Ghanaian News ATL Nov 2016

Vol. 1 No. 1

October 2016

Atlanta

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The Elmina Urban Health Center Maternity Ward Commissioned

From Staff Reporter, Ghana

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia (GWAG) officially commissioned the refurbished maternity ward at the Elmina Urban Health Center in Ghana.

The event which was coordinated by GWAG, in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Cape-Coast, Accra Airport, and Accra-Airport City, was held in the forecourt of the Elmina Urban Health Center, and attended by traditional leaders of the area, community leaders, hospital management and staff, representatives from the Ghana Health Service, and the Ministry of

Health. Among those present were Nana Kweku Attom IV of Kontrodo, who served as chairperson for the occasion, standing in for the Omanhen of the Elmina traditional area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI; Zagoon Saeed Ishmael, Municipal Chief Executive of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipal Assembly, and Nana Tseasewaa III, Queenmother of Gwira Akyinim.

The journey to this day began in late 2015 with a visit to Elmina by GWAG president, Agnes Hayfron Barnor. During that visit, Agnes witnessed Monica, a woman whose harrowing labor story would becont’d on pg. 17

Ghana’s Fire Chief Honoured by New York Fire Department The New York Fire Department Chief, Daniel A. Nigro, has honoured his Ghanaian counterpart Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Dr. Albert Brown Gaisie for his excellent performance.

The honour was bestowed on the CFO during his visit to the United States of America for the purpose.

The honour, the fir st to be awarded a Ghanaian Fire Chief Chief Daniel A. Nigro presenting excellence award to Officer, according to the acDr. Albert Brown Gaisie companying citation, is in recognition of the exemplary per- in the country and the African Under the tenure of the CFO, the stature of fire-fighters has formance of the CFO in raising continent as a whole. cont’d on pg. 21 the standards of fire-fighting

Obama vows to send people to Mars by the 2030s U.S. president outlines goals in opinion piece for CNN U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday vowed to help send people to Mars within the next 15 years, pledging to work with private companies “to build new habitats that can sustain and transport astronauts on long-duration missions in deep space.”

“We have set a clear goal vital to the next chapter of America’s story in space: sending humans to Mars by the 2030s and returning them safely to Earth, with the ultimate ambition to one day remain there for an extended time,” Obama said in an opinion piece for CNN posted to its website.

Obama said some of the U.S.’s

leading scientists and engineers will meet in Pittsburgh this week to discuss the plan.

He set a goal in 2010 to send humans to Mars by the 2030s.

He said the next step is to “reach beyond the bounds of Earth’s orbit.” cont’d on pg. 5

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Letters to the Editor We encourage your feedback and value your comments.

Please feel free to write to us. Keep letters to a maximum of 200 words, include your full name, telephone # and mailing address with all correspndence.

Address your letters to the Editor

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

Rejoinders are not forums for personal insults and we want readers to adhere to these principles.

Unity is Strength When a broom is bundled together, it can’t be broken. However, singly loose sticks can be broken very easily.

This afore-mentioned African saying can also be applied to people as well.

The same thing can be said about our Atlanta-Ghanaian community.

Our community is scattered in the metropolitan areas and need a mouth piece or medium to bring us all together. This is why we have endeavored to bring to you Atlanta Ghanaian News first edition this month. This venture is possible with the partnership of The Ghanaian News Corporation of Toronto.

L a s t m o n t h , I w elcom ed Mr. Emmanuel Ayiku, CEO of The Ghana News Corp to Atlanta for a need assessment regarding the proposed community newspaper in Atlanta. Mr. Ayiku’s many decades of experience and success in the print industry will make a definite contribution and a great partner in this journey. Atlanta has a vibrant Ghanaian community which is similar to Toronto and Atlanta Ghanaian News intend to replicate the Toronto success story in Atlanta.

During the feasibly visit to our various communities, it became clear that our community has been yawning for such a need for a long time. Lack of a community newspaper is certainly a void the Atlanta Ghanaian News will fill on a monthly basis. The Atlanta Ghanaian News is here to give our community a collective voice and a medium to regularly engage the minds, share ideas, patronize our local churches, businesses, activities, and serve as a channel of information to our community.

We at Atlanta Ghanaian News ask for your support, dedication, and interest to bring you authentic monthly news from the motherland and the local communities. We are stronger together.

Readers Comments Nana Amponsah’s Relationship Advice: Five Mistakes Ghanaians Make in Relationships.

Nana Amponsah 1. You treat your relationships like business transactions.

I have had numerous conversations with Ghanaians who evaluate the strength of their relationships based on economic and social mobility rather than simply on the quality of interactions between partners. A woman has to know how to cook, clean and keep house. A man has to earn a “good” income and bring the car to the mechanic. While I understand the harsh economic realities of life, there is a need to be flexible and mindful of the difficulties faced by many Africans in the US. Employability is based on many factors; and race, ethnicity count more than they should. Given these difficulties, would you not prefer a romantic relationship where you are judged by the brightness of your smile, the kindness in your voice, and your ability to listen and laugh with your partner? Leave the business standards to your business interactions.

Bring friendship, romance, and play into your relationship.

2.

You are afraid to try “new things.”

I recently had a conversation with a couple of Ghanaian women who complained that their husbands were trying all these “obroni” things in bed. When quizzed,

what they described was actually quite normal by most standards but apparently not Ghanaian.

I have also talked to some African men, Ghanaians in particular, who feel a deeper sexual intimacy with their wives/partners would be reducing them to “prostitution.” They would rather go to a prostitute to satisfy their curiosity and creativeness in bed than share new experiences with “the mother of my children.”

After some years of marriage be prepared to try new things because things can get boring pretty quick. Adventure enriches your relationship and keeps both of you in tune with each other. Try new things, experiment and then give each other feedback. Men, understand that your women are as much sexual beings as you are and stop silencing their desire for you. Women loosen up and be free, allow him to be creative.

You are afraid to 3. date non-Ghanaians.

Date outside your race and ethnicity. The world is full of different and diverse people who are beautiful, strong and sexy. Give them a chance. Sometimes

dating outside of your race and culture allows you to be something different because you are not governed by cultural expectations. You will find you are more accepting and open when you are not ruled by the ways of “your people.” It also makes “new things” more accessible and gets rid of the business transaction type of relationship. So if you are frustrated by Ghanaian standards of romance and relationships ditch them and try dating a Brazilian!

From what I’ve heard Brazilian men make great boyfriends and Brazilian women are great dancers.

4.

Yo u d a t e f o r marriage.

This is why your relationship takes on the business transaction m o d e . Yo u m e e t a person and immediately start ticking off the transactional points on your list. Where is the fun in that? Marriage is not the ultimate prize in life. In fact, from divorce rates we know it’s not even much of a prize these days. Date for the fun of it. See what happens. Play and learn together. Explore the world. Practice safe sex.

Take your time. Then decide if you want to get married. If you do, you have a great foundation because you truly got to know your future spouse without the pressure of becoming espoused. If it doesn’t work out, at least you had fun and learned more about what you want as an individual in a relationship.

5.

When you are married, you stop dating.

See mistake number 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Nana Amponsah is a psychotherapist with over 15 years of experience in helping couples and families improve on their relationships.

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Ghanaian architect who designed US’ African American museum honoured Mr David Adjaye (left) designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture (right) A renowned Ghanaian architect, Mr David Adjaye, has been honoured by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for his outstanding achievement in architecture.

Contributions Mr Adjaye is best known for his work as the designer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture recently opened by President Barack Obama in Washington DC in the United States of America (USA).

Other works by the architect include the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, USA. Citation Presenting the citation, Prof. Botchwey commended Mr Adjaye for “demonstrating through your design work an abiding commitment to the principles of inclusion, equity and the creativity of the Ghanaian spirit. For your outstaning achievements in architecture.”

Giving a personal testimony, Dr. Botchwey said, “I once drove past

Obama vows to send people to Mars by the 2030s cont’d from pg. 1 Obama did not elaborate on what it will cost or how the U.S. will pay for it. But he said it will require years of patience, testing and education.

Like Earth, the so-called Red Planet also has seasons, and a 2012 NASA mission found conditions there could have once supported microbial life, according to the U.S. space agency.

NASA separately said it was coordinating with commercial space companies to develop “deep space habitat modules” and create opportunities for companies to use the International Space Station’s docking port.

It would take about nine months to get there, depending on rocket velocity, some NASA experts have said. A highspeed trip could take as little as 130 days, they said on the agency’s website.

As part of the space habitat effort, NASA said on Tuesday it was entering the so-called “proving ground” stage to demonstrate and test various technologies over the next 10 years.

He was presented with a citation by the Chairman of the NDPC, Professor Kwesi Botchwey, at the Archi-Afrika Design and Architecture Gallery at James Town in Accra last Friday.

Trips to the ISS

David Adjaye

the iconic Museum of African American history in Washington and I wondered who designed it. When I found out that it was a Ghanaian, I was so proud of this country. We must, therefore, duly recognise the work of David to inspire the upcoming generation of architects.’’

chaos and problems of our cities”.

“Architects are needed not only to preserve the beauty of our cities and communities but also to make them sustainable,” he added.

Appreciation

The NDPC chairman explained that architecture was an important component in the development of the country owing to the significant role it played in shaping the development of communities.

“Architecture fits into the NDPC’s ongoing preparation for a long-term national development plan which duly recognises the importance of developing sustainable cities marked by architectural beauty of a special African character in the context of a safe community,” he stated.

Prof. Botchwey added that in the long-term national development plan, architects would be at the forefront of addressing what he described as “the

Mr Adjaye expressed appreciation to the NDPC for recognising his works and also bestowing honours on him.

“I am very honoured to receive this citation.

It means a lot to me. I love my country and the people who have been supporting me for many years,” he stated.

Mr Adjaye explained that architecture was the backbone of any civilisation across the world: “Architecture defines our civilisation and the mental state of our people.”

“We can, therefore, use it to do a lot to change the lives of our people,” he indicated.

5

Last month, SpaceX founder Elon Musk outlined his ambitious plan to get humans to Mars within the next 10 years.

His company has already worked with NASA to send a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station, becoming the first commercial company to do so.

Obama said sending people there is the next step.

“Within the next two years, private companies will for the first time send astronauts to the International Space Station,” he says in the CNN piece.

Mars is some 56 million kilometres away from Earth at their closest point in orbit, according to NASA.

