GHANAIAN NEWS - JANUARY 2021

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Call Us First The Ghanaian News

Tel: 416-638-2275 Fax: 416-638-2270 see pg. 8

Vol. 25 No. 1 January 2021

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City of Toronto’s Black Community COVID-19 Plan

By Emmanuel Ayiku and Solomon Kobina Aremu, Toronto, ON

In the face of overwhelming evidence of the disproportionate way COVID-19 affects the Black population, the City of Toronto has launched the Black Community COVID-19 Response Plan in a bid to address some of the wide inequalities based on systematic racism that is at the root of the issues.

Mayor John Tory launched the plan developed in December 2020 to provide enhanced support for Black

Mayor John Tory

Torontonians. The plan was developed as part of the TO Supports: Targeted Equity Action Plan and in response to data released in late 2020 that revealed the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in Toronto (26 per cent) and vaccine hesitancy experienced by Canadians (about 30 per cent) were among Black people of African and Caribbean descent.

A

special

task

force

is

scheduled to present a final report of its findings and recommendations to the City

by April 30, 2021.

The task force, in conjunction with several community organizations-including the Black Health Alliance (BHA), the Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum and Harriet Tubman Institute, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands and TAIBU-will co-host a series of free virtual town hall

meetings for Toronto’s Black communities during Black History Month and into March, starting February 13. The first town hall will focus on the historical and contemporary issues of trustworthiness visà-vis vaccines and medical science that give Black people cause for concern. Other town hall sessions will focus on answering how vaccines work; misinformation and conspiracy theories; mental

cont’d on pg. 33

Year in Review 2020

Compiled by Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

The Year 2020 was very eventful for our community here in Canada and in the land of our birth, Ghana. We bring you some of the month by month highlights of major event that we covered and reported on during the past year.

January

•

Barack Obama wows young people in Toronto with a call to embrace the creative skills

•

York Regional police open Human rights Education classroom as part of their Black history Month celebration.

•

Corona virus declared global health emergency by World Health Organization(WHO).

•

Ontario sets official end date of July 1 for red-and-white health cards.

•

GTA mayors call on Feds to toughen bail laws in response to rise in gun violence

•

Corona virus: Scientists race to develop a vaccine.

•

Consulate-General in Toronto relocates to 8977 Woodbine Avenue in Markham.

•

Mfantseman Cultural Association of Toronto celebrates 20th milestone.

•

Premier Ford hosts appreciation reception for cultural media in Mississauga.

•

10th anniversary grand durbar of Nene Kwesi Detse !, Manoyam Mantse, (Chief of Development) Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Ghana.

• •

Majority of Canadian Boards had no female members in 2016 and 2017 according to Statistics Canada.

February

•

The City of Brampton proclaims March 6, 2020 as Ghana Day.

•

Saluting the City of Brampton for honoring Ghana.

•

Quebec prepares to give its citizens digital identity by the end of 2021.

•

Ghana remembers 28th February 1948 crossroads shooting incident.

•

Chinatowns across Canada report drop in business due to new corona virus fears.

•

Ghana Cultural Week launched in Toronto.

•

Cultural and Innovation Awards by Living Legends at Manhyia Palace, Toronto.

•

Inauguration of Zumunta President Alhaji Zubeiru Zugu and Vice Hajj Nurudeen.

•

Celebrating Africa’s resilience 400 years after slavery in Ghana.

•

Prof. Mike Baffoe went to Australia on speaking engagements.

•

The Newmarket African Caribbean Association (NACA) celebrates Black History Month.

•

2020 Canadian International autoshow opened

cont’d on pg, 26

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

TAKING STOCK POST 2020 and COVID19

For Ghanaians living in Canada, the year 2020 started like any other year. Most were winding down the holiday EDITORIAL season and preparing for the coming twelve months. Many others were returning from vacation trips to the motherland.

Publisher / Editor Despite various personal situations the general feeling was Emmanuel Ayiku thankfulness to The Almighty God for seeing them through to another year.

Contributing Editor

Joe Kingsley Eyiah Then the news started trickling in from Asia, China to be specific, about the new corona virus. Soon the whole world Director of Operations knew the name of a city called Wuhan.

Comfort Ayiku Initially, it generated jokes on social media. Then the virus moved to Europe and North America and the rest of the Community Reporter world, spreading like wildfire.

Jonathan Annobil

By the time we ended spring the entire world was on it’s knees. COVID-19, pandemic, lockdown, social The Ghanaian News distancing, sanitizer, face mask, quarantine and other words Publishes news and comments were firmly entrenched in our vocabulary and many truly from the Community, serves believed Armageddon was nigh.

Ghanaians across Canada with good source of information COVID19 turned the world upside down and inside out. is committed to give good Mighty economies are still in shambles facing gargantuan community Journalism depression. Western societies as we know them seemed to be facing an apocalypse. Infection and death rates were The Ghanaian News spiraling up at a cataclysmic magnitude. Mega cities is published in Canada by looked like ghost towns as all major activities grounded to The Ghanaian News a screeching halt.

Corporation

Everyone was affected one way or the other. But for Editorial Office Ghanaians and other immigrants living in Canada, it 1111 Albion Road, Suite 103 was a different ball game. It has been established that Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 1A9 the COVID-19 pandemic and its disastrous effects affect Tel:(416) 916-3700 Blacks disproportionately to whites and other races. Blacks Advertising are most likely to get infected and die.

Fax (416) 916-6701 Most Ghanaians in Canada have their families back home in Ghana. Many more are here on their own without a single Website: family member. Their only way of socializing outside work www.ghanaiannews.ca is the church and other Ghanaian community and cultural E-mail: events which were all stopped or canceled. cayiku@gmail.com Being locked up in your apartment in an extended lockdown info@ghanaiannews.ca without social support network like we have back in Ghana $1:00 per copy could be devastating psychologically leading to all sorts of Subscription costs mental and other health issues. $66.00 for one year.

including postage Many Ghanaians work jobs or operate a small business U.S. and foreign which was closed while government scrambled to find relief subscriptions costs for the affected people. The relief package was welcomed US$120 per year. but way way less than what was earned normally. As a result lots of businesses and individuals went bankrupt.

Some still have not bounced back till today. Many have Letters to the Editor lost their homes.

We encourage your

feedback and value The death toll was high with many losing family and your comments. Please friends while burials and funerals took a very un-Ghanaian feel free to write to us. twist. Bodies were rushed into the grave without our usual keep letters to a maximum of 200 words, customs. include your full

name, Telephone # and On the positive side, with the common denominator being mailing address fear, despair and a sense of hopelessness, the Covid-19 with all correspondence.

Pandemic brought a lot of togetherness, love, and support in Address your letters to our community. Most of the community organizations and the Editor the churches turned their premises and places of worship into food bank relief programs in support of the members The Ghanaian News who needed help. This was made possible in part by the 1111Albion Rd., Suite 103 Etobicoke, Ont., M9V 1A9 government Covid-19 relief programs that gave financial Tel: 416-916-3700 or support to Black community organizations and churches.

Fax: 416-916-6701

or e-mail us at The government’s Covid-19 traveling relief program also info@ghanaiannews.ca allowed many Ghanaian-Canadians who were stranded in Ghana to be brought back to Canada on special flights.

Articles appearing in various We at the Ghanaian News congratulate all Ghanaians and columns of the Ghanaian News are intended to generate civil Canadians for striving hard and making it through 2020. It and informed public discussions. is our prayer that we never experience such calamities now You do not have to agree with and in the future! opinions expressed by the writers.

That should encourage you to Here are some of the organizations and churches who write to express your own views. provided Food Bank services.

This is the way we generate lively and civil discussions in the community. Rejoinders are Fruitful House Church not forums for personal insults Church of Pentecost and we want readers to adhere to Living Word Assembly of God Church these principles.

Presbyterian Church Prestige African GCAO Impact Centre Foundation, Toronto We acknowledge the Ghanaian Association of Durham financial support of the Apostle Revelation Church Government of Canada through the Canada

Periodical Fund of the The Ghanaian community here in Canada did not forget our Department of home country Ghana with a support of cash donation to the Canadian Heritage Ghana government Covid-19 relief fund.

Ghana Friendship Association of Edmonton donated $20,000, Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario donated $5,000, Ghanalinx organized fundraiser drive with $2,000 donated to the Ghana fund.

The Ghanaian News says a big “Ayekoo

Publisher’s Pick THE LATENESS VIRUS

The country where everyone is expected to be late.

But the problem is not only about starting things on time, there is a correspondent problem of not ending things on time either.

For example over here in our community meetings or events scheduled at 9.00 pm starts at 12 midnight.

Emmanuel Ayiku

I remember, I went to Ghana with a group of Canadians from Toronto some years back for an event. The then Canadian High Commissioner was the keynote speaker.

The Canadian Diplomat was 15 minutes earlier and we the people from Canadian were there 5 minutes before the scheduled time. But surprisingly the host and most of the invited guests were late.

Clock-watching in Homeland Ghana and in our Community is a waste of time The Diplomat in his opening remarks commended the Canadian delegation with It is an embarrassment to see diplomats sent standing ovation for keeping time. “Yes from other nations to our country spending this is my people from Canada we take so much time waiting for functions to start. keeping time serious.”

After sometime in Ghana, the diplomats “go native”, that is follow our behavior and accept that nothing is expected to start on time.

We all know that time is money, this is the reason why when you are late for work they duck you with money, but in Ghana we still don’t get it.

This notion of so call African time has Being late is bad enough. Some will not followed us here overseas. even show up. In Ghana, when workers attend weekend funerals in their hometowns This culture of total disregard for scheduled they don’t even show up for work on Friday time extends to and affects all other parts of and Monday. They still expect to get paid in our lives. full at the end of the month anyways.

In Ghana dressmakers and tailors promise to make a dress in three weeks and if you It is my utmost hope that those of us who are lucky to get it in three months. have been here abroad should try to change this habit of African time.

Larry King: Veteran US talk show host dies aged 87 Larry King, giant of US broadcasting, who achieved worldwide fame for interviewing political leaders and celebrities, has died at the age of 87.

King conducted an estimated 50,000 interviews in his six-decade career, which included 25 years as host of the popular CNN talk show Larry King Live.

He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Ora Media, a production company he co-founded.

Earlier this month, he was treated in hospital for Covid-19, US media say.

The talk show host, famous for his braces and rolled-up sleeves, had faced several health problems in recent years, including heart attacks.

King was married eight times to seven women and had five children. Two of them died last year within weeks of each other - daughter Chaia died from lung cancer and son Andy of a heart attack.

‘Unique and lasting talent’King carried out interviews with every sitting US president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama and a number of world leaders.

His other high-profile guests included Dr Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Lady Gaga.

Larry King achieved worldwide fame with his popular CNN talk show “For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry’s many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster,” Ora Media said in a statement, without giving the cause of death.

Born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933, King rose to fame in the 1970s with his radio programme The Larry King Show, on the commercial network Mutual Broadcasting System.

In 1985 he launched Larry King Live on the fledgling CNN, and became one of the network’s biggest stars.

The programme, broadcast around the world, was a success with audiences, with King answering thousands of phone calls from viewers.

cont’d on pg. 14

The Ghanaian News January 2021 7

African Canadian Social Development Council’s Historic “Black Lives Matter” Rally

By Solomon Kobina Aremu

Never in the history of the Canadian nation has so many groups and associations representing the African continent and Black people come together under a single umbrella for a cause as happened at the “Blacks Lives Matter” rally held at the forecourt of the City Hall in downtown Toronto in August last year.

The event, organized by the African Canadian Social Development Council (ACSDC) brought together 82 associations and groups representing nations, ethnic groups, businesses, cultural organizations, youth groups and others linked to the African motherland and the Caribbeans to protest systemic racism in Canada, the USA and the rest of the world.

Welcoming participants to the event, the president of ACSDC Nene Kabu Asante said they decided to organize the rally to erase the wrong impression that Black people from the African continent don’t care about systemic racism. “We care deeply about whatever impacts us. Both negatively and positively, and we act.”

He blamed the federal, provincial and local

governments for not doing enough to address the issue. “Why would the authorities spend billions of dollars on policing but very little on issues that directly impacts us. It is about misplaced priorities and we are demanding an end to it. Black lives matter”.

Quoting Bob Marley’s “No matter where you come from, so far as you are Black, you are an African”, Mr. Asante used the opportunity to reach out to all Blacks and people of African descent from all corners of the world especially the Caribbean that the ACSDC was an all inclusive group and welcomed all to work together.

Member of Provincial Parliament for York South-Weston, Faisal Hassan lauded the ACSDC for organizing the rally amongst

other great initiatives on issues at the core of Black reality here in Toronto and Canada as a whole.

“Systemic racism is rooted in the structures of our governments”, he charged. “It needs all levels of governments to work together. Among other things, we also need to reform the curriculum of schools to include experiences of Blacks from Africa and the Caribbean”.

Eyitayo Dada, President of Canadian Association of Nigerian Lawyers asked all Blacks to come out and support the cause. Revealing some sobering, statistics she said, “all we are asking for is to be treated equally. While Black people make up 8.8 percent of Toronto’s population seven out of 10 cases of fatal police shootings

involve Blacks. Black kids are eight percent of Toronto youth population but account for 40 percent of kids in care with the Children’s Aid Society”.

Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, CEO of Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario said in her emotionally charged speech that Blacks are disproportionately affected by sickle cell disease, mental health issues and other chronic health problems. We are ignored and do not get the right treatment at the right time and we are often stigmatized”.

Other notable speakers at the event were Shamso Elmi, Founder, Mending The Crack in The Sky; Fanta Ongoiba, Executive Director of Africans in Partnership Against AIDS; Rocco Acheampong, lawyer and civil

rights activist; Dr Francois Yabit Executive Director of Northwood Neighborhood Services; Ken Jeffers, Activist and former Toronto Police Services Board member; John Chukwu, Media personality and Vice President of the Nigerian Canadian Association and PhD student Osholene Oshobugie who represented Professor Sefa Dei of the York University.

The hugely successful event was emceed by the dynamic duo of Jamilah Aman and James Nyarko.

The ACSDC is a group set up to bring the numerous African nationalities, organizations, businesses and groups together under one umbrella to achieve better bargaining power for the Black cause.

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5 ways the Biden administration may help stem the loss of international students David L. Di Maria THE CONVERSATION Two years ago the total number of enrolled international students in the U.S. fell for the first time since 2005, costing the U.S. $1.8 billion and the potential for new jobs stemming from scientific collaborations. David L. Di Maria, an international education expert and administrator at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, blames that downward trend on travel bans and other restrictions that made the U.S. a less welcoming place under Former President Donald Trump. With the election of President Joe Biden, Di Maria sees a renewed sense of optimism for the U.S. to regain the luster as an attractive study destination that was lost over the past few years.

Over the past four years, the Trump administration made it increasingly difficult for students from other countries to study in the United States.

In 2017, the number of new international students enrolled at American colleges and universities – that is, those just coming to the U.S. for the first time – declined for the first year on record. Restrictive immigration policies, frayed relations with foreign nations and travel bans all contributed to further drops in new enrollment over each of the following years of Trump’s presidency.

