GHANAIAN NEWS - MARCH 2024

Spinal Decompression Therapy

7007 Islington Ave. # 14, Woodbridge, ON Tel: 905-264-8020 Fax: 905-264-9010 see detail on pg. 7

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Racism Affects the Health of Black Women Dr. Priscilla Boakye

By: Ebenezer Amankwah, Toronto, ON

An Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Dr Priscilla Boakye, has revealed that racism impacts not only the emotional state of an individual but also the health and well-being of the victim.

She emphasized that black women, in particular, are at a high health risk due to exposure to racism.

Dr. Boakye explained that experiencing continuous racism is akin to undergoing everyday stress. When the body is under stress, it activates a chronic stress response, which over time causes the body to react continually to the stress, leading to various illnesses.

She outlined conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, stillbirths, and miscarriages as some of the consequences.

Dr. Priscilla Boakye made these revelations during her keynote address at the EMPOWER HER

event, organized by the African-Canadian Social Development Council at 10 Belfield Road, Toronto.

She spoke on the theme: “Promoting Black Women’s Health and Well-being.”

Dr. Priscilla Boakye added that barriers within the healthcare system have compounded issues for black women.

She mentioned anti-black medical gaslighting, where black women are made to doubt their healthcare concerns either by the healthcare giver downplaying, dismissing or attributing symptoms to others other than what they visited the healthcare facility for.

Dr Boakye advised black women to recognize their location and navigate their way through the system, even though the system wasn’t designed in their favour.

cont’d on pg. 31

The Methodist Church Ghana (Canada) Welcomes New Superintendent Minister

By Ebenezer Amankwah, Toronto, ON

The Canada Circuit under the North America Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana has welcomed the Very Reverend Emmanuel Evans Essien as its new Superintendent Minister.

A welcome service to honour the Superintendent Minister and his family was organized at the auditorium of the Methodist Church Ghana Toronto at 69 Milvan Drive, North York, Ontario.

During the service, the Very Reverend Emmanuel Evans Essien delivered a sermon on the theme: “Do Not Sell Your Inheritance,” taken from Hebrews 12:16–17.

He revealed that nowadays, many Christians deny Christ when they are caught in adverse situations and circumstances.

He said these challenging situations often arise due to a child of God’s inability or failure to think through a decision, and also to ensure whether those decisions align with the Word of God.

The Very Reverend Evans Essien advised Christians to, therefore, remain steadfast in the Lord and never let their guard down.

He emphasized the need for Christians to continually pray and seek the guidance of God in every endeavour.

Societies, organizations, and circuits of the church expressed their enthusiasm about the arrival of the man of God and his family by presenting them with gifts and presents.

cont’d on pg. 41

Very Reverend Emmanuel Evans Essien

Dr Priscilla Boakye, Keynote Speaker

Ramesh Sangha BSN, MP

Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September

Ontario is introducing a suite of

will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.

The new rules will go into effect in the 2024-2025 academic year.

As of September, students in kindergarten to Grade 6 will be asked to keep their phones on silent and out of sight for the entire day, unless permitted by an educator.

Students between Grades 7 and 12 have

a little more flexibility, with cellphones only banned during class time.

If a student breaks the rules, their cellphone should be immediately surrendered to a staff members and parents will be notified. Students could also face suspension for repeated violations.

“We have heard loud and clear from parents and teachers alike that cellphones in classrooms are distracting kids from learning,”

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement released Sunday.

“When it comes to cellphones, our policy is ‘out of sight and out of mind,’ as we get students back to the basics by restoring focus, safety and common sense back in Ontario schools.”

As part of the new policy, social media sites will be banned from all school networks and devices. The government will also ban sharing and recording videos or photos of individuals without explicit consent, although it’s unclear how this will be monitored or enforced.

At a news conference, Lecce told reporters that teachers’ judgement will be respected on when and how technology will be used in the classroom.

“This is about restoring focus during instructional time,” Lecce said. “Outside of that, during lunch or recess or spares, we’re going to try

to treat kids with a sense of personal responsibility.”

Teachers will also be asked to include comments on students’ distraction levels in class within report cards.

Lynn Posluns, President and CEO of Women’s Brain Health Initiative, applauded the change.

“While we know that social media and screens can be helpful tools if used correctly, too much screen time or bad influences on social media can harm a developing brain - whether it’s inside or outside of the classroom,” she said in a statement, noting their research suggests “troubling trends towards increasing screent imes and decreasing sleep times.”

“We must take this opportunity to educate teachers, parents, and children on ways in which they can mitigate the risk of overusing technology and why it is harmful to their mental health.”

EDITORIAL

Publisher / Editor

Emmanuel Ayiku

Contributing Editor

Joe Kingsley Eyiah

Director of Operations

Comfort Ayiku

Community Reporter

Jonathan Annobil

Online Editor

Ebenezer Amankwah

The Ghanaian News

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EDITORIAL

Why May 1st is observed as Labour Day?

Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers, and has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement.

May 1 is observed as “May Day”, also referred to as “International Workers’ Day” and “Labour Day” in different countries across the world. The day commemorates the contributions of workers, and the labour movement.

The Haymarket Affair

Although observed as an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival initially, May 1 became associated with the Labour Movement in the late 19th century.

The decision was taken in memory of Chicago’s Haymarket Affair, which took place on May 4, 1886, when a violent clash broke out between the police and labour protesters. The incident happened after a bomb went off at Haymarket Square in Chicago, where the police had arrived to break a peaceful rally. Ultimately, seven police officers were killed and 60 others were injured before the violence ended. It is estimated that four to eight civilians died, and 30 to 40 were wounded.

Many protesters, who were demonstrating against workers’ rights violations, long work hours, poor working conditions, low wages and child labour, were arrested and served terms of life imprisonment, death sentences, etc., and those who died were hailed as “Haymarket Martyrs”. The Haymarket Affair had a lasting effect on the workers’ movement and helped push forward the demands for better working conditions across the world.

Labour Day across the world

The US formally recognised Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894, and it continues to be celebrated every year on the first Monday of September. Soon, Canada also followed suit. However, it took another 22 years and countless protests for America to recognise eight-hour work days.

Although the US and Canada observed the first Monday of September as Labor Day, others decided to mark the occasion on a different date. In 1889, The Second International, an organisation of socialist and labour parties, announced that May 1 would be marked as International Workers’ Day from then on.

Five years later, the International Socialist Congress in Amsterdam called on “all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace,” and made it “mandatory upon the proletarian organisations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.”

After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the celebration was embraced by the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc nations during the Cold War– becoming a national holiday in many of them. Parades were a part of the celebration–the one at Moscow’s Red Square was attended by top Communists leaders and displayed Soviet military might.

In Canada, People mark May 1 with big rallies. The day is a moment to remember the major victories achieved by worker activism and solidarity. These include the eight-hour workday, paid sick leave and the right to a safe workplace.

In Ghana

Also known as International Workers’ Day, it is a significant public holiday celebrated annually on May 1. The event is marked with different events which include parades, cultural performances and speeches aimed at recognizing and acknowledging the contribution of the workforce and advocating their rights.

Canadian interest rates don’t have to match U.S. or global rates, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says, but they need to stay within a certain ballpark.

Macklem made the comments while testifying before the House of Commons finance committee alongside senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers on Thursday.

“Our interest rates in Canada don’t need to be the same as the U.S. rate or global rates. But there is a limit to how far they can diverge,” Macklem said.

“We’re not close to that limit.”

The Bank of Canada is widely expected to begin lowering its policy rate in the coming months, while forecasters expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to take longer.

The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is currently sitting at five per cent, which is below the Federal Reserve’s target range for the funds rate of 5.25 to 5.5 per cent.

BMO chief economist Douglas Porter said the reason interest rates can’t diverge too much is because that would lead to a significant depreciation in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.

That would make imports from the U.S. more expensive and disrupt trade if there are big currency swings, he added.

Porter said the Bank of Canada has to tread carefully because a divergence in rates could also lead to an overreaction in the foreign exchange market, which would further depreciate the Canadian dollar.

“There is a risk that the foreign exchange markets could overshoot. So in other words, overreact to something that maybe Canada would do,” he said.

The U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates on Wednesday and signalled it won’t cut them until it is more confident that the annual inflation rate is headed back to the two per cent target.

The ongoing strength of the U.S. economy has made it a global outlier. Inflation has also been stickier south of the border.

Tiff Macklem Governor of Bank of Canada

“In recent months, inflation has shown a lack of further progress toward our two per cent objective,” said Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve.

“It is likely that gaining such greater confidence will take longer than previously expected,” he added.

In contrast, the Bank of Canada has been encouraged by recent progress on the inflation front.

Core measures of inflation, which strip out volatile prices, have eased over the last few months.

Canada’s annual inflation rate was 2.9 per cent in March, below the U.S.’s 3.5 per cent.

Macklem has said that the Bank of Canada is seeing the right trends to begin lowering interest rates, but it wants to see those trends sustained for longer.

Forecasters widely expect the Bank of Canada to begin lowering its policy rate in June or July.

Porter said the Bank of Canada has some room to cut interest rates ahead of the Federal Reserve.

“Our view is that the (Bank of Canada) can certainly cut one time without the Fed. They may even be able to cut two times as long as there is the expectation that the next move by the Fed will will be to cut,” Porter said.

“I think that’s about as far I think the (Bank of Canada) can go without causing some pretty serious stress on on the Canadian dollar. The Canadian Press

NPP’s Kwabena Boateng declared winner of Ejisu by-election with 55.8% - Official

With votes from all polling stations counted and collated, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the Ejisu Parliamentary by-election, Kwabena Boateng, has been declared the Member of Parliament-elect.

Results from all 204 polling stations showed that lawyer Kwabena Boateng received 27,782 votes from the total valid votes cast, representing 55.8%.

Ing. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, the independent parliamentary candidate, secured 21,543 votes (43.3%).

The other candidates in the by-election — Esther Osei of the CPP, Beatrice Boakye of the LPG, and independents Gabriel Agyemang Joseph and Attakorah Joseph — collectively accounted for less than 1% of the votes.

The outcome means the NPP has retained a seat it held after winning it

What you should know about the Liberal government’s dental care plan

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is designed to provide oral health insurance to uninsured Canadians with a household income less than $90,000

Uninsured seniors over the age of 65 can begin to receive coverage under The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

through the late John Kumah in 2020.

Kumah’s death in March 2024 triggered the by-election, which the main opposition NDC abstained from.

As a result, the NPP maintains its 138 MPs in Parliament, as opposed to the NDC’s 137.

The MP-elect is likely to be sworn in by Speaker Alban Bagbin when Parliament reconvenes. ghanaweb

Federal public servants to return to the office 3 days a week this fall

Major public sector unions say news came without warning or consultation

The federal government will expect public servants back in the office three days a week beginning later this year.

A federal government source who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter confirmed to Radio-Canada what the French-language newspaper Le Droit first reported Monday.

The source said the policy shift is due to come into effect in September, but added that could change.

It’s a major alteration to the twice-aweek hybrid model that prompted some 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members to walk off the job last year in what their union called a “watershed moment” for workers’ rights.

“Now, you will be protected from arbitrary decisions about remote work by the government,” PSAC said in a statement last June.

Ten months later, both PSAC and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) say they’ve been blindsided.

“It absolutely catches us by surprise,” said Stéphanie Montreuil, head of public affairs for PIPSC. “It came with no warning and no consultations from our part.”

Montreuil said some members are still heading into the office only to participate in virtual meetings.

“We’ve advocated for presence with purpose,” she said.

3 days ‘a good start,’ Ford says In Ottawa on an unrelated visit

Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his call for federal public servants in the capital to get back to the office and breathe life back into the city’s often deserted downtown.

“Three days is a good start,” Ford said, reacting to the news. “When you’re coming here, go out for lunch, maybe go into a store, pick something up, go to the mall — that’s what we need, that’s what stirs the economy.”

Treasury Board President Anita Anand did not comment on the report.

But Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos said individual ministries would maintain the final word on how employees return to the office.

“All departments need to contribute to the conversations that are taking place with Treasury Board,” Duclos said.

Neither PIPSC nor PSAC would speculate about how members of the two giant unions might react to the news.

In downtown Ottawa, public servant Tannis Labelle wasn’t keen on the idea of returning to the office for a third day.

“It adds to my work day, it takes away from my family life — I think it’s a waste of time,” she said.

The 2024 federal budget set a 10-year target for cutting Public Services and Procurement Canada’s office portfolio in half.

With that anticipated reduction of federal government office space and no firm plan for an end to hybrid working on the horizon, many public servants are questioning not only when they’ll return to the office, but where and even how.

The first one million who are eligible and have signed up online will receive coverage in May, according to a Liberal government release.

The plan will cover low and middle income Canadians of all age groups by 2025.

Here’s what you need to know about the CDCP.

What is the CDCP?

It’s a Liberal government program to provide oral health insurance to Canadians with a household income of less than $90,000. The CDCP is designed for people who aren’t already covered through work, school or private insurance.

The plan is a key part of an agreement between the NDP and Liberal government to keep the minority government in power until 2025. It will cost $13 billion over five years, and an estimated $4.4 billion a year after that.

Who is eligible?

Seniors aged 87 and older were first able to sign up under the plan in Dec. 2023. In June, adults who receive disability, and children under the age of 18 will be able to apply.

Up to nine million people who do not have dental coverage are expected

to be covered. You can check here to see when you can expect to be able to apply.

Those who have signed up should receive a letter from the government by the end of May, if they qualify. Those who are already covered by another public program can still qualify for the CDCP.

Where can I receive care?

More than 6,500 oral health providers have signed up to provide care under the CDCP, according to the Liberal government.

The plan will eventually allow dentists to use direct billing without having to sign up. “Starting July 8, CDCP patients will be able to see any oral health provider of their choice, as long as the provider agrees to direct bill Sun Life for services provided under the plan,” the release says.

What services are covered?

A range of major, minor and preventative services are covered. This includes: check ups, fillings, pain management and control, root canals, X-rays, cleanings, gum care, crowns, removals and dentures, among others.

Is the service free?

Those have an adjusted family income of under $90,000 are covered, but there can still be a co-payment required, similar to private insurance. Those with household incomes between $70,000 and $90,000 will have to pay for part of the service. Providers may also charge service fees that the plan does not cover.

Patients should confirm parts of the service not covered by the CDCP, which they will have to pay their provider. National Post

Kwabena Boateng is MP-elect for Ejisu

Goldstar Air To Use Innovative Ways To Give Kumasi International Airport Global Recognition

By Eric Bannerman

Goldstar Air, your innovative indigenous wholly owned Ghanaian airline, wants to reassure the Ghanaian traveling population that the current 1,981-meter runway at the Kumasi International Airport will be enough and safe for global recognition.

Our narrow-body aircraft can fly to and from our European destinations (Hub) and Saudi Arabia (Hajj Pilgrimage) until the expansion of the runway is completed to accommodate our wide-body aircraft to and from Asia and North America.

Meanwhile, passengers who will be traveling to our Asia and North America destinations will have to transit through Accra airport Terminal 2, until the runway is extended. They will have to check in and receive their baggage at Kumasi airport and their baggage will be automatically transferred through to and from their final destinations.

According to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eric Bannerman, the airline is awaiting the inspection of its aircraft, naming one of the aircraft after His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II and the opening of the international concourse of the Kumasi Airport.

The Chief Executive Officer also eulogies the Royal initiative by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in building and commissioning his grand multipurpose hall in the Ashanti Region to mark the 25th-anniversary celebrations, called the Otumfuo Osei II Jubilee Hall.

The architectural marvel, blending traditional Asante house design with modern aesthetics, is poised to serve as a cultural and ceremonial hub.

Commissioned to reflect the essence of Asante heritage, the hall features a striking mural adorned with miracle Asante artifacts and Adinkra symbols, prominently showcasing the revered Golden Stool, ‘Sika Dwa Kofi’. The hall’s design, reminiscent of the iconic “Fi hankra” Asante housing style, encompasses a spacious 2,000-seat auditorium, complemented by office spaces and dining facilities.

Goldstar Air will organize great cultural and tourism homecoming events, which will also geared towards bringing a lot of traffic to the Kumasi International Airport. This and many drives are the many folds of indirect jobs the airline will create for Asanteman youth and Ghana as a whole when Goldstar Air starts operations.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an international airport is an airport with customs and border control facilities enabling passengers to travel between countries around the world. ICAO also defines a runway as a rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both). Runways, taxiways, and ramps are

sometimes called “tarmac,” though very few runways are built using tarmac. Takeoff and landing areas defined on the water surface for seaplanes are

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generally referred to as waterways. Runway lengths are now commonly given in meters worldwide, except in North America, where feet are commonly used. The runway is one of the most visible and important elements within an airport; its dimensions (length and width), location, and subsequent maintenance must be accurate to ensure its safety both during takeoff and landing.

