CAMPAIGN WHILE A NATION BREWS: JE SUIS NIGERIA?
SUMMARY CAMPAIGN WHILE A NATION BREWS: JE SUIS NIGERIA? - 02p INTRODUCING GHANA - 04p PHILIP EFIONG: THE FORGOTTEN HERO OF THE BIAFRAN WAR ? - 36p CONFRONTING NIGERIA’S POLITICAL PROBLEM THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA - 38p DEMOCRACY WATCH GROUP (DWG) - 39p
Heavy siren blared at the background as I made the call. On the screen of my television however was the repeated news of how a ten year old girl was used as a suicide bomber in Nigeria. Then the next headline on CNN, “2,000 killed in Northern Nigeria in fresh Boko Haram attack”.
Candid Assessment of U.S. Response to the Ebola Crisis at Home and Abroad - 40p
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Editorial HAPPY NEW YEAR Welcome to 2015 and to the first AfricaWorld edition of the new year. As we wish ourselves the best, we cannot forget you - our esteemed readers. In 2015, we hope to continue opening new frontiers. Kudos to you that support us through readership and encouraging electronic mails. We can only assure you that we shall not relent in our efforts to serve and inform you, which form the basics of our existence. We have set aside the pains of 2014, including the break-in into our office, stealing our professional cameras and destroying our computers and other equipments. We are energised to prove pundits wrong as the only African and independent multicultural newspaper reaching readers around the earth from the Irish Republic. We shall keep waxing strong on-line, leading in breaking news stories as it pleases Continue on thousands of our readers, followers, fans and friends. AfricaWorld newspaper shall begin printing again before the year runs out as our finances permit. Continue on page3
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CAMPAIGN WHILE A NATION BREWS: JE SUIS NIGERIA? By Fr. Vincent Ezeo- down. SWAT team ma Arisukwu clambered on to the roof of buildOnly then did I be- ings. Armed forces come more curious united to salvage with my caller on the situation. Asthe other end of sociated Press the phone in Nige- captured the situria: “Why the heavy ation thus, “With siren behind you?” explosions and “Buhari came for a gunfire, French secampaign rally in curity forces ended Owerri (South East) a three-day terror today. So there is rampage around siren all over”, she Paris, killing the responded. And two al-Qaidashe went on, “Jona- linked brothers than is also doing who staged a murhis own rally either derous rampage in Lagos or so. It’s at a satirical newspolitical campaign paper as well as all over. That’s the an associate who season”. I was com- seized a kosher pletely benumbed supermarket to at these words. try to help them What I concluded escape. At least was that this is a seven people were typical case of the killed-Friday – the proverbial manthree terrorists and sion on fire whose at least four hosowner goes about tages – just days chasing little after 12 people rats. Then I spoke were massacred French, “Je suis Ni- in the newspaper geria?” attack Wednesday. The hashtag #Je- Sixteen hostages SuisCharlie went were freed Friday, viral after terrorone from the printists attacked the ing plant where Charlie Hebdo Sa- the two brothers tirical Magazine on were holed up and Wednesday, Jan.7 15 others from the in Paris, and mas- Paris grocery store”. sacred twelve edi- This was a more torial staff memof a replay of the bers. The whole Jan.5, 2013 Boston of Paris went on Marathon bombfire also following ing where U.S. sea subsequent atcurity pursued the tack whereby the Tsarnaev brothers associate terrorist to a point of no seized a kosher su- returns. permarket on Fri- Placing the Paris day, just two days attack side by side after allegedly Nigeria’s terrorist attempting to help standing, it is clear the Charlie Hebdo that France could terrorists escape. be described as a France mounted “minor” in terms of the highest surterrorist activities. veillance ever. The lives of sevenShops were closed teen people in one
terrorist attack are nothing compared to the thousands of lives lost in Nigeria since 2009 to Boko Haram insurgence. The invasion of one Charlie Hebdo office is nothing compared to the destruction and demolition of churches, mosques, hospitals, markets, schools and private properties in Nigeria in the past five years. But the haste and urgency employed in fetching out Cherif Kouachi (32), Said Kouachi (34) and Amedi Coulibaly terrorist-group by French authorities leaves much to be desired of Nigeria’s approach to Boko Haram. In a recent report published by Firstpost.com, the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria is rated as one of the largest in Africa at the moment. In a data compiled at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), at least eleven thousand one hundred (11,100), people have been killed in the Boko Haram mayhem. The data records that this accounts for almost 40 percent of the total deaths in their dataset, more than any other source of social violence. Firstpost gives a statistics as follows: 1). 2,000 estimated
dead in deadly Baga Massacre : Boko Haram destroyed at least 16 towns and villages in a major attack in northeast Nigeria, local officials said on Thursday, as President Goodluck Jonathan kicked off his campaign for re-election, AFP reported. Nigeria however has since said the number of people who lost their lives was no more than 150 and the dead included “many of the terrorists” who had attacked the town, according to the defense ministry. Nigeria has been known to underestimate death tolls to downplay the threat of Boko Haram. 2). 7,000 plus people have died in Nigeria because of the Boko Haram insurgency: According to the data more than 7,000 people have died in incidents related to the insurgency between July 2013 and June 2014. These deaths account for more than a quarter of all the recorded deaths in the past 15 years. Since January 2014 until October 2014, more than 5,000 people have died. 3). 11,200 plus Nigerians have been killed in insurgencies since 2009 : An estimated 3,120 civilian and military casualties were recorded in Afghanistan last year. In
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Iraq, 4,207 fatalities were estimated in 2011 in the wake of the surge. The worsening conflict in northern Nigeria already has suffered more casualties this year than the world’s most publicised contemporary wars. 4). 273 girls abducted from a school by Boko Haram spawning #BringBackOurGirls hashtag: Parents of 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist rebels in April said they were appealing directly to the United Nations for help after losing hope that the Nigerian government would rescue them. But international awareness of the incident took a few days and was fuelled by the Twitter accounts of several celebrities in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. US first lady Michelle Obama, singer Justin Timberlake, actors Sean Penn, Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Biel took part in the campaign, and posted their photographs next to banners reading “Real men don’t buy girls”. 5). 10 year old suicide bomber kills 19 people in market: A bomb strapped to a girl aged around 10-years-old exploded in a busy market place in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Saturday, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 20, security sources said. “The explosive devices
were wrapped around her body and the girl looked no more than 10-years-old,” a police source said. (http://m.firstpost. com/world/bokoharam-by-numbers-no-jesuischarlie-momentfor-2000-killed-innigeria-2045879. html) All these leave great questions in the current sociopolitical situation in Nigeria. Does Nigeria really value the dignity of life of her citizens? If so, should there be politicking at this time? Should the loss of 2,000 lives of its citizens, or even 150, as presented from official sources, and even if it is 5lives, not be enough to warrant suspending all political campaigns and activities in a nation bedeviled by terrorism and sorrow? That an innocent ten year old girl was vested in a suicide garb and rolled out as football to its point of detonation should have sent out chills to the entire nation and her scrambling money cum power hungry politicians. From the look of things, Nigerian politicians wouldn’t mind campaigning to corpses if all her citizens were killed in a behemoth. Our hearts are really aching for a country once cherished and loved. The citizens are crying. The parents are almost crippled. The aged suffer heart attacks. Children are shaking. Everyone
is scared to bone marrows, uncertain of the next moment. Paris rose up to say, Je suis Charlie. France and the entire Europe wore black to mourn twelve souls. Flags were lowered in respect of the dead. Paris echoed their love for Charlie Hebdo publishers because they were cherished citizens. Can the citizens of Nigeria boldly say, Je susi Nigeria? Can they say Je suis to a nation that doesn’t protect her own? Can they say Je suis to a nation that neglects the value of her citizens? Can they say Je suis to a nation that doesn’t have regard for her dead ones? Can they say Je suis to a nation that cannot say Je suis to her own citizens? Ironically, everyone is afraid of confronting the situation. There is pretense in the land. It is as if nothing is happening even in grave situation of massacre. The president pretends and re-launches a come-back campaign. His opponents pretend and claim they will remedy the mess. But no one is addressing the current situation. We’re sitting on top of a mess while promising decency. The leaders would have shot out the international community from knowing the gravity of Nigeria’s situation if not for social media. They would have covered up everything
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if it is possible provided that would enhance political campaigns and secure their selfish political interests. Otherwise, defense ministry won’t be saying only 150 lives were lost while media sources say 2,000. What a discrepancy, or ridicule at worst. Who are the victims by the way? The voters, the votes or the voted! Who will vote? Whom do they vote for? I guess the dead will rise to cast their votes this time around. Let Boko Haram kill us. Let them terrorize the whole nation. Maybe both of them are all campaigns by the way- political campaign and terrorism campaign. Let the stronger party rule the nation. Je suis Nigeria?
Editorial HAPPY NEW YEAR We enjoin you to like our busy pages on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, Google, Linkeld and other social media. Check our likeable on-line Africaworldtv on Facebook. See Africaworldtv.org, africaworldnewspaper. com, africaworldcartoon.com and our sister magazine - theafricaninternational.com. Happy New Year! Come in. Uka
Vincent Arisukwu writes from U.S.A.
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An African in Ireland
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AfricaWorldnewspaper
An African in Ireland Introducing
A Fresh-faced 8 Year Old
The Family Crest
The 12 Year Old
presented by
Adekunle Gomez
A Fellow Citizen - The Ghanaian CailĂn!
Another, Complete With Freckles!
published by
African Cultural Project / Africa Institute
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• Where we are located
• Arts & Heritage: Literature, Music, Material Arts
• How big the country is
• SportScene
• Physical features, Climate and Vegetation
• Africa in Ireland: (Africa in the Irish Classroom Curriculum Support Programme)
• History and first contact with Europeans • How to get there and how long this will take; What to wear. • What to eat • The People: Young People (socialisation, school life, leisure and pastimes, etc) • State Education
Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea on the West Coast of Africa. Being the country nearest to both the Prime Meridian and the Equator, Ghanaians like to think of our country as the ‘centre of the world’.
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Map of Ghana The total area of Ghana in square kilometres (238,533) is [19,938 square kilometres] bigger than the combined area (218,595) of Great Britain [England, Wales and Scotland].
In comparison to Ireland, if one imagines the 32 counties without Donegal, and multiplies the remaining 31 by three to give a new total area of 238,680 square kilometres, this is slightly [147 square kilometres] bigger than Ghana. Romania, with an area of 238,391, is the European country closest in size to Ghana at approximately 142 square kilometers less in area.
