Jute factory, among others, were started under this scheme. A national airline, Ghana Airways, was launched. Ghana was then set to fly high and determined to take its place among the community of nations. The country became the center for the independence and anti-colonial struggle for other sub-Saharan African countries still under colonial rule.

Two major liberation-oriented conferences were held in Accra: the All-Africa People’s Conference in 1958 and the Conference of Independent African States in 1965. Most African countries looked up to Ghana for political leadership and inspiration. It became known as the “Black Star” of Africa. On this front the nation was somehow “managing” its own affairs.

All was not rosy though. The period between 1957 and 1962 was also characterized by some political and social instability. Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP government displayed intolerance of criticism and political opposition. A draconian law, the Preventive Detention Act, was passed in 1959 which gave the CPP government sweeping powers to arrest and detain its political opponents, real and imaginary. Most of the perceived opponents of the government were shipped off and incarcerated at a medium security prison that was built near the town of Nsawam, some 25 miles north of Accra. Many of the opposition politicians were either incarcerated or fled into exile. The exiles included Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, the leader of the main opposition party, the United Party. As fate will have it, he was to become Ghana’s second constitutional Prime Minister some ten years later in 1969.

The high expectations and hopes for Ghana’s accelerated development and political stability and maturity did not materialize or last long enough. The first post-colonial government headed

by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah lasted nine years and was violently overthrown in a military take-over initiated by the American Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A) on 24 February, 1966. This event accelerated the political upheavals, social and economic dislocations and destruction that had begun earlier in 1959 through the early 1960s.

On July 1st, 1960, the then Prime Minister, Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana a Republic, and removed the Queen of Britain as its political Head of State. Dr. Nkrumah then assumed the title of President of the Republic of Ghana. From this point onwards, the President sought to establish closer ties with the Socialist eastern countries much to the annoyance of the West, especially the United States who did not want to see what they perceived as a “communist” satellite regime in West Africa. It was this and other events that led to the CIA-engineered overthrow of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP government on 24th February, 1966.

The Ghanaian News February 2022 7

Bank of Canada hikes key interest rate, revises inflation forecast OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada has raised its key interest rate for the first time since slashing the benchmark rate to near-zero at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a bid to tackle inflation rates that are likely to keep rising from their current three-decade high.

The central bank increased its key rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.5 per cent on Wednesday in a bid to help fight inflation, which is at its highest level since 1991.

The move prompted Royal Bank and TD to raise their prime lending rates — and other big banks were expected to follow — to increase the cost of loans such as variable-rate mortgages that are linked to the central bank’s benchmark rate.

In making its announcement, the Bank of Canada said it expects inflation to be higher in the near-term than previously

thought. The central bank warned that this week’s rate hike won’t be the last, with economists expecting multiple increases before the end of the year.

Rate hikes in the past took place before the economy hit its full potential and inflation went up, said TD chief economist Beata Caranci. But circumstances are the opposite now, she said, raising the pressure on the bank to get right the timing and pace of hikes.

“They have actually less wiggle room because we are in a high inflation environment and they weren’t proactive as they were in past cycles,” she said.

“On the flip side, if things go horribly from an economic perspective, they don’t have room now to cut because we’re not at a level where they could give back stimulus.” cont’d on pg. 11

Most local GTA transit users except TTC riders will no longer pay double fare to connect to GO Transit With the exception of TTC riders, it will soon be free for GO Transit customers in many parts of the GTHA to connect to local transit as part of a new program announced by the provincial government on Tuesday.

The province says starting March 14, local transit will be free for customers connecting to and from GO Transit on a number of municipal transit systems with GO Transit co-fare agreements.

This includes Mississauga’s Mi-Way system as well as Durham Region Transit, Milton Transit, Grand River Transit, Guelph Transit, Oakville Transit, Brampton Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Bradford West Gwillimbury Transit, York Region Transit and Barrie Transit.

“Affordability and cost of living concerns are very much on the minds of families throughout Ontario, and that is why our government is taking action to make riding transit cheaper,” Stan Cho, associate minister of transportation said in a written statement.

“As we cut costs for drivers, including by eliminating licence sticker renewal fees and removing tolls on Highways 412 and 418, we’re also slashing fares to keep more money in the pockets of families and young people when they need it most and making it easier to get from point A to B.” The province also announced Tuesday that PRESTO discounts for youth and post-secondary students will increase

to 40 per cent off the full adult fare, which amounts to almost double the current discounts.

Additionally, GO Transit is introducing an affordability pilot program for low-income customers, beginning with those enrolled in Peel Region’s affordable transit program. These riders will be reimbursed for 50 per cent of the PRESTO adult fare when travelling on GO Transit starting March 14.

“It’s so important that all orders of government work together to make transit more affordable for residents, and today’s announcement is a significant step forward,” Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in a written statement released Tuesday.

“The co-fare agreement, in particular, will also be critical in our economic recovery, encouraging more people to seek employment in neighbouring regions through the elimination of the double fare.”

Notably absent from today’s announcement is the Toronto Transit Commission, which does not have a co-fare agreement with GO Transit.

Under the Wynne government, the TTC and Metrolinx previously had an agreement that offered a $1.50 discount on TTC fares each time a customer transferred from the GO Transit network using the PRESTO fare card. That program was scrapped by the Ford government in March of 2020. Cp24

Oath of Citizenship bill introduced in Parliament Proposed change will recognize rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples Ottawa, October 22, 2020—The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement: “Today, the Government of Canada introduced a Bill to amend the Citizenship Act to change Canada’s Oath of Citizenship. This Bill proposes to insert text into the Oath that refers to the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It continues to fulfill our government’s commitment to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, specifically Call to Action number 94.

“The Government of Canada remains committed to walking the shared path of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. The proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act is one more vital step towards reconciliation, and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“The new proposed language adds references to the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

“The Oath is a solemn declaration that all newcomers recite during the citizenship ceremony. With this amendment, we are changing the Oath of Citizenship to be more inclusive, and taking steps to fundamentally transform the nature of our relationship with Indigenous Peoples by encouraging new Canadians to fully appreciate and respect the significant role of Indigenous Peoples in forming Canada’s fabric and identity.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

All remaining capacity limits, COVID-19 vaccine passport system end in Ontario Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required as of today at most Ontario restaurants, gyms and movie theatres, while nightclubs, sporting and concert venues can get rid of capacity limits and restrictions lift on social gathering sizes.

Ontario is ending most of its major COVID-19 public health measures today, though Premier Doug Ford has said mask mandates will likely be in place for at least a couple more weeks.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity rates have fallen sharply from the January peak of the Omicron wave, though wastewater data suggests cases may be starting to rise again.

Ford says that the vaccine certificate system was always intended to be timelimited, and he is only now removing it due to the advice of the chief medical officer of health, but people should still exercise caution because the pandemic isn’t over.

Venues that still had capacity limits in place, including sports arenas, concert

venues, theatres, nightclubs, and restaurants where there is dancing, can now scrap those restrictions.

As well, settings where capacity had been limited to the number of people who could maintain two metres of distance - including weddings and funerals, as well as retail shops, pharmacies and grocery stores - can eliminate that requirement.

A number of businesses, including some restaurants, recreational facilities and museums, say they will maintain their vaccination requirements for now.

All COVID-19 measures except masking are also ending in the provincial legislature, meaning representatives will not be grouped into cohorts and full attendance will be allowed at debates, committees and other legislative matters.

The Opposition NDP, meanwhile, say some measures at the legislature should stay in place because elected members should lead by example and not pretend that the pandemic is over.

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UN data reveals ‘nearly insurmountable’ scale of lost schooling due to Covid Up to 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries lack basic reading skills, with learning losses seen from US to Ethiopia Children walk to school in Cape Town, South Africa. Schoolchildren in the

country are between 75% and a whole school year behind where they should be. Photograph: Hemis/Alamy The scale of the number of children who have lost out on their schooling during the pandemic is “nearly insurmountable”, according to UN data.

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Up to 70% of 10-year-olds in lowand middle-income countries cannot read or understand a simple text, up from 53% pre-Covid, the research suggested.

Classroom closures continue to affect more than 635 million children globally, with younger and more marginalised children facing the greatest loss in learning after almost two years of Covid, according to children’s agency Unicef, which called for intensive support to help students recover.

Across the world, from Ethiopia to the US, children have lost basic literacy and numeracy skills and their mental and physical health has suffered.

Students wear face masks in a classroom in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In South Africa, schoolchildren are between 75% and a whole school year behind where they should be, with up to 500,000 having dropped out of

school altogether between March 2020 and October 2021.

Learning losses have been seen in the US, including in California, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland. In Texas, twothirds of children in grade 3 (age eight to nine) tested below their grade level in maths in 2021, compared with half of children in 2019.

In Ethiopia, primary age children are estimated to have learned between 3040% of the maths they would have in a normal school year.

Robert Jenkins, Unicef’s head of education, said: “In March, we will mark two years of Covid-related disruptions to global education. Quite simply, we are looking at a nearly insurmountable scale of loss to children’s schooling.

While the disruptions to learning must end, just reopening schools is not enough. Students need intensive support to recover lost education.

“Schools must also go beyond places of learning to rebuild children’s mental and physical health, social development and nutrition.”

Source UN

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FOCUS “The Independence of Ghana is meaningless unless her Educational System is made relevant to the Country’s Needs!”

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto-Canada Hurray! Ghana as a nation celebrates her 65th birthday of independence from British colonial rule this year. History has it that on March 6, 1957 Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who later became the 1st President of Ghana declared the nation independent of British rule. Ghanaians throughout the world during the month of March, wherever possible, hoist the flag of Ghana and celebrate such milestone with cultural pomp and pageantry. We thank God for bringing Ghana as an sovereign country this far! On this occasion we sing, “God bless our homeland Ghana. And make our nation great and strong…”

I will like us as Ghanaians to pause during our joyful celebration this year to reflect on how relevant our national education system has been made relevant to the needs of our beloved country.

Education, in all its forms-formal, non-formal or informal-as I have always stressed, is very essential to the development of any nation. The Educational System of any country therefore ought to be given the required national attention. It is in this vein that when Ghana became an independent country, the First President, Dr. Nkrumah Nkrumah

viewed as dysfunctional in relation to the goals and aspirations of the country.

“Since March 6, 1957 when Ghana attained independence from British colonial rule, education has been a major priority on the agenda of successive governments. It has also been subjected to series of changes, constantly in search of the model which would fit the needs of the country and the expectations of the citizens.”

fully embarked on The Accelerated Development Plan for Education in the country. This plan was to provide quality education or enhance the rapid development of education at all levels in the country. Thus, the educational system at the time was made to accommodate the needs of the nation.

According to the Journal of Education and Human Development published in September 2016, “Although Ghana’s educational system had previously been regarded as one of the most highly developed and effective in West Africa, by the 1980s it was in near collapse and

It is on record that several Educational Reforms have been initiated over the years aimed at finding lasting solutions to problems concerning education in Ghana. For example, the number of years a student is supposed to spend in the second cycle institution has not been permanent. During the National Redemption Council (1974) under the leadership of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, the second cycle institution was four years. However, the Provisional National Defense Council (1987) changed this period from four years to three years of secondary school education. On the other hand, the New Patriotic Party (2000) reversed the decision back to four years but only to be reverted to the three years system under the National Democratic Congress administration from 2009 till present. This issue of the number of years students spend in Senior High School Education has been a challenge for the Ghanaian educational system.

Unfortunately, the educational system of Ghana has been subjected to the whims and caprices of the two main political parties in the country which are the NPP and NDC since 2000 and students in our public schools have been used as ‘guinea pigs’ in such political parties’ education reforms introduced in the country.

The Ghanaian education system is divided in three parts: basic education, secondary education education, and tertiary education.

The basic education lasts 12 years (starting from KG for children aged between 4 and 6 years to Junior High School ending at the age of 15 years on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The curriculum at this level covers English language, Ghanaian language and culture, social studies, integrated science, mathematics, design and technology, ICT, French which is optional, and religious and moral education.

The secondary education (SHS) which duration has suffered the worst political parties experimentation in the country, covers core subjects including English language, mathematics, integrated science (science, ICT, and environmental studies) and social

studies (economics, geography, history and government). It offers five elective programs from which every SHS student must to choose three or four by the end of his/her secondary education. These programs are in agricultural, arts or science, business, vocational and technical studies.

At present, the SHS education lasts three years as a result of numerous reforms. It was extended to four years in 2007 but reverted to three years in 2009. The SHS ends on final examination called the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which was formerly known as the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) before 2007.

It must be noted that while the basic and secondary education sectors in Ghana have been going through ‘disturbing changes’ over the years, tertiary education in the country has growing during the last few years, both in terms of enrolment and institutions. However, a substantial part of this development comes from the private sector.

I must commend the Ghana government for making Secondary education free in the country to increase access to education by all Ghanaians who want to acquire education at that level.

This will increase the literacy level in country. However the are still challenges to our educational system since the quality of education has fallen drastically and graduates from our higher education institutions can not function properly as they should.

The education system is faced with majority challenges in access and participation. For example, there is still low enrolment of girls; low quality in terms of poor student learning achievement, inadequate supply of teachers as well as educational physical facilities throughout the country.

Though the government has a number of measures to mitigate the impact of the problems confronting our educational system. I see that all the stakeholders of education in the country ought to come together to develop a national policy on education that will guide whichever political party that comes to govern our nation so as to stop our national education system being sacrificed on the altar of party politics!

As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of our independence from colonial rule let’s reflect on how best we can make our educational system relevant to the needs of Ghana. Else, as in the words of the first President of Ghana on the night of our independence: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is……..”!

Over to you, Joe Lartey!!!!!!!!

The Ghanaian News February 2022 11

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL - Sliding On Ice With Cynthia Appiah

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto, ON From February the 1 to the 1 day of March every year, Canadians sing the praises and applaud the significant contributions and achievements of celebrated personalities in the country, who are of Black origin.

It must be worth knowing that, Black Canadians have played momentous roles in the shaping of Canada’s rich history, identity and heritage. As shocking as it may sound, Canada, which boast as one of the most vibrant multicultural counties in the world was once, a place where Africans were enslaved during the infamous slavetrade era. st

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It must be historically recalled that, on the February of 2008, Senator Donald H. Oliver, (who retired as a member of the Senate of Canada in 2013 after 22 years of service and also, the first Black man appointed to the Senate) introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and the motion was espoused on March 4, 2008. With systemic racism continuing to hit Black Canadians, many believe, there is still work to be done to educate the public on issues surrounding systemic racism.

In this Black History Month special piece, Edmund Agbeko sat down with Canadianborn-Ghanaian bobsledder, Cynthia Serwaah Appiah, whose remarkable bobsledding adventure has seen her making all the headlines prior, during and after the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games in China. Not a personal best for her at the Beijing Games, but ‘Cynthapaedia’, as she is affectionately called, is already eyeing a major win at the next Olympic Games plus, sharing her thoughts on what it means to be a ‘Black’ Canadian, especially during ‘Black History Month’.

What Black History Month means…

The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, Mary Appiah and James Appiah respectively, Cynthia Appiah is very passionate when topic of ‘Black History Month’ comes up for discussion. She says: “Personally, I believe Black History Month needs to be normalized and celebrated just like every other holiday as it serves

Cynthia Appiah right now if I hadn’t seen someone like me in Shelly-Anne Brown at the Vancouver Winter Games. It was just a beautiful sight when she won the silver medal [with Helen Upperton] at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. “ However, I must also state that, when I started, my ethnicity were more appreciative of traditional careers like doctors, bankers, nurses et al but with the gains in recent times, the folks have started welcoming the idea of winter sports in our communities.

Bobsleigh is very expensive, and if you’re

as the perfect opportunity to understand Black histories, going past stories of just slavery to the highlighting of the major achievements made by Blacks. It is an open secret that, black people have contributed a lot to society but for some reasons, that feeling of not feeling accepted in society as black people, lingers on.”

Cynthia continues: “Black History Month means the appreciation and acknowledgement of Blackness and how it permeates all aspects of society.

Unfortunately, Black History cannot be contained or limited to a month but it is a good reminder of Black peoples’ indelible imprint on world history. Because of the innumerable ills and amount of sacrifices our ancestors dedicated their lives to change, Black History Month re-affirms the fact that, I, a proud Black woman, have no excuse to not impact my community, this nation, and ultimately the world. I’m proud of my roots as a Ghanaian-Canadian and I want to showcase that every which way I can. [Cynthia recently had her bobsled spikes painted, one side the Canadian flag and the other side the Ghanaian flag.]