Existing facilities at Kumasi International Airport are the single asphalt-paved runway, designated Runway, which has a length of 1,981 metres (6,502 feet) and a width of 45 metres (148 feet) for landing and take-off and is expected to expand to 2,320 meters (7,611 feet). Compared to London City Airport, which has a single 1,508-meter (4,948-feet) runway that allows domestic and international flights for the public transport of passengers, only multiengine, fixed-wing aircraft up to Airbus A318 size with special aircraft and aircrew certification to fly 5.5° approaches are allowed to conduct operations at London City Airport. The airport is about 60 hectares and handles over 5 million passenger movements annually. It is the 5th busiest airport by passengers and aircraft movements serving the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton and the 15th busiest in the United Kingdom, which Kumasi International Airport can follow suit.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport currently serves 9,449 flights monthly, 315 flights per day, 13 flights per hour, and 108 nonstop destinations

cont’d on pg. 22

Tamale International Airport To Get World-Class MRO

By Eric Bannerman

Tamale International Airport (TML) is the third-busiest airport in Ghana, after Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and Kumasi International Airport (KMS) with a runway of 3,400 meters (11,154 feet).

The Tamale area offers an ideal location for the Goldstar Air City Project, which comprises Maintenance, Cargo, and Training facilities because of its low humidity, sparse rainfall, and high altitude, all of which minimize rust and corrosion of aircraft. It also does not have the humidity problems of Accra or Kumasi. The airline will elaborate on the three facilities; beginning with Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO).

Goldstar Air will expand the infrastructure in the airline industry in Ghana by building a world-class Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul

(MRO) to boost businesses in the country and attract foreign investors while making Ghana an aviation hub in the West and Central African subregions.

According to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline Eric Bannerman, Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) is waiting for the clearance letter from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to allocate Goldstar Air the proposed land in Tamale.

The airline has secured the architectural design and building order and it is set to construct 250 x 250 x 75 Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) at the Tamale International Airport to cater for the maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of our aircraft and other companies, as well as skill training.

The 24-hour facility will serve West and Central Africa, which lacks a wide-body maintenance base and can accommodate two (2) Boeing 767 or 777 or 787 or 747 passenger and cargo aircraft at the same time, as the future of the aircraft MRO industry is promising, paving the way for safer and more sustainable aviation. Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul are interconnected aspects of aircraft management that work together to ensure aviation operations’ safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Mr. Bannerman emphasized, “Tamale International Airport has been chosen for our maintenance base, because of the desert climate and the vast land around the airport, which will be good for parking lots of aircraft that will be waiting for their turn for checks or overhaul and excellent for aircraft maintenance. The airline will be constructing the MRO as Phase

Three (3) of the Tamale airport project and part of our City Project which will be named after National Chief Iman of Ghana Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and we expect him to lead the sod-cutting and commission the project when completed.

From Left To Right Mr Eric Bannerman And Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu

The airline will additionally honor Chief Iman by marking his name on one of our aircraft as a registration number, as we believe that naming the aircraft after national heroes and heroines will also open up the frontiers of the country’s aviation and tourism sectors.

As part of the avowed strategy of the airline to fully optimize Ghana’s tourism potential, announcements will be made during takeoff and landing to indicate the aircraft registration name and a documentary on the assigned individual will also be shown on our screen as a way of honoring them and promoting tourism because a nation that honors its living heroes and heroines is worth dying for. The airline believes it is appropriate to honor our past, current, and future Presidents, prominent Chiefs, sports personalities, religious leaders, and other distinguished personalities.

Chairman Eric Bannerman, the entire management and staff of Goldstar Air would like to seize this opportunity to wish the National Chief Iman of Ghana, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, a happy 105th birthday. We pray to Allah for good health, happiness, and continued strength.

The estimated global market for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul services is worth up to $50 billion US in the aviation industry alone. As initial expense and performance criticality increase, the need for MRO services also will increase. The aircraft MRO industry is an essential component of the aviation sector, ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of aircraft operations. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the MRO industry is poised to undergo significant transformations soon.

In aviation’s dynamic and safety-critical world, the distinctions between maintenance, repair, and overhaul are paramount.

FOCUS

Relevant

Curriculum,

Adequate Learning & Teaching Resources, and Well Motivated Teachers are Pivotal to Quality

Education:

“A

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Toronto-Canada

In my many years as a professional teacher, I have encountered the term curriculum in different ways. Curriculum could be described as lists of subjects, learning areas and courses of study. The syllabus outlines everything that the teacher needs to teach to his/her class. It must be argued here that this content-prescriptive approach limits the scope of teachers to really personalize the learning.

Although, there is no single definition that can be used to holistically explain this complex phenomenon known as curriculum, it can be simply referred to as a course of study or plan for what is to be taught in an educational institution (Wiles, “Bondi in Curriculum Development: A Guide to Practice”, 1998).According to Gatawa in the book “The Politics of the School Curriculum: An Introduction” (1990), the curriculum is general in nature, for it encompasses all societal speculations about knowledge and what constitutes it. Knowledge should have a basis as determined by society.

However, because knowledge is dynamic as it constantly changes with the coming on board of new truths in the ever changing universe, policymakers should always be privy to any shift in expectation, so that what is considered as knowledge remains relevant to societal needs

Relevance is our big challenge now:

The greatest challenge we face today is relevance. Our students require a curriculum that provides them with meaningful experiences, that engenders deep and significant learning. It has to be relevant and responsive to the age in which we live. In other words, it must educate for life.

Technology keeps on changing how we live. And that, the only possession we have that keeps us going is our potentials. Students therefore have to take opportunities of new learning initiatives and improve upon what they have already. The job market keeps on changing. What students learn at school should therefore be geared towards preparing them for needs of the community. This calls for dynamic and relevant curriculum.

As an educator was happy to hear the President of the Republic of Ghana in his State of the Union address to the nation outlined his government plans to put in place a new school curriculum at the primary school level that is relevant and pragmatic to the needs of the student and subsequent to foster national development soon. That is a humble beginning of making the

school curriculum more relevant to the needs of the changing world.

He mentioned that, “In September 2019, a new standards-based curriculum will be rolled out from kindergarten to Class 6 in primary schools. This curriculum has drawn upon the best practices from all over the world, and will focus on making Ghanaian children confident, innovative, creative-thinking, digitallyliterate, well-rounded, patriotic citizens. Mathematics, Science, Reading, Writing and Creativity are, therefore, at the heart of this new curriculum.

“Young people have to have options on which career path they choose, and I am glad to announce that all is set for the construction of 10 state-of-the-art Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Centres this year. For far too long, we have preached about the importance of TVET without doing very much to demonstrate this importance. We send or urge young people to go to poorly equipped TVET centres, and we are surprised that they are not keen. The new TVET centres would be world class, and attractive to assure young people that they are not being sent to second best options.”

In Ontario, it is reported that for the past six years college graduates have overtaken university graduates in securing better employment. This is partly due to the nature of courses offered at the college which are more hands-on and meets the present needs of the community.

Rising Graduate

Unemployment in Ghana:

World Bank report on Ghana in 2016 laments the growing youth unemployment in Ghana. It says 48% of Ghanaian youth are jobless.

The report reveals, “In Ghana, youth are less likely than adults to be working:

in 2012, about 52% of people aged 1524 were employed (compared to about 90% for the 25-64 population), a third were in school, 14% were inactive and 4% were unemployed actively looking for job. Young women in the same age group are particularly disadvantaged and have much higher inactivity rates than men: 17% of young female are inactive as opposed to 11% of males,”

It recommended that “government must work towards equipping the youth with relevant skills through the educational system.”

Obviously, policymakers are confused about what the real issues are and what, possibly could be done about them. It must be noted here that Ghana is not the only country battling with the rise in graduate unemployment.

Ghana has now introduced free Senior High School to help all her citizens of school-going age to access secondary education. This means there will be more High School graduates for our Universities and Colleges than before. To curb the growing graduate unemployment in the country the school curriculum ought to be reshaped to cater for the needs of the Ghanaian community. Numeracy and literacy, science and technology, visual arts and performing arts, social studies and vocational studies must all be given respectable emphasis in the development of the school curriculum.

The other big factor that influences quality education is well trained and adequately motivated teacher. The President of Ghana gladly touched on the importance of teachers in

ensuring quality education in his recent State of the Nation Address. He emphasized that, “a well-motivated and remunerated teacher is at the centre of our quality education and comprehensive teacher policy. And that, “this has started with the upgrading of the initial teacher education certificate to degree status, and the move to put the teaching profession up there with other professions in terms of respect and exclusivity.”

He revealed that our teachers, who complete the three-year Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) at our Colleges of Education, go on, later, to do a twoyear top-up first degree, by distance learning, at the University of Cape Coast. This means that, in addition to the extra amount of money spent on getting a degree, it will take them not less than five years to get one. With the introduction of the 4-year Bachelor of Education degree, teacher trainees would now obtain their first degree at the end of their schooling. This ensures that they enter the teaching service as university graduates. This is a good beginning for teacher training in the country. However, there is the need to maintain the professionalism of teachers through adequate incentives and continuous professional development.

Our communities are undergoing radical changes as technology advances. Schools, colleges and universities ought to acknowledge such changes and make what students are taught in these formal institutions of learning more relevant to the needs of the community

Ghana’s Nurse Migration; A Call To Action!

By Edmund Agbeko, Toronto, ON

Elizabeth Kabukie Ocansey says that, in the heart of Ghana’s healthcare system, a silent crisis is unfolding as a significant number of seasoned nurses bid farewell to their homeland. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association revealed a staggering exodus, with 732 nurses having left the country since the onset of January 2024 alone. The President of the Association, Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, however revealed in an interview that this alarming trend is not a new phenomenon.

Reflecting on the past, she highlighted that over 8,000 trained nurses departed Ghana in 2003, setting the stage for a chronic issue. Perpetual Ofori Ampofo reveals that, what’s more troubling is that the professionals leaving today are not novices in their field; instead, they carry with them years of valuable experience. “January 2024, we have had 732 already going through our offices with the intention of moving out. When we look at last year, the whole of last year in total we had a close of 8,000 who actually were in the process, and I’m sure by now a number of them have left. It is worrying because, for me, those who are leaving are not those who have 1 year or no experience in the practice. These are the ones who have a number of years of experience.”

Last year, more than 1,200 Ghanaian nurses reportedly joined the United Kingdom’s nursing register, exacerbating the strain on the local healthcare system. Additionally, about 150 experienced nurses and health professionals from Pantang Hospital have sought opportunities abroad, further emphasizing the magnitude of the issue. Ghana’s healthcare sector stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with an unprecedented departure of experienced nursing professionals. The nation faces the urgent task of addressing the root causes of this healthcare exodus to safeguard the well-being of its citizens and the future of its healthcare infrastructure.

As the healthcare community contends with internal challenges, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has acknowledged and actively addressed the issue of brain drain. In June, the Ghana Health Service announced its commitment to tackling the adverse effects of professionals migrating to other regions or industries. Addressing the healthcare exodus in Ghana requires a multi-faceted approach involving government interventions, policy reforms, and collaborative efforts from various stakeholders.

According to Elizabeth Kabukie Ocansey, the government should implement strategies to retain experienced nurses, such as offering competitive salaries, benefits, and

opportunities for career advancement. The migration of over 4,000 nurses from Ghana to Europe between January and July 2023 is attributed by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to the inadequate improvement in working conditions.

GRNMA President, Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, notes that the issue of subpar salaries and a lack of respect for healthcare professionals extends beyond Ghana to the wider African context. “The truth of the matter is that our salaries in Ghana as nurses and midwives are not the best. But I also know that it is not only Ghana. Within the sub-region, within Africa as a whole, it is the same issue.” To curb this trend, urgent attention is needed to enhance working conditions in healthcare facilities, creating a safe and supportive environment, and ensuring sufficient staffing levels to alleviate workload and prevent burnout among healthcare workers.

In 2005, a shortage of nurses due to many seeking opportunities abroad led to a government ban on nurses travelling overseas. Effective measures, including funding nursing education with a requirement for a five-year work bond, successfully increased the nurse workforce by 2015, prompting the end of the bond. However, recent reports of a significant nurse exodus necessitate an immediate review to implement measures to address the issue. This, I believe, is calling for the need to increase investment in nursing education and training programs to ensure an ample supply of qualified professionals. Establish continuous professional development initiatives to keep nurses abreast of the latest medical advancements.

The Ghana Health Service should be collaborating with the government and other sectors to improve the overall economic conditions of healthcare professionals. There must be a need to implement measures to address social factors that contribute to the decision to migrate, such as housing, education, and healthcare for their families. Government should review and update

IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES

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

APPEALING AGAINST FAMILY CLASS SPONSORSHIP REFUSALS

This topic is being revisited because cases of family class sponsorship refusals, particularly spousal applications, are increasing daily and sponsors generally appear confused over issues regarding appealability and chances of winning their cases.

To begin with, it is necessary one knows what constitutes family – for sponsorship purposes - from the perspective of Immigration. Orphaned relatives and relatives such as aunts and cousins could be sponsored only if certain stringent conditions are met. Your own children may not be considered as family members for sponsorship purposes when certain conditions are not met. And one can exercise his appeal rights if he feels his sponsorship refusal has no basis.

However, the fact that you have appeal rights and you can appeal a negative decision on your sponsorship application does not necessarily mean you should appeal. One should be mindful of the fact thatcertain situations may even bar sponsors from appealing negative decisions.

Pursuant to section 63(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a sponsor can file an appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board in cases of sponsorship refusals. When an appeal is filed, the sponsor would be entitled to full reasons for the refusal.

However, section 64(3) of the Act stipulates that no appeal may be made under subsection 63(1) of the Act in respect of a decision that was based on a finding of inadmissibility on grounds of misrepresentation unless the foreign national in question is the sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or child.

Section 64 of the Act, again, indicates that appeals may not be made to the Immigration Appeal Division in situations where the foreign national has been found inadmissible on grounds of security, violating human or international rights, serious criminality or organized criminality.

The Act also stipulates that sponsors of applicants seeking to remain in Canada such as members of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class and applicants seeking permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds may not have a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division. They may however use judicial review to seek redress.

Medical inadmissibility is another controversial area. Generally, a sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or child being sponsored may not be inadmissible if their health situation would only cause excessive demand on health or social services and would not pose any danger to the public health or safety. That may not be the case in other categories of sponsorship.

Ghana’s Nurse Migration; A Call To Action!

cont’d from pg. 11

immigration policies to ensure that healthcare professionals are adequately recognized and supported and also collaborate with international bodies to regulate and monitor recruitment practices to prevent unethical poaching of healthcare professionals.

The Government should conduct regular surveys and assessments to understand the concerns and needs of healthcare professionals and also implement measures to improve job satisfaction, including recognition programs and opportunities for professional growth. There must be a need to foster collaborations between the public and private sectors to create a more robust healthcare system. We must explore partnerships with international organizations to bring in expertise and resources to strengthen local healthcare infrastructure.

That said and done, we must create support systems, such as counselling services and peer support groups,

to address the emotional and psychological challenges faced by healthcare professionals. The need to utilize technology is very important to improve efficiency and effectiveness, reducing the burden on healthcare professionals. We must provide training and resources to healthcare professionals to adapt to technological advancements, plus the need to invest in research to understand the root causes of nurse migration and inform evidence-based policymaking. We must establish a comprehensive database to track healthcare professionals and assess the impact of migration on the healthcare sector.

In conclusion, the ongoing healthcare exodus demands a proactive approach to safeguard the well-being of citizens and the future of Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure. The issue extends beyond Ghana’s borders, requiring collaborative efforts, policy reforms, and investments in the healthcare workforce to address the root causes of migration.

The foregoing and a few othersare clear-cut examples of non-appealable situations. Most other situations are appealable. But appealable cases are not necessarily winnable cases.

If your sponsorship was refused because you were in receipt of social assistance for reasons other than disability, it may be advisable to re-file the sponsorship when the situation is rectified. Also, if the refusal is based on non-fulfilment of previous sponsorship undertaking, think twice before you appeal. The appeal may not give you the outcome you anticipate.

When marriage sponsorship refusals are related to legal validity of the sponsor’s marriage to the sponsored relative, the parties must assess the situation critically and determine if the situation is rectifiable without filing a new sponsorship application.

The reasonableness of appealing against a negative decision based on DNA results or based on nondisclosure and/or non-examination of a family member at the time the sponsor applied for permanent residence, is

debatable. In most such cases, it may be advisable to have the file closed and use the appropriate method to re-file the application.

Where a case looks manifestly unwinnable at appeal, the person appealing should reassess the situation bearing in mind that the Immigration Appeal Division would entertain appeals in respect of the same application only once. If the opportunity to appeal is carelessly utilized, the sponsored relative’s chances of getting to Canada could be jeopardized.Sponsors and sponsored relatives are strongly advised to obtain professional advice when and if they decide to appeal against negative immigration decisions.

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

Statement on World Water Day 2024 Water for Peace

Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, issued the following statement: I would like to begin by acknowledging the hard work of First Nations communities in safeguarding their waterways, developing innovative water management practices, and sharing their knowledge.

It is essential that together, we protect our waterways and ensure everyone in Canada has access to clean drinking water. This is a basic human right— not a luxury. Since 2015, we have been working in true partnership, in the spirit of reconciliation, with First Nations communities, partners, and organizations to achieve these goals.

Lifting long-term drinking water advisories:

Decades of persistent anti-Indigenous racism and discriminatory funding by successive governments have led to multiple First Nations not having access to clean drinking water. Since 2015 the Government of Canada has significantly increased investments.

As of March 22, 2024, First Nations have successfully lifted 144 long-term drinking water advisories with support from Indigenous Services Canada since November 2015 and prevented over 270 short-term advisories from becoming long-term. Comprehensive action plans are in place in 26 communities, targeting the resolution of 28 active, long-term advisories.