President Joe Biden’s election signals a new day for international education. This is evident based on a slew of Biden’s executive orders, many of which revoked immigration and travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. Additionally, Biden sent a bill to Congress aimed at reforming the nation’s immigration system.

As a university administrator who specializes in international education, I foresee five major ways the United States may once again become the top choice for students from around the world

during the Biden administration.

1. Reform of the immigration system In 2019, the total number of enrolled international students – that is, newly-arrived students as well as those already studying in the U.S. – dropped for the first time since 2005. And the economic impact of international students decreased by US$1.8 billion.

While the declining number of international students wreaked havoc on U.S. colleges and universities, as well as the communities in which they are based, there is renewed optimism that things will change.

That’s because the Biden administration has expressed a commitment to modernizing the nation’s immigration system in ways that respond to economic needs and prevent the U.S. from losing talent to other nations. This includes making it easier for international students who are working on advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM – to stay and work after graduation.

How much Biden can actually reform the immigration system remains to be seen. But international applications to U.S. colleges for this fall are already up 9% compared to a year ago. This suggests a renewed interest in the U.S. as a study destination. It also serves as a hopeful sign that international enrollment will soon rebound, presuming Biden’s handling of the pandemic instills more confidence abroad than that of his predecessor.

2. Elimination of discriminatory bans On his first day in office, Biden revoked the Trump administration’s so-called Muslim ban and other discriminatory restrictions on travel and entry in favor of strengthening information-sharing relationships with foreign governments.

While many of the country-specific restrictions did not directly

cont’d on pg. 12

Sending international students home would sap US influence and hurt the economy

David L. Di Maria THE CONVERSATION Some colleges may have to scramble to make plans to keep international students enrolled.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, made a decision on July 6 regarding international students in the U.S. that will affect far more than just the roughly 870,000 international students themselves.

Based on what I know about the power and influence of higher education in the U.S., this decision could increase the tuition American students pay, cost thousands of jobs throughout the nation and erode America’s stature in the world.

Under this new rule, international students may stay in the country only if they attend a college or university offering in-person classes this fall. Otherwise, they won’t be able to get visas, enter the country or stay here if they plan to attend one of the many schools that are teaching students entirely online.

In effect, thousands of students from other countries who attend schools that do not plan any in-person instruction this fall may have to immediately transfer to another school or leave the country. Otherwise, they could face deportation.

Against the backdrop of what top U.S. public health officials describe as an out-of-control virus, this new immigration rule puts U.S. colleges in a jam.

Schools must choose between bringing students together on campus to comply with the immigration restrictions, or adhere to public health precautions related to physical distancing.

It may be hard to do both if the online option is off the table when it comes to international students. Which means U.S. colleges and universities could take a significant financial hit in the form of lost tuition revenue beyond what they were anticipating as a result of COVID-19.

Colleges must scramble As of July 6, more than 1,000 colleges and universities have

cont’d on pg. 11

10 The Ghanaian News January 2021

FOCUS Words we use must uplift and build us as human beings Let’s follow the example of Martin Luther King of blessed memory

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto-Canada The unbridled tongues of celebrities and of supposed ‘men of God’ as well as the ‘sharp teeth’ of some politicians against people appointed/elected to high positions of authority are becoming unbearable in civil society.

The world over, conspiracy theories are fed to vulnerable citizenry through the social media by unscrupulous individuals and some identifiable groups to derail the efforts of good leaders seeking to advance their people in peace and development, especially in Africa and surprisingly in the United States of America which we see as the most ‘democratic and developed nation’ of the world. The question I ask myself is: “Are we falling apart?”

Could words be so dangerous to the development of humankind? This trend of late brings me to reflect on the words of one civil rights champion of blessed memory, Martin Luther King Jr who lived in America.

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.”– Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream Quote Could Martin Luther King be right or wrong?

January 16, 2012 was celebrated as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is a day that reminds us of the ideals of Dr. King Jr. A man of peace! Peace is the most precious commodity that the world needs!

Conflicts, racism, discrimination, and oppression are some of the vices which are ripping countries apart.

Yes! I couldn’t agree with Martin Luther King Jr. in his statement that, “Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain

used the day to engage students in focusing on their individual dreams that could help make them better students and better persons! It is my prayer that as we reflect on the dream and speeches of Dr. King, we will remind ourselves that according to Dr. King, the purpose of education is: “To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.”

Words We Use Must Uplift and Build Us as Human Beings reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

He declared that he had a dream for a more peaceful and united society, he envisioned that one day little children of all races would be able to walk down the street hand-in-hand!

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

Martin

Luther

King

Jr.

Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a Minister of the Gospel, admonishes us to be careful with the words we use on other people. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:25 that, “An anxious heart weighs a man down but a kind word cheers him up.” How true! The words we use can build or destroy; unite or divide; bring peace or tension (even war) and so on.

Pronouncements of Some Ministers of the Gospel and Politicians in Ghana Recently: Of late an unfortunate development of unkind words being used by some Pastors and some politicians in Ghana leaves much to be desired in our beloved country. One could refer to news

coverage of some Pastors using words of curse on innocent children in their efforts to prove that they are ‘powerful’!

Such unbridled tongues have been left to ride their freedom in the country.

This is very sad indeed. However, judgment of the Almighty God awaits those who use words to destroy others.

Remember, our deeds and words will be brought to judgment one day!

Radio stations are being used to insult people in authority, including even the President of the nation by politicians who ought to know better! Our political divide has become acrimonious and very shameful. How can we develop as a nation if we are at each other’s throat? Let’s pause and reflect on the following words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”

The culture of Ghana has strong foundation in respect for authority and hospitality towards strangers. These cornerstones of our culture should not be sacrificed at the altar of hate and indecency!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King’s birthday, January 15. This year the celebration of the day fell on January 16, 2012.

The day was used by many, especially students in USA and Canada to reflect on the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which drives our society on the wheels of social justice! My school

Canada Cell: 416-825-5885 USA Cell 1-917-306-0073Tel: 1-914-652-7191 Ghana Cell: +233244-672052 Tel: +233332195630

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 11

J. J. RAWLINGS is ‘The Tribute!’

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto, ON

and sentenced to death for an attempted coup, Ghanaian neighbours – Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, were under one form of military dictatorship or another.

It is so well in order that tributes keep pouring in from across the globe to celebrate Ghana’s Former President, Jerry John Rawlings, since the news of his sudden passing, on Thursday, November 12, went viral.

But can any single tribute aptly define the enigmatic personality of J. J. Rawlings and his real contribution to Ghana’s socioeconomic development?

The name Rawlings evokes memories of the many things he did and he did not do in his more than 19 years of national political leadership and thereafter.

It is a household name! A lot has been written about him - more would be written, and many more stories would be passed on as oral tradition.

Not even his harshest critics would begrudge Flt. Lt. John Jerry Rawlings, his place in history as an influential, courageous, toughtalking, bold, impactful leader and charismatic Statesman who left deep impressions on the political landscapes of his country and, indeed, Africa.

J.J. or ‘Junior Jesus” as his admirers fondly called him, exuded great energy and revolutionary ideas.

He and his colleagues were unhappy with the inequalities, corruption, and mismanagement that characterised the government of post-independent Ghana and decided to ‘remedy’ the situation in their own way.

The Pan-Africanist fervour ignited by the great Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s independent President, and his peers was beginning to wane with military dictatorships gaining currency in much of Africa then.

Scholars of “Contagion Theory” would better explain the plethora of attempted and successful military coups from the 1960s through the 1990s before the wave of multi-party democracy eventually caught up with the continent.

By May 1979 when Flt.Lt. Rawlings and his fellow young officer-travelers were arrested

Indeed, military adventure into politics was like a pandemic on the continent. Uganda’s notorious dictator Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada was only ousted in April 1979 after eight brutal years in power. In Burkina Faso, a fiery Captain Thomas Sankara seized power in 1983, but his revolutionary government was cut short in a putsch led by his comrade Blaise Compaore in 1987.

Sankara was killed in that coup, but like Rawlings, the effects of his reforms still reverberate to date. Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau had and continued to have their fair share of military interventions.

After the May 1979 failed coup, Rawlings was again in the limelight on 4 June 1979, when junior officers broke jail to set him free. But he never allowed the government of his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) to overstay its welcome. By September 1979, Rawlings had handed over power to the elected

Sending international students home would sap US influence and hurt the economy

cont’d from pg. 9

already released plans for fall instruction. Of those, 60% plan currently plans to offer in-person classes, 24% plan to offer hybrid and 9% plan to offer courses online. The remaining colleges are still undecided.

Now, some institutions will have to scramble to develop alternatives that can enable international students to remain enrolled without breaking the new rule. Schools must report how they plan to proceed by Aug. 1, based on the ICE announcement.

Far-reaching impact The impact of this rule is not just limited to the hundreds of thousands of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges, who represent 4.39% of the 20 million people who currently attend U.S. colleges and universities. It also affects their institutions, their faculty and the local communities as well.

Consider that colleges and universities, which are the largest employers in 1 in 5 states, are already reeling from heavy financial losses associated with the pandemic.

While many schools have had to slash budgets due to refunds issued to students in the spring of 2020, disruptions to research, canceled athletic events and cuts to state funding, others are still waiting to see whether or not they will meet their enrollment targets for fall.

Still, more than 200 colleges and universities have already announced layoffs, furloughs or contract nonrenewal.

At a time when the U.S. is trying to overcome record unemployment and manage its biggest public health crisis in a century, international students seem to be caught in the middle of a partisan divide on reopening the country.

The new guidelines could place many colleges and universities in an impossible position: Increase the number of in-person classes and risk that COVID-19 will spread further.

What they bring to the table Given how many international students contribute to the economy, you might assume ICE would find a way to keep them in the U.S. The students affected by the new rule are the same people who help support about 460,000 American jobs.

The higher tuition and fees they pay helps keep tuition lower for American students. But their contributions transcend economics.

Their academic talents help advance scientific discoveries, which are more critical than ever given the nation’s ongoing battle against COVID-19. The fallout will be severe should these students choose to study in other countries instead. Australia and New Zealand, for example, have recently made their policies more welcoming.

Giving ground to other nations Booting international students would surely reduce America’s influence in the world as well.

According to the State

Department, the alumni of educational and cultural exchange programs include more than 75 Nobel Laureates and nearly 450 current and former heads of state and government. Having established personal ties, international students often return home as unofficial ambassadors for the U.S. International alumni are more likely to look to the U.S. for ideas and trade agreements and to otherwise exert influence abroad that benefits U.S. interests.

While the share of international students studying in the U.S. has steadily declined – from 28% of the world’s 2.1 million international students in 2001 to 21% of the world’s 5.3 million international students in 2019 – other countries have made significant gains in attracting global talent due to national strategies.

Most notably, China now hosts nearly 1 in 10 students who study abroad globally, including more students from Africa than the U.K. and U.S. combined. One reason for China’s rise as a study destination is its leaders’ realization that it is lagging behind the U.S. in terms of soft power with only a few world leaders having graduated from Chinese institutions.

In my view, ICE’s new guidance is only the latest step in a steady retreat from global engagement that clears the path for other nations to attract more of the students that might otherwise study in the United States.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings government of President Hilla Limann. However, not before the AFRC’s controversial anticorruption “cleaning exercise,” that saw the public execution of some Supreme Court Judges, who handled J.J.’s trial and eight senior military officers including three former Heads of State.

When Rawlings seized power in June 1979, the headline of one British newspaper was “HalfScottish polo player takes over in Ghana,” a reference to the fact that J.J. was born to a Scottish father and a Ghanaian mother.

Notorious for his very short fuse, J.J. quickly lost patience with Limann’s government, sacking it in another military coup in December 1981 military, thus, returning to power as head of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). The Council tried to transform Ghana into a Marxist State and so turned to the Soviet Union for support.

But the Communist system was abandoned two years later, with J.J. reluctantly embracing the Western free-market system followed by the devaluation of Cedi – the local currency. J.J. gained popularity with the freemarket reforms, turning economic austerity into a stable economy in the early 1990s, which coincided with the advent of pluralistic democracy in Africa.

Moving with the global tide, he won the first democratic presidential election in 1992 and boosted Ghana’s international profile by contributing troops to the regional ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and the U.N. peacekeeping operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, and Iraq, among others.

Still riding on the crest of a robust domestic economy and positive international image, J.J. won re-election in 1996 as Ghana’s longest-serving leader before handing over power peacefully in 2001. He remained active in retirement with occasional public

forays, such as turning up to direct road traffic to ease gridlocks.

In 2002, a year after leaving office, Rawlings called for “positive defiance” against his successor President John Kufuor’s government, apparently out of frustration of the government’s performance. But he did nothing untoward to undermine that administration and, if anything, contributed to the consolidation of democracy in Ghana. In subsequent years, Rawlings went ahead to campaign for debt forgiveness for African countries and, in 2010, served as African Union’s envoy to crisis-torn Somalia.

Until his death on 12 November 2020, at the age of 73, J.J. was never a fan of Western capitalism, saying in one of his famous quotes: “You can Christianise me, but you can never westernise me.”

In September, Rawlings’ video celebrating the 101st birthday anniversary of his mother Victoria Agbotui went viral. Unfortunately, the centenarian passed on a few weeks later, and Rawlings himself took ill shortly after his mother’s burial. The next the World heard was that the once-ebullient air force officer had succumbed to the cold hands of death.

J.J. often brought both undiluted seriousness and wise-cracks to public speaking punctuated by anecdotes. There was a story about his unscheduled visit to the venue of a military exercise outside Accra, the Ghanaian capital. The exercise was on “Camouflage against the Enemy.” But during the visit, Rawlings conveniently ignored the commanders and instead decided to interact with junior officers.

When he asked a fidgety Corporal Kofi the name of the military exercise, Kofi replied that it was “how to camouflage the enemy.”

Jokingly but sternly, Rawlings

cont’d on pg. 13

12 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Dub lab production drops Mango juice riddim album

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

The United States (US) based producers, Neville Stichie Don Davis and Seyoum Supa Cept Watson have released a much anticipated album dubbed: “Mango Juice Riddim” to usher the celebration of the Mango festival which is celebrated between the months of May and August.

The album which has 12 solid dancehall tracks featured renowned musicians, up and coming and new artistes including Sizzla, Kip Rich, Mr Lexx, B Trish among others under the Dub lab and Bad Bull production .

It was released on January 1, 2021 to promote Reggae/dancehall music across the globe and to also make the new year a well celebrated one for music lovers.

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

Shy boy noted that the album was the biggest dancehall rhythm of all times as it combines various hit songs including push out, Only wanna be with you, weak fence and Mango juice among others. sound of this project first hand and to let Africans know we love and appreciate their culture and support for our music and to expose some of the younger artists on the project to a wider audience,” Shy boy added.

He indicated that the songs on the album were the best songs that dancehall music lovers could experience to make the Mango season, a traditional celebration memorable.

