www.afrikanpost.com
Circulated all over the United States
Free
African Community News
Ghanaian, Kofi Kingston Becomes the first African to win the World Wrestling Championship Pg. 5
Vol 11 Issue 4
April 2019
Do You Want Your Business, Church or Event on the Web ? Affordable Web Design Call 703 725 6968
Great Deals On Toyota Cars Call Charles Now 571-575-9764 Bad Credit ? No Credit ? No Problem !!
April 2019
April
2019
Page
3
Afrikan Post
Aptil
2019
Page 4
Aptil
Afrikan Post
Page 5
Newly crowned WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston returns home after 25 years
From the Editor
O u r G r ea tes t G lor y is n o t in n ever f allin g b u t in r is in g ever y time we f a ll . We ar e co mmittted to br in g in g th e commu n ity th e bes t in N ews f r o m Af r ica a n d th e D ia s por a . Yo u may a ls o vis it o u r web s ite a t www. af r ikan po s t.com f o r d aily n ews u p d ates o n Af r ica . D is claimer : Th e o p in ion s ex pr es s ed in ar ticles a n d s tor ies in th is N ews pap er ar e th o s e o f th e a u th o r s an d do n o t n eces s ar ily r ef lect th e views o f Af r ika n Pos t . All commen ts a n d s u gges tion s ar e welco me.
2019
by Abrantie Pagez
George Kwasi Bright Publisher and Editor
To Advertise Your Business or contribute
Call 703- 725- 6968 or E-mail: editor@afrikanpost.com Address: Bright House Productions 6236 Oscar Court Woodbridge VA 22193 D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 11 Issue 4
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
Nathan Pryce & The Dreams at 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge Pg. 8
Black Inventor Creates Board Game That Teaches Children and Adults How to Start a Business Pg. 11
Ugandan Man Becomes A Lawyer To Win Family Land Back Page 15
HER PAGE
You Have No Idea Pg. 11
Dwamena Akenten Alumni In USA Donate to Alma Mater Pg. 25
UPDATE
Why Some African Americans Are Moving To Africa Pg. 14
Ghanaian Wrester, Kofi Kingston who made headlines some few ago after he was crowned as the first African to win the World Wrestling Championship is set to return to Ghana after his historic win. Kofi made this declaration on Instagram . He posted a video which his mother had sent to him of his uncle and the general population in Techiman watching him win the WWE title at Wrestlemania.
“In seeing this, I am overcome with pride and joy. I’m still blown away by how many lives we touched. This video is a reminder of why we do what we do: to lift spirits and inspire others. I am so grateful to be in a position to do so.” Kofi Kingston said. http://www.presidency.gov.gh
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah (born August 14, 1981) is a Ghanaian-American professional wrestler signed to WWE, under the ring name Kofi Kingston, where he performs on the SmackDown brand, and is the current WWE Champion in his first reign. He is the first African-born WWE Champion and is also a member of The New Day along with Big E and Xavier Woods.
Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to win the WWE Championship, his first world title in WWE.
After graduating college, Sarkodie-Mensah decided to pursue a professional wrestling career. He began performing on the New England independent circuit as a Jamaican wrestler by the name of Kofi Nahaje Kingston.[4] After signing a developmental deal with WWE in 2007, he shortened his ring name to "Kofi Kingston". Kingston debuted in WWE in 2008 using the same Jamaican character as he did on the independent circuit. In late 2009, he stopped being billed from Jamaica and dropped the accent although he kept his ring name. He then started being billed from his home country of Ghana.
Kingston spent much of his first few years in WWE on the midcard singles scene, during which he became a four-time Intercontinental Champion and a three-time United States Champion. In 2014, Kingston formed The New Day with Big E and Xavier Woods. The trio went on to break the record for the longest Tag Team Championship reign in WWE history when they held the WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship from August 2015 to December 2016 while defending the titles under the Freebird rule.[5][6] In April 2019,
He is the first African-born world champion in WWE history as well as its 30th Triple Crown Champion and 20th overall Grand Slam Champion (13th under the current format). In addition, Kingston himself holds the singular record for most days spent as a Tag Team Champion within WWE and is also known for innovative ways of suspending his elimination from Royal Rumble and battle royal matches. With the exception of a few months spent as a heel (villainous character) in 2015 with The New Day, Kingston has been a babyface (heroic character) for almost the entirety of his WWE career.
https://en.wikipedia.org
April
2019
Delaware State U. working with African Union to connect African Americans to Africa
Page 6
chairs the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, said the seminar was timely, as this year marks the 400th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
“That trade is a crime against humanity,” Gambari said. “It’s the foundation of racism and the racist attitude toward Africa and people of African descent.”
Gambari said DSU was taking the first step to helping raise awareness of Africa and DSU’s new initiative.
“We want to take control of our destiny,” Gambari said. “We want to organize ourselves, but we want to organize ourselves better to provide for our people.”
Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the African Union ambassador to the U.S., brought greetings to attendees from the 55 African heads of states and the 1.27 billion people who live on the continent. She said it’s time to talk about Africa and African Americans being “one voice, one Africa, one continent, one heart, proud and strong.”
African Union Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao speaks at a panel discussion during the Pan African Development Conference at DSU Thursday afternoon (Courtesy of Delaware State University) Delaware State University has partnered with the African Peer Review Mechanism to help bridge the gap between Africa and its “Sixth Region” — people of African heritage who live outside the continent.
Inc., a development partner in the effort. Kool-Baker works to bring renewable energy to Africa. It was founded by Baker, a former Major League baseball player, and Kool and the Gang frontman Robert “Kool” Bell.
“There’s so much of Africa that needs power, so hopefully we can get a few people motivated to come in this area and The APRM is an agency of the African Union that studcome in this field,” Baker said. “Then we’ve done our job.” ies African nations and develops best practices for governance. DSU administrators, Baker, Bell and African diplomats DSU, a historically Black university, has established the announced the partnership and the creation of the Center for Global Africa during the university’s first Pan African Center for Global Africa to “tie direct links with Development Conference on Thursday morning. HBCUs into Africa,” said Ezrah Ahrone, a DSU adjunct
associate professor of political science who helped develop the Center for Global Africa.
“It’s important to get young people involved,” said Dusty Baker, one of the founders of Kool-Baker Global
Attendees came from as far away as South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. Attendees also came from other HBCUs, including Lincoln University.
Ibrahim Gambari, a Nigerian scholar and diplomat who
Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang speaks at a panel discussion at Delaware State University’s Pan African Development ConferenceBell and baseball legend Dusty Baker founded Kool-Baker Global to bring renewable energy initiatives to Africa. They are a development partner in the collaboration between the university and the African Peer Review Mechanism (Courtesy of Delaware State University)
When she became a diplomat, she said, she didn’t expect to stay long, but “blatant and profound disrespect of Africa” convinced her to stay.
“I decided I just maybe could be a voice for the voiceless,” she said.
The ambassador said Blacks are missing in action and it’s time to organize.
“When you ask for the voices of the African diaspora, you might as well go to the graveyard,” Chihombori-Quao said. “You wonder why we become the most disrespected people. We don’t trust each other. The rest of the other ethnic groups, they stick together like super glue when it comes to issues to do with their country or origin. We Black people are too busy running away from each other.”
She said African heads of state are encouraging African Americans to visit the continent between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4.
“We are going to celebrate the children of Africa coming home,” she said. rpersinger@phillytrib.com (215) 893-5724
ByRyanne Persinger, The Philadelphia TribuneApril 13, 2019
These African Countries Have Banned Or Restricted The Use Of Plastic Bags
Building Roads Out Of Plastic Bags In Ghana Aptil
2019
Page 7
Photo Credit: Nelplast
Photo: The Green Vision Newspaper Today we celebrate Earth Day, set aside to support activities on environmental protection.
The day focuses on stopping plastic pollution as plastic is not only poisoning oceans and land but also affecting our health. Some African countries have already started the journey to reduce plastic pollution by banning the use, manufacture, and importation of or by imposing a levy on plastic bags in their countries.
Eritrea In 2005, Eritrea’s then head of environment in the Ministry of land water and environment, Wolde Yohannes announced the and on plastic and stated that those who import, produce, distribute or sell plastic bags will be fined.
The ban hoped to stem the blockage of drainage and harming farm animals and marine life as well as ruin natural vistas.
Morocco In October 2015, Morocco announced the plastic bag ban, which came to effect on July 1, 2016. The ban was part of a move by North African countries to go green. Unlike many countries, Morocco set up a $20million fund to support the companies affected by the ban , thus saving the workforce.
Rwanda It has been 10 years since Rwanda banned plastic bag in the country. What has made it work is the vigilance of authorities, who will search bags at airports, and confiscate any plastic bags. The country also uses the aspect of shame (besides fines and jail term) by
making illegal traffickers confess to their crime in public or use teeth to destroy the bags. South Africa South Africa banned plastic bags in 2004, and offenders would be fined of $8300 or a 10-year jail term. However, it has been largely unsuccessful if the comments by former Environment minister Valli Moosa is anything to go by.
Mauritania in 2013, the north African country banned plastic bag ban to protect the environment. The move came after 70 percent of animals that die in the capital, Nouakchott, are killed by eating plastic bags. As per the law, manufacturers of plastic bags could end up in prison for a year.
Ethiopia In 2011, Ethiopia banned the manufacture and import of single-use bags as part of the Ethiopia Green Growth Strategy.
In 2016, A director in the Environment ministry, Mr Mehari Wendimagegn reiterated the need to punish companies that still manufactured less than 0.03mm of plastic bags.
Kenya In 2017, Kenya made bags the making producing, selling and even using plastic bags illegal, in what is now the world’s toughest law on reducing plastic pollution.
Mali The Malian government banned the production, importation, possession, sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in
a law passed in 2012 that came into effect in January 2013. Tanzania In 2016, Minister of State in the VicePresident’s Office (Union Affairs and Environment), January Makamba announced the total ban on plastic bags in Tanzania.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has cast a spotlight on the initiative of building roads with plastic bags in Ghana. As seen in the video and explained by the WEF, the bags are shredded and mixed with sand creating a new form of asphalt that is resilient, long-lasting and uses fewer natural resources to make.
They further added that any type of plastic rubbish can be used to create the blocks. Ghana’s Ministry of Environment is apparently using the blocks in one district and wants to help the company, known as Nelplast and founded by Nelson Boateng expand its business.
The ban, however, does not affect plastic bags used in medical services, industrial packaging, construction industry, agricultural sector and in sanitary use and waste management.
Malawi Malawi banned the importation, production and use of thin plastic bags, in March 2014. An initial attempt was made in December 2012 but was suspended after a month when the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malawi (PMAM) obtained a court order.
Nelson Boateng (right) with Ghana’s Minister of Environment — Photo Credit: Nelplast
The government also banned imports of plastic carrier bags, alcohol sachets and plastic papers with a thickness of less than 60 microns.