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The land area of Ghana is 227,533 square kilometres and the water area is 11,000 square kilometres, which includes the 8,515 square kilometers surface area of the Volta Lake, the world’s largest man-made lake by area (http:// www.nationalturk.com/en/ ghana-akosombothe-largest-manmade-lake-foundin-ghana-27395). This surface area of 8,515 square kilometres would compare to the combined area of 8,505 square kilometres of four of Ireland’s counties: Roscommon (2,548), Kilkenny (2,073), Wicklow (2,027) and Water-
ford (1,857). The Volta Lake came into being with the construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1964, a 1020 megawatt hydroelectric project managed by the Volta River Authority (VRA). It supplies power to Ghana, and neighbouring Togo and Benin. The flooding submerged vast tracts of forest and required the relocation of 78,000 people to newly created townships on the lake’s higher banks. The lake is now a transportation corridor for the residents of the various lake-side communities as well as a thriving source of fish.
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Map of Romania http://biega.com/romania.html
Volta Lake from Saint Barbara Church
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Climate
begins in April and lasts until SeptemThe climate of ber. Annual rainfall Ghana is tropical, ranges from about but temperatures 1,100 mm vary with season (about 43 in) in and elevation. Ex- the north to about cept in the North, 2,100 mm (about two rainy seasons 83 in) in the Southoccur, from April to east. July and from Sep- The harmattan, a tember to Novem- dry desert wind, ber. In the North, blows from the the rainy season northeast from De-
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cember to March, lowering the humidity and creating hot days and cool nights in the north. In the South, the effects of the harmattan are felt in January. In most areas the highest temperatures occur in March, the lowest in August.
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The coolest time of year is between June and September when the main rainfall occurs. Variations in temperature both annually and daily are quite small. The minimum temperature is around 23C (73F); warm and comparatively dry along
Southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north. The average annual temperature for the whole country is about 26oC (about 79oF); the average low: 20,5C (69F). The average daily temperature in Accra is 30C (86F).
Vegetation There are three principal types of vegetation from south to north occurring in the coastal savanna, in the forest zone, and in the northern savanna zone. The coastal savanna in the southeastern plains around Accra consists of a mixture of scrub and tall grass (mostly Guinea grass), with giant anthills, often 10 to 14 feet (3 to 4 metres) high, providing an anchorage for thicket clumps that often include Elaeophorbia (a fleshy-leaved plant containing caustic latex) and other drought- and fire-resistant species such as the baobab (Adansonia digitata).
In the forest zone (the southern third of the country and the area along the Akwapim-Togo Ranges, where the mean annual precipitation exceeds 45 inches [1,140 mm] and is well distributed throughout the year without a pronounced dry season), the predominant vegetation is evergreen and tropical semi-deciduous forest. There are tall trees of varying heights, forming a closed canopy at the top, above which tower a few forest giants, such as the silk cotton tree, the wawa tree (African whitewood, a hardwood), and the African mahogany. The evergreen forest is in the extreme southwest, where the precipitation exceeds 65 inches (1,650 mm) a year, while there is a semideciduous forest farther north.
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Forests and Woodlands - South Ghana The third vegetation type, the northern savanna, is found in the northern two-thirds of the country, where the low annual precipitation, between 30 and 45 inches (760 and 1,140 mm), occurs in a single season and is followed by a period of intense drought.
There the vegetation consists mostly of tall Guinea grass, together with a scattering of low trees, such as the shea butter tree, various species of acacia, and baobabs. Along the northern border the savanna gives way to a more open type of grassland that has developed largely as a result of prolonged human interference. Text from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/232376/Ghana/55173/Plant-and-animal-life
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Rivers The country’s main river is the Volta, which is formed in the centre of the country by the confluence of the Black Volta and the White Volta. The Volta enters the Gulf of Guinea at Ada in southeastern Ghana. The two major tributaries of the Volta are the Oti and Afram rivers. Together, the rivers drain the Volta Basin. Ghana’s other significant river systems are the Densu, Birim, Pra, and Ankobra. All empty into the Gulf of Guinea. Ghana’s rivers are navigable only by small crafts, with the exception of the Volta. Located in the Asante uplands, Lake Bosumtwi is Ghana’s only natural lake.
River Systems
include the Black and White Volta Ghana is well enRivers, the Oti Rivdowed with water er and the Lower resources, but the Volta, amount of water including Lake available changes Volta. The Southmarkedly from sea- Western Rivers Sysson to tem comprises the season as well as Bia, Tano, Ankobra from year to year. and Pra Rivers, Also the distribu- while the tion within the 6 country is far from Ghana Rivers uniform with the Coastal Rivers Syssouth-western tem is made up part better waof Ochi-Amissah, tered than the Ochi-Nakwa, Aycoastal and north- ensu, Densu and ern regions. Tordzie/Aka Rivers. The Volta River, The Volta River with a catchment basin is shared area within Ghana with Cote d’Ivoire, of nearly 70% of Burkina Faso, Togo, the country, is by Benin and Mali. far the largest river The Bia is shared draining with Cote the entire north, d’Ivoire, while the centre and east of lower reaches of the country. The the Tano River also remaining rivers, form part of the all in the south and boundary with southwest, drain Cote d’Ivoire. about 30% of http://w rc-gh.org/ the country. en/water-resourcThe major subes-mgt/river-sysbasins of the Volta tems
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History Ghana was under British administration as the Gold Coast Colony from 1844 until 1957, when it gained independence.
Flag of the Gold Coast Colony
Flag at Independence
Contacts with Europeans started in 1471 with the arrival of the Portuguese sailor, Fernão Gomes, at Elmina. Other Europeans to follow the Portuguese were the Danes, Dutch, Swedes and the British. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 formally confirmed the British as the colonial power. Wars were fought between the British and local states, especially the Asante.
The Scramble for Africa: Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 to Divide Africa
Photo from the book The Horizon: History of Africa, Alvin Edt Josephy, American Heritage Publishing Co., New York, 1971, p. 452. Meeting at the Berlin residence of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1884, the foreign ministers of fourteen European powers and the United States established ground rules for the future exploitation of the “dark continent.” Africans were not invited or made privy to their decisions. The following edited material is from the book Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts, by H. J. de Blij, Peter O. Muller, pp. 304-305 (2003) 1884-1885 - Berlin West African Conference carves Africa into spheres of control
European governments and rulers arrived to create or expand African spheres of influence for their In the second half patrons. of the nineteenth Competition was century, after more intense. Spheres of than four centuinfluence began to ries of contact, the crowd each other. European powers It was time for nefinally laid gotiation, and in claim to virtually late 1884 a all of Africa. Parts conference was of the continent convened in Berlin had been “exto sort things out. plored,” but now This conference representatives of laid the ground-
work for the now familiar politico-geographical map of Africa. In November 1884, the imperial chancellor and architect of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck, convened a conference of 14 states (including the United States) to settle the political partitioning of Africa. Bismarck wanted not only to expand German spheres of
influence in Africa but also to play off Germany’s colonial rivals against one another to the Germans’ advantage. Of these fourteen nations, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal were the major players in the conference, controlling most of colonial Africa at the time. The Berlin Conference was Africa’s undoing in more
ways than one. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the African Continent. By the time Africa regained its independence after the late 1950s, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could neither be eliminated nor made to operate satisfactorily.
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The African politico-geographical map is thus a permanent liability that resulted from the three months of ignorant, greedy acquisitiveness during a period
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when Europe’s search for minerals and markets had become insatiable. The French dominated most of West Africa, and the British East and Southern Africa. The Bel-
gians acquired the vast territory that became The Congo. The Germans held four colonies, one in each of the realm’s regions. The Portuguese held a small colony
in West Africa and two large ones in Southern Africa. After colonial rule was firmly established in Africa, the only change in possessions came after World
War I. Germany’s four colonies were placed under the League of Nations, which established a mandate system for other colonizers to administer the territories.
Result of Colonisa- The British estabtion: lished a system of indirect rule over The European much of their docolonial powers main, leaving inshared one objec- digenous power tive in their African structure in place colonies; exploiand making local tation. But in the rulers representaway they governed tives of the British their dependenCrown. This was cies, they reflected unthinkable in the their differences. Portuguese coloSome colonial nies, where harsh, powers were direct control was themselves dethe rule. mocracies (the The French sought United Kingdom to create culturally and France); others assimilated elites were dictatorships what would repre(Portugal, Spain). sent French ideals
in the colonies. In the Belgian Congo, however, King Leopold II, who had financed the expeditions that staked Belgium’s claim in Berlin, embarked on a campaign of ruthless exploitation. His enforcers mobilized almost the entire Congolese populations to gather rubber, kill elephants for their ivory, and build public works to improve export routes.
For failing to meet production quotes, entire communities were massacred. Killing and maiming became routine in a colony in which horror was the only common denominator. After the impact of the slave trade, King Leopold’s reign of terror was Africa’s most severe demographic disaster. By the time it ended, after a growing outcry around the world, as many as 10 mil-
lion Congolese had been murdered. In 1908 the Belgium government administrators, and the Roman Catholic Church each pursued their sometimes competing interest. But no one thought to change the name of the colonial capital: it was Leopoldville until the Belgian Congo achieved independence in 1960.
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How to get there; how long this will take • By Sea Until the 1970s, one could travel by sea on one of the ocean liners from Liverpool, London and other European ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg to Tema or Takoradi.
MV Aureol Elder Dempster Lines was one of the main shipping companies and the voyage from English ports would take about two weeks, with calls at ports along the way. The MV Aureol, MV Accra and the MV Apapa were the three main ocean liners operated by Elder Dempster Lines. Based in Liverpool, Elder Dempster Lines served the trade routes to West Africa. It operated three liners (known to all as the mailboats) on a regular scheduled service departing each fortnight to Ghana and Nigeria, with other ports of call in Sierra Leone and Liberia. A large number of cargo and express cargo ships sailed from the UK / Continent to West Africa, and further south beyond the equator, and also to the USA. Outward cargoes were general and manufactured goods and included cars, locomotives, machinery, textiles, salt, beers and whisky, and on return voyages logs, sawn timber and ply, palm kernels, palm oil, groundnuts, rubber, cocoa, and tin.
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Elder Dempster Tariffs and the MV Accra
Tariffs
Tariffs
MV Accra at Takoradi Š Mike Ingh
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• By Air There are no direct flights between Ireland and Ghana. Had there been a direct flight from Dublin to Accra, this would have a flight duration of 7 hours 18 minutes.