While there’s still work to do, the number of active long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations has dropped by 73% since 2015. Today, 96% of all First Nations communities do not have a long-term water advisory.

I commend water operators and

a network of Indigenous water walkers, water keepers, and water carriers for safeguarding water. Indigenous Services Canada will continue to work with First Nations, supporting sustainable First Nationsled approaches to on-reserve water systems and securing safe and clean drinking water for future generations. Advancing new proposed legislation to ensure clean drinking water for generations to come:

Bill C-61, the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, was introduced last year. It marks a substantial advancement in the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities, aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and offers a pivotal opportunity for meaningful change.

This proposed legislation would support First Nations in reclaiming jurisdiction to manage their own water systems, create pathways to protecting source water, and lay the groundwork for the creation of a First Nation-led water institution to support communities. For the first time in history, it would also hold the federal government accountable to continued funding investments to support the delivery of equitable water infrastructure and services in First Nations communities. Developed through extensive engagement that put First Nations voices at the forefront, this proposed Bill is a concrete step toward access to clean drinking water for everyone in Canada.

The Conversation

International students will be allowed to work 24 hours a week starting in September

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says international students will be able to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week starting in September.

The Liberals temporarily waived the 20-hour cap on work hours for international students during the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to ease labour shortages.

“Looking at best practices and policies in other like-minded countries, most of them limit the number of working hours for international students. Canada’s rules need to be aligned or we will find our programs attracting more and more applicants whose primary intent is to work and not study,” Miller said.

“To be clear, the purpose of the international students program is to study and not to work.”

The new work limit comes as the federal government clamps down on a surge in international student enrolments across the country.

Critics have warned that allowing international students to work fulltime could turn a study permit into an unofficial work visa, which would undermine its purpose.

However, the federal government is also hearing from international students who say they need to work more to pay for their studies.

Miller said his government is setting the cap at 24 hours because that seems “reasonable,” and would allow students to work three full eight-hour shifts.

He also noted that internal work by the department shows more than 80 per cent of international students are currently working more than 20 hours a week.

The work hours limit will return to

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Miller is announcing that starting in September, international students will be able to work 24 hours per week off-campus while pursuing their studies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

20 hours per week until September, when the government can implement a permanent change to make it 24 hours.

There are no limits on the number of hours international students can work when they’re not actively enrolled in class, such as during the summer.

The Canadian Press reported earlier this year that officials in Miller’s department warned the government in 2022 that the temporary waiver could distract students from their studies and undermine the objective of temporary foreign worker programs.

Miller previously floated the idea of setting the cap permanently at 30 hours a week. However, on Monday, the immigration minister said that would be too close to full-time hours.

“We know from studies as well that when you start working in and around 30-hour levels, there is a material impact on the quality of your studies,” he said. The Canadian Press

10:00am - 1:00pm

Every Dollar Counts!, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Audit

Why and How? Part I

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

The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) Mission is to “Administer tax, benefits, and related programs, and ensure compliance on behalf of governments across Canada, thereby contributing to the ongoing economic and social wellbeing of Canadians”. (https://www. canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html)

After filing our annual taxes, year after year, once in a while we are called upon or receive letters of inquiries from the CRA, requesting proof or evidence to validate the details or documents we made during our annual tax filing. This process is a control mechanism put in place by the CRA to check for deviations and errors and implement corrections. As the Canadian income tax system is a self-assessment regime, taxpayers assess their tax liability by filing a return with the CRA by filing deadline. CRA’s assessment of the returns are based on the return filed and information obtained from employers and other sources of income and investments of the individual’s filings.

The self assessment tax filing process is prone to miscreant tendencies, abuse, misuse, misstatement, misappropriation and mismanagement. So, with these risks, the CRA has implemented controls and checks to ensure, some of these risks and potential frauds are minimized, correct these errors or totally eliminated.

So, the question is, what are some of the key triggers that alert the CRA to investigate and audit taxpayers and reassess their annual tax filings?

Listed here are some of the triggers or alerts that prompts the CRA to pick on individuals for re-assessments or tax audits. Once an individual is selected for a tax audit, it is not a fun task and many times may lead to further liabilities and in some cases thousands of dollars in payments back to the government. It is therefore advisable that we follow standard tax filing methods and avoid quick fixes, fast moves to cheat orwork arounds that may end up being audited. It is key to support our claims with legitimate documentations to prevent any further actions that may end up at a cost to an individual in the end.

Triggers for CRA Tax Audits

1. In some cases, a taxpayer is randomly selected for an audit. It’s like winning the worst lottery in the world, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. The odds of being targeted for a random audit are dependent on a variety of risk factors,such as income source type (i.e., self employed), where you are located, types of expenses youcarry and so on. Inconsistent pieces of a taxpayer’s profile may trigger a review of these risk factors. The more risk factors a taxpayer has, the greater the odds of being audited.

2. Another possible trigger that may lead to a CRA audit can be due to large charitable donations. If charitable contributions are suspiciously large and do not seem to be possible or likely within the confines of a taxpayer’s income, such donations or contributions are very likely to be examined. Further, if charitable contributions are made to organizations suspected of being involved in a tax scheme, there is a very high chance that a taxpayer will be audited. Taxpayers that get audited for charitable contributions, must

be able to present the official charitable receipt. This is one of the very few circumstances according to law where a taxpayer has to present an actual receipt upon request.

3. Vehicle Expenses- Are often arbitrarily determined. When preparing tax returns, often times taxpayers and their accountants pick a reasonable number for vehicle expenses based on an estimate of the percentage of the vehicle usage used for business purposes. Few taxpayers actually keep a log of every trip. This means that few taxpayers can prove to the CRA auditor with absolute certainty, the relative use of the vehicle between personal and business purposes. This makes tax auditors happy. It makes it easy for them to deny vehicle expenses, and this increases the size of their reassessments.

4. Employees Expenses- Issued on a T2200, declaration of conditions of employment, a formsigned by employer for employees, for which expenses employees are entitled to deduct certain employment expenses from their income. Perhaps the employee has to pay for their own vehicle to travel to sales calls, or perhaps they have to maintain a home office. As long as the employer requires that the employee pays these expenses in respect of their job, they likely can be deducted from income. Therefore, when some employment expenses are claimed whiles employer does not provide supporting document to attach to these claims, it raises the red flag for CRA audits to dig deeper into expenses. Further review of CRA Guide T4044, Employment Expenses, or the following archived interpretation bulletins: IT352R2 – Employee’s Expenses, Including Work Space in Home Expenses, and IT522R –Vehicle, Travel and Sales Expenses of Employees may help provide insights to what is permissible or not.

5. Child-Care Costs - The CRA regularly conducts mini-audits to ensure that parents who claim childcare expenses maintain proper documentation. Since many parents claim childcare expenses which would otherwise be ineligible, this area is under careful scrutiny by the CRA.

6. Real Estate Transaction & Rental Income - There is so much opportunity to earn money in real estate, so the CRA pays careful attention to real estate transactions. The CRA frequently audits HST rebates, pre-sale condo flips, new home construction, principal residence exemptions, and many other real estate transactions. If a taxpayer is involved in many purchase and sale transactions, they can expect to eventually encounter a tax audit. Rental income and related expenses for rental properties are prone to deep dive audits, because there are lots of subjective assumptions and expenses that relatively may not be supported with valid documents.

7. Finally, InformantTips.Many taxpayers are audited because of informant tips. if the tip relates to offshore tax evasion, the informant may earn a reward. Moral of the story; taxpayers who are cheating the system should not count on staying away forever from CRA’s radar, “one day for the thief and another day for the master” and they should similarly be careful about who has incriminating evidence which could be reported to the CRA.

In my next edition on CRA Audit, Why and How? Part II, I shall list some of the steps and approach to adopt when an individual is selected for CRA reassessment or audit. Let try to avoid these and save every dollar we can, for every dollar counts!

A Word To The Wise is Right Here!

For any views or comments, I can be reached via email: eddiesmith77@ gmail.com

The community is encouraged to join us as we bring together exceptional individuals from our local communities and from across Ontario as we showcase their talents during the 2025 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Summer Games in Brantford. 2025 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Games

Special Olympics Ontario (SOO) is proud to announce that the Brantford Police Service, Brant County OPP and Six Nations Police will host the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Summer Games Presented by the Wayne Gretzky Foundation in July of 2025.

SOO has a unique partnership with policing agencies through the Law Enforcement Torch Run in the Province and each and every Provincial Games since 1996 has been hosted by a Police Service. Brantford Police will partner with Six Nations Police and the Ontario Provincial Police to host these Games.

The Games will feature five sports: bocce, golf, track and field, soccer, and softball. All sports will be broken down into multiple ability

divisions, where athletes will have the chance to compete against those similar to their ability level. In total, over 1,000 athletes and coaches will participate in the Games.

The Wayne Gretzky Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the Games and Wayne Gretzky provided the following statement: “I am thrilled to support the 2025 Provincial Summer Games in my hometown of Brantford, Ontario. Sport and competition are a powerful force that unites us all and these Games will exemplify the spirit of inclusivity, acceptance and inclusion. Special Olympics is a cause near and dear to my heart and I wish all of the athletes luck in achieving their dreams and competing on the Provincial stage in Brantford!”

MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing ke

MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park. Jama, however, refused to leave the chamber.

“Sarah Jama you are named. You must leave the chamber,” Arnott told the Independent representative for Hamilton Centre during the question period.

Last week, Arnott announced the ban on the scarf, which is commonly worn by Arabs and Muslims and has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity. The Speaker said “extensive research” led him to categorize the garment as a political statement.

“As a result of being named, the member, for the remainder of the day, is ineligible to vote on

matters before the assembly, attend and participate in any committee proceedings, use the media studio and table notices of motion, written questions and petitions,” Arnott said.

Jama remained in the chamber throughout question

period. After the fact, Arnott said there was “no way” to remove Jama, short of physical force.

“I wasn’t prepared to do that,” he told reporters.

All four of Ontario’s political party leaders, including Premier Doug Ford, have called for a reversal of the ban. Meanwhile, two of NDP Leader Marit Stiles’ attempts to allow members to wear the garment through unanimous consent have been unsuccessful.

Asked about the incident at an unrelated news conference Thursday, Ford said: “The Speaker runs the legislature. I know that was his choice.”

Following the request for Jama’s removal, Stiles called the move “outrageous.”

cont’d on pg. 19

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Please mail, fax or e-mail this nomination form to:

The Awards Selection Committee, c/o The Ghanaian News Corporation, 1111 Albion Rd.#103, Etobicoke, ON. Fax: 416-916-6701, Email: awards@ghanaiannews.ca

Deadline for nominations: May 30, 2024

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By William Doyle-Marshall

JUNO-nominated album --”CONVERGENCE”,

Celebrating the release of their recently JUNO-nominated album --”CONVERGENCE”, the Nick Mac Lean Quartet featuring the highly decorated jazz trumpet iconoclast Brownman Ali, is touring Ontario in April under the leadership of 10 times Global Music award-winning jazzpianist Nick Maclean.

This April, the Quartet featuringTrinidad-born awardwinningtrumpeterBrownman Ali incelebration of the release of their newly JUNO Nominated album CONVERGENCE.

Led by fast-rising piano star MacLean -- a 10x Global Music Award winner and one of the most in-demand young jazz piano players in Toronto -- this contemplative yet thrilling quartet delivers jazz between the two poles of thoughtful introspection and powerhouse conveyance, taking influences from Herbie Hancock’s primordial 1960’s Blue Note era recordings, according to a release from the producers.

Maclean’s quartet heavily features one of Canada’s most provocative

Convergence and Fire Coming Strong

improvising trumpet players –Ali, an internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning jazz iconoclast who has been heralded as “Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpet player” by New York City’s Village Voice and is best known globally as the last trumpet player to play in the legendary jazz-hiphop group GURU’s JAZZMATAZZ. For this show, Ali & Maclean stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 2 of Canada’s top-tier 20-somethings: BENNETT YOUNG on upright bass, and ADAM MANSFIELD on drums (in for Jacob Wutzke).

Dates for the coming Ontario tour are as follows: Thursday April18, 7pm: Newmarket, Ontario concert at Old Flame Brewing Company; Friday April19and Saturday April 20,6pm: Campbellford, Ontario— concert@ Dockside Bistro; 6pm: and SundayApril 21,7pm and Toronto concert at Duffy’s Tavern.

Physical and digital Copies of CONVERGENCE can be purchased at the shows.

The Trinidad premiere of Queen Of The Road –

The Calypso Rose Musical (Queen

Of the Road) will have a gala opening at the Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank auditorium, Port of Spain next month, celebrating the life and legacy of the legendary Calypso Rose

The event is being held under the patronage of President Christine Kangaloo.Written and directed by Rhoma Spencer and presented by Yes Productions, Queen of the Road opens May 10 at 7.30 pm. Other shows will be held on May 11 and 12 at 6.30 pm, according to a media release.From humble beginnings to international acclaim, this musical extravaganza promises to transport audiences through the captivating rhythms and rich storytelling of

calypso, the release said.

Stacey Sobers Abraham, NWAC Calypso Queen 2018, plays the role of Calypso Rose.The film is described as a vibrant tribute to the remarkable journey of Rose, whose creations have resonated with audiences around the world.

Born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis in Bethel, Tobago, her classic calypso of 1966, “Fire Fire”, has been translated into more than 20 languages. In 2017, she won the Victoire de la Musique Award (French Grammy). In 2019, she became the oldest artiste ever to headline at the Coachella Festival in California.

Tamale International Airport To Get World-Class MRO

cont’d from pg. 9

While closely related, these processes serve different purposes in maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. Maintenance keeps aircraft in operational condition through routine inspections and minor component replacements. Repair addresses specific issues that arise unexpectedly, while overhaul involves comprehensively rebuilding components or systems to extend their working life.

Maintenance is the routine and planned work that keeps an aircraft operational. It encompasses a wide range of tasks, from regular inspections to minor component replacements, aimed at sustaining the airworthiness of aircraft. Maintenance activities can be categorized into two main types: line maintenance and base maintenance.

Line Maintenance is conducted daily between flights, often at the airport gates. Line maintenance includes visual inspections, fluid level checks, tire replacements, and minor repairs that can be completed quickly. These activities are essential for ensuring an aircraft is safe to fly and meets regulatory standards.

Base Maintenance, on the other hand, involves more comprehensive work and is carried out at dedicated maintenance facilities. This type of maintenance includes more in-depth inspections, repairs, and component replacements that cannot be easily performed in the limited time available during line maintenance. Base maintenance is typically conducted at scheduled intervals, often based on the number of flight hours or cycles an aircraft has completed.

Repair refers to the process of fixing specific issues or defects that have been identified during maintenance inspections. Unlike

routine maintenance, which is often planned and systematic, repairs are reactive and aimed at addressing unforeseen problems. Repairs can range from relatively minor fixes, such as replacing a damaged seat cover or a malfunctioning gauge, to more complex tasks, such as repairing structural damage or fixing avionics systems.

The key distinction between maintenance and repair lies in the intent and scope of the work. Maintenance aims to prevent issues by keeping all systems within established parameters, whereas repairs focus on addressing existing problems to restore the aircraft’s proper functioning.

Overhaul represents the most extensive level of maintenance, involving the comprehensive inspection, disassembly, and rebuilding of aircraft components or entire systems. An overhaul aims to restore components to a “like-new” condition, extending their operational life and ensuring continued reliability. Overhauls are often performed at specific intervals determined by manufacturers, regulatory authorities, or the accumulated flight hours or cycles.

While overhauls can encompass various aircraft systems, they are common for engines. Engine overhaul, also known as engine rebuild, involves disassembling the engine, inspecting all components, replacing worn or damaged parts, reassembling the machine, and testing it to ensure optimal performance. Overhauls can significantly extend the lifespan of expensive ingredients and systems, providing a cost-effective alternative to outright replacement.

Goldstar Air will seek strategic collaboration with Boeing Company, the leading global aerospace company

for a competitive MRO ecosystem for engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair, and sustainment services of defense and commercial aircraft to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact.

Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries and is a top U.S. exporter. Goldstar Air wants to partner with Boeing as part of its ongoing Repair Development and Sustainment hub initiative.

The collaboration will not only expand our product offerings but also reinforce our commitment to delivering worldclass support to Boeing engine operators in West and Central Africa. As Goldstar Air continues to grow its product-line portfolio, we need a partner that can grow with us. Boeing’s breadth and depth of network ensures our customers will get the right part at the right time.

The airline is also in advance talks with the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA) for collaboration in Aviation services/Aerospace, Sales, and Manufacturing and to be their Sole representative for parts distribution in Africa.

Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association’s vision is to promote Michigan’s aerospace manufacturing industry by encouraging innovation and productivity, facilitating job growth increasing public understanding of the industry, and contributing to the state’s economy. Additionally, the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA) is committed to enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning by energizing students and creating new carriers in space for future generations.

Afrik Allianz members will also benefit from the above collaborations to optimize operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs by sharing facilities to ensure a consistent level of service. This will be an opportunity for members to patronize and have a discounted price anytime they visit our Maintenance Repair and Overhaul for any work to be done at the facility.