Cameroon In October 2012, Cameroon banned non-biodegradable plastic bags, giving the manufacturers and users until March 2014 to stop using them. Source: https://face2faceafrica.com NDUTA WAWERU
Pavement blocks made out of plastic — Photo Credit: Nelplast Source: FRANCIS AKHALBEY www.face2faceafrica.com
Nathan Pryce & The Dreams at 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge Aptil
2019
Page
Meet JOE POMPOR sensational keyboard player, SAMMY the vocalist and drummer, lead guitarist NATHAN PRYCE, and DAN the bass guitarist pictured left to right here. These are members of The Dreams music group that performed at the 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge (ECC) in Washington, DC.
Nathan Pryce and the dreams are a group of Ghanaian born business and technology professionals based in the United States who all possess a love for live band music, afro jazz, and classic Ghanaian highlife music.
The Dreams occasionally get together when time permits to play favorites as well as their own compositions. The group has on two occasions performed at the popular international culinary cook-off event dubbed Embassy Chef Challenge at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
They performed at the ECC organized by Events DC in 2018 and 2019 to an audience of over a thousand that also included over a dozen Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community, professionals on the US Capitol Hill, Executive Chefs from over 20 countries and varied continents, as well as food and music lovers from respective organizations in and out of the United States.
12656 Lake Ridge Drive, Suite C Woodbridge, VA 22192 Tel: 571-285-5242 www.thoronkalaw.com
A Law Firm with a Difference Call Today 571-285-5242
This video (https://youtu.be/9-JtesG33O8) brings you glimpses of their performance and music from the 2019 embassy chef challenge held April 2 in the United States. For more info or to book The Dreams band, send an email to contact@oralofori.com
Source: TheAfricanDream.net
8
Worldwide Travel Inc. Appreciates its Clients With a Cocktail Reception Aptil
2019
Page
Worldwide Travel, Inc. One of the largest ethnic consolidators in the USA hosted a cocktail reception for it’s North American Clients at the KOF Sports Cafe in Bowie on Saturday March 31, 2019. Clients and associates from various parts of Africa and Asia attended the reception in Maryland.
Laxmi Chand the CEO of Worldwide Travel, Inc. expressed his profound appreciation to his clients for their loyalty and patronage.
From its establishment in 1975 Worldwide Travel, Inc. has quickly grown to become one of the largest of its kind in the country. Worldwide Travel Inc. has had the pleasure of doing business with many Travel Agents and Tour operators from various parts of the globe. It is partly due to the trading partnership they have established with these people that has helped them to attain the goals that they set for themselves.
Laxmi Chand the CEO of Worldwide Travel, Inc. addressing his Guests
Worldwide Travel Inc. has contracts with most major reputable airlines operating internationally. With their headquarters in Washington D.C. and their many offices globally, they can serve your travel needs wherever you are located. The key to their success is and has always been the friendly, courteous and honest service that they provide to their customers. Worldwide Travel Inc. is located at the following locations in the Washington metro Area 1026 16th St NW Ste 104 Washington, DC 20036 b/t N K St & N L St (800) 343-0038 info@goflyhome.com
Laxmi Chand the CEO of Worldwide Travel, Inc. (Left) and some friends
4810 Beauregard St STE 100, Alexandria, VA 22312
8607 2nd Ave # 203A, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: (301) 562-5902
Niyi Adebajo, Editor and Publisher of the African Mirror
9
Aptil
2019
Page
Black Inventor Creates Board Game That Teaches Children and Adults How to Start a Business Learn more about the game at https://entrepreneurboardgame.com Also, follow the game on social media:
Facebook – @TheEntrepreneurGamebyEESpeaks Twitter – @EntrpBoardGame Instagram – @TheEntrepreneurGame PRESS CONTACT: Elliott Eddie Info@EntrepreneurBoardGame.com 804-855-4377
Elliott Eddie, founder of The Entrepreneur Game
Richmond, VA — Elliott Eddie, who has won over five state and two international public speaking awards, has created The Entrepreneur Game, a new board game that teaches children and adults how to start and build a successful home-based and brick & mortar business in the comfort of your own home. The Entrepreneur Game by EESpeaks is truly bringing fun back to game night. As a successful entrepreneur with over five companies that operate in the black, Elliott has taken his passions for entrepreneurship, public speaking and teaching and focused them on a board game that is aimed at expanding the knowledge and confidence of everyone who would consider becoming a captain of industry- particularly for those in our underserved and forgotten communities. “This is what I love to do,” said Elliott. “We may learn a few things in school, but one of the subjects it’s unlikely that we’ve been taught is entrepreneurship: how to create and build successful businesses of our own. Many of our schools barely teach our children the skills they need to survive. We owe it to our children and all of our futures to make sure they know that they are capable of creating a successful business. To make sure our children know that they can take their skills, talents and ideas to find a problem and solve it, to find a need and fill it, or to create a market and build it. Our children must grasp that among all of the things they can be now, and as they grow up, an entrepreneur is definitely within their grasp.”
This brainchild of Elliott is quickly capturing the minds and hearts of people worldwide. In September
of 2018, Elliott took his idea to the people; crowd funding on Kickstarter. In less than five hours, The Entrepreneur Game by EESpeaks had been fully funded, and by the end of its two and a half week stay on the popular crowd funding platform, the game had raised almost three times its target amount from over 350 people in eight different countries. Toys R Us in Canada has also asked for a price list of the game in French for its 180 stores.
About The Entrepreneur Game by EESpeaks The Entrepreneur Game by EESpeaks is a fun, educational and interactive game the whole family can enjoy! It is for children (and adults) ages 12 & up.
With 2-6 players, you start your journey around this classic style board game. You are Founder and C.E.O of your own home-based or brick & mortar business and your objective: to grow your business into an empire through marketing, budgeting, investing, decision-making and negotiating deals – all while avoiding bankruptcy! Become a millionaire and you are crowned “mogul of the game”.
The Entrepreneur Game by EESpeaks opens the imagination; this game allows players to experience the wonders and challenges of starting and growing your very own business in the comfort of your own home. Let your children’s imaginations (and yours) run wild as you create, build and grow your empire.
Let’s not forget, this is a game: it is ridiculously fun and will have all players vying to build the best business and come out on top! No two games are ever alike, so you can continuously play to sharpen your skills at creating steady growth. By the end of the game, whoever has the most in cash and non-cash assets wins. Become a millionaire and every other player must say your name and repeat; “You are an incredible entrepreneur, please teach me your wisdom.”
But be careful; This game could lead to confidence, competence, goal-setting and aspiring to live an incredible life!
10
You Have No Idea
H
Dr. Miriam C. Gyimah
ave you noticed that sometimes (actually most of the time) when you pray, you have so much on your prayer list that by the time you finish, you haven’t prayed for anyone else outside yourself and your immediate family? I have. We can get so wrapped up in ourselves and our needs that we forget to consider the needs of our friends, church family, community and our world at large. We fail to intercede for each other. One of the important lessons we learn from Jesus is that even while facing persecution and His pending crucifixion, He considered and prayed for his disciples. We have to keep this in mind so that we fulfill a crucial part of being imitators of Christ, interceding for each other. A critical area where we need to intercede for each other is our safety and well-being. I think we should continue to pray for our own personal safety, but praying for everyone’s well-being is key in protecting ourselves. When we intercede for each other, we close all gaps, all opportunities for the enemy to take a strong hold in our lives. We strengthen our core as well as our borders. It has become more and more necessary that we become cognizant of our responsibility to each other, for what affects one person affects us all. If anything, we must realize that if someone is not safe, then our safety too is not secured. I am moved to write on this subject because of the many accounts of senseless cruelty, violent crimes and deaths surrounding us. Each day, we are confronted with news from various communication sources citing grievous incidents. The information presented to us confirms that our world is only getting worse. We become disturbed and disheartened, but these are the signs of the times as the Bible has already warned us that we “will hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matt. 24:6-7) and that because “iniquity will abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12). Unfortunately, these events are not removed from us, but very close. We are living in dangerous times and we are all vulnerable to premeditated or random violence.