The Tarmac of Kotoka International Airport, Accra The major European airlines which fly to / from Accra, the capital, are: Alitalia, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa and TAP Air Portugal. Flight duration from Accra to Lisbon is 5 hours 12 minutes, Madrid [5 hours 20 minutes], Rome [5 hours 45 minutes], Frankfurt [6 hours 43 minutes], London [6 hours 50 minutes], Amsterdam [7 hours]. Turkish Airlines [6 hours 34 minutes to Istanbul], and Emirates [8 hours 19 minutes to Dubai] are two other options from Accra to Dublin with a changeover. The sign in the entrance to the arrivals hall of Kotoka International Airport in Accra welcomes visitors and describes Ghana as the ‘Gateway to Africa’. The choice of this image, however, is not meant to imply agreement with this claim! I do, however, approve of the idea of the hanging footballs; a good message about one of the nation’s passions! The local time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), with between 12 and 13 hours of daylight all year; hence, Ghana does not operate summer time as is the case in Ireland. Language: You will be welcomed to Ghana in English. As the result of the country being a former British colony, English is the official language. Ghana also has a number of local languages. What to wear The type of clothing one would need to pack for a visit to Ghana is the same as Irish / European summer wear, plus something for a cool breezy evening. Rain gear is also advisable, as are sun protection items (wide-breamed hat, suncream).
Entrance to the Arrivals Hall of Kotoka International Airport
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Ghana’s Cities
Cocoa House stands out in Sunyani, the Capital city of Brong Ahafo Region
Aerial View of Cape Coast from Fishing Port
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Cocoa: Ghana’s Golden Pod When the visitor to Ghana arrives in Accra and drives out of the airport, the road would lead to the main intersection for north-south directions. Should the visitor take a right turn heading north and travel for approximately one kilometre, s/he will come to a big round-about named Tetteh Quarshie Circle. Tetteh Quarshie (1842 – 25 December 1892) was a pre-independent Ghana agriculturalist and the person directly responsible for the introduction of the cocoa crop to the Gold Coast.
Tetteh Quarshie Cocao Farm One of the original trees, planted 1879
Entrance to the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Akwapim-Mampong Tetteh Quarshie was born in 1842 to a farmer from Teshie, a suburb of Accra. In his teens, he became an apprentice in a Basel Mission workshop at Akropong. Due to his hard work, he soon became a master blacksmith and established himself at Akuapim-Mampong. He was also known to take an interest in farming. In 1870, Tetteh Quarshie undertook a voyage to Fernando Po in Equatorial Guinea. Six years later, he returned to the Gold Coast with some cocoa beans, which he planted at Mampong in the present-day Eastern Region. Friends and relatives were also said to have undertaken the planting of seedlings of the cocoa beans he had given them. Today, Ghana is one of the world’s top three exporters of cocoa beans, which are also considered to be of the highest quality to be found on the international market. Tetteh Quarshie died on Christmas Day of 1892. His memory is preserved in institutions and monuments named after him, including a hospital in Mampong, where the first cocoa seedlings were planted.
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Cocoa Products: Chocolate and BeverageThink of Ireland’s Butlers, Cadbury, Lily O’Briens, Lir; now, think of Ghana, and you have one of the top three cocoa producers in the world. In the 18th century the Swedish botanist, Golden Tree Chocolate Bars
Drinking Chocolate
Golden Tree Kingsbite Chocolate Bars
Carolus Linnaeus, renamed the cocoa tree giving it the Greek name Theobroma Cacao, now its official botanical name, which literally means ‘food of the Gods’. Cocoa trees resemble English apple trees. They grow best under the canopy of tropical rainforests, seldom reaching more than 7.5 metres (25 feet) high. To flourish they need to be shaded from direct sun and wind, particularly in the early growth stages. https://www. cadbury.com.au/ About-Chocolate/ Harvesting-andProcessing-CocoaBeans.aspx Cocoa Growing Countries The cocoa tree is a native of the Amazon basin and other tropical areas of South and Central America, where wild varieties still grow in the forests, but the cocoa growing area has extended to the Carribbean and beyond. Different types of cocoa are selected for cultivation in the various growing areas. In Austra-
lia, Cadbury uses high quality cocoa beans sourced from Ghana in West Africa and Asia. Most of the world’s cocoa is grown in a narrow belt 10 degrees either side of the Equator because cocoa trees grow well in humid tropical climates with regular rains and a short dry season. The trees need even temperatures between 21-23 degrees Celsius, with a fairly constant rainfall of 10002500mm per year. Many countries now grow cocoa. The main producers outside the main central American producers, Brazil and Ecuador, are: West Africa Ghana, which grows some of the best quality cocoa in the world, Nigeria and Cote D’Ivore. https:// www.cadbury.com. au/About-Chocolate/Harvestingand-ProcessingCocoa-Beans. aspx Please, see also: https://www. cadbury.com.au/ About-Chocolate/ Cocoa-GrowingCountries.aspx
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What to Eat
would be an example of a tree crop. Ghana offers a Yams can grow wide variety of up to 3.5 metres food items, inin length and 4.6 cluding root veg- metres in circumetables (tubers), ference [14 by 18 grains, cereals, inches]. pulses (beans) tree Yam Yam is the vegetables and a long cylindrical pegood selection of rennial herbaceous fruits. vines which are Yam, cassava, grown in 200 difcocoyam (taro), ferent types. Yam sweet potato belongs to the Diwould be examoscoreaceae family ples of root crops, and it resembles while the plantain sweet potato. Yam
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is native to the warmer regions of both the hemispheres. It is also cultivated in the tropical regions of West Africa and New Guinea. The yam is an edible root which varies in taste from sweet bitter to tasteless. Yam is boiled, mashed and baked. However, yam is distinct from sweet potato, but
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in U.S the name is commonly interchanged. Yam has the flesh ranging in colour from ivory, yellow to purple. The skin of the vegetable comes in a large variety of shades of white, pink or brownish black. Yam tubers can grow up to 3.5 meters in length and can weigh up to 70 kg. Yam contains the
chemical that can suppress ovulation and is therefore used as the basis of the birth control pills. This special type of Yam bean is the legume jicama. http://www.vegetabledirectory. com/yam/ Please, see also: http://www.iita. org/web/iita/yam;j sessionid=23E88E1 3F6ACD11C54D46 0738DC0CC35
names reflect twin requires the most aspects of the fes- attention and tival. work, and the help of gods and spirits is therefore The Timing of a acknowledged by Unique Harvest presenting its firstRitual fruits to them – or else they might In Ghana, only not be so helpful those Ewe who live the next year. in the interior of Depending on the Volta Region the place, the Ewe have a festival for New Yam Festival yam – while their can begin as early other crops as 12 August and (which include last as little [short] corn, rice and cas- as two sava) are not sindays in Tsome, or gled out for one. fall as late as 27 This is because September and growing this tuber last for over a week
as in Nyangbo, not to mention a few spots where it has been absorbed by November commemoration of the people’s migration to their current home, as in Kpedze. Christian Roy, Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (Page 317) please, see also: http://www. dearghana.com/ festivals/ho-yamfestival/
http://www.naturesfarmfoods.co.uk/Products.html
The Yam Festival
risen, one of the most important The following is a festivals is still the description of the annual blessing Yam Festival as ob- of a new harvest served among the of this indigenous Ewe of the Volta staple. Its main Region in Ghana outline may be disfrom a book by cerned by focusing Christian Roy: on the Ewe-speaking peoples that settled in Southern New Yam Festival forests close to (Ewe) coastal areas from Benin to GhaThroughout the na. They now know yam-growing areas it as Tedudu (“yamof tropical West eating”), though Africa where its older generations greatest civilisapreferred to call it tions (Asante, Da- Dzawuwu (“purifihomey, Ife) have cation”); these two
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http://www.chfusa.com/plantains_home.htm
Plantain Plantains are a starchy, ‘unsweet’ variety of banana that are inedible raw and must be cooked before eating. They are longer in length,
have a thicker skin, and contain more starch. Most are larger and slightly more angular in shape than ‘sweet’ bananas. They can be green, yellow, pink or very dark in colour depend-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/plantain
ing on their variety and ripeness. One hundred or more different varieties of plantain grow deep in the African rainforests. In Ghana, plantains would be cooked in the following
ways: boiled, roasted or fried. They will normally be served with vegetable, meat and fish stew. Roasted plantains can also be eaten with roasted peanuts as a light meal Dried
plantain skin can also be used to make soap. Please, see also: http:// www.iita.org/banana-and-plantain
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Cocoyam (Taro)
It also common in Ghana to find Cocoyam chips (deep-fried slices, about 1 mm thick). Cocoyam leaves, locally called kontomire in Ghana, are a popular vegetable for local sauces such as palaver sauce and egusi/agushi stew.
Cocoyam is often boiled, fried, or Taro is consumed roasted and eaten as a staple crop in with a sauce. In West Africa, parGhana, it substiticularly in Ghana, tutes plantain in Nigeria and Cam- making fufu when eroon. It is called plantains are out cocoyam in Nige- of season. It is also ria, Ghana and An- cut into small piecglophone Camer- es to make a soupy oon, and macabo baby food and in Francophone appetizer called Cameroon. mpotompoto.
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Cocoyam (Taro) http://foodgardenonline.com/ index.php?route=product/ product&product_id=109
Cocoyam (Taro) Leaves Photo by Asiedu/IITA
How the Food is Eaten Yam: boiled (plain or mashed) with vegetable stew (and fish or meat if preferred). It is also fried or roasted. Plantain: boiled, fried or roasted. Eaten with stew similar to yams; fried plantain and black-eyed beans (with palm oil and known as redred) is also a very popular meal, especially during my secondary school
days. Sweet potatoes: fried by the roadside and eaten as snacks. Cassava’s highly starchy content provides the ingredient for tapioca. Cassava is also eaten with the sauces as in yam. Cocoyam: similar to yam in terms of the accompanying dishes. Rice: boiled and eaten with sauces, fish, meat etc. Rice and beans cooked
together is also a popular meal. Maize / Corn: roasted or boiled around harvest time is very popular as snack, especially with hardfleshed coconut. Otherwise, milled corn flour is used for a variety of dishes (an acquired taste for non-Ghanaians). Beans: most common is the blackeyed, which is used in dishes referred to above. Also,
the ingredient for bean cakes. Fish / Meat: Ghana’s 5.5 million goats (FAO 2013 statistics) provide significant proportion of the meat diet. In general, the sea, the inland lakes and rivers provide the fish supply, while the North and Southeast grassland areas would be known for sheep and cattle-rearing. Poultry such as ducks, hens and
guinea fowls (in the North, especially) are reared. Fruits: a good selection of these can be found all over the country. Fruits are usually eaten fresh and in season. Please, see the FAO website for information and statistics on Ghana’s food. H. D. Tindall: Fruits and Vegetables in West Africa, FAO, Rome 1965
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The People The population of Ghana is made up of different states which are also identified by their distinctive languages. These are the Akan (including the Agona, Ahanta, Akyem, Asante, Gomoa, Kwahu, Nzema and Wassa), Ewe, Ga-Dangme, Guan, Gurma, Grusi, Mande-Busanga, Mole-Dagbon.