Winter Sport and her Black Community 31-year-old Cynthia Appiah, who began her career in bobsledding as a brake woman said: “Honestly, I didn’t see this beautiful love adventure with bobsledding coming because; I did start my sporting career as a track athlete at York University. But thanks to my super power Black Woman, ShelleyAnn Brown, everything changed and with a snap of a finger, bobsledding took over.

I don’t know if I would be where I’m at

PIC CREDIT: IBSF TV not from a traditional winter sport country like Canada, it’s really challenging to get the dream going as a Bobsledder. Regardless of the challenges in the sport especially as a Black woman, I want to demonstrate that, Black athletes can compete in winter sports and hopefully connect with aspiring Black youth to help them pursue their dreams.”

“With Covid, everything was very slow in trying to get to the younger generation and help them nature their love for winter sports. There have been people that have been behind the scenes from day one

that have helped me get to where I am right now. And it would be very unfair on my path for not crating the needed steps to have the younger generation from where I come from nature their talents in this sport. With the lifting of most of the Covid-19 protocols, it’s my dream to put up bobsledding clinics and reach out to more kids in my community and just to get them that motivation that they will need to help them realize their dreams. I started sports at a young age when i joined a social initiative to support youth in low-income and underprivileged communities and I am positive that, with these tailored sports clinics, the kids can have that little boost to help them realize their dream.

that, a lot of us are coming into that pilot seat and showing to the world what Black athletes are capable of doing. Remember, we cannot think of an equal society without truly giving equal opportunities and equal chances to all. My passion and my motivation keeps me growing stronger and optimistically, I can break down the mould of what a typical winter athlete can look like, and how successful Blacks can be in winter sports. I still want to be the best my sport has ever seen, and I fully believe, I am capable of that, but I really want to be a representation of what Black athletes can do.”

Future fancies…

I am going back to the drawing board to correct the mistakes that happened at the Beijing Olympic Games because, I was very hopeful for a much greater impact but I guess, disappointments in our goals rather toughen us to come back stronger. I know I’ve got the talent and it has been hard work from the very first day for me to get here and i deserve to be here. Some might think that, I don’t deserve to be here but I put in the work every day and I am here to stay and compete. Within the sport of bobsleigh, there is some kind of invisible ceiling where Black athletes that do come into our sport, they stay as brakemen but I am very excited

Cynthia Appiah

Bank of Canada hikes key interest rate, revises inflation forecast cont’d from pg. 7 It was two years ago this week that the Bank of Canada first cut its key policy rate to get ahead of economic fallout from the emerging novel coronavirus crisis. What followed were two more rate cuts in March 2020 that brought the key policy rate to 0.25 per cent.

market, said Royce Mendes, managing director and head of macro strategy at Desjardins.

The bank hopes that by making it more expensive to borrow, demand from buyers will cool.

Since then, the economy has bounced “These are the types of inflationary pressures that the Bank of Canada can back quickly. contain with increasing its interest Statistics Canada said Tuesday that rates and that’s what it’s trying to do,” the economy grew at an annual rate of Mendes said.

6.7 per cent over the last three months of 2021, which was stronger than the The first rate hike may have the largest Bank of Canada had expected, and real affect on how households manage gross domestic product is now above their debt, but the central bank would have to raise rates by a full percentage pre-pandemic levels. point before there is an effect on the The bank said it expects growth in the country’s housing market, said BMO first quarter of this year to be more chief economist Douglas Porter. solid than its previous projections in January, even with an Omicron-related “Every single basis point matters to setback that month that saw 200,000 somebody out there,” Porter said. (A basis point is a one-hundredth of a jobs lost. percentage point.)

It expects the labour market setback to be temporary, and strong household “We’d need to see a number of Bank spending should strengthen further of Canada interest rate hikes before it as public health restrictions ease as would really begin to seriously affect several provinces have started to do the economy.” this month.

A rate hike generally takes as little as Adding to existing inflationary six months or as many as 18 months pressures is Russia’s unprovoked before it has an effect on headline invasion of Ukraine, which has sent inflation. global oil prices higher and added new kinks to global supply chains.

Of more immediate concern for the bank’s senior decisionmakers, and In response, Industry Minister noted in Wednesday’s announcement, François-Philippe Champagne told is that Canadians are starting to expect reporters on Parliament Hill that he has that inflation will stay higher for longer, asked the Competition Bureau to keep which could lead to runaway inflation. an eye on prices at the pumps, and spoken to companies about boosting “In this sense, inflation expectations domestic production to counteract any cause inflation,” said Tu Nguyen, an possible shortages. economist with RSM Canada. “So the bank taking actions and taking on Even though the bank can’t specifically a hawkish tone can help, in a way, fight inflation linked to the conflict, it reassure consumers and businesses to can tackle domestic price increases that know this bout of high inflation is like those in the country’s housing not going to last forever.”

The Canadian Press

12 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Royalty woes in Ghana: Shatta Wale Sarkodie, KiDi, Mr. Drew, Black calls on musicians to expedite actions Sherif lead nods in the 5th 3Music in bringing GHAMRO into account Awards nominations

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe, Accra, Ghana

By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe, Accra, Ghana

Reggae/ Dancehall a r t i s t e , Shatta Wale has joined hundreds of industrial players who have bared their teeth at Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) for failure to recognise musicians with their due royalty payments.

#NoRoyaltyNoMusic like by now these 400 radio stations will be monetised.

Imagine the money, not only radio stations but pubs, hotels, clubs etc will be monetised and I believe government will even support,” Shatta Wale said this in a different tweet.

Recently, A Plus also expressed his dissatisfaction about the amount of royalty given to legendary highlife singer, Daddy Lumba.

He regretted that Daddy Lumba

GHAMRO is an organisation sets aside to monitor systems in tracking how songs by Ghanaian musicians are used on radio, television, and digital platforms to collect and distribute royalties to deserving musicians.

Sarkodie, KiDi, Mr. Drew and Black Sherif are leading nods in this year’s 3Music Awards nominations which was released in Accra on Friday February 11.

The awards organised by 3Media Networks to recognise and celebrate outstanding musical achievements in Ghana and across Africa saw Sarkodie baging 11 nominations with KiDi following with nine nominations while Mr. Drew and Stonebwoy equalised with eight nominations.

One of the youngest rapper, who took the industry by storm, Black Sherif also gained seven nominations with his controversial “first and second sermons” song.

Black Sherif becomes a breakthrough artiste who is logging horns with celebrated reggae/dancehall musician Stonebwoy, renowned rapper Sarkodie, talented highlife/ afropop arts KiDi

However, many musicians have denied receiving such royalty with those receiving them were also lamenting on how little the amount was.

Charles Nii Armah Mensah, as privately known has charged musicians in Ghana to embark on an action that would put GHAMRO on track.

His call comes after the former Chairman of GHAMRO, Rex Omar, revealed in a media interview that Shatta Wale was the highest royalty earner in the country for the year 2021.

Black Sherif Song of the Year,” “Best female vocal performance,” and “Best male vocal performance.”

Bethel Revival Choir, Dope Nation, Keche, and R2Bees are regular contenders in the “Group of the Year” category, while Knii Lante makes a debut entry in the “Reggae and Dancehall Artiste of the Year” category, competing with cult artistes Epixode, Samini, Shatta Wale, and Stonebwoy.

Shatta Wale

received GH¢150 as royalty payments and called on GHAMRO to expedite actions by creating necessary monitoring platforms and putting in place appropriate measures to ensure According to him, the musician had Ghanaian artiste did not bow out of over GH¢30,000 in royalties and their music career as poor. was the highest amount of money GHAMRO had given out in its history. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GHAMRO, Mr However, the “1 Don” hitmaker Abraham Adjatey, has said GHAMRO described the amount as little, had signed an agreement with comparing how his songs were used various music monitoring platforms on many platforms over the years, and and royalty collection organisations charged musicians to sit up to ensure including Global Music Monitoring GHAMRO accounts properly to and Capasso respectively to monitor music throughout the country while musicians. also collecting digital royalties for “30k is an insult to my entire music artistes and right owners. career but this one as usual Ghanaian artistes will sit down and won’t voice This, he said was part of his outfit’s efforts to go digital and see creators out,” he lamented in a tweet. earn their due from their works.

“No wonder they will pay me 30k and you will think it is big money but my Mr Adjatey explained that the brother, my sister think about it deeply. deal would ensure that the digital Imagine we register with these people rights licensing company provided as a force and go on demonstration monitoring systems to help track songs of Ghanaian right owners on digital platforms.

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Stonebwoy and Kuami Eugene, gospel sensation Celestine Donkor, rapper D-Black, lyricist Mr. Drew, and budding singer Gyakie for the ultimate award in the “Artiste of the Year” category.

Another competitive category is the viral song of the year which would see black Sherif’s Second Sermon competing with KiDi’s touch it, S3fa’s e choke featuring Mr. Drew, Wendy shay’s heat, Sarkodie’s happy day featuting Kuami Eugene, Okese 1 na

Mr. Drew According to the organisers, the 2022 3Music Awards would honour artistes and their works in over 30 categories including woman of the year, hiplife/ hip hop act of the year best performer of the year and video of the year.

The fifth 3Music Awards, dubbed: “More Than Music”, would feature performances from leading local, African and international artistes.

The ceremony is expected to be held on March 26, 2022 at the Accra International Conference Centre’s Grand Arena.

Sarkodie today, Kofi jamar’s ekorso featuring Yaw tog & Ypee and Okyeame kwame’s Yeeko feauturing Kuami Eugene.

This year’s edition also witnessed new talents making their debut across some categories, including “Best Alternative

KiDi

The Ghanaian News February 2022 13

Why your kid won’t put down the smartphone – it’s not your fault Nearly three-quarters of parents are concerned that their kids’ use of mobile devices may be harmful to them or to family relationships – and that was from research done before the pandemic.

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But it’s not parents’ – or the kids’ – fault. Every time a parent and child try to turn off a game or put a device down, they’re not fighting each other – they’re fighting the invisible army of behavioral design specialists who make technology experiences so hard to tear yourself away from.

The people who create apps and games use insights from, and experts in, an area of psychology research called “persuasive design,” whose scholars seek to understand how to create something that is next to impossible to put down.

But it’s important to be careful when seeking to hook kids on something, as psychologist Richard Freed and I explain in our analysis of the ethical issues involved in persuasive design for children and adolescents.

Simply put, persuasive design combines behavioral psychology with technology to alter human behavior. It is the answer to the perennial question, “Why are kids so glued to devices?”

The most basic summary is that there are three key mechanisms that together can change a person’s behavior: create high motivation, demand little effort and frequently cue users to engage.

Knowledge of these principles can have productive and useful purposes, like encouraging people to walk more or eat more fruits and vegetables. However, one common use of persuasive design is to increase the amount of time a person spends using a particular app or game. That boosts the number of ads the person will see and the possibility the person might buy something in the game, which both increase the revenue to the app designer.

Adults are influenced by persuasive design, too. It’s why they binge-watch streaming shows, endlessly scroll social media and habitually play video games.

But since children’s brains are so malleable, kids are uniquely susceptible to persuasive design strategies. Many parents have observed kids’ exceptional excitement at receiving stickers and tokens, whether physical or digital. This is because the ventral striatum, the brain’s pleasure center, is more responsive to dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, in children’s brains than in the brains of adults.

This excitement leads them to want to repeat the behavior to experience the neurological rewards over and over.

In 2019 survey research on adolescent screen time, three types of heavy users emerged from the data, all of which are influenced by persuasive design: social media users, video gamers and video viewers.

How it works Social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat are engineered to maximize the results of persuasive design. Using “like” buttons and heart emojis, those sites provide social signals, like acceptance and approval, which teens are highly motivated to seek. The act of scrolling through the sites requires very little effort. And the apps trigger regular reengagement through continual notifications and prompts.

Snapchat, for instance, urges users to send snaps at least every 24 hours to keep their Snapstreak alive. To avoid the stress of missing out on reactions or updates from their friends, kids check social media increasingly frequently.

In video games, Fortnite lets players know how close they are to beating an opponent. This triggers the “near miss” phenomenon, encouraging people to keep playing because they were so close, they might win next time. This is just one of the ways persuasive design has been adapted from gambling systems for adults into digital video games aimed at kids.

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Ethical concerns As a scholar of psychology, I am concerned that psychologists are helping technology designers use the principles of psychology to manipulate children and adolescents into increasing their use of a particular app, game or website.

At the same time, other psychologists are researching the harms of these activities, including anxiety, depression, attention issues and obesity.

Still other psychologists have opened treatment centers to treat internet gaming disorder and other mental health issues associated with excessive and problematic use, like anxiety and depression.

In my view, the principles of one field should not both create and provide treatment for a problem. The American Psychological Association, the largest professional association for psychologists in America, has an ethics code requiring psychologists to do no harm, object to work that does not benefit people’s well-being and take special care when dealing with young people because they are not yet fully mature.

As such, I believe psychologists have an obligation to protect children from the influences of persuasive technology. Researchers who help social media sites and games may think they are just trying to help the companies make the most dynamic and engaging products possible. But the reality is they are turning a blind eye to the many psychological harms that research has shown these products cause.

Parents and children are rightfully concerned about the degree to which games, videos and social media are engineered to exploit kids’ impressionable minds. Psychologists could make an effort to explain to parents and kids how children’s brains develop, and how persuasive design exploits that process. This can help families stop arguing with each other about spending too much time with their devices and recognize that the bigger threat is not the devices themselves but rather the companies that design these devices and apps to be so difficult to turn off. The Conversation

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14 The Ghanaian News February 2022

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

Immigration and Citizenship Applications and Criminality Persons who submit applications to Citizenship and Immigration Canada – be it an application for citizenship, permanent residence, visitor visa, student permit, work permit or to seek refuge - must be aware that their criminal history could be a principal determinant of the success of their applications.

Generally, a person with a criminal conviction or a very bad criminal record will not be admitted into Canada, not even as a visitor. However, depending on the nature of criminality, if a prescribed period has passed after the person has completed his sentence or committed the offence and the person was not convicted of a subsequent offence during that time, they may be deemed to have been rehabilitated.

If a prospective immigration applicant is convicted of, or has committed, a criminal offence outside Canada, the person could be presumed rehabilitated if 10 years have passed after completing the sentence imposed upon him or after committing the offence, if the offence is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than 10 years. It could however be a different issue if the offence committed is categorized as “serious criminality” which is an offence which could potentially attract a maximum sentence of ten years of more.

If the offence is one that would, in Canada, be prosecuted summarily and if the person was convicted of two or more such offences, then the person is presumed rehabilitated 5 years after the sentence imposed was served or was to be served. Almost the same conditions apply to offences committed in Canada. Don’t overlook the fact that the emphasis is not only on conviction, but also on commission, of an offence.

Immigration Regulation 133(1) outlines eligibility requirements of a person who intends to sponsor a person to Canada. Among other things, the sponsor should not be subject to a removal order and should not be detained in any penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison. From the day on which the sponsorship application was filed up to the day a decision is rendered on the application, there should be no evidence that the sponsor

Canadian economy grew 4.6 per cent in 2021 Statistics Canada said Tuesday the economy grew 4.6 per cent last year, compared with a decline of 5.2 per cent in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Growth in the fourth quarter came in at an annualized rate of 6.7 per cent.

Statistics Canada said the largest contributor to economic growth last year was household spending and residential construction as new home construction, resales and renovations increased at near-record levels.

Output was flat at the end of the year as Statistics Canada said real gross domestic product was essentially unchanged in December.

That left the Canadian economy 0.4 per cent above pre-pandemic levels recorded in February 2020.

The agency also said in an early estimate that the Canadian economy grew by 0.2 per cent in January.

The January figure came as a bit of surprise for economists who expected a pullback in the month amid the Omicron wave that led to a loss of 200,000 jobs in the month.

Royce Mendes, managing director and head of macro strategy at Desjardins, said the economy likely built on that momentum in February as the country turned a corner on the latest wave of the pandemic, which allowed for businesses to reopen across the country.

The figures came a day before the Bank of Canada’s next scheduled interest rate announcement. The central bank is widely expected to raise its key policy rate on Wednesday. The Canadian Press

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has been convicted under the criminal code of; an offence of a sexual nature, or an attempt or a threat to commit such an offence, against any person or has been convicted of an indictable offence involving the use of violence and punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, or has been convicted of an offence that results in bodily harm as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code or has made an attempt or threatened to commit such an offence against any family member.