Little attention to space in election race The two-term president’s recommitment comes in the final months of his tenure and faces an uncertain future after he leaves office in January. His successors will be chosen on Nov. 8 in an election that could also reshape Congress, which allocates government funding.

Obama, a self-described “nerd” who last year hosted budding astronomers at the White House, has made known his love of space.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her rival, Republican Donald Trump, have given little, if any, attention to the issue on the campaign trail.

It has been decades since the United States sent astronauts to the moon in 1969, and efforts to fund the space program have faltered in recent years over concerns about government spending and fiscal priorities. CBC News

Georgia man sent teen sex texts as son was dying in hot car, court told BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- A Georgia man swapped sexual text messages with a teenage girl while his toddler son sat forgotten and dying in the back seat of the father’s sweltering SUV, his young texting partner testified in court Friday.

Justin Ross Harris, 34, is charged with murder in the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. He’s also charged with sending graphic, sexual text messages and photos of his penis to a girl for a period of several months when she was 16 and 17.

That young woman, now 19, told the jury Friday she met Harris online in the fall of 2013 when he responded to a comment she posted on the app Whisper stating she wanted a sexual relationship like the one depicted in the erotic novel “50 Shades of Gray.”

“When it started, it was strictly sexual,” the witness said of her relationship with Harris. “Then at times it would be like a normal conversation.”

They never met in person, but Harris knew her age and that she was in high school, the young woman testified.

She sent him one of her prom photos, she said, and would tell him about her efforts to choose a college.

According to a transcript of their text messages that the young woman read in court, one time Harris asked for a photo of her breasts and she replied: “I’m at school.”

They also discussed sex acts they wanted to perform with each other, and cont’d on pg. 7

Gunman, one other dead in U.S. workplace shooting ROANOKE, Va. -- A current or former employee shot one person and wounded three others before apparently killing himself at a rail car manufacturing plant in Virginia early Tuesday, authorities said.

Officers responded to a report of an active shooter just after 6 a.m. at FreightCar America, located in an industrial area near downtown Roanoke, said Police Chief Tim Jones.

Two people, including the shooter, were found dead at the facility, Jones said. Three others with gun-related injuries were taken to Carilion (ka-RILee-on) Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

One patient was in serious condition, and the other two were in fair and good condition, respectively, the hospital said in a statement.

Jones said police believe the man had once worked for or was still an employee of the facility. Authorities have not identified him or the victims.

One witness hid inside a bathroom during the shooting and police will get statements from him and others, Jones said.

Police sent out a tweet later Tuesday saying they searched the facility, which includes several buildings over several acres, and determined there were no other threats.

Chicago-based FreightCar America opened the facility in 2005 on land leased from Norfolk Southern. It builds railroad cars at the site and has other manufacturing facilities in Cherokee, Alabama, and Danville, Illinois.

The Associated Press

Police from Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke County, as well as Virginia State Police and the Roanoke Sheriff’s Office, responded to a fatal shooting at FreightCar America in Roanoke, Va., Tuesday morning, Oct. 25, 2016. (Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP)

6 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Social Justice by Tapo Chimbganda

Three Reasons why it is important to build a good relationship with your child’s teachers and school How many times has your school called to ask you to come in because they need to discuss your child’s progress, behaviour or challenges?

How do you monitor your child’s progress, behaviour or challenges at school? Do you wait for the report card, attend parent-teacher meetings or do you actively seek out updates from teachers?

Whatever your method of parenting, when it comes to schooling, you need to collaborate with your child’s teachers and school. Non-white children, particularly black children in the US have had unique challenges raised against them since schools became a part of life.

H i s t o r i c a l l y, b l a c k children were considered intellectually inferior and although great strides have been made to erase these barriers, there is still a significant divide in the expectations, resources, and opportunities open to black children. If you, as the parent do not advocate for your child you may find out too late that nobody in the school bothered to help your child succeed.

Here are three reasons why it is critical that you foster and maintain

positive relationships with the school and teachers.

These are important for your child’s success.

1. So that you can understand how they assess and evaluate your child.

The world of education has a particular language that you must learn and understand if you are to ensure your child is doing well in school. If you do not talk to your child’s teachers, you will not learn this language. The words and labels used to describe your child and your child’s progress in school require a level of insider understanding. For example, “achievement” is a word that carries a lot of weight and means different things depending on gender, race, and ethnicity. When your daughter is called an “underachiever,” the teacher likely means she is not performing as well as she could. The

teacher might push her a little more, which might make your daughter feel stressed and unable to cope, especially if she is already doing her maximum best. On the other hand, boys have become the focal point of underachievement.

Black boys are more likely to be labelled as “underachiever”, which meansthe teachers are saying your son does not have the natural capacity or ability to do well. Once teachers form this opinion, they cease to invest in your son’s success. Research indicates that black boys are more likely to be labelled in negative ways that are not immediately obvious. It is up to you to decipher the language and respond accordingly to ensure your child is not being mislabelled or dismissed based on racial and gender biases.

In addition, girls are less likely to be diagnosed with learning difficulties or behavioural disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and therefore might suffer without the appropriate support.

Boys, on the other hand,are more likely to be misdiagnosed as having a

US creates 156,000 jobs in September The US economy created 156,000 jobs in September, official figures show, slightly fewer than expected.

However, August’s figure was revised higher to 167,000 from 151,000.

Both figures are lower than 180,000 average for this year.

The unemployment rate edged up to 5% from 4.9%, although that was due to more people looking for work.

The US Department of Labor said job gains occurred in professional and business services and in health care.

The dollar weakened

slightly on the news, but then recovered its ground.

The pace of jobs growth throughout 2016 lags behind that of 2015, when job creation was averaging 229,000 a month.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trader IG, said: “At first glance, the non-farm payroll figure looked rather disappointing, given that it missed expectations. “ H o w e v e r, f o r a n economy near full employment, a 156,000 print is not at all bad, while the rise in the overall unemployment rate was easily countered by an increase in the labour

force participation figure, plus an improvement in earnings. All in all, it wasn’t a bad report, and helps to burnish the case for a rate rise by the end of this year.”

B u t J a m e s A t h e y, investment manager at Aberdeen Asset Management, said the jobs report would be seen as a minor disappointment.

He thought the chances of a rate rise may have receded: “It is quite likely that the odds of an interest rate hike in December will be re-priced a tiny bit lower by investors following these numbers, especially given recent market volatility. In reality though attention is far more focused on what might happen come November 8.” BBC

behavioural disorder.

2. So that you can help your child network and access privileged opportunities.

Another reason to cultivate a collaborative relationship with your child’s school is so that you can be aware of opportunities that privilege your child in the future. Positive relationships give you the inside scoop to which clubs can lead to scholarships and grants.You will also be informed any time something is changing that might affect your child’s wellbeing. When teachers feel comfortable and familiar with you, they are more likely to act favourably towards your child. That is why volunteering for events and programs at your child’s school is important and something you must do as often as possible.

Donate some resources, some money, and some time, whatever you can afford.A relationship with the school also helps you influence policies and practices that might affect your child. Your opinion counts more if you show that you are invested and are part of the school system. It shows that you are not just a taker but you are willing to give back.

3. I t g i v e s y o u r child a sense of security and belonging at school.

F i n a l l y, w h e n y o u r child knows you are connected to the school they areless likely to act out or misbehave. It also means they have a better relationship with teachers because there is an understanding of community. If your child knows that teachers have access to you and they make you aware of all that concerns them, it

increases their level of comfort and engagement at school. Your child will fit in because they can place you and your presence within the school environment. Your child sees how you fit in at school. Send thank you notes to teachers and administrators whenever they go the extra mile to show that you appreciate their efforts. It gives teachers the impression you care not only about your child but also about their role as educators. It also gives them a person to identify with rather than a name on a piece of paper.

When it comes down to it, people generally act more positively when they can put a face to the name and when they can actually refer to a point of contact as a basis of relationship.

Ta p o C h i m b g a n d a is an educator and psychosocial researcher i n t e re s t e d i n s o c i a l justice.

Bill Gates is the richest man in America for the 23rd year in a row

Atlanta Ghanaian News

7

Ghanaian agriculture company wins UK’s “Business is GREAT” Award Ghanaian company wins UK government’s international ‘Business is GREAT’ competition to Liverpool

Microsoft founder tops list again despite being one of the world’s most generous philanthropists Bill Gates maintained his status as the world’s richest man this year, with a net worth of $81 billion US, according to Forbes magazine.

The magazine released its annual rich list on Tu e s d a y w i t h m a n y familiar names at the top.

The Microsoft founder topped the list again in 2016 despite being one of the world’s most generous philanthropists through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has been in first place on the American-only list for 23 consecutive years.

There was a change for second place, however, as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos leapfrogged Berkshire Hathaway chair Warren Buffett with a $67 billion US net worth.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, presented a Ghanaian agriculture Bill Gates company, United Africa America’s richest Fruit, with a certificate man to mark their success in winning a place in the UK government’s international “Business is GREAT” competition.

Founder and CEO Mr. Buffett had been in Brin rounds out Kadri Lomo represented second place 15 years, the top 10 with the company at the award ceremony, which took but dropped to third $37.5 billion. place at the British High place this year with a Commission in Accra.

Trump moves down net worth of $65 billion US. Donald Trump made the The global campaign list in 156th place, with i n v i t e d c o m p a n i e s Rounding out the top an estimated net worth looking to source products five are Facebook of $3.7 billion US, down or services from the UK founder Mark $800 million from last to register for the UK Zuckerberg with $55.5 year due largely to a government’s free export billion US and Oracle slowdown in New York’s matching service. founder Larry Ellison real estate market. with $49.3 billion.

Winning companies were The magazine figures selected based on the Next come: that 18 of 28 assets value of the products o w n e d b y t h e and services they were • M i c h a e l Republican presidential looking to source, and Bloomberg at n o m i n e e d e c l i n e d the reasons why they $45 billion, in value in the past wanted to source from • Charles Koch year, including Trump the UK. Their prize was and David Tower in Manhattan and a four-day sponsored Koch, tied his Mar-a-Lago estate in trip to the International for 7th place Festival for Business Palm Beach, Florida. with $42 billion 2016 in Liverpool, one Trump has slipped 35 of the world’s biggest apiece, spots in the ranking business events delivered • G o o g l e c o compared to where he i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h founder Larry was last year. He is the UK government’s Page at $38.5 now tied with 16 other D e p a r t m e n t f o r billion, billionaires, including International Trade (DIT) Hollywood icon Steven and the GREAT Britain • G o o g l e c o Spielberg. CBC Campaign. The goal was founder Sergey to facilitate connections

U.S. college student discovers 1599 Bible Elaborate illustrations include ‘The Situation of the Garden of Eden’ and ‘Babylone’ A curious Oregon college student has discovered a 1599 Geneva Bible — the Bible of Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare.