To make Tamale International Airport useful for the region, the youth must be trained to get jobs to benefit Northerners, because it is not only about opening the airport for international passengers and aircraft but also for the local people and region to benefit from the 24/7 economy-axillary jobs around the airport. The main reason for opening the international concourse at the airport is for Northerners to get jobs, and Goldstar Air is the obvious choice to make it happen. Goldstar Air, as an economic tool, knows what and how to let people in the region earn more money in aviation, tourism, and other sectors of the economy by enhancing economic performance and creating over one hundred thousand direct jobs for Ghanaians.

Goldstar Air will initially operate flights from Kumasi International Airport to Rome, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Dusseldorf, and Milan, and flights from Accra Kotoka International Airport will include destinations such as Washington, Dubai, Lagos, Toronto, Monrovia, Conakry, Abidjan, Guangzhou, Dakar, Banjul, Rhode Island, London, and Freetown.

In conclusion, after this, the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul publication will be closely followed by another article regarding the Tamale Cargo Village (Phase 4) of the Tamale City Project.

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MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh

cont’d from pg. 15

“Today, we are seeing a member removed for wearing a sign of her culture and community. I am appalled. Appalled,” Stiles said, adding that she thinks the premier should “compel” his caucus to grant unanimous consent to allow the garment and other forms of cultural attire in the House.

While House Leader Paul Calandra took issue with Stiles’ use of the word “compel,” he said his party would continue to follow the rules of the legislature, “until those rules are changed.”

Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park, Jama accused the Progressive Conservatives of making the wearing of the keffiyeh in the House a political issue.

“This is a cultural piece of clothing. Every party leader has spoken up about how this ban shouldn’t exist. The premier has spoken about this ban needing to not exist. And yet his own members, the Conservatives, are the ones consistently saying ‘no’ to the removal of this ban,” she said.

Earlier this week, days after the ban had

been reiterated, Jama wore the keffiyeh in the legislature without incident.

One of the members who has voted against the motion — and said she will continue to do so — is PC MPP Robin Martin.

“The rules of the legislature are clear that props and clothing that makes a political statement cannot be worn in the chamber,” she said in a statement released Tuesday.

“These rules exist to keep the peace in our democratic institutions and to ensure that we use only our words to debate and persuade each other. I believe these rules are important to the proper functioning of the legislature and must be upheld.”

In October of last year, Jama was removed from the NDP caucus and censured by the Ontario legislature for her comments on the Israel-Hamas war and the events of Oct. 7.

Jama said she plans to keep wearing the keffiyeh in the house when MPPs return after a 10-day break.

Source: cp24.com

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Did you jointly buy your first home with your parents? We want to hear from you

If you were born in the 90s and own a home, there’s a good chance that you are financially partnered with a couple of people you know pretty well.

More young homeowners in their 20s and early 30s are getting into the real estate market by financially partnering with their parents, a new report from Statistics Canada shows.

According to the report, one in six Canadian homeowners who were born in the 90s owned their home together with their parents as of 2021.

Statistics Canada said the proportion was higher in pricier urban markets, such as Toronto, Guelph, Abbotsford–Mission, Vancouver and Victoria.

“In around 3 in 10 of these co-ownership situations, the adult child lives in the co-owned property and the parents live in another property they own, which may correspond to so-called mortgage ‘co-signing,’” the agency said.

Statistics Canada says the study suggests that the children of homeowners have an easier time getting into the housing market than those whose parents did not own a home.

The new data comes amid a housing crisis and an affordability crisis which have made it more difficult for young people to get into the housing market.

It also raises questions about how these arrangements work: Is there an expectation that parents will eventually be fully reimbursed? How comfortable do children and parents feel about entering into the arrangements; what are some of the benefits and pitfalls of giving and getting financial help this way; would there be any way for the new homeowner to get into the housing market otherwise?

CP24 wants to hear from you if you are in such an arrangement or are contemplating one. Cp24

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Sophie Grégoire Trudeau on human connection, mental health and separation from Justin Trudeau

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is sharing more about her life, struggles and her split from Justin Trudeau as she releases a new book which explores themes of mental health and the universal need for human connection.

“Without human connection, we see that we can become sick,” Grégoire Trudeau said in a sit-down interview to promote the book on CP24 Breakfast.

In the book, ‘Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other,’ Grégoire Trudeau shares mental health insights she’s gleaned from experts over the past 20 years and said they are especially pertinent now given various crises the world is facing.

She said the world needs more “emotional leadership” in a world where people constantly feel on-alert.

“And what is emotional leadership? Taking a breath when you don’t want to, resolving the conflict and calm when you really want to scream and shout, feeling your emotions rise and be able to regulate your nervous system.”

Grégoire Trudeau also opened up about her split from the Prime Minister and said the two still love each other, though their relationship has changed.

“You know, sometimes when you truly

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau sits down with CP24 Breakfast for an interview Friday April 26, 2024.

love somebody, you set them free somewhere on the path out of respect and admiration in different ways, even if it’s not convenient,” she said. “It’s not my wish. But when things change, it’s not the end.”

She said it’s important that her children see that their parents can still get along even though they are no longer together.

“When we live in a society where successes is marriage and divorce is failure, and there’s nothing in between, we leave a dramatic emotional burden on children,” she said.

She said two people can separate and still love each other without that being a contradiction.

“We’re not faking it. We love each

other. When I love with my whole soul, I love then, I love now and I will always love. It’s not because a structure changes that that love evaporates, and it shouldn’t.”

The couple announced their separation last August and said they would share custody of their three children.

In the book, Grégoire Trudeau deals with various challenges of her own, such as revealing years ago when she was a TV and radio host in Quebec, that she had struggled with an eating disorder.

“I was like ‘oh my god, I’m not gonna get any more contracts after talking about this. They’re gonna think oh, it’s the girl who suffers from this eating disorder’ or whatever it was. There was so much more stigma during those days,” she shared.

A mental health advocate, Grégoire Trudeau said that while there is less stigma around such issues today, the only way things change is by people opening up and sharing their stories.

While people think of her as living in the spotlight, she said that doesn’t mean they know everything about her.

“What people see is like one per cent of my life. I’m a mom, and I’m an ally. I’m a friend. I have so many other things

going on and that keep me busy.”

A mom of two teens and a ten-year-old, Grégoire Trudeau said many people are not taught to “sit with our pain without feeling, overwhelmed” and that parents need to prepare their children for the fact that “life is painful” and that happiness is not a constant state of being.

“When you dance between the light and the darkness, between happiness and unhappiness, you kind of notice that we weren’t meant to come onto this earth to be happy and pink and everything is fine; We came here to be conscious and responsible for our own individual growth so we can contribute to the world and people can actually feel a sense of purpose.”

Grégoire Trudeau said those hoping to catch “gossip” in the book, which was written before her split from the PM, will be disappointed.

“There’s truth in there, there’s authenticity, there’s vulnerability; I think that’s much more constructive than gossip.”

Grégoire Trudeau is appearing at a downtown Indigo store at The Well tonight to sign copies of her new book.

CP24

Goldstar Air To Use Innovative Ways To Give Kumasi International Airport Global Recognition

cont’d from pg. 8

on an average day there is at least 1 flight every 5 minutes, and contains four runways, but the eastwest runway was closed in 1956 to be used as a taxiway and for aircraft parking. In 2012, the runway was resurfaced and extended to increase the runway safety area, with the main north-south runway now 2,185 meters (7,169 feet), the northwest-southwest runway 1,586 meters (5,204 feet), and the northeastsouthwest runway 1,524 meters (5,000 feet), and the slot rule limits the number of landings and takeoffs to 62 per hour.

Though Reagan National is an international airport, it has no immigration or customs facilities, with international flights restricted to those with U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities, including major airports in Canada and some destinations in the Caribbean. International passenger flights to and from the Washington metropolitan area primarily utilize Washington Dulles International Airport or Baltimore/Washington International Airport. The airport served over 25.4 million passengers in 2023, the most of any of the three airports serving the region and a new passenger record for the airport. The airport’s main runway is the busiest in the nation.

There will be an initial limitation on the movement of our Boeing 777 aircraft to and from the United States of America, China, and Canada at Kumasi International Airport for now, as the airline is looking forward to further expansion of the runway from the estimated 2,320 meters to one that can accommodate all our aircraft in the future because the minimum runway length

quoted for Boeing 777 take-offs is 2,500 meters, plus a 240 meters runway end safety area (a sandpit it can plow into if the takeoff is aborted without remaining space to halt).

To make Kumasi International Airport useful for the region, the youth must be trained to get jobs to benefit Asanteman, because it is not only about opening the airport for international passengers and aircraft but also for the local people, Kumasi Airport city and the region to benefit from the 24/7 economyaxillary jobs around the airport. The main reason for opening the international concourse at the airport is for Asanteman to get jobs, and Goldstar Air is the obvious choice to make it happen. Goldstar Air, as an economic tool, knows what and how to let people in the region earn more money in aviation, tourism, and other sectors of the economy by enhancing economic performance and creating over one hundred thousand direct jobs for Ghanaians.

Ghana must shift towards local participation in aviation for sustainable job creation in the sector and ensure equitable distribution of profits within the country to bolster economic growth. Asante Region can rake in more revenue annually by instituting a 24-hour economy for growth and advancement, and that will reduce the unemployment rate of 14.7 percent in Ghana. The country must take advantage of our location as the center of the world to position itself as an attractive destination for investment, fostering economic growth, creating well-paying job opportunities, and contributing to the development of its citizens.

Airports do not directly find customers, as they

are not airlines or travel agencies that sell tickets to passengers. Instead, airports provide the infrastructure, facilities, and services that airlines and other businesses use to serve their customers. Airports typically work with airlines and other companies in the aviation industry to attract customers to their facilities. This can involve a variety of marketing and promotional activities, such as advertising campaigns, social media outreach, and participation in travel industry events.

Airports also work to provide a positive experience for passengers, which can help encourage repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations. This may include amenities such as comfortable waiting areas, convenient parking, and easy access to transportation. In addition to working with airlines and other businesses, airports may also engage in partnerships and collaborations with tourism boards, local governments, and other organizations to promote their region and attract visitors.

Goldstar Air will initially operate flights from Kumasi International Airport to Rome, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Du?sseldorf and Milan and flights from Accra Kotoka International Airport will include destinations such as Washington, Dubai, Lagos, Toronto, Monrovia, Conakry, Abidjan, Guangzhou, Dakar, Banjul, Rhode Island, London and Freetown.

Overall, for accessibility and connectivity, Kumasi International Airport must rely on indigenous airlines like Goldstar Air for its success and businesses that operate within their facilities to attract customers, while also working to create a positive experience for passengers to encourage repeat visits and recommendations.

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By: Alex Vines

Understanding Africa’s Coups

The nine military coups in Africa since 2020 are not homogeneous. There is a diversity in causes and purposes behind these coups. However, there is a striking similarity among all the putschist leaders after their coups – a desire to hold onto power for as long as possible. A key reason for this uptick in coups has been a lack of consistent regional, continental, and international response where some coups have been de-facto recognized and others not.

Military coups in Niger and Gabon in 2023 sharpened the world’s focus on the fragility of rule of law in Africa. There have been nine successful military coups on the continent since 2020, alongside at least the same number of failed attempts, all centered on a group of Francophone states that commentators have termed a Sahelian ‘coup belt’. The affected states face a slow post-pandemic recovery exacerbated by climate change shocks. Food insecurity, political instability, stagnating economies, high-interest rates, and weak governance further add to their challenges. Apart from Gabon, each is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) by the United Nations. The world’s media has been swift to diagnose a ‘coup wave’ on the continent. Although there are many drivers behind these coups, all these putschist leaders after their coups have shown forensic purpose to hold onto power for as long as possible. This has been encouraged by inconsistent and divided policy responses by regional, continental, and international bodies and partners.

An African “coup wave”?

A generalized declaration of an African “coup wave” overlooks the diversity in causes and purposes behind the coups. Some of them have been driven by concerns over lack of security, such as Burkina Faso’s September 2022 coup that saw Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba removed over his inability to combat an Islamic insurgency. In Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta and his National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) justified their May 2021 military takeover citing continued national security failures in the face of radical jihadi territorial gains.

Other coups have been framed as protecting democracy. In September 2021, the Guinean military overthrew President Alpha Conde in response to his abolition of presidential limits. In Gabon, the August 2023 coup occurred shortly after the announcement of incumbent president Ali Bongo Ondimba’s victory in an election widely perceived as fraudulent. The new junta called it a ‘Freedom Coup,’ ending the fifty-six-year-long rule of the Bongo family. A failed November 2023 coup in Sierra Leone also followed a disputed election.

These ‘anti-autocratic’ coups stand in contrast to Mahamat Déby’s assumption of power in Chad. Following his father’s battlefield death in April 2021, Déby sought to maintain the status quo of elite domination in Chadian politics and entrench dynastic rule. Similarly, Niger and Sudan have seen heads of state replaced by senior regime insiders. Nigerien Presidential Guard Commander General Tchiani claimed that the “continuing degradation of the security situation and poor economic and social governance” justified his July 2023 detention of President Bazoum. However, many observers argue that his real motivation was fear of being replaced.

The Putschist Playbook

Despite the critical differences in the drivers of Africa’s recent coups, there are striking similarities in the behaviors of coup leaders after they assume power. A “putschist playbook” seems to be emerging for aspiring authoritarians. The ultimate objective appears to be quite simple: retain power for as long as possible.

Popular support—or at least the appearance of it—is crucial to this strategy. Some coups attract popular support because they navigate blocked political successions like in Gabon and Guinea, where voters lost faith in the political system and consequently supported a military coup. Putschists were able to claim popular concerns over accountability and length of tenure as justifications. In other places, notably Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, they have encouraged anti-colonial and anti-French sentiment among the youth to sustain grassroots approval. External actors such as Russia have also encouraged anti-western sentiments and appear to offer praetorian guard services to protect these juntas from countercoups.

Whether real or not, putschists further use popular support to negotiate longer transition periods to return to constitutional rule. An outlier to this data, the November 2010 negotiation of a twelve-monthlong transition in Niger by the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) is one of the few examples of a short transition. Post-coup arrangements in the Sahel, now, average three years. Burkina Faso and Mali are supposed to hold elections in 2024, but Mali’s ruling junta issued a decree on April 10 suspending all political activities until further notice citing a need to preserve public order. Guinea’s National Transitional Council (NTC) agreed on a two-year timetable for a return to constitutional rule, ending in January 2025. While Mahamat Déby committed to returning Chad to democracy within eighteen months, he was able to extend this period by two more years in 2022. Gabon’s ruling junta promised a new constitution and electoral code, offering August 2025 as an ‘indicative’ date for new elections, approximately two years after their seizure of power. The blueprint for aspiring autocrats is

clear: stage a coup, promise a transition, but extend it as long as possible, and eventually hold elections. It remains to be seen how many of these promised elections take place on time, or whether coup leaders themselves leverage their power to subvert the democratic process.

Inconsistency in Dealing with Putschists

Post-coup behavior of putsch leaders is converging towards the long-term consolidation of power because they are being allowed to do so. Africa had seemingly established an anti-coup norm after the Lomé Declaration of 2000, which mandated immediate suspension from the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union or AU) for illegal seizures of power. There was an average of four coup attempts a year in Africa between 1960 and 2000. After Lomé, the period up to 2017 saw less than half this number.[1] Unfortunately, Africa’s continental resistance to coups has weakened considerably as the AU failed to apply the Lomé Declaration during the unconstitutional transitions in Zimbabwe (2017), Sudan (2019), and Chad (2022). The Declaration has since lost its deterrence credibility.

The effectiveness of regional mechanisms has also decreased. ECOWAS failed to marshal a consensus for military action against the Niger coup. It was further weakened by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s withdrawal in January 2024, aimed at reducing regional pressure on the juntas to return to constitutional rule and hold elections. This tactic seems to have worked as ECOWAS’ fear of fragmentation and loss of relevance has compelled it to re-open dialogue with the juntas and lift most of its sanctions on Niger.

Inconsistent responses by the wider international community have further decreased the anti-coup pressure. Strategic interests and concerns over counterterrorism have led some international partners such as Morocco, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates to forge pragmatic relations with new military governments, notably in the Sahel. Concerns that external pressure could push juntas closer to Russia or fuel increasingly radical anti-Western sentiment—as France has experienced in its former colonies—have also limited international responses. An increasingly multipolar global environment makes any unified anti-coup response more uncertain, with actors such as Russia keen on forging relationships with pariah states. While four coup states (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan) were not invited to the second United States-Africa Leader’s summit in December 2022, they were welcomed at both the maiden Saudi Arabia-Africa summit and the second Russia-Africa summit in 2023. It is not yet clear whether Africa’s juntas will be represented at the ninth Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in 2024.

Lessons to Move Forward

The inconsistency in regional and international response to Africa’s juntas presents a complex problem. The international community must guarantee a focused transition timetable that avoids rewarding junta leaders. Western policymakers, in particular, must encourage a transition that has a continental or regional presence in order to avoid allegations of neo-colonialism furthering the putschists’ narrative. The recent period of coups elucidates several lessons that can help shape an effective long-term response. The first is to recognize that despite the populist rhetoric backing them, coups are not popular, or at least do not remain so for long. A 2023 UNDP report highlighted the prevalence of “buyer’s remorse” among those who initially supported coups in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan, as people became increasingly disillusioned with the new leaders. The coup leaders were unable to keep their promises of improved livelihoods under a new social contract. For an already disgruntled population, external actors must avoid using

cont’d on pg. 49

Cellphone crackdown will improve student achievement, Ontario Education Minister Lecce says

The Ontario government is strengthening its crackdown on the use of cellphones and vaping in elementary and high schools, giving school leaders the authority to notify parents, take away devices and suspend students who don’t comply.