Applicants on parole or on probation or serving a term of imprisonment in Canada or outside Canada are ineligible to apply for citizenship. Persons charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal for an offence under the Citizenship Act, or an indictable offence in or outside Canada are also ineligible to apply for citizenship. Also on the list of exclusion are persons being investigated for, charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal for or have been convicted of, a war crime or a crime against humanity.

Immigration Regulation 133(2) however indicates that a sponsorship application may not be refused on the basis of a conviction in Canada or outside Canada if a period of five years or more has elapsed since the sponsor’s completion of the sentence imposed and the sponsor has demonstrated that he or she has been rehabilitated, or if a pardon has been granted and has not ceased to have effect or has not been revoked.

Persons who have been convicted of terrorism, high treason, treason, or spying offences while they were permanent residents or those who have served as members of an armed force of a country or organized armed group and that country or group engaged in armed conflict with Canada while they were permanent residents are barred from applying for citizenship.

A permanent resident with a bad criminal record is likely to be ineligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Persons who have been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the four years immediately preceding the application or who have been convicted outside Canada of an offence that is determined to be equivalent to an indictable offence in Canada are prohibited from applying for Canadian citizenship.

Criminality in Immigration and citizenship context is a complex area. Seek professional advice if you reasonably believe criminality could be an issue in your application.

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

The Ghanaian News February 2022 15

Ontario Public Service employees must return to in-person work by April 4 Employees of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) will begin returning to work in person this week voluntarily and are expected to be in the office three days per week starting April 4.

According to a memo sent out by Ontario Secretary of Cabinet Michelle DiEmanuele on Tuesday, roughly 29,000 government civil servants can return to the office on their own terms

today, but the hybrid arrangement is not permanent.

enables us to deliver excellent public services that Ontarians rely on.”

“This is a temporary hybrid model.

Work is underway with leaders, employees, and bargaining agents on the future of work,” DiEmanuele wrote in the memo. “We are doing this work with intentionality and thoughtful planning. We will take an approach that is adaptable, sustainable, equitable and

The move impacts more than 60,000 employees in the line ministries of the Ontario government and a number of its agencies and Crown corporations.

About half of them have been working remotely for part or all of the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 29,000 OPS employees began a gradual return to work in Nov. 2021 but that was reversed totally after the arrival of the Omicron variant.

The province says it will keep proof of vaccination policies or regular rapid antigen testing requirements for the unvaccinated in place until April 4, except for in “high-risk congregate settings.”

DiEmanuele said that masks will continue to be required anywhere outside of a worker’s desk, “until masking restrictions are lifted” generally across the province.

She wrote Tuesday that about 31,000 OPS employees worked in-person, at their prepandemic posts throughout the pandemic.

The province formally ended mandatory use of the COVID-19 vaccine passport system in publiclyaccessible settings today, and also relaxed a number of remaining capacity restrictions.

Masking remains mandatory in all indoor public settings, but Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested Monday that may end as early as later this month. Cp24

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16 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Federal government warns Canadians against fighting for Russia in Ukraine Ottawa is warning that Canadians who decide to fight for Russia in Ukraine could face severe consequences, even as it acknowledges for the first time uncertainties about whether it is legal to bear arms for the Ukrainian side.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered the warning to anyone contemplating joining the Russian military invasion of Ukraine on Thursday as she announced more Canadian sanctions on Moscow and support for Kyiv in response to that attack.

Asked at a news conference whether Canadians who pick up arms for Russia would be prosecuted, Freeland said: “We are very clear that this war is illegal. And Canada will take a very appropriately severe view of anyone

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who is fighting this war.”

Yet federal ministers appeared less confident about the legality of fighting for Ukraine, whose government appealed last weekend for foreign volunteers to join an “international brigade” to help defend the country from Russia.

Numerous Canadians have since said they plan to answer the call to arms, with some having already flown overseas.

Appearing alongside Freeland, Defence Minister Anita Anand told reporters that while she understood the desire that many Canadians have to bear arms for Ukraine, “the legalities of the situation … are indeterminant at this time.”

The federal government had previously

avoided directly addressing the legality of Canadians fighting in Ukraine, or whether it supports those who want to do so. Federal ministers instead couched the issue as a matter of personal risk.

That stood in stark contrast to the United Kingdom and Australia, whose governments have noted the potential legal issues that their citizens could face if they fight in a conflict that does not involve their countries.

Anand instead encouraged people to enlist with the Canadian Armed Forces, which has launched a new recruitment drive as it struggles with a shortfall of thousands of active service members while facing growing demands at home and abroad.

“If there are Canadians who are interested in the Armed Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces is currently recruiting,” said Anand, who worked as a lawyer and legal scholar at the University of Toronto prior to entering politics.

“And we would very much welcome applications from across the country to the Canadian Armed Forces, where we have had a training mission in Ukraine since 2015 and have trained over 33,000 Ukrainian soldiers.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later sidestepped a similar question about the legality of Canadians fighting for Ukraine, referring back to the cont’d on pg. 49

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The Ghanaian News February 2022 17

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18 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Elizabeth Ndzibah ODT received the Order of Diocese Toronto Award on January 1, 2022 The award was presented by Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Toronto

The Ghanaian News February 2022 19

Waiting for engineers to build Africa?

Utilizing material and human resources

By Kwaku A. Danso Growing up in early 1950s before Independence, we used to see airplanes flying overhead in my small town of Abetifi, that town of many rich folks up the mountains some 90 miles from the Ghana capital of Accra. As kids we used to wave at the planes just in case somebody up there could see us poor kids on earth!

We all have heard our politicians talk about how rich Africa is! We all talk about the minerals and other natural resources in Ghana and Africa and we all thump our chests with pride!

Let’s stop and think for a minute.

Human Resources are used to extract Natural Resources for survival! Is that not true? Gold and Diamonds don’t just wash off the shores like in the old fantasy tales! Sometimes you even need a little Capital also!

In the post Independence era save the first nine years under Nkrumah, the mostly selfish and greedy forces unleashed on Ghana as leaders forgot that Ghana was a rich country! Or if you excuse the language, were they sebe sebe too naive to realize that human societies are built by leaders using Engineers! - Engineers by themselves don’t just start building society! No! In the post Independence era Ghana had students sent overseas to study as Engineers in these areas: - Aerospace, - Agricultural, - Building Technology - Mechanical, - Civil, - Chemical, - Electrical /Power systems - Electronics, - Marine - Materials Sciences & Engineering - Metallurgy, - Petroleum, -Roads & Highways, - Telecommunications (IT) - Transportation systems - Water Resource

MTN Ghana recorded ¢2 billion profit in 2021, an increase of 43.5% over the previous year MTN also saw its data revenue grow by 56.3% year-on-year to ¢2.769 billion.

22.5% in 2021.

“This was a result of increased data traffic (+54.9%) owing to various commercial interventions, improvements to the network, changes in consumer usage behaviour and increased smartphones on the network (+10.6%).”

The company’s Board has also recommended a ¢0.085 dividend to shareholders.

Growth in Mobile Money advanced service offerings such as retail merchant payments, micro loans, insurance, and international remittances supported an increase in MoMo revenue by 38.2% year-to-year to ¢1.734 billion in 2021.

The MTN financial statement report further noted that the contribution of Mobile Money to service revenue increased from 20.9% in 2020 to

QUESTION: - Did the Ghana Government keep track of these students?

- Granted some of them returned to teach at our Universities, mostly KNUST, what happened to the Human Resources needed to build Ghana?

- Did anybody in power have a PLAN? -Did any of the big boys think Engineers simply walk out of the top Engineering Schools and start building bridges and airplanes, trains and telecom Systems?

I use the word naive above because some of our own Colleagues who were into Political power failed to realize the need for HR in building a nation.

Did our colleagues in High Schools who studied Economics, Law, Sociology and Business at the University and who were recruited into Government, understand this simple PRINCIPLE that it takes Engineers and Architects to design and supervise the construction of roads and modern houses and buildings and provide water and electricity, radio, television, water, telecommunication services in society? And it takes Capital or Sika!

MTN Ghana records ¢2bn profit in 2021

The report also showed Active Mobile Money users recovering from the challenges in the first half of 2021 to achieve a growth of 3.8% year-onyear.

QUESTION: how many 22 year olds graduate from University and start building nations?

Even if you want to point to the American situation and cite people like Bill Gates of Microsoft and the late Steve Jobs of Apple who dropped out of College, please study the history of Venture Capitalists in America from the 1800s- the time of Thomas Edison and the story of Banker JP Morgan.

Sure we used to build mud houses in the villages without Engineers; and some boys used to connect discarded wires in the village to batteries and bulbs, and we called them Engineers. Funny indeed!

This started in early 1960s. Many Western nations felt the need to help the new African nations. Perhaps they felt guilty of the past. But all the same we had good nations like Germany, UK, Soviet Union, America, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Australia, etc, all generous to offer scholarships to students from Ghana.

Meanwhile, data to service revenue also increased from 29.6% to 36.0% year-on-year in line with its revenue diversification strategy.

The RETURN: Occasionally you hear people talk about those who went overseas not returning home to help build their nation.

Digital revenue however declined by 5.1% in 2021 to ¢200 million.

Due to the sterling performance, the board recommended a final dividend of ¢0.085 per share, bringing the total dividend for 2021 to ¢0.115 per share.

This represents 70.6% of profit after tax and a 43.8% increase in dividend per share when compared to the prior period.

In a related development, Africa’s largest mobile network provider, MTN Group, has emerged as the first company on the continent to buy some plots of digital land on the virtual reality world — metaverse.

In a press statement published on its website, the leading telco announced that 144 plots of digital land were purchased in Africarare, the first virtual reality metaverse in Africa that launched in South Africa last year. The company did not disclose how much exactly it spent for this. Pulse.com.gh

I am just asking oo! It is hard to imagine anybody, educated or not, would fail to realize this. It is also hard to think that anybody would believe that once a student graduates from University they are ready to build a nation! No! In the last 10 years I have hired a few Software Engineers from Ghana and from India to develop some Application software for my company. I know the problems and challenges. Who is to give these graduates the challenge and the experience before they start making contributions?

The questions for Ghana and for the International community are: can an Engineering degree by itself help build a nation? Who creates the opportunity for the young Engineer to gain the valuable experience after which his academic knowledge is mature enough to start contributing effectively to building a nation?

I am just asking oo!

Kwaku A. Danso, © 2022 The author has 124 Column: KwakuADanso

publications

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20 The Ghanaian News February 2022

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Ontario planning to deregulate traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture Ontario plans to stop regulating traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists, saying it would allow more people to work in the field, but people in the profession say they oppose the move and weren’t consulted.

Contained in recently tabled labour legislation is a section that would wind up the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario, the profession’s regulatory body that was established in 2013.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the proposed legislation would see oversight transition to the Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority, though registration with the authority would be on a voluntary basis.

“The practice of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture has been safely practiced for centuries,” Alexandra Hilkene said in a statement Wednesday.

“This approach brings Ontario in line with other jurisdictions and will support individuals who have historically faced barriers to practicing, ensuring Ontarians have access to culturally appropriate care.”

Heather Kenny, the president of Traditional Chinese Medicine Ontario, which represents the interests of the profession in the province, said she is stunned by the move.

“The reason that we’re completely shocked is that there has been no consultation whatsoever on the part of the government that they were even considering this move,” Kenny said.

Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture are increasingly popular in Ontario, and having a regulatory college guarantees certain standards, she said.

“There’s a guaranteed level of competency, there’s an expected level of patient care, an expected level of ethics and there’s also some very strict rules around how you treat patients,” Kenny said.

When the regulation was first introduced, some practitioners said it would prevent people from working as traditional Chinese medicine practitioners if they had learned it from their elders instead of in a school setting, or if they spoke insufficient English.

Liberal house leader John Fraser, whose party established the college, said it was done to protect the public.

“The purpose of regulatory colleges and regulation especially to health care and things like engineering, the first purpose is patient safety, protect the public,” he said.

“So what I need to understand is, how is removing this college protecting the public? I don’t think it is.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she is worried about the change.

“Any time there’s a reduction in the oversight of health and safety and quality when it comes to health-care services, I get nervous,” she said.

Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient treatment that focuses on acupuncture, herbal remedies, proper nutrition and Chinese massage to balance the yin and yang – or contrary forces – in one’s system.

The Canadian Press.

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26 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Profile of Heads of Governments in Ghana since 1957 Compiled by Emmanuel Ayiku and Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

It is exactly 65 years ago on March 6, 1957 that Ghana gained its independence from British Colonial rule. The struggle for independence had begun with the United Gold Coast Convention in the aftermath of World War II. However, the man who led the nation to freedom and became its first President was Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Dr. Nkrumah was overthrown in a military coup in 1966. Since then there had been 4 more military interventions with 4 more civilian administrations after each military government. Ghana from 1992 to present has enjoyed a stable government under its 4th Republic. As we celebrate the 65th birthday of our great nation, we bring to our readers the profiles of the heads of governments in Ghana since 1957 when the country became a sovereign state.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (21 Sept; 1909 – 27 April 27 1972) Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who became the first head of government of independent Ghana under the Convention People Party (CPP) in 1957 was born on Saturday, September 21, 1909 at Nkroful in the Western region of Ghana. He married Helena Ritz Fathia, a relative of President Gamal Abdel Nassar of Egypt in 1958 and had three children with her.

that he was voted the “Most Outstanding Professor-OfThe-Year” by ‘The Lincolnian’ in 1945. In the same year Kwame Nkrumah left USA for London, England to study Law for his Doctoral degree. He shortly met George Padmore in London and they teamed up to organize the Sixth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, England. Thereafter, Nkrumah intensified his activities for the de-colonization of Africa. He wrote his first book titled ‘Towards Colonial Freedom’ in 1947.

In December 1947 Nkrumah returned to Gold Coast and became the General Secretary of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).

The Colonial government in 1948 detained him and 5 other Executive Members of the UGCC. Nkrumah was dismissed as the General Secretary of UGCC the same year due to his radical stand on independence. He had already formed the Convention Peoples Party (CPP); and declared Positive Action to demand Independence for the then Gold Coast in December 1949. He was arrested in January the following year and incarcerated.

However, while in prison, Nkrumah won the seat for Accra Central in an election held in February 1951. He was immediately released from prison to form new government. Kwame Nkrumah again won the 1956 elections leading to independence and subsequently declared Ghana’s Independence on March 6th 1957.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah then turned his efforts toward the unification of African States.

He therefore held an AllAfrican Peoples Conference in Accra in December 1958.

–

(18th 25th

Aug., Nov.,

1915 1992)

The next head of government after Dr. Nkrumah was a soldier by profession. He was Lt. General Joseph A. Ankrah, a native of Accra.

Gen. Ankrah was recalled from enforced retirement following the February 1966 coup staged

by Gen. Kotoka and Gen. Afrifa to be the chairman of the National Liberation Council (NLC) and head of state.

From a very humble beginning, Ankrah had worked hard to obtain his Cambridge School Certificate in 1937.

Two years later, he was mobilized into West Africa Frontier Force on the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1946, he trained as Officer Cadet in U.K. and was commissioned as Lieutenant in 1947. By the dint of hardwork he rose through the ranks over the years to become Lieutenant Colonel. In August 1960 he was appointed Colonel, a position that few Ghanaians could occupy at that time.

Afrifa was made the Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion of Infantry in 1966. It was during the same year in Kumasi where he was the Commander of First Infantary Brigade under Kotoka that the two planned and carried out the coup that toppled Nkrumah. He became a member of the eight-man ruling NLC, and a Commissioner of Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs.

However, he took over as the Chairman of NLC and head of government in 1969 when Gen. Ankrah was forced to resign that position.

In 1972, Gen. Afrifa was arrested and detained for almost the whole year by the National Redemption Council regime under Gen. Acheampong.

He led the Popular Movement for Freedom and Justice to protest against UNIGOV and demanding the return of the nation to constitutional rule.

On 16th June, was taken from at Mampong and by firing squad June 4th, 1979

1979 he his farm executed after the upspring.

He was made a Brigade Commander of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Congo from 1960 to 1961. Ankrah exhibited excellent soldiering qualities that won him a promotion to Brigadier in 1961.

Unfortunately, 3 years after being the head of government has was forced to resign as the Chairman of NLC and head over a bribery scandal.

He died on 25th November 1992 leaving behind several wives and 18 children.

In 1960 Dr. Nkrumah declared Ghana as Republic.