The news we hear is not the tale of someone else. The news is about us, not only because it is about mankind, but also because just as it happens to another person, it can easily happen to us. These narratives from the media are about our safety, our chances, and our tragedies. We can be hit hard with senseless violence and preventable tragedies. Even worse, our children are more vulnerable and there is almost no safe harbor for them. These days we can’t rest assured that they will be safe in their schools, the Boy Scouts or even in the church. There is someone always preying on them, pedophiles, child abusers of the emotional and physical kind, cruel and psychologically disturbed people. They can emotionally and spiritually impact our kids in a very harmful way. I don’t enjoy being the bearer of bad news, neither do I want to incite fear in anyone, but I think that as much as we might want to distance ourselves from such fearful thoughts and acts, we have to at least bear some reality in mind and then take the necessary steps to combat becoming victimized. As Christians, we are in the midst of warfare and must be vigilant and wise as the Bible advises. What do I mean by warfare? I mean that even as we go about innocently minding our business and living our lives as law-abiding and practicing Christians, danger is lurking somewhere, someplace. We have to understand that negative spiritual forces are at work against the lives of all people, even if one is a child of God. For instance, there are some accounts of individuals who walked close with God and had no idea that they were in warfare. The Apostle Peter walked closely with Jesus. If there was an inner circle within the twelve apostles and Jesus, Peter was certainly in that circle. He loved Jesus and Jesus loved him. Peter was passionate and even aggressive for the Lord, but Jesus knew that with all his passion and with all his good intentions for the ministry, Peter was like everyone else. He was a prey for the devil and the devil had set his sights on him. Peter was clearly unaware of this as Jesus revealed to him that “Satan had desired to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you….” (Luke 22:31). Just as he wanted with Peter, the enemy has a desire to destroy us, to render us useful for his kingdom or useless for God’s. But Christ’s revelation to Peter is one to us also. It warns us that we are not entirely safe and we shouldn’t take comfort in our ignorance. Although we can take comfort in knowing that Christ is watching over and praying for us, we also have to be aware that our adversary, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1st Peter 5:8). Knowing this, we are left with one important duty, to pray for each other. Christ’s example with Peter teaches us how we should relate to each other as
Christians. I think it even teaches us how we should relate to all people. We ought to intercede for each other. We ought to have foresight, empathy and compassion. Our compassion should not be activated after one has been sifted as wheat or completely destroyed. It should be constantly within us and expressed outwardly. A genuine expression of compassion is to remember each other in prayer. I remember that when I was younger, it puzzled me so much when someone would feel for another person whom they did not really know and they would cry or weep terribly for that person. My mother used to do that. I recall that when I was in high school, she received news on the death of an acquaintance’s daughter. I remember she cried and cried on the phone while talking with the family and then when she was done talking, with the phone still in her hand and her back against the yellow kitchen wall, she slowly slid down to the floor and cried even more. I looked at her as if something was wrong with her. I had heard parts of the conversation and deduced that a young girl had passed. Even still, I didn’t really understand why she was crying so terribly. I said directly and insensitively to her “why are you crying? You don’t even know the girl.” With tear tracks down her face, and tears still welling in her eyes, my mom quietly looked at me and said nothing. Quite a few years later and as life now counts me as a mother, I now understand what my mother felt. I will say that ever since I became a mother, I sense in me a pain and empathy I had never really felt for others before. I could be doing one thing or another and upon hearing of a particular tragedy that has occurred to another’s son, daughter, irrespective of the age, I become so disturbed that my eyes begin to well up with tears that I have to control myself by forcefully shutting down the tears that might want to make their way out of my eyes. I would force myself to endure the pain internally, especially when people were around just so that I wouldn’t appear as an emotional nutcase, a woman without any control of her feelings. There was one situation that I just couldn’t shut my heart and emotions down enough to restrain the flooding of the tears. A little five year old girl was raped and strangled. It turned out that her own mother had sold her into prostitution for a few dollars worth of drugs. The story resonated with me because I have a five year old niece; I also have a four year old daughter as well as help with children from infancy to five years old at my church. I know how I adore them and can only imagine how other mothers and families could easily adore their little princesses. There was no shutting down of the tears that time. I wept out loud in my home. I wept for the tragic loss of that girl’s life. After we have heard so many terrible accounts of such events, what are we doing about them beyond shaking our heads in disbelief? How are we expressing our compassion? How are we also working to prevent such a thing from happening to those near us and even
Aptil
2019
Page
ourselves? This girl’s situation reminds me of what Jesus said to Peter. He tells him that Satan had desired to sift him like wheat. Satan hasn’t changed and Peter is not the only intended victim. All the evil in the world is orchestrated by Satan’s dark forces and it is these forces that move human beings to become so destructive and murderous that they would harm little children. But aside from that particular news event, what of all the others like the adoptive mother in the state of Maryland who emotionally, psychologically, and physically abused, murdered and kept the bodies of two of her adopted daughters in a freezer? How could something like this happen? How could the domestic landscape become so tumultuous that a husband would intentionally set his wife on fire? While we hear these horrific stories, we have to remember that this is what Christ was talking about to Peter. We have to know that like Peter, we have no idea what the enemy is plotting against us, how he is ready to use someone to bring pain and heartache to our lives whether it will come by harming us directly or indirectly by harming a loved one. We have no idea. The great Job also had no idea that the devil had gone to God seeking permission to harm him. Consider all the destruction of his wealth, the death of all his children and what he physically suffered. Although Job was a righteous man, he didn’t know that he was in warfare and he certainly didn’t know that the enemy had intentions of destroying him, sifting him like wheat. So what are we to do, be nervous, insecure and intimidated by life? No, but we ought to recall the actions and words of Christ so that we will pray not only for ourselves but for each other. There is power in compassion, empathy and most importantly, prayer. There is power in interceding for each other. We ought to pray for our family, our church members, our neighbors, our children’s friends and acquaintances. We ought to pray for as many people as we can on a regular basis, so that we could spiritually thwart any physical manifestation of harm that the enemy of righteousness is plotting against lives. That is the action we should take. That is the advice inherent in Jesus’ words to Peter.
11
4-year-old African American boy reads 100 books in a day; this should be trending
Aptil 2019
Page
Ivorian king 'upset' by Notre-Dame blaze, vows rebuilding contribution
Citing strong links between his kingdom and France, an Ivorian king says he will contribute financially to the rebuilding of the ravaged NotreDame Cathedral in Paris.
Caleb Green posing next to his books -- Photo Credit: Sylus Green A 4-year-old boy in Chicago read 100 books in one day, a goal he personally wanted to achieve with the support of his parents who streamed it live on Facebook.
Caleb Green’s parents told ABC 7 Eyewitness News that they were shocked by their son’s decision to embark on the marathon reading and were equally inspired. “I learned to just dream bigger and I am going to set unrealistic goals for myself this coming year and I’m going to be inspired by Caleb to not quit on him and just push through it,” he added.
Caleb’s parents were supported by friends to provide the 100 books needed by the smart kid to reach his goal. He read 10 books at a time and danced to his progress.
The live videos gained a few thousand views, a disappointment especially when the likes of 11-year-old Keaton Jones whose video showed him crying and pleading against bullying in schools was viewed millions of times.
Despite his teary plea against bullying, he gained more bullies online after controversies surrounding his incarcerated father accused of being a white supremacist, and his mother who was accused of fraudulently creating a GoFundMe account to extort money from people touched by his story.
Caleb’s story is about excellence but has not gained traction like that of Keaton. Is it that people have no interest in children’s achievement? Are we more interested in the negative stories?
Meanwhile, Caleb’s father says they are not interested in GoFundMe campaigns but rather a book drive to raise 10,000 books to donate to schools for Christmas.
“Thank you all for the love and support you have been showing my babies. I have gotten TONS of request for Go Fund Me Campaigns, but we are MUCH more interested in a book drive! Please feel free to purchase books … and Caleb and his sister Jael will read the books to schools and give each child a copy for Christmas,” he posted on Facebook.
Caleb Green said he wanted to be a basketball player, an astronaut at 22 and a Ninja turtle at 23 years old. https://face2faceafrica.com
King Amon N’Douffou V of Krindjabo, capital of the Sanwi Kingdom, in southeastern Ivory Coast said he was in consultations with his elders over the intended donation. “I am in full consultation with my elders, we will make a donation for the reconstruction of this monument,” he told the AFP news agency.
The pictures (of the fire) disturbed my sleep and I could not spend the night, because this cathedral represents a strong link between my kingdom and France.
“The pictures (of the fire) disturbed my sleep and I could not spend the night, because this cathedral represents a strong link between my kingdom (the Sanwi, a French protectorate since July 1843) and France,” he added.
The royal oversees the Akan kingdom – large ethnic group that extends from Ivory Coast to Togo. The link he was referring to is of how a prince of the kingdom was in the 1700s taken to France and subsequently baptized in the cathedral. Then 15-year-old Prince Aniaba was taken to France in 1687 by one Chevalier d’Amon as a pledge of fidelity to Louis XIV. He took the name of his godfather after baptism.
He became Louis Aniaba, before being appointed officer in the Royal Regiment, with the rank of captain.
Louis XIV honoured the prince with the “Order of the Star of Our Lady” and on February 12, 1701, he received the insignia of his order in NotreDame Cathedral before returning to Ivory Coast. Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban https://www.africanews.com
12
Aptil
2019
Page 13
Odomankoma Nana
Tune in to Highlife Radio Every Saturday at 4pm for a Special Program by Odomankoma Nana . Veteran Radio Presenter and Master of Ceremonies. To Book the Eloquent Odomankoma to be your MC at any event call 703 725 6968
Aptil
2019
Page
Why Some African Americans Are Moving To Africa African Americans Are Returning To The Lands Of Their Ancestors As Life Becomes Precarious And Dangerous In The US.
Afrikan
Post
14
out. No matter where you were sold or Ghanaians; if you take away race there's a left the port, Senegal or Ghana, no one class system." can be certain where you came from." On the 'Blaxit' documentary ... "In my documentary, I chose five people that No matter where you were sold or left I've met since I've been here and every one the port, Senegal or Ghana, no one can of them went to a black college in the US. It's something that prepares you mentally to be certain where you came from. realise you aren't a second-class citizen. MUHAMMIDA EL-MUHAJIR Something like that can help you make a transition to live in Africa. On leaving New York for Accra... "Even when you live in a place like "I made Blaxit because of this wave of New York as a black person, you're African-Americans moving to Africa. This always an outsider. trend started to happen around independence of African countries, but the new wave [com"You hear stories about the richest prises] people who come to places like this. black people, like Oprah Winfrey, getMuhammida el-Muhajir says as an African American in the US, she felt she could 'never win' This new group has certain access in ting shut out of a store or Jay-Z not [Courtesy of Muhammida el-Muhajir] America and comes here to have that being allowed to buy [an apartment]. by Azad Essa Those things happen. It doesn't matter lifestyle in Africa. Accra, Ghana - They have come from the big cities of San Francisco, Chicago, "Unbeknown to us, we're living out the if you're a celebrity, you're a secondand New York. Thousands of them. And many refuse to return. vision that [Ghanaian politician and revoluclass citizen. This was the biggest tionary] Kwame Nkrumah set out for us, of issue for me. A new wave of African Americans is escaping the incessant racism and prejuthis country being the gateway to Africa for dice in the United States. From Senegal and Ghana to The Gambia, communithe black diaspora. "In America, you're always trying to ties are emerging in defiance of conventional wisdom that Africa is a continent "I don't want people to think that Africa is prove yourself; I don't need to prove everyone is trying to leave. myself to anyone else's standards here. this magic utopia where all your issues will It is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 African Americans live in Accra, go away. It's just that some of the things you I'm a champion, I ran track and went the Ghanaian capital. They are teachers in small towns in the west or entrepremight face in America as a black person to university, and I like to win, so I neurs in the capital and say they that even though living in Ghana is not always refuse to be in a situation where I will you won't have to suffer with those things easy, they feel free and safe. here. never win." "You might not have electricity, but you Take Muhammida el-Muhajir, a digital marketer from New York City, who left You might not have electricity, but you won't get killed by the police either. her job to move to Accra. won't get killed by the police either. She says she moved, because despite her education and experience, she was "I want people to understand that they have MUHAMMIDA EL-MUHAJIR always made to feel like a second-class citizen. Moving was an opportunity to options and alternatives. Most black people fulfil her potential and avoid being targeted by racial violence. in America don't know that these options On moving to Ghana ... "There are amenities that I am used to exist; they think they have to suffer because She told Al Jazeera her story: there's nowhere else to go. But no, there are at home in New York - like parties, On life as a second-class citizen in the US ... other places." open bars and fashion, so when I "I grew up in Philadelphia and then New York. I went to Howard, which is a realised I could do the same things in historically black university. I tell people that Ghana is like Howard in real life. Africa as I could back in the US, I was On the prospect of more African Americans It felt like a microcosm of the world. At university, they tell us the world isn't sold. There is also a big street art festi- moving... black, but there are places where this is the real world. Howard prepares you for "I think more will come when they begin to val here, and that was the difference a world where black people are in charge, which is a completely different expefrom when I came [as a student]. I saw see it as a viable alternative. But it's not easy rience compared to people who have gone to predominantly white universities." the things that I love at home here, so I and it's not cheap. I can't say what's happening in America today is any worse than decided that now is the time." I can't say what's happening in America today is any worse than what's been what's been happening at any other time. I happening at any other time. think now is the time that people are starting On Ghanaian reactions... MUHAMMIDA EL-MUHAJIR to see they can live somewhere else." "When Ghanaians find out that I live here, they're usually confused about On her first trip to Africa... This interview was edited for clarity and why I chose to live here as an "The first country I went to was Kenya. I was 15 and travelled with a group of length. American. There is definitely certain kids. I was one of two black kids. I saw early that I could fit in and wasn't an access and privilege being American outsider. Suddenly it switched, I came from America where I was an outsider, here, but it's great to finally cash in on Follow Azad Essa on Twitter: @AzadEssa but in Africa, I no longer felt like that. I did graduate school in Ghana in 2003 that because it doesn't mean anything and went back to New York and then moved to Ghana in 2014. https://face2faceafrica.com in America. "I have no connection to Ghana. Some people in my family did tests, and we "There are also plenty of privileged found ties to Senegal and The Gambia, but I don't think you can ever figure it
Ugandan Man Becomes A Lawyer To Win Family Land Back
Afrikan
Post
Ruth, First Papua New Guinean Woman To Own Planes Aptil
2019
Page
A Ugandan man, who was only six years old when his father lost his land in a legal dispute, has finally won it back 23 years later, after becoming a lawyer.