He also said his outfit as part of the project to promote Reggae/ Dancehall music across the globe would also groom talented Ghanaian dancehall musicians unto the international record, Dub lab production to project them.

Shy boy urged all Ghanaians to get the album from all the major streamline media including YouTube, iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify among others.

Speaking to Ghanaian News in Accra on Monday, the African promoter of the album, Shy Boy said the mango juice riddim was produced under the imprint of Dub lab production which Stichie Don is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Gospel Dynamo, Kwasi Mintah is set to release a new single titled: “Ob3y3” on January 28 to strengthen the hope of Christians.

According to him, God will install everything that the world lost in previous years and urged believers to fervently pray for their miracle.

Speaking exclusively to Ghanaian News in Accra on Friday, the international gospel Artiste stated that the song would be released with its audio alongside its video at the same day.

He said “Ob3y3” drew its inspiration from some challenges that believers face in life, adding that God through his ministry gave him the message of the lyrics to prophesy to the world that 2021 is a year of restoration.

Kwasi Mintah challenged Christians to keep their faith alive and all their heart desires would be granted to them.

He maintained that “Ob3y3” seeks to

Shy boy

Kwasi Mintah give hope for the hopeless and revives the spirit of God in humans, thus encouraged fans and music lovers to grab a copy once it is released.

The music, the United States based Ghanaian artiste said would be available on all the major downloading sites including Spotify, YouTube, iTunes among others.

5 ways the Biden administration may help stem the loss of international students cont’d from pg. 9

He explained that the dancehall music was being promoted in Ghana and Africa since the genre is popular in Africa especially Ghana.

“I wanted to share the

Kwasi Mintah readies new single ‘Ob3y3’

affect people with student visas, the policy had a broad cooling effect.

Consider the sharp decline in student visas issued to applicants from countries included in the bans. For instance, student visas issued to Iranian nationals fell by 59%, from 3,139 in 2016 to 1,970 in 2019.

Biden’s approach to national security aims to keep would-be threats from entering the U.S. while allowing for citizen diplomacy efforts, such as student exchange programs, to resume. This tactic will ultimately increase the diversity of nations represented on college campuses. Such diversity enhances learning opportunities for all.

3. Protections for Dreamers Undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – often known as Dreamers – faced an uncertain future under Trump. The Trump administration refused to accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – which extends certain protections to Dreamers – that was established under the Obama administration. And this occurred even after the program was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Biden issued a memorandum aimed at preserving and fortifying DACA the same day he was sworn in. While further actions are needed to achieve these goals, the memorandum should provide the country’s more than 200,000 DACA-eligible college students with the hope that a pathway to citizenship is not far off.

4. Options for graduates to stay Even before he was elected, former President Donald Trump regularly claimed that immigrants were taking jobs away from American workers.

This is a notion largely disproved by economists, disputed by employers and rejected by 64% of the general population.

In sharp contrast to his predecessor, Biden has

proposed making it easier for international students with advanced degrees in STEM fields to receive work visas and apply for permanent residency. If successful, Biden would enable the U.S. to retain a greater number of STEM workers who are critical for continued economic growth. Just consider that nearly 25% of billion-dollar startup companies had a founder who first arrived to the U.S. as an international student.

STEM products and services are the focus of many of these companies, which create an average of 1,200 new jobs each.

5. Boost for global science According to a recent survey, the top recommendation that researchers around the world have for the Biden administration is to expand scientific collaborations between the U.S. and other countries.

The exchange of ideas between students and scholars from different parts of the world is important for advancing knowledge and addressing global threats that range from climate change to COVID-19. However, research indicates that two of the most significant barriers to international collaboration are a lack of funding and restrictions on sharing data.

Biden’s decisions to elevate the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology to a Cabinetlevel position, rejoin the Paris climate accord and reverse the previous administration’s move to depart from the World Health Organization all indicate that science will inform future policy decisions. This could help address current barriers to international collaboration.

Biden’s commitments to “lead with science and truth” and attract top global talent to the U.S. not only bode well for U.S. colleges, universities and companies but also hold the promise of reclaiming lost ground by restoring U.S. leadership in science and technology.

The Ghanaian News January 2021 13

LOTS OF ACTIVITIES, LESS PROGRESS

By Gifty Annobil, Toronto, ON

slave to technology, well perhaps I still am, but I started setting myself free after carefully examining and understanding how I contribute value.

This assessment have encouraged me to attach meaning to even the smallest thing I do and connect the dots between my efforts and a larger purpose.

The start of a new year allows us all to look back on the past year and think about the life changes we would like to make.

This period of reflection helps in the reassessment of how we spend our time and the choices we make.

Unfortunately, the measurement of activity rather than progress keeps robbing us of achieving our ultimate goals yearly.

Running from place to place and laboring over long to do lists have increasingly become ways to communicate status.

I have heard people on countless occasions defend the notion that doing something is always better than doing nothing, but what if that SOMETHING is NOTHING? Indeed, life can be busy.

Being busy in my opinion is not a difficult status to attain. Whenever there is a chunk of time, there are things that can fill it. The problem is, sometimes we focus on things

that do not actually add value to our lives.

Doing good things don’t automatically make it the right things. Many of us are busy, but we are not productive.

Social media has even worsened the impact on how doing nothing must be embraced.

Based on how technology controls people’s lives today, many get their ultimate sense of worth and validation from how others view them on their social media platforms. They become preoccupied in portraying a larger than life image on social media and in the process become a slave to its dictates.

I have equally been a

Pause and Ponder!; give yourself time every single day to orient your life in a direction you want to go, that way you won’t default to former habits and patterns.

Don’t let reactionary actions take up more of your day’s work than actions you initiate.

It’s time to take more initiatives and implement your own ideas instead of reacting to actions others expect of you.

Let’s choose our pursuits prudently!

cont’d from pg. 11

In another recent video, Rawlings as guest speaker at a University function snatched the hand-held microphone from a gentleman and handed it back to a young lady, adding cheekily: ‘I prefer the young lady,’ to a raucous applause by the audience.

Tributes are still pouring in from world leaders eulogising the late Ghanaian Flt. Lt., who, unlike some African dictators, had the opportunity to promote himself to the highest rank in the Air Force while in power but resisted the temptation to do so. Rawlings led by example and from the front, heading one of the shortest military regimes that organised a democratic election. He also stepped down after two terms resisting the sit-tight or third-term craze on the continent.

But like every human or any coin, there are at least two sides to Rawlings’ legacy.

After all, one man’s terrorist, they say, is another’s freedom fighter!

Doubtless, the orphaned families of the

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If the desire is to help others, then helping yourself to assume the position to becoming a resourceful person is key.

J. J. RAWLINGS is ‘The Tribute!’ directed the Commander to bring the troops back to base since it was apparent they did not understand what the exercise was about! But that was not the end of the story! Kofi’s mates made fun of him for lacking the courage to explain the exercise to the Commander-in-Chief. To which the Corporal retorted that: “Talking to the President is not easy.”

SIKAMAN-JOHNSON

Judges and senior military officers executed by firing squad under Rawlings’ watch would have uncomplimentary words for the late Flt-Lt. who on occasions said regretted his actions, but never apologised. Indeed, critics often accused his government of human rights violations and being intolerant of dissent.

Capital punishment is going into extinction as the World continues to lose appetite for the taking of human life as a deterrent against crime. As mortals, we are frail imperfect creatures.

Yet, among us also are those who have the opportunity to apologise or atone for misdeeds but fail to grab the opportunities when presented with such. Unfortunately, for many, there is no luxury of a second chance.

The ultimate and inescapable truth is that while some might escape accounting for their deeds or misdeeds here on Earth, Divine judgement is inevitable! The consolation, however, is that, unlike humans, God is an impartial Judge.

Therefore, our task on Earth is simple – to spread love and do good to others at all times, and expect a favourable judgement.

May God guide us aright and grant J.J.’s soul a peaceful repose. Amen!

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14 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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

Revisiting Ambiguities in Sponsorship of orphaned relatives sponsor an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild only if they are related to you by blood or adoption; both their mother and father have died; they are under 18 years of age and they are single.

This topic is being revisited to address the concerns of prospective sponsors of orphaned relatives who are seeking further clarification of the regulations regarding eligibility to sponsor and eligibility to be sponsored.

One of the principal objectives of Immigration Canada as indicated in section 3(1) (d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) is to see that families are reunited in Canada. Section 117 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) lists people who can be sponsored as members of the family class.

It is necessary the foreign relative meets the definition in R117 before a straightforward sponsorship could be done in respect of the relative. Relatives like a brother, sister, nephew, niece, and grandchildren can be sponsored only in very specific situations.

An orphan is simply a child whose two parents are dead. Immigration does not compromise on the definition.

Section 117 (1) of the Immigration Regulations states an orphaned foreign national is a member of the family class for sponsorship purposes if, with respect to a sponsor, the foreign national is: a person whose parents are deceased, who is under 18 years of age, who is not a spouse or commonlaw partner and who is a child of the sponsor’s mother or father; or a child of a child of the sponsor’s mother or father or a child of the sponsor’s child. In other words, you can directly

You cannot sponsor your brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild if one of their parents is alive; if no one knows where their parents are; if their parents abandoned them; if someone else other than their parents is taking care of them while one or both their parents are alive, or if their parent is in jail or otherwise detained.

Before an orphaned child can be sponsored, the relationship between the sponsor and one of the parents of the orphaned relative must be clearly and convincingly established. Immigration may find it necessary to rely on the sponsor’s previous information in the hands of the

Immigration such as “Additional Family Information” form completed by the sponsor at the time the sponsor filed an application for permanent residence.

Among the documents Immigration may expect from the sponsor are: the orphaned child’s passport; birth certificate showing the deceased parents as the child’s parents; photocopy of birth certificate of the child’s deceased parent indicating he or she and the sponsor are related biologically; photocopies of the death certificates of the orphaned child’s parents; child’s school records indicating deceased parent as a parent and a court order in respect of the child’s custody after the parents had died.

Other provisions of the Regulations, such as R133 (1) which deal with requirements for sponsors, would apply to sponsorship of orphans.

For instance, the sponsor of an orphaned relative will have to demonstrate

to the immigration that, on the day the application was filed to the day a decision is made with respect to the application, there is evidence that the sponsor is an eligible sponsor and that he intends to fulfil the obligations in the sponsorship undertaking.

The exception to the minimum necessary income does not generally apply to sponsorship of orphaned relatives.

The Regulations also require that the sponsor is not subject to a removal order; is not detained in any penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison; has not been convicted under the criminal code of any serious offence or any offence in respect of which the Immigration would not allow him to be a sponsor. Furthermore, the Regulations require that the sponsor is not in default of any sponsorship undertaking; is not in default of the repayment of any debt referred to in subsection 145(1) of the Act payable to her Majesty in the right of Canada; is not an

un-discharged bankrupt under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and is not in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability.

In situations where direct sponsorships of orphaned relatives cannot be done, it might be possible to invoke humanitarian and compassionate considerations under section 25 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to overcome any issues of ineligibility under section 117 of the Regulations or resort to adoption.

Prospective sponsors of orphaned relatives should not hesitate to contact immigration law professionals for advice and assistance whenever necessary.

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

Larry King: Veteran US talk show host dies aged 87

cont’d from pg. 6

He earned a number of honours, including two Peabody awards, but was also criticised for his non-confrontational approach and openended questions. King boasted of not doing much research for the interviews so, he said, he could learn along with viewers.

By 2010 his ratings had dropped significantly, with critics saying King’s approach felt outdated in an era of more aggressive interviewing styles.

King then announced his retirement, saying: “It’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.”

In his final programme on CNN, he told his viewers: “I don’t know what to say, except to you, my audience, thank you. Instead of goodbye, how about so long?”

CNN replaced him with British journalist

and broadcaster Piers Morgan, whose programme King criticised for being “too much about him”.

Morgan, whose programme was cancelled three years later, said on Twitter on Saturday: “Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was ‘like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.’ (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert).”

But, Morgan added, King “was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer.”

In a statement, CNN president Jeff Zucker said: “The scrappy young man from Brooklyn had a historymaking career spanning radio and television.

His curiosity about the

world propelled his award-winning career in broadcasting, but it was his generosity of spirit that drew the world to him.”

Most recently, King hosted another programme, Larry King Now, broadcast on Hulu and RT, Russia’s statecontrolled international broadcaster.

A Kremlin spokesman was quoted as saying by state RIA Novosti news agency: “King repeatedly interviewed Putin. The president has always appreciated his great professionalism and unquestioned journalistic authority.”

Outside broadcasting, King founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation in 1988, a charity which helps to fund heart treatment for those with limited financial means or no medical insurance.

CNN

The Ghanaian News January 2021 15

PRESTIGE AFRICAN-CANADIAN SUPPORT SERVICES (PACSS) PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY FUNDED BY CANADIAN RED CROSS By: Stacy Banton, Toronto, ON

Foods International Inc. to aid in the food We have been met with unprecedented security program which is making a huge situation making it very difficult difference in the lives of over two hundred for everyone to cope with all the participants. uncertaintyhitting families especially, the Over two hundred Black community vulnerable in the Black community. members have benefited from the food With the impact of COVID-19 on the Black community, Prestige AfricanCanadian Support Services with support from Canadian Red Cross Society have been providing food security, PPEs and COVID-19 related workshops to the members until February 19th, 2021.

To sustain the fight against COVID-19, PACSS also received a generous donation of four boxes of Geisha Mackerel and nine boxes of Geisha Sardines from Geesha

security program both through either pick up or delivery ensuring all necessary COVID-19 protocols are observed.

Taking care of our nutritional, fitness, mental health needs as well as exploring virtual learning in these times is very essential. In view of that, we have put together 3 events with experts via Zoom from February 6th to 13th with the goal of providing necessary information and education to the community.

A very big thank you to our committed members; Sam, Edwin, Steph, Keren, Tracey, Ama and Gifty who have dedicated their time inensuring the “Grocery on the go” program is a success. Also, we would like to thank our participating local stores; Afro Caribbean, New Era, New Kajetia, Makola and Kumasi Home Market for the great work they doing to make the program a success. #staysafe #staystrong #stayblessed

#staypositive

All attendees in the GTA will receive a box of food support and PPE. Below is the ZOOM information for all the workshops; Zoom Meeting ID: 818 6340 1161 MEETING PASSCODE: 331331 Donation from Geesha Foods Intermational Inc. Received by Rev. Kyeremateng on behalf of PACSS

Saturday February 6th, 2021 @ 4PM to 5PM Exploring Virtual Learning during COVID-19 Sunday February 7th, 2021 @ 3PM–5PM Nutrition and Fitness Coaching: Guiding you to a Healthy, Fitter and Better Life during COVID-19

Members of Geesha Foods International Inc. During the donation

Members of the volunteering team

Saturday February 13th, 2021 @ 6PM to 8PM Your Mental Health and COVID-19

Delivering to participant Delivering to a senior

Delivering to a senior

16 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 17

Toronto Asanteman Children’s Foundation Donates to Tendercare Living Centre

By Staff Reporter, Toronto, ON

Some few weeks ago, Tendercare Living Center in Scarbrough, Ontario, experienced an outbreak of covid-19 among residents and staff. In light of this, Asanteman Children's Foundation, Toronto, donated two thousand facemasks to the Long-term Home on the 20th January 2021. Louise Chung, the office manager, accepted the donation on behalf of the Tendercare Living Center. The leadership of the Asanteman Children's Foundation offers our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives to this devastating virus.