The new policy builds on a 2019 ban on cellphones in classrooms, which school boards were inconsistent on implementing, according to confidential documents obtained by The Globe and Mail. And groups representing educators and school boards said the new rules could be just as difficult to enforce.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said cellphones are a dangerous distraction for students, and that by restricting their use he expected academic achievement to increase.

“In class, during instructional time, we have a policy: out of sight, out of mind,” Mr. Lecce said on Sunday at an announcement of the ban, which was held at a youth centre in north Toronto.

“And we will support our teachers, our principals and our school boards to implement this dispassionately, across the board, every time. We need to change the culture in schools and I believe this policy will do that.”

Half of the province’s Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in math in the last school year, according to standardized test scores. Literacy scores have remained relatively flat, with roughly 80 per cent meeting standards. In Grade 3, 60 per cent met the standard in math, 65 per cent in

writing and 73 per cent in reading.

The new rules in Ontario follow similar moves in other provinces. Last year, Quebec directed its school boards to restrict phone use in classes by Dec. 31, though it left penalties up to local decision-makers. British Columbia announced in January that it would work with school districts to design restrictions in time for this fall, though the details are still being worked out.

Ontario school boards will now be required to develop local policies on restricting students’ use of cellphones, to go into effect for the school year that begins this fall.

The government will require those policies include rules that students in Grade 6 and below must put their cellphones away, powered off or set to silent mode throughout the school day, unless they receive permission from the teacher. Students in Grades 7 to 12 will only be able to access their phones between classes or during lunch.

They must put them away during instructional time unless their teacher says otherwise.

If the devices are not stored, an educator must require the student hand it over to be placed in a classroom storage area. Students who don’t comply would be sent to the principal’s office, and they could be suspended.

School boards will also be required to restrict access to all social-media platforms on school WiFi networks and on school devices.

Grace Lee, a spokeswoman for Mr. Lecce, said Ontario would be the first province in the country to restrict access to social-media platforms on school networks.

Draft confidential documents obtained by The Globe ahead of the announcement stated that the government heard about challenges “with a range of inappropriate student behaviours and inconsistencies” among school boards in enforcement.

The province currently mandates that cellphones only be used in class for educational, health and medical purposes, as well as to support special educational needs. However, “sector partners have highlighted that current restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices are difficult to enforce, leading to inconsistencies in how rules are applied,” the documents stated.

Groups representing those working in education said they agreed mobile devices were causing disruption, but said they felt the new rules would be difficult to enforce.

Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said that the announcement was positive in terms of students’ mental and physical health. However, she added: “The minister says teachers and administrators will be empowered to address cellphone use but it’s going to take a while to bring about this cultural shift.”

Laura Elliott, executive director of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education, said that the new policies will be challenging from a logistical perspective and she hoped there could be a preventive approach that would be a learning opportunity for students.

Ms. Elliott also said school administrators and educators were not consulted on the changes, which was echoed by Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.

Ms. Abraham requested the government delay implementation to solicit more feedback on the rules from health experts who understand the complexities of treating youth addiction, as well as to get input from students and parents.

She said school boards have been concerned about vaping and cellphone use among students and have been forced to divert resources to help young people as they struggle with addiction issues.

“We want to be clear – there are no easy solutions to these similar, but differing issues,” Ms. Abraham said, adding: “Simply creating punitive policies that

cont’d on pg. 33

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks to journalists at the Queen’s Park Legislature in Toronto on Aug. 25, 2023. CHRIS YOUNG/THE CANADIAN PRESS

IN PICTURES

By Alison Asare, Accra, Gh.

TO ME, GHANA MUST COME

An appropriate title taken from my poem published in the Ghanaian News back in 2013. I was awarded the Ghanaian Canadian Achievement award and performed my poem “Ghanaian Pride”. About a decade later I travelled to Ghana and it was an amazing trip. I never fully understood the process, the cost or best places to visit until my first trip as an adult that included getting a visa to enter the country, having my engagement party and having my wedding all under ten days. I am a Ghanaian- Jamaican Canadian with strong cultural roots (from a distance that is).

I always had the desire to visit Ghana and familiarize with my father’s heritage as he is an Ashanti man that immigrated to Canada over 40 years ago and married my Jamaican mother in Canada. I grew up eating the delicious foods such as fufu and light soup, kenkey, banku and yams with stews and gravies. Fufu and light soup is one of my favorites. My Ghanaian identity was always incomplete and I always never felt fully Ghanaian amongst others that were able to speak Twi. That is one of the things I felt kept me back from feeling confident to travel and mingle.

Fast forward to 2024. I decided to get married, have a traditional engagement in Ghana with my husband that is a Ghanaian and this was the opportunity of a lifetime. I have never experienced a Ghanaian cultural wedding or engagement and mine was my first experience. Plans were in motion and now the issue was; where do I start and how do I get there?

I actually asked some Ghanaian friends on how to get to Ghana and I was given a bit of a run around and directed to many sources. All in all, the verified site that people in Canada should consider is the Ghana High Commission.

The website link is https:// ottawa.mfa.gov.gh/. This website is trusted and is the right way to go. I got through in a timely fashion. If you need help there is a phone number for the Toronto and Ottawa locations as well as a live chat that you can get assistance with your application process. The application wasn’t as long as I thought it would be. Upon receiving your application and factoring an approval it really does take the time frame it suggests which is about 5 business days (assuming there are no issues arising). You will also have to get the Yellow Fever vaccine in advance. I would also suggest to inquire about Malaria pills to save time on the last-minute preparations. For stomach irritation also ask about an oral vaccine to help prevent the traveller’s diarrhea. The flight can be long or very long depending on the airline booked.

When I arrived at the Kotoka airport, the heat overtookme because I was still dressed in winterwear from Canada. Clothing and everyday footwear must be carefully considered. Ask a trusted person on what you should wear based on the season as you will sweat guaranteed. I traveled through Accra, a major city, through Konongo a town and visited Kumasi.

There are some beautiful sights I got to see in both of the major cities. Can you guess the places I visited in my pictures? My husband is a pastor and now I have adapted a new word in Twi “Sofo Maame”

which means Pastor’s wife. Ghana is a religiously Christian place and culturally it feels good to be in an openly god-fearing society. I must say navigating around Ghana is very different from Canadian cities. It really is all about hustle and bustle and people are always selling something. There are so many people per capita it is a fascinating sight at all hours of the day. Anything you need is readily available such as fruits, cooked food, clothing, toiletries, hair products and more in the streets. My husband made sure to give me the tourist experience driving in a car in Ghana, using bolt a ride sharing service to get around and also the infamous Toyota Hiace Vans “2M Express transport company”. The vans that drive express routes from Accra to Kumasi and I mean express really is express. I had a little time do a lot of things but I am happy and I am fulfilled. Is Ghana safe? I can confirm yes indeed. By the grace of God I traveled, arrived and departed with no issues. Ghana, I will be coming back again and will try more food, and relax to really soak in the atmosphere. Until then I appreciate the motherland from Canada with love.

Racism Affects the Health of Black Women Dr. Priscilla Boakye

cont’d from pg. 1

She suggested regular exercise, a balanced diet, routine check-ups, and promoting self-compassion as some of the ways black women can take care of their health and well-being.

She also urged the organizers to develop a session specifically for the youth and encouraged the youth to take advantage of these conferences.

The President of the African–Canadian Social Development Council, Kabu Asante, in his welcome address, said it has become imperative to tackle issues affecting black women.

He stated that his organization, through this event, aims not only to uplift black women but also to create a more inclusive and equitable society for every individual, regardless of race and gender.

Kabu Asante promised that the EMPOWER HER event would become an annual conference to serve as a cornerstone in the ongoing efforts to address multiple issues concerning black women.

A panel was convened to further the discussion on health and finance, involving Dr Olutoyin Oyelade (President CEO, CASA Foundation for International Development), Danayi Munyati (Health Promoter Specialist, Imana Health Incorporated, Black Heritage Alliance), and Rose Cathy Handy (Canadian International Black Women Excellence – CIBWE).

Recognitions were also given to Dima Amed, Juliet Opoku, Kemi Amusan, Faridah Kaddu, and Carole Gballou Lamontagne for their Excellence in Community Leadership.

The event concluded with a networking reception.

Participants Participants

Dr Priscilla Boakye answering a question

Juliet Opoku (right)

Faridah Kaddu displaying her plaque and certificate

Right: Carole Gballou Lamontagne

Right: Dima Amed

Middle: Kabu Asante

Canadian food banks are on the brink:

Food banks in Canada are being pushed to the brink with high demand and donations not keeping pace. Experts say it’s unsustainable. The last four years have been financially tumultuous for Canadians. A global pandemic and rampant inflation have led to high grocery prices, with more and more people finding themselves unable to afford the basics.

But what happens when donations to help are not keeping up with demand?

“The word that I hear often with food banks across Canada is ‘unsustainable,’” says Kirstin Beardsley, Food Banks Canada CEO.

“When you see the rates of growth that we’ve seen and the strain, the amount of donations that we need to see coming through the door either stagnate or not keep up the pace, this is not a sustainable situation.”

How the cost of living is impacting donations and demand

Beardsley says that although food banks have always worked hard to meet the need, it’s becoming more challenging to get by.

“While folks and Canadians across the country continue to be generous, we are starting to hear that it’s not enough to meet the growing levels of demand that our food banks are facing,” Beardsley says.

“People’s budgets are stretched. They don’t have the space in their own budgets to make that extra donation because they’re really struggling to make ends meet.”

Cellphone crackdown will improve student achievement, Ontario Education Minister Lecce says

cont’d from pg. 27

may lead to increased student suspensions and the isolation of children and youth who are experiencing addictions may create more harm than good.”

Cellphones and social-media use by children and young people have been the topic of widespread discussions among parents, policy makers and educators.

However, experts say governments and educators should teach children digital literacy skills and how to manage their social-media behaviour and feelings about it, rather than simply ban the devices or platforms.

Four Ontario school boards recently launched a lawsuit against the parent companies of socialmedia platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, accusing them of harming the mental health of students and disrupting learning. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Similar lawsuits have been filed in the United States.

Sunday’s announcement included $15-million in funding to support students at risk of addictive behaviours; $1-million to deliver educational materials on the dangers of vaping and excessive cellphone use; and $1.5-million for local prevention campaigns.

The government also said it would spend $30-million over the next three years to upgrade security equipment to detect vape use on school property. The Canadian Press

A 2023 report from Canada Helps found that 57.3 per cent of charities cannot meet current levels of demand and that 31.5 per cent of charities raised less money than the year before.

The report also showed that the number of Canadians relying on charities for basic needs was up eight percentage points in nine months to a total of 22 per cent of all Canadians.

Unlike other social services, food banks are primarily community-funded, with the majority of support coming from donors and collections by community groups and local businesses.

To give people a sense of just how bad it’s gotten, Beardsley compared the impacts of the 2008 recession with the pandemic. During and after the recession, she said food banks on average saw a 30 per cent increase in demand for services. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation, Beardsley says 2023 data shows a roughly 80 per cent increase in demand for services. It’s likely to be higher once the 2024 numbers are collected, she added.

“We haven’t seen this rate of growth since food banks have been collecting data,” she says.

“Food banks tend to deal with economic challenges for a much longer stretch than you see represented in federal data or statistics. So the economy gets better, which is great, but food banks are still dealing with that long tail of need as people get back on their feet and are able to support themselves.”

The recent spring food drive in Barrie, Ont., is one example of the strain on local food banks.

The Barrie Food Bank’s executive director says that although they managed to meet their food collection goal, they were $100,000 short on their financial goal.

“The food donations are obviously very helpful, but the financial donations are also really important because that’s what we use to buy perishable items like meat, milk, margarine, eggs. Those are highly valued items for the clients,” Sharon Palmer says.

Barrie Food Bank launched its spring food drive Friday. The drive continues until March 31. Handout/ Barrie Food Bank

While Palmer feels an early Easter did not help collection efforts, she believes donation fatigue is a factor.

“Donations have reduced to where people are not donating, so that’s affecting the whole industry,” she says. “So we’ve gone through the pandemic, we’ve gone through this period of high inflation that’s affecting this whole social sector and a lot of charities, so there’s been a lot of asks out there in the marketplace, and so people only can do so much.”

Palmer says that over the last few months, demand for their services has reached a peak and is staying around 7,000 people each month. She says that while it’s good to see the numbers stop rising, that is also “an awful lot of people who are needing food support on a monthly basis.”

“It’s a pretty high level of food and financial donations we need to be able to meet that need. To be realistic, we have had to cut back a little on some of the quantities of items just to stay in our budget.”

sustainable situation’

With the cost of living leading to more people needing their services, Palmer says single people are making up one of the biggest groups they see because they have to pay all their expenses on their own.

“There are still new people coming in for the first time and having to use the food bank. It’s always difficult for people to make that decision, but we’re glad that they do because we know that if we can give them a little help and get them through a tough period, a lot of times, they just get back on their feet,” Palmer says.

“We have this old board member who used to say there’s just too much month at the end of the money when your money runs out.”

Beardsley says with kids’ lunches to build, gas to buy to get to work and rent to pay, it’s hard to afford it all these days.

“It’s impossible to make it all work when the income’s not enough and the expenses are too high.”

To combat the drop in donations, Beardsley and Palmer say food banks are relying more and more on food recovery programs, where they divert food from grocery stores, food suppliers and farmers that will not sell before spoiling.

Palmer says this allows them to quickly deliver perishable products with a short shelf life to those in need.

Despite efforts to keep up with the high demand, experts say more work needs to be done.

Addressing the root cause

When asked if the federal and provincial governments should support food banks more, Palmer said it would help more if they looked at how to prevent people from needing to go in the first place.

“I’d rather have policies that help encourage employment, and that would create more availability of housing,” she says.

Palmer says one area that could help curb demand is providing more financial support for people on government assistance programs.

She says people who rely on government assistance for an injury or disability are receiving far less money than they need to cover their everyday living expenses, with the majority or all going towards rent.

She notes that another key demographic they continue to see more of is people without homes.

“Until we have more housing resources available, I don’t think that segment is going to reduce at all,” Palmer says.

The CEO of Food Banks Canada agrees, encouraging those who aren’t in a position to donate to advocate for change instead.

“Talk to elected officials about the need to invest in making sure that low-income folks have higher incomes, that we are addressing the affordability crisis in Canada, and that governments take action,” Beardsley says.

“Our vision really is — and we believe in it — a Canada where no one goes hungry.” globalnews.ca

21 Years of Experience in Family Law

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

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Ghana Embassy Holds Mentorship Program for John Kofi Asmah United Methodist High School

The two-hour programme entailed motivational sessions by seven (7) speakers, including the South African Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia

The Ghana Embassy in Monrovia on 29th March, 2024, held a mentorship program for the final year students of John Kofi Asmah United Methodist High School at the Residence of the Head of Mission, Ambassador Kingsford Amoako. The two-hour programme entailed motivational sessions by seven (7) speakers, including the South African Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, H.E Prof. Iquabal Jhazbhay; Consul-General of the Republic of Belgium to Liberia, Mr. Wael Hariz; Country Manager of Cathlic Relief Services, Ms. Abena Amedormey; CEO of Karish Eye Care, Dr. Catherine S. Gaisie; Country Manager for Groupe Nduom Liberia, Mr. Ambrose Houphouet; President of the Ghanaian Professionals Association, Mr. Eric Ellington Agyedenah, and Mr. George Idun-Sam; consultant. Opening the session, Ambassador Amoako intimated that children were the key to success of any country and charged the students to use the opportunity they were receiving as a boost to perform very well in the West Africa examinations to make Liberia proud. Making further remarks, Ambassador Kingsford Amoako, emphasized that the students should endeavor to make excellent grades to enable them qualify for scholarships and support from benevolent donors. He told them that textbooks for their courses will be provided by himself and the Inspirational Speakers, adding that extra classes has also been paid for to ensure their success in the upcoming WASSCE examinations. He cautioned the students against what they put on social media because it can hinder them from attaining opportunities in future.

The South African Ambassador, H.E Prof. Iquabal Jhazbhay, who spoke after Ambassador Amoako, touched on the importance of education in all aspects of life. He cited Nelson Mandela’s statement that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. He, therefore, advised the students that

in order to excel in their upcoming WASSCE examinations, they should exercise patience, discipline and hard work.

The Consul General, Mr. Wael Hariz, on his part, stated that future success is not determined by where someone is located but rather their actions and decisions. He encouraged the students to see education as the key to a bright future. He added that with perseverance and resilience the students can achieve their goals in life.

Dr. Catherine S. Gaisie called on the students should set high standards, because they are competing in the world not just in Liberia and advised the them to choose careers they have passion for.

President of the Ghanaian Professional Association, Mr. Eric Ellington Agyedenah, charged to students to show determination and discipline, as these values can enable them achieve good grades. According to Ms. Abena Amedormey, what the students believe about themselves is the most important, not the negative comments from society. She urged the students to prepare very well for the WASSCE examination and desist from spending undue hours on social media.