Unfortunately, he became the Nkrumah was formerly target of assassination attempts known as Francis Nwia- by his ‘political enemies’ as Kofi, but he later changed his was seen in the Kulungugu name to Kwame Nkrumah. bombing in August, 1962. Dr. Interestingly, the Fanti Nkrumah narrowly escaped General Akwasi teacher who enrolled Francis death in that attempt on his life. Lt. Amankwa Afrifa (24 April, Nwia-Kofi Ngonlomam into 1936 – 16 June, 1979) He turned Ghana into One school inadvertently wrote Party-State with himself as Life “Nkrumah” for “Ngonloma” and it remained as such. After President in 1964. Political Upon the resignation of Gen. completing his elementary tension gripped Ghana and Dr. Ankrah in 1969, Lt. General education at Half Assini, Kwame Nkrumah was deposed Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa Nkrumah in 1927 entered the in a military coup d’etat while became the chairman of NLC Government Training College he was on a peace mission and the head of government. in Accra (became known to Hanoi, North Vietnam. Afrifa was born at Mampong, as Achimotta School later He went to live in Conakry, Ashanti where he attended the that year). He obtained his Guinea after his overthrow in Presbyterian Boys Boarding Teacher’s Certificate from the 1966 until he died naturally School. He had his Secondary College in 1930. His life as a in a Romania hospital on education at Adisadel College, schoolteacher was brief as in April 27th, 1972. His body Cape Coast from 1952 to 1956.

1932 he became a student at the was brought to Ghana for a Roman Catholic Seminary at fitting burial on July 7th, 1972. He had his military training, Amisano near Cape Coast. He first at the Regular Officer’s left for USA in 1935 to further Special Training School from his studies and obtained his 1957 to 1958; and at the BA degree in 1939 and another Mons Officer Cadet School one, this time in Theology in in Aldershot, England in 1942, all from the Lincoln 1958, From 1958 to 1960 he University in Pennsylvania. continued with his training at the Military Academy in By 1943, Kwame Nkrumah Sandhurst, England; and in had annexed MSc Education 1961 at the School of Infantry, and MA Philosophy degrees at Hythe in England. He the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Ghana and became USA. Meanwhile, he had the Commander of the Rifle combined his studies with Company and, as a General lectureship, a job he did so well Lt. General Joseph A. Ankrah Staff Officer from 1962 to 1964.

Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia (11th July, 1913 – 28thAugust, 1974)

of Gold Coast in 1949.

Eventually, Dr. Busia became the first African to occupy a Chair in that University.

In 1951 the Ashanti Confederacy elected Dr. Busia to the Legislative Council. He became the leader of the Ghana Congress Party, which joined with the other opposition parties to form the United Party (UP). As a leader of the opposition against Nkrumah, Busia felt his life was not safe and therefore fled the country in 1959 to Netherlands where he worked as Professor of Sociology and Culture at the University of Leiden in The Hague. He later moved to the University of Oxford in England as Senior Member of St. Anthony’s College.

Dr. Busia returned from exile in 1966 after Dr. Nkrumah’s overthrow and got appointed as the chairman of the National Advisory Committee of the NLC. From 1967 to 1968 he served as the chairman of the Center for Civic Education selling himself as the next leader through his countrywide assignments.

In 1968 he formed the Progress Party when the ban on politics was lifted and won elections in 1969 to become head of government (as a Prime Minister following the British type of government). He adopted a liberalized economic system and devalued the cedis by 44% in 1971. This attracted a lot of resistance from the public and while he was away in London his government was ousted in a coup led by Colonel I.K. Acheampong on January 13th, 1972.

Gen. Afrifa in October, 1969 handed over the governing of Ghana to Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and his Progress Party (PP) after the parliamentary elections of that year which the PP won 104 of the 105 seats contested. Thus, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, a native of Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region became the second civilian head of government in Ghana after Dr. Nkrumah. He was anti – Nkrumaist stance. General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (23rd Sept., The education and career life 1931 – 16th June, 1979) of Busia could be described as very academic. He entered Mfantsipim College at Cape Ignatius Kutu Coast after completing his General elementary education at the Acheampong used the general Wenchi Methodist School. discontent against Busia’s Busia trained as a professional government to stage a coup in teacher in 1931 and 1932 at 1972 to become the 3rd military the Wesley College in Kumasi. head of government in Ghana.

From 1936 to 1939 he taught schooled at the Achimota College in Acheampong Trabuom elementary Accra during which period he at did a correspondence course to school near Kumasi where gain a first degree with honors he was born. He furthered in History from the University his education at St. Peter’s of London. He went to the Catholic School in Kumasi Oxford University in England and Central College of and by 1941 earned his BA Commerce at Agona Swedru degree in Politics, Philosophy in the Central Region. and Economics as well as MA and Ph.D. degrees From 1945 to 1957 he worked in Social Anthropology. at Timber Sawmill in Kumasi as Stenographer Secretary; Kumasi Commercial Dr. Busia returned to Ghana at and worked as a District College as a Tutor; and at Commissioner from 1942 Agona Swedru College of to 1949. He was appointed Commerce as Vice Principal. the first lecturer in African Studies at the University He got enlisted as a Private in

The Ghanaian News February 2022 27

Profile of Heads of Governments in Ghana since 1957 the Ghana Army in 1951 and later went to Cadet training at Mons, Aldershot. Upon his return to Ghana in 1959 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. Determined to climb the ladder in the Army, Acheampong between 1959 and 1966 attended various courses including one in Personnel Administration at the Staff College. He also trained at Leavenworth, Kansas in USA and later became the Commanding Officer of the 5th and 6th Battalion.

Gen. Acheampong served as the chairman of Western Regional Committee of Administration from 1966 to 1971; and as the Commander of the First Infantary Brigade from 1971 to 1972.

When he assumed the head of government of Ghana in 1972, Gen. Acheampong reversed the devaluation of the cedis and refused to pay the debts Ghana owed the outside world. He also embarked on the “Operation Feed Yourself”. However, by 1976 Acheampong’s regime has become unpopular as a result of mismanagement and economics hardships.

His UNIGOV idea which was to do away with partisan government was vehemently opposed with massive protests. There were clashes with his opponents and some protestors were killed in Kumasi. On July 5th, 1978 Gen. Acheampong’s secondin-command, General Fred Akuffo and other members of the ruling supreme Military Council (SMC) staged a palace coup and removed Acheampong as the head of government. Acheampong was confined to his hometown, Trabuom in Ashanti Region until he was picked up and executed alongside other top military officer on 16th June, during the 1979 uprising.

College in 1967; and also at the National Defense College, India in 1973. Posts he held included: Commanding Officer, Airborne Training School in Tamale from 1965 to 1966; commanding Officer, 6th Battalion from 1969 to 1970; Director General of Operations and Planning, Ministry of Defense in 1970.

Gen. Akuffo was appointed Army Commander in 1974 and Chief of Defense Staff in 1976.

When he took over from Acheampong, he initiated the return of the country to civilian rule by instituting a new Constitution Drafting Committee. He lifted the ban on politics though some prominent politicians were still banned.

Unfortunately, his efforts could not solve the country’s economic problems, which sent workers demonstrating in the streets. Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and his men took advantage of the situation in the country and staged a coup d’etat on the 4th of June 1979 to overthrow the SMCII. Rawlings became the chairman of ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the fifth military head of government in Ghana.

However, the AFRC handed over power to democratically elected head in September, the same yar. Gen. Akuffo was shot by firing squad at the Teshie Military range with Gen. Acheampong and other on June 16th 1979.

Mr. John Agyekum

Dr. Hilla Limann (12th Dec; 1934 – 23rd Jan; 1998)

General Fredrick William Kwasi Akuffo (21st March, 1937 – 16th June 1979) When Gen. Acheampong was removed in a palace coup on 5th July, 1978 General Fredrick Akuffo became chairman of SMC II and the head of government.

Akuffo who hailed from Akropong-Akwapim in the Eastern Region was educated at the Presbyterian Secondary School at OdumasiKrobo from 1952 to 1955.

He got enlisted as an OfficerCadet in the Ghana Army in 1957. He then studied at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK from 1958 to 1960; and at the Staff

parliamentary elections as Trophy as the Best Cadet in an Independent Candidate. flying and airmanship). In April, 1969 he was promoted Flight Lieutenant.

Limann left Ghana for to London in 1957 and later to France where he obtained On May 28, 1979 Flt. Lt. J.J. was arrested for his Ph.D. in Political Science Rawlings muting of the junior officers and Constitutional Law in and men of the Ghana Armed 1965 from the University of Forces. Before he could be Paris. He was made Head, sentenced on June 4, 1979 Europe Desk at the Ministry he was sprung from jail by of Foreign Affairs form Major Boakye-Djan and some 195 to 1968. In 1967 he junior officers. The coup served as a member of the makers formed the Armed Constitutional Commission. Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) with Flt. Lt. Rawlings After working with the as the head. The AFRC did ‘house cleaning’ by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as some executing 3 former military Head of Ghana’s Mission in heads of state and other Togo and Counselor of Ghana’s military officers by firing Permanent Mission in Geneva, squad. They handed over Dr. Limann returned to Ghana power to Dr. Limann and his in 1975 and when the ban on PNP government in September, politics was lifted Alhaji Imoro 1979. But Rawlings came Egala, a ‘giant’ in the PNP – a back and ousted the Limann group of Nkrumahists-elected government in 1981. He him to lead the party. Thus, formed the Provincial National Council (PNDC) Dr. Limann became the head Defense to carry out a “revolution”. of government when PNP won the elections in 1979. In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the Army He immediately replenished and contested elections the depleted food stock in on the ticket of National the country and launched Democratic Convention the Gold Endowment (NDC) and won. He won Fund to attract investors to again in the 1996 elections.

Ghana. Unfortunately, on 31st December 1981 Flt. Lt. Rawlings took power back from Dr. Limann in a military coup called “a revolution”.

Dr. Limann lived a private life till he died of natural causes on 23rd January, 1998 in Ghana.

Flt. Lt. Rawlings and the AFRC organized elections in 1979 to return the country to civilian rule 3 months after the June 4th uprising. Dr. Hilla Limann who was the presidential candidate for the Peoples National Party (PNP) won the elections to become the third civilian head of government in Ghana. He was sworn in on 24th September, 1979 as the President of the Third Republic of Ghana.

Limann was born on 12th December, 1934 at Gwolu in the Upper West Region.

He was named Babini but he was brought up by his uncle, Heli Limann whose name he (Dr. Limann) assumed on entering primary school.

Limann attended Tamale Government Middle School from 1946 to 1949. He became a District Councilor at Tumu in the Upper West Region between 1952 and 1955.

In

1954,

he

lost

It is interesting to note that Ghana’s new democracy since 1992 has seen stability and grown over the years.

This is evidenced by the fact that the last two presidents of the country, in the persons of Rawlings and Kufour have both successfully served as heads of state for two consecutive terms of 8 years a term each. Kufour will hand over his presidency to a newly elected president in January, 2009, thus, ending successfully his second term in office as the Head of State of Ghana.

Kufour is married to Theresa, a nurse with whom he has five grown-up children.

Kofi Kufour

Ghana’s 4th Republic saw a smooth changeover from the NDC government to a new government of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of Mr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufour on January 7, 2001. Thus, Mr. Kufour became the fifth head of government Flight – Lieutenant Jerry civilian after Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings.

John Kwasi Rawlings (22nd June, 1947-) At the age of 62 years, Kufour who hails from the Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings came Ashanti Region of Ghana is back to Ghana politics as the first opposition leader the sixth military head of in Ghana to have beaten the government’s government in 1981 and incumbent ‘metamorphosized’ himself presidential candidate to in 1992 to become the fourth become the President of Ghana. civilian head of government Like the first, second and the President of the Fourth and third civilian heads Republic of Ghana. His of government, Kufour is second and final term of office well educated. He went to (by the constitution) expires Oxford University in Britain at the end of this year, 2000. and earned a Masters degree in philosophy, political The only head of government science and economics. He who is still alive is Rawlings. was called to the bar at Inn in London in Though a native of Dzelokope Lincoln’s 1961 but he soon returned to in the Volta Region, Rawlings Ghana and took to politics. was born in Accra on June 22, 1947 and has since lived He became a almost his whole life in Accra. member of the Constitutuent Assemblies, which drafted He schooled at St. Joseph’s Ghana’s republican Catholic Primary School constitution in 1969 and 1979. at Adabraka in Accra Mr. Kufour won a and furthered his studies at Achimota School parliamentary seat and was Deputy Foreign also in Accra in 1966. appointed Minister in 1969 when Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and his In August 1967 he got Progress Party (PP) came to enlisted as a Flight Cadet power. Busia government at the Ghana Air Force was overthrown in 1972 and Station in Takoradi, Western Kufour went into business Region. He was selected for running a brick and tile Officer-Cadet Training at the factory. However, he Military Academic, Teshie returned to politics in 1979 became the Deputy in Accra. Rawlings went and Minority parliamentary for Military Training Course Leader when Ghana returned in Takoradi after which he to democratic rule. That was was commissioned as Pilot to be for short time since Flt. Officer in January 1969 J.J. Rawlings overthrew the (won the coveted Speed Bird government of Ghana in 1981. .

rule Ghana!)

Kufour was then appointed by Rawlings as Minister for Local Government but after nine months in office Kufour resigned from Rawling’s PNDC government due to political incompatability. He then returned to entrepreneurship until 1992 when he came back to politics Kufour lost the presidential elections to Rawlings in 1996 but stood again for presidency and won in 2000 to become the 5th civilian head of government of Ghana. He won the presidency for the 2nd time in 2004.

Prof. John Atta Mills was born on 21 July 1944 at Tarkwa in western Ghana. He graduated in law at the University of Ghana in 1967 before pursuing his legal studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

John Atta Mills then won a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford Law School in the US. He came back to his alma mater the University of Ghana as a lecturer for nearly 25 years.

From 1986 to 1993, Prof Atta Mills was the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and the substantive Commissioner during 19931996. He was then selected as the running mate to former President Jerry Rawlings for the 1996 elections, and served as vice president from 1997 to 2001.

He was a keen hockey player, at one time a member of the national team, and also enjoyed swimming.

President Mills had more than one dozen publications in the taxation and law fields to his credit.

The 64-year old former President of Ghana was married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, a director of education and trained marriage counsellor. He died on July 12, 2012, the first sitting President of the country to die in office.

We congratulate Kufour and Rawlings (the only heads of states of our country still alive) as Ghana celebrates its 51st independence anniversary. cont’d on pg. 32

28 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Profile of Heads of Governments in Ghana since 1957

cont’d from pg. 27

again re-elected in 2004 for a third term.

From 2001 to 2004, President Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications and in 2002 he was appointed the Director of Communications for the NDC. He was sworn-in on Monday, January 7, 2013, as the fourth President of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

President Mahama has seven children.

He is married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama.

John Dramani Mahama: (July 24, 2012-2016) John Mahama wasborn on November 29, 1958 at Damongo, in the Northern Region of Ghana. He is a communications expert, historian, writer, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, and immediate former Vice-President of Ghana.

He ascended to the high office of President following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24 in Accra.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo (7th President of the 4th Republic, 7th January, 2017 – present)

After completing his education, President Mahama went on to pursue an additional postgraduate diploma in social psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, and returned to Ghana from 1991 to 1996. He worked as Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra. another four-year term as the MP for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency. He was

Ghana’s current President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has what many people have described as an impressive political record spanning about four decades. Born on March 29, 1944 Nana Akufo-Addo was raised at Swalaba in Accra to Mr. Edward Akufo-Addo and Mrs Adeline Akufo-Addo. He hailed from Kyebi in the Eastern Region. His father was Ghana’s third Chief Justice from 1966-1970 and non-executive

President from 1970-1972. Their residence, Betty House at Korle Wokon in Accra, was the headquarters of the Ghana’s first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) formed at Saltpond on August, 4 1947.

Educational Background He schooled at the Government Boys School at Adabraka, and was later to go to Rowe Road School which is now Kimbu Secondary Technical. He later went to England to study for his O-Level and A-Level examinations at Lancing College, Sussex. He taught at Accra Academy Secondary School when he returned to Ghana in 1962, before going to University of Ghana to read Economics in 1964.

He earned a BSc (Economics) degree in 1967. He was subsequently to study law in the United Kingdom and was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971. Nana Akufo-Addo was called to the Ghana bar in July 1975.Akufo-Addo stayed in France for five years as a lawyer at the now-defunct New York-based international law firm, Coudert Frères.