It could be said to have royal lineage, according to the Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Ore. One page reads: “Imprinted at London, by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queenes most excellent Majestie.”

“It’s quite rare,” said Hannah Crummé, the archivist at Lewis & Clark College in Portland.

This edition of the Bible made the scriptures accessible through many elaborate woodcut illustrations. One, titled “The Situation of the Garden of Eden,” is a map of the ancient Middle East, showing “The Great Armenia,” “Mesopotamie,” “Babylone” and “The Golphe of the Persian Sea.”

cont’d from pg. 5 Harris would send the girl photos of his penis.

A prosecutor showed four photos to the jury in court.

She said he asked her to send him photos of her genitals “countless” times, but she never did.

“Yes,” she replied. tury Bible collector in England.

Student Sam Bussan was working in the special collections and archives on Sept. 27. As he was preparing to leave for the day, he spotted a label on a bottom shelf that said “Bibles.”

Intrigued, he opened the four boxes and “found all these incredible books” — including Bibles from the 17th through 19th centuries.

“To have that end up in such an unlikely place is very exciting and intriguing,” Bussan said.

CBC

These companies understand the changing nature of agriculture and the need for new innovations and approaches that can increase the profitable nature of agriculture Mr. Lomo joined eleven other global winners in Liverpool. His Ghanaian agriculture company, United Fruit Africa, is seeking contacts in mobile communications and precision farming in the UK. Speaking at the award ceremony, British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin said: I am delighted that a Ghanaian Company United Africa Fruit was among the global winners in this campaign, and that we could facilitate the right connections for them in the UK to help build their business. The UK is open for business. It is the fifth largest economy in the world and was the fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2014, and second fastest in 2015. It is also the highest ranked major economy in the

World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Lomo the very best of success in expanding his company in the region.

Founder and CEO of the United Africa Fruit Company, Mr. Lomo said: It was a pleasure liaising with both innovative UK technology and agriculture providers who offer the best in class solutions for both agricultural precision farming techniques and mobile communications. These companies understand the changing nature of agriculture and the need for new innovations and approaches that can increase the profitable nature of agriculture.

It is my hope to use the United Africa Fruit Company as a showcase for our UK partners to prove what can be achieved when innovative technology solutions are applied to smallholder agriculture, and I want to give my sincere gratitude to DIT and the British High Commission for enabling us to do so.

APO on behalf of British High Commission Accra.

Georgia man sent teen sex texts as son was dying in hot car, court told

“There wasn’t any pressure applied to you to participate in this, is that fair to say,” defence attorney Maddox Kilgore asked the young woman.

This 1599 Geneva Bible, printed in London by a printer for Queen Elizabeth I, sat forgotten in the basement of a library at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., until a student discovered it on Sept.

27. (Hannah Crummé/ Lewis & Clark College via Associated Press) The Bible is in good condition despite repairs that wouldn’t meet today’s book conservation standards, the newspaper said.

Crummé has traced the book’s ownership to Francis Fry, a 19th-cen-

and meetings between the winning delegation of international buyers and the best UK suppliers in their sectors.

Prosecutor Chuck Boring noted that under Georgia law, the girl’s consent was irrelevant because she was a minor.

The Associated Press does not identify victims of sex crimes and is not identifying the young woman, who was underage when the explicit messages were sent. The judge also has barred news organizations from broadcasting her voice and likeness to protect her identity.

Prosecutors say Harris, who had moved to metro Atlanta from Alabama in

2012, killed his young son intentionally because he wanted to escape from the responsibilities of being a husband and father. The teenager wasn’t the only person he swapped sexual images and banter with online. Several women have testified to having sexual relationships with Harris, both online and in person, while he was married.

Authorities say Harris’ son died after being left strapped in his car seat for about seven hours while Harris was working at Home Depot’s headquarters in metro Atlanta. Harris had taken his son with him to eat breakfast that morning.

His defence attorneys say the death was a tragic accident -- that Harris forgot to drop the boy off at daycare and went straight to work.

The day young Cooper died on June 18, 2014, his father was texting the teenage girl from his workplace, according to transcripts read in court Friday.

At about 2 p.m. that day,

he asked for a photo of her breasts.

“I’m super sunburned,” the witness read from the transcript in court, saying she sent a photo regardless.

Harris’ reply: “Yummy.”

Harris’ trial was moved from Cobb County in the Atlanta suburbs, to the coastal port city of Brunswick because of pretrial publicity. The judge told jurors Friday she expects the trial, which began Oct. 3, to last three to four more weeks.

The young woman said Harris would sometimes send her photographs of himself that weren’t sexual. At least twice, he also showed her photos that included Cooper. She said he would sometimes brag about his son and how smart the boy was.

“He would never do anything to hurt his baby?” Kilgore asked.

“No, definitely not,” the young woman replied.

Cp24

8 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Dozens of Afghan troops missing from military training in U.S. Forty-four Afghan troops visiting the United States for military training have gone missing in less than two years, presumably in an effort to live and work illegally in America, Pentagon officials said.

Although the number of disappearances is relatively small -- some 2,200 Afghan troops have received military training in the United States since 2007 -the incidents raise questions about security and screening procedures for the programs.

They are also potentially embarrassing for U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration, which has spent billions of dollars training Afghan troops as Washington seeks to extricate itself from the costly, 15-year-old war. The disclosure could fuel criticism by supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has accused the Obama administration of failing to properly vet immigrants from Muslim-majority countries and has pledged a much tougher stance if he wins.

While other foreign troops on U.S. military training visits have sometimes run away, a U.S. defense official said that the frequency of Afghan troops going missing was concerning and “out of the ordinary.”

Since September alone, eight Afghan troops have left military bases without authorization, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump told Reuters. He said the total number of Afghan troops who have gone missing since January 2015 is 44, a number that has not previously been disclosed.

“The Defense Department is assessing ways to strengthen eligibility criteria for training in ways that will reduce the likelihood of an individual Afghan willingly absconding from training in the U.S. and going AWOL (absent without leave),” Stump said.

Afghans in the U.S. training program are vetted to ensure they have not participated in human rights abuses and are not affiliated with militant groups before being allowed into the United States, Stump said.

The defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added there was no evidence any of those who had absconded had carried out crimes or posed a threat to the United States.

The Afghan army has occasionally been infiltrated by Taliban militants who have carried out attacks on Afghan and U.S. troops, but such incidents have become less frequent due to tougher security measures.

Tr u m p , w h o s e o t h e r s i g n a t u r e immigration plan is to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, has proposed a temporary ban on Muslims seeking to enter the country, and has said that law enforcement officers should engage in

more racial profiling to curb the threat of attacks on American soil.

After Omar Mateen, whose father was born in Afghanistan, killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando in June, Trump said an immigration ban would last until “we are in a position to properly screen these people coming into our country.”

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TRAINING Washington has allocated more than $60 billion since 2002 to train and equip Afghan troops, but security remains precarious and the Taliban are estimated to control more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since 2001 when the U.S. invaded.

Earlier this year Obama shelved plans to cut the U.S. force in Afghanistan nearly in half by year’s end, opting instead to keep 8,400 troops there through the end of his presidency in January.

The military training program brings troops to the United States from around the world in order to build on military relations and improve capabilities for joint operations.

In some cases, officials said, the Afghan students who went missing were in the United States for elite Army Ranger School and intelligence-gathering training. The officials did not identify the missing troops or their rank.

Even though the troops were in the United States for military training, they were not necessarily always on a military base.

If students under the military program are absent from training for more than 24 hours, they are considered to be “absent without leave” (AWOL) and the Department of Homeland Security is notified.

In one case the Pentagon confirmed that an Afghan student had been detained

by Canadian police while attempting to enter Canada from the United States.

It was unclear how many others have been located by U.S. authorities, and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Experts said low morale and insufficient training to fight the Taliban could explain the troops leaving, in addition to a dearth of economic opportunities in the impoverished country.

“They face a formidable enemy, with very limited resources and many Afghan troops aren’t getting paid on time,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Julia Harte and Alana Wise.; editing by Yara Bayoumy and Stuart Grudgings) MSN News

Eva Lokko dies

It is not clear what ailment she had been suffering from until her death.

The Progressive People’s Party parliamentary aspirant for Klottey Korle constituency Mrs Eva Lokko has passed away.

An official of the party Richmond Keelson confirmed her passing to Accra-based Joy FM but with no further details.

R e p o r t s , h o w e v e r, indicate that she passed away in the United States of America on Thursday, October 6, 2016, where she had been flown for medical treatment.

It is not clear what ailment she had been suffering from until her death.

She had her secondary education at the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and was appointed in 2002 as the DirectorGeneral of GBC making her the first female to The late Mrs Eva Lokko serve in that capacity.

Ms Lokko also partnered Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom as running mate for the 2012 elections.

Biography Ghanaian engineer and politician Eva Naa Merely Lokko was the first female engineer to be employed at the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) in 1972.

Eva has worked in more than forty countries worldwide and served as the regional programme coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme initiative for Internet development in Africa.

She was the first female to help in the installation of coloured television in the country. Pulse.com.gh

KMA elects Amakomhene as new Presiding Member The Kumasi Metropolitan Assemby has elected the Amakomhene of Kumasi Nana Adu Mensah Asare as the new Presiding member.

candidacy and 22 against.

His election ends the protracted electoral impasse between the NDC and NPP supporters within the assembly.

Nana Adu Mensah who c o n t e s t e d a s a l o n e The assembly has failed in candidate secured 123 seven different elections to votes in support of his elect a presiding member.

The chief who was nominated by the Kumasi Traditional Council is considered a compromise candidate following the failure of either of the two contesting candidates to secure the required votes to emerge winner in previous elections. ghanaweb

Social Security checks get measly $3.92 bump in 2017 The typical retiree’s monthly Social Security check will get only $3.92 bigger next year.