An Image from the 1960s Young People I have always maintained a suspicion that Ghanaians have an Irish gene. Well, here, at last, is proof as we can see from the following two photographs: A Fellow Citizen - The Ghanaian Cailín!
Languages, Communications & Media As noted earlier, English is Ghana’s official language. Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Nzema, Twi (Akuapem and Asante versions) are the main Ghanaian languages spoken. The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation is the public service body which runs radio and television pro-
grammes. There are also private radio and television channels licensed to broadcast programmes in English and Ghanaian languages. Radio is the most popular mass medium and is also the one with the highest percentage of output in local languages, in addition to English language broadcasts. Television mainly broadcasts in Eng-
Another, Complete With Freckles!
lish and GBC TV has a good output of locally-produced Young Peoples’ programmes. Newspapers and magazines are almost all published in English. The Daily Graphic Group publishes the Junior Graphic for young people: http://graphic. com.gh/juniors/. for young people: http://graphic. com.gh/juniors/.
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2014 January 16 - 31 | 23
Ghana’s Education Path Post-Reform
State Education English is the language of instruction in schools. Ghana’s major languages, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga,Gonja, Kasem, Nzema, Twi (Akuapem), Twi (Asante) are on the school curriculum and examined at Certificate Level. The State Education System during the 1970s was six years Primary, four years Middle, five years Secondary and two years Sixth Form.
There are Technical and Commercial Schools also, which those who complete the fouryear Middle school would follow. The primary school enrolment age is six years and the school year runs from September to June / July. Ghana has a Universal Primary Education Policy with acess to schooling available to every child, both boys and girls. Schools are both single sex and mixed; indeed,
all-girl schools were established at the same time as boys’ schools. An all-girl school, Wesley Girls’, was established as far back as 1836 in Cape Coast. A good number of schools were also started by local people in pre-independent Ghana, before the new government stepped in to give these schools “assisted” status after 1957. Admission to Secondary School was through the
Education Reform As a result of education reforms in the 1990s, the current system, popularly referred to as the 6-3-3, was introduced. Middle School was abolished; Primary (six years), Junior High School and Senior High School (three years each). The current examinations sat at the end of the Junior and Senior High School years are The Basic Education Certificate Examination and The West African Senior School Certificate Examinations respectively. (see page 24)
Common Entrance Examinations. Secondary School students sat the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary (O) Level. Credits / Passes in five subjects and most students would be advised to present seven subjects. Sixth Form students are required to present three subjects, plus a General Paper for the General Certificate of
Education (GCE) Advanced (A) Level. Third Level education include: Universities, Polytechnics and Professional Institutes (Accountancy, Administration).
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Eduction as prepa- recreation (9.45 am ration for life and 2.15 pm), and one long break for My School Experi- lunch from 11.30 ence am to 1.30 pm. The subjects we studMy earliest recolied were English lection of school- (Reading, Writing, ing is going to kin- Dictation), Arithdergarten. Primary metic, (Written schooling started and Mental), Gefor me about three ography, History, months after my Nature Study (Scififth birthday. Dur- ence), Vernacular ing my Primary (Local Ghanaian school years, class- Language), Civics, es started at 7.30 Religion and Physiam and finished at cal Education. Our 3.30 pm. We had favourite sport in three breaks: two school was footshort 15-minute ball. Football is also ones we called the number one
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sport in Ghana and our national teams have done well in international competitions. Two of Ghana’s clubs have won the African Cup for Champion Clubs and a third had been a runner-up. Football is also played by both boys and girls. I registered and sat the Common Entrance Examinations which I passed to gain admission to Ebenezer Secondary School in Accra.
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Ebenezer Secondary School Crest
Junior Graphic is a paper for the youth from upper primary to senior high school. The paper’s main objective is to help build the habit of reading and writing in children. Junior Graphic’s contents are, therefore, designed to suit a supplementary reader. Thus, it teaches selected academic subjects. It also publishes letters and short stories by schoolchildren, in addition to a counselling page for them. All this is to promote quality education for overall quality human resource development for Ghana. The Junior Graphic also provides an avenue for children to take part in the discussion of national issues. The paper is read by schoolchildren from five to 19 years of age, teachers, parents, consultants in education and education policy makers. Editor: Mavis Kitcher (Mrs) Secondary Form 2 – Aged 13 Years
Secondary Form 4 With Friends – Aged 16 Years
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2014 January 16 - 31 | 25
Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast - http://wesleygirls.edu.gh/
Women: Access To Education and High Positions in Society “The surest way to keep people down is to educate the men and neglect the women. If you educate a man you simply educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you
educate a whole nation” James E K Aggrey The quote above was from one of Ghana’s leading educational figures of the early twentieth century and one of the founders of Achimota College (established as the Prince of Wales College in the early
Wesley Girls Students in a Science Class
part of the 1920s). Women’s role in society has always been highly valued. Matrilineal societies, whereby inheritance is through the female line, exists in Ghana. The Queenmother is also an important figure in her particular society. The cur-
rent Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament are both women, continuing Ghana’s proud tradition of acknowledging women’s important role in society. Ghana has a Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which was
preceded by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs: http://www. ghana.gov.gh/ index.php/201202-08-08-18-09/ ministries/255ministry-of-genderchildren- andsocial-protection
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Ghana National College, Cape Coast http://www.ghananationalcollege. org/ Ghana National College is a senior high school in Cape Coast, Ghana and one of the country’s top schools. It was founded on Friday, 16th July, 1948 in Cape Coast, with eight of the students who had been expelled by the British colonial administration from St. Augustine’s College. This was during a period of agitation for self government in the then Gold Coast. Ironically its name, Ghana National College, was chosen nine years before The Gold Coast achieved independence in 1957, and the country named Ghana. On the 15th of March 1948, student protests in Cape Coast in solidarity with detained United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) executives resulted in the expulsion of 150 students from St. Augustine’s College and Mfantsipim School on the recommendation of the Commission charged with investigating the student unrest. The appointments of four teachers, three from St. Augustine’s College and one from Mfantsipim School were also revoked. On the 1st of July 1948, Kwame Nkrumah, Secretary of the UGCC, invited the sacked
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teachers to his office in Saltpond and commissioned Mr. Kojo Botsio to evaluate plans for a new school. A week later on the 8th of July 1948, Nkrumah donated money towards starting the school, staffed by dismissed teachers from St Augustines College and Mfantsipim. On Monday, 19th July, 1948, the first formal lesson started at MacCarthy Hill on the ground floor of the Old Temple House of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. In his inaugural address, Dr. Nkrumah stated: “In spite of the humble conditions under which we have started, I bring you a mesSchool Crest sage of Hope and Inspiration. I bid you shake hands with your fellow students and teachers over your study table and over the blackboards. I look forward to the time when there will be a chain of Ghana Colleges in all of the four territories which make up the Entrance to the School Gold Coast, leading to the founding of a very high institution in this country”.Today, Ghana National College maintains the high standards it was set back in July, 1948.
60th Anniversary Celebrations – Where are the Boys?