Political Career He was the General Secretary of People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) which led “NO” campaign in the UNIGOV referendum of 1978 under General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong administration which was to solicit support against a one-party military government. In 1991, Akufo-Addo served as the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club.

He travelled throughout the country to establish branches of the Club. These branches eventually metamorphosed into local organs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prior to the 1992 general election.

Nana Addo was elected three times from 1996 - 2008 as the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South in the Eastern Region.He served his nation from 2001 to 2007 as Cabinet Minister, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and later as a Foreign Minister under the administration of President John Agyekum Kufuor with brilliance and distinction.

Akufo-Addo contested the 2008 presidential race and received 4,159,439 votes representing 49.13 per cent of the valid votes cast, in the first round, but was not enough for the 50 plus one percent needed for an outright victory.

In the run-off, Nana Akufo-Addo lost to the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Presidential Candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. .Akufo-Addo again contested in the 2012 national elections against the NDC candidate, John Dramani Mahama after the demise of President Atta-Mills on July 24, 2012.

That election generated considerable controversy, and was finally decided by the Supreme Court in a narrow 5/4 verdict in favour of Mr Mahama.In the 2016 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo competed against six other presidential candidates including President Mahama, of the ruling NDC, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the Convention People’s Party and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party.

Nana Akufo Addo finally got his dream come true when on December 7, 2016 he won a clear majority in the Presidential elections. He polled 5,716,026 votes representing 53.85 per cent as against his main rival, President Mahama’s 4,713,277 votes representing 44.40 per cent to win the contest in the first round.

Source: Ghanaian News

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The Ghanaian News February 2022 29

Vancouver African Community Celebrate Black History with Action-Packed events From our Correspondent, Vancouver, BC An action-packed,pan-African and all Canadian cultural and intellectual fiesta. That is how this year’s Black History Month celebration in Vancouver could be described. A consortium of nine African community organizations in Metro Vancouver came together to make this year’s African Heritage/Black History Month a special one. A total of 15 events, ranging from a film week, roundtables, symposiums, lectures, public forums, financial literacy presentations, art and cultural expos and performances,

Patience Okantey, Secretary, GhanaianCanadian Association of BC

Descent was a resounding success demonstrating the fact that there is power in numbers. The community came out to support and rally around each other. And this year reflected that within our community.”

The African Heritage/Black History Month celebration kicked off on February 14 with a launch day event, followed by an African Heritage/Black Reverend Magdalene Nungu, Executive Director, History Month Film week, which was Lead Disability Inclusive Society, BC dedicated to “reviving, celebrating to storytelling and family and heroes’ and honouring African history and days were held throughout the Lower historical figures through films by people African Descent.” According Mainland and virtually. to Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, leader of “This was the most consequential the organizing consortium, “The film and impactful Black History Month week was organized to remind us of celebration I have ever witnessed,” Africa’s forgotten stories, celebrate her said Reverend Magdalene Nungu, abandoned heroes, rediscover her lost Executive Director of the Lead wisdom and re-establish our human Disability Inclusive Society of BC. capacity for respect, dignity and And Patience Okantey, Secretary of inclusiveness.” the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of BC chimed in: “This year’s BMH The events were attended by local collaborative effort put together by politicians and dignitaries, including multiple organizations of African members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Africa Art and Culture Expo

held on February 18 was particularly star-studded, attended (https://youtu. be/E4dzlsGOVts--), by as many as eight MLAs and Ministers either live or via recorded greetings. The MLAs included Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, Kelvin Falcon, leader of the BC Liberal Party, Harry Bains, Minister of Labour and MLA- Surrey Newton, Mike Starchuck, Surrey Cloverdale, Jagrup Brar, Surrey Fleetwood, Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey South, Katrina Chen, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training and MLA-Burnaby Lougheed, Anne Kang, Burnaby Deer Lake, Janet Routledge, Burnaby North, Niki Sharma, Vancouver Hastings, Jinny Sims, Surrey Panorama,and Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Keynote speakers included Dr.

Director African-Caribbean Heritage Association of Edmonton The African Heritage/Black History Month celebration was organized jointly by the Africa-Canada Education Foundation, African Stages Association, Great Lakes Networking Society, the Ghanaian-Canada Association, Salt City Advocacy Society, Kenyan Community in BC, Lead Disability Inclusive Society, African Women Empowerment Society, and National Financial Literacy Campaign Vancouver. More than 1,500 people attend the events.

Kombii Nanjallah, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Networking Society of BC summed it all up: “… we were impressed with the collaboration we had during BHM 2022, organizing of different activities from each of the partners was great, and attendance by all the group leaders their families and friends showed the solidarity and the maturity of the leaders of those organizations. The impact may be huge in the future if each organization mobilizes more of its people who will commit to attend. We have been divided during the colonial time and we should strongly break that and focus on our UBUNTU philosophy. “

Kombii Nanjallah, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Networking Society of BC

“Let’s follow in the footsteps of the great men and women who came before us, who lived fighting to free us and the Afrikan movements created by our ancestors impressing our Afrikansim, what we need now is creating more unity among us. A big thank you, goes to our funders, elders who did the land acknowledgments, volunteers and friends who were involved”

Macauley Kalu African Union Representative in North America, Central and South America and Okama Ekpe Brook, Executive

Videos and and photos from the events can be found at (africacanadaeducationfoundation.org)

Arresting journalists old-school, taking Ghana into dark ages of media persecution – Bagbin fair, firm and professional in their handling of cases of arrests, not limited to journalists.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has added his voice to growing concerns over the arrest of journalists in recent times.

“All that we are saying is that the journalists must be responsible and make sure that things put out are information that is true and accurate. When things are done haphazardly, it creates a problem for everyone,” he said.

He says detaining journalists over allegations of false publications and misreporting is archaic and must not be entertained.

For the Speaker, such incidents are not criminal matters, but civil.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Parliamentary Press Corps Centre, the Speaker urged the police to use the appropriate means in dealing with such issues.

“If the writings of journalists affect people, they know what to do. Do they have recourse to the law? These are civil matters; they are not criminal.

I am not for the moment holding brief for the unprofessional conduct of journalists. There is a cure for it in our current legal regime. The increasing tendency on the part of the police to arrest journalists for what they describe as mistakes is old-school, it’s anachronistic. It is sending this

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin country into the dark ages of media persecution.”

Within three weeks, four journalists and activists have been arrested by the police, often for allegations they made on radio or on social media, which according to the police are false.

DCOP Kwesi Ofori said the police have remained

“I think the police are being fair to all manner of persons in this country. When a case is lodged and it can be referred to in our criminal code, the law is there and they have not been repealed, it is not about people in authority, anybody can report that case,” he said.

The police officer said to the extent that Section 207 and Section 208 of the Criminal offences code are active and not repealed, the police has a duty to enforce it and hold those who fall foul accountable.

He said the police believes that the court is the final and a credible arbiter, and so persons who are aggrieved or believe the police do not have the power to effect an arrest in some of the circumstances can sue. Ghanaweb

30 The Ghanaian News February 2022

PEOPLE AND PLACES Rev. Fr. Anthony Adusei C.S.Sp has been installed as Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Toronto

By Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

Most Reverend Bishop Robert Kasun, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Regional Bishop of Central Region in the Archdiocese of Toronto was the celebrant Bishop at Rev. Fr. Anthony Adusei’s installation.

The installation took place on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at the church on 867 College Street, Toronto. Rev. Fr. Anthony Adusei was the Associate Pastor of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Scarborough from 2014 to 2022. He took over as Parish Priest of

Our Lady of Good Counsel Toronto on 1st February 2022.

Reverend Father Anthony Adusei also served the Ghanaian community of St. Andrews Roman Catholic Church, Kipling, Toronto helping Fr. Alex Osei. Most of the time when Fr. Alex Osei is out of the country, Fr. Adusei popularly known as Fr. Tony takes care of the community.

The program of the installation included the asking of letter of appointment of Fr. Adusei by Most Rev. Bishop Kasun

Group picture with St. Andrews parishioners

which was read by a representative of the church, profession of faith and oath of fidelity on assuming office.

Thereafter, Fr. Anthony Adusei then signed both copies of the profession of faith. Bishop Kasun then led Rev. Fr. Anthony Adusei to the president’s chair and sat him thus entrusting the parish to his care officially presented him to the congregation amidst clapping of hands.

After the liturgy of the Eucharist, Rev. Fr. Anthony Adusei spoke to the

congregation by thanking Bishop Kasun first and asked the congregation to remember him in their prayers as he will be doing same. He also thanked Fr Alex Osei and Deacon Euslace Beausolei and the entire congregation. Some parishioners from the Ghanaian Congregation of St. Andrews Roman Catholic Church Kipling were on hand to support Fr. Adusei.

Most Reverend Bishop Robert Kasun then gave his final solemn blessing with Deacon Beausoleil dismissing the assembly.

Bishop Kasum seats Rev. Fr. Adusei on the President's chair

ROSEMARY SADLIER OOnt presented with MADIBA AWARD

By Dr. Rosemary Sadlier OOnt,

The Madiba Award honours a leader of African ancestry in Durham The truth is that we are not yet free; we Region whose experience embodies have merely achieved the freedom to Nelson Mandela’s values, vision, and be free, the right not to be oppressed. commitment to overcome barriers We have not taken the final step of in his long fight for freedom and our journey, but the first step on a equality. This year, in 2022, a Lifetime longer and even more difficult road.

Achievement Madiba Award was For to be free is not merely to cast off presented for the first time ever to one’s chains, but to live in a way that a resident not of Durham, but to a respects and enhances the freedom of person who has contributed to the fight others. The true test of our devotion for equity and inclusion through her to freedom is just beginning. - Nelson lifetime efforts locally, regionally and Mandela nationally, by promoting, educating The Madiba Award is named after and advocating for Black History.

South African Nelson Mandela and his Rosemary Sadlier OOnt, has ancestral Xhosa clan. It is a term that succeeded in advocating for Black signifies both respect and endearment.

History recognition as a means to effect the type of society where people can truly understand, appreciate and interact with each other as one. For people of African ancestry, her efforts affirm their long-term and continuing contributions in all facets of society.

For non-Black people, this knowledge serves to mitigate the reality of who has created, defended and built up this country – it was not through the efforts of one group, but many since before Canadian Confederation. We cannot be fully free until we are all living in a situation where we can respect and support each other. cont’d on pg. 35 Dr. Rosemary Sadlier

GCAO Organizes Exciting Black History Month Celebration for its Homework Club participants and Ghanaians in Toronto From Joe Kingsley Eyiah

The Homework Club of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) on Sunday, February 27, 2022 organized an exciting celebration to mark this year’s Black History Month for its participants and Ghanaians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

(Twi teacher at the Homework Club) took turns to co-ordinate the individual presentations by the kids based on Black History. Some of the kids narrated their stories reflecting on unfortunate experiences of anti-black racism in their schools and how they stood up against such treatment. Others used the Twi language to talk briefly about pioneers in Black History such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

The program which was done virtually due to the Covid-19 restrictions was attended by about 40 celebrants including the newly elected leaders of GCAO. It all began at 3 pm with an icebreaker for the Homework Club kids

by Auntie Shani Ocquaye-Prempeh (a young Toronto lawyer and equity activist) who is a committed volunteer on kids’ school experiences during this pandemic era.

Joe Kingsley Eyiah After the ice-breaker, Mr. Eyiah (Principal of the GCAO Homework Club) and Auntie MAVIS Tekpeki

Some adult learners and parents on the Homework Club used the occasion to talk about their Caribbean heritage as well as one Ghanaian born Canadian female athlete who made Canada cont’d on pg. 35

The Ghanaian News February 2022 31

African Canadian Social Development Council Celebrates Black History Month

cont’d from pg. 1

I want to state that Continental Africans have played a very major role in breaking the many barriers that have been placed on our path to global development and indeed to our own projection as Africans on the international scene.”

He added that “there is no gainsaying that Africans are the most affected of all races when it comes to barriers to progress. In as much as Africans have

Moses Mawa-Keynote speaker

Kabu Asante-President ACSDC

MPP Faisal Hassan

MC Ephraim Mwaura

Jamila Aman MC Kemi Amusan (Lady Kay)

Standing up for national anthem been tolerant, warm and generous to all other races from ancient ages to date, other races have constantly raised barriers through condescending definitions that cast negative slurs on our race, thus wrongfully profiling us and denying us the recognition that we rightfully deserve, irrespective of our contribution to progressive development globally. Ranging from the field of politics to the physical sciences; from literature to social sciences and from sports to authentic culture to mention a few.”

‘’As Canada’s very first Black MP, Cabinet Minister and Ontario’s 24th Lt. Governor, Lincoln Alexander was a trailblazer, a champion for human rights and continues to be and inspiration for us all.’’ He ended by quoting the late Desmond Tutu who passed away on December 26, 2021 whose words inspires him everyday “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river.

We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”

On his part, MPP Tom Rakocevic

ACSDC Board members Association of Ontario(GCAO) spoke about the impact the pandemic had on the community. And that the impact derailed all the laid out plans but the resilience of the community became a positive thing.

He narrated how the association from the onset of the pandemic purchased items on the open market at exorbitant prices from their own resources till help from the government came in. He also touched on plans for seniors and the community as a whole and ended by wishing all Happy Black History Month, Ms Patricia Falope of Early Childhood Development Initiative spoke cont’d on pg. 49

Males at he function MPP Faisal Hassan (York SouthWeston) said he was inspired by the great work ACSDC does in improving social, economic and cultural conditions and in advocating for the rights and well being of the Canadian African community. He continued that our Black History shows the generations of struggles we have known continue in many ways today despite the many gains and victories we have had to fight so much for. “For generations, Black Canadians have been contributing to the political, cultural and economic fabric of our society.”

(Humber River-Black Creek) who stated that “Anti-Black racism exists and this is something that we cannot rest until we stop it systemic barriers in education and many different places in all forms.” He then wished all a very happy Black History Month. He continued that “it is time to celebrate, not just black achievements, but black greatness, and I can tell you within my community, the black community have been exceptional,” and ended by saying we must continue to work together.

Mr. Emmanuel Duodu who is the President of the Ghanaian-Canadian

Females at the event

32 The Ghanaian News February 2022

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We focus on Motor Vehicle Accidents, Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) Claims, and Disability Claims.

You don’t pay anything until the case is settled, and you only pay if the case is a success.

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For Ghanaian interpreter Mr. Yeboah, call 647-764-0474

34 The Ghanaian News February 2022

DIVORCE CUSTODY CAS MATTERS ACCESS CHILD SUPPORT SEPARATION AGREEMENTS DIVISION OF ASSETS

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Call Us First The Ghanaian News

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The Ghanaian News February 2022 35

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) Holds Advocacy and Sensitization workshop for Competition Stakeholders on the ECOWAS Regional Competition Framework in Sierra Leone The workshop with the aim of creating awareness on the ECOWAS Regional Competition Framework and on its existence and operation With the collaboration of the Ministry for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) organized an advocacy and sensitization workshop in Freetown on February 28, 2022.

The workshop with the aim of creating awareness on the ECOWAS Regional Competition Framework and on its existence and operation, gathered experts of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, the Investment and Export Promotion Agency, the Cooperative Department, the Traders Council, the Civil Society Associations, the Association of Journalists, the Consumer Protection Associations, the Chamber of Commerce, sector regulators, etc.

The workshop was not only to sensitize Sierra Leone competition stakeholders on the existence of the Regional Competition Framework and ERCA, but to ensure their awareness and ownership of the competition framework as well as the institutional relationship between regional and national bodies in competition. It also enlightened the participants on the modalities for ERCA’s future interventions.

While welcoming the participants to the workshop, Dr. Simeon KOFFI, on behalf of the President and the Commissioner for Trade, Customs

and Free Movement of Persons of the ECOWAS Commission expressed his profound gratitude to the ECOWAS Commission and the ERCA Staff. He also expressed his gratitude to the President, the Government, and the People of Sierra Leone for their warm reception and particularly the Ministry of Trade and Industry for organizing the meeting and for the progress made in competition and consumer protection.

a Consumer Protection Act that will lead to the setting up of a Consumer Protection Commission, before declaring the workshop open.

Following presentations at the workshop, an interactive session took place which enabled the participants

GCAO Organizes Exciting Black History Month Celebration for its Homework Club participants and Ghanaians in Toronto

After recalling that this advocacy workshop is part of the process of ownership of the regional competition framework by Member States, he emphasized the need for ERCA and Member States to work together and ensure that there is a constant dialogue on the competition policy. He finally cont’d from pg. 30 introduced the content of the session before wishing to the participants a proud in bobsleigh competition at the recently held winter Olympic Games fruitful workshop. in China.