Jordan Kinyera went through 18 years of education and legal training before taking on the case.
On Monday, the High Court delivered a final judgement which ruled in his family's favour.
Mr Kinyera told BBC Newsday that the loss of the family land when he was aged six had changed his life.
"I made the decision to become a lawyer later in life but much of it was inspired by events I grew up witnessing, the circumstances and frustrations my family went through during the trial and how it affected us," Mr Kinyera said.
His father was sued by neighbours following a land dispute in 1996 and the case dragged on in court for more than two decades.
"My dad was retired, so he didn't have a lot of resources. He wasn't earning at that time. He was desperate and there is something dehumanising about being in a desperate situation and not being able to do something about it. That is what inspired me the most." Mr Kinyera told the BBC that he was happy for his father, who he says hasn't planted a single seed or laid a single brick in 23 years.
"Justice delayed is justice denied. My father is 82 years and he can't do much with the land now. It's up to us children to pick up from where he left."
Land disputes are widespread in Uganda. According to legal advocacy group Namati, they affect 33-50% of landholders.
Many internally displaced Ugandans who return to their home regions after having spent several years in camps, find themselves in land disputes, Mr Kinyera told the BBC. He represents a number of clients in such cases.
"The issue is so widespread that an entire branch of the high court is just dedicated to land disputes." https://www.bbc.com
PNG aviation’s first woman owner
Ruth has bigger plans for the future – one of which is the upgrade of her fleet to 19-seater Twin Otters to service other parts of PNG. This will mean the upgrade of the airline’s operating license. Ruth also owns a construction company, Kana Construction, in Port Moresby, while her husband Ron operates an insurance company. Ruth committed K1 million as seed capital to IalibuPangia Mama Halipim Mama Financial Services to help them venture into agriculture and start-up small business to sustain their livelihood. Rarely will you find people like Ruth, who generously gives back something worth K1 million back to the community. As a woman growing up in the village and seeing the struggles and hardships of her mother and other women faced in the community, she was inspired to contribute something profitable back to her people. Her Husband Roxon Undi and her family and relatives were shocked to hear her K1 million contribution to the Mama Halipim Mama Financial Services. “For me, the sky is the limit. I will tell my story once I have achieved everything that I have dreamt,” Ruth said.
Among many women entrepreneurs from around the Pacific and Papua New Guinea, Ruth Undi is one among them. Emerging from the rich area of Ialibu in the Southern Highlands. 42 year old Ruth, commonly known as “grassroots” mother is the frist Papua New Guinean woman to own and operate an aviation company, Niugini Aviation, which has fleet of three planes. Despite having no aviation background, brave Ruth bought her first plane in 2011 because she saw the need to service the remote areas not accessible by road. She bought her frist plane, 206 seater aircraft from the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The plane was used to transport medical supplies to remote areas. Mining companies also hire the plane for private charters. As the demand grew she went ahead to approached New Zealand and bought two more air craft. The mother of four doesn’t want to be branded as a trailblazer for women in the aviation industry. She said “she is not there yet.” Ruth attributes her success to a supporting husband and employees. “When you employ the right people and properly compensate them, they will perform to the best of : Pacnews their ability. My husband has always been there for me when I was taking the risks, she said.
15
Google has opened its first Africa Artificial Intelligence lab in Ghana
Afrikan
Aptil
Post
A robot pours popcorn from a cooking pot into a bowl on March 8, 2017 at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI) of the university of Bremen, northwestern Germany. A robot pours popcorn from a cooking pot into a bowl on March 8, 2017 at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI) of the university of Bremen, northwestern Germany. (CNN)A rural farmer in Tanzania hovers over a wilting cassava plant with her phone. In seconds she gets a diagnosis of the disease affecting her plant and how best to manage it to boost her production.
The farmer used an app on her phone based on TensorFlow, Google's Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine that the company opensourced to help developers create solutions to real-world problems. When people think of Artificial Intelligence, they most likely think of scenes from science fiction movies, but in reality, it applies to everyday life from virtual assistants to language translation on Google, says John Quinn, an AI researcher. Google now wants to position itself as an "AI first" company and with research centers across the globe in places such as Tokyo, Zurich, New York, and Paris. And last week, the technology company opened its first center in Africa in Ghana's capital city, Accra. Benefits of AI AI can be applied in sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, and Moustapha Cisse, the research scientist heading up Google's AI efforts in Africa, says his team's goal is to provide developers with the necessary research needed to build products that can solve problems that Africa faces today. Moustapha Cisse, Africa team lead at Google AI. Moustapha Cisse, Africa team lead at Google AI. "Most of what we do in our research centers at Google and not just in Accra, we publish it and open-source code, so that everybody can use it to build all sorts of things," he said. Cisse mentioned the app used by the Tanzanian farmer, to diagnose her cassava's disease as an example of the type of product his team plans to collaborate on with relevant institutes across various sectors. "A team of Pennsylvania University and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture using TensorFlow to build new artificial intelligence models that are deployed on phones to diagnose crop disease. "This wasn't done by us but by people who use the tools we built. 'Ghana is the future of Africa': Why Google built an AI lab in Accra
'Ghana is the future of Africa': Why Google built an AI lab in Accra "When we do science, the results of our research, usually and hopefully, because it is of good quality, goes way further than we expect and we are hoping to see the same things happen here in Accra and across Africa," Cisse said. Cisse, an expert from Senegal, says the center directly engages with researchers in African universities by providing grants to those interested in the various fields of AI and giving Ph.D. scholarships. He added that Google also supports graduate programs in Machine Intelligence at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences center in Rwanda. Cisse leads a team of nine others that include research scientists and software engineers. Team members come from nine different countries such as Lesotho, Uganda, and Ireland, among others. It is a diverse team, and Cisse says it is important that Africans are at the forefront of providing solutions to problems on their continent. Google regrets 'minor glitch' that sent Ghanaian currency plummeting Google regrets 'minor glitch' that sent Ghanaian currency plummeting The center will also focus on enhancing Google Translate's ability to capture African languages more precisely, with Cisse saying a continent with more than 2000 dialects deserves to be better served. Google joins Facebook and other tech companies, in launching projects in Africa with a keen eye on the continent's rising youth population. Algorithmic bias Even so, Silicon Valley companies still struggle with diversity. A recent CNNBusiness report shows that many employees want real change from their companies after years of paying lip-service to the issue. Because AI fundamentally works based on the data that is fed into it, it sometimes displays a real-world bias that isn't inclusive and representative of all end users, says
2019
Page
16
Nyalleng Moorosi, a software engineer at the center whose work focuses on making AI more diverse. Nyalleng Moorosi, software engineer at Google AI Nyalleng Moorosi, software engineer at Google AI Not long after it launched in 2015, Google Photos tagged images of black people as "gorillas" drawing criticism and leaving the company scrambling to fix the issue. Moorosi who hails from Lesotho and holds a bachelors degree from a liberal arts college says her background means she sees the issue as a human problem that needs to be fixed by diversifying the samples used to gather data. She said that more Africans would be included in data gathering to provide an accurate representation of users. "When you build something, you think it will only work for the world you know and your neighborhood. And you forget that maybe it can be so great it becomes deployed to foreign neighborhoods," Moorosi said. "The best way to go about is to have diverse teams working on these algorithms and then we will get somewhere." Privacy concerns AI works because a lot of personal data is fed into it, and with that comes privacy concerns over what happens to the data people hand over to a large company like Google. Cisse says Google's AI principles aims to build trust between the people who create the technology and the end users, and the technology should be aligned with the values of society. "We have to build an algorithm that is fair and respects the privacy of the user and is transparent," he said. With the center now operational after starting a few months behind schedule, Google's bet on AI having a transformational effect in Africa will now be put to the test. The continent is waiting. By Aanu Adeoye, CNN
Aptil 2019
www.esthershairwigbeautyshops.com
Page
17
March
2019
Page
18
March
2019
Page
19
Afrikan Post
Aptil
2019
Page
20
Aptil
2019
Page
21
Aptil
2019
Page
22
Aptil 2019
Page
23
Afrikan
Post
Aptil
2019
Page 24
Africa Gears Up To Unite And Become The World’s Largest Trading Bloc Africans and the diaspora.
Since then, teams have been set up in 2007, 2008 and 2009 to review the recommendations and give the green light for the transformation of the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority to pave way for the Union Government which will be led by a president, vice president and secretaries.
All the teams have since deferred their assignments and the dream of a United States of Africa still lingers. However, a successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement will be a step in the right direction.
It only required 22 African countries to realize the dream of a single continental market for goods and services. Africa finally reached that goal in April 2019 when the Gambia submitted its instruments of ratification for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
This means the AfCFTA will enter into force in 30 days, a year after 44 countries first signed the consolidated text of the Agreement in the Rwandan capital Kigali to enable the longawaited economic integration and movement of goods and persons across member states. Currently, only 52 of the 55 African states have signed the text with the exception of Nigeria, Eritrea and Benin who are still on the fence due to diverse reasons including pressures from business leaders and labour unions who believe the agreement could affect their economies.
continent.
Several meetings have been held over a long period of time to realize that dream but to no avail. 44 years after the attempt to create a Union Government during the founding of the OAU, the opportunity came up once again at the 9th Ordinary Session of the newly formed African Union (AU) in Accra, Ghana in 2007.
The agenda was to debate the creation of the Union Government that will lead to the formation of the United States of Africa as adopted by a 2006 study. The study proposed a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans.
The heated debate in Accra failed to institute the Union Government but the heads of state agreed to accelerate Out of the 52 countries, only 22 have submitted their instrupolitical and economic integration, strengthen the organs ments of ratification starting with Ghana and Kenya in May and institutions of the AU and then set a timeframe to 2018. establish a Union Government with the involvement of After it comes into force, the AfCFTA will create a single continental market for goods and services; enhance free movement of business persons and investments; enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploiting opportunities for full-scale production.
It will also enforce the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union, expedite the regional and continental integration processes and exploit opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
With the commitment of all countries, the AfCFTA could bring together the 1.2 billion African population with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than $3.4 trillion to remove tariffs on 90 per cent of goods, with 10 per cent of “sensitive items” to be phased in later.