T h at am o u n t s t o an increase of just 0.3% -the smallest ever put in place to help cover higher prices.

That’s still an improvement from this year, when the lack of inflation kept benefits from increasing at all.

The average retiree’s monthly benefit is currently $1,305.30.

Social Security benefits go to 66 million people, including retirees, widows, orphans and people with disabilities.

The annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) was put in place in 1975.

Related: The best time to start taking Social Security Retiree benefits can be higher than average depending upon their earning history and how

old they were when they began drawing checks.

The maximum benefit today for someone retiring at full retirement age is $2,639 a month.

Even that larger benefit check will grow by just $7.92 next year.

A drop in oil and gas prices has kept overall inflation in check in recent years. The benefits freeze in 2016 was the third time this decade that there has been no increase in benefits. The other years were 2010 and 2011.

Some have argued that the inflation reading used to calculate the adjustment is flawed because retirees typically do not drive as much as younger people who commute to work.

So retirees don’t benefit as much from lower gas prices.

“Over the last five years, Social Security COLA’s have remained small or nonexistent,” said AARP. “Every cent can matter to beneficiaries and their

families. After last year’s zero COLA, this year’s announcement doesn’t offer much help to the millions of families who depend on their Social Security benefits.”

Retirees also spend a bigger proportion of their money on health care, for which prices have risen faster than overall inflation.

“As prescription prices skyrocket and Medicare premiums and other health costs increase, many older Americans have understandable concerns,” said AARP. At the same time, retirees are hurt by low interest rates because many depend on savings to cover at least part of their living expenses.

Are you a retiree living on Social Security? We want to know what the small raise in benefits next year will mean to you.

Please email writer Chris Isidore. CNNMoney

Atlanta Ghanaian News

About The Law

Poetry Corner

By Laureen Tobias, MBA, JD. Attorney at Law

By Victor Ashbey, MD.

Do you need a Will?

Graveyard of Wasted Dreams

You do if you want to have a say in how your property such as house, furniture, jewelry clothes, vehicles, money, and everything else is to be distributed when you die. A will is also very important if you have minor children or dependents and you want to leave specific instructions as to your wishes for their care and to provide for them.

You should prepare and properly execute a Will to make those provisions.

If you die without a will (referred to as dying intestate), and you have relatives who can be found, Georgia will decide who get your property according to Georgia’s intestacy law (that law governs the distribution of the property of people who die without a Will).

The specific order in which your relatives receive your property is as follows:

no siblings, then 5. Grandparents; if no grandparents, then 6. Aunts and uncles; if no aunts and uncle, then 7. First cousins; if no first cousins, then 8. Closest other relatives.

Laureen Tobias 1. Spouse and children (if there is a spouse and children, the spouse is entitled to 1/3 of the estate and the rest of the estate is divided equally among the surviving children); if there is no spouse, then 2. Children (if a child is deceased, his or her children will divide that portion); if no children, then, 3. Father and mother share equally with brothers and sisters; if no parents, then 4. Brothers and sisters including half brothers and half sisters; if

Therefore, anyone owning property who wishes to exercise control over who gets the property after their death should have a Will regardless of the property’s value. Be aware that if there is no Will and no relatives can be found, your property goes to the state.

This article is meant to provide some general information on the subject of Wills. It is not meant to provide legal advice or legal counseling.

Please contact an attorney if you are interested in preparing a Will or have specific questions about a Will.

9

Have you walked pass the cemetery lately Questioning how many souls gone with dreams unachieved Beautiful expanse of quiet land with unused potentials Land where many dreams are buried Sadly, dreams unfulfilled

Have you walked pass the cemetery lately Wandering how many life goals crushed and defeated Untapped mines of rich dreams Dreams perished so young, so old, and so frail Mines with plentiful potentials unharnessed

Have you walked pass the cemetery lately Thinking how many great minds gave up on life Life without purpose, persistence, and perseverance Not capable to share their knowledge, understanding, and wisdom The richest place on the universe is the cemetery Because the graveyard is full of many wasted dreams Sadly dreams lost forever

The Disqualified and the Disenfranchised: Implications for our Democracy On October 10, 2016 at a press conference accompanied by an undated press release, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana announced the disqualification of 13 presidential aspirants for the 2016 election. Most noteworthy was that of the Dr. P.K.Nduom, leader of the PPP,whose party placed a distant third in the 2012 election. There are a number of systemic, organizational, legal and human dynamic factors at play in the whole debacle. Seemingly, the new Commissioner issignaling a significant change in the business culture of the organization. The good old boy “Ahenfie” approach of Mrs. Osei’s predecessor is out the door. There is something to be said for sticking to rules, especially in Ghana where they seem symbolic and are often inappropriately negotiable. It is also important to remember that the EC collects filing fees for which services must be delivered.

This fact is often lost on our institutions who provide services to paying clients with an attitude suggesting that paying clients should consider themselves lucky to receive the contracted services.

However, my read of the EC’s announcement, raises a number of questions. I am not qualified to interpret the constitution of Ghana upon which said actions were tacitly based but there are broader issues outside of the legality of the EC’s actions which are equally important.The rule of law is essential in a civilized society, has limitations and serves the society. We all know that not all people found not guilty in a court of law are innocent of crimes they are accused of. Many are likewise adjudicated guilty of offences after due process and later exonerated. The law is useful but not perfect by any means.

It is however, the best tool we have for maintaining civil order and growth.

I have observed in previous poststhat our state institutions are very often selfserving and not citizen oriented enough in their procedures and operations.

Often, actions are taken by institutions of state, which defeat the very reason for their existence and they end up failing to meet their own stated missions to serve the public good.This institutional culture is likely a confounding issue in this case, as the EC transforms its culture to a more rule based one.

Most importantly, institutions like the EC are starved of funds but are magically expected to perform wonders.

Ours is a multi- party democracy, not a two party state, even though the current state of political polarization begs the question. This development is therefore quite troubling.

The official statement of the EC, left a few questions unanswered. The critical ones were related to timelines guiding the processes involved in vetting the applications of the aspiring presidential candidates. It was unclear exactly how many days were given to candidates to correct the identified errors. Even more troubling was the absence of finite dates defining a specific window within which the errors were to be corrected. The tone of the statement with its judgmental entreaties was also somewhat patronizing. It is unclear how candidates were informed and if all parties were informed of the status of their applications in the same way. Was this an equitable system?

Even if the law is clear, it must be administered to serve democracy in Ghana. That is the core mission of the EC. Were the laws cited, implemented in a fair and transparent manner for all parties involved? I found the press

release quite opaque in its attempt to describe the processes used to arrive at the determinations that were announced.

Reasons for disqualifying candidates must be grave and significant. Also, it was difficult to assess how much support applicants had from the EC in identifying unqualified subscribers who may have committed offences during the process, completely on the blind side of candidates. These individuals must of course face the appropriate legal outcomes of their actions.

I found the EC’s statement fell short where complete transparency was required for both applicants and the voting public at whose behest the EC functions. The EC is supposed to work for the voters and must be accountable to them. Philosophically, the EC’s relationship with its stakeholders should be more collaborative than adversarial.

In an attempt to bring order to a system seen as lacking it, voters may have been disenfranchised. Every party is equally important in a multi-party democracy.

I was witness to a perennial third party the New Democratic Party (NDP) suddenly winning an election in Ontario, Canada on September 6, 1990 and forming a government to the surprise of the party itself but certainly not the voters. Democracy is full of surprises.

We cannot assume anything because the process is driven by individual votes.

The fact that four candidates were successful in completing the process is no vindication for the commission. This is not evidence that the process was fair or adequate. There are many factors including pure chance, which could have helped some and hurt others, given the state of the voters register, as evidenced by the number of doubly registered voters that have been identified over

time. If a process is effective, most of its users have the desired experience.

If a teacher sets an exam and most of the students fail, then the teacher has failed somewhere in the process of assisting the learners to get it right.

Both adherence to the law and service to the electorate must guide the processes of the EC. Those who have been disqualified for the reasons given and by apparent failures in the administration of the law and its implementation, have a right to seek intervention from the courts. This can only strengthen our democracy. They should not be viewed as spoilers. The law should support the aspirations of all voters and its application should not disenfranchise any of them. The responsiveness of the Chief Justice in preparing the judiciary for these cases is a service in support of the preservation of the rights of the voting public at large and serves as an indication that the Judiciary under her leadership is responsibly engaging the a reality that confronts the nation. The EC’s statement in support of the legal process and its declared willingness to be guided by the outcome of the legal proceedings underway, is equally appropriate. We shall benefit as a nation from more divergent thinking about issues that confront us, as we nurture our democracy. There is often more than one correct answer to a complex problem.

T. P. Manus Ulzen is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of Alabama and Author of Java Hill: An African Journey – A historiography of Ghana tulzen@yahoo.com www.javahillelmina.wordpress.com Twitter: @thaddeusulzen www.javahillelmina.com

10 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Celebration of life of Opanin Gilbert Essandoh Arthur on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Atlanta

The Late Agyeman Tannor's Funeral celebration on October 15, 2016 at Atlanta Jone Kwame Agyemang (Son), Vida Aikins (daughter) formally Vida Agyemang, and Joseph Osei (Nephew).

Atlanta Ghanaian News

11

Tel: 770-339-7304 tematropicalfood.com

12 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Community

y in pictures

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14 Atlanta Ghanaian News

PEOPLE AND PLACES Jesus Power Assembly of God Church, Atlanta

Senior Pastor with some elders

Kwahuman Association of Atlanta

Group picture of members

Ghana’s Abena Akuaba wins the 2016 Queen Beauty Universe Pageant | Italy & Slovakia in Top 3 Abena Akuaba Appiah, often called Abena Akuaba, a model, TV presenter, musician and actress has made Ghana proud by becoming the first Ghanaian to win an international pageant.

Abena emerged as the winner of the 2016 Queen Beauty Universe which took place at the Holiday Polynesia Hotel in Malaga, Spain with participation of 30 countries.

The closest Ghana has come to winning an international pageant was Naa Okailey Shoot placing third at the 63rd edition of the Miss World finals in 2013.

Abena Akuaba Mss Queen Beauty Universe being crowned

According to Abena, it has always been her dream to be a queen whiles growing up. She was bullied and teased in school so she made it a priority to gain an international platform to allow her voice to be heard as she fights for young girls who are going through what

Abena Akuaba Miss Queen Beauty Universe

she went through.