Mr. Abdul Kamara, Director of Export A video aided presentation of our Promotion and Regional Integration motherland, Ghana, was delivered by at the Ministry of Trade and Industry Auntie Mavis Tekpeki. Dwelling on of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the different languages/dialects, music representing the Honourable Minister, and artifacts such as beads in Ghana, after conveying the apologies of the she emphasized the beautiful unifying Minister and the Chief Director for not culture that brings all Ghanaians being able to open the session, thanked together as one people. Ms. Tekpeki ERCA for holding this advocacy therefore employed our Ghanaian kids workshop in Sierra Leone. He stated in diaspora to learn and cherish our that the workshop is a platform for beautiful Ghanaian culture to set them opening a dialogue space that is linked apart in all good things they endeavour to the AFCFTA and a room for private to accomplish wherever they find and public sectors for collaboration themselves. towards the Africa Agenda. After recalling that Trade is key for national Unfortunately, due to some prolonged development for fair competition, technical difficulties on her side, transparency, accountability, and the main speaker chosen for the fairness, he informed the participants occasion, Auntie Anna Aidoo of that Sierra Leone has a national Endless Possibilities who is also great competition policy and has adopted motivational speaker could not bring us her prepared presentation. However, in lieu of her presentation, many elected GCAO leaders who had joined the celebration including the President Mr. Emmanuel Duodu; the Vice President Madam Juliet Opoku; Chair of GCAO Advisory Board Dr. Victor

Gold Coast Immigration Services Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant

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to ask questions, make contributions and interact, after which participants made recommendations on means for domestication and ownership of the regional competition Framework in Sierra Leone as well as avenues for collaboration and cooperation between ERCA and Sierra Leone national Stakeholders. APO

Awafo; as well as some members of the GCAO Youth Wing such as Nana Yaw Richie, Nana Nti and Obaa Yaa took turns to praise the kids on their Black History Month presentations. They also encouraged the kids to take their studies both at the Homework Club and their various schools seriously.

They were also to respect and obey their parents at home and do not shy away from asking their parents about their Ghanaian cultural background.

Also present at the celebration were the head of the GCAO Seniors Wing, Madam Felicia Botchwey and; Madam Harriet Aikins who is the President of the Mfantseman Association of Toronto.

Mr. Osei Benjamin of Youth Unlimited of Toronto who is also a prominent member in the Toronto Ghanaian community offered a powerful prayer for the youth in our community to end the program. He had earlier admonished the youth to be wary of bad influences and criminal records as they try to make history in their areas of endeavour by following the examples of our Black trailblazers.

The vote of thanks was rendered by Auntie Shani

ROSEMARY SADLIER OOnt presented with MADIBA AWARD cont’d from pg. 30 Emulating the perseverance, the resilience and the self-lessness of Mandela, Sadlier has worked to ensure that our story is told. As an unpaid volunteer, she created exhibits, handled media, addressed conferences, offered over 2000 Black History talks in schools, community organizations and libraries, pushed for the creation of a centre/museum of African Canadian History ad Culture with funds received following her advocacy for the AME Church Soho Street site, produced the Official Black History Month posters, grew the BHM Brunch from 95 to over 1000 attendees…all to raise awareness and an appetite for more.

She successfully initiated the formal proclamations of Feb as Black History Month(following the discovery of an administrative glitch) with all levels of government and then in reaching out to federal representatives, worked in conjunction with the Hon. Jean Augustine for the Federal Declaration passed in 1995. About this same time, Sadlier had begun the process to have August 1st as Emancipation Day, and after numerous levels of government, including achieving the first unanimous all-party Bill 111 with the Province of Ontario, saw to the federal commemoration by March 2021 on a motion by MP Majid Jowhari.

Additionally, Sadlier has written 7 books, including the bestseller, The

Kids Book of Black Canadian History.

Early in her extensive time as President of the OBHS, the funds to the organization were cut by 90% (Provincial. Funding was cut to all Provincial Heritage Organizations but without the bequests and significant corporate donors that other organizations had, the cut was deeply challenging). Sadlier effectively helped to keep the organization in existence through her unwillingness to give up, and her ability to assume additional duties, keeping a cultural space that we still have today.

Because Sadlier never gave up, she exemplifies the perseverance and indomitable spirit of Nelson Mandel, Madiba!

Sadlier lives by the motto, not for ourselves but for others. She knows that we need to be the change we seek and that we can do it!

The Madiba Award was presented to Sadlier in February 2022 at an event hosted by Cultural Expressions and the Durham Black History Month Committee. You can watch both events at https://www. durhamblackhistorymonth.com/livestream

36 The Ghanaian News February 2022

CARGO - LINK INTERNATIONAL (Freight Forwarders & Consolidators) Competent Commitment & Excellence

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

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The Ghanaian News February 2022 37

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We Ship Trucks to Cars, Personal Items, Building materials, Used Clothes and Electronics. Also Deep Freezers and other.

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38 The Ghanaian News February 2022

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Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

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The Ghanaian News February 2022 39

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In Canada call: 416-844-9161

40 The Ghanaian News February 2022

The Ghanaian News February 2022 41

42 The Ghanaian News February 2022 The Ghanaian News March 2019

416-844-9161 / 416-916-3700

53

The Ghanaian News February 2022 43

6 serious wars that made Ghana what it is today Ghana was never as peaceful as it is today. In fact, the journey to political stability started way back even before Independence in 1956 Written history dating back to the 1800s shows how our ancestors waged bloody wars between themselves and colonial masters all in the thirsty search for political freedom. For those of us who read history at high school or university, you may remember some of these battles including the most famous Yaa Asantewaa War. In this article, we shall be exploring some 7 popular wars of the 19th Century which shaped the landscape of culture and politics in Ghana.

3. Ashanti-Fante war of 1806 This was a fierce war between the Ashanti and Fante Confederacy. The disagreement between the Ashantis and Fantes is documented to have grown more severe during the start of the 19th century. It all started when the Asantehene of the Ashanti punished some people for robbing graves. But these charged persons were granted refuge by the Fantes. This led to a war between the Fantes and Ashantis resulting in the loss of over a 1000 lives.

1. Yaa Asantewaa War This popular war is also called the War of the Golden Stool. It happened in 1900. It is documented to be the final bloody and massive war between Ashantis and the British Colony. It all started when the British Imperial Government of the Gold Coast demanded that the Ashantis surrender the Golden Stool to them. This stool was and continues to be the throne and symbol of the Ashanti Region. The demand for the Golden Stool by the British ignited the anger of the Ashanti Kingdom whose King, Prempeh 1, had been in exile. The only queen of Ejisu, Yaa Asantewaa, took it upon herself to lead the battle against the British. Unfortunately, Yaa Asantewaa lost the war leading to the arrest of chiefs including the Queen Mother of Ejisu, Yaa Asantewaa, who got exiled to the Seychelles, for 25 years.

4. Ga-Fante war of 1811 The Ga-Fante war in 1811 was an intense tribal war which continued for years between the Gas and Fates who were also fighting against the friends of both tribes. The Asante won the pitched battle, but then had to retreat in the face of the guerrilla tactics used by the Akwapim in the Akwapim Hills, where the Asante had the disadvantage of not knowing the terrain so well. Akwapim, battled also against the Europeans by conquering Dutch fort at Apam and a British one at Tantamkweri.

2. Sagrenti War

Defeated Asantes bowing before their colonial masters (Photo credit: Getty Images)Originally called the “Sir Garnet Wolseley War”, the Sagrenti War happened between 1873 to 1874 between the Asantes and the British Empire.

An army under Sir Garnet Wolseley crossed the Pra River into the Asante territory. The war was called “Sagrenti War” mainly because Ghanaians could not pronounce the name Sir Garnet. The British force, this time proved too strong for the Asante who, after a long and tough fight, agreed to sign a peace treaty at Fomena. At about the same time the British defeated the Anlo people in the Volta area. On the 12th of September, 1874, the whole of Southern Ghana including Anloland became a British colony.

5. Battle of Nsamankow British colonialists staging fierce fight against Asantes The Battle of Nsamankow happened in 1824. It was a first fierce war between British colonial forces and the Ashanti Empire The British force under Charles McCarthy was defeated by an Ashanti force. It is unknown who won this battle but written history shows that 80 British troops were outnumbered by over 10,000 troops.

6. Battle of Amoaful The Battle of Amoaful was a battle fought on 31 January 1874 during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War when Sir Garnet Wolseley defeated the Ashantis after strong resistance. The attack was led by the 42nd Regiment of Foot. At Amoaful, one combat post-mortem pays tribute to the Ashanti commander: “The great Chief Amankwatia was among the killed. Admirable skill was shown in the position selected by Amankwatia, and the determination and generalship he displayed in the defense fully bore out his great reputation as an able tactician and gallant soldier.” Lance-Sergeant Samuel McGaw won the Victoria Cross during the action. Source: Yen.com.gh

44 The Ghanaian News February 2022

PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Ghana Methodist Churches in Canada ( SOCIETIES UNDER THE GHANA METHODIST CONFERENCE) The Superintendents Minister-In-Charge invites

you to worship with us

Toronto Society Place of Worship: 69 Milvan Drive, North York, Ont. (Finch Av./Milvan)

416-743-4555 (Office) 905-216-2323 (Residence) Day and Time of Worship:

Very Rev. Joseph Owusu Atuahene Minister-in-charge

Edmonton Methodist

Sunday: Bible Class Meeting:

Church Service:

Jericho Hour Prayer Meeting Wednesday Mid-day Prayer Friday: Bible Teaching/Prayer Meeting Saturday Organizational Meeting: Sunday Brampton Prayer Meeting

587-336-1223

Redemption Methodist Church

Ottawa Methodist 613-823-2291

Vancouver Methodist 416-833-1615

Location: 955 Wilson Ave., Unit 12, North York, ON

Weekly Service Schedule: Monday 7 pm - 8 pm Online Bible Study: Thursday 7 pm - 8:30 pm, Prayer Meeting Friday 7:30 pm - 9 pm Divine Service, Sundays 10 am - 12:30 pm Contacts: Agnes Donkor - 647-881-4808, Felicia Owusu - 647-533-1093, Grace Kubi - 647-608-5373

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.

10:00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

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

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.

6.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

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

Contact: Rev. Joshua C. Doughan - 514-542-0871

Hamilton Society Stoney Creek United Church (Chapel) 1 King Street West, Stoney Creek, Hamilton Contact: 289-244-5914, 289-700-6815, 289-698-1388

Very Reverend Albert K. Appiah, BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH-BRAMPTON PLACE OF WORSHIP1A KNIGHTSBRIGE ROAD (Senior’s Lounge) Sunday Divine Service 2PM-5PM Online Prayer Meeting Fridays at 8PM -9PM 416-800-4317 Code # 9632581 Contact: Robert Frans (289-541-5579) Felix Gyimah (289-931-8443)

SERVICES ARE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL GHANA METHODIST LITURGY. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU

FOOD FOR LIFE

The Ghanaian News February 2022 45

Bringing the Gospel to our Community By Rev. Isaac De-Graft Takyi

THE CHRISTIAN IN 2022: LIVE REVIVED “Panic not, fear not, worry not, blame not, complain not, condemn not and criticize not, BUT Trust God, Love God and Have Faith in God” —Isaac De-Graft Takyi

HINDERANCES STRUCTURE

THE

If the Holy Spirit were to suddenly move in your life and church, would He have freedom to do so or would He be limited by the following:

A Revived Church Is The Only Hope For A Dying World. Andrew Murray We began our year with some insights on living like Christ. For the rest of the year ahead of us we want to call on the body to join us in seeking the face of God for revival. We want to live revived. The post covid church and believer will need the presence of God to thrive and make an but what we can we do is to prepare the impact. way for God to manifest Himself in our We will look into what revival is, some lives, churches, Communities, Cities and hinderances to revival and repentance as Countries? one of the keys to experiencing the true WHAT ARE THE HINDERANCES TO revival.

REVIVAL? James 4:6-10; Revelations 3:14-21 There are no sinless people or God can do whatever He desires, whenever perfect churches.

He desires, however He desires. His ways Every Christian wrestles with are higher than ours. But He has illustrated temptation and failure.

But often, through our history a pattern of His ways, corporate sins in the lives of God’s people particularly as it relates to the cycle of go undetected or unchallenged and create revival. We see this pattern of vitality, massive issues. plateau, indifference, lukewarmness, Sometimes these sins fester for decline, judgment, crying out, repentance, years. When sin is accepted and embraced, and revival repeated again and again. strongholds develop. T h e Understanding these ways enlarges and result is a church with a shell of religion, directs our praying, preaching, and leading. but no real sense of God’s presences or It builds us and those we lead to cry out in power. greater faith and helps us cooperate with What about our church?

God as He moves.

What about Living Word A/G? What Is Revival? How would you define revival? Do we need revival as a church?

What is revival? The word revival simply HINDERANCES IN HEART means “a coming back to life again.”

Are there any personal or corporate sins It describes a spiritual awakening; a that are hindering the work of God in your restoration of spiritual passion; a renewal life and church? of faith; a returning to God. Revival is the extraordinary movement of the Spirit of God that produces extraordinary results.

•

Spiritual Pride

•

Immorality

revival “is a community saturated by God” Duncuncampbell

•

Gossip

•

Ongoing Bitterness Unforgiveness

•

Idolatry

•

Lack of Church Discipline

NOTE

•

Self-Centeredness

We cannot produce revival on our own,

•

Indifference and wickedness

Revival is a man or womanretiring to the background because God has taken the field. It is the Lord making bare His Holy arm and working in extraordinary power on saint and sinner” Arthur Wallis.

IN

and

(Psalm 51:17). This attitude of brokenness before the Lord is absolutely a prerequisite for His work to begin. You must forsake self-sufficiency and renew your absolute surrender to and reliance upon God.

•

Inflexibility/ stubbornness

Prayer 1. Forgive our pride or better still personalize it and pray “oh Lord forgive my pride”

•

Time Restraints

Revelation 3:14-21

•

Ineffectual Programming

•

Possessive / Controlling Members

•

Fruitless Traditions/ Language

•

Anything that has taken the place of God’s presence among His people

If you knew the barriers to revival in your ministry. What do you think needs to be emphasized? And What needs to change?

James 4:6-10 “He gives more grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. Be wretched and mourn and weep.

Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Revival never comes to proud hearts, or to those who refuse God’s help. Admitting our need for Him and our desperate hopelessness apart from Him is part of what the Bible calls having a broken spirit

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.’”

Prayer 2: Forgive our Self- Deception or better still pray and ask “Oh Lord forgive my self-deceptions.

Conclusion To Live as Revived we must humble ourselves before the Lord and be free of self-deception

46 The Ghanaian News February 2022

EVANGEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH 314 Rexdale Blvd. Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R6 Tel: 416-242-7950 Fax: 416-242-8573 Church Activities Sunday School: 10a.m. -11:00a.m.

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

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

Pastor in Charge Wednesday Bible Studies: 7p.m. - 8:30p.m.

Rev. Milton Offei Friday Prayer Meeting: 7p.m. - 9:00p.m.

I AM ALPHA & OMEGA MINISTRY INT'L We invite you to worship with us Church Service:

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

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

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

JESUS Loves You

Bishop John Mensah

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

Tel: 416-419-6671

The Ghanaian News February 2022 47

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.

Pastor Eric Amoah Friday Night Prayer: 8p.m.-10p.m.

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

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l Do you desire to experience the power and the presence of God demonstrated in your life?

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

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)

Transformation Centre Assembly of God Church, Mississauga Join us on Sundays for Worship at: Venue: 161 Lakeshore Road W, Mississauga, ON Time: 10:30am—1:30pm

Contact: Rev. Isaac K. Bonful Tel: 289-814-5482 Email: transformcentreag@yahoo.ca Website: www. transformationcentreag.ca

Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5

Disciples Revival Church Healing & Deliverance Centre Rev. Dr. & Rev (Mrs) Charles Mantey Founders/Senior Pastors

416-614-7771

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

Good Shepherd Prayer Ministry Invites you all to come worship with us Venue: 95 Eddystone Ave unit 4 North York, ON Time of worship: Sunday:10am - 1pm Wednesday bible studies 7pm - 9pm Friday Prayer / Deliverance 7pm - 9pm

info@disciplesrevivalchurch.org www.disciplesrevivalchurch.org

SUNDAY SERVICE - Morning - 10:00 am Mid-Week Service

Pastor Joseph Nash Sarfo Founder & Pastor-in-charge

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

John 10 :10-11

Tel: 416 667-9763 cell 647 500-4415 / 647 718-4819 / 416 300-4258 Email:pastorjsarfo@gmail.com I encourage you to join us in worship regardless of your situation the power of God is available to make you whole

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

48 The Ghanaian News February 2022

The Apostolic Church Int'l.