This agreement was first introduced in January 2012 during the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The member states adopted the decision to establish the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017.
The African Union has failed since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 to implement integration mechanisms and recommendations that will unite the
Past leaders of Africa
Dwamena Akenten Alumni In USA Donate Bishop Adonteng Boateng Builds Strong Ties With the to Alma Mater Virginia Police Department
4A f r i k a n
Aptil
Post
Page 25
Aptil
Bishop and Mrs. Adonteng Boateng and His team from Divine Word Ministries at the Franconia Police Department The history of Africa and its preservation have been tainted with westernization and colonization. Most of Africa’s treasures and proof of a great and advanced life before the coming of the whites have either been looted or destroyed and today several people rather visit museums outside of Africa to have a feel of it.
Despite these shortcomings, there are still several museums in Africa that have existed for several years and have rich information and artefacts for anyone who loves history. Here are 7 museums in West Africa you should visit on your next trip to the continent.
Women’s Museum & Art Centre – Gambia
Opened in February 2010, the Women’s Museum & Art Center was started by Gambian artist Mrs Isha Fofana. Dedicated to women, the museum exhibits sculptures, paintings, and installations from artists working in the West Africa sub-region. The museum does not only give a glimpse into women in the Gambia but also women in West Africa. Located in the village of Batokunku in Kombo South, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Gambia. It also has an artist residency for women artists and lucky visitors can see artists at work.
As part of efforts to positively engage the police and community in the State of Virginia Bishop Kofi Adonteng Boateng in April 2019 met with the Franconia police department to further engage it about extending the 'Faithful Servants Awards' (FSA) ceremony to other police departments. Bishop Kofi Adonteng Boateng of Divine Word International Ministries (DWIM), hosted the inaugural FSA ceremony in October 2018 to recognize some Police Departments in Virginia for their work in the community and to enhance relationship between both parties.
The event which was the first of its kind by any community leader and immigrant ministry in Virginia honored the work and exceptional service as well as acts of valor of chosen officers occurring between July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018.Award recipients included sworn and non-sworn members from the Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, and Virginia State Police officers as well as individuals whose work directly impact these respective departments.
In January 2019 the Bishop extend the awards beyond the United States to Ghana and recognized Mr David Asante-Apeatu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the great strides in Police work in Ghana and also recognized another officer for upholding the integrity of the Police department.
The Faithful Servants Awards was initiated by the Divine Word International Ministry (DWIM), led by its Founder, Bishop Kofi Adonteng Boateng, of Northern Virginia, USA, in collaboration with police forces of the area, to recognise their great works for their honesty and integrity.
For more information on the FSA and how to become a sponsor or partner of both the US and Ghana events please send email to kofiadontengboateng@yahoo.com
Source: Afrikan Post
Afrikan
Post
Aptil 2019
Page
Isidore Kpotufe tells all about the buy-now-pay- Texas Based Guinean later Westcape.co Initiative Couple Who Enslaved Girl For 16 Years Get Seven-Year Prison Term
26
hold appliances, electronic gadgets, and clothing; even assets such as homes and lands. How to use Westcape Pay Later?
To buy and pay later, visit Westcape.co, search for the item you want to buy, compare the different repayment options available and click the “Pay Later” button.
Why use Westcape Pay Later?
Westcape.co, according to Isidore Kpotufe, is here to ensure that the fact that you don’t have enough money to buy something you need does not prevent you from having it. Many items, from cars to houses and household appliances such as fridges, microwaves, and dayto-day gadgets such as smartphones and laptops are too expensive for most people to pay for all at once.
Westcape has therefore launched a website that you can visit at www.westcape.co to make it possible to buy these items and pay at a later date.
According to the company’s CEO, Isidore Kpotufe, “Westcape.co is not your typical e-commerce platform. We are positioning Westcape.co to be a lifestyle product – one that is intently designed to address the everyday needs of people. Whatever your needs are, count on us to deliver. Apart from our ‘Pay Later’ offering, we are innovating new ways of empowering people to acquire whatever they need, even if they don’t have the cash to pay for it all at once.”
What is Westcape Pay Later?
With Pay Later, you buy the item and pay back in monthly installments of between 2-24 months. You must meet certain basic requirements such as having proof of regular income. On Westcape Pay Later, you will find different types of products ranging from house-
The company has made it a point to offer consumers irresistible incentives, some of which include: free delivery, free installation, free after-sales support and maintenance, and flexible repayment terms. Aside these: “you are likely to find all the companies that sell on credit in Accra on Westcape.co, offering you unparalleled freedom of choice. The company is partnering with international payment service providers in order to expand across Africa,” said Isidore Kpotufe.
Also read: why e-commerce giant Alibaba is interested in Africa
Also, general merchandise companies can use Westcape.co to offer their products to consumers on credit. According to Westcape’s CEO, the company has designed innovative technology solutions that empower financial services providers, hire purchase companies and small businesses to broaden their marketing reach, automate and increase sales and improve customer service with no upfront budgetary costs.
“We want to empower African businesses to become ecommerce giants by equipping them with the most effective SMS and email marketing, payment, and credit reference solutions,” the CEO explained. To find out more about Westcape Pay Later, visit www.westcape.co. Source: Rollins Benaiah, Digital Media Consultant
Picture: Torrent County Jail The girl was forced to work for Mohamed Touré and his wife Denise Cros-Touré
A couple who enslaved a young woman for 16 years at their home in the US have been sentenced to seven years in jail.
Mohamed Touré and his wife Denise Cros-Touré, both 58, were found guilty in January of bringing the young girl from Guinea to Texas and forcing her to work for them without pay in early 2000. The couple, both citizens of Guinea, may lose their US immigration status, the US Department of Justice said.
Mr Touré is the son of Guinea's first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré. The pair were also ordered to pay $288,620.24 (£222,702) in compensation.
The girl, who has not been named, is thought to have been five years old when she arrived in the US.
She was forced to clean, cook and take care of the couple's children for 16 years. They also confiscated her passport and denied her access to schooling.
According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, the girl was repeatedly hit, had her head shaved and forced to sleep alone in a nearby park as punishment.
In August 2016, she is said to have escaped from the couple's house in Southlake "with the help of several former neighbours", the justice department said.
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband said: "The defendants stole her childhood and her labour for years, enriching themselves while leaving her with pain and an uncertain future."
Scott Palmer, a lawyer for Mrs Cros-Touré told the New York Times the couple planned to appeal the case claiming that the story was "wildly exaggerated". Source: https://www.bbc.com
AJ Nelson joined by Okyeame Kwame and others to celebrate Africa Rise album concert
Afrikan
Post
t
Oxford University Press includes Olympian Akwasi Frimpong's story in English education textbook March
2019
Page
department of the internationally acclaimed University of Oxford. OUP is the world's largest university press with the widest global presence. For more than 500 years, we’ve been sharing new thinking and ideas in our publishing, furthering the university’s mission of excellence in scholarship, research, and education.
For more information please contact Robby Messer via : team@frimpong.com ————————————————— —— Thank you,
Akwasi Frimpong Olympian, Speaker and Entrepreneur Ghana's First Skeleton Olympian Right to Play NL Ambassador www.frimpong.com Tel /whatsapp: +1-801-494-3060 #DareToDream #HopeOfaBillion It was a cool weekend April night with just the perfect alignment of stars shining upon AJ Nelson when the Ghanaian rapper welcomed a legend and other budding stars-in-themaking to formally usher the 'Africa Rise' album to Ghana and the world.
The concert held at the Zen Garden inside Labone at Accra Ghana went down as a great one. Audiences were left thrilled as "Africa indeed rose on that 13th April night I must say, I just can't tell you how much all the other acts on the bill immensely contributed to the success of the 'Africa Rice' Album Concert," AJ Nelson said.
Everyone present was a star in their own right, some of the performers included Okyeame Kwame who despite preparing for his own album launch the following week still made time to join host AJ Nelson and friends like Suzz Blaq and 6 Strings, all of whom rocked the crowd to some great music.
Man of the night -- AJ Nelson -- got on the mic to display his rap skills with a live band accompanying his soulful voice as he skillfully poured out lyrics upon lyrics to the audience's appeal. The crowd loved what they heard and cheered on act-after-act as every single performer blessed all in attendance with their respective styles.
A great concert it was indeed said AJ Nelson to this writer, who was told by an audience member that "the night lived up to expectation with great music full of intense Afrocentric vibes injected into the minds of all present" at the Zen Gardens.
'Africa Rise' continues to enjoy favorable plays on Ghanaian airwaves with AJ Nelson embarking on promotional tours and interviews to spread the word about his maiden album. Get the album at Spotify and watch out for AJ's next exciting concert near you soon.
Written by Lim Jo
27
Akwasi Frimpong, Ghana’s first Skeleton Olympian, is writing a new chapter in his mission to be the Hope of a Billion.
Frimpong will appear in the Headway Upper Intermediate Student’s Book, a textbook aimed to teach English Language and Speaking, as the focus of one of the book’s exercises.
“Headway always strives to provide interesting and authentic texts, using thought-provoking and inspirational stories from real people,” says Headway Managing Editor Keith Layfield. “We are grateful to feature such an inspirational character as Akwasi, and hope students throughout the world are inspired by it.” Headway and its award-winning authors, Liz and John Soars, are names that have become synonymous with English Language teaching and learning. Headway’s perfectly-balanced grammar and skills syllabus, based on the course’s worldrenowned methodology, has made it one of the most successful English language teaching coursebooks of all time and is used throughout the world.
“Being part of something bigger then myself is the kind of legacy I’d like to leave behind,” Frimpong says. “I believe that the greatest rewards come when you give of yourself.”
Frimpong knows what it is like to need to work to improve one’s life. He spent the first eight years of his life in Ghana being raised by his grandmother, who also cared for his brother and eight other cousins, in a room 4 x 5 meters with water leaking down from the roof. He wants to use his visibility as an Olympic athlete to not just become the Hope of a Billion people in Africa, but the Hope of every underdog. His goal is to show the world that hard work and dedication will allow anyone to be anything they want to be in life.
“It’s about bettering the lives of others. It’s about giving Hope. I’m grateful I got to do that by chasing my Olympic dreams, telling my story of trials and triumphs and now being included in an educational text book that will inspire kids to never give up, believe in themselves, challenge the status quo and dare to dream.”
Headway is published by The Oxford University Press (‘OUP’) which is a
Dr. Michael Obeng: From Grass to Grace Story of the Only Black Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills, USA
Afrikan
Aptil
Post
2019
Page
Now patients can have surgery in the morning under general anesthesia, via 2 tiny incisions, one on either side of the back to remove floating ribs 11 and 12, and potentially go to dinner that same night. A feat that wasn’t possible a few years ago, and now it is possible because of this “Gentle Giant’s” unique approach, drawing inferences from his microsurgical background from his Harvard Fellowship days. Last year alone, “The Surgeon’s Surgeon”, Dr. Obeng, successfully performed a handful of this operation to include, The Human Ken Doll, The German Barbie, and the Russian Ballerina, just to name a few. The demand for this operation is now soaring, with request from all over the world, especially Dubai.