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2014 January 16 - 31 | 27
The West African Examinations Council HISTORY Introduction The West African Examinations Council, a non-profit-making organization, with its head-quarters in Accra, Ghana, was established in 1952 after the Governments of Ghana (then Gold Coast), Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia enacted the West African Examinations Council Ordinances in 1951. Liberia became the fifth member of the Council in 1974. The enactment of the Ordinances was based on the Jeffrey Report, which strongly supported the proposal for the setting up of a regional examining board to harmonize and standardize pre-university assessment procedures in the then British West Africa. The main objectives of the Council are: • To conduct examinations in the public interest • To award certificates, provided that the certificates did not represent lower standards of attainment than equivalent certificates of examining authorities in the United Kingdom . Convention Establishing the Council The Council celebrated its 30th anniversary in March 1982 in Monrovia , Liberia during which the Convention establishing the WAEC was signed. The Convention was subsequently ratified by member Governments and came into force in August 1984. The Council under the Convention was inaugurated in March 1985. The Convention now gives uniform legal backing to the operations of Council in all the member countries, makes provision for significant changes in the structure of the Council and gives it legal personality as an international body. A Headquarters Agreement signed with the Governmentof Ghana in 1987 confers certain privileges and immunities on Council’s Headquarters in Ghana. To take care of recent developments in the member countries, a process to revise the Convention was initiated at the turn of the century. The Revised Convention was signed in June 2003. Functions & Services to the Public In Ghana , the West African Examination Council conducts the terminal examinations for all pupils and students at the pre-tertiary levels of education. The examinations of the Council also serve as selection tests for progression from one level to the other in the country’s educational structure up to the tertiary level where the results of the Council’s examinations are used for direct entry into all tertiary Institutions in Ghana . Initially candidates in Ghana and other West African Countries received tuition and instructions based on syllabuses that had been developed along the lines of the educational structures of the United Kingdom . The WAEC was an agent for the conduct of the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations of the General Certificate of Education of the University of London and the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate examinations of the CambridgeExaminations Syndicate in addition to the examinations of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). Over the years the Council has developed syllabuses that address the manpower requirements of its member countries and has completely taken over the conduct of examinations in collaboration with these external examining bodies. EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE GHANA NATIONAL OFFICE (1) Major Examinations The Ghana National Office of the Council conducts the following examinations • The West African Senior School Certificate Examinations for both school and private Candidates. • The Basic Education Certificate Examination. • The Business Certificate Examinations made up of the General and Advanced Business Certificate Examinations for both school and private candidates. http://www.ghanawaec.org/ABOUTWAEC/History.aspx Please, see the following sites for more information and pdfs of individual subjects: http://www.ghanawaec.org/ http://www.ghanawaec.org/EXAMS/BECE.aspx http://www.ghanawaec.org/EXAMS/WASSCE.aspx http://www.myschoolgist.com/ng/waec-syllabus-by-subject-2013/
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The Talking Yam Once, not far from the city of Accra on the Gulf of Guinea, a farmer went out to dig up some yams to take to market. While he was digging, one of the yams said to him: “It’s about time you showed up! You never weeded me, but now you come around with your digging stick. Leave me alone!” The surprised farmer turned around and stared at his cow. The cow just stood there chewing her cud and looking at him. “Did you say something?” the farmer asked. The cow said nothing, and just kept on chewing. The man’s dog spoke up: “That wasn’t the cow talking, it was the yam. He says to leave him alone. Listen to what he says!” The man became angry because his dog had never talked before, so he took his knife and cut a palm branch to whip his dog. Just then, the palm tree said, “Put that branch down!” The puzzled man began to throw the palm branch down when he heard the palm branch speak also: “Put me down softly!” As the man laid the branch gently on a stone,
he heard the stone say: “Hey take that thing off me!” With that, the poor frightened farmer began to run towards his village. On the way, he met a fisherman going the other way with a net in his hand. “Why are you running?” asked the fisherman. My yam said, ‘Leave me alone!” Then the dog said, “ Listen to what he says!” When I went to whip the dog with a palm branch, the palm tree said, “Put that branch down!” Then the palm branch said, “Put me down softly!” Then the stone said, “Hey take that thing off me!” “What’s so frightening about that?” said the fisherman. Suddenly the fisherman’s net, “Well, did he take it off the stone?” “Wah!” yelled the fisherman as he threw the net to the ground, and he and the farmer ran and ran until they met a weaver with a bundle of cloth on his head. “Why are you running?” asked the weaver. The farmer panted: “My yam said, ‘Leave me alone!” Then the dog said, “ Listen to what he says!” The palm tree said, “Put that branch down!” Then the palm branch said, “Put me down soft-
ly!” Then the stone said, “Hey take that thing off me!” And the fisherman continued, “And then my net said, “Well, did he take it off the stone?” “That’s nothing to get excited about,” said the weaver. “Oh yes it is,” said his bundle of cloth, “You’d run too if it happened to you!” And with that the farmer, the fisherman, and the weaver all began to run toward the village. Soon they passed a man bathing in the river. “Why are you running?” shouted the man in the river. My yam said, ‘Leave me alone!” Then the dog said, “ Listen to what he says!” The palm tree said, “Put that branch down!” Then the palm branch said, “Put me down softly!” Then the stone said, “Hey take that thing off me!” Then the fisherman’s net said, “Well, did he take it off the stone?” And the weaver’s cloth said, “You’d run too if it happened to you!” “That’s nothing to get excited about,” said the man in the river. “Well, wouldn’t you run if you were in their position?”, said the River. And with that, the man jumped out of the river and began to run with the oth-
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The Talking Yam Credit: Sue Todd ers. They ran and same,” the bather ran until they came said hoarsely. Well, to the residence the Omanhene of the Omanhene listened patiently, (King) in the vilbut he couldn’t lage. The Omanhelp scowling at hene’s servants them. “Now this is brought his royal surely a wild story,” seat out, and the he said at last. Omanhene came “You’d better go and sat on it to back to you work listen to their com- before I punish you plaints. The men for wasting my began to recite all time and disturbof their troubles. ing the peace!” So The farmer said: the Farmer, the “My yam said, Fisherman, the ‘Leave me alone!” Weaver, and the Then the dog said, Bather got up left “ Listen to what the village. The he says!” The palm Omanhene shook tree said, “Put that his head and branch down!” mumbled to himThen the palm self, “Nonsense like branch said, “Put that just upsets the me down softly!” whole village!” Then the stone “Fantastic, isn’t it” said, “Hey take that his seat said. thing off me!” And “Imagine that, a the fisherman said, talking yam!” “And then my fish Second Grade, net said, “Well, did Storytelling 2004 he take it off the Colorado Summer stone?” “And my Writing Institute cloth said, “You’d http://www.metrun too if it hapmuseum.org/ pened to you!” said toah/hd/asan_2/ the weaver. “And hd_asan_2.htm the river said the
Kente Cloth - http://www.kentecloth.net/ghanaian-kente-cloth/
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Ghana Arts Scene
D. Tindall: Fruits and Vegetables in Literature Stories West Africa, FAO, and books are an Rome 1965 important part of NP Iloeje: A New our lives growing Geography of West up in Ghana. Ama Africa, London, Ata Aidoo is one Longman, 1972 of Ghana’s leadCollins Senior Secing writers whose ondary School Atbooks are about las for West African the ability girls and Students, London, women have. The HarperCollinsPubGirl Who Can And lishers, 2010 Other Stories is Collins Social Studone of her books. ies Atlas for Ghana, The Girl Who London, HarperKnows About Cars CollinsPublishers, Part of a series for 2009 The Anthill in young African stu- the Sea is a collecdents and consist- tion of verses and ing of stories from chants for children. all over Africa. The Winning a child “JAWS” starters, into the realms of which are at three poetry, November levels, are intend- 23, 2001 By Klorkor ed to encourage O. This review is children who are from: The anthill in learning to read. the sea: Verses and In this story Esi is chants for children able to help her If anyone had told father when his car me what this book gets a puncture. contained, I would Ama Ata Aidoo: have grabbed it Changes – A Love sooner than I did. Story, Accra, Sub- This book entices Saharan Publishchildren to fall in ers,1991, 1999 H. love with poetry
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written for children, using rhythmic artistic sounds which are a joy to the ear. The colourful splashes of the illustrations will completely transform the reader into Okai’s poetic world- utopiac nuances.It amazingly reaches out to the core of the reader with lines like “Crocodile, crocodile...you should only cry when your water is dry”, “My eyes are two but then, they see all night day” and “I do want to sting the bee like an anthill in the sea”. The lines are catchy and short and one finds him/ herself repeating them. It is a fantastic book to use to introduce your children into the world of poetry without boring them. I ABSOLUTELY loved it. Highest recommendations
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here!!! (http:// www.amazon. com/review/ RFOATXHLRPVNC/ ref=cm_cr_dp_titl e?ie=UTF8&ASIN= 9964103352&chan nel=detailglance& nodeID=283155&s
tore=books) Please, see also: https://accrabooksandthings.wordpress. com/2012/01/09/ a-personal-list-ofkey-ghanaian-authors/
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Ghana Arts Scene Music The Atenteben Bamboo Flute The atenteben is a bamboo flute from Ghana. The instrument originated with the Akan people of south-central Ghana, particularly in the region of the Kwahu Plateau. It is played vertically, like the European recorder, and, like the recorder, can be played diatonically as well as chromatically. Although originally used as a traditional music instrument (most often in funeral processions), beginning in the 20th century it has also been used in contemporary and classical music. Several players have attained high levels of virtuosity and are able to play European as well as African music on the instrument. Examples of atenteben music can be heard through the following links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msVa-94VfoYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBCGgFwXMo Atenteben Bamboo Flute Demonstration by Begine Owuo Kebibaya, from Ghana http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=atetenben “In this video, you will hear me, Owuo, play a C Major scale on my bamboo flute (2 1/2 octaves) and you will see the fingering and 2 songs at the end to share more about this beautiful flute: ATENTEBEN� http://www.cfiks.org/ http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=atetenben&spfreload=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msVa-94VfoY http://www.kwela.co.uk/atenteben-ghanian-whistle/ The atenteben flute is one of the most versatile musical instruments found in Ghana. The modern atenteben flute, built in B flat and C, was developed by the musicologist, composer and flautist Dr. Ephraim Amu (1899-1995), whose pioneering work established a notated musical tradition for the instrument and included the instrument into the curriculum of major educational institutions in Ghana, notably, the Achimota School and University of Ghana. The B flat atenteben is a transposing instrument, i.e. its music is written a tone higher than the actual sounds, but written music for the C atenteben (also referred to as atenteben-ba) directly agrees with the sounds on piano. It is an end-blown instrument with six top holes and one bottom hole. Its embouchure at the mouth of the pipe consists of a piece of wood (fipple) made to fit tightly into the pipe with a narrow slit through which sound is produced by blowing. Today, atenteben music attracts a large following. Composers of diverse backgrounds have come to recognise the ease with which the instrument can be adapted to different genres of music. http: //www.cfiks.org/ Atenteben Bamboo Flute
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Highlife and Hiplife Music
associated with the local African aristocracy during the Highlife is a music colonial period. genre that origiHighlife spread nated in Ghana to Sierra Leone, at the turn of the Liberia, Gambia 20th century and and Nigeria via incorporated the Ghanaian workers, traditional haramong other West monic 9th, as well African countries, as melodic and by the 1930s. It is the main rhythvery popular in mic structures in Liberia and all of traditional Akan English-speaking music, and married West Africa. them with Western Highlife is charinstruments and acterised by jazzy ideas. Highlife was horns and multiple
Top: clave. Bottom highlife guitar part
An Image from the 1960s
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guitars which lead the band. Recently it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound. This arpeggiated highlife guitar part is modelled after an Afro-Cuban guajeo. The pattern of attackpoints is nearly identical to the 3-2 clave motif guajeo shown earlier in this article. The bell pattern known in Cuba as clave is in-
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digenous to Ghana and Nigeria, and is used in highlife. http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/ ghana-high-lifeand-other-popular-music Hip-life can cover a broad range of musical styles fused together. Artists such as Samini combine reggae / dancehall / ragga scat and patois-tinged sounds of Jamaica with Akan-language lyrics over
reggae rhythms fused with Ghanaian melodies. His music is branded by the general populace as hiplife. Then there are artists such as K.K. Fosu, Ofori Amponsah and Richie who do not rap or ‘DJ’ per se; but sing with a heavy R&B influence. Verses, bridges and choruses may be in Twi, but the structure and the rhythm fusion is suspiciously based on American R&B. But he and other artistes like him fall under contemporary highlife. The majority of hip-life is recorded in a studio environment with heavy emphasis on computer-aided composition, arrangements and production. At this moment, hip-life artistes are not known to use live instruments in their performances in front of audiences. Most performances are based on voicing over instrumentals and dubs on Compact Disc. This may be a leading reason why the latest incarnation of Ghanaian music has not reached the ears of World Music promoters or bridged the frontiers of countries across Africa such as Congolese music has done. Please see: http:// stylusmagazine. com/articles/bluffer/hiplife.htm
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Ghana SportScene The main sport in Ghana is football. The two others popularly followed are athletics and boxing. School sports are football, athletics, table tennis, volleyball and hockey. Basketball is now becoming a popular sport in Ghana while tennis and golf are elite sports. Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck, who plays for England, has Ghanaian parents; former Chelsea player, Michael Essien has ben a Ghana international from Youth Level. Ghana Versus Senegal at CHAN 2009 in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire Image Credit: Yoyo 6cé
Arsenal Player Danny Welbeck
Former Chelsea Player Michael Essien
Ghana Versus Germany at FIFA 2014 in Brazil
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People: Ghana’s In- Court judge when ternational Public she was appointed Servants in 1961. Born Annie Ruth Baeta on 7 October, 1918, in Lome, French Togoland; died in Accra, Ghana, on 12 June, 1996. Attended Achimota College, receiving Jiagge, Annie Ruth her Teacher’s Cer(1918–1996) tificate, Ghanaian lawyer, 1937; London national and inter- School of Economnational women’s ics and Political rights activist, Science, LLB, and author of the 1949; married Fred basic draft and Jiagge, in January, introduction to 1953. the UN DeclaraPlease, see: tion on Elimination http://africainiof Discrimination reland.blogspot. against Women, ie/2013/10/rewho was the first membering-lateGhanaian woman justiceto become a High annie-jiagge.html
People: Ghana’s International Public Servants
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People: Ghana’s International Public Servants
Kofi Atta Annan (born 8 April 1938) was appointed the seventh Secretary- General of the United Nations, serving from 1997 to 2006 and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. Born on 8 April, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana, he attended a number of schools and colleges in Ghana, before studying international relations in the United States and Switzerland. He became an international civil servant working for the United Nations in 1962. Mr. Annan was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace, jointly with the Organization. He has also received numerous honorary degrees and many other national and international prizes, medals and honours. He and his wife, Nane, between them have three children.