Abena Akuaba Miss Queen Beauty Universe with 1st and 2nd runners-ups

Abena stated that the competition was very tough and what kept her going was the fact that she had to make her country proud and also wanted to prove to young girls around the world and especially Ghana that everything is possible.

BellaNaija.com

Miss Queen Beauty Universe with other contestants

Atlanta Ghanaian News

15

Kayza Massey: From the orphanage to the World Cup It takes just a few seconds and a couple of words to establish that Kayza Massey is no ordinary Ghanaian. But it is only once she starts telling her full, remarkable story - all in a distinctively Canadian accent - that it becomes clear just how extraordinary this 15-year-old goalkeeper is.

It made, of course, for the toughest of starts in life, and yet Massey soon began to thrive. Her adopted mother enabled her to do so by ensuring a stable, happy childhood, and was equally determined that Kayza’s move to Canada should not come at the expense of her Ghanaian heritage and identity.

As with any tale, it is best to begin at the start and, in this case, the fortuitous meeting with a charity worker that changed her life forever. “I was born in Ghana but I was in an orphanage until my mom came from Canada,” Massey told FIFA.com. “She had been working in Ghana for UNICEF at the time, building a school in Walewale, and someone told her one day, ‘Oh, we have a surprise for you’.

That surprise was onemonth old baby - me and she decided to adopt me.

“I’ve never found out exactly how I came to be in the orphanage, but I know that in Ghana everyone has a really strong connection to their kids.

They do everywhere, of course, but everyone tells me it’s especially strong there. Children are very rarely given up unless the mother has died, so I think that was the most likely cause.”

As Massey explained: “We have a pretty big Ghanaian community in Ottawa and, from when I was very young, my mom got me involved in that community and made me feel a part of the culture. And I love the culture - it’s one of the biggest reasons I became involved in this team. My mom’s been a huge support to me in that. She’s so proud that I’ve managed to do what I’ve done here, playing for this team and winning big matches. And she’s always encouraging me, telling me just to play my game and stay calm and composed.”

A fateful phone call

Sound advice indeed, for composure has arguably proved the key factor in Massey and Ghana remaining in this competition. Losing 5-0 to Japan in their opening match could, after all, have resulted in a crumbling of confidence, morale and unity. Instead, as this mature and confident

managed to do enough. I picked up an injury just before the qualifiers but I stayed to cheer on the team anyway and then, after going back to Canada, I returned for the pre-World Cup training camp.”

Kayza Massey 15-year-old explains, it had the opposite effect.

“If anything, we were more united after the Japan game,” she said.

“We saw that playing as individuals would get us nowhere and we made a real effort to come together and find a way to come back from that.”

Massey more than played her part, making several excellent stops in the all-important comeback win over much-fancied USA, then shutting out Paraguay to ensure qualification. But in telling her story, we have by reaching the present - skipped a chapter or two. So, before seeking her views about the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals, it was to essential to first ask: how did she become part of this team, and this tournament, in the first place? Her answer, once

again, was amazing.

“I’m a big football fan and I play for a club team in Ottawa, and it just happened that I heard this World Cup was coming up,” she explained. “I was talking to my mom about it and she said, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be cool if you could go there and play for the Ghanaian national team.’

It started as a bit of a joke but then we actually started looking into it and ended up calling the Ghana FA and asking them, ‘Would you be interested in taking a look at another goalkeeper?’

And they said, ‘Sure.

Absolutely.’

“They hadn’t seen me play though, so it was obviously down to us to fund the trip over to Accra and, because of that, I definitely felt a bit of pressure to make the team. Fortunately I

Language lessons Fate also had a further hand to play because Massey, despite winning the coaching staff’s instant approval, was not intended to travel to Jordan as Ghana’s No1 keeper. It was a late knee injury to the original first-choice, Martha Koffie Annan, which handed the 15-year-old that chance, and she has grasped it with both hands. Organising her defence and dominating her penalty area have proved to be particularly strong suits, and the ability to communicate with and marshall those in front of her is all the more impressive as most of the Ghana squad do not speak English.

“A lot of the girls speak local dialects but that’s actually not as much of a problem as you might think,” she said. “Although most of them can’t speak English, they can all understand it.

And whenever anyone doesn’t understand what I’m saying - and that’s rare - someone else in the team will pitch in and

translate. I’ve also been learning some of the local Ghanaian phrases on the field and that helps a lot. It’s been a nice bonus actually as it’s another part of the culture I’m picking up here. It’s actually been really easy communicating with my team-mates and everyone in the squad has been so welcoming and friendly to me.

“The whole thing, playing in a World Cup, has just been an exceptional experience and I’m really enjoying myself. I just hope we can stay until the final now. It won’t be easy, especially against Korea DPR in the next round. We saw how good Japan are and fully expect the Koreans to be just as tough. But we’ve learned during this tournament how to adjust our game to these different styles of play and I’m sure we’ll come up with a plan that will allow us to compete better this time.”

Odds will still be long on Ghana prevailing, and longer still on them fulfilling Massey’s target of reaching the final. But even if the Black Maidens surprise everyone by going on to lift the trophy, it will merely add another fantastic passage to the astonishing life story of their 15-year-old keeper.

Source: FIFA.com

Mississippi: Call for investigation over 'noose put on black student' A rights group in the US state of Mississippi has demanded a federal hate crime investigation after the family of a black high school student said white students put a noose around his neck.

The alleged incident took place during a break in football practice, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

As many as four students are believed to have been involved in the case.

The parents say they have not been told if the school is taking action.

The alleged victim, a second-year student football player at Stone High School in Wiggins, has not been identified.

He has since returned to school and football prac-

tice.

Names and ages of the students accused have also not been released, but reports say they are all under 17.

In the 13 October incident, the noose was “yanked backward” while on the student’s neck as the group was in the locker room, Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi NAACP, said.

“No child should be walking down the hall or in a locker room and be accosted with a noose around their neck,” he told reporters.

“This is 2016, not 1916.

This is America. This is a place where children should go to school and feel safe in their environment.”

The incident has echoes

of Mississippi’s past when the lynching of black people by whites was still a frequent occurrence.

The state has struggled with racial division and is the only one in the US that still incorporates the Confederate battle emblem on its state flag.

He added, in an interview with ESPN, that the student was not physically harmed but was “terrified” by the incident.

Mr. Johnson also said the parents were advised against filing a police report, because the father of one of the alleged assailants was a former law enforcement officer, the Associated Press reported.

But Capt Ray Boggs of Stone County Sheriff’s Department disputed

AP Image caption Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi NAACP, talks to the media alongside Stacey (centre) and Hollis Payton, parents of the alleged victim this, saying his advice was that pursuing criminal charges could result

in hard feelings among students that could make the teenager’s life harder

at school, AP added.

The school has not reacted. BBC News

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Retired four-star general admits leaking top-secret info to media

Washington, D.C. (CNN) The former vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff pled guilty in federal court Monday, admitting he lied to the FBI when questioned about whether he provided two journalists with top secret information in 2012.

Retired four-star Gen. James Cartwright sat quietly with his attorney, former White House Counsel Gregory Craig, as Assistant US Attorney Leo J. Wise described the facts underlying the single charge of making false statements to federal investigators.

Cartwright, who became vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2007, signed more than 36 nondisclosure agreements related to Department of Defense programs during his tenure, the government said. Cartwright retired in 2011, but kept his top secret security clearance.

After his retirement,

Cartwright again signed a “Classified Information Non-Disclosure Agreement,” which included warnings “that unauthorized disclosure ... by me could cause damage or irreparable injury to the United States or could be used to advantage by a foreign nation,” according to the government’s court filing detailing the charge against him.

In 2012, investigators showed Cartwright classified information, including top-secret information, in a book by David Sanger, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, but Cartwright denied providing the material to Sanger, the government said. The government did not reveal the title of Sanger’s book. He has written two books on US foreign policy, the second of which was published in 2012 and titled, “Confront and

Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power.”

Read More Cartwright similarly told investigators that he had not provided classified information to Daniel Klaidman, then at Newsweek.

“So you are pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty?” asked US District Court Judge Leon.

“Yes, sir,” Cartwright answered.

As CNN has previously reported, Cartwright has been under federal investigation for providing classified information to reporters since 2013.

While the charge of making false statements to federal investigators carries a five-year maximum sentence, C a r t w r i g h t ’s p l e a agreement states that he should face no more than six months in prison.

CNN

Police chief group issues apology to minorities (CNN)The head of a major international law enforcement organization on Monday apologized for “the actions of the past and the role that our profession has p l a y e d i n s o c i e t y ’s historical mistreatment of communities of color.”

International Association of Chiefs of Police President, Terrence M. Cunningham, s truck a c o nciliator y to ne , acknowledging the deepseated, generational mistrust between minorities and the police.

Cunningham, speaking at a meeting of the group in San Diego, said law enforcement’s history is “replete with examples of bravery, self-sacrifice and service to the community.”

But Cunningham said at the same, “the history of policing has had darker periods.”

“There have been times when law enforcement o ff i c e r s b e c a u s e o f the laws enacted by federal, state and local governments have been the face of oppression to far too many of our fellow citizens.

Read More

In the past, the laws adopted by our society have required police officers to perform many unpalatable tasks, such as ensuring legalized discrimination or even denying the basic rights of citizenship to many of our fellow Americans,” Cunningham said.

Apology ‘the first step’ Cunningham, chief of police in Wellesley, Massachusetts, added: “We must forge a path that allows us to move beyond our history and identify common solutions to better protect our communities. For our part, the first step in this process is for the law enforcement profession and the IACP to acknowledge and apologize for the actions of the past and the role that our profession has played in society’s historical mistreatment of communities of color.”

Cunningham’s remarks come at a tense moment in the history of relations between law enforcement and many communities across the United States.

Activists and others have

decried the shooting of unarmed black men at the hands of police.

Protests have erupted in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago and elsewhere over shooting deaths.

Names such as Philando Castile, a black man fatally shot in a traffic stop in July in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Walter Scott, another black man shot by a police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, have become rallying cries for those who say police reform is needed.

Wells Fargo employee suspected of fraud The Marietta Police Department is urging customers to monitor their bank accounts after officers said they caught a Wells Fargo employee committing fraud using information from multiple accounts.