Canada

THE APOSTLES' CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)

Miracle Assembly MOVED TO NEW LOCATION

North American Headquarters: 10 Belfield Road Toronto, Ont., M9W 1G1 Tel: 416-247-6629 Fax: 416-247-5308

Apostle Jeremiah Mensah (Resident Apostle)

31 Airview Road

Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 1P6 SERVICE TIMES:

Meeting Schedule Sunday (Worship) - 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday Teaching Service - 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Friday Prayers 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Friday: Monthly All Night Service - 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Saturday : Movements - 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

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

Worship Service Bible Studies Service All Night Service Deliverance

- 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

Toronto

10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629 Scarborough Assembly 63 Howden Rd., Unit 'F' Scarborough, ON, M1R 3C7 Tel 647-850- 0142 Fax 416-945- 9445

Immanuel Assembly of God Church, Scarborough

Rev. Douglas O. Ansah Pastor-in-charge

Sunday School: 9:30am -10:30am Church Service: 10:30am - 12 noon

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.

Rhema Power of Grace Chapel Int'l

Invites all Christians, Non-Christians and members of the community to join us worship the Great Jehovah

378 Cremazie East Montreal, Quebec, H2P 1E5 Tel: 514-271-9083 Pastor-In-Charge: John Arhin

Contact: Res: 450-687-4916 Cell: 514-654-6178

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.

NEW Place of Worship:

135 Oakdale Rd, North York, ON Days And Time of Worship Sunday Divine Worship Twi Service - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Multicultural Service - 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Wednesday - Midweek Service Friday - All Night Service

Montreal Assembly

Rev. Bishop Joe Bonnah

Founder &Pastor-in-charge

-

Apostle Osei Bonsu

8p.m. - 10p.m.

10p.m. - 1a.m.

Contact Lines: 416-321-2796 (Pastor's Res) 416-747-9225 (Church) Cell: 647-921-2414

Pastor Appiah Jacob

For information call: 905-840-7387, 647-208-1093 416-209-9136, 647-710-2573

The Ghanaian News February 2022 49

African Canadian Social Development Council Celebrates Black History Month cont’d from pg. 31 about the entire education and our children. She stated that a four year old boy (Nigerian parents)whose school took decisions about the boy without involving the parents to the extent of calling Police to remove the four year old from school. The school was refusing to take the boy back so she intervened to resolve the ugly situation.

She added that her organization is there to bridge the gap so that we can lay a solid foundation for a child’s wellness without sacrificing.

Ms Julie Lutete, Francophone Community Executive Director and a candidate for Etobicoke North MPP the upcoming Provincial Election also spoke about the barriers she faced when she came to Canada in 1997 as she could not speak English.

She struggled, but had to cope with the situation as she could not access French services everywhere. But by dint of hard work now she can speak better English and is now in Politics provincially and called on the audience to support her.

The main Key note Speaker was Mr. Moses Mawa, Group Chairman & President of AfroGlobal Television. Mawa said.

“For us to be able to make a significant difference as Canadian people of African descent, we need to be as united as we possibly can and this is very important because we actually have many of us who are from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and different places but we need to recognize our common “Africaness” because of our experiences and the challenges that we face are actually very similar as well.’’

“I am actually best known for the AfroGlobal TV channel of which I am President and CEO. It means that whether you are Afro-Caribbean, Afro-American, Afro-Canadian, AfroBrazilian, and as long as a person of African descent, you are part of the global African sort of family as well,” he added.

“In the corporate sector at large, you are beginning to see Continental African people making waves, taking strides and together we can actually increase opportunities and make it possible for

cont’d from pg. 16 government’s previous warnings about the risks of travel in Ukraine before us to succeed as a community. So in adding that he was not a lawyer. essence, it is important for us to be able While Freeland did not say whether to appropriately share our experiences Canadians who fight for Russia could and make it possibility for especially be prosecuted, author and historian our children to have a better experience Tyler Wentzell suspected federal than ourselves,” he emphasized. lawyers are now taking a hard, long Mawa shared some of his experiences look at the Foreign Enlistment Act and when he came to Canada; “when I how it can apply today. arrived in Canada, I noted that image of Passed in 1937, the act was intended to Africa and the African diaspora on TV keep Canada neutral during the Spanish and print media was actually negative.

Civil War and basically banned joining I therefore resolved at that time to get a foreign military to fight a country into the media field in order to make a Canada considers “friendly.” Those difference, and then seeing the kind of who violate the law can face a fine of systemic barriers that affect people of up to $2,000 and two years in prison.

African descent when they want to get But exactly what counts as a friendly into any profession, I decided that if I country is not defined, and Wentzell cannot be hired, I would create a job noted the act specifically gives cabinet for myself and then open more doors for others as well.” “So while still a the power and flexibility to determine student I decided to start the company which foreign conflicts are allowed or Silver Trust Media. I was lucky to have banned. been helped by Senator Donald Oliver “They can issue regulations that to secure a student venture loan of unequivocally say: You can’t join $3000 which I paid back to the bank the Russian Armed Forces,” said after starting my company by 2002 Wentzell, who has studied Canadians’ we launched the Planet Africa TV on involvement in previous foreign Omni TV and by 2016 we launched the Global TV channel a 24 hour channel on Rogers, Bell and Telus cables.”

“I really appreciate the ACSDC for creating a platform similar to what we are doing that will bring all of us together to celebrate. In academia we have Prof George Dei originally from Ghana who is probably one person who have enabled so many people from our community to secure masters’ degrees and Phds and so on in this country,” On Mental Health, Mawa alluded to the fact so many of our people are going through tremendous challenges in part because of the experience of racial discrimination and other challenges as well. It is through advocacy to address this successfully.

He ended his speech with the statement that, “our latest project 100 most influential black Canadians project is our way of making sure that we are able to identify members of the black community, including those who are actually from the Continent of Africa.”

Closing remarks was delivered

by Kabu Asante, ACSDC President There were two Masters of Ceremonies Ms Kemi Amusan (Lady Kay) at location and Ephraim Mwaura virtual.

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church THEME FOR YEAR 2020:

“PRAYER AND THE WORD” Acts 6:4 SUNDAY SERVICES: 10:00 am-1:30 pm Ghanaian Service Pastor-in-charge:

WEEKDAY SERVICES: Rev. Boniface Keelson Wednesday - Bible Studies 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Friday - Holy Ghost Service 7:00 pm -9:00 pm LOCATION:

42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2 (Hwy 27/Steeles) Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Y6

Tel: 416-740-1200 Fax: 416-740-6435 Email:

Federal government warns Canadians against fighting for Russia in Ukraine

lighthouseagtoronto.org

lighthouseag@outlook.com

conflicts and written a book on Canadians fighting in the Spanish Civil War. “They can also issue regulations that say: We will not prosecute anyone, or we require ministerial authorization to prosecute anyone for the following offences.”

Some experts have noted that certain paramilitary units in Ukraine, and even some segments of the Ukrainian military, have been linked to far-right extremism and hate, and even accused of past war crimes.

That has raised concern about Canadians who decide to fight against Russia either knowingly or unknowingly becoming involved with such units and becoming complicit in such activities and later held to account.

Wentzell said it is noteworthy that the government is not only discouraging Canadians from fighting in Ukraine, “they’re not promising anything. In fact, what they’re really saying is that they’re not promising anything.”

The Canadian Press

50 The Ghanaian News February 2022

The $6 Million Appiatse Disaster Fine Imposed on MAXAM Explosives Company is Insignificant Dr. Solomon Owusu, Colorado, USA.

In addition, Samarco Iron Ore Mine tailings dam collapse which occurred in Brazil on November 5, 2015 that killed nineteen (19) people could be used as a benchmark to determine the fines for MAXAM’s negligence (https:// mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN0W42WP).

The press release on the Appiatse incident report dated on February 7, 2022 should not be accepted by Ghanaians, especially the good people of Appiatse, because of its shameful, heartless and disappointing nature. Technically, the whole 6-paged release looks incomplete, amateurish, shocking and indicates a display of a cover-up to prevent certain perpetrators from receiving consequences resulting from their negligence and non-compliance. In my humble opinion, all the affected people of the Appiatse incident should be properly indemnified physically, emotionally psychologically and financially with adequate resource mobilization.

The Minister’s US$6.0 million fine imposed on MAXAM company for breaching the explosives regulations is a pittance and I therefore write to admonish all Ghanaians, whether home or abroad to reject the half-baked press release, which has the potentials to worsen the woes of the public in terms of setting a bad precedent for the future.

Comparing with compensations awarded to communities that experienced similar disaster in other countries, the Appiatse people deserve a minimum of US$350 million.

It must be noted that, previous breaches by MAXAM in 2017 means under international human rights law, that the government’s failure to act to prevent these foreseeable risks to life is a violation of the rights to life.

From a professional stance, this horrific explosion could have been prevented if the international standard processes and procedures for transporting explosives were stringently followed. As I stated in my preliminary opinion on the unfortunate explosion, the tragic incident that happened was due to negligence, regulatory lapses and institutional failures. Considering the entirety of the press release, it is clear that the causes of the catastrophic incident were as a result of these three factors. The disaster took away thirteen (13) lives, caused various degrees of injuries of over hundreds of people, rendered lots of residents homeless, destroyed uncountable properties and collapsed the whole Appiatse Community. It is similar to past incidents in other countries, where the responsible mining companies were ordered to pay billions of United States dollars.

Moreover, the punishments meted out to perpetrators of a deadly methane blast in a coal mining company in Russia on November 27, 2021 (https://www.rferl.org/amp/russiakemerovo-mining- disaster-investigation/31582405.html), could be used as a reference to initiate prosecution processes for those whose neglect of duty caused the disaster. All in all, the Brazilian and Russian governments ensured that charges and fines were imposed on the responsible companies and the people connected to the three disasters, in order to calm down public emotions and helped in building new lives on the rubbles of unprecedented tragedies.

Dr. Solomon Owusu It is on record that MAXAM company contracted these local entities to transport their explosives on the highway from Tarkwa to Chirano Mine, considering the 30% local content policy. Although, MAXAM sublet its transportation duty to these local companies, it had the oversight responsibility to ensure that they adhered to strict health, safety and environment standards to protect lives and properties. Analyzing the press release critically, it can be deduced that the two committees’ work in less than two weeks are questionable in terms of: 1. The quantification of loss of lives and injuries associated with the tragic incident. 2. The evaluation of social and cultural losses of the Appiatse community. 3. Failure to recognize that the cost of the environmental degradation from the explosion alone will be over hundreds of millions of dollars. 4.

The factors that the Minister considered in the reports to justify the US$ 6 million fine. 5. The credibility of the report from the Minerals Commission, which is itself implicated in the disaster, because of the suspected neglect of duty from their part as well. 6. The public’s trust in the chairman of independent committee, whose tenure as the CEO of Minerals Commission in 2012, approved the LI 2012 with various regulatory lapses. 7. Details in the two reports to justify the imposition of sanctions and possible prosecutions of the explosives transport contractors and some officials from the Minerals Commission. 8. Failure to explain the incomplete investigations with findings on the part of Arthanns Transport Company and appropriate sanctions announced? How long does the public have to wait for this? 9. Failure by the Minister to cite the exact breaches of regulations on the part of MAXAM Company to justify the fine and determine subsequent prosecution. 10.

Reluctance by the Ministry to disclose the two committees’ reports to the public.

As a follow up to the incident which happened on January 20, 2022, the Sector Minister in Charge of Mining in Ghana instructed the Minerals Commission, which is the regulator of the mining industry to conduct investigations. Also, the Minister constituted a three-member committee to carry out independent investigations into the matter to confirm the Minerals Commission’s findings. The two separate reports were submitted to the Minister in less than two weeks after the incident. Strangely, the two reports from which the press release was excerpted, have not yet been disclosed to the public for unknown reasons. Upon reviewing the reports, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources established that MAXAM Ghana Limited committed regulatory breaches that led to the tragic incident, with respect to the Although the Minister should be commended for applying manufacture, storage and transportation of the explosives. his veto powers to determine the administrative fine, which is far more than the stipulated amounts in the laws, the Per the Legislative Instrument (LI 2177) which is the law criteria for the fine should have been backed by current governing all explosive activities in Ghana, MAXAM’s assessment of damages. Again, details of the professional breaches should have attracted fines up to US$10,000. assessment of the losses should have been detailed in the Considering the nature and the totality of the incident, press release to convince the public. Seriously, the fine must the Minister in his wisdom imposed a total administrative reflect international standards, based on past experiences fine of US$6.0 million on MAXAM. He needs to be in other countries that led to fines worth billions of US commended for this swift action. The company is expected dollars. Failure to drastically penalize the perpetrators will to pay an initial US$1.0 million before the restoration of set a bad precedent for any unforeseen future occurrence. its operating permit and then settle the remaining within 18 months, ending on August 1, 2023. However, I think In my view, reparation and damage clean up impositions the installment payment should be scrapped since the on some mining companies for causing similar disasters in fine should not only be based on financial capacity of the other countries, should have been studied and analyzed to MAXAM in Ghana but the company’s group which is well serve as guidelines to ensure that informed and acceptable decisions were taken before defining any sanction in resourced to pay the peanuts imposed on them. connection with the catastrophic disaster. The fine stated From the press release, the fine to be paid is without in the press release was far below standards and had prejudice to any criminal or civil liability that MAXAM conflicting reflection on the quantum of the calamitous may be subject to. This means, any individual or group of disaster. The current Ghana government will render serious people from the accident area can initiate a lawsuit against disservice to the people of Appiatse, if it fails to ensure that MAXAM and the other two companies whose truck caused the right compensations are rewarded to the people. the disaster. Again, in order for the company to operate in safe manner, compliance measures were set by the Minister Concerning the fine, Vale Iron Ore Mine disaster in as guidelines for MAXAM to strictly follow. Surprisingly, Brazil that happened on January 25, 2019 (https://www. the Minister’s press release was silent on the regulatory reuters.com/business/environment/judge-orders-valebreaches and possible sanctions against the local explosives pay-victims-families-2019- mining-disaster-2021-06-10/) (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55924743), transporting contractors, Jocyderk Logistics Limited and and involving tailings dam collapse that led to two hundred and Arthanns Enterprise Transport Services, whose truck was seventy (270) loss of lives could be used as an example. directly involved in the incident.

On February 4, 2021, the Brazilian government went into agreement with Vale Mining Company to pay US$ 7 billion to the community hit by the disaster, where about two hundred and seventy (270) people were killed. Also, the family of each deceased employee was compensated with US$197,240. The responsible senior staff of the company whose carelessness caused the disaster faced murder charges. Again, Vale was instructed to fully repair all environmental damages, including clean-up of the Paraopeba river, sewage treatment, landfill, reforestation, among others.

On March 2, 2016, the Brazilian government estimated US$ 5.1 billion in damages to be paid by the Samarco Mining Company for the deadly tailings dam spill that took away 19 lives, destroyed about 200 homes, rendered hundreds of people homeless and polluted the major river in the area. Also, charges of manslaughter and environmental damages were filed against twenty-one (21) executives of the company. Besides, the fine did not cover private civil lawsuits and other criminal investigations.

A court in the city of Kemerovo in Russia on November 27, 2021, ruled to jail three officials of Listvyazhnaya Coal Mining Company to face a maximum of seven (7) years in prison for violating industrial safety requirements for hazards production facilities that resulted in multiple deaths. These are the company’s director, Sergei Makhrakov, his deputy, Andrei Molostvov and the section supervisor, Sergei Gerasimyonok. Additionally, two other people, Sergei Vinokurov and Vyacheslav Semykin, who were officials of the local branch of Russia’s state technology and ecology watchdog, were jailed to face up to seven (7) years in prison for their negligence that led to the disaster. These two officials issued a certificate for the mine’s operation within the month that the incident occurred, without actually checking the facility. The methane explosion killed forty-six (46) miners and five (5) rescuers.