Judge Akua KUENYEHIA (International Criminal Court, The Hague) Judge as of 11 March 2003, for a term of three years and re-elected in 2006 for a further term of nine years. Assigned to the Appeals Division. Elected from the African Group of States, list B. Judge Kuenyehia (1947) was Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana, before her election as a judge. During her time at that university, she taught criminal law, gender and the law, international human rights law and public international law. She was coordinator of a research project entitled ‘Women and Law in Anglophone West Africa’, which covered Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. She has written three books and numerous academic publications on gender and the law, family law and international human rights. Judge Kuenyehia is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana. She has experience as a solicitor, advocate and human rights expert, and in criminal law and procedure. She also has experience as an administrator and has expertise in gender and the law, international human rights issues and was a member of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Judge Kuenyehia was the First Vice-President of the Court from 11 March, 2003 until 11 March, 2009.
Judge Akua Kuenyehia Image Source:
34 |December 04 | 2014 January 25 -16 2014 - 31
An African in Ireland
AfricaWorldnewspaper
Africa in the Irish Classroom From Ancient Civilisations to Present-day Encounters a Curriculum Support Programme aimed at First and Second Levels “Member States should promote, at various stages and in various types of education, the study of different cultures, their reciprocal influences, their perspectives and ways of life, in order to encourage mutual appreciation of the differences between them .. give due importance to the teaching of .. civilizations and cultural heritage as a means of promoting international and inter-cultural understanding” (UNESCO Recommendation concerning education for international understanding co-operation and peace and education relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms. (UNESCO General Conference, Paris, 1974). Primary “children should also have opportunities to learn of the contribution of people in other lands to human development. These international elements should reflect cultures and traditions from European and also non-European contexts” SESE History Curriculum Teacher Guidelines. Post-Primary “encourage in students a sensitive awareness of peoples, places and landscapes, both in their own country and elsewhere ... provide opportunities to foster and build upon students’ natural curiosity about their own and other people’s social and physical environments” Junior Certificate Geography Syllabus Aims. “When selecting the other Ancient Civilisation teachers can choose any ancient civilisation. They need not feel bound by traditional choices such as Greece or Rome. Civilisations from South America, Asia, Africa … would also be possibilities.” Revised Guidelines to the Junior Certificate History Syllabus The African continent (and its people) appears in Irish classrooms in a number of forms, not all of them necessarily educational. Indeed, more often than not, outside agencies make demands on both teachers and pupils / students to support their work. Africa in the Irish Classroom is a Curriculum Support Programme in African Studies designed for teachers and pupils / students at first and second levels. It addresses the areas in the Irish school curriculum where reference to Africa is made. The programme currently focuses on two countries: Ethiopia and Ghana (Coffee & Cocoa). Reference to other African countries such as Kenya, Mali (Timbuktu), Nigeria (Nok Civilisation, Benin Kingdom), Sudan (Nubia & Meroe Civilisations), Zimbabwe (Great Zimbabwe), will be made to give teachers a wider choice in terms of their country or regional interest. Africa in the Irish Classroom is also particularly useful in providing the necessary background knowledge on Africa for those engaged in social / global justice issues, and in an area such as development education. The programme involves: • Designing Africa-related Materials for the relevant subjects • Demonstrating the delivery of the programme in the Classroom • Offering In-Service and Pre-Service Courses • Recommending educational resources for African Studies at first and second levels Programme schedule: The programme is offered in these formats: one, three or five-day (over one week or five visits). It will involve: - Classroom contact with the students and their teachers. - Support materials for follow-up activities, as well as after-visit advisory service. Further Information: African Cultural Project / Africa Institute 087-900 53 43 Email: education@africainstitute.eu / acpireland@gmail .com http://africaintheirishclassroom.blogspot.com/ http://africainthepostprimarycurriculum.blogspot.com/ http://africainireland.blogspot.com
An African in Ireland
AfricaWorldnewspper 02 |December 25 - 2014
Introducing the ….. African Cultural Project / Africa Institute The African Cultural Project is the foremost organisation for African cultural activity in Ireland, and the main objective behind its foundation is to Tell Africa’s Story. This story is aimed at promoting an understanding of the African continent and of the countries and people of Africa. Since its establishment, the African Cultural Project has been co-ordinating a multi-disciplinary programme of cultural and educational events featuring Africa’s rich and diverse cultural traditions in collaboration with major institutions. These have included the National Concert Hall, the Chester Beatty Library, the Irish Writers’ Centre, the Public Library system, Local Authority Arts Officers, the Alliance Française Dublin, University Language departments, among others. Some of the founding members of the African Cultural Project were involved in organising the First African Music Club Nights in Dublin, featuring African and Caribbean popular urban music, from September, 1988, the year of Dublin City’s Millennium celebrations of its foundation in 988 AD. Founding members also organised other
events and projects prior to the organisation’s establishment. Previous and current activities include the following: • organised an annual Africa Festival from 1995 and 1998 • an Education programme on Africa in Schools and Public Libraries • a Festival of Literature for Younger Readers featuring African books
• Research & Publications on Africarelated issues • a Youth Arts programme We in the African Cultural Project don’t claim to speak on behalf of the whole of Africa or, for that matter, for all the estimated 900 million plus Africans. What we do, rather, is to identify people from a particular country and seek their views on a specific or partic-
2014 January 16 - 31 | 35
ular issue, and to get their involvement in any educational programme we might propose. In this way, we respect their right to decide how to explain their own issues or “tell their own particular story”. Legal Status The African Cultural Project is a registered not-forprofit company 235054 and is also a recognised by the Revenue
Commissioners in Ireland as a Charity: Number 11316. Further Information If you are interested in our work and would like to know more or find out how to get involved in some aspect, please, contact us through: education@africainstitute.eu African Cultural Project / Africa Institute
36 | 2014 January 16 - 31
Opinion
PHILIP EFIONG: THE FORGOTTEN HERO OF THE BIAFRAN WAR?