Some of the Executive Members of the Foundation

HOUSE IN GHANA FOR SALE OR RENT * Furnished House with a Piano * 10 rooms in total with 6 Bedrooms * A Very Spacious Kitchen * A Security Room with Toilet and Bath * Extra Quarter Acre Land * Situated at an Intersection of Two Roads (Accra/Kumasi Rd.) * Situated at Fise on the Accra/Kumasi Main Road This Very Beautiful House could also be converted to a Hotel, a Health Facility, Offices etc Sale Price: US 350,000.00

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18 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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

(Formerly India Africa) Specials for This Month

Anchor Mackerel - $1.00 special

For All Your Grocery Needs Contact 905-526-4877 1439 Upper Ottawa St., Unit 16-18 Hamilton, Ontario

Indome - $15.99 per box

Also in store specials: Fresh Yams, Smoke Fish, Exeter Corned Beef and Beauty Supply Phoenicia Sardine - 4 for $6.00

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

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

The Ghanaian News January 2021 19

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

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

problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don’t exercise.

We all know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life.

7. Exercise can be fun … and social!

Exercise does not necessarily mean going to gym or running a marathon.

Simple form of physical activity can carry valuable health benefits.

Want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to your life? Just exercise.

The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore.

Everyone benefits from exercise, regardless of age, sex or physical ability.

Need more convincing to get moving? Check out these seven ways exercise can lead to a happier, healthier you.

1. Exercise controls weight Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss.

When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.

Regular trips to the gym are great, but don’t worry if you can’t find a large chunk of time to exercise every day. To reap the benefits of exercise, just get more active throughout your day — take the stairs instead of the elevator or rev up your household chores. Consistency is key.

2. Exercise combats health conditions and diseases Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This onetwo punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, a number of types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

3. Exercise improves mood Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day?

A gym session or brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.

You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

4. Exercise boosts energy

Exercise and physical activity can be enjoyable. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy.

Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting.

So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. Bored? Try something new, or do something with friends.

The bottom line on exercise Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, boost your health and have fun. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise.

Try to engage in a combination of vigorous and moderate aerobic exercises, such as running, walking or swimming. Squeeze in strength training at least twice per week by lifting free weights, using weight machines or doing body weight exercises.

Space out your activities throughout the week. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to ramp up your exercise efforts.

Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.

References Modified from Mayo Clinic Housecall, Oct 13, 2016.

House for Sale in Ghana Large Property for Sale Prampram Completed up to roofing level.

10 minutes’ drive to the sea side Just About 45 minutes’ drive from Accra 6 Bedrooms (with 2 in the Artic), all rooms self-contained 2 Living rooms, 1 LargeKitchen, 1 Dining area, Storage Area and Powder room.

Property has 1 extra plot 70 x 100ft Price US$80,000 to US$100,000 Negotiable.

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance.

Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.

5. Exercise promotes better sleep Struggling to snooze? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to hit the hay.

6. Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can improve energy levels and physical appearance, which may boost your sex life.

But there’s even more to it than that. Regular physical activity may enhance arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have

Please contact: WhatsUp #: (233) 55-398-4455 In Canada: 204-951-8044

20 The Ghanaian News January 2021

J & I BEAUTY SUPPLY Specializing In: * Hair Relaxing * Braids * Weaves * Cornrows TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

Call: Elizabeth 416-445-4446 113 Ellesmere Rd., Scarborough, Ont. M1R 4C3

Tel: 416-740-1859 * 100% Human Hair * Wigs * Weaves * Beauty Supply * Make-Up Supply * Skin Care Cream & Lotions 1172 Albion Road, Etobicoke Next Plaza to Tim Horton's (Albion/Islington)

CEEKTEK INT’L LIMITED Wholesale & Retail

C.K. AMOATENG 242 Eddystone Ave., North York, ON, M3N 1H7

TEL: 1-647-349-1629 CELL: 1-647-835-1627 EMAIL: ceek29@yahoo.ca WEB: www.ceektex.com INSTAGRAM: ceektex23

PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS. SO LET’S TALK CALL GHANAIAN NEWS 416-916-3700

Cita Beauty Home beauty products, foods, clothing

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

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

92 ARROW ROAD, TORONTO, ONTARIO

The Ghanaian News January 2021 21

CLASSIFIED Classic Videos/Photos * Weddings *Birthdays *Christenings *Portraits

For All Your Plumbing Needs Call Robert Nyarkoh 416-731-1679

New Home & Renovation All Repairs * Plugged Toilet * Plugged Drains

Call Albert Aikins

Isaac Best Photos Inc. Specialize In Weddings: * Christenings * Outdoorings * Parties * Funerals * Private pictures

Tel: 416-244-3465 Cell: 416-278-9674 15 Lexington Ave, Unit 4, Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 2G4

Quality Video Productions * Weddings * Special Occasions * Christenings * Sporting Events * Birthdays * Anniversaries * Anniversaries * Seminars * And Much More

Cell: 647-898-1892

Tel: 647-914-7239

Amos Labouring and Handyman Service • • • • • •

Cynthia High Tech Videos

Nyarkoh Plumbing

Basement Furnishing Hard Flooring Door Cutting Taping & Painting Chimney Dry Wall

Call Alva (Kofi) 905- 799-1466 ROOM FOR RENT IN DOWNTOWN BRAMPTON FOR MORE INFO CALL 647-780-6270

Action Navigator Video Productions

Barber Wanted and Chair for Rent

SPECIAL EVENT VIDEO COVERAGE FOR ALL OCCASIONS QUALITY D.V VIDEO COVERAGE BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, OUTDOORINGS, ANNIVERSARIES PARTIES ETC.

ONE STEP AHEAD IN QUALITY TWO STEPS BEHIND IN PRICE CALL : ACTION NAVIGATOR

(JOE) 416-616-6070

3 Knightbridge, Brampton, Ont., L6T 3X3

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416916-3700

Hair Stylist and Braider wanted for commission Contact: 647-628-4288 or visit us @1844 Jane Street Nana Ebrey Video Production & Barber Shop Super Quality Videos Specializing in: Video coverage: Weddings, Outdooring, General Events, Birthday parties, Broadcasting Videos,

Nana's Barber Shop Super Hair Cuts & Designs

Call Nana Ebrey 416-825-3413

10 Garfella Dr., Etobicoke, (Martin Grove/Albion)

MAGS MECHANICAL

The D.J.’s 911 Soundz

Plumbing & Heating

Specializing: Service Preventative Maintenance Boilers Furnace Plumbing Sump Pumps DHW Re'circ Pumps Cold Water Booster Pumps Cleaning of DHW Storage Tanks Garage exhaust fans garage heaters Kitchen/bathroom Exhaust, Etc.

Good Rate, Excellent Service Call Magnus Manso

Tel: 905-796-6575

Contact Us Today For Your Appointment

“We Are The Best Among The Rest In Toronto” We cover All occasions and gatherings.

We offer the best rate in GTA

Licence Boiler/FurnaceTechnician 1

Cell: 416-712-1052

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

DJ Emmanuel Osei-Tutu

416-450-6156

DJ (Fine Bee) Charles Addo 905-550-9004

DJ Joseph Osei-Tutu

647-887-5858

22 The Ghanaian News January 2021

African Caribbean Groceries Inc 63 Dundas West, Mississauga, Ont

Tel: 905-281-9515 Business Hours

Monday - Wednesday Thursday - Friday Saturday

Sunday

- 10:00am - 8:00pm - 10:00am - 9:00pm - 9:30am - 6:30pm - 12:30pm - 5:30pm

63 Dundas West of Hurontario

Kaf African Caribbean Market

PROMOTING

Tel: 905-855-3595

401 or 403 to South on Erin Mills Pkwy,

* POTATO FLAKES

* OX HEAD SCENTED RICE *PALM SOUP

*GRACE KENNEDY SCENTED RICE

*GARI

*ADWENE

* FRESH PONA YAMS *ASANKA

*QUALITY ZOMI

*BODIE FUFU

*ALREADY MIXED FUFU *KONKONTE

*KOOBI

*GHANA BREAD *SHITO

VISIT OUR FISH

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

OUR BEAUTY AND HAIR PRODUCTS One of the Largest Selection

Tel:

416-288-9330

2069 Lawrence Ave. E. Scarborough, Ont.

416-916-3700

Opposite CEEKTEX

Specializing In African and Caribbean Food & Hair Products

Open 7 Days A Week * Amane * Palm Oil * Atadwe * Adwene * Zomi Oil *Werewere * Fufu * Fish * Momone * Alata Samina * Rice * Fresh Yam * Nkuto * Garden Eggs * Goat Meat * Apem * Koobi * Shito * Kenkey * Geisha * Kpako * Gari * Kokonte * Asanka

Twins Sister Tel: 416-235-1470 Cell: 647-448-3241 Email. new.kantamantomarket@gmail.com

266 Eddystone Ave, North York, Ont. M3N 1H7

Xpress Tropical Foods & Meat

African and Caribbean Grocery Store

* WHITE CORN FLOUR *POTATO STARCH

NEWS

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION

Specializing in African, Caribbean, Asian & Canadian Foods

*ACCRA KENKEY WHITE CORN MEAL

GHANAIAN

New Kantamanto Market

UNCLE SETH TROPICAL FOODS

CALL

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

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

TALK

LOCATION:

Tel: 416-745-5928

*WHITE RICE

SO LET’S

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

For All Your Family Grocery Needs

BUSINESS.

MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH MONEYGRAM

We Carry All Your Tropical Grocery Items

We are open 7 Days a week.

Sundays from 12 noon to 6:00 pm

IS OUR

We are wholesalers and distributors of smoke fish

Exit West on Dundas, 2nd light left Liruma Road, Behind Mr. Lube

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

BUSINESS

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

Mississauga, Ontario

Central Market

YOUR

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

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

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

The Ghanaian News January 2021 23

M A K O L A Tropical Foods

THE SUPERMARKET IN THE HEART OF ACCRA-GHANA IS NOW HERE IN THE HEART OF TORONTO BEST PRICES IN TOWN

QUALITY FOODS

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

2400 FINCH AVE. W., UNIT 2C NORTH YORK, ONT., M3N 2M6

Tel: 416-244-4496

NEW ERA MART LTD. AFRICAN & WEST INDIAN GROCERIES

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

416-740-7955

Fax: 416-749-8536

Email: ben@the-wire.com

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

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

* Red Snapper * Adwene * Mackerel * Goat Meat * Palm Oil * Creams & Lotions * Egusi * Braids Open 7 Days * Fresh Ghana Yams * Gels * King Fish Steak A Week Business Hours Monday - WEDNESDAY - 10 am - 8:00 pm THURSDAY - SATURDAY - 10 Am - 8:30 pm SUNDAYS - 12:30 PM - 5 PM

Tel: 905-846-2897

15 Brisdale Drive (Bovaird Dr. W. & Brisdale Drive)

Atwima Marfo Enterprise

(Formerly East-End Tropical Market) WE ARE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION

200 Bellamy Rd. North Plaza (Opposite Esso gas station)

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

* African Yam * Chicken * Box of Mackerel * Burnt Goat * Red Mullet * Ram Goat Meat * Carnation Milk * Black Soap

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

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

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

Guranteed Lowest Prices on All African Foods Videos and CDs

Cosmetics Tel: 416-286-0516

24 The Ghanaian News January 2021

New African King Meat Shop Under New Management

Lowest Price Guaranteed Specializing in African, Caribbean and Asian Wholesale deal on Yam, Gari, Kokonte and more

• • • • •

Burnt Goat Fresh Goat Ox Tail Cow Tripe Smoke Fish

• • • • • •

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

Consumer Hotline: 647-344-0988

Business Hours

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

2223 Jane Street (opposite Chalkfarm) Toronto

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

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

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

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

BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

- - - - - - -

CLOSED 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 PM TO 10:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM 12:00 PM TO 9:00 PM

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

The Ghanaian News January 2021 25

26 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Year in Review 2020

cont’d from pg. 1 with Electrification as a key theme.

•

Senator Lynn Beyak suspended from Canada Senate for a second time.

•

Accra Great Olympics offered trial opportunity to imprisoned

•

Government allows churches in Ghana to open with strict safety conditions.

•

African players speak out over George Floyd death.

goalkeeper Aboagye.

March

•

Ghana chalks 63rd milestone of nationhood.

•

Ghana’s flag hoisted at Queen’s Park to celebrate 63rd Independence anniversary.

•

President Akufo Addo updates the nation on fight on Corona virus.

•

•

exercise in Ghana.

•

President Akufo Addo.

•

GCAO Homework Club goes virtual during the Covid-19 pandemic.

•

Jim Karygiannis, Toronto Councilor Ward 22, Scarborough-Agincourt

•

Toronto City Council vote against defunding Police.

0.25%.

•

Ghanaian Association of Durham (GAD) presented a $1000

•

Community professionals and frontline workers gave advice on corona virus.

•

Black History Month celebrated at Brampton City Hall.

•

Swearing-in ceremony

donation chequeto St. Paul’s on-the hill community food bank.

• • •

Appreciate your gift, talents and leave a legacy

•

newcomer youth as critical for successful integration in new societies in Melbourne Australia.

Church of Pentecost wins the maiden trophy of ‘What Do You know About Ghana’ quiz contest in Toronto.

Ghanaian Association of Hamilton held a special independence celebration

successfully.

• •

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders finally retires.

•

Canada announces deal to obtain potential Covid-19 vaccines.

•

Fruitful House Church distributes food to the community.

•

US and Ghana work together to achieve malaria elimination and zero deaths by 2030.

Ghana’s Prof. Francis Dodoo appointed to chair World Athletics’ Governance Commission.

•

No ‘final four’ event for African Champions League.

•

G Central Market donates food items to the community.

April

•

masks to the Ghanaian community.

•

Trudeau unveils immediate ban on 1500 ‘military-grade’ assault weapons.

•

Canada child benefit increases $300 per child for May.

•

Pandemic academics teach us that classrooms still matter.

•

Ontario Government extends all emergency orders until may 19.

•

Ethiopian Airlines repatriates over 1000 Canadians.

•

Bill Gates says if you want to be successful for a long time you have to be humble.

May

•

La Stool loses case over 49,000 acre land to Lakeside Estate.

•

Ghanalinx Media Group donates Covid-19 relief funds ($2000) to Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (Ghana Union).

•

Ghanaian community in Toronto launches Fund-Raising drive to National Covid-19 drive in Ghana.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announces stepping down on July 31.

•

Face coverings to be made mandatory for TTC riders as of July 2.