Mr. Georg Idun-Sam, discussions consultant, stated that the students should pursue knowledge that will enable them to have an advantage in life to secure good jobs in future and encouraged them to learn a second international language such as French. The CEO of Kendeja Resorts, Mr. Ambrose Houphouet, said the students must take their studies seriously, urging them not to forget to seek Gods favor to be assured of a successful future.

H.E Kingsford Amoako together with the other dignitaries presented textbooks to the Principal of John Kofi Asmah United Methodist High School, Rev. Jame Fogbeh, on behalf of the school. H.E Kingsford Amoako acknowledged the financial contributions of H.E Prof. Iquabal Jhazbhay, Mr. Wael Hariz and Mr. Ambrose Houphouet. Mr. George Idun-Sam of the Ghanaian professionals group also pledged to provide scholarship opportunities.

APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.

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Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

Coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into the NHL’s top 10 for all-time playoff wins with 87 following Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers.

Cooper is two wins shy of tying Glen Sather at No. 9, and three shy of tying Mike Babcock. In order to tie Babcock this year, the Bolts will have to win their series against the Panthers, who lead the best-ofseven Sunshine State series 3-1, with Game 5 tonight in Sunrise.

FLOW-MOTION TO BROCKSTAR

Playing their third goalie in four games, their top offensive defencemen slowed by punishing hits, down 3-1 on the road with under three minutes to play, Brock Boeser went from Flow-motion to Brockstar faster than you can say Canucks complete incredulous comeback.

The Nashville Predators were up 3-1 at Bridgestone Arena last night and looking to level the best-ofseven series at two games apiece. But Boeser, who had 40 goals in the regular season and one earlier in Game 4 for Vancouver, scored at 17:11 and then at 19:52, setting the stage for Elias Lindholm’s overtime winner to spoil the Smashville party.

HOME-ICE DISADVANTAGE?

The Dallas Stars finished first overall in the Western Conference this season with 52 wins and 113 points. Besides bragging rights and a new banner, the only reward for achieving that was home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

The Stars then dropped their first two games at American Airlines Center, losing 4-3 and 3-1 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

The best-of-seven series shifted to T-Mobile Arena in Sin City for Saturday’s Game 3 and the Stars pulled off a 3-2 win in overtime. Nobody is betting the Stars can’t win tonight in Vegas.

SOME HATE FOR THE GREAT 8

* Rust *Minor Repairs and Painting

Sammy Lartey 416-659-1655

172 Toryork Dr., #9, North York, Ont.

Alex Ovechkin has scored 835 goals and is only 59 behind Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. He’s been to the post-season 15 times with the Caps, and in 2018 hoisted the franchise’s first and only Stanley Cup.

But fans were ripping the Great Eight for his lack of production last night as the wild-card Washington Capitals were swept from the post-season by the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Ovie had no points and only six shots in the short series.

The what-have-you-done-for-me-lately keyboard warriors called the legend, who will turn 39 in September, useless, disinterested, too old and washed up, even though the Capitals played without several injured stars and were a long-shot to even make this year’s playoffs.

THE AVS AND HAVE-NOTS

The Colorado Avalanche’s playoff slogans are Find A Way and All In.

So far so good for the team that’s now playing like the dangerous one that won the 2022 Stanley Cup.

The Avs, getting offensive production from top guns such as Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, rolled over the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 yesterday to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Jets, who finished three points ahead of the Avs

and pointed to Vezina Trophy-worthy netminder Connor Hellebuyck as their key to success, have lost 5-2, 6-2 and 5-1 since their 7-6 win in Game 1. For those keeping score at home, that’s 22 goals against in four games.

LIP READERS WORK OVERTIME

The Toronto Maple Leafs, frustrated with injuries, mystery ailments and losing to the pesky Bruins, insist they can rally from a 3-1 series deficit and win Game 5 tomorrow in Boston.

The Leafs, who lost 3-1 at home Saturday and now face the possibility of another first-round playoff exit, attracted extra attention for a heated discussion on their own bench between Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

Nobody is saying what was said, despite efforts by amateur lip readers to reveal the fighting words, but Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said the impromptu board meeting showed his players are passionate, competitive and mature. He called that progress.

The Canadian Press

Ghanaian Canadian Achievement Awards 2024 Over view

20 Years ago, Ghanaian Canadian Achievement Awards (GCAA) was initiated by Ghanaian News Canada, a Community Newspaper based in Toronto, Canada. The Ghanaian News Canada then launched a modest effort to recognize, showcase and celebrate the achievements of members in our communities across Canada who have and continue to excel in various disciplines and fields of endeavor. This initiative was borne out of the conviction that many members of our community in Canada have been making strenuous efforts not only to achieve laurels for themselves and their community, but to the development and improvement of Canadian society as well.

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To a very large extent, this innovation has been a great and a splashing success. Over the past nineteen years, we have unearthed and showcased an average of thirty-two high-flying achievers in various fields of endeavor from our community every year. That comes close to nearly six hundred and eighty persons to date. This year, we will be showcasing close to thirty more achievers. These Achievement Awards have proven a number of important points: First, there are great talents in our community. Secondly, our community members are not just sitting on these talents; they are utilizing them to achieve results. Thirdly, they have proven that our community members are contributing significant efforts to the improvement of Canadian society.

Each year, the Award is organized and sponsored solely by African Canadian Community Businesses and Friends of Ghana.

May Day: ECG workers stage walkout against Simon Osei-Mensah

Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana staged a walkout on the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah just when he was called upon to deliver his speech at the May Day Parade in Kumasi.

The ECG workers were on Wednesday, May 1, clad in red and held placards with inscriptions calling on the Regional Minister to desist from interfering in their operations.

The Minister incurred the wrath of the workers following a recent order for the arrest of the Ashanti East Manager of the company, Ing. Wiafe Asomani after the ECG National Taskforce disconnected the Kumasi Technical University over indebtedness.

The Workers initiated a series of actions to demand an apology from the Minister, but the Minister remained unapologetic.

The leadership of the ECG Workers’ Union who led the protest against the regional Minister at the May Day event insisted that Mr Osei-Mensah should apologize and withdraw the police case against their Manager.

In an interview with Citi News, Yussif Osman the Chairman of ECG Senior Staff Union, Ashanti East, said, “We already have an issue with him, he has done something the workers front are not happy with, initially the workers front decided that we don’t appear at all.

“But since this is our programme we came. Since the minister has decided not to fulfil whatever we have asked him to do, we don’t even want to listen to him. So this is just a peaceful protest that we’re not going to participate or listen

to whatever he will say. We’re standing outside when he’s done with his speech we will go back.”

May Day: ICU-Ghana warns govt against short-changing public sector workers

The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union Ghana (ICUGhana) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has cautioned the government that it won’t stay aloof for them to be short-changed under the guise of global economic recession.

This call comes on the back of the May Day celebration on the theme Election 2024: “The Role of Workers and Social Partners in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development”.

In a statement signed and issued by the General Secretary of the union Morgan Ayawine, he explained that economies are recovering hence there must be a deliberate attempt by the government to improve the conditions of service of public sector workers.

“We must jealously protect and guard against any employer who may want to short-change labour under the guise of global economic recession when it has been established that economies and businesses are recovering and the outcomes are positive,” the statement said.

The union also warned employers who convert permanent job positions to casual and contract work in the bid to maximize profit to desist from such actions.

“Whilst we work collaboratively with our social partners to increase jobs and protect same, it is pertinent to sound a note of caution to employers who indulge in such demeaning practices of converting permanent job positions to casual and contract work in a bid to maximize profit, to halt it out rightly, as it is not only demotivating but also unacceptable and may eventually backfire on them”.

The union, however, applauded employers who assist and help workers work in a conducive environment.

“For the empathetic employers who share in workers’ pain and are doing their bit to alleviate the pains and suffering, we salute and appreciate them and encourage them to do more, and in the same measure workers should continue with their avowed commitment to working harder all year round, to ensure high productivity, profitability and sustainability of the employers’ businesses to achieve their organizational goals for the mutual good of both parties and the growth and development of the national economy”.

On the 2024 general elections, ICU Ghana also urged its members to refrain from acts that could undermine the peace and stability ahead of the 2024 general elections.

“The National Union (ICU-Ghana), therefore, wishes to take this opportunity to advise all workers to stay away from any person who would want to influence you to do acts that could undermine the peace and stability of the country in this year’s elections”.

CITI NewsRoom

The ECG Workers, however, resumed their seats at the parade grounds when the Minister’s speech was over. CITI NewsRoom

Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of the union

The Methodist Church Ghana (Canada) Welcomes

cont’d from pg. 1

New Superintendent Minister

The societies that presented tokens include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Redemption, Bethany, Hamilton, and the Methodist Church Ghana of Toronto.

The new superintendent upon receiving the gifts said he was overwhelmed by the love shown to him and his family upon the assumption of his role.

He promised to help develop the members spiritually and physically for the continual growth of the Methodist Church.

Very Reverend Emmanuel Evans Essien and his wife

A section of the members present at the service

Akufo-Addo calls for African unity against maritime threats

President Akufo-Addo has called upon African leaders to unite in the fight against illegal activities plaguing the continent’s coastlines.

He underscored the pressing necessity for collaborative efforts and collective accountability in tackling maritime security issues across Africa.

Speaking at the inauguration of the second annual African Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS) and the third Naval Infantry Leaders SymposiumAfrica (NILS-A) in Accra on Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of heightened cooperation among African navies.

He advocated for increased joint exercises to confront prevailing threats and bolster maritime awareness along the coastlines.

“There are increasing numbers of other incidences occurring in the territorial and international waters across the entire African continent. Illegal oil bunker, kidnapping at sea for ransom, illegal fishing, terrorism and drug

trafficking are common threats across our territorial waters.”

“These transnational crimes do not only threaten national and regional peace and security, but they also come at a great cost to the economies of both coastal and noncoastal states.

“In the face of these challenges, it is imperative that we foster greater cooperation and collaboration amongst African maritime forces by working together, sharing intelligence and coordinating our efforts so we can address effectively maritime security threats and safeguard our maritime domain,” he stated. citinewsroom.com

Azumah Nelson returns to the ring to face EU Ambassador in a match to empower youth

Boxing legend, Azumah Nelson will return to the ring after almost two decades since his last exhibition fight, in a monumental event aimed at empowering youth through sports.

The 3-time former World Champion will face off against European Union Ambassador, Irchad Razaaly, in an exhibition match that will promote the power of sports to foster positive change for youth.

The event themed, “DiploRumble” will highlight the strength of the partnership between the European Union and Ghana, and takes place during the annual Europe Month celebrations.

Diplo-Rumble will take place at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. It will bring together boxing fanatics, the diplomatic corps, government officials and young boxers.

It is open to the public with tickets pegged at ¢5, a sum that will be entirely used for equipment for youth boxers.

In partnering with the European Union, Azumah Nelson, underscores his commitment to sports as a tool for empowerment, particularly among young people.

Participating in this event serves as a powerful statement of solidarity, highlighting the positive impact that sports can have on individuals and communities alike.

At a face-off event in Accra, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, said, “Boxing is a sport that requires discipline, dedication, and, above all, mutual respect. It is a sport

that transcends language, culture, and nationality, allowing individuals from all walks of life to come together and compete on a level playing field.”

“The European Union recognises the power of sports to break down barriers and empower all those who show talent and commitment. That is why we are working with Azumah Nelson and the Ghana Boxing Federation to promote sports diplomacy and support the talented youth of Ghana.

The event will be a highlight of our 2024 Europe Month celebrations, which are focused on youth and skills,” he added.

Azumah “Zoom Zoom” Nelson also commented, “I am a firm believer in the power of sports diplomacy. Throughout my career, I have seen first-hand the incredible impact that boxing can have in bringing people together, fostering understanding, and promoting peace.”

“As a proud ambassador of boxing, I am passionate about using this sport as a platform for promoting dialogue and creating opportunities for our younger generations. Sports helps to break down barriers, and build bridges.” myjoyonline.com

AG advises EOCO against money laundering probe into Cecilia Dapaah’s affairs

The office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice has advised against money laundering investigations into the affairs of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah by the Economic and Organized Crime Office.

This follows a determination by the office of the Attorney General that the request by the office of the Special Prosecutor to the Economic and Organized Crime Office, to initiate money laundering investigations into the affairs of former Sanitation minister Cecilia Dapaah is without basis.

The Special Prosecutor’s office requested after it determined that the case of over 1 million dollars stolen and others found by its officers in the house of the former minister did not fall under its mandate but rather raised issues of money laundering concerns.

The OSP made this known after months of collaborative investigation with agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.

The office of the Attorney General however upon a request for advice on the issue by the Economic and Organized Crime Office, found that the OSP did not submit the report on the collaborative investigation to EOCO and has also not responded to a request by EOCO to furnish it with its findings.

According to the office of the Attorney General, the docket presented to EOCO only consists of the OSP’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements taken in the course of the investigation, letters written by

OSP to other institutions like the CID and Banks in the inquiry.

The Office of the Attorney General’s analyses of the docket also revealed that the OSP did not make any findings of corruption and Corruption-related offences against Cecilia Dapaah.

But in the view of the office of the Attorney General, the key to the charge of money laundering is gains obtained from criminal proceeds arising from unlawful activity.

The office of the Attorney General concludes that in the absence of any criminal issues associated with the properties of the NPP Politician, there is no basis for the investigation of money laundering.

Acknowledging the powers of EOCO to launch its investigation into the affairs of Cecilia Dapaah despite its findings, the office of the Attorney General advised against same.

This is premised because the Office of the Special Prosecutor has instructed the Ghana Police Service to investigate the sources of funds found at the home of Cecilia Dapaah. CITI NewsRoom

President Akufo-Addo

Cecilia Dapaah, former Sanitation Minister

Azumah Nelson

PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Ghana Methodist Churches in Canada

( SOCIETIES UNDER THE GHANA METHODIST CONFERENCE)

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

Toronto Society

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

416-743-4555 (Office) 905-216-2323 (Residence)

Day and Time of Worship:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Brampton Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m.

Edmonton Methodist 778-237-7339

Ottawa Methodist 613-315-3443

Redemption

BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH-BRAMPTON

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

Sunday Divine Service - 2PM-5PM Online Prayer Meeting Fridays at 8PM -9PM 416-800-4317

Code # 9632581

Contact: Robert Frans (289-541-5579) Felix Gyimah (289-931-8443)

Methodist Church

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

Weekly Service Schedule: Monday 7 pm - 8 pm

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

Divine Service, Sundays 10 am - 12:30 pm

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

Holy Trinity Methodist Church, Montreal

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

Day and Time of Worship

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

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

Contact: Bro. Joselin Twumasi 438-881-6640

Ebenezer Methodist Church

Stoney Creek United Church (Chapel)

1 King Street West, Stoney Creek, Hamilton

Contact: Bro. Kofi Bonsu 289-684-6074

Worship Time: 11 am to 1 pm

Peniel Methodist

Church Vancouver #2322 1248 82 Ave. Surrey, BC, V3W 3E9 Sister Comfort T. Owusu 647-895-7131

Worship Time: 9 am to 10:30

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 By Rev. Isaac De-Graft Takyi

THE CHRISTIAN IN 2024: “PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT FEAR”

THE TEXT:

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.1 John 4:7-21 INTRODUCTION

Today, I want to delve into a passage that speaks directly to the deepest emotions and struggles we face as human beings: the interplay between love and fear. In 1 John 4:18, we encounter a profound truth that illuminates the transformative power of love and its ability to dispel the darkness of fear.

As we navigate life’s complexities, we often find ourselves wrestling with fear in its various forms. It can manifest as anxiety about the future, apprehension about our worth and abilities, or even dread of the unknown. Yet, amidst these struggles, the Bible offers us a timeless message of hope and liberation.The apostle John, in his letter to the early Christian community, encapsulates this message succinctly in 1 John 4:18. He writes, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”This verse serves as a beacon of truth, inviting us to explore the profound dynamics between love and fear. It invites us to ponder the nature of perfect love — a love that originates from God Himself and has the power to dispel fear’s grip on our hearts and minds.

Let’s define fear and love in the biblical context.

FEAR:

Fear in the Bible can have multiple meanings depending on the context. It can refer to a sense of reverence and awe towards God (Proverbs 9:10), acknowledging His greatness and holiness.

Fear can also represent a negative emotion, such as anxiety, dread, or terror. This type of fear is often associated with the consequences of sin, judgment, and punishment (Genesis 3:10; Hebrews 10:31).

LOVE:

Love, on the other hand, is central to the message of the Bible. It is often described as selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

In the biblical context, love is not merely an emotion but an action that seeks the well-being and good of others, reflecting God’s own nature (1 John 4:7-12).Understanding fear and love in the biblical context involves recognizing the tension between reverent fear of God’s authority and judgment on one hand, and experiencing His unconditional love, grace, and mercy on the other. The Bible teaches that perfect love, which originates from God, has the power to overcome all forms of fear, including fear of punishment, rejection, and uncertainty (1 John 4:18).

Let’s explore the connection between fear and punishment, highlighting how perfect love removes fear:

The connection between fear and punishment is a fundamental aspect of human psychology and is intricately linked in the biblical context as well.