Kwasi Adadevoh, 24, of Marietta, was arrested after an undercover officer spotted him approaching a Wells Fargo ATM in gloves, a mask and a hooded sweatshirt, police Officer Brittany Wallace said Tuesday.

The alleged incident happened in the 600 block of Roswell Street about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 28.

“The male appeared to make a transaction and sprint back to a vehicle that was parked 100 yards away,” Wallace said.

The officer called for backup, and a marked police car pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car, Wallace said.

They found several bank documents in the passenger seat and detained Adadevoh.

“Upon

search

of

Kwasi Adadevoh Adadevoh’s vehicle it was determined that he was an employee at a Wells Fargo Bank and he was committing fraudulent activity with multiple accounts by using Wells Fargo customer’s information,” Wallace said.

Police also found amphetamines and marijuana in the vehicle, Wallace said.

Adadevoh was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of amphetamines, drugs not in original container and

possession of controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. He had the 11 amphetamine pills and one Xanax pill near Park Street Elementary School, police said in an arrest warrant.

Adadevoh was released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on Sept. 29 on $8,000 bond, sheriff ’s office spokesman Robert Quigley said.

T h e We l l s F a r g o Fraud Department is investigating the alleged fraud. AJC.com

Words ‘meaningless’ if nothing changes Police body cam videos and cell phone videos have captured some of these deaths, or the aftermath.

Cunningham’s remarks were met with praise, but also acknowledgment that this is just the first step.

In a tweet, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said: “Some next steps: require anti-bias training; discipline officers who engage in bias policing.”

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Ghana earned over $3bn from petroleum revenue Ghana earned $3.208 billion from petroleum revenue for the production of 161.7 million barrels of crude oil between 2011 and 2015.

Between 2011 and 2015, he said, the ABFA received $1.42 billion; the GHF, $249.92 million; the GSF, $604.35 million and the GNPC, $968.8 million.

Although the highest number of barrels, 37.4 million, was recorded in 2015, Ghana received the lowest revenue of $396,171,909 in that year as a result of the fall in the international market price.

He said while the GHF was for future generations and managed by the Bank of Ghana, it was to cushion the budget when there was a drop in oil prices or when the country’s oil resource was exhausted.

In 2015, oil prices fell by as much as 35 per cent on the international market.

In 2014, Ghana earned $978.017 million from the production of 37.201 million barrels of oil, while in 2013, it generated $846.7 million from the production of 35.5 million barrels.

Justifying the GNPC’s 30 per cent share in the total revenue, Mr Dwamena said the GNPC reinvested some of its funds back into oil production and embarked on research for onshore oil discovery and capacity building.

Priority areas

Oil revenue accruing to Ghana in 2012 amounted to $541.6 million from the export of 26.3 million barrels, as against $444.1 million from the production of 24.1 million barrels in 2011.

Distribution of oil revenue The Finance and Administration Manager of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Mr Isaac Dwamena, who made this known at a forum in Accra yesterday, said oil production started in the latter part of 2010 and 1,181,088 barrels were produced.

The forum was organised to brief the members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on how revenue from oil was spent.

In his presentation, Mr Dwamena explained that in 2015, revenue from oil formed five per cent of the total government revenue; in 2014 it formed 10 per cent; 2013, eight per cent; 2012, six per cent and 2011, seven per cent.

Explaining how petroleum revenue was distributed under the Petroleum Management Act (PMA), he said it was divided into the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF), Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The breakdown The ABFA received 40 per cent, he said, while the GHF received nine per cent, with the GSF getting 21 per cent and the GNPC receiving 30 per cent.

Regarding the priority areas where the revenue from oil production was used, he explained that 12 areas had been selected, out of which the government selected four areas for development for three years.

Outlining some of the sectors that had benefitted from the oil revenue, he mentioned road/highway projects, GH¢745.009 million; water resources, works and housing, GH¢72,156 million; educational infrastructure, GH¢70,214 million; transport infrastructure, GH¢105,066 million, and agricultural modernisation, GH¢328,784 million.

A former Chairman of PIAC, Major Daniel Ablorh–Quarcoo, in his remarks, said petroleum revenue needed to be limited to few projects to enable the citizenry to appreciate its use better.

He said using the revenue to tackle many national problems at the same time had weakened the potential impact on the socio-economic development of Ghana.

In their suggestions, most of the participants urged the government to invest the oil revenue in the railway sector to facilitate trade and movement.

The PIAC is established under Section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (Act 815) with the objectives of monitoring and evaluating compliance with the act by the government and other relevant institutions in the management and use of petroleum revenue, providing a platform for public debate on spending prospects of petroleum revenues, in line with development priorities, among other things.

The Elmina Urban Health Center Maternity WardCommissioned

cont’d from pg. 1 come the premise for events leading to the commissioning. Unfortunately, Monica’s story is one that is echoed in many underserved areas in Ghana where women in labor are either forced to give birth on bare concrete floors or turned

away from hospitals for lack of beds or are inadequately cared for during their pregnancies and in the days leading up to their deliveries. In an effort to see maternal healthcare improved, and maternal mortality in underserved commu-

nities minimized and eventually eradicated, GWAG decided to adopt the ward, which had already been refurbished by the KEEA Municipal Assembly but was sitting empty due to a lack of funds. What a difference a year makes!

17

Africa could be the great economic success of this century Over the last eight years, America has written a new chapter in our relationship with Africa. Under President Obama’s leadership, we have worked to transition our support for the continent from aid to trade and empowerment. We have started to build a full, equal, advanced economic partnership — a partnership that holds as much promise for African countries as it does for America. This week’s U.S.-Africa Business Forum is a key component of that new partnership.

four years. The workforce is projected to be the largest on the planet by 2040.

The continent could make up a quarter of the global economy by the year 2050.

African markets are also poised to benefit from several long-term trends, including the fastest-growing middle class in the world, an expanding urban population, and increasing access to mobile technology and the internet. By the end of this century, some estimates predict that 40 percent of the world’s Africa is primed to be one of the great youth will be African, which would economic success stories of this cen- be an unprecedented concentration of tury. Incomes are rising. Investments young consumers. in infrastructure and technology are accelerating growth across a range of industries. Africa today is home to 700 Today, on both sides of the Atlantic, companies with revenues greater than there is a clear desire to deepen our $500 million. Consumer spending is on ties of trade and investment. Doing so track to climb to $1 trillion over the next will spur growth and support new jobs cont’d on pg. 18

Pupils exchange sex for sanitary pads - GES reveals Four hundred and fourteen (414) teenage girls in Basic Schools in 26 districts of the Eastern region were impregnated in the last two academic years while exchanging sex for sanitary pads, the Girl Child Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service has revealed.

Out of the total number, 229 got pregnant in the 2014/2015 academic year while 185 girls were impregnated in 2015/2016 academic year.

In 2015/2016 academic year, only 50 of these pregnant pupils took part in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.

Coordinator for Girl Child Education, Mrs. Cynthia Anim, revealed this in an interview with Starr News’ Eastern regional Correspondent Kojo Ansah, on the sidelines of a meeting by the Eastern Regional Child Protection Committee in Koforidua on Thursday, supported and facilitated by Plan International Ghana, an International Child Centered Community D e v e l o p m e n t Organization.

According to Mrs. Anim, the cause of these menace can be linked to poverty.

“These pregnant school children told us that their parents cannot afford

some basic needs such us buying of sanitary pads, panties, books and other basic things so they take monies from young men to take care of their needs which ends up in sexual exchanges.”

She indicated the Girl Child Education Unit in the region has intensified sensitization and awareness creation on the subject matter for both pupils and parents but, however, appealed to government to provide budget allocation to the unit since their programmes are only dependent on Support from Plan International Ghana which has ended.

Starrfmonline.com

The Eastern regional

Service suspend checking of vehicle documents, license et al Even though the memo contained no reason for this directive, it requested that “MTTD personnel are to be used only for traffic management duties.”

Even though the memo contained no reason for this directive, it requested that “MTTD personnel are to be used only for t r a ff i c m a n a g e m e n t duties.”

The Ghana Police Command has ordered that its personnel suspend motor-checks on the country’s roads with immediate effect.

The Police Wireless Message which was meant for the top hierarchy of the service also indicated that the Highway Patrol Units are to check for other things but not vehicle documents and driver’s license.

This was contained in an internal memo seen

by Pulse.com.gh. The memo was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Ransford Moses Ninson.

“All motor checks in the country are to be suspended with immediate effect.”

“The highway patrol units are only to check for arms/ ammunition and drugs.

No vehicle documents and drivers licenses are to be inspected by highway patrol.”

“Regional /Divisional /District and Unit Commanders are to ensure that no permits are issued for motor check duties,” the memo added.

Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur explained on Citi-FM what the directive was: “What we are suspending is checking documentation of vehicles, the tyres of vehicles, your wiper, your tail light and others,” he said.

On Joy FM he has also said this should help regulate the traffic flow in most congested parts of the country, but routine crime checks will remain in force. Pulse.com.gh

18 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Wells Fargo CEO to step down amid fake 21 schoolgirls account scandal freed by NEW YORK -- Wells Fargo’s embattled CEO John Stumpf is stepping down as the nation’s second-largest bank is roiled by a scandal over its sales practices.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and the panel’s senior Democrat, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, said Wednesday that Stumpf’s retirement doesn’t answer important questions.

The San Francisco bank said Stumpf is retiring effective immediately and also relinquishing his title as chairman. He won’t be receiving severance pay and the bank announced earlier that he will forfeit $41 million in stock awards.

Wells Fargo’s chief operating officer, Tim Sloan, will succeed Stumpf as CEO and join the company’s board. Sloan has been with Wells Fargo for 29 years.

Stephen Sanger, the bank’s lead director, will serve as the board’s non-executive chairman.

Stumpf’s end at Wells Fargo comes a little over a month after the bank was fined by California and federal regulators $185 million over its sales practices.

The regulators alleged employees trying to meet aggressive sales targets opened bank and credit card accounts, moved money between those accounts and even created fake email addresses to sign customers up for online banking -- all without customer authorization. Debit cards were issued and activated, as well as PINs created, without customers’ knowledge.

“I wish I could snap my fingers and make everything all right again, but it’s going to take time,” said Sloan said in an interview late Wednesday. “We are going to make it right by our customers and we are going to work to win that trust back.”