December AfricaWorldnewspaper 25 - 2014 | 05
Opinion
AfricaWorldnewspper
By Olajide Jatto The Nigerian civil war is by far the greatest tragedy in terms of loss to civilian lives over such a short period of time to have befallen the Nigerian state. I wasn’t born back then so all I have to go on are written accounts and words of those who were alive back then to unravel exactly what happened. Whatever the case is, many people lost their lives (needlessly might I add) and that has to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It doesn’t matter where they were from, North, South, East or West. Makes no difference if they were black, white or pink. People died needlessly, and that is wrong. It will take something sub-human to justify it. by Olajide JattoMar 27, 2014 The Nigerian civil war is by far the greatest tragedy in terms of loss to civilian lives over such a short period of time to have befallen the Nigerian state. I wasn’t born back then so all I have to go on are written accounts and words of those who were alive back then to unravel exactly what happened. Whatever the case is, many people lost their lives (needlessly might I add) and that has to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It doesn’t matter where they were from, North,
South, East or West. Makes no difference if they were black, white or pink. People died needlessly, and that is wrong. It will take something sub-human to justify it. It is easy as a follower of history to just take in the numbers and statistics. What is however needful is to put yourself in the shoes of the poor people who had to go through these evil as part of their lives. Who did they offend to have to starve? Who did the women offend to have to lose their husbands and sons who go off to the front lines? Where did the young men err that had to witness their wives get raped by opposing soldiers? What wrong has the young boy who just lost his playmates done? Much has been said of what caused the war and who the villains were. Even more unfortunate is the seeming need Nigerians look to have cultivated of blindly towing the tribal lines. Seriously? Correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t the war get to Ore in Ondo state and claim Yoruba lives and weren’t there any Hausa casualties from the Nigerian Army’s side? Who cares if the guy who killed and raped innocent people is from my village? He should be condemned and brought to justice, simple! How petty have we
become to idolize someone who caused pain needlessly on people just because he is a fellow tribesman? As far as I’m concerned (and I definitely stand corrected), the war was more about justifying a man’s earlier mistake who was too proud to concede he was wrong. I mean why secede as a state when you don’t have the means to maintain your sovereignty. Even if it turned out the secession made sense, how about the war continuing when it increasingly looked like nothing more than a suicide mission? And to cap it all up, if you were so brave, why did you run away at the end of it all sitting on the floor of a cargo plane? Why cause the death and destruction of so many lives and property and then scamper and flee when it was all over? I don’t want to come across as if I’m bent on attacking anyone but if that’s not cowardly, I’m not sure what is. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what the then Nigerian head of state called him. It was obvious anyone who puts an end to this massacre is a hero. Right? Step forward Major General Philip Efiong. A general from what you can call a minority. He was left to make the concession after the main belligerent had run away. It might have been the obvious decision but
2014 January 16 - 31 | 37
so it had been for a long time, yet the chief belligerent himself had been too proud to admit it. I came across a post somewhere on the internet of someone calling him a coward. How is he a coward? He soldiered on like the soldier he was when taking orders from his boss and did the needful when he had the authority to. Was he supposed to ‘fight till the last man’ and at the end of it still have the Nigerian forces occupy their land anyway? I heard his son in a speech at the National University of Ireland recount his account of the war and it only showed the toll the war took on Efiong’s family, property and self. In his own words: “I have no regrets whatsoever of my involvement in Biafra or the role I played. The war deprived me of my property, dignity, my name. Yet, I saved so many souls on both sides and by this, I mean Biafra and Nigeria. I’m denied everything; No gratuity no pension. Nothing. I felt that I played a role which has kept this country united till today. I never shot anybody, all I did was as a military personnel and officer, I trained soldiers who went to the bush to fight. At the end of it all when I saw they (Biafran soldiers) could no longer continue and Ojukwu had
fled, I did what was ideal after wide consultation that today Ojukwu is a hero in this country. I’m not envious but why am I being persecuted by country I played a significant role in is unity”. Efiong died in 2003. I don’t know how much he had in his account or how many houses but I’m pretty sure he died with a clean conscience not for his role in being a part of the war but his role in ending it. He saved many lives predominantly Igbo lives. And may I also remind everyone he wasn’t Igbo. In my opinion, Philip Efiong found himself somewhere and simply did was he thought was the right and obvious thing to do and he should be celebrated for that. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters Olajide Jatto
News
38 | 2014 January 16 - 31
AfricaWorldnewspaper
CONFRONTING NIGERIA’S POLITICAL PROBLEM THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: LESSONS FROM GUTZLER Seven-year old Sailor Gutzler went in with her dad, mum, nine year old sister and cousin, but came out alone. She became the sole survivor in a plane crash that claimed almost all family members. The Piper PA-34 left the sunny climes of Key West, Florida, that Friday morning, January 2, heading for Mount Vernon, Illinois in the United Sates. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft shortly after the pilot reported engine problems and said he was diverting to the Kentucky Dam State (Park) airport. But that was it. All died but little Sailor. The mystery of Sailor’s survival remains unraveled but her bravery presents a greater puzzle. Like her name, Sailor sailed through the apparent insurmountable hurdles. She exited the crash site all alone. Even with the plane upside down, the 7-year-old made it. She trekked three-quarters of a mile in the dark through what was described as “very, very rough territory,” mired with fallen trees, creeks,
ditches and blackberry briars. CNN put it this way, “The knock was faint. But, alerted by his two dachshunds, Larry Wikkins went to his door and opened it to see a young girlher lips quivering, her nose bloodied, her arms and legs scratched up”. That was Sailor, in the early hours of the morning. She looked frazzled out, yet she made it. The courage of a seven year old girl was incredible. Imagine the environment which Sailor found herself at the time. Silence hovered. Death was everywhere. All brokenness! The aircraft was completely shattered. All seemed abnormal. Doors turned into windows and windows into coffins. The environment defied the definition of anything normal. Yet Sailor walked out. Could she have recognized what happened to her? Could she be unconscious? Could she be in control of her actions after crashing from over thirty thousand feet? She alone has the correct answers to these questions since she was alone. That
resembled the miraculous escape of Peter from prison. The angel tapped him on the side and said, “Get up! Hurry! Put on your belt and sandals” (Acts 12: 7-8). The chains fell off from Peter’s hands then and he followed though unsure of the reality of what transpired. We’ll leave this part of the story for Sailor to tell at the appropriate time. But sure, the Lord guided her through the valleys of death at such a tender age. The chains of death fell off from Sailor. Ordinarily, the seven-year-old saw herself in a helpless situation. She would have given up under normal human circumstances. She had her stronger family members all gone. She could have only sobbed and perhaps be discovered later by search parties. The life-threatening conditions could have compounded her situation. Dressed and departing from a warm zone, she was, “barefoot except for one sock and was dressed for Florida -- shorts, no coat -- not for slogging through
the January cold of Kentucky”. It was under this frigid situation that Sailor walked on. She would have frozen under the rusty weather. No winter coat. No hat. No gloves. Not even a thermal wear to protect her fragile body. Yet she walked on. The environment was terrifying too. Mangled bodies of her closest relatives stared the little girl in the face. Darkness hovered. Stillness was everywhere. The ditched and sloppy forests could have posited great challenges. Yet she navigated through to the house of Larry Wilkins. What a rare feat! Sailor’s determination is thus challenging to not only children but adults, not only to individuals but nations. Her consistency and courage exude strong commitment to the course of life. With a lion’s heart, Sailor’s journey represents a battle with the forces of discouragement. Her consciousness, having lost parents and closest relatives didn’t hinder her from continuing the journey to survival. Sailor was
poised to make it. She was determined to live. She didn’t stay back to evoke pity, rather she took her destiny into her hands. As a young girl, one could present an argument that Sailor simply didn’t know what she was doing when she walked away from the scene. That rather made her case most intriguing. She was totally dependent on her parents for the journey, but they didn’t make it. She had no moral capacity. She had no cognitive powers to discern. Yet she took a decision that placed her far above her peers. She radiated wisdom of a unique brand. She challenged individuals facing crisis. She taught humanity the value of wisdom. She became a professor of Crisis Management. It is not to sit and wait idly for solution without taking the rare step forward. The imprint of the loss of parents and dear ones will remain engraved in her head but the wisdom of her action will reside in her heart. It will spur her to greater actions in the future. She has demonstrated potentials for greatness, capacity to take risks, to dare situations. She has taught the world to rise and confront the many political and social ills threatening the safety of today’s society. She has taught that mediocrity breeds complacency. Nigeria needs men and
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AfricaWorldnewspper
women like Sailor to rise up against the numerous ills that threaten human dignity today. In a society where religious extremism reigns; in a society where negative and false political opinions thrive; in a society where violence, manipulations and neo-enslavement dominate; in a society where human dignity is violated; where life has become a commodity; in a society where value has given way to populism; in a society where economy dwindles; in a society where children’s future is ferociously bleak; in a society where political leaders have become predators; where failure has become ominous, the lessons of 7-year old Sailor stare us in the face. The story of excess crude oil money is the same. The story of corruption is the same. The story of education is the same. The story of
power is the same. The story of the police force is the same. The story of roads is the same. The story of (un) employment is the same. The story of (in)security is the same. Same old story everywhere! Nigerians find themselves mired with fallen political trees. They struggle in the midst of administrative trenches, creeks, ditches and briars. Our lips are quivering, our noses bloodied, our arms and legs have been regrettably scratched up by fatal political injuries. It is imperative to rise and walk out. One important gift of the time is the social media. We must take advantage of the social media to combat Nigeria’s political ills. The social media is available and simple for use. We no longer need television, radio or newspapers to make our voices heard. The opportunities are in our palms as
mobile handsets. They are available on tablets, IPads, etc, which we use mostly and regrettably only as objects for taking photos. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, etc, are now available to all at low cost, and we have them. They are meant to communicate feelings. They are intended to promote ideas. They are meant to sell across ideologies in the world. They are meant to oppose negative and dehumanizing policies. Students use them to carry out demonstrations. Business men use them to market their products. Politicians use them to carry out political campaigns. Communities use them to rise against unhealthy practices in the interest of the common good. Activists use them to propagate the truth. Only one click and the message is sent. If I click from the U.S.,
another clicks from Germany, another from Ireland, another from Dubai, another from Australia, from Nigeria, etc, our message would be gaining the required weight. The youth in particular must take advantage of these media outlets. Let’s dare the odds. Let’s speak out to uphold healthy political ideologies in Nigeria. Let’s not pretend that it doesn’t concern us. There is a growing effort to suffocate and suppress courageous voices in Nigeria. The strategy is disempowerment which comes in forms of unemployment, poor educational policies, intellectual impoverishment of the masses especially of the young, ethnic or tribal sentimentalism, and dominance of hegemonic powers. These should rather be the reasons why we need to walk away like Sailor. We must rise in 2015 and say no.
2014 January 16 - 31 | 39
We must say no to political thuggery, no to empty political promises, no to administrative insincerity, no to intimidating, intellectual rhetoric, no to cheap exploitation of youth, no to election malpractices, no to non - performance at all levels. Now is the time to walk away from political debris which has smeared Nigeria’s image and held her citizens in bondage for over five decades now. Let’s knock on the door of the social media. Let’s use our last energy and knock. Speak out. Put out your objective opinion on Facebook. Put it on Twitter. Put it on LinkedIn. Put it on Instagram. Never imagine that no one is reading your posts. Not everyone who sees makes comment, but all who see it take note. It’s time for change.
DEMOCRACY WATCH GROUP (DWG) Democracy Watch Group DWG) Condemns The Latest Orgy of Politically Motivated Violence
We are saddened by the level of violence which has resulted in death, injuries and damage to properties The Democracy which goes a long Watch Group way to underscore (DWG) condemns the fact that our in strong terms the political class have latest orgy of ponot learnt any leslitically motivated son about civilized violence across the and democratic country which is conduct. These unbarbaric, despica- constitutional and ble, undemocratic undemocratic acts and unconstituare totally unactional.
ceptable and must be condemned by all lovers of democracy. We have watched in disappointment how some of the political parties and their candidates have deviated from issues based campaign and have resorted to inflammatory, provocative and inciting statements
against their opponents which is crude, barbaric and a threat to public peace and national security. The Democracy Watch Group (DWG) hereby calls on the political parties and their candidates to immediately sheathe their sword of campaign of hate and blackmail
which is a total contravention of civilized conduct, democracy and the code of conduct signed with INEC. We equally call on the electoral body to immediately read the riot act to the political parties and invoke sanctions on erring parties who violate the code of con-
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duct by threatening democracy and public peace. We also call on the security agencies to rise up to the occasion by discharging their responsibilities with utmost dedication, professionalism and impartiality by addressing threats to democracy, public peace and national security. In view of the above, the Democracy Watch Group (DWG) demands
the following: 1. INEC should immediately summon all the political parties to a public declaration of allegiance to the code of conduct or face sanctions. 2. This public declaration of allegiance to the rule of law and code of conduct by the political parties should be carried out at the National, State and Local government level
throughout the federation. 3. The security agencies must also read the riot act to politicians no matter how highly placed to desist from threatening public peace and national security by hate speeches and attack on personalities, but focus on issues based campaign or be held responsible for breakdown of law and order. 4. We also want
AfricaWorldnewspaper
to enjoin public spirited individuals and groups to embrace this national assignment of calling the political class to order.
to ensure that we play our roles patriotically.