Dr. Michael K Obeng is the only black plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills triangle of Beverly Hills California who left Ghana West Africa, several years ago for greener pastures in America. Dr. Michael Obeng is the only Black plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills that makes millions working with clients ranging from royals to celebrities and rich socialites. His company is called Miko Plastic Surgery, and is located at 435 North Roxbury Drive, Suite #205. Despite his celebrity status, however, he still gives back to the community in a major way. He is also the founder of R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Worldwide, a nonprofit organization that performs free reconstructive surgeries for children and adults in African countries. Humble beginnings
Dr. Michael Obeng was only 20-years old when he moved to the U.S. from Ghana with only $200 in his pocket. He also took with him his aspirations to help the less fortunate people around him and started achieving it by studying to become a surgeon.
After several years of studying and training in prestigious schools such as the Midwestern State University, University of Texas Medical School and Harvard University, he became a wellknown plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills and other best hospitals in the U.S.
He further achieved celebrity status after appearing in the reality TV show Second Wives Club. He also became the Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. Elizabeth Health Center and was named among America’s Top Plastic Surgeons by the Consumer’s Research Council of America in 2011 and 2014. Now worth around $8 million
Dr. Obeng, who specializes in cosmetic surgery of the aging face, neck, breast, body, trunk, extremities, and genitalia, has high-profile clients flocking to him to have him as their plastic surgeon.
He is an expert in complex reconstructive surgery, hand, and micro-neurovascular surgery as well. He is also one of the few surgeons in the world to have successfully reattached a limb and therefore his net worth is reportedly around $8 million.
Dr. Michael K. Obeng performs rib removal in his Beverly Hills facility with a unique technique drawn from his microsurgery background.
The once frowned upon and highly controversial procedure, rib removal surgery, is now becoming commonplace in the hands of the board-certified plastic surgeon to the stars, Dr. Michael K. Obeng. The ease with this operation, has been made possible because of advances in instrumentation and Dr. Obeng’s newly adopted technique.
This procedure came under scrutiny after Ms. Janet Jackson flaunted her tiny waist and hourglass figure in her most talked about music video in the late 1990s. Celebrities like Cher had no qualms talking publicly about her experience with her rib removal surgery. All in all, not only celebrities are having this done, ‘the cat is out of the bag’, and the average person, man and woman are having this operation.
In less than two hours, the man with the “gifted hands”, Dr. Obeng, will ensure that your “snatched” waist, is back on track with just some post-operative training with a corset. The procedure is safe, minimally painful and at the end, an “hourglass” shape is within reach. Giving back
Over the years, through his non-profit organization, he has offered free services to Africans around the globe with disfiguring deformities from birth, accidents, and diseases. He also serves as an advisor to local healthcare personnel in the areas they visit to help improve their knowledge in surgeries and other health-related matters.
Dr. Obeng’s efforts have earned him the 2017 GUBA Humanitarian Spirit Award. He has already performed over 500 successful free surgeries and he hopes he could reach more people to further make an impact in the world. For more information about R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Worldwide, visit www.restoreworldwide.org Source: https://howafrica.com
28
Ghana Embassy Events
Aptil
2019
Page
29
On April 3, 2019 Dr. Joseph L. Green, Commissioner of the "400 Years of African-American History Commission", met with the Ambassador, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah at the Embassy and discussed how the commission and Ghana can work together to commemorate the 2019 “Year of Return.� In 2018, the U.S. Secretary of Interior, Ryan Zinke announced a 14 member commission to coordinate the commemoration of the 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved African to the English colonies in 1619. The mandate of the commission is to plan, develop and carry out activities throughout the year to recognize 400 years of African-American contributions.
H.E. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah met with the Interim Chancellor of Missouri University of Science and Technology, Christopher G. Maples, to discuss educational opportunities for Ghanaians, particularly, in the areas of Mining and Engineering. Chancellor Maples was accompanied by Assistant Vice Chancellor, Jeanie Hofer.
On April 11, 2019 H.E. Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah met with Senior Executives of South African Airways to discuss special 2019 discounts for travelers visiting Ghana for the Year of Return. Touching on doing business in Ghana, Mr. Todd M. Neuman, Executive Vice President, highlighted the success of the Washington - Accra. route as one of their top performing routes." We have increased our trips from 4 to 5 per week, and even have plans to go daily. That's because this route is performing exceedingly well" he noted. The Executive Vice President of the company was accompanied Director of Sales Development of the MidAtlantic Region.
On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the President of Western Illinois University, Jack Thomas, the Executive Director, Jeffery Hancks and Assistant Director, Christie Carmack, met with the Ambassador, Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, and the Head of Information, Kofi Tonto, to discuss educational opportunities for Ghanaian students and professionals both home and abroad. This is part of Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah's vision to position Ghana as the hub for strategic educational investments.
On April 11, 2019, a group of seven Peace Corp Volunteers who served in some of the remote parts of Ghana teaching French and science from 1963-1965 to young Ghanaian students, paid a visit to the Embassy. The team lead by Cathrine Collins had fond memories of Ghana and recounted meeting Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first Prime Minister among others. They also discussed "Ghana Then" and "Ghana Now". Fifty-Four (54) years later, after having visited Ghana a few more times, the women are still excited about the country and its potential. We appreciate their service all those years ago! The Group Holding Discussions with Mr. Kofi Tonto, the Head of Information at the Ghana Embassy: Source: Ghana Embassy -Washington DC
Meet Obi Okeke, The Nigerian Who Has Sold Over 39 Luxury Cars To Boxing Champion, Floyd Mayweather
Aptil
2019
Trivia
Page
30
A Nigerian man went to a dentist in USA for tooth extraction and first enquired about cost. Dentist said it's $1200. The Naija man thought it was too expensive. After some thoughts, he asked if cheaper method is available.
The dentist said, "Of course yes, it can be done without Anesthesia and will cost only $300, but it will be very very painful." Nigerian said okay Dr, do it without Anesthesia. The dentist extracted the Tooth without Anesthesia and during the entire procedure the Naija man sat quietly with a smile.The dentist was not only surprised, but was quite impressed and said, "I have never seen such a brave patient like you. I don't even want my fees, instead, take this $500 as a reward.
You've taught me such a powerful lesson today about mastering one's pain and feelings" In the evening he met his fellow dentists and told everyone about his amazing Nigerian patient.
One doctor amongst the doctors jumped up and shouted "That Nigerian man first came to me, I gave him Anesthesia and asked him to wait outside for half an hour. After half an hour, I called him, he was no where to be found"
His real name is Obi Okeke. He is a Nigerian. He was born to a Nigerian father and an American mother. At age 5, he sojourned to the United State as a refugee during the Nigerian Civil war.
He came back to Nigeria after the war and later traveled to Switzerland for his high school education. While in Switzerland, he developed a love for exotic cars.
Today, Obi Okeke, more popularly referred to as “Dr. Bugatti� transverse the American landscape as one of the top dealers in luxury automobiles in the United State.
Dr. Bugatti has, on several occasions, made headlines for his business of buying and selling top- of-the-range cars to and from celebrities.
Among his numerous transaction with celebrities was a recent deal where he purchased a Bugatti Veyron for N900 million ($2.5 million) from film star and politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Other celebrities that Dr. Bugatti has sold luxury cars to include Chris Tucker, Ellen DeGeneres, Jessica Simpson, Floyd Mayweather and many others.
It is on record that he has sold 39 cars to Floyd Mayweather. And they include 3 Bugatti Veyrons valued at $6.2 million and a $3.2M Ferrari Enzo. He has also sold to Mayweather several Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.
Obi Okeke started his car sale career started in 1987 as a Chevrolet dealer and eventually moved on to manage stores for Ferrari, Maserati, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz before starting out on his own.
He later co-founded Fusion Luxury Motors in North Los Angeles with a man named Yoel Wazana. His Fusion Luxury Motors has cars with price ranges from $49,000 to $3.8 mil-
lion.
His car shop, Fusion Luxury Motors, is a popular destination for many celebrities in the US. Source: https://howafrica.com
African Proverbs To Get You Thinking
Aptil
2019
Page
1. A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground. — Igbo proverb 2. He that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad manhimself. — African proverb 3. Where water is the boss there the land must obey. — African proverb 4. No matter how beautiful and well crafted a coffin might look, it will not make anyone wish for death. — African proverb 5. When the shepherd comes home in peace, the milk is sweet. — Ethiopian proverb 6. A spider’s cobweb isn’t only its sleeping spring but also its food trap. — African proverb 7. If you do not have patience you cannot make beer. — Ovambo proverb
8. He who runs after good fortune runs away from peace. — African proverb 9. Teeth do not see poverty. — Masai proverb 10. You have little power over what’s not yours. — Zimbabwean proverb 11. If you pick up one end of the stick you also pick up the other. — Ethiopian proverb 12. Better little than too little. — Cameroonian proverb 13. You must attend to your business with the vendor in the market, and not to the noise of the market. — Beninese proverb 14. When you befriend a chief remember that he sits on a rope. — Ugandan proverb 15. The night has ears. — Masai proverb 16. The child you sired hasn’t sired you. — Somali proverb 17. A doctor who invoked a storm on his people cannot prevent his house from destruction. — Nigerian proverb 18. An intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend. — Senegalese proverb 19. The young bird does not crow until it hears the old ones. — Tswana proverb 20. If you carry the egg basket do not dance. — Ambede proverb 21. The food which is prepared has no master. — Malagasy proverb 22. The worlds of the elders do not lock all the doors; they leave the right door open. — Zambian proverb 23. Even the best cooking pot will not produce food. — African proverb 24. The child of a rat is a rat. — Malagasy proverb 25. Where you will sit when you are old shows where you stood in youth. — Yoruba proverb
Medical Office Space for Rent
-Great location in shopping center, on busy road -Elevator and stair-case access to 2nd floor -Ample parking space Close to a Shopping Center 1690 Oldbridge Road Lake Ridge VA 22192
Please Call
703-494-8000
31
Afrikan
April
Post
2019
Page
32
“It is Holy Communion” – Controversial SA 8-Yr-Old Homeless Pastor, Penuel Mnguni Again Feeds His Nigerian Chess Champ In Members with Rice and Worm Nyc Moves Into New Home After Massive Support
Tani with his family at their new home -- Screenshot via @NickKristof on Twitter
Controversial Pastor Penuel Mnguni of End Times Disciples Ministries popularly known as The Snake Pastor, has just fed his church members with rice and worm, saying it was Holy Communion.