Stumpf, a 34-year veteran of the bank who took over as CEO in 2007, had previously gained acclaim for navigating Wells Fargo through the financial crisis and keeping it free of scandal. But he came under withering pressure over the alleged misconduct, believed to have gone on at the bank for years. Some 5,300 lower-level employees were fired.

“While I have been deeply committed and focused on managing the company through this period, I have decided it is best for the company that I step aside,” he said in a prepared statement Wednesday.

Among Stumpf’s critics, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told him at a Senate Banking Committee hearing last month that he should resign and “give back the money you took while the scam was going on.”

News of Stumpf’s departure, however, did little to quell some lawmakers’ anger over the affair or their demands for information from the company on how harmed customers and employees will be made whole.

Africa could be the great economic success of this century

cont’d from pg. 16 across both the U.S. and the countries of Africa.

But with only 2% of total U.S. exports going to Africa, we still have a long way to go before we fully realize the promise and potential of our economic relationship.

The U.S.-Africa Business Forum was created two years ago to accelerate our progress in realizing that potential. The forum brings together heads of states and business leaders for a conversation focused on strengthening our commercial ties. So far, the results of this dialogue have exceeded our expectations.

Today, the billions in investments that were announced during the 2014 forum are on track to be completed — investments in everything from manufacturing and worker training to clean energy and IT modernization. There have also been private-sector deals in aviation, banking, con-

struction and transportation. In addition, the Department of Commerce has doubled its presence in Africa to better serve American firms looking to access markets and create business partnerships, and last September conducted the largest trade mission to Africa in the history of our country.

At this year’s forum, the scope of that progress has widened to include billions more in new partnerships and investments in areas critical to Africa’s future, like technology and the digital economy. Investments in thermal and wind power in Senegal, urban solar farms in South Africa, TV white space and lowcost bandwidth to rural areas of Kenya, and the building of a metro-fiber network in Liberia are just some of the exciting announcements being made this week.

Other programs are help-

ing to spur these and other new investments. The Commerce Department’s Power Africa initiative has helped fuel power-generation projects that are essential for economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa. Trade Africa has increased trade both within the continent and between Africa and the world. And the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act for another 10 years will help more African products reach American customers duty-free.

At this year’s U.S.-Africa Business Forum, we look forward to laying the groundwork for the next chapter — one that sees our commercial connections deepen and our trade partnerships mature.

With every deal signed and every investment made, we build bridges between our businesses, we open new lines of communication between our governments, and we create new opportunities for our citizens.

“We are still waiting for answers as to how Wells Fargo plans to right its wrongs against customers and the lowpaid employees who weren’t given the benefit of a retirement package when they were fired for refusing to cheat,” Brown said in a statement.

Stumpf earned $19.3 million last year.

But he and Carrie Tolstedt, the executive who ran the retail banking division, will forfeit millions.

Tolstedt announced in July that she would retire from the bank this year and had been expected to leave with as much as $125 million in salary, stock options and other compensation. She was stripped of $19 million of her stock awards, and her departure was made immediate.

The revelations have sparked investigations by federal agencies. The bank’s independent directors have also launched their own investigation.

Wells Fargo is scheduled to report its quarterly results Friday morning. In after-hours trading, its stock rose 76 cents, or nearly 1.7 per cent, to $46.08.

Cp24

Islamic extremists after 2 years

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria -- Twenty-one of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamic extremists more than two years ago have been freed in negotiations, officials said Thursday.

Some 197 girls remain captive, though it is not known how many of them may have died.

The freed girls, the first to be released as a result of government action, are in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services, Nigeria’s secret intelligence agency, according to presidential spokesman Garba Shehu.

He said their release was negotiated between the government and Boko Haram in talks brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government. He said negotiations will continue for the release of the other students.

Boko Haram long has offered to free the girls in exchange for detained leaders of the group. It was unclear if an exchange has taken place, but several news organizations in Nigeria suggested a handful of senior Boko Haram militants had been released. cont’d on pg 21

Food For Life

Atlanta Ghanaian News

19

Bringing the Gospel to our Community By: Rev. Joseph Osei-Amoah, Toronto

“Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56 NKJV) Luke quoted the above statement of the Lord Jesus about the Pharisees and the Sadducees who claimed to be the spiritual leaders of His time who would look at conditions of the sky and accurately predicted the weather, but could not identify “the signs of the times” concerning Jesus’ identity as the expected Messiah. From the Old Testament times, the all-knowing God had been disappointed by His people who could not discern the signs of the times in which they lived in order to act properly.

With a heavy heart the Lord God declared, “My people are destroyed

Discerning the times and the seasons

for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

(Hosea 4:6 NKJV) It is sad that many of us who claim to be followers of Christ do not have time Rev. Joseph Osei-Amoah to study God’s word to strengthen our faith and to which occurred in recent improve our relationship years in the far Eastern sea with Him. Psalm 119 which killed thousands reveals the importance of people and causing of the word of God in the terrible destruction. daily life of His people. Verse 3b of Psalm 46 God’s word produces also speaks of “mountains faith without which no shake with its swelling”, one can please Him here the writer describes (Hebrews 11:6). volcanic eruptions which We are living in are increasing in greater a time when “strange” frequency in many parts things are happening all of the world. Another over the world. Natural sign of the times in which d i s a s t e r s m e n t i o n e d we life is the increase in in Psalm 46 such as warfare. The First World “mountains been carried War, 1914-1918 was into the midst of the sea” described as the “war (verse 2). In recently to end all wars”, barely telecast, a land slide 21 years later in 1939 sent a huge portion of a the Second World War mountain into the waters. started, ending in 1945 The psalmist continues to with more destruction of described the sea as “its life and property than the waters roar and troubled”, former. Armed conflicts (verse 3a), this is a vivid continue to occur every description of Tsunami time in some part of the

world. When the disciples of the Lord Jesus asked Him about future events that would precede His second coming, He said in Matthew 24: 6: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars….”

At the moment many nations are concerned with armed conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, Nigeria, East Africa and other parts of the world in the name of religion. It is unfortunate

that some people are strongly convinced that those who do not believe as they do must not be allowed to live according the teachings of their faith. In contrast, when James and John, disciples of the Lord Jesus, asked permission from Him to call fire from heaven to destroy the people of a Samaritan village who rejected the Lord, He sternly rebuke them and told them that they were

not aware of the kind of spirit who was influencing their thoughts-(Luke 9:51-56). It is sad that in our generation, many young people are offering themselves as instruments of destruction in the name of God. The Lord Jesus predicted our days in John 16:2: “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” It is cont’d on pg. 21

20 Atlanta Ghanaian News

Sports Rendevous

Kwesi Nyantakyi wins FIFA Council seat Kwesi Nyantakyi swept onto the FIFA Council with on Thursday when securing 31 votes in a very close race in Cairo.

The 47-year, who is the President of the Ghana Football Association, finished second in the race which was won the CAF vice-president Almamy Kabele who had 37 votes.

Nyantakyi beat Madagascar’s Ahmad by just one vote as the man from Southern Africa secured 30 votes.

The GFA president becomes the first Ghanaian to serve on world football’s powerful cabinet.

He was standing the election to the new-look FIFA Council where Africa has been given two additional seats in FIFA’s cabinet.

The expansive field of candidates for just two seats is a departure from previous contests to decide Africa’s representation on the all-powerful FIFA executive, which have previously been painstakingly choreographed by long-standing GFA Chief Kwesi Nyantakyi president Issa Hayatou.

FIFA’s cabinet was significantly expanded as part of reforms introduced by new president Gianni Infantino.

But this time, with his own future uncertain after almost three decades at the helm of African football, he allowed his lieutenants to scrap among The 36-member FIFA each other for the posts.

Council will hold its first meeting in Zurich on Oc- The newly elected memtober 13-14. bers will only sit on the council until March next Its replaces the tarnished year when another round 24-member executive of elections will be held committee and takes re- at the 2017 CAF Consponsibility for setting the gress in Addis Ababa on overall strategic direction March 17. of world football’s gov- GHANAsoccernet.com erning body.

Bissah’s scholarship is ‘clean’ Lutterodt A former chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association George Lutterodt says Martha Bissah is happily studying at the Norfork State University and a claim that the scholarship has been suspended is fallacious.

Lutterodt’s reaction is at the back of some negative media reports which that the Norfork State University had suspended the athlete’s scholarship because she presented fake educational documents.

Bissah who won Gold at the 2014 Youth Olympics in China is on a full scholarship worth $32,000 at the Norfolk University in Virginia, USA and Lutterodt believes these falsehoods will force the young athlete to naturalize for another country.

“If anybody has any proof or evidence of the scholarship of Martha Bissah that it has been suspended let him or her bring it forward. You can contact the likes of Aziz Zakari et al who are all old students of Norfolk University.

FIFA fighting racism ‘seriously’ despite ending task force MANCHESTER, E n g l a n d - - F I FA’s abolition of its antiracism task force was denounced as a shameful betrayal on Monday as the governing body went on the defensive to reaffirm its commitment to fighting discrimination.

The Associated Press revealed Sunday that the anti-racism group was being dismantled after FIFA decided that its mission had been completed after three years.

Kick It Out , English soccer ’s antidiscrimination organization, said it was “perplexed” by FIFA’s decision, given the World Cup is being staged in 2018 in Russia “which is notorious for racism and abusive activities towards minorities.”

Jordanian federation president Prince Ali said he found it “incredibly worrying” that the task force was being scrapped given the “very real and apparent” discrimination problem that remains in soccer.

“This is a disgrace and this girl will never ever run again for Ghana because of the way they are playing with the athlete’s life”, he told Starr Sports. “The fight against racism is far from over and the The Youth Olympian left the shores of notion that the current Ghana last month to pursue her higher FIFA leadership believes education in athletics.ghanasportson- that the ‘task force’s line.com recommendations have been implemented’ is shameful,” said Prince A l i , a f o r m e r F I FA presidential candidate and FIFA vice-president.

“Now the idea that FIFA believes that it’s the right time to disband its anti-racism task force is ridiculous.”

Black Starlets draw hosts Guinea & Cameroon

Prince Ali believes the task force should have been empowered to work further with soccer authorities and governments to use the sport to tackle discrimination in wider society.