Fear and Punishment in the Bible:

In the Old Testament, the fear of punishment is often associated with the consequences of disobeying God’s commandments. This fear is depicted as a deterrent to sinful behavior (Proverbs 1:7).

The concept of punishment for sin is also evident in the New Testament, where the apostles and Jesus Himself warn about the judgment that awaits those who reject God’s ways (Matthew 25:46; Romans 2:5-8).

Perfect Love Removes Fear:

The essence of the gospel message is that God’s perfect love has the power to remove the fear of punishment from our hearts. This love is exemplified in Jesus Christ, who willingly took upon Himself the punishment for our sins (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10).When

we grasp the depth of God’s love and grace, fear of punishment diminishes because we understand that our sins have been forgiven and we have been reconciled to God (Romans 8:1; 1 John 4:18).

How Does Perfect Love Removes Fear?

 Perfect love assures us of God’s mercy and forgiveness, leading us to repentance and a desire to live according to His will (2 Corinthians 7:10).

 Perfect love instills confidence in our relationship with God, knowing that He is for us and that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:3839).

 Perfect love transforms our mindset from one of fear and condemnation to one of trust, gratitude, and obedience (1 John 4:19).

Being Made Perfect in Love:

Being made perfect in love refers to the ongoing process of maturing spiritually and growing in our understanding and expression of God’s love. It involves aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with the principles of love as outlined in Scripture (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).This concept recognizes that no one is perfect, but through God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can progressively become more like Christ and exhibit His love to others (Philippians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

It’s Significance in Our Relationship with God:

a. Intimacy and Connection: Being made perfect in love deepens our intimacy with God as we grow in our understanding of His love for us (Ephesians 3:17-19). It fosters a closer relationship marked by trust, transparency, and communion with Him.

b. Transformation and Sanctification: As we embrace God’s love and allow it to permeate every aspect of our lives, we experience transformation and sanctification. This process involves surrendering our old ways, allowing God to renew our minds, and conforming us to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

c. Impact on Others: Being made perfect in love also has a profound impact on how we relate to others. It empowers us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to demonstrate Christ-like compassion, kindness, and generosity (Matthew 22:39; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14).

d. Witness and Testimony: Our growth in love serves as a powerful witness to the world of God’s transformative work in our lives. It reflects the reality of our faith and draws others to experience the love of Christ through us (John 13:35; 1 Peter 3:15).

6 Practical strategies and resources for developing a deeper

cont’d on pg. 48

Immanuel Assembly of God

Don Montgomery Community Centre 2467 Eglinton Ave. E. Scarborough, ON. (Kennedy/Eglinton Subway Station) Sunday School: 10:00 am -10:45 am

10:45 am - 12

Church Of Christ Ghanaian Congregation - Toronto

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

Time of Worship: 10am - 12:15pm

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

Bro. Agyenim Boateng: 647-656-9905

Email: churchofchristtwiservice@gmail.com

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church

Lead Pastor: Rev. Nana Boateng

SUNDAY SERVICES:

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

WEEKDAY SERVICES:

Rev. Nana Boateng

Wednesday - Bible Studies 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Friday - Holy Ghost Service 7:00 pm -9:00 pm

LOCATION: 42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2

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

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

Email: lighthouseagtoronto.org lighthouseag@outlook.com

Good Shepherd Prayer Ministry

Invites you all to come worship with us

Time of worship: Sunday:10am - 1pm

Wednesday bible studies 7pm - 9pm Friday Prayer / Deliverance 7pm - 9pm

Venue: 95 Eddystone Ave unit 4 North York, ON Pastor Joseph

Bro. Christian Kpodjie: 647-405-2068

Website: churchofchristghtoronto.com

CHRIST REDEEMER CHURCH

Pastor-in-charge: Pastor Eric Amoah

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

Church Services

Sunday Service:

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

Worship Service: 11a.m. - 1p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study 6:30p.m.-7:30p.m. Friday Night Prayer: 8p.m.-10p.m.

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

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l

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

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

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

COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED

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

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

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

Pastor Eric Amoah

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: transformationcentreag@gmail.com Website: www. transformationcentreag.ca

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

The Apostolic Church Int'l.

MOVED TO NEW LOCATION

31 Airview Road

Meeting Schedule

The Christian in 2024: “Perfect Love Cast Out Fear”

cont’d from pg. 45

understanding of God’s love.

1. Study God’s Word:Regularly read and meditate on passages that speak about God’s love, such as John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:7-12, and Psalm 136. Use study Bibles or commentaries to gain deeper insights into these verses. Engage in systematic Bible study plans or devotionals focused specifically on God’s love. You can find many resources online or in bookstores that provide structured studies on this topic.

2. Prayer and Reflection:Dedicate time in your daily prayer life to thank God for His love and ask Him to help you understand it more deeply. Pray for a revelation of His love that transcends intellectual knowledge and touches your heart.Reflect on your own experiences of God’s love in your life. Journaling can be a powerful tool for recording these moments and processing your thoughts and emotions.

3. Community and Fellowship:Connect with other believers who have a strong understanding of God’s love. Join small groups, Bible studies, or Christian communities where you can discuss and learn from each other’s insights and experiences.Seek mentorship from mature Christians who can guide you in developing a deeper relationship with God and understanding His love.

4. Read Christian Literature:Explore books written by reputable Christian authors that delve into the topic of God’s love. Some recommended titles include “The Love of God” by Oswald Chambers, “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer, and “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.Listen to sermons or podcasts by pastors and speakers known for their teachings on God’s love. Many

churches offer online resources that you can access for free.

5. Practical Acts of Love:Put God’s love into action by showing love and kindness to others. Volunteer in your community, support charitable organizations, or simply be a listening ear and a source of encouragement to those in need.Practice forgiveness and extend grace to others, mirroring the unconditional love and forgiveness God offers us.

6. Reflect on Jesus’ Sacrifice:Take time to reflect on the ultimate demonstration of God’s love through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. Attend Communion services regularly to remember and appreciate the depth of God’s love expressed through Christ’s redemption.

LET’S APPLY AND PRAY:

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

a. How does, understanding God’s perfect love change your perspective on fear?

b. In what ways can you cultivate perfect love in your daily life?

c. What practical steps can you take to overcome fear and walk in God’s love?

PRAYER POINTS:

a. Pray for a deeper revelation of God’s perfect love in your life.

b. Pray for the strength to overcome fear and walk in faith.

c. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in cultivating love, compassion, and courage in your interactions with others.

Norovirus spreading at ‘higher frequency’ than expected in Canada

Norovirus is spreading at a “higher frequency” than expected in Canada, specifically, in Ontario and Alberta, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Norovirus is a common, highly contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, cramps and diarrhea.

“The number of norovirus cases reported has been higher than expected in 2024 compared to the previous five-year historical average,” a PHAC spokesperson told CTV News Toronto.

Specifically, PHAC noted an increase in Ontario, Alberta and, to a lesser extent, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The health agency acknowledged the five-year historical average the current uptick is based on includes several years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of reduced norovirus reports.

Dr. Susy Hota, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control at the University Health Network, said the pandemic is also a reason we’re seeing more cases.

“People are doing more social things and going on cruises and those kinds of exposures that are risks for getting norovirus,” Hota said.

“I think we’re still going to see some changes in how common viruses behave because of the three years that people were doing less and interacting less.”

Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Public Health Ontario (PHO) do not track norovirus cases. However, TPH does survey outbreaks, localized increases in the rate of infection or illness, above what’s expected, in hospitals, long-term care homes, and retirement residences.

As of the most recent report on Thursday, there were three outbreaks reported in Toronto health-care institutions.

While we are seeing “a little bit more” norovirus this year compared to previous years, Hota said, “[it’s] nothing terribly unusual, just more than we would expect.”

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS?

Norovirus, also known as “Norwalk virus,” named after the first outbreak which took place in Norwalk, Ohio, entails diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and cramping. Fever, chills, headache, body and muscle aches, and fatigue are some of the other symptoms.

It is the most common form of the stomach flu, accounting for more than 60 per cent of cases, according to the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases.

HOW DOES NOROVIRUS SPREAD?

Norovirus is transmitted through contaminated surfaces and close contact with infected people, but it also has a “hardiness,” as Hota characterizes it, that makes the virus highly contagious.

It’s difficult to eliminate the virus

Understanding Africa’s Coups

cont’d from pg. 24

aggressive language or punitive policy that can become scapegoats for putschist failings. The foundations of post-coup regimes are inherently unstable and will offer opportunities for constructive engagement over time.

Secondly, broad-based development is both at the heart of popular aspirations in coup-affected states and essential for mitigating the risk of further coups. [2] Traditional Western donors can offer development assistance that is unmatched by putative partners such as Russia or China. Donors should seek to frame a rejuvenated partnership with coup-affected populations, tailored to the specific economic and social circumstances of each state. They shouldn’t get locked into a race to the bottom with Russia, China, and others over short-term access to illegitimate post-coup regimes. Such actions can alienate cynical populations and set the conditions for recurrent crises.

Finally, Africa’s regional and continental institutions must reboot their responses to unconstitutional transfers of power. The AU and its regional economic communities need to establish a clear and consistent response to coups instead of the ad hoc à la carte responses currently implemented. Allowing political power to concentrate in the hands of military or other security actors, risks setting a state on a path to repeated upheaval, as even bloodless “constitutional” coups cascade into recurrent patterns of military infighting and factionalism. Countries with a history of military involvement in political life are far more likely to experience a recurring pattern of coups. It is this last takeaway that should give policymakers pause. Africa’s faltering anti-coup norms are in dire need of reinforcement.

[1] There were 33 coups or coup attempts in Africa between 2001 and 2017, or just under two a year. Data from Powell and Thyne; Cline Center University of Illinois; VOA research; 1950 – Oct 3, 2023, accessed at https://projects.voanews. com/african-coups/

[2] The importance of development was also underlined by the 2023 UNDP report.

from surfaces because alcohol-based hand gel is not as effective in killing norovirus, making hand washing the best defence.

After contracting the illness, it can take 12 to 48 hours to develop symptoms, which are usually at their worst in the first 48 to 72 hours, according to Hota.

“The thing is you’re still infectious to others until about 48 hours after your stools have formed again, and the diarrhea stops,” she said.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU GET NOROVIRUS?

There is no treatment for norovirus that’s specific to the infection. “Your body will take care of it,” Hota said. A health-care provider can diagnose the virus by taking a stool or vomit sample for laboratory testing, according to PHAC.

“It is miserable to go through those first 48 hours but the important thing is to keep hydrated,” Hota added.

Anti-nausea medication can be taken to alleviate some of the symptoms, but ultimately she said, just letting the infection “ride out” is the best course of action CTV News

Scientists invent new way to detect skin cancer

Scientists at the University of Warwick have created a new way to detect skin cancer.

Using so called Terahertz (THz) waves, with some early trials on patients already underway, the hope is to speed up surgery and help surgeons remove cancers while leaving as much healthy skin as possible.

THz waves fall between infrared (used in remote controls) and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum.

They can be used in scans to map the extent of tumours more accurately. Scientists actually refer to the terahertz “gap” as it is a bit of the spectrum which we have a hard time actually generating and using the waves found there. That has started to change in the last few years, and as we have learned to make THz waves we can start to find uses for them. That is what the research at Warwick is all about.

Safer low frequencies

Prof Emma MacPherson showed me round her lab and demonstrated how THz waves are now being used to detect skin cancer.

She explained THz waves were “a million times lower frequency than X-rays so it’s really safe and it’s really sensitive to subtle changes in water concentration”.

In skin cancers, the amount of water in the skin is different when compared to the healthy skin around it.

In theory you could use a THz wave producing machine to map very accurately the extent of any skin cancer.

Which is why in her lab there is a student with his trousers rolled up having green dots stuck to his legs.

These show the area under investigation to a robot arm with a THz generator on the tip.

The robot then scans and maps out the extent of the cancer.

At the moment, a surgeon will draw on years of experience and eyeball the cancer to make a decision on how much to cut out. Surgery can take hours. But if Professor MacPherson’s THz trials work, doctors could instead scan the cancer first and know exactly where to cut.

It could potentially both speed things up and help preserve as much healthy skin as possible.

Early trials on patients have been carried out and more are planned for the summer.

As well as cancer, you the same approach could be used on skin disease like eczema, to analyse the skin and work out exactly the right course of treatment. If all goes well, in five years any skin cancer patient might go for a THz scan just like a patient with a broken bone goes for an x-ray. BBC News

Alex Vines is the Africa Director at Chatham House

How ‘vampire facials’ infected three women with HIV

A recent report on women who contracted HIV after receiving a “vampire facial” has raised questions about the safety of some cosmetic procedures.

At least three women were infected at a spa in New Mexico in 2018, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that said the cases shed light on new ways the infection can spread.

They are believed to be the first-ever HIV transmissions related to a cosmetic procedure documented in the US.

But what exactly is a “vampire facial”, and how did the women contract HIV after receiving it? And what can people do to keep themselves safe from infection when getting cosmetic treatments?

Here is a breakdown of what we know and what experts recommend.

What is a Vampire Facial?

The term is a colloquial one for plateletrich plasma - or PRP - facials. It involves drawing a patient’s blood and then separating out platelet-rich plasma from it using a centrifuge. The plasma is then injected back into the face through tiny needle punctures.

The procedure is said to help repair the skin’s barrier by stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars. It has been around for a while - reality television star Kim Kardashian shared a

selfie post-procedure in 2013 where her face appeared bloody.

A few years later Ms Kardashian said that she would not get the treatment again, writing on her website that it was “really rough and painful for me.”

The treatment could cost anywhere between $1,000 to $2,000 (£1,600) at a licensed medical spa, according to estimates from providers online.

How did the New Mexico women contract HIV?

In summer of 2018, the CDC became aware of an American woman, aged between 40 and 50, who tested positive for HIV while she was abroad.

The woman reported no history of injection drug use or recent blood transfusions, and did not have recent sexual contact with anyone other than her current partner.

She did, however, report getting a vampire facial earlier that year at a spa in New Mexico.

A CDC investigation into the spa - which also provided other injection services, including Botox - later revealed that it was unlicensed and that it had “multiple unsafe infection control practices.”

This included “unlabelled tubes of blood and medical injectables” that were stored in a kitchen fridge next to food, as well as “unwrapped syringes” scattered in drawers and on counters.

Less alcohol, or none at

It’s wine time. Beer Thirty. Happy hour. Five o’clock somewhere.

Maybe it’s also time to rethink drinking?

Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that.

“Drinking less is a great way to be healthier,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, who directs the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

ARE DRINKING GUIDELINES CHANGING?

Guidelines vary a lot from country to country but the overall trend is toward drinking less.

The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026.

“The scientific consensus has shifted due to the overwhelming evidence linking alcohol to over 200 health

Some of the blood vials also showed signs of being reused, and the CDC had identified at least one client who had tested positive for HIV before visiting the spa.

The health agency has since tied the spa to five cases of HIV, including four women who had all received a vampire facial treatment between May and September of 2018 and a man who was romantically linked with one of the women.

The late stage of the HIV infections for the man and woman in a relationship indicated they had contracted the disease before the facial, the CDC said The spa was forced to close in late 2018, and its former owner, 62-year-old Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz, is serving a three-and-a-half year prison sentence. She pled guilty in 2022 to practicing medicine without a license.

Are cosmetic procedures like vampire facials safe?

There have been hundreds of published medical research papers and trials that suggest the treatments are effective for some sports injuries, acne, eczema and other skin conditions.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association says the procedure itself, when done correctly, appears to be safe.

“You may have a bit of pain, bruising and swelling afterwards,” the association says. “These tend to go away within a few days.”

The biggest risk comes from the way the blood is handled by the facility providing the treatment.

all,

conditions, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases and injuries,” said Carina Ferreira-Borges, regional adviser for alcohol at the World Health Organization regional office for Europe.

From Dry January to Sober October to bartenders getting creative with nonalcoholic cocktails, there’s a cultural vibe that supports cutting back.

“People my age are way more accepting of it,” said Tessa Weber, 28, of Austin, Texas. She stopped drinking for Dry January this year because she’d noticed alcohol was increasing her anxiety. She liked the results — better sleep, more energy — and has stuck with it.

“It’s good to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol,” Weber said.

WAIT, MODERATE DRINKING DOESN’T HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?

That idea came from imperfect studies comparing groups of people by how much they drink. Usually, consumption was measured at one point in time. And none of the studies randomly assigned people to drink or not drink, so they couldn’t prove cause and effect.

People who report drinking moderately

“It’s essential that the blood removed from your body be kept sterile. Otherwise, you could develop an infection,” the association says.

It is also important to ensure that the blood being injected back belongs to the client, and not someone else, as the recipient could get very sick otherwise. Experts say that those looking to get cosmetic treatments should research the provider beforehand to make sure the facility is licensed. They should also note how medical equipment - like needlesare being handled by staff Vampire facials are not the only cosmetic treatment to make recent headlines after being linked to serious illness.

US health officials warned last week of a botulism outbreak tied to counterfeit Botox, which has sickened 22 people in 11 states - some of whom have since been in hospital.

Botulism is a serious illness with symptoms including blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and breathing, slurred speech and fatigue.

Botox injection is a popular treatment used to smooth wrinkles and make skin appear younger. Injections typically cost around $530 a treatment.