The South African based pastor who had in the past fed snakes and rats to his congregants, fed them with the strange meal during their church service on Sunday. Below is what the church shared on Facebook earlier today:
Quote “YOU WILL EAT THE WILL Of GOD” As the Sunday Holy Communion Service was about to conclude. The servants brought the Holy Communion which was personally cooked by our father Prophet Penuel. The man of God prepared Rice with Mopani Worms and Pork Meat, declaring it as Holy Communion.
You cannot eat what was prepared by the father and not be blessed. What many might see as unclean what the father blessed becomes pure. This is the Will of God that was served to the congregation.
This is what the man of God declared as he was about to serve to the congregation. “Here Is my Perfection.
You are going to eat what you have never eaten before, those chains are there to give life, I open your eyes to see the Will. This Is My Food, Someone will behold the form of God. More of the Glory. You Are Eating the Will Of God” Source: https://howafrica.com
The story of 8-year-old Nigerian chess prodigy Tanitoluwa Adewumi is quite a remarkable one. Taking him a little over a year to learn to play chess, he went ahead to deservedly become the New York State Primary Chess Champion (Top Players K – 3rd Grade) after debuting at the New York State chess championship in March. This incredible feat brought him to the spotlight and became a blessing in disguise for him and his family who are currently battling to stay in the United States.
Tani, as he is affectionately called, and his older brother and parents arrived in the United States after they escaped Boko Haram in northern Nigeria in 2017, and have never looked back as they show resilience in their new life as refugees and through their immigration hearings to stay in the country legally.
After New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof highlighted Tani and his family’s story after visiting them in a homeless shelter in Manhattan, scores of readers stepped in him to help in whatever way that they could including setting up a GoFundMe to support his family. The campaign managed to raise $254,626, exceeding the $50,000 goal by the time it ended. Thanks to the support, Tani and his family have moved out of the homeless shelter to a new 2-bedroom house in Manhattan which Kristof shared on Twitter on Tuesday.
The Adewumi family couldn’t help but share their excitement about their new home. Take look at their new home and the party they held for the people who helped them below. Wishing Tani the best of luck as he prepares for the nationals! https://face2faceafrica.com
From Rats To Snakes, Another African President Chased Out Of Office By Animals
Liberian President George Weah has been forced to work from home after snakes were found in his office on Thursday. Two black snakes were found emerging from a hole in the reception area of the foreign affairs ministry building that serves as the presidential office, according to the AFP.
The office of the president has been in that building since a fire gutted the presidential palace in 2006 during independence celebrations.
The president would now work from home until the building was fumigated, the press secretary, Smith Toby, said. All workers have also been asked to stay away until Monday, April 22.
“It’s just to make sure that crawling and creeping things get fumigated from the building,” Toby told the BBC.
The AFP reports that officials are yet to confirm the species of snake found, though Liberia is home to several poisonous and harmless snakes that are black.
This is not the first time that an unwanted animal has forced a head of state from his office in Africa. In 2017, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was forced to work from home after rats damaged his office during his long period of overseas medical absence. The rats damaged the furniture and air conditioning in the president’s office in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, while he was in the UK receiving treatment.
Many Nigerians raised eyebrows about the reasons given for Buhari working from home, considering concerns about his health at the time.
But government officials insisted that he had to use his private residence for official duties since his office required renovation. Buhari returned to his office inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after spending almost three months working from home.
However, Liberian President Weah would return to his office on Monday after the fumigation whether or not the snakes are found and killed, Toby said.
Workers had attempted to kill the snakes when they appeared near the building’s reception but failed.
“There was a little hole somewhere [through which] they made their way back,” Toby said.
Officials started to fumigate on Friday, Toby said.
“That building’s been there for years now, and [because of] the drainage system, the possibility of having things like snakes crawling in that building was high,” he told the BBC.
Weah, who was in the news recently for opening his own church, caused controversy after asking his citizens to pray for two hours every day for God’s intervention in solving some of the country’s enormous economic problems.
The former football star further urged his countrymen and women to hold an all-night prayer vigil on the final Friday of each month for God’s blessings and guidance.
When Weah assumed power in Liberia in January this year, he promised to reform the economy that has been struggling to recover following the 2014-15 Ebola crisis, to fight corruption and nepotism and bring in a new era for the West African country.
Critics say these are yet to materialize, adding that the president should think of practical ways of tackling the problems instead of asking for divine intervention.
Source:face2faceafrica.com
Ambassador Dr. Barfuor AdjeiBarwuah, calls on African Americans to visit Ghana April 2019
Page
33
Ambassador Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah called on African Americans to visit Ghana, during the 203rd Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Last year, Ghana's President declared and launched the "Year of Return" for Africans in the Diaspora to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans landed in the English and North America colonies. The goal is to unite Africans on the continent with those in the diaspora. Source:Ghana Embassy
Afrikan
Post
YES, It’s A RED HOT MARKET TO SELL or BUY
TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOUSE
the house, a buyer would want it and it will be difficult to negotiate. • Make Minor Repairs as needed. This will give the property value. When a buyer sees that a property has more work, it may give the idea that, the property will be an issue after re-sale. This makes the house selling challenge. Make the house Sparkle. • Curb Appeal-keep the exterior clean, mow lawn, debris free to make it interesting and appealing as the potential buyer pulls in the front of the house.
These are a few items to keep in mind. However, a thorough recommendation can be given once a free consultation is scheduled with me and an It is with great joy, I continue to have the opportunity to view/tour your house is presented. privilege to use this platform to share real estate information with you. With the current Depending on the condition of the house, appropriate recommendation will be made, based on condition of the real estate market, being the one on one consultation. Not only do I give extremely hot, there have been many quesfree consultation in selling your house, I am also tions that has come through from sellers able to help you buy a house as well. seeking guidance on how to position their house to sell for big bucks. I thought to share these few tips with you if you are con- I can be reached at 571-229-6694 or borderlessrealestate@gmail.com sidering to sell your house.
Dear readers,
Sometimes selling your house can be a big decision to make; especially if there are so many memories built in that home. Although, it is tough to make that ultimate decision, it is also important to reshape your mind and understand that new chapter you are entering either downsizing, upsizing etc… Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
• Try to disassociate yourself from the house. This will give you a clear mind and make a great decision to select an appropriate person such as realtor to assist you in selling the house. • De-personalize it. Remove any items or arts that have personal attachment such as family photos etc… The buyer needs to connect with the house and visualize or see the space as his/her potential home. • De-clutter the house. This is an excellent opportunity to get rid of things that you have not used in a long time and perhaps, give it to someone you can use it. • Consider renting a storage space to store items that is not being use immediately to create more space visualization for the potential buyer. • Remove or replace customized or specialized fixtures that you do not want it convey as part of the selling. If it is left in
Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR® Samson Properties Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia and Maryland Licensed Life and Health Insurance CONTACT 571-229-6694 Email: borderlessrealestate@gmail.com Website: borderlessrealestate.com
April
2019
Page
Encourage Yourself
34
"I struggled academically throughout elementary school yet became the best Neurosurgeon in the World in 1987" - Dr. Ben Carson!
I was raped at the age of 9 yet I am one of the most influential women in the World" - Oprah Winfrey!"
I didn't even complete my university education but became the World's richest man" - Bill Gates!"
I was sexually, mentally, emotionally and verbally abused by my father as far back as I can remember, until I left home at the age of eighteen, yet I am one of the most influential preachers in the World" - Joyce Meyer!"
I told my father that we would be very rich but he couldn't believe me. I made it a reality" - Christiano Ronaldo!"
I used to serve tea at a shop to support my football training and still became one of the World's best footballers" - Lionel Messi!"
I used to sleep on the floor in my friends' rooms, returning Coke bottles for food, money, and getting weekly free meals at a local temple, I later on founded Apple Company" - Steve Jobs!"
My teachers used to call me a failure, but I became a Prime Minister" - Former British PM, Tony Blair!"
I started Living Faith Church from A Lawn Tennis Court with three members only & Preach prosperity. Many of my friends criticised me, but today we have the largest church auditorium in the World & two world-class universities"Bishop David Oyedepo!" I was in prison for 27 years and still became president."- Nelson Mandela!"
I drove a taxi to finance my university education but today I'm a billionaire" Mike Adenuga!
I was on the verge of suicide when an Idea of opening a restaurant hit me after I retired as a cook in the Navy. Harland Sanders, Founder of KFC I worked for my uncle since I was a small boy, people looked down on me. I later on took a loan from my uncle to open a tiny shop. I worked hard to make ends meet. Now I am the Word's Richest Man of African Decent (Richest Man in Africa). Aliko Dangote (was 23rd World's richest man on Forbes 2014 list)
I am a son of a black immigrant from Kenya, I graduated from Harvard and later on became a Senator in Chicago. I was also the President of the Most Powerful Nation on Earth.US President Barack Hussein Obama
I traveled to America in search of financial independency when I was 15yrs old. I became the World's Strongest Man 7 times and Mr Universe. I then got my Economics degree, then I became one of Hollywood's best actors before I was voted twice as governor of California (the world's 6th richest state after France and Britain). Former Governor of California Arnold Swarzzenegger_Failures or limitations of the past have no control over the greatness in you.
To him that believes, all things are possible.Don't wait for everybody to believe in your ability and dreams...Never design your life like a Garden where anyone can walk in and out......Design it like the Sky where everyone aspires to reach!Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you PROCRASTINATE, you lose that day's benefits.THINK ABOUT IT
Trump Sends Ivanka To Africa With $350m Package To Economically Empower Women
Afrikan
Post
April
2019
Page
35
impacted an entire community at Muya Ethiopia. USAID helped Muya grow from 10 employees to over 500, and today I’m proud to announce OPIC’s financial commitment to continue Muya’s growth,” she said.
Ivanka Trump will take part in a World Bank policy summit before ending her tour with a visit to the Ivory Coast to promote female entrepreneurs in the country’s cocoa industry.
This initiative is a sharp turn from the outlook given in the Trump administration’s new Africa policy released in December last year which did not look progressive and beneficial to Africa like previous U.S. government strategies toward the continent.
“Under our new approach, every decision we make, every policy we pursue, and every dollar of aid we spend will further U.S. priorities in the region,” said the national security adviser, John Bolton, at the time.
Melania Trump with workers of Muya Ethiopia
Ivanka Trump, eldest daughter and advisor of U.S. President Donald Trump is in Ethiopia as part of her two-nation Africa tour to launch an initiative aimed at economically empowering women in the continent.
She launched the 2X Africa initiative after a tour of a female-run textile facility in the capital, Addis Ababa, upon arrival on Sunday for the four-day tour. The 2X Africa initiative is an offshoot of the broader 2X Women’s Initiative of the U.S. Government’s development finance institution – Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).
It aims to unlock the full economic potential of women in Africa by catalyzing $1 billion, directly investing $350 million, to businesses and funds owned by women, led by women, or providing a good or service that intentionally empowers women on the continent, said the Department of State in a statement.