•

We can’t evacuate stranded Ghanaians in Canada-Consul-General Seshie.

•

President Akufo Addo says plans to ease restrictions must be backed by data.

Apostle Daniel Engmann, wife Mrs. Debbie Engmann and Obaa Yaa presents face

Ghanaian community in Edmonton donates $20,000 to Ghana to fight Covid-19 drive .

•

Jim Karygiannis gets his Toronto City Council seat back once again.

in Hamilton.

•

Multi-direction evacuation flights for stranded to Canada and Canada to Ghana executed

African women.

Prof. Michael Baffoe touts positive sense of identity and belonging of

July

Ghanaian-Canadians from Accra Ghana

Margaret Adu, for Calgary City, Manitoba and Saskatchewan charges

Aston Villa Women sign English-born Ghanaian Anita Asante.

of appreciation, Honorary Consul General

•

Former WBO Bantamweight champion Alfred “Cobra” kotey dead.

new Asantefuohene of Toronto.

•

George Floyd remembered in a memorial in Ghana.

of Obarima Kofi Gyamfi the

•

December 7 must be a Ghanaian election, not a West African election:

Bank of Canada cuts key overnight rate to U N Chief warns of violence at home amid pandemic.

•

Ghana’s Electoral Commission launches new Voter’s Registration

removed again.

•

•

June

•

August

Anti-African Racism, anti-Black Racism, Systemic Racism and Black Lives Matter rally at Toronto City Hall by AfricanCanadian Social Development Council.

•

The last evacuation flight for stranded Ghanaian-Canadians from Accra arrives in Toronto.

•

Covid-19 forces GCAO summer batik Couture workshop to go virtual.

•

Racism almost bursts the NBA bubble.

•

GCAO receives $100,000 Red Cross grant to expand existing programs for social intervention and virtual programs.

•

GFA celebrates Asante Kotoko on their 85th anniversary.

•

September

Beyond the Return unveils 7 pillars and promotes a deeper connection with the Diaspora in Accra Ghana.

•

Sister Georgina Brenya ends 14 year stint at sisterhood in Winnepeg, Manitoba.

•

Swedru Mma in Diaspora donate to Swedru Hospital in Ghana.

The Ghanaian News January 2021 27

Year in Review 2020

cont’d from pg. 26 •

Impact Lives Church Food Pantry & •

We Care back to school event.

•

Building in Toronto commissioned...

items to Jewish Eldercare Centre in

virtually.

• •

•

October

•

Ontario passes legislation to make daylight time permanent.

•

Olympic champions Virtue, Moir and Tewksbury among 114 Order of Canada inductees.

• •

Ghanaian Anglican Church of Toronto

Ghanaian Association of Durham

acquires new church premises at 1428

(GAD).

Royal York Road.

•

Federal Liberals hold onto Toronto

•

40th anniversary celebration of World Tourism Day in Ghana.

•

Africa’s appetite for free things invite Chinese trouble warns prof Patrick

•

St. Andrews Catholic Church bids farewell to Consul-General Thomas Seshie.

•

Lumumba.

Dream Makers Entertainment signs Ghanaian artist D-Flex.

Centre and York Centre in by elections.

•

GCAO organizes Virtual farewell for High Commissioner and Consul General in Toronto.

5K Walk and fundraiser in support of Breast Cancer Awareness by the

•

•

Jean Augustine Complex and Jean Augustine District Park named in her honour in the City of Vaughan.

Trudeau expects most Canadians could be vaccinated by September 2021.

Opioid epidemic- the other public health crisis killing Canadians.

Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings dies aged 73.

Send off service for Pastor Cyril Williams & Gladys Nkansah Asiedua.

•

New Ghana Consulate-General

Montreal Traditional Council presents Montreal.

•

Diego Maradona , Argentina soccer superstar passes away.

Prestige African-Canadian Support Services receives grant from Canadian Red Cross to support African-Canadian community to mitigate the Covid-19 impact in the Black community.

•

• • •

•

•

The Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) Ghana Premier League clubs receive GHC 50,000 each from President Nana Akufo Addo.

Safe Haven Cancer Support Centre acquires new office in Accra, Ghana.

President of GCAO, Emmanuel Duodu sends goodwill

distributes packed meals and toys to the community.

GCAO Homework Club distributes school backpacks and reading books to students in Toronto.

Nana Akufo Addo re-elected as president of Ghana in

message to the community.

by Aps. Dr. James McKeown Quainoo, Area head of Western Canada.

December

tight presidential elections.

Overseer Benjamin Amos Amon ordained as pastor of Church of Pentecost in Saskatoon

•

November

•

Black Satellites to get $1000 bonus from government for winning WAFU B U-20 tournament.

28 The Ghanaian News January 2021

The Ghanaian News January 2021 29

30 The Ghanaian News January 2021

The Ghanaian News January 2021 31

32 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Black History Month in Canada Black History Month is observed across Canada every February. Black History Month in Canada provides an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of peoples of African ancestry (see Black Canadians). It was initiated in Canada by the Ontario Black History Society and introduced to Parliament in December 1995 by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected as a member of Parliament. Black History Month was officially observed across Canada for the first time in February 1996 (see also Black History in Canada).

Origins of Black History Month Before Black History Month in Canada, there was a movement in the United States to recognize North Americans of African descent.

In 1926, African American historian, Carter G. Woodson conceived of the idea to declare Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdates of abolitionist and former enslaved person Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. During the 1970s, the week became known as Black History Week and was celebrated at the municipal level in many American cities. In 1976, it was expanded to Black History Month and declared a national observance by President Gerald Ford.

Introducing Black History Month in Canada As understanding of Black history and Black History Week grew among African Americans, sleeping car porters are believed to have brought the idea to Canada. Porters, the majority of whom were Black men, often travelled to and from the United States for work and would have learned of Black History Week from their American counterparts.

On 13 February 1950, Stanley G. Grizzle, president of the Toronto CPR division of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, hosted the first celebration of Negro History Week in Canada at Toronto’s British Methodist Episcopal Church. The event is believed to have been the first in Canada. It included three

speakers, including Grizzle, Rev. Stewart and Kay Livingstone. The following year, Livingstone established the Canadian Negro Women’s Association (now the Congress of Black Women of Canada), which continued to organize Black History Week events for many years.

Did you know?

In 1973, Kay Livingstone chaired the first Congress of Black Women of Canada (CBWC) in Toronto, which was sponsored by the Canadian Negro Women’s Association. After a series of conferences in cities across Canada, the CBWC became a national organization in 1980 and chapters were formed cross the country. In 1992, the CBWC established a foundation that “promotes and facilitates activities and model programs which foster advancement, recognition, history, and education of black women and their families.”

Recognizing Black History Month In 1978, the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) was established. Its founders, including Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks, presented a petition to the City of Toronto to have February formally proclaimed as Black History Month. In 1979, the first-ever Canadian proclamation was issued by Toronto.

done to Indigenous peoples —if there was any reference, it was either in the footnote or as a sideline. Black Canadians were not part of the script and were not shown contributing to Canadian society. ” The motion was unanimously passed in the House of Commons on 14 December 1995, and the first national declaration of Black History Month in Canada went into effect in February 1996.

Did you know?

Jean Augustine was the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons (1993) and the first Black woman to be appointed to Cabinet (2002). Augustine served as Secretary of State in charge of multiculturalism and the Status of Women in the Cabinets of prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.

Jean Augustine

The first Black History Month in Nova Scotia was observed in 1988 and later renamed African Heritage Month in 1996.

In 1993, the OBHS successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month. Following that success, Rosemary Sadlier, president of the OBHS, introduced the idea of having Black History Month recognized across Canada to Jean Augustine, member of Parliament (MP) and Parliamentary Secretary. Augustine enthusiastically supported the idea. As she mentioned to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights: “I was an educator.… I recognized that the classroom curriculum was saying very little about African Canadians. The same thing was

In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced a motion to have the Senate officially recognize February as Black History Month. The motion was approved unanimously and was adopted on 4 March 2008, completing Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month in Canada (see also Celebrating Black History Month in Canada).

Historica Canada

Retired MP overcame hurdles to secure Black History Month designation Retired Liberal MP Jean Augustine’s campaign to designate Black History Month in Canada in 1995 came just two years after the Grenada-born Augustine became the first African-Canadian woman elected to Parliament. (Source: jeanaugustine.ca) Jean Augustine’s efforts in the House of Commons 25 years ago to build support for a motion calling on the federal government to designate February as Black History Month in Canada succeeded in the end, but there were some hurdles along the way.

“I had colleagues who would say, ‘If you want February, who would come for March? If you

I tried to convince my colleagues.”

backgrounds are chosen to run in winnable ridings.

The retired Liberal MP’s campaign to designate Black History Month in Otherwise, she said, “It’s kind of Canada in 1995 came just two years like an exercise.” after the Grenada-born Augustine became the first African-Canadian Augustine said she knows her woman elected to Parliament. presence in Parliament sent a signal to black Canadians everywhere.

She said she can remember people The importance of visibility telling her that they would gather Today, there are still only a handful their children and grandchildren Hon. Dr Jean Augustine of black MPs in the House of every time they saw her on television Commons. in the House of Commons, or have Black History month, when descending the stairs behind then are we going to have white history encourage more black prime minister Jean Chrétien. month?’” the retired Liberal MP To Canadians to run, Augustine told The House on Friday. said, political parties must ramp “’Look, look, look, look,’ they up their recruitment efforts and “Those were kind of provocative ensure candidates with diverse would say. ‘If she can do this, you can do this.’” CBC statements that were made to me as

Black History Month Proclamation

Black History Month February 2021 WHEREAS Toronto became the first municipality in Canada to proclaim Black History Month in 1979 to honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

During Black History Month we commemorate, celebrate and recognize the achievements of Canadians of African descent and recognize their rights to equal opportunity and freedom from discrimination in Canada.

The City of Toronto has developed the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism to eliminate barriers and to ensure systemic changes are made to eradicate anti-Black racism and help create a culture that values inclusion, opposes racism and intolerance and prioritizes the wellbeing and advancement of Black Torontonians.

The City’s efforts coincide with the United Nations’ declaration of the International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 – 2024.

This International Decade encourages Canada and other countries to take action to protect and promote the human rights of people of African descent, and to recognize the invaluable contributions that people of African descent or origin have contributed to communities worldwide, including Toronto.

Black History Month is our history and this is a month in which we learn of both great accomplishment and trauma, both of which are important for all of us to understand. That understanding and a commitment to act make us stronger and better as a city.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor John Tory, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim February 2021 as “Black History Month” in the City of Toronto. City Hall Toronto

City of Toronto unveils the Black Community COVID-19 Response Plan cont’d from pg. 1 health problems and consequences of COVID-19; and Black health professional risks and resiliencies.

Through the Black Community COVID Response Plan, the City is also leveraging the expertise and talents of agencies that are Black-led and serving to increase wrap-around supports to help Black individuals and families stay well physically, mentally and emotionally through the pandemic.

To carry out this work, the City has invested $6.8 million in funding and partnered with 12 community agencies to provide targeted outreach and supports to the top 10 neighborhoods with a high percentage of Black Torontonians and highest COVID-19 case rate. These supports include increases in culturally-responsive mental health supports, food access provisions for Black-mandated organizations, mobile and community-based testing, mobile services to support seniors and people with disabilities (such as food delivery or wellness checks); a commitment to continue to advocating for income support and housing security; and coordinate health policies, programs and provisions targeted to Black communities.

Call Us First The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

The Ghanaian News January 2021 33

February is Black History Month

By Abigail Aquino-Annobil, Toronto, ON

It’s the shortest month of the year! Lent is around the corner and so is the best time to buy chocolate (Feb 15th ).

That also means its Black History Month in Canada, which was established just 25 years ago by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected into Parliament.

outraged enough? I’m not educated enough to speak out, I’m not Black or “Black enough” to speak on or share.

In Kenya Hunt’s Girl, Gurl, Grrrl she shares, “The most long-lasting change though, tends to come from the relentless, everyday activism, the kind that Not even a full year happens unnoticed ago we were all posting in the day-to-day black squares, sharing marathon of life...” petitions, checking in with our Black I still have no idea friends and checking what my “everyday with ourselves (was activism” is but I know I actually racist/ that for the last 6 years privileged this whole every February what time?). it was. Working for a store that is part of a The thing I know HUGE book focused myself and a lot of company every BHM people were afraid the books that were of was performative automatically ordered outrage.

What as part of our displays happened and still were never enough. continues to happen is Mainly working in horrific but what can the children’s section I do? Is my outrage each year they would enough, am I not be the same: A

simple biography of MLK, Rosa Parks, Mohammed Ali, a picture book showing multi coloured hands saying we’re different but we’re all the same, a chapter book on the Underground Railroad.

My coworkers and I would try to create a larger list of books that not only spoke on the history, struggles, joys and love of Black people but from and by Black people.

So this month since who knows if we will be physically in the stores. Every day I’ll be sharing some of mine and my friends’ favorite books with Black authors and Black characters ranging from kids’ picture books to adult non-fiction titles.

I challenge you to pick up some books centered on Black people by Black people this month and throughout the year.

34 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 35

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36 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 37

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38 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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The Ghanaian News

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 39

It’s Time to Restore Nkrumah’s African Mission – Provost of Obokese University On the occassion of the birthday of Kwame Nkrumah, Nana Kwamina Kra II Provost Obokese University of Excellence has reminded Ghanaians of the need for the country to return to ideal Nkrumah preached.

and formative training to support the conclusion that Europe (in Ghana’s case Britain) is the gold standard for everything.

Formal training provided by state funded schools and religious orders, in direct and indirect ways, teach that everything African is ‘inferior’ to everything European.

In a statement celebrating Ghana’s first president, Nana Kwamina Kra II said that Obekese University is well-positioned to equip Ghanaian youth with the knowledge to revive Nkrumah’s pan-African mission.

This is especially true regarding anything that reflects African tradition. Once African tradition is dis-credited so are the African Elders and Ancestors.

Below is the statement Today, September 21 marks a very special day in Ghana and Africa at large. Today, we celebrate Africa’s man of the century and a pioneering figure of Pan-Africanism Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President.

On behalf of the Founder, the Chairman of the Development Committee, the Board of Trustees, Members of the Development Committee, the entire Obokese University of Excellence Fraternity and on my own behalf I wish to send a message of Hope, Love, and Prosperity to all Africans around the globe as we celebrate our Hero.

On May 23, 2020, when we made our very first announcement on establishing the first African Centered University in Ghana, we made a pledge to start our on-line course offerings on September 21, 2020 to honor what Osagyefo stood for.

However, following the massive response, endorsement and show of support for this historic project we have had to scale things up.

To keep up with the vision of Excellence, our team will continue to work towards meeting the standards and announce a new date for starting our digital offerings very soon.

We would like to use this opportunity to share with Ghanaians and Africans, in general, wherever they may find themselves what the Obokese University of Excellence is all about. As below: WHY OBOKESE EXCELLENCE?