The Black Starlets of Ghana have been semi-finals of the tournament. drawn in the same group with hosts Madagascar, Guinea and Cameroon in Ghana qualified to the tournament by the 2017 African U-17 Championships. after beating Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in the qualifying matches.

A draw for the final tournament which was held on Monday, 24 October at the Ghana could qualify to the 2017 FIFA CAF Headquarters in Cairo, saw the U-17 World Cup to staged in India if two-time competition winners placed they manage make it to the semi finals of the tournament. in Group A. Defending Champions Mali are in The tournament will be begin from April Group B with Congo, Angola and Niger 2-16 in Madagascar. as all eight teams seek for a place in the Source: Ghanafa.org

those values.”

The task force was established in 2013 by then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter and headed by Jeffrey Webb, a vicepresident of world soccer’s governing body until he was arrested in 2015 as part of the American investigation into soccer corruption.

We b b , w h o p l e a d e d guilty to racketeering charges, was replaced in September 2015 as task force chairman by Congolese federation president Constant Omari.

“The reality, as with many programs within FIFA, is that the task force was never given real support since its conception and its role was more about FIFA’s image than actually tackling the issues,” Prince Ali said.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura fended off the criticism, insisting her organization remains committed to combatting discrimination in the world’s most popular sport.

“The task force had a very specific mandate that to our knowledge it has fully fulfilled,” Samoura said at the SoccerEx convention.

“Its recommendations have now been turned into a program and a strong one.”

Samoura was appointed in May as the organization’s first female and first African top administrator o f w o r l d s o c c e r ’s governing body as part of the overhaul under Gianni Infantino. The Senegalese former United Nations official said her “presence here is a strong testimony that for FIFA, it is a zero tolerance policy” on discrimination and it is an inclusive organization.

“There is still so much work to do, and FIFA must show leadership, take responsibility for reform and be accountable if change isn’t put into practice,” Prince Ali said.

Responding to criticism of the task force being shut down, Samoura said, “We can live with perceptions, but we are taking very seriously our role as the world governing body of football to fight discrimination.”

“Transparency, trust, credibility and integrity are the values that should run through everything FIFA does. Not tackling the plague of racism and discrimination properly is an absolute betrayal of

Kick It Out urged FIFA to publish a “clear and concise strategy” on its fight against discrimination and promotion of equality.

It was one of three organizations in the running for FIFA’s new diversity award , which was won by Indian organization Slum Soccer at a ceremony in Manchester dominated by questions to Samoura about the anti-racism task force.

Although racism is no longer rampant in English soccer, 402 incidents of discrimination were recorded by Kick It Out last season -- up more than 40 per cent from two years earlier, although reporting mechanisms have been enhanced.

“There is clear evidence that discrimination, prejudice and hate are on the rise in developed societies, particularly in Europe but also in different forms across the world,” Kick It Out said in a statement. “Football should seek to lead the way in combating such intrusions.

“It is clear that organizations that are actively campaigning against racism and discrimination will be deeply disheartened to hear news of the disbandment, as they look to FIFA for leadership in a game which is so popular across the world.”

The pressing problems for FIFA are in Russia with less than nine months until the country stages the Confederations Cup, the warm-up event for the 2018 World Cup. Earlier this month, E u r o p e a n s o c c e r ’s governing body, UEFA, ordered Russian club Rostov to close a section of a stadium for a Champions League game as punishment for the racist behaviour of fans.

The most recent research from the Moscow-based SOVA Center and the UEFA-affiliated FARE Network reported a surge in the number of racist displays by Russian soccer fans, with most cases going unpunished. Researchers logged 92 incidents of discriminatory displays and chants by Russian fans in and around stadiums in the 2014-15 season, compared to a total of 83 for the previous two seasons combined.

The Associated Press

Atlanta Ghanaian News

Ghanaian striker wins Chicago Fire Best Player, Top scorer’s awards Accam had the 80th minute game winner over the New England Revolution on Oct. 16. The Ghanaian international also scored in all of the Fire’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, including a brace in the Fire’s 2-1 win over Columbus Crew SC in the Round of 16 on June 28. Accam’s team-high 14 goals across all competitions netted him the team’s Golden Boot for the second year.

Black Stars striker, David Accam has been named as the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner of Chicago Fires during the club’s annual team awards.

The 26-year-old scored nine goals and provided five assists in 24 league games in the Major League Soccer to win a back to back Most Valuable Player of the season award at the club.

Johan Kappelhof on the other hand has been named Defensive Player of the Year. Tied with Jonathan Campbell for a team-high 33 league appearances, Kappelhof made 85 clearances, 17 blocks and 113 interceptions during his first MLS campaign. The Dutch defender additionally appeared in all four of the Fire’s Open Cup matches as the side reached the semifinal round.

View a sample of Kappelhof’s 2016 highlights allSports.com.gh

Discerning the times and the seasons cont’d from pg. 19 disheartening to see on the television precious lives destroyed on the battlefields of the world in the guise of offering God service. Thank God, millions of young people are giving their lives to the Lord Jesus every day and some are paying the price of following the Lord Jesus with long prison terms. What should be our immediate action as believers in Christ?

We must understand our enemies are not human but evil spirit beings identified by the Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6: 10-13: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the

Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” As believers in Christ we are soldiers on the battlefield. Our greatest weapon is the word of God saturated accompanied by the

prayer under the anointing of the Holy Spirit which the Lord commands us to share with our family members, neighbors and co-workers who are yet to trust the Lord Jesus as their Savior. We are expected to live by the word of God with a healthy marital relationship so we can positively influence our children to trust in the Lord. In the meantime, let us pray for divine intervention in current armed conflicts throughout the world; for those who have rejected the word of God and for all Christian parents to ensure that their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is passed on to the next generation share.

21 schoolgirls freed by Islamic extremists after 2 years cont’d from pg 18 The ICRC in the past had tried to negotiate a swap, which failed.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed said last month that negotiations last year ended when Boko Haram demanded a ransom of $5.2 billion for the girls’ freedom.

The abduction of 276 schoolgirls in April 2014 and the government’s failure to quickly free them has caused international outrage and brought Boko Haram, Nigeria’s home-grown

Islamic extremist group, to the world’s attention.

Dozens of the girls escaped on their own, but most remain missing.

In May, one of the girls, Amina Ali Nkeki, escaped on her own. Shortly after her release Nkeki told her family that some of the kidnapped girls died of illness and that others, like her, have been married to fighters and are pregnant or already have babies, her mother told the press.

Since then Nkeki has been in the custody of the secret service where she is receiving medical care and trauma counseling, according to President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

21

Community Concerns

Doris Osei Bonsu, Crisis Counselor, Toronto

How Insecurity Can Ruin a Marriage

“I’m driving him away, I just know I am,” she sniffed. “It’s just that I love him so much and I can’t bear the thought of losing him!” Kwasi had been badly hurt before by her former cheating fiancé. Once bitten, twice shy. Part of her knew that her new man was decent, caring, and honest, but the emotional bit of Emma felt that it was “just a matter of time” before things went wrong.”If he’s quiet I actually start panicking!

I’m thinking: What’s he planning? Is he going to finish with me? Has he met someone else? If I don’t know exactly where he is I get suspicious. He constantly has to reassure me. What can I do?”Insecurity spoils relationships.

Insecurity drives people to become too ‘clingy’ or needy and this creates problems.Insecurity can strain your marriage and cause it to fail if you don’t take steps to resolve the feelings of insecurity, I believe that some levels of insecurity are normal at the beginning of a relationship, but after the relationship settles into a pattern, insecurity should become less of an issue.

Jealousy and Suspicion Insecurity can cause you to see problems where none exist, leading to suspicions that the partner is engaged in activities he shouldn’t be, such as cheating or hiding something or planning to leave. In reality, your spouse often isn’t doing anything to warrant the suspicions. Distinguish between fiction and reality, realizing that many of your fears will never materialize. Suspicion is sometimes justified if you choose partners who aren’t reliable. If your feelings are unfounded, focusing on the good things in your relationship will help.

reality can help you target what’s wrong.

You can also explain to your partner that sometimes you need validation and let her help you see what she sees in you.

Believe that your partner’s support and love are unconditional until proven otherwise.

Clingy and Needy A clingy and needy partner can make you want to run away to get some space. Your partner needs the freedom to be and do things on his own, and he can’t if you demand that you always know where he is and what he is doing.

This can occur because of your need to control all aspects of the relationship.

Make peace with the unpredictability of life and the relationship, rather than trying to control everything. Find a hobby or something that you find enjoyable so you can turn your energy into something productive.

Baggage of the Past Insecurity can cause you to see visions of the past overlaid on the reality of the present. If you were hurt in the past, it’s normal to have some fears about a recurrence, but remind yourself that your current spouse is not your former partner. Don’t abandon the marriage for fear that the past could repeat itself. Instead, work at making your current relationship healthy and happy, seeking out professional help if you can’t get a handle on the problem by yourself. Don’t turn your spouse into your therapist, counselor or clinical psychologist, because it could burn her out and destroy your relationship.

Reassurance

There are normal ‘mechanisms’ to any relationship. There are ebbs and flows and mood changes, moments of intimacy and closeness and comfortable spaces.

These ebbs and flows are normal.

Wanting to be absolutely close and intimate all the time is like wanting an aeroplane to never make a sound or a movement.

Insecurity can make you anxious and cause you to constantly ask your partner to reassure you of her love and devotion.

You have to work at assuring yourself that things are fine. Challenge what you think is happening with what is really happening and calm your fears by seeing the relationship for what it is. It might not be perfect, but a clear picture of

Next time you feel insecure, ask yourself what it is you are imagining. Write it down on paper under, ‘Stuff I am making up in my head.’ Being able to distinguish between what you imagine and what is actually happening is a massive step toward self-assurance. And it is a giant step towards overcoming your constant and unnecessary feelings of insecurity.

Ghana’s Fire Chief Honoured

by New York Fire Department

The government has been criticized for keeping her isolated. The Bring Back Our Girls group cont’d rom pg. 1 and Human Rights Watch moved to greater heights and the efficiency of the h a v e a s k e d w h et h er Service enhanced through improved training and the acquisition of modern equipment.

Nkeki now is a detainee of the government.

At a ceremony in New York, the Fire Department MSN News Chief presented a symbolic firefighting helmet and a miniature fire tender to the CFO Gaisie. GhanaLinks

Call Us First Atlanta Ghanaian News 678-651-0322

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