Considering these previous similar tragic incidents and their corresponding compensations, prosecutions and environmental liabilities imposed on the parties involved, it is hopeful that the Ghana government will ensure that better decisions are taken to enable the people of Appiatse to deserve better. Furthermore, all persons whose negligence caused the catastrophic disaster should face the full strictness of the law to serve as deterrent to others, thereby preventing possible future recurrence. Due to the public doubts in the current investigative reports, a trustworthy independent investigation team should be immediately constituted to conduct thorough inquiry into the explosion and provide acceptable recommendations for implementation.

In my opinion, the public will wholeheartedly welcome such a credible report from the trusted independent committee. Proper sanctions and fines should be slapped on the companies and institution(s) involved, as well as legitimate punishments meted out to individuals whose neglect of duty led to the disaster. With these, the psychological trauma of the Appiatse people will be minimized and help in building new lives on the rubbles of the unprecedented tragedy that visited them. More importantly, stern punishments will serve as wake-up call to all public and private sector workers in Ghana, who neglect their duties to cause avoidable accidents.

Solomon Owusu, PhD. (Mining Engineering & Mineral Economics Consultant) Colorado, USA.

Lifestyle

The Ghanaian News February 2022 51

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

A common sense approach to personal hygiene during Coronavirus now and beyond “Nine-tenths of our sickness can be prevented by right thinking plus right hygiene ninetenths of it!” - Henry Miller.

You see, these streets have suddenly become scary. I recollect how we often laugh about the many cautions that are often sounded to us concerning our personal hygiene. I remember how we often sarcastically blurt out “the one who introduced hygiene kraa e be borla car wey kill am.” Well, this local quote doesn’t sound funny any more.

Going about my regular errands in town, I see the “panicky” reactions of people within this Covid19 season.

Understandably so especially given the number of cases and deaths recorded worldwide especially in areas of the world deemed as advanced and enlightened. As we monitor the various news portals it is also easy to determine the fright and confusion on the faces of people in countries that have recorded high cases and deaths.

While there has been some efforts by authorities in Ghana to provide the standard health amenities and follow the WHO approved protocols to mitigate against the escalation in

One important step to take as individuals is not to fan the flame of fear. Fear can immobilise you and stop you from acting sensibly, and now more than ever is not the time to act insensibly. Let us make it our responsibility to educate our brothers and sisters who can not read or understand the education in English in our local dialects.

Michael Kwadwo Sakyiama

As the education by health experts say, observing good personal hygiene is one sure way of avoiding infection.

It is important that we continue to remind each other as often as we can to wash our hands as often as possible with soap under running water, cough into the inside of our elbows and avoid coughing/sneezing into our palms, cough into tissues and discard appropriately, use alcohol based hand sanitisers, avoid touching your face as much as possible (practicable), avoid shaking hands, eat well (nutritious/ balance meals) to boost your immune system, exercise, rest well and observe social distancing protocols.

application of COMMON SENSE. Yes, C O M M O N S E N S E. I can not stress it enough. “A breach of common sense is a breach of school rules,” if-youknow-you-know. There are countries that have not recorded a single case and there are also countries that have for more than 7 days not recorded any new case beyond the initial cases recorded, this indicates that observing the set out protocols plus the application of a good dose of COMMON SENSE will lead to a reduction in recorded cases or even no cases at all.

numbers of cases already recorded in the country, I think we as individuals at this critical point in our health management period take responsibility for our personal health safety and take serious our personal hygiene.

There have been several talks about the seeming unpreparedness of the government to protect the citizenry (within and without its borders) against the possibility of contracting the condition. Let’s continue to demand of the government what is within their authority to do, whilst at The steps proposed are definitely not it let’s support them by doing what exhaustive, what is essential is the is within our individual abilities to protect ourselves and those within our close circles against being infected.

Let us also note the following symptoms: coughing, high temperatures, fever and difficulty in breathing and immediately call the following numbers 112, 0558439868 and 0509497700 for assistance if or when we observe these symptoms in ourselves or others.

Juliet Ibrahim is unhappy about how some men and women treat their private parts in this modern day.

Detailing how men can help to keep the vagina clean and healthy always, she emphasized that “it is her temple.

Help her to keep it clean, safe, and healthy. Stop using dirty hands and saliva on it.”

Let’s sign off with this quote from Sri Sathya Sai Baba, “Keep your own house and its surroundings pure and clean. This hygiene will keep you healthy and benefit your worldly life.”

Michael Kwadwo Sakyiama, Contributor

Brush your teeth before you give head: Juliet Ibrahim advises men and women

In a mild rant, the actress says a woman’s private part is delicate and that men should help to keep it safe and healthy by respecting hygienic protocols whenever they visit the ‘safe haven’ for sexual pleasure.

Miss Ibrahim took to her Instagram page to express her dismay that in 2022, people still haven’t recognized the inherent dangers of doing anything in the name of sexual pleasure.

“I cannot believe that in 2022, I am (still) arguing with a friend who sees nothing wrong with these things.

Her excuse was that, ‘What if it’s a quickie? - she said in an Instasory post.

The actress also noted that due to how a woman’s private is delicate, men must put in the effort to always maintain good hygiene when they explore a woman’s vagina. “Honestly, guys, please take this from me; a woman’s vagina is very delicate,” she said.

“Brush your teeth and tongue before and after oral sex, and cut your nails before any touching. Germs that cause bacteria are bred on such. Girls, please learn these basic hygiene practices and stay clean,” she concluded.

Juliet Ibrahim’s sexual health education comes weeks after Nigerian singer, Olaitan Abdulrahman, aka Oxlade, was caught in a leaked video using his saliva as a lubricant during sexual intercourse with a mystery lady.

The act in the viral video sparked a lot of condemnation as some online medical experts and netizens share their thoughts on the application of saliva around the vagina during sexual intercourse.

Some argue that the act may expose women to being infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Gossip

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

52 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Around the World Sports Scene “Pay us our money”- Former Black Princesses captain Kate Agyemang demand 7-year unpaid bonus Former captain of Ghana’s national U20 female team, Kate Adu Agyemang is calling on government to pay bonuses owed the payers dating back seven years ago.

Out of the $20,000 owed the team, only $4000 has been paid and Adu Agyemang who is retired says she and her teammates need the rest of the money.

“Right now, we are trying to help ourselves. We have no one. In 2020, we wrote petitions but we have not heard

Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA (www.FIFA.com) Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters. back from the GFA or the Sports Ministry,” she began.

“We have waited for so long.

It’s been 7 years. Please pay us our money. If we were your children, would you do this to us?” She quizzed.

“If I have to dedicate myself to something for 7 years and still not paid, then what’s the

point?

“I’m not playing soccer anymore because there’s nothing in there for me. So please, the monies owed us are the only resources that can get our lives back on track. Some of my colleagues have stopped playing because they can’t even buy football boots.”

GHANAsoccernet

The World Athletics Council has today agreed to impose sanctions against the Member Federations of Russia and Belarus as a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine All athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia and Belarus will be excluded from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future, with immediate effect.

Upcoming events include the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, and the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22, which begin on Friday in Oman (4 March).

The Council also agreed to consider further measures, including the suspension of the Belarus Federation, at its scheduled Council meeting next week (9-10 March).

The Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) has been suspended from World Athletics since 2015, due to doping violations, and therefore is not currently eligible to host World Athletics events or send teams to international championships.

The Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) process remains in place but Russian athletes who have received ANA status for 2022 are excluded from World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future.

This means that all Russian ANA or Belarusian athletes currently accredited for the World Athletics

FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine

The former Black Princesses captain, who is currently based in the United States took to social media to demand the unpaid bonuses.

Adu Agyemang was a member of the team that qualified for the World Cup in Papua New Guinea 2016, but the qualification bonuses are yet to be settled in full.

with Jonathan Baah Annobil

Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22 (18-20 March) will have their accreditation withdrawn and entries denied, as will any support personnel and officials.

In an address to the Council, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “The world is horrified by what Russia has done, aided and abetted by Belarus. World leaders sought to avoid this invasion through diplomatic means but to no avail given Russia’s unswerving intention to invade Ukraine. The unprecedented sanctions that are being imposed on Russia and Belarus by countries and industries all over the world appear to be the only peaceful way to disrupt and disable Russia’s current intentions and restore peace.

“Anyone who knows me will understand that imposing sanctions on athletes because of the actions of their government goes against the grain. I have railed against the practice of politicians targeting athletes and sport to make political points when other sectors continue about their business. This is different as governments, business and other international organisations have imposed sanctions and measures

against Russia across all sectors. Sport has to step up and join these efforts to end this war and restore peace. We cannot and should not sit this one out.”

World Athletics Athletes’ Commission chairs Renaud Lavillenie and Dame Valerie Adams welcomed the decision.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow athletes, competitors, and friends from Ukraine who are facing far greater challenges than just disruptions to their training and competition, but are in fear of their lives and the lives of their loved ones,” Lavillenie said.

“While we understand the implications of this decision for Authorised Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarusian athletes, who may not be condoning their nations’ deplorable military action in Ukraine, we cannot ignore the message that inclusion of these two nations’ athletes would send to our friends in Ukraine and the rest of the world.”

In accordance with World Athletics rules, the Member Federations from Russia and Belarus have been informed of the Council’s decisions and have the right to respond. If necessary, the Council will reconvene to consider that response. AIPSMedia

Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people. FIFA

Kwame Peprah is the highest ranked Ghanaian player abroad On Sunday, the former King Faisal striker was in action for his Orlando Pirates squad, who defeated Royal Leopards 6-2 in the CAF Confederations Cup. The Ghanaian striker scored on the stroke of halftime and shone throughout the match, which was played away.

Kwame Peprah received an 8.1 rating for his amazing performance on the day, making him the top player among the numerous Ghanaians who play for their various clubs overseas between February 25 and 27.

David Atanga, Alexander Djiku, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, and Joseph Paintsil join Peprah in SofaScore’s list of the top ten.

Kwame Peprah Majeed Ashimeru, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Seyei Sebe Baffour, Mohammed Salisu, and Lawrence Agyekum round out the top ten highest-rated Ghanaian players abroad from the weekend. footballghana. com

Black Princesses head coach Baba Nuhu has appointed Perlpia Ladies star Georgina Ayisha Aoyem has the new captain of the team The national women’s U-17 team are currently in camp preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

activities of the playing body on and off the pitch with assistance from Stella Nyamekye of Kumasibased Dreamz Ladies”.

Ayisha is expected to carry out leadership responsibilities both on and off the pitch as the team prepares for the qualifiers.

Describing the Pearlpia Ladies star’s qualities and reasons for choosing her, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said the midfielder is “embodiment of discipline, self-respect, confidence and humble throughout the teams camping in Prampram”.

She will be deputized by Nancy Amoh who plays for Supreme Ladies in the GWPL as 1st Vice captain, while Agnes Yeboah of Combined Forces functions as 2nd Vice Captain.

In addition to the three, Zuleiha Fuseini of Pearlpia Ladies has been named General Captain of the team, and, according to the FA, “will be responsible for all

The federation also stated in its announcement on Monday, that the Georgina was named captain of the team considering the fact the “She is an excellent communicator and has over the period built a strong relationship with her teammates”.GHANAsoccernet

The Ghanaian News February 2022 53

Beni Boo Styles WELL MADE - WELL PRICED CLOTHES EVERYONE WILL BE WEARING THIS SPRING Another season, another batch of It-clothes by yours truly Beni Boo (and they are budge friendly ) "Life is a fashion show and the world is your runway so always dress your best everyday and walk with confidence and Godfidence " Beni Boo Styles

Manager, Beni Boo Styles 1-416-732-0902 Beniboostyles@ yahoo.coo www.Beniboo.com Sewing Studio on St. Clair W.

54 The Ghanaian News February 2022

Ghana Month: Ghana’s Tourist Attraction Ghana is a beautiful cultural-filled country located in the western part of Africa. It is a small country that has impressive tourist sites to show the world. This African country is considered one of the more “stable” ones as well when it comes to democracy and gradual development.

Ghana is also regarded as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, with a country that has citizens full of hope and joy. With its sunny beaches, lively cities, friendly people, and easy methods of travelling around the country - Ghana is a great place to visit for tourists.

There are 14 regions in Ghana, but it is mainly divided into the Northern and Southern parts. There are beautiful places in Ghana in almost every area.

As this national park has a land size of 4,840 square kilometres, it is one of the most suitable places to visit when you want to explore nature.

This park was the first park reserved by Ghana to conserve wildlife. It protects over 300 bird species, 94 mammals, and several other wildlife creatures.

Cape Coast Castle

Boti Falls

Another top tourist destination in Ghana is the Cape Coast Castle.

The Portuguese constructed this Castle on top, just like the Elmina Castle, but this one was erected in 1555. The Castle was built for trading in precious gold but was also later used for slavery.

Waterfalls always attract people from all over the country and around the world, and Boti Falls is no different. Located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, 17km northeast of Koforidua, is a Ghana attraction with a history.

Boti Falls is an integral part of Ghana. According to history, Boti Falls is a twin waterfall, specifically male and female, representing the upper and lower falls.

The locals believe that when the volume of water from the falls becomes high, it means the two falls are mating, so a mating ceremony is organised. A rainbow is usually formed during the ceremony when there is a continuous splashing of water.

During that time, Ghana was called the Gold Coast because there was gold everywhere in the country. This is what lured the Portuguese to come here, and later on, the British.

The Cape Coast Castle is one of the sites to visit when you are in the Central Region. You can go to the “Door of No Return,” which is one of the features of the Castle with an interesting history.

It is believed that the colonial masters transported the slaves from the Castle to the ships through this door. No slave has come back alive after undergoing this experience. Properly exploring this place will inform you about the impact of slavery on Ghanaians.

Lakeside Marina Park Lake Volta

The Volta Region is the least-visited region in Ghana, even though it has quite a few tourist sites like mountains, waterfalls, and lakes to offer.

Lake Volta is located in this region and is the largest artificial lake in the world. With a surface area of 8,502 square kilometres, Lake Volta flows around the whole country.

The prominent lake is contained by the Akosombo Dam and used to provide transportation. It also generates electricity for the people of Ghana. Volta Lake sustains a serene environment that allows you to feel free and release stress.

Mole National Park

Lakeside Marina Park is one of the best recreational centres in Ghana, located around a lake, Lake Kalmoni at Lakeside Estates, Accra.

We have been in existence since 2003 and have a solid team of dedicated staff to give you the best customer service experience and atmosphere.

Another place to keep in mind when you visit Ghana is the Northern Region.

Located in the northern part of Ghana, Mole National Park is the habitat of endangered species like elephants, roan antelope, and a few rare birds.

Enjoy exploring Ghana

The Ghanaian News February 2022 55

FOOD AND RECIPES There are some tasty and most importantly healthy local dishes that could replace the usual fried rice and chicken. Here are some of them.

Compiled by Nana Ama, Toronto, ON

4. Omo Tuo

1. Waakye

Waakye is a meal that exhibits Ghanaians’ creative use of rice.

The recipe is a merger of beans and rice and originally a Northern dish.

However, it can now be found almost everywhere on the streets of Ghana. Eating Waakye will open the door to a range of Ghanaian tastes and flavours as the main dish is served with other sides such boiled eggs, fried plantain, garri (grated cassava), spaghetti and avocado.

Omo Tuo is another traditional Ghanaian food that shows how the population often reinvents the myriad ways of eating rice.

It comprises soft boiled grains that are moulded into balls and served with a variety of soups.

5. Tuo Zaafi

2.Banku and Tilapia

This popular Ghanaian dish is a great family meal for festive season.

When you see fish being grilled on the streets, it is most likely to be tilapia, a delicacy among Ghanaians, who spice then grill the succulent freshwater fish.

It complements banku, a Southern mix of fermented corn and cassava dough, and very hot pepper, diced tomatoes and onions. Banku is one of the main dishes of the people who live by the Ghanaian coast

Northern Ghanaian food is dominated by the use of grains, herbs and meat as these are the main food products of the area.

Tuo Zaafi is similar to banku, although it is quite soft and less sticky, and is made by cooking corn dough and adding a little cassava.

What distinguishes Tuo Zaafi and makes it a popular meal nationwide is the nutritious and rare herbs used in making the accompanying soup, including dawadawa and ayoyo leaves.

6. Kelewele

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

7. Fufu and goat light soup

Kenkey is another corn-based staple similar to banku, that is made by moulding fermented corn dough into balls and wrapping them around drying corn leaves, which are then boiled.

The meal is served with hot pepper sauce, fried crabs, octopus or fish and is a delicacy of the people of Ghana.

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

56 The Ghanaian News F ebruary 2022

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