UNIVERSITY

OF

In retrospect, no one can deny the devastating impact of Germany’s Berlin Conference (1884-85) and its arrogant decision to apportion the African continent; invade, subdue and force its people into a European ethos, and, exploit its natural and human resources, all for uninterrupted advancement of European interests.

After nearly 75 years, Ghana was able to end Britain’s occupation, but, not before British rules, ideas, philosophy and psychology would diminish the Chieftaincy, discredit the cultural traditions and establish Europe’s political, judicial, financial, educational and myriad other social structures.

There can be no argument that four decades of British rule, manipulation and propaganda has transformed Ghana into its present day neocolonial appearance— that can be seen in its political structure, parliamentary procedures, judicial character and educational curricula. Ghana, as with all post-colonial Africa, is struggling to remove its European glasses and see itself for what it really is and decide what it really wants to become.

Present-day Ghana and Africa are true testaments

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to Carter G. Woodson’s famous quote: “If you can control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do.

“If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.”

The necessity and process of European ‘mind control’ was warranted due to the fact that European’s found Africans to be highly developed, effective leaders with sophisticated social structures.

These characterizations are supported by the written conclusions of the 9th century Arab writer, Al Yaqubi, who described ancient Ghana as: “…one of the three most organized states in the region…Its rulers were renowned for their wealth in gold, the opulence of their courts, and their warrior-hunter skills…”

Armed with this information the Europeans worked to institute their methodical, disciplined and consistent formula to a 3-step social transformation process: Step One: Invasion/Occupation; Step Two: Systemic Infrastructural Replacement; and, Step Three: Co Option/Seduction/Invitation. This European strategy was countered by the Ghanaian—all African—3Step response: Step One: Resistance/War/ Rebellion; Step Two: Circumvention/Sabotage/Adaptation; and, Step 3: Surrender/Assimilation/ Voluntarism.

The completion of Step One marks the historic end to Ghanaian freedom. Despite what occurs thereafter the Ghanaian is no longer in control of ‘his’ own destiny.

Steps 2 and 3 are transitional and ultimately voluntary.

Concepts of ‘freedom, independence and selfdetermination’ are nothing more than psychological fantasies and figments of the Ghanaian imagination that will never become reality.

How can I say this? The completion of Step Two implements the formal social infrastructure that, generation after generation, trains, instills and guides the formal development of the mind.

Schools, churches, political and other institutions provide the information, framework and rational narratives to support all of the concepts, knowledge,

Students and adults subconsciously questions the folklore, protocols, and behavioral standards that developed them as they leave their villages for the modern cities and psychologically ‘distance’ themselves (out of a false sense of guilt/ embarrassment) from the very villages, people and social systems that developed them.

No longer do they want to associate with their traditional ways, beliefs and practices, because, unbeknownst to them they have voluntarily embraced, the seduction, allure and invitation to become part of the ‘system.’ At this point the mind control is complete.

The system is working perfectly for the continued European benefit, albeit subtle and indirect. Moreover, the European that devised and implemented the system—for its exclusive benefit— need only maintain its’ creation with minor adjustments in ‘socalled’ leadership, whenever necessary.

Every problem is analyzed and conceptualized through this European lens. Every approach to solutions are based upon European models that have been reinforced through formal European schooling.

Every social, political and economic model for progress, change and or advancement are, in fact, European at their foundation.

Enough said. With the firm establishment of the European consciousness we need only repeat Carter G. Woodson’s quote above to understand why he— the first Black Harvard University Ph.D. recipient would say that “…it took him ten years to get over his Harvard education.” Ghana experienced approximately 75 years of British occupation, rule and indoctrination.

By the end of these 4 generations it was Kwame Nkrumah’s experiences, in the context of the Black Civil Rights rhetoric, that fueled his aspirations for ‘independence.’

In March 1957 this very unlikely objective was achieved and, with it, came his vision of a PanAfrican continent. Unfortunately for Nkrumah and others —which remains our central challenge today—was/is the understanding that molding a Pan-African existence, after 135 years of European indoctrination, is impossible without a sustained corrective cognitive-psychological transformation!

At present there is no Ghanaian/African institution designed to meet this need. At the end of the day, a PanAfrican existence is dependent upon a PanAfrican consciousness!

OUE is designed and needed to commence, guide and sustain this ‘psychological sankofa’ and African restoration mission. Happy Anniversary.

Written by Dickson Boadi, Ghanaweb

40 The Ghanaian News January 2021

THE ABIBIMAN PROJECT:

CONNECTING CULTURES WITH CUISINE Rachel Adjei is a young vibrant entrepreneur on a mission to connect and make the world a better and smaller place. Her instrument for change is food.

Interview by SOLOMON KOBINA AREMU, Toronto, ON 1. Ghanaian News (GN): Hi Rachel. Please give us some background about yourself.

Rachel: I am a chef, pastry chef, food sovereignty advocate and the creator of The Abibiman Project. I’ve pursued conventional school education while also working full-time to gain a wider breadth of knowledge in my field.

My first formative restaurant job was working in a small village in Southern France. My culinary training background is in French, Mediterranean and broadly South and East Asian cuisine 2. GN: How long have you been in the food business/industry?

Rachel: I have been in the food industry for 5 years.

3. GN: How did COVID19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and restrictions impact your business, especially around summer in 2020?

Rachel: The Covid-19 pandemic and Black lives matter protests this summer were actually the spark that ignited The Abibiman Project. There was a combination of feeling helpless and frustrated and also just sitting at home gave me a reason to want to get off my feet.

4. GN: How did you adapt?

Rachel Adjei

Rachel: Since The Abibiman Project was created in this new pandemic environment, it is structured to function with the now commonplace restrictions. Everything we offer is packaged for ease and convenience.

Most communication is done over social media or distanced interactions.

I believe that starting this business in the pandemic may have given this business structure that we did not expect to need.

truly needs to survive during these times. Encourage large corporations paying minimum wage employees to increase wages and keep them increased. Acknowledge that racism and injustice towards minorities and specifically Black people is the first pandemic we’re fighting and we will not be ignored.

5. GN: What is the Abibiman Project?

9. GN: Mention some foods that can boost our immune system in the fight against COVID-19 infection.

Rachel: The Abibiman Project is a food concept focused on celebrating the diverse cultures and cuisines from the African continent and Black Diaspora. The idea is to expose all people to the various African ingredients and palates with the goal of eventually catering to the needs of specific regional cuisines and having African food widely celebrated.

Profits from this initiative are donated to Afri-can Food Basket Toronto.

6. GN: What has the response been like to the Abibiman Project?

Rachel: Some foods eaten on the African continent that can boost our immune system are sorrel, baobab, ginger, turmeric, chili and garlic.

10. GN: Do you take orders for individual meals or only for large catering?

Rachel: At the moment unless I’m doing a full pop-up menu, I cannot accommodate meals. I am working out of my apartment at the moment and just don’t have the capacity for things of that sort. For larger orders I can make accommodations in order to offer them.

Rachel: The response so far to this project has been alarmingly good. I 11. GN: 2020 was a big year for the Black Lives Matter movement with had no expectations for it to be as successful as it has proven to be so massive protests against systematic racism across North America. What far. People seem to be very open to explore, eager to ask questions and are your observations on the impact of the protests so far? committed to learning and learning things about the Black Diaspora and its unique cultures.

Rachel: I think that more than anything the impact has been awareness.

Many non-black people had been blind and ignorant to what we face as a 7. GN: The COVID19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted the community. We actively made them turn their heads and at least hear us Black population. Do you think the Federal and Provincial authorities are for once. There has been good progress but also a lot of performativity. I doing enough to address the inequalities? think there’s more growth to be had of course but this is a great stepping stone.

Rachel: I honestly do not think that the government is doing enough. I understand that individually identifying all the greatly impacted people during this time would be a hefty task; however that is the responsibility of our government who is intended to be responsible for its population.

There should be more resources routed directly to organizations helping BIPOC folks and accommodations made as possible to help those in desperate need.

8. GN: What do you think they can do in addition?

Rachel: The government should push more for paid sick days for low income families. Offer benefits specifically tailored to how much a family

12. GN: In a society skewed against Blacks and other races, what advise do you have for the Black youth in order to succeed?

Rachel: My advice is that you will know your full potential before society will. Even though you’ll have to work ten times as hard as the next white person or 20 times as a Black female, in the long run, it’ll build an essential foundation for you. Accept all educational opportunities; don’t let yourself miss out on any skills that could potentially help you move forward in life. Take advantage of free programs and services offered to you.

The Ghanaian News January 2021 41

February 14th is Valentine’s Day By: Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto, ON Many people see Valentine’s Day as a special day to express one’s love for another. Valentine’s Day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. It is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on February 14 each year.

Around the world on Valentine Day most people celebrate by showing appreciation for those they love or adore. Some people take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant while others may choose this day to propose or get married. Many people give presents like greeting cards, chocolates, jewelry or flowers, particularly roses; to their partners or admirers on Valentine’s Day, and it is a time for many to show their appreciation for their friends in some social circles and cultures.

For example, Valentine’s Day in Finland refers to “Friend’s day”, which is more about remembering all friends rather than focusing solely on romance. Valentine’s Day in Guatemala is known as Day of Love and Friendship. It is similar to Valentine’s Day customs and traditions countries such as the United States Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Ghana the United Kingdom and the United States. On the day of Valentine, restaurants, hotels and shopping centers may be busy around this time of the year. However this year In the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, celebrating and community gathering was not possible The origins of Valentine’s Day are not clear but many sources believe that it stems from the story of St Valentine, a Roman priest who was martyred on or around February 14 in the

By Staff Reporter, Toronto, ON

year 270 CE. How he became the patron saint of lovers remains a mystery but one theory is that the church used the day of St Valentine’s martyrdom to Christianize the old Roman Lupercalia, a pagan festival held around the middle of February.

The ancient ceremony included putting girls’ names in a box and letting the boys draw them out. Couples would then be paired off until the following year. The Christian church substituted saints’ names for girls’ names in hope that the participant would model his life after the saint whose name he drew. However, it was once again girls’ names that ended up in the box by the 16th century.

Eventually the custom of sending anonymous cards or messages to those whom one admired

became the accepted way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. There was an increase in interest in Valentine’s Day, first in the United States and then in Canada, in the mid-19th century. Early versions of Valentine cards fashioned of satin and lace and ornamented with flowers, ribbons, and images of cupids or birds appeared in England in the 1880s.

The symbol of Valentine’s Day has Hearts, the colors red and pink, roses, images and statues of cupids, and cupids’ bows and arrows symbolize the feeling of romance and love on Valentine’s Day. Cupid is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people.

People who fall in love are sometimes said to be “struck by Cupid’s arrow”. The day focuses on love, romance, appreciation and friendship.

Yonkodo Association of Toronto

The year 2020 was a year like no other, difficult and challenging to all amidst the COVID-10 Pandemic.

Many of our community were affected but in a way it brought togetherness, love and support for one another especially in our community.

Yonkodo do Association of Toronto was no exception as one of the community organizations that supported some of the members of our community with relief products.

Founder/CEO of Yonko Do Ms Vida Adakwa, and President Mr. Safo Duah Kessie.

42 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Compiled by Nana Ama

FOOD AND RECIPES

Compiled by Nana Ama, Toronto, ON

Beef Grill Khebab Ingredients

Tuo Zaafi with Ayoyo stew 10 qts Ayoyo leaves 2 qts Salt Peter (Potassium nitrate) 1 cup Powdered Fish

Marinade Ingredients: 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup soy sauce 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar 1/4 cup honey 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 cup Powdered Okro 2 pinches Dawadawa 2 qts Pepper 2 qts Onions 1 qt Fish seasoning 2 qts All purpose spices

Kebab Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs top sirloin steak, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes 1 large bell pepper 1-2 medium red onions 1/2 to a pound button mushrooms About 20 bamboo or wooden skewers

4 qts Meat (Beef) 1 cup Palm oil 3 qts Tomatoes 2 qts Salmon 2 qts Herrings

Method 1 Marinate the meat: Mix the marinade ingredients together in a bowl and add the meat. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, preferably several hours or even overnight. (Heck, I've kept the meat marinating for a couple days, still great.)

1 cup Cassava flour 1 cup Corn flour

Method 1

Chop the ayoyo leaves into smaller sizes. Boil water, add chopped onion, powdered fish, powdered okro and dawadawa. After 5 minutes add ayoyo leaves and salt peter

2

Don't cover, stir continuously until ingredients become very soft. Add salt and seasoning.

Allow to simmer for 3 minutes and soup is ready. Cut meat into desirable sizes. Wash and put meat in big saucepan over moderate heat.

3

Blend onion, ginger, garlic and add to meat. Add salt and seasoning and cover meat to steam for 5-10 minutes Heat pan over medium high heat until hot and then add the olive oil. then add the chicken

4

Fry on one side until browned and then flip. Brown the second side and then transfer the meat to a bowl. Add chopped onion and garlic and saute until tender and starting to brown.

Using double skewers will help you turn the kebabs on the grill. If you keep a little space between the pieces, they will grill more evenly.

5

Add grinded pepper, tomato puree and stir intermintently. Wash salmon and herrings. Then add to stew. After 6-10 minutes, add spices and allow to cook.

Paint the kebabs with some of the remaining marinade.

6

Taste for salt and add some chopped onions. Finally add fried meat and allow to simmer for 3 minutes.Fetch some corn flour and add cold water. Then mix thoroughly to form a solution.

3 Grill on high, direct heat: Prepare your grill for high, direct heat. Grill for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is, and how done you would like your meat, turning occasionally.

7

Boil enough water and add corn flour to cook for 5-10 minutes. Fetch some of the solution into a separate bowl. Mix dry corn dough and cassava dough and Add mixture bit by bit to the boiling corn dough and stir thoroughly to prevent any lumps.

4 Let rest: Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving.

8

Add the corn dough solution you fetched aside to the Tuo Zaafi to make it soft and stir.

After 15-20 minutes of stirring the Tuo Zaafi, you turn of the heat.

Serve Tuo Zaafi with stew and soup.

2 Soak skewers in water: Soak the wood or bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This will help prevent them from completely burning up on the grill.

3 Thread the meat and veggies onto the skewers: Cut the vegetables into chunks roughly the width of the beef pieces. Taking care not to poke yourself, thread the meat and vegetables onto double bamboo skewers.

One way to do this safely is to put the piece that you are trying to pierce on a cutting board, and then push the skewers through the piece to the board.

PALMNUT SOUP Ingredients 2 tins of plam nuts paste

KAKLO

2 large tomatoes

Ingredients

1 large size onion chopped

400g - Riped Plantain (soft)

salt and pepper to taste

100g - Onion

500g fish and or meat 2 small size salted fish (optional) 1 tablet cabe maggie 8 large Okro (optional) 4 large garden eggs (optional) Method 1.Prepare fish/meat, chopped onions, salt and tomatoes and simmer 2. Mix palm nut paste with warm water and strain the liquid through a strainer.