Like with the vampire facials, the CDC advises those looking to get Botox injections to research the treatment provider beforehand, and to make sure that the Botox being used is FDAapproved and purchased from a reliable source. BBC News

is one path to better health

tend to have higher levels of education, higher incomes and better access to health care, Naimi said.

“It turns out that when you adjust for those things, the benefits tend to disappear,” he said.

Another problem: Most studies didn’t include younger people. Almost half of the people who die from alcoholrelated causes die before the age of 50.

“If you’re studying people who survived into middle age, didn’t quit drinking because of a problem and didn’t become a heavy drinker, that’s a very select group,” Naimi said. “It creates an appearance of a benefit for moderate drinkers that is actually a statistical illusion.”

Other studies challenge the idea that alcohol has benefits. These studies compare people with a gene variant that makes it unpleasant to drink to people without the gene variant. People with the variant tend to drink very little or not at all. One of these studies found people with the gene variant have a lower risk of heart disease — another blow to the idea that alcohol protects people from heart problems.

HOW MANY DRINKS CAN I

HAVE PER DAY?

That depends.

Drinking raises the risk of several types of cancer, including colon, liver, breast and mouth and throat. Alcohol breaks down in the body into a substance called acetaldehyde, which can damage your cells and stop them from repairing themselves. That creates the conditions for cancer to grow.

Thousands of U.S. deaths per year could be prevented if people followed the government’s dietary guidelines, which advise men to limit themselves to two drinks or fewer per day and women to one drink or fewer per day, Naimi said.

One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor.

Naimi served on an advisory committee that wanted to lower the recommendation for men to one drink per day. That advice was considered and rejected when the federal recommendations came out in 2020.

“The simple message that’s best supported by the evidence is that, if you drink, less is better when it comes to health,” Naimi said.

The Associated Press

Health/Lifestyle

Why what’s good for your heart could also help delay dementia Blood flow changes to brain traced to early abnormalities in the body

Japanese dancer ReiNa teaches moves to students in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2022. Exercise in a group setting so that you can socialize at the same time is suggested to prevent or forestall dementia. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Parminder Raina stepped up his workouts when he realized just how important the activity could be in preventing or forestalling dementia.

Raina now hits the gym five times a week for aerobic exercise like running and cycling, as well as strength training.

As the scientific director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging at McMaster University in Hamilton, Raina works to understand why some people age in a healthy fashion and others don’t.

“I have become much more prudent in my own behaviour,” said Raina, who is in his early 60s.

Researchers believe that better nutrition, physical activity and socialization that can improve heart health also tend to boost brain health and could at least delay dementia. Previous studies suggest that heart conditions may cause brain changes that increase the risk of stroke and dementia.

To understand why heart health could ease the challenges of aging, including boosting brain health, Raina and his colleagues are examining the issue from multiple perspectives.

Raina also heads up the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a large, long-term research project on about 50,000 individuals who are between the ages of 45 and 85 when they are recruited.

Teams of researchers follow the subjects for at least 20 years with regular questionnaires on health, finances, social aspects, lifestyle, medications and nutrition.

The researchers will also explore whether providing people with information about better nutrition helps motivate them to improve their diet. Some participants come in for appointments every few years to measure their blood pressure, lung function, bone density and other metrics.

Dementia not a normal part of aging, doctors say

Dementia is a collection of symptoms affecting brain function such as a decline in memory, planning and language, as well as physical and mood changes. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, doctors say, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type.

For dementia, the CLSA studies will help update Canada’s estimates on how common it is. In 2020, almost 477,000 Canadians aged 65 and older were living with dementia, according to the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System.

A recent longitudinal study based on the U.K. Biobank of more than 356,000

participants in England and Scotland aged 40 to 69 looked at a wide range of risk factors for young onset dementia that develops before age 65, as well as other chronic diseases.

The Biobank researchers found associations between a variety of conditions, including stroke, diabetes, heart disease and depression, and an increased risk of young onset dementia.

Dr. Roger Wong, a clinical professor in geriatric medicine at the University of British Columbia, works with people with long-standing conditions like dementia.

“What I say to people and their loved ones is that what is good for the body is good for the brain,” Wong said.

“There are things that every one of us can do regardless of age to prevent dementia.”

Take a combined approach

Wong pointed to a recent CLSA study from Raina’s team at McMaster that found a close relationship between physical mobility impairments such as trouble walking and having more difficulty with brain health, including dementia, and vice versa.

The investigators use traditional tests like a timed walk or grip strength to assess how impairments relate to brain health.

Some participants in the CLSA don wearables like accelerometers to measure their steps. Scientists hope the objective measures will help further clarify the associations between walking and dementia risk.

For now, Wong suggests taking a combined approach to preventing or forestalling dementia: Exercise in a group setting so that you can socialize at the same time — think dance, playing pickleball or group walks — because of the strong signals from observational studies like the CLSA and U.K. Biobank.

After years of training, sparring and fights, top-ranked boxer Claire Hafner is about to discover the toll the ring has taken on her brain health. She’s part of a groundbreaking study of living athletes that hopes to better understand head trauma risks — and help athletes figure out when it’s time to quit.

Dr. Marie Pigeyre, an endocrinologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, treats adults with diabetes. She agrees with Wong about the importance of longterm, observational research.

Pigeyre, an assistant professor of medicine at McMaster, received a grant recently from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to study potential markers in the blood. The goal is to better understand the relationship between lifestyle, certain fat deposits and cognition.

Pigeyre and her team use questionnaires that assess participants’ cognition as well as blood tests and advanced MRI scans to look for early changes in small blood vessels to track consequences of blood flow in the heart and brain.

“This little [blood] vessel abnormality can change how your heart is contracting and … so it could affect how as well how the blood flow is going up in your brain.”

Enough oxygen?

Some people may not have any symptoms of dementia, but the tests sometimes show that parts of the heart and brain aren’t getting as much oxygen as they should. Pigeyre’s research has found that these early abnormalities can be traced back to fat deposits surrounding the internal organs, known as visceral fat.

Scientists have found visceral fat to be more active in increasing inflammation that causes diabetes and coronary artery disease than fat in the legs and buttocks. That’s why apple-shaped bodies are thought to be more damaging to health than pear-shaped bodies.

Given that about one-third of the population doesn’t exercise, the lack of physical activity raises concerns for their risk of dementia and other health issues as they age, Raina said. amily’s journey 6 months ago

Duration6:14

A study from the Alzheimer Society of Canada predicts that the number of people in Canada living with dementia will triple within three decades. We follow one family who have been on this journey for a few years, as they prepare for the transition from home care to long-term care.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity every week, which can be in 10-minute intervals.

“Walking and doing some level of movement is good for you in many ways and I think we just have to come to terms that it’s not an all-or-none phenomena,” Raina said.

As data from the CLSA starts to come in, Raina said it motivates him to strive for a healthier lifestyle, despite the challenges.

“I eat better,” Raina said. “I try to sleep better because as a researcher, you are prone to not take care of yourself like any health-care professional. I was sleeping four to five hours a night because so much work had to be done.”

CBC News

Around the World Sports Scene

Aryeh knocks out Cameroon’s Otto in Cruiserweight bout in Togo

Ghana’s Olivierra Welbeck Aryeh delivered an impressive performance over the weekend, securing a round two knockout victory against Cameroon’s Dennis Otto in their International Cruiserweight contest held in Togo.

Aryeh, who works for the National Sports Authority (NSA), expressed his delight at winning his second professional fight by knockout and expressed his ambition to reach the top of his division.

With a record now standing at 2-2-0, Aryeh pledged to intensify his training efforts to vie for the national title, currently held by his gymmate at Wisdom Boxing Club, Haruna Mohammed.

The event, which coincided with Togo’s Independence Day on April

27th, saw another Ghanaian boxer, Ebenezer Tetteh, claim victory over Togolese champion Ayaovi Agbonson in the fifth round via TKO, securing the vacant Supreme Africa Heavyweight Championship in a match dubbed the Anglophone vs Francophone Africa. The showdown unfolded at the Terrain Municipal De Sokode in Togo.

Ghanaian boxing official Ricketts Kofi Darku, serving as the Chief Supervisor, extended congratulations to the Ghanaian boxers who showcased exceptional skills in the ring.

The President of the Togo Professional Boxing Federation was also in attendance, alongside a lively crowd that witnessed the thrilling bouts. ghanaweb.com

Highlights of Black Starlets 5-1 win over Kazakhstan

The Black Starlets concluded their UEFA U16 International Development tournament on a strong note after a comfortable win over Kazakhstan on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

The Starlets thumped the Asian side 5-1 to claim their second win in the four-nation tournament.

Ghana went behind first in the game but staged a comeback to trash Kazakhstan. Benjamin Tsevanyo pulled the Starlets level before Joseph Narbi hit a first-half brace to give Ghana a 3-1 lead at the break.

Two goals from Abdulai Nortey and Benjamin Hanson in the second half sealed the big win for the Starlets.

Laryea Kingston’s side ended the competition with two wins and a defeat in three games. They scored 11 goals and conceded 5.

Ghana lost 3-1 to Russia in their first game before thrashing Serbia 5-1 in the second.

The tournament serves as a preparation for the Black Starlets ahead of the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, which will be held in Ghana on May 15, 2024. Ghanaweb.com

with Jonathan Baah Annobil

Haruna Iddrisu’s club to earn €7.9 million from Fatawu Issahaku’s transfer to Leicester City

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, is set to benefit financially from the transfer of Fatawu Issahaku to Leicester City this summer.

Haruna Iddrisu, who owns Ghanaian Division One side Steadfast FC, facilitated the player’s move to Portuguese club Sporting CP for a fee of €1.2 million.

After a challenging spell in Portugal, Issahaku moved to Leicester City on a season-long loan, with a mandatory purchase clause activated if Leicester qualified for the Premier League and Issahaku played in over 60% of the matches.

With Leicester’s return to the Premier League confirmed, they are obliged to sign the Ghanaian player, who has a €17million buy-out clause.

Issahaku’s participation in over 60% of the matches was pivotal in Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League.

Upon Leicester City’s payment of €17million for Issahaku, Steadfast FC will be entitled to half of the profits from the transfer.

Since Sporting CP bought Issahaku in 2022 for €1.2 million, the profit from the transfer is €15.8 million. This amount will be shared between Steadfast FC and Sporting CP, with each team receiving €7.9 million.

Issahaku played a crucial role in Leicester City’s promotion, scoring 6 goals and providing 13 assists.

Haruna Iddrisu owns Steadfast FC and Ghana Premier League club Karela United.

JNA/EK

Legendary sports commentator Joe Lartey is dead

Legendary sports commentator, Joachim Awuley Lartey, commonly known as “Over to You Joe Lartey” has passed away at age 96.

The death of the legendary sports journalist was confirmed by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) in a statement released on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

“The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) announces the death of Mr Joachim Awuley Lartey aka ‘Joe Lartey’ on April 26, 2024,” SWAG wrote.

“Late ‘Joe Lartey’ was the first President of SWAG and passed at 96. Further details on his demise and other arrangements will be announced in due course.”

Joe Lartey was an astute journalist whose career started in 1961 when he worked with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

He began in the talks and features department before transitioning to the sports department and later became a household name.

Joachim Awuley Lartey was the first president of SWAG

The renowned broadcaster served as the first president of SWAG after the inception of the group in 1968.

Lartey, at some point in his esteemed career, practised journalism in Nigeria for about a decade.

At the peak of his broadcasting career, Joe Lartey had the late Lt Col Festus Addae as his co-commentator who would often say, “Over to you, Joe Lartey!”, when handing over to Lartey who was often the lead commentator. The phrase later became popular among sports journalists and enthusiasts in Ghana.

ghanaweb.com

Ghana’s Olivierra Welbeck Aryeh delivered an impressive performance over the weekend

Haruna Iddrisu and Fatawu Issahaku

Asante gold artefacts: Ghana rejoices as ‘crown jewels’ looted by British put on display

Asante gold artefacts: Ghana rejoices as ‘crown jewels’ looted by British put on display

One of the looted artefacts on display

Looted artefacts from the Asante kingdom are finally on display in Ghana, 150 years after British colonisers took them.

Ghanaians flocked to the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of Asante region, to welcome the 32 items home.

“This is a day for Asante. A day for the Black African continent. The spirit we share is back,” said Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

At this stage the items have only been loaned to Ghana for three years.

However, this loan can be extended.

The agreement is between two British museums - the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and British Museum - and the Asante king, not the Ghanaian government.

The Asante king, or Asantehene, is seen as a symbol of traditional authority, and is believed to be invested with the spirits of his predecessors. But his kingdom is now part of Ghana’s modern democracy.

“Our dignity is restored,” Henry Amankwaatia, a retired police commissioner and proud Asante, told the BBC, over the hum of jubilant drumming.

Some of the items, described by some as “Ghana’s crown jewels” were looted during the Anglo-Ashanti wars of the 19th Century, including the famous Sargrenti War of 1874.

Other items like the gold harp (Sankuo) were given to a British diplomat in 1817.

“We acknowledge the very painful history surrounding the acquisition of these objects. A history tainted by the scars of imperial conflict and colonialism,” said Dr Tristam Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, who has travelled to Kumasi for the ceremony.

Among the returned artefacts are the sword of state, gold peace pipe and gold badges worn by officials charged with cleansing the soul of the king.

“These treasures have borne witness to triumph and trials of the great kingdom and their return to Kumasi is testament to the power of cultural exchange and reconciliation” said Dr Hunt.

One of the returned items, the sword of state, also called the “mpompomsuo sword” holds great

significance for the Asante people.

It serves as a sword of office that is used in swearing the oath of office to the kingdom by paramount chiefs and the king himself.

Royal historian Osei-Bonsu SafoKantanka told the BBC that when the items were taken from the Asante it took away “a portion of our heart, our feeling, our whole being”.

The return of the artefacts is as controversial as it is significant.

Under UK law, national museums like the V&A and British Museum are banned from permanently giving back contested items in their

collections, and loan deals such as this are seen as a way to allow objects to return to their countries of origin.

Some countries laying claim to disputed artefacts fear that loans may be used to imply they accept the UK’s ownership.

Many Ghanaians feel the ornaments should remain permanently. However, this new arrangement is a way to overcome British legal restrictions.

African countries have repeatedly called for the return of looted items with some regaining ownership over precious historical artefacts in recent years.

In 2022 Germany gave back over 1,000 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The German foreign minister said at the time it was a step in dealing with a “dark colonial history”.

The neck ring or ‘kanta’ (R) was worn by the king at important funerals

The display is part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Asante King Otumfo Osei Tutu II

This gold headpiece known as “krononkye” was used when royalty was grieving

The midnight knife (L) was used for covert operations. The gold badges (R) were worn by the king’s soul washers BBC

One of the looted artefacts on display

Asante King Otumfo Osei Tutu II

The midnight knife (L) was used for covert operations

The neck ring or 'kanta' (R) was worn by the king at important funerals

This gold headpiece known as "krononkye" was used when royalty was grieving

FOOD AND RECIPES

Compiled by Nana Ama, Toronto, ON

Traditional African Dishes

How to prepare wrewre/melon seed soup

INGREDIENTS

 3 cups wrewre

 An assortment of dried and smoked meat

 3 large tomatoes

 2 large onions

 3 tsp hot pepper (grind)

 1 tsp ginger

 2 tsp garlic

 2 maggi cubes

 3 tsp of pepper flakes

Method

 Dry roast your seed on medium heat in a pan for about 6-8 min. It will start to make a popping sound when it is cooked. Or to be sure, you can break one, it should be lightly brown on the inside.

 Pour into your blender or food processor. Add 1 and 3/4 cups of water and blend into a smooth paste.

 Pour into a strainer and strain to separate juice from chafe.

 After add water to the chafe and blend again.

 Repeat the straining process until no chafe remains in the strainer.

 Pour the juice into a pot and allow to cook on moderate heat.

 Allow to boil for 15 min.

 Wash and put the meat into a saucepan.

 Add your seasoning cube, ginger, garlic,a little salt and water to the meat and allow cook for about 5 min. Stir intermediately.

 Pour in the cooked juice.

 wash and peel your tomatoes and onions. Add to the soup and allow to boil for 10 min.

 Remove the tomatoes and onions and blend into a smooth paste.

 Pour it back into the soup.

 Allow to simmer on moderate heat for about 15 min.

 Add salt to taste. You can also add more pepper to your preference

 Cook for another 3 min and turn off heat.

 Soup is ready to be enjoyed with your rice balls, banku, fufu, kenkey, rice or yam.

3 cups beans

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl wash your beans and remove the bag

2. Allow to soak for 20 minutes

3. Add in the onions tattase and tarugu

4. Grind in to smooth past

5. Beat and add the small pinch of salt Ghana pepper powder

6. Deep fry in moderate hot oil

Serve and enjoy

Tuo Zaafi with Ayoyo stew

10 qts Ayoyo leaves

2 qts Salt Peter (Potassium nitrate)

1 cup Powdered Fish

1 cup Powdered Okro

2 pinches Dawadawa

2 qts Pepper

2 qts Onions

1 qt Fish seasoning

2 qts All purpose spices

4 qts Meat (Beef)

1 cup Palm oil

3 qts Tomatoes

2 qts Salmon

2 qts Herrings

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Koose (Black Eye Beans cake)