“For women to succeed as entrepreneurs and job creators we must ensure they have equal access to the financing necessary to start and grow their businesses… By strengthening our focus on the women of Africa, OPIC will foster prosperity and stability in the region, and support the Administration’s important efforts to advance global women’s economic empowerment through WGDP,” said OPIC Acting President & CEO David Bohigian who launched the initiative with Ivanka.
2X Africa is within the White House-led Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative which is committed to empowering women globally by training them to help them get well-paying jobs.
Ivanka Trump visited Muya Ethiopia, a clothes manufacturing company that has been a beneficiary of USAID funding over the years. She announced that the company would also benefit from OPIC’s 2X Africa initiative to help them export clothes to the local and international markets.“An idea to export products steeped in Ethiopian heritage
Source: https://face2faceafrica.com
April
5 Car Brands Made in Africa by Africans
2019
Page
36
ing. Some of its successful car models feature the 1.5 and 2.0-liter engines. The company also makes buses, refuse disposal trucks, and SUVs.
Photo Credit: nairaland
The Laraki company caught the eye of the automobile world in 2002 with the release of a concept car that boasted a six-transmission V12 engine and could reach speeds of up to 398 km/h. The car was expected to sell for around $500,000 when produced.
The Kiira EV Smack is a five-seater sedan hybrid vehicle that uses both lithium batteries and petrol. Photo Credit: wsj
The automobile industry is crucial to the economy of any country. It is one of the biggest and most extensive aspects of modern industrial manufacturing. The effect of activities in the sector could make or break the economy of any country because the industry is one of the biggest employers and drivers of technology.
In the years following independence, a number of African nations ventured into the production of locally made cars. Sadly, most of those early efforts suffered an unfortunate collapse mainly due to poor designs, government involvement, and poor business models. While several countries may have gotten along in succeeding years by churning out Asian and European cars models from vehicle assembly plants, a number of African entrepreneurs have in recent times taken things several steps further by establishing manufacturing plants where they design, produce, and assemble authentically African automobiles.
Some other successful Laraki models include the Fulgura, the Epitome, and the Borac, which were all designed as high-performance sport cars.
Photo Credit: maryamwokili
The Katanka brand of automobiles are designed, produced, and assembled in Ghana by the Katanka Automobile Company. The company was founded by serial Ghanaian entrepreneur Kwadwo Safo. The vehicles feature a range of designs that including fourwheel drive SUVs that are sure to make it the toast of savvy auto buyers in Ghana and the rest of the west African sub-region.
Photo Credit: Mobius Motors
The Mobius is an automobile brand founded in 2009 by Joel Jackson. The company started production in the city of Mombasa, but it has since moved its manufacturing facility to the capital, Nairobi.
One of the stated goals of the Mobius motor company is the production of safe, affordable, and tropicalized vehicles that can meet the transportation needs of the local population. The company builds in-expensive vehicles by integrating off-the-shelf-parts within a durable steel frame. At $11,000, the Mobius is reputed to be the lowest-priced new vehicle in Kenya.
Some of the successful Mobius car models on offer include the Mobius I and the Mobius II. https://face2faceafrica.com
Photo Credit: african spotlight
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing is a Nigerian automobile and bus manufacturing company located in Nnewi, Anambra state. The company was founded by Nigerian businessman Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma.
The Innoson brand of vehicles has so far enjoyed significant patronage from the Nigerian government and the general public. It offers a range of pocket-friendly cars that have proven to be reliable feats of engineer-
Laraki (Morocco) Laraki Automobiles was founded in Casablanca by Moroccan businessman and designer Abdeslam Laraki. The Laraki offers a range of exclusive, high-performance automobiles that have become the toast of the rich and famous.
Africa wins at 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge with Ghana, Morocco and Ethiopia
Afrikan
April
Post
Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2019) — The Best Beverage Award presented by PepsiCo at the April 2 Embassy Chef Challenge (ECC) diplomatic culinary competition won by Chef Francis Otoo of Ghana at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center was one of many prizes clinched by Africa at the event.
Francis Otoo, a multiple award-winning Executive Chef who was awarded for his ‘Ashantie Mule Cocktail‘ this year also featured his 2nd-placewinning jollof rice with lamb from last year at this year’s ECC which featured a heavy participation from Africa that included Ethiopia’s Tebabu Assefa of the Embassy of Ethiopia in DC who won the ‘Macy’s Best Dressed award‘ for rich cultural display.
Morocco’s Chef Faycal Zahraoui who prepared Seafood Pastila with Smoked Potatoes was among the award-winning chefs of the night who was ultimately joined on the podium by fellow winners around the world who showcased their delicious culinary delights like winning dishes of a surf and turf pumpkin soup from Haiti, and guava brûlée pork belly from Barbados.
In praise of Chef Otoo, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC said that: “Ghana Embassy Chef, Francis Otoo did it Again! This time, he won the ‘Pepsi Best Beverage’ Award for his Delicious Ginger Beverage at the 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge on April 2, 2019, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center.“
Another winning Ghanaian performance that night was led by the band ‘Nathan Pryce and the Dreams‘ who are no strangers to the ECC. Last year, the Ghanaian smooth Jazz musician Nathan Pryce led his band – The Dreams – to provide a sparkling per-
2019
“I want to thank this year’s champions Chef Javon Cummings of Barbados who won the coveted first place ‘Golden Pineapple’ in the Judges’ Choice Award and Chef Dimitri Lilavois of Haiti for grabbing first place in the People’s Choice Award and say Africa is proud of them. I also say thanks to the organizers, especially Events DC and TCMA and other great sponsors and supporters who have continued to make this beautiful experience started 11yrs ago by Linda D. Harper the wonderful international experience it has grown to become today,” concluded Chef Otoo in his chat with TheAfricanDream.net.
Embassy of Ghana personnel at the ECC in support of the Chef were Trade attache Stella Ansah, Diaspora Affairs desk Akosua Baddoo and Angeline Addy of the embassy’s info desk. Editor of Afrikan Post newspaper George Kwasi Bright and other well-wishers from Africa and the Diaspora were present to throw their support behind the Chef.
37
Oral Ofori With Linda D. Harper the brain Behind the Embassy Chef Challenge
Nathan Pryce and the Dreams Performing
Morroco
Ghana
formance which was repeated this year to the admiration of fans.
Chef Otoo who has been a regular participant at the ECC said to TheAfricanDream.net “last year we won two silvers, this year we clinched one gold, but every year for the past 11yrs years that I have participated – I always win a diamond! This is because the thousands of fans who show up to taste my food and drinks, as well as that of other participants, make the whole experience priceless for me.”
Page
Sudan
Cameroon
Kenya
Ethiopia
For a full list of participating embassy chefs visit www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com for more details about the event.
Written by Oral Ofori
Uganda
Tanzania
Afrikan
April
Post
2019
Page
See the first African-owned and Published Newspapers from the 1800s moved to Liberia and established one of the most influential Creole families in Sierra Leone and West Africa. The paper lasted for 10 years and 457 issues were published. Articles in the newspaper include efforts to suppress the illegal slave trade, detailed accounts of court trials for offences, shipping arrival and entertainment details about canoe and pony races, rowing and wrestling matches at the local fair.
38
Bannerman.
Iwe Irohin (1859) – Presbyterian Missionary and Nigerian church members
The first newspaper in Nigeria was written in Yoruba and later in English. It was started by a missionary in Nigeria who gathered willing church members who could write in Yoruba. The newspaper is celebrated as the first newspaper in Nigeria that was written in an indigenous language. Published every 8 days, the paper lasted until 1867 after the clash between the Egbas of Yoruba and British. After 140 years, the paper was started again in 2012 The concept of newspapers was introduced into Africa by settled westerners as early as the 1770s. Before then, Africans communicated with each other in very different ways often using mediums such as drumming, stick striking or blowing of traditional horns to communicate relevant information.
In 1776, the first ever newspaper in Africa was created by the French in Mauritius as a means for the settlers to stay up to date with events from home as well as events of the French in Africa.
The paper was written in French and was called Annonces, Affiches et Avis Divers pour les Colonies des Isles de France et de Bourbon. On August 16, 1800, Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser, the second newspaper in Africa had been established by two slave traders in South Africa.
Although these newspapers are celebrated as some of the oldest in Africa, they were not African-owned and hence do not carry as much significance as the ones established by blacks and Africans.
Royal Gazette and Sierra Leone Advertiser (1817) – Sierra Leone
The first known black-owned newspaper is the Royal Gazette and Sierra Leone Advertiser which was started in 1817 by Abraham Hazeley, Nova Scotian settler who
Liberia Herald (1826) – Liberia
The Liberia Herald is the second known blackowned newspaper in Africa. It was started by Charles Force, an African American who returned to Liberia, settled and established one of the most powerful and influential families in Liberia. Although Charles died shortly after the release of the first issue, the paper was revived in 1829 by John B. Russwurm, the founder of the first African-American journal who settled in Liberia.
ELIZABETH OFOSUAH JOHNSON
https://face2faceafrica.com
Accra Herald (1858) – Ghana Started by Charles Bannerman, the Accra Herald can be considered as the first ever newspaper in Africa to be started by an African-born and bred in the continent in 1858. Started by the Ghanaian, the first few editions of the newspaper were handwritten and subsequent issues printed. The newspaper gained huge success in West Africa and encouraged more Africans to go into newspaper production. The newspaper was started again after a break but this time as the West African Herald by Charles
Ghana Embassy in Washington DC holds Town Hall Meeting With Ghana’s Economic Management Team
Afrikan
Post
April 2019
Page
39
As part of Ghana Governments commitment to diaspora community engagement, the Ambassador of Ghana hosted the Ghanaian Community at a Town Hall meeting held at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC on Sunday April 14, 2019.
A delegation of Ghana’s Economic management team led by the Senior Minister Hon. Osafo Marfo was in Washington Dc for the annual World Bank Spring meeting. After the meeting the delegation which included Prof. Baffour Gyan the minister of Planning, Hon. Ken Ofori- Atta –Minister of Finance, Yoofi Grant –Head of Ghana Investment Promotion Council and Hon. Osafo Marfo the senior minister made time to brief the community on Ghana’s economic strides and also the current state of affairs in Ghana. The Town Hall meeting was open to all and many Ghanaians and groups including The Council of Ghanaian Associations (COGA), which is the umbrella body of all Ghanaian Associations in the Washington Metro Area, community leaders, media representatives attended.
Hon. Osafo Marfo-Senior Minister
Hon. Dr. Baffour Gyan-Minister of Planning
Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta-Minister of Finance
Ms. Irene Osei asking a Question
Rev. Lord Asante Boadu Giving the Opening Prayer
Mr. Yoofi Grant, Head of Ghana Investment Promotion Council
.
Ghana's Ambassador to the USA, Dr. Barfuor AdjeiBarwuah
Solomon Owusu a Colorado based Mining Engineer asking about “Galamsey”
Mr. Kofi Tonto, Head Of Information at the EmbassyModerating the Event