3. Add liquid to the simmered meat/fish and the other

50gm - Wheat Flour 1/2 tbsp - Salt 1 tbsp - Cayenne Pepper 1/2 tbsp - Mill Ginger 2 tbsp - Sugar Method 1. Wash and peel plantain 2. Blend into a pulp 3. Add mixed spice and mill ginger and gradually incorporate in flour.

4. Add sugar and salt 5. Scoop and fry in moderately hot oil until golden brown in color 6. Drain and place on a kitchen paper.

vegeables and spices.

ACCOMPANIMENT:

4. Allow the soup to simmer to the desired thinkness.

Bambara Beans, Red Red or Bean Stew

5. Skim off the excess oil from the top of the soup 6. Take it off the fire, serve with fufu, banku, kenkey, rice, yam etc.

The Ghanaian News January 2021 43

Remembering Departed Community Members in 2020 May their souls rest in perfect peace Compiled by Jonathan Baah Annobil, Toronto, ON

•Shirley Okai Acquah Tetteh 60 years

Paul Hasford 71 yrs

Beethovin Asante

Elizabeth Yeboah (Nana Ama Gyantuah) 79 yrs

Kwasi Owusu 71 yrs

Kwame Adu

Moses Akorley 72 yrs

Darlene Aba Graham 50 yrs

Juliana Aku Biney - 63 yrs

Pastor Gloria Worlaki Sabah Appiagyei 39 yrs

Kwaku Ankrah 60 yrs

Elizabeth Acquaye 66 yrs

Joseph Oduro 58 yrs

Nana Appiah Kubi 74 yrs

Philips Opoku Asamoah 65 years

Rosina Ahoni 59 yrs

Samuel Hector Morris 77 years

Stella Agyemang 54 yrs

Jonathan Kwadwo Gyasi Cornelius Nimako Mawuli Ocloo 76 yrs 66 yrs

Elijah Abroquah Quayson 65 yrs

Oheneba Kwabena Sefah 80 yrs

Solomon Nketiah

Rosemary Wiafe 40 yrs

Joseph Wie Addo 59 years

Mercy Odokai Osuteye 60 yrs

John Kumah Otchere

Sailas Quarshie

Akwasi Gyan 57 yrs

Vivian Osei Kwabena

Richard Fobi Boakye 42 yrs

Peter Assan 43 yrs

Albert OwusuAnsah

Yaw Obeng

29 yrs

Felix Okai 91 yrs

Ezekiel Agyemang 16 yrs

Kwame Amponsah

Mercy Adolfo 74 yrs

Charles Nkrumah

Ebenezer Holoman

Emelia Ama Antwiwaa 71 yrs

Francisca Heloo

Benjamin Cobbinah 58 yrs

Samuel Afram 58 yrs

Rev. Joseph Armson

Kwabena Agyei Akenten 33 yrs

Vivian Adwoa Adu-Gyamfi 40 yrs

Noah Dankwah

William Ampadu-Badu 90 yrs

Sam Oduro Chito 66 yrs

Ebenezer Ofori Yeboah 42 yrs

James Sexton 70 yrs George Benn 64 yrs

Anthony Frimpong 64 yrs

Kwasi baffoe

Robert Otoo 70 yrs

Please Stay Safe and Healthy Continue to observe Covid-19 protocols A message from The Ghanaian News Call Us First - 416-916-3700

Joe Opoku

44 The Ghanaian News January 2021

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 587-336-1223

Ottawa Methodist 613-823-2291

Vancouver Methodist 416-833-1615

Sunday: Bible Class Meeting:

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

Church Service:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Brampton Prayer Meeting

8:00 p.m.

Redemption Methodist Church

BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH-BRAMPTON

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

PLACE OF WORSHIP1A KNIGHTSBRIGE ROAD (Senior’s Lounge)

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

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.

Very Reverend Albert K. Appiah,

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

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

Bringing the Gospel to our Community “Panic not, fear not, worry not, blame not, complain not, condemn not and criticize not, BUT Trust God, Have Faith, Be Hygienic, stay home, socially distance, Mask Up, pray always, love people, worship God, reach out and Serve society” Isaac DeGraft Takyi Stay home, stay safe, save lives - Premier Doug Ford We thank God for preserving, protecting and providing for us all through 2020 during the COVID-19 season. In 2021, with the discovery of the vaccines, we hear of variants of the virus, such as the one from the UK, Brazil and that of South Africa in Canada. As at the day of this writing, more than 20,000 Canadians have lost their lives because of COVID-19.

My guess will be that

The Ghanaian News January 2021 45

by Rev. Isaac DeGraft Takyi

THE CHRISTIAN AND COVID-19: “LOVE” there are varied questions going on in the minds of citizens, particularly Christians, such as: what should the Christian do in times like this? How should we live? And Why should we even live?

Based on Romans chapter 13, we will draw out some principles that can help us find the motivation to live and make a difference in our world.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted

by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have

no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all

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

what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of

darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and 14 jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”.—Romans 13:1-14 I believe love is the key, I mean, love for God and for people. Let our love for God lead us to love by: 1. Being obedient: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted

by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For

rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.—Romans 13:1-7

cont’d on pg. 50

46 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Disciples Revival Church

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

416-614-7771 Email:

info@disciplesrevivalchurch.org www.disciplesrevivalchurch.org

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

Wed: Bible Study & Prayer: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Friday: Youth Service 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Friday: Adult Intercessory Prayer - 7:00 - 9:00 pm For deliverance & healing, come to Disciples, a Church that caters to your needs Do visit our website and sign up for the Pastor's monthly newsletter

www.disciplesrevivalchurch.org

30 Gordon Mackay Rd, North York, ON, M9N 2V6

The Ghanaian News January 2021 47

EVANGEL

ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

314 Rexdale Blvd. Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R6 Tel: 416-242-7950 Fax: 416-242-8573 Church Activities

Pastor in Charge

Rev. Milton Offei

Sunday School:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JESUS Loves You

Bishop John Mensah

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

Tel: 416-419-6671

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

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

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l

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

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

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

Pastor Dennis Awuku COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED Senior Pastor

Contact:

Cell. 416-400-8211 Church 416-642-0390 Worship Hours: Sunday Service: 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 2 pm Consultation Wednesday: 7pm - 9p.m.

Friday: 9pm - 12 pm Saturday (Prayer Warriors) 6pm - 8pm Location: 52 Carrier Drive, Unit 12, (Albion/Hwy 27)

Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5

Harvest Christian Church Invites you for a wonderful time with the Lord

Worship Hours 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

Sundays (Mornings) 10 - 12:45pm Wednesday (Bible Study) 7 -8:30 pm Friday (All Night Prayer) 8-10:30pm Rev Moses Sarpong

Come and Experience the power of the Word Join us at 196 Toryork Drive(Corner of Weston/Finch)

Tel: 416-743-2507

It’s Harvest Time So Reach Out And Make A Difference

It’s A Great Commission!

48 The Ghanaian News January 2021

The Apostolic Church Int'l.

The Apostolic Church International (Toronto Assembly) is a Branch of The Apostolic Church in Ghana Apostle Nii Aryee (Area Supt. Canada-Wide)

Meeting Schedule Sunday (Worship)

- 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.

THE APOSTLES'

Field Superintendent contact: 416-454-6141 (cell) 905-913-2037 (Res)

CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)

168 Rexdale Blvd.,

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

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 1P6 Church Office 416-740-1979 Field Secretary: Pastor Cyril Williams - 416-875-9616 Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church THEME FOR YEAR 2020:

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

Pastor-in-charge: Rev. Boniface Keelson

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

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

42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2

(Hwy 27/Steeles) Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Y6

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

lighthouseagtoronto.org

lighthouseag@outlook.com

Rhema Power of Grace Chapel Int'l

SERVICE TIMES:

Worship Service Bible Studies Service All Night Service Deliverance

Toronto

Rev. Bishop Joe Bonnah

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

Founder &Pastor-in-charge

-

8p.m. - 10p.m.

10p.m. - 1a.m.

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

Montreal Assembly

10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629

378 Cremazie East Montreal, Quebec, H2P 1E5

Scarborough Assembly

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

Tel: 514-271-9083

Pastor-In-Charge: John Arhin

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

Immanuel Assembly of God Church, Scarborough

Place of Worship:

Days And Time of Worship

- Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday 9:00 p.m.

- Friday 9:30 p.m.

- Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Worship With Us At These Branches In Canada

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

350 Deerhide Cres, North York, ON

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

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.

The Ghanaian News January 2021 49

Church of Christ Ghanaian Congregation Greater Toronto Area Matthew 16:18

Address: 1771 Albion Rd. (Forum Banquet Hall) Hwy 27/Albion

Every Sunday:

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Contact Information Adu Kwasi

647-745-8074 Brother Acheampong 416-671-4268 Sam - Ghana House 647-867-2020 Brother Agyenim

647-656-9905 Brother Ato

416-728-8574 Brother Asamoah

647-867-0945

All Are Invited Ghanaian Presbyterian Church of Montreal

Minister: Rev. Stephen Azundem Services: Tel (office): 450-314-0871 Sunday 10:00AM – 1:00PM Tel (Cell): 514 660 2422 Divine Worship Service Res: 514-542-4142 Wednesday 7:00PM – 9:00PM Teaching Service (Bible Study) Friday 7:00PM – 9:00PM – Prayer Service

3000 Boul St-rose Laval, Quebec, H7R 1T6

Welcome Home

Evangelistic Ministries

Affiliated with the Evangelical Church In Canada

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

New address:

Heart Lake United Church 85 Sandalwood Pkwy E. Brampton, ON Sunday Worship Service Start from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wednesday Discipleship class is 7pm Friday Prayer meeting is 7pm Contact Info: Tel: 647 210 7057 Fax: 905 495 4789

Website: www.whemfamily.com

Email: whemtoday@gmail.com

Glory Pentecostal Ministry of Toronto

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

Invites all Christians and Non-Christians to join us to worship the Almighty God WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Regular Service 11:00 am to 1:30 pm Tuesday Prayer and Healing Service 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday Prayer Night 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

PLACE OF WORSHIP 230 Eddystone Ave., #207, North York, Ont. M3N 1H7 We are more tan our conquerors Romans 8:37

"Come and see the manifestation and the power of the Holy Spirit at work"

Praise Temple of Christ International Snr. Pastor: Apostle Osei-Bonsu 336 Gary Ray Drive @ Signet Worship Schedule Sunday Worship - 10 am - 12:30 pm Wednesday - Bible Study - 7 pm - 9 pm Friday - Prayer Meeting - 8 pm - 10 pm Second and last Friday of each month All Night Prayer Meeting 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Apostle Osei Bonsu

Pastor Appiah Jacob

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

50 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Sarah Efumwaa Obeng

Love for Our Neighbor. Thank You for a Peace and Stability in the United States of America I feel immense gratitude and joy for our neighbor, the United States of America – particularly because of the high tensions that have gone on there in the last few months leading to January 20, 2021. When you have a neighbor, you are obligated by life to care, support, and love. Whatever happens to your neighbor, directly or indirectly, affects you. This is the reason behind my thoughts and joy for the peace and stability the country has now.

There is no doubt that the United States is a beacon of hope to the world. So, how and why would we be less concerned about what happens there – especially, if it is unpleasant.

People have varying opinions about the last administration’s performance and output in terms of governance, and while some felt the dire need for a change, others felt the need for

continuation of the same. However, whichever side of the divide that you were, you would have felt the tension – that is what I am talking about, and that is why I am so thankful and joyful that, regardless of all that transpired, the country is stable, peaceful, and settled.

If you did not feel the tension, you may not feel the need to be thankful, but those who felt it are sincerely thankful.

Now that the dust is settled and all behind everyone, the country can forge ahead with everyone giving off their best. I believe it begins with everyone doing their part – and not necessarily the new leadership doing all the work.

Whether the new leadership is the best for the country or not is subject to each person’s opinion. However, now is not the time for opinionating.

I believe now is a time for the people of America, and even the rest of the

THE CHRISTIAN AND COVID-19: “LOVE”

cont’d from pg. 45

Let us Listen and Do what our leaders are telling us to do. Observe all the protocols. Stay home. Wear mask, socially distance, stay safe and save lives. Let us continue to be faithful to our country in paying our taxes and revenues. Let us continue to honour and respect our leaders at home, at work, at church and in the country.

2. Being Loving Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.—Romans 13:8-10 8

Love is a doing word. Let us show love to one another. How? The scripture is saying, love is not committing adultery, murdering, stealing, coveting, and doing wrong things to other people, who might not look like us, think like us, behave like us and even believe like us. Love others as yourself.

3. Being like Christ Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from 11

sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”.—Romans 13:11-14 The way out of lockdown, shutdown, quarantine, staying home, self-isolation is to receive the gift of God, who is Christ. Christ is the answer. Paul says put onthe Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh by engaging in things like orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling and jealousy. Let us be the light in our dark world.

Let us allow our love to energize us to be obey, love and be like Christ. Always remember: The man said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. You must love Him with all your soul. You must love Him with all your strength.

You must love Him with all your mind.

You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Luke 10:27. New Life Version) 27

whole world, to rally behind the new leadership of America and support it as best as we can to do the best work yet for the country.

It is no secret that the work ahead will be one heck of a challenge. However, just as folks have stepped up in these especially trying times, Americans can continue to support one another as a people and even do better. Together in hope, love, and faith, the people of America can unite and let America stand stronger and taller, building on what their values are. This is a time like never for stronger unity, stronger love, more truth, more compassion, stronger respect for one another, stronger hope, and deep patriotism. These great virtues do not need to be lived when you live in the oval officer, or when you hold a public office/position. These virtues can be lived in our homes, in

our coffee shops and fast-food joints, in our classrooms and marketplaces, in our clubs, in our parking lots, in our malls and plazas, on the streets and our hideouts, literally, everywhere and anywhere!

I believe it is a time to put the past behind everyone and look ahead in faith and trust in the God who holds us all in His love and His greatness and focus on the wonderful future that the people of America dream for the beacon of hope for the world, America.

Congratulations to all the people of America, congratulations to President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris, and congratulations to the rest of the world for standing with our neighbor through thick and thin. God bless this great country. Thank you!

The Ghanaian News January 2021 51

Lifestyle

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

Covid-19 Vaccine: Should you get it Is it safe

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

Traditional vaccines give use an inactivated vaccine to induce an antigen –antibody reaction in the body which then protects us from getting the disease when the active virus happens to infect you.

The answer to both is an emphatic yes. There is a lot of misinformation on social media but I will strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the facts before you make up your mind.

Personally, I will roll up my sleeves as soon as it is my turn to het it.

Let’s look at some of the facts.

COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts

Instead od using a ‘dead’or inactivated covid-19 virus, both the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA). Corona Vaccines to prevent the corona virus disease 2019 viruses have a spike-like structure on their surface (COVID-19) are perhaps the best hope for ending called an S protein. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines the pandemic. But you likely have questions as you give cells instructions for how to make a harmless should. Find out about the benefits of the COVID-19 piece of an S protein. After vaccination, cells vaccines, how they work, the possible side effects begin making the protein pieces and displaying and the importance of continuing to take infection them on cell surfaces. Your immune system will prevention steps. recognize that the protein doesn’t belong there and begin building an immune response and making 1. What are the benefits of getting a COVID-19 antibodies. vaccine?