The peace and tranquility of the country is a collective responsibility which must not be allowed to be threatened by any uncivilized and unconstitutional utterances and conduct and so we all owe it a duty
Signed,
Thanks, Yours Sincerely, Barr. Wale Ogunade Nelson Ekujumi Chairman
CANDID ASSESSMENT OF U.S. RESPONSE TO THE EBOLA CRISIS AT HOME AND ABROAD AV Teleforum, 12/13/14: The general consensus of multidisciplinary panelists on the Candid Assessment of U.S. Response to the Ebola Crisis at Home and Abroad – that took place on 12/13/14 from 12-3PM on the AV Teleforum brought a new light on how to meet the immediate and future challenges of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks in Africa. The conversation sets a clear tone that: establishing permanent global standard health research institutes for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Africa is the most likely sustainable solution to controlling disease out-
breaks before they become epidemics and easy cross border risk transfers.
globally has now exceeded 20,000. The necessity to combat Ebola on the frontline has brought allies and non-allied nations together. Nations, Institutions, and Individuals from all over the world have contributed large amount of money, resources, and services to the cause through their trusted sources. This means that there is no better time to promote the idea of the much needed African health institutes. So please do one of the following:
The panel which, consisted of representatives from the global scientific community, governments, African economists, inventors, and the civil society made the case that an extended network of integrated health institutes with global support will help improve global health security capacity in vulnerable countries in preventing, detecting, as well as improve local emergency response • Send a thoughtpreparedness. ful letter to your The Ebola virus is representatives. • Start a camstill spreading in West Africa, espe- paign. Raise awarecially in Sierra Le- ness at your school one, and the num- and community. ber of known cases • Discuss among
your constituencies and follow through on the simple message: “BUILD SUSTAINABLE AFRICAN HEALTH INSTITUTES” It will take multilateral negotiations, multipartnership investment agreements and integrated intelligence resource coordination at home and abroad. Our cumulative voices can mobilize a fresh understanding of Africa’s responsibilities in the universal ecosystem and help generate consensus for right action. There is no doubt that an Integral global standard health institute is a real need in Africa and a peace of mind
to the rest of the world. Please support the Integral Global Standard African Health Institutes Initiative” (#buildafricanhealthinstitutes). Tweet and retweet: #buildafricahealthinstitutes ACT NOW! Listen and see detail report of 12/13/14 discussion including pictures and bios of speakers here: http://bit.ly/avteleforum-ebola
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Health / africanworldforum
BEWARE OF SALT By Jachimma Nwa- of nutrients and upset normal body chukwu functions, and Salt is critical to life this can result in a and is a basic ele- number of dangerment of which our ous health consebody is made. With quences including diabetes, asthma, water, salt regulates all metabolic osteoporosis, kidney problems, and bodily functions. “. . .all of us have in even Ménière’s our veins the exact disease. same percentage of salt in our blood Let’s look into aa few of the most that exists in the ocean, and, there- common; fore, we have salt Hypertension SALT increases in our blood, in blood pressure. It’s our sweat, in our interesting to note tears. We are tied to the ocean. And, that High Blood when we go back Pressure is a major risk factor for to the sea . . . we are going back to death in women in whence we came.” the USA, It contrib- John F. Kennedy utes to close to 200 000 female deaths annually, Although salt is which is over 5 important, eating too much salt times the that of can cause serious breast cancer. health risks. Common salt, (sodium Heart Defects chloride) has high The consumpsodium content tion of excessive and can cause a amounts of salt serious impact on almost all bio- can lead to abnorchemical pathways mal heart developof the body. Adults ment. An increase in blood volume need less than 1 would cause the gram per day. An heart to become excess of 2000 milligrams per day larger than normal, resulting in thinner can inhibit the proper absorption heart valves. The
heart would then become weaker as it has to work twice as hard to ensure adequate circulation. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pains. Stroke According to actionsalt.org.uk, Stroke is the third biggest killer in the United Kingdom and leading cause of severe adult disability. It is caused by the killing off of cells in the brain, brought about by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the head. High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for stroke and high salt consumption is a major cause. Strokes could lead to ‘vascular dementia’; A common form of dementia characterised by loss of brain function that affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behaviour. Dehydration and Swelling
2014 January 16 - 31 | 41
as bread, breakfast The feeling of cereal and ready thirst is a direct meals. The NHS response to conprovides a list of sumption of salty foods high in salt. food. An excessive To cut down on amount of sodium salt consumption, in the blood draws one should probawater out of cells bly eat these foods and into tissue. De- less often; hydrated cells then signal the brain for Anchovies, bawater. Fluid filled con, cheese, gravy tissue makes a granules, ham, person look swol- olives, pickles, len and bloated. prawns, salami, These symptoms salted and dry are most prevalent roasted nuts, salt in the lower body. fish, smoked meat and fish, soy sauce, Digestive Diseases stock cubes, yeast extract. [www.nhs. The acid-base bal- uk] ance of blood as well as body fluids Sources: www.nhs. is regulated by so- uk/salt: the facts dium. An excessive amount of sodium www.actiononsalt. could cause an org.uk/less/Health/ acid reflux resultindex.html ing in heart burn and damage to the www.3fatchicks. upper digestive com/7-healthtract. This could risks-of-eatingcause stomach ul- too-much-salt/ cers and cancers in the long term. www.heart.org/ HEARTORG/GetReducing Salt IntingHealthy/ take Examples NutritionCenter/ of Foods High in HealthyDietGoals/ Common Salt TheSome foods contain high levels of Effects-of-Excesssalt because of the Sodium-on-Yourway that they are Health-andmade. 75% of the salt we Appearance_ eat is already in ev- UCM_454387_Areryday foods such ticle.jsp
MR. JIMI AGBAJE’S THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY STATEMENT IS RECKLESS AND PROVOCATIVE The Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) condemns in strong terms Mr. Jimi Agbaje’s reck-
less, provocative, inciting, irresponsible, undemocratic, assault to human sensibilities and threat to national
security statement which he made at a parley in London as reported in the Nigeria media, (The Punch News-
paper of January 8th 2015). According to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who is the PDP guber-
natorial aspirant in Lagos State for the 2015 elections, “Well, people will be upset and they have shown
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42 | 2014 January 16 - 31
that they have the power to shut down the system? I am not saying it is justified but the reality is there. If the system is shut down, where are we as a country�?
agencies.
during his New Year Day speech to ensure peace in the country before, during and after the elections by directing the security agencies to arrest trouble makers and this provocative and inciting statement by Mr. Jimi Agbaje presents a perfect opportunity to test the sincerity of Mr. President and the professionalism of the security agencies.
We are not unaware of the inciting and provocative statements from political gladiators which is heating up the polity and threatening We at CRGI regard national security this statement as and thus, we want not only a threat to call on the secuto democracy, na- rity agencies to live tional unity and up to their constipeaceful conduct tutional responsiof the 2015 genbility of maintaineral elections, but ing law and order a revelation from a before, during and member of an anti after the polls. democratic and evil gang which We are also aware In the light of this, deserves the atten- that Mr. President the Centre for tion of the security gave assurances Rights and Grass-
AfricaWorldnewspaper
roots Initiative (CRGI) demands that:
security statement.
The security agencies have a 1. The security constitutional reagencies immedi- sponsibility to the ately invite Mr. Jimi people of Nigeria Agbaje for questo be impartial and tioning to give professional in the more light on his discharge of their people who have functions and it is the power to shut hoped that they the system. will take this task as a national as2. That the secu- signment. rity agencies make their findings Thanks, public in order to reassure Nigerians Yours Sincerely, whose sensibilities has been assaulted Nelson Ekujumi, by Mr. Jimi AgExecutive Director. baje’s reckless and threat to national
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN EACH SIX GEOPOLITICAL ZONE IN NIGERIA BY INEC The total number of eligible voters in each Six Geopolitical Zone in Nigeria by INEC ----------SOUTH EAST----------
----------SOUTH WEST----------
--------SOUTH SOUTH--------
Abia 1,481,191 Anambra 1,758,220 Enugu 1,301,185 Imo 1,611,715 Ebonyi 876,249 TOTAL = 7,028,560
Lagos 6,247,845 Ogun 1,869,326 Osun 1,293,967 Ondo 1,558,975 Ekiti 750,753 Oyo 2,577,490 TOTAL=14,298,356
Edo 1,412;225 Delta 1,900,055 Bayelsa 472,389 Akwa Ibom 1,714,781 RIvers 2,419,057 C/Rivers 1,018,550 TOTAL 8,937,057
-------NORTH CENTRAL-------
----------NORTH EAST----------
---------NORTH WEST---------
Benue 1,415,162 Kogi 1,215,405 Kwara 1,115,665 Nassarawa 1,224,206 Niger 721,478 Plateau 1,983,453 TOTAL 7,675,369
Adamawa 1,714,860 Bauchi 1,835,562 Borno 2,730,368 Gombe 1,266,993 Taraba 1,308,106 Yobe 1,182,230 TOTAL 10,038,119
Jigawa 1,852,698 Kano 5,135,415 Katsina 2,931,668 Kaduna 3,565,762 Kebbi 1,603,468 Sokoto 2,065,508 Zamfara 1,746,024 TOTAL 18,900,543
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2014 January 16 - 31 | 43
Died 24th December 2014. Funeral Arrangements Lagos State - Service of Songs: 20th Jan. 2015 @ his residence Plot 1115,4th Avenue Festac Town,Lagos Wake Keep: 23rd Jan. 2015 @ Officer’s Mess,Military Hospital Yaba,Lagos Anambra State - Vigil Mass 4th Feb. 2015 @ St James Catholic Church Otolo Nnewi,Anambra State. Lying in State & Burial 5th Feb.2015 @ Ancestral Compound in Nnewi,,Anambra State. Funeral Continues 6th Feb. 2015 Outgoing Service 7th Feb. 2015 @ St James Catholic Church Otolo Nnewi,Anambra State. Survived by wife - Mrs Nchedo H. Ubajaka (Greenpeace) Sons,Daughters & Grandchildren
44 |December 06 | 2014 January 25 -16 2014 - 31
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