3. Can a COVID-19 vaccine give you COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications COVID-19? and lead to death in some people. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. If you get No. These 2 COVID-19 vaccines currently being COVID-19, you could spread the disease to family, developed don’t use the live virus that causes friends and others around you.

COVID-19 so you cannot get covid-19 infection from the vaccination.

Our community is particularly at high risk not only for getting covic-19 but also to get complications. Most Keep in mind that it will take a few weeks for your Ghanaians in GTA live in high risk neighborhoods body to build immunity after getting a COVID-19 (including North York, Brampton and Mississauga) vaccination. As a result, it’s possible that you all of which are areas with high covid counts. could become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or after being vaccinated.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you by creating an antibody response in your body without 4. What are the possible side effects of a your having to become sick with COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccine?

Looking to get the facts about the new COVID-19 vaccines? Here’s what you need to know about the different vaccines and the benefits of getting vaccinated.

A COVID-19 vaccine might prevent you from getting COVID-19. Or, if you get COVID-19, the vaccine might keep you from becoming seriously ill or from developing serious complications.

A COVID-19 vaccine can cause mild side effects after the first or second dose, including:

Getting vaccinated also might help protect people around you from COVID-19, particularly people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

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2.What COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and how do they work?

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Currently Health Canada has approved 2 vaccines for emergency use authorization. i)

.Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Health Canada has given emergency use authorization to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Data has shown that the vaccine starts working soon after the first dose and has an efficacy rate of 95% seven days after the second dose. This means that about 95% of people who get the vaccine are protected from becoming seriously ill with the virus. This vaccine is for people age 16 and older. It requires two injections given 21 days apart. ii)

.Moderna vaccine

Health Canada has also given emergency use authorization to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Data has shown that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.1%. This vaccine is for people age 18 and older.

This vaccine requires two injections given 28 days apart.

2. How do these vaccines work ?

Pain, redness or swelling where the shot was given

Fatigue

Muscle pain Chills Joint pain You’ll likely be monitored for 15 minutes after getting a COVID-19 vaccine to see if you have an immediate reaction. Most side effects happen within the first three days after vaccination and typically last only one to two days.

The COVID-19 vaccine may cause side effects similar to signs and symptoms of COVID-19. In fact getting some or all of the above symptoms is an indication that your body has recognized the protein and that your immune system has been stimulated into action.

5. How are the COVID-19 vaccines being distributed?

Due to limited supplies, not everyone will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine right away.

The Ontario government has set up an advisory group made up of medical and public health

experts. The advisory Board has recommended that in the first phase of vaccination, COVID-19 vaccines should be given to health care personnel and adult residents of long-term care facilities.

The Board will recommended the next group to get a vaccine priotized to include people age 75 and older and frontline essential workers, such as first responders, teachers and public transit and grocery store workers.

People ages 65 to 74, people ages 16 to 64 who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions and all other essential workers, such as those working in food service and construction will likely be in the third and subsequent groups.

Examples of underlying medical conditions include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and severe obesity.

Some common questions 1. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have a history of severe allergic reactions?

If you have a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications, you may still get a COVID-19 vaccine. You should be monitored for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine.

If you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable medications, ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19, you should not get that specific vaccine.

If you have a severe allergic reaction after getting the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, don’t get the second dose.

2. Can pregnant or breastfeeding women get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Currently the Government of Ontario does not recommend vaccination for pregnant women in the province.

However, the Society of Obstetricians of Ontario is recommending to the government to make it optional for pregnant or breastfeeding women since the risk of severe complications is higher in these women than other women and hence some may choose to get the vaccine especially if they have other significant medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications 3. Is there anyone who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine?

There is no COVID-19 vaccine yet for children under age 16. Several companies have begun enrolling children as young as age 12 in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Studies including younger children will begin soon.

4. Can I stop taking safety precautions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Experts want to learn more about the protection that a COVID-19 vaccine provides and how long immunity lasts before changing safety recommendations.

Factors such as how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities will also affect these recommendations.

In the meantime, it is recommended to follow the same basic precautions as every body else until enough people have had the vaccine to create a herd immunity. ** references : modified from Mayo Clinic Housecall, Jan 2021

52 The Ghanaian News January 2021

Around the World Sports Scene Ahmad Ahmad restored as CAF President Madagascar’s Ahmad has been dramatically restored as Confederation of African Football (Caf) president following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Ahmad was banned by Fifa in November for five years after football’s world governing body found him to have breached several of its ethics codes.

The Malagasy appealed his decision at Cas, which issued a preliminary ruling on Friday.

Ahmad is still ineligible to contest Caf’s presidential elections in March however, since the Cas decision came after both the Caf’s Governance Committee and Fifa’s Review Committee met earlier this week to discuss the eligibility of candidates.

Cas says it will hear Ahmad’s appeal in full on 2 March, with a decision issued before the Caf presidential elections on 12 March.

“Due to a risk of irreparable harm for Mr Ahmad if the disciplinary sanction is maintained during the period prior to the Caf elections, the Cas panel has upheld the request to temporarily stay the effects of the [Fifa ban],” Cas, sport’s highest legal body, said in a statement.

This effective suspension of the Fifa ruling will be

in place ‘until the day that the final Cas award is issued’.

Since he was banned when Fifa met on Tuesday and Caf on Thursday to vet presidential aspirants, Ahmad – who will now resume his role as a vicepresident of football’s global body – was deemed ineligible to run.

He will now need to overturn the decisions ruling him ineligible to run, since his appeal at Cas was not against the decision barring him from contesting the elections but against his Fifa ban.

Should Cas find against him when its hearing takes place in early March, Ahmad – who proclaimed the backing of over 46 federations, out of 54, shortly his ban – will be ruled out of the race once and for all.

As of this week, four candidates were cleared to run for the Caf elections on 12 March: Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Patrice Motsepe (South Africa), Augustin Senghor (Senegal), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania).

Credit:bbc.com

Manchester City to sign Ghanaian teenager Manchester City has agreed on a deal in principle to sign Kwadwo Kyeremeh Baah from Rochdale AFC at the end of the season.

The German-born winger of Ghanaian descent has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League but City has reportedly won the race for his signature.

The 18-year-old will join Pep Guardiola’s squad when his Rochdale contract

Kwadwo Kyeremeh Baah

expires in the summer after an agreement was reached on Monday.

Baah has scored 3 goals in 18 appearances for the League One side this season footballmadeinghana.com

with Jonathan Baah Annobil

President calls on NSA, GFA to comply with coronavirus safety protocols President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa AkufoAddo has called on the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to ensure that the 25 percent capacity rule at the various stadia is enforced.

to of

curb the spread the novel virus.

31, on measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus in his update number 23, he said: “the NSA and GFA should ensure strict compliance with the 25% capacity rule in our stadia with spectators respecting the social distancing rule and wearing of masks”.

This Covid-19 safety protocol measure is

Addressing the Nation on Sunday, January

It would be recalled that, On Sunday, September

President Nana Akufo Addo

20, 2020, in his Update No. 17 on measures taken by Government to combat the spread of Coronavirus, the President announced the easing of restrictions on football, which allowed fans to the stadium.

He reiterated that the two institutions should continue adhering to the safety protocols.

GNA

Ghana FA receive 2nd share of FIFA COVID-19 relief package The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have receive the 2nd slice of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Funds.

The nation’s football governing body via their website confirmed the Association have received the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund over the weekend.

“Immediately FIFA sent the template and held an online meeting on the subject, the GFA staff jumped into action, knowing how important this Relief is to our members.

“I work with the staff and so I know the hard work that was put in and how late they close just to ensure that our members, i.e., Premier League clubs, Division One League clubs, Women’s Premier League clubs, Regional Women’s Division One League clubs, and all beneficiaries get this relief.

“Someone may say but it is their work? I say we don’t thank our staff enough because other Associations have not got theirs yet because, report writing and data collection is not easy if you are not well prepared. We have done well by putting in effective administrative structures, hence the speed in execution.

In the coming days, the Secretariat will work with beneficiaries to ensure distribution of the funds in compliance with the relevant requirements and regulations of FIFA on the usage of the Funds.

“We have said that the GFA will position itself very well administratively and in terms of compliance

with FIFA and all laws to ensure that the football family obtain all benefits due us and promptly for the development of our much cherished national sport”, President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku added.

It would be recalled that the GFA and other Associations across the world engaged FIFA on Covid-19 Relief during the lockdown days in Ghana.

The arrival of the money means that the GFA has met all the requirements and application processes put in place by FIFA through the Regulations governing this Covid-19 Relief Fund.

The first tranche arrived in August 2020.

Ghanasoccernet.com

I never contemplated committing suicide – Isaac Dogboe allays fears of Ghanaians Former WBO Super Bantamweight Champion, Isaac Dogboe Former WBO Super Bantamweight Champion, Isaac ‘The Royal Storm’ Dogboe has allayed the fears of his numerous fans in Ghana that he contemplated suicide.

Isaac Dogboe caused a stir in Ghana when his widely circulated tweet on social media was interpreted to have meant he wanted to omit suicide.

“I wait for the day I take my final breath and bid farewell

“I am a product of grace and I appreciate where God has brought me. It was a general statement of what is inevitably ahead of all of us.” to the world Folded hands… and I hope when that day comes you won’t be sad Red hearted,” he tweeted.

But speaking to Kumasi based Akoma Fm, the former Champion clarified “I was surprised that my tweet was taken out of context, I never considered suicide and never will I.”

“Mohammed Ali uses to talk about what lies ahead after our lives. I didn’t know that I will be quoted out of context. “I have so many people who look up to me and I cannot disappoint them by committing suicide.”

“With hindsight, maybe I should not have put that out there.”

Dogboe has had some personal issues including his suspension in Arizona and his decision to part ways with his trainer father.

Dogboes witched trainers from his father Paul (an ex British Army Officer) to Barry Hunter who led him to victory in his comeback against Chris Avalos.

He has since declared that he will win back his lost title one day when boxing bounces back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 News

The Ghanaian News January 2021 53

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The Ghanaian News January 2021 55

Who judges the judges as democracy rots slowly?

Columnist: Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Harruna Attah

“Democracy rots slowly. Sometimes its decay is perfectly legal, helped along by legislatures and embraced by the courts. It happens when elected officials deliberately tilt the game to their own advantage.”

The human being is one heck of a judging machine. The eyes, the nose, the skin, the tongue and their master organ, the brain, are in constant judging, 24/7, from birth to death. We judge to stay alive, but that is nature’s or evolution’s package to help our survival.

And when we have survived, we come up with our own rules to judge us along. Democracy, over the millennia, has come to be accepted by many as the most acceptable yardstick, with its in-built control mechanisms of the executive, legislature and judiciary.

Whereas the executive and legislature subject themselves to time-limited tenures through elections, members of the judiciary, to be precise, judges, enjoy protected tenures till retirement of the individual judge as established by law. Society lavishes judges with all manner of goodies, privileges, security and more, which the those not so privileged can only drool at.

It is not because they are any more intelligent than the rest of us, but it is so that they will not stray from the straight and narrow in the discharge of their duties. “My lord”, “your honour”, “your lordship” are exalted titles reserved only for judges. And why not? After all, they are expected to dispense justice – one of the most sacred attributes of the human race…

The second part of my heading and

first paragraph of this commentary, are borrowed from an article in the Guardian, and captures the kind of angst I have been going through since January 7 2017. Another writer, obviously having had Donald Trump, the outgoing US president up to his neck, without mincing words, describes the US president as a buffoon. Quite a strong one there! I share in the writer’s frustration, because it reminds me of my own Ghanaian context: The 4 years of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

I wonder: What artistic license can I also employ to best describe my attitude to Nana Addo-Dankwa AkufoAddo in his role in my country’s democracy? A buffoon, he definitely is not! What comes to mind immediately is a three-letter word: A Con? It kind of, catches the idea of a decaying entity, democracy in this case. You know, the proverb that talks about the decay of a fish starting from the head.

The tenure of Mr. Akufo-Addo in the executive office has seen a collusion between the executive and judiciary that makes nonsense of the principle of the separation of powers, with the legislature (majority) thrown in for good measure. This is the kind of collusion the writer has flagged as helping the rot and decay of democracy to advance.

With the con that our democracy has become, the judiciary seems to have allowed itself to be taken along down the road of infamy. I have had my own personal run in with this particular institution and so I know what I am talking about. By the way, I went in for contempt not criminal libel as often perceived. I was not pardoned by any

president and definitely not by President Kufuor as some mischief makers have been bandying about. It was one case, in my judgement that did not end in justice – or because I am not a judge, I am not entitled to pass judgement? I have since moved on, and actually now able to laugh at the two elderly judges who pressed for my “pornishment”. As I was to discover later, they had been promised seats on the supreme court.

They have since died and the man under whose tenure they felt I should be “pornished” also died late last year, and still waiting to be interred…

As you can imagine therefore, judges are of much interest to me. Recently, a judge gave a relation of mine what I and many others thought was a very excessive sentence exercising his political power and not judicial discretion. You see, judges can do that, because we have given them the authourity to judge and sentence.

Not only that, we have also given them wide privileges and rights to insulate and protect themselves in the discharge of their duties. All of that because, we want them to rise above the rest of us and resist the temptation of personal greed, political pressure and business conflicts of interests – in other words eschew corruption. And so it came to pass that today judges are among the most derided, the most distrusted and most untrustworthy arbiters, because some of them have stumbled from the straight and narrow.

They will not recuse themselves from cases that are clearly conflicts of interest, they allow partisan politics to colour and sway their decisions, etc.

The words “These judges” I keep hearing a lot of the time as the heartbreaking laments by people to express regret about a noble institution that finds pandering to partisan politics more noble than fairness and (natural) justice. They will inspire fear, but respect, I am not sure.

We all need judging as and when necessary but who judges the judges?

A class of people that are more in need of judgement than the rest of us lesser mortals especially when it comes to sustaining our democracy.

“Democracy rots slowly. Sometimes its decay is perfectly legal, helped along by legislatures and embraced by the courts.” Ghana has not been immune from this rot and decay as events have been unfolding in this our 4th Republic! It’s now so glaring that people are able to predict accurately the outcomes of certain particular cases that are placed before our courts. I must confess, I was one of the people who had argued against sending a petition on Election 2020 to the SC, but after a while, I said, what the hell, it’s our democracy after all, let us rally to its defence, and where else but in court?!

Very depressing for my pessimism and the same time very enervating for rallying to the side of our democracy.

All is not lost, though. Looking down south out of the ECOWAS sub-region to Malawi, judges of the constitutional court of this very poor country, did the needful and are now the toast of the civilised world. To those five judges of Malawi’s constitutional court, it is with pride and respect that I join Chatham House in saying Bravo, Me Lords!

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56 The Ghanaian News December 2020

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