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Malaria 'completely stopped' by microbe

From the Editor

O u r G r ea tes t G lor y is n o t in n ever f a llin g b u t in r is in g ever y time we f a ll .

We a r e co mmittted to br in gin g th e co mmu n ity th e bes t in N ews f r om Af r ica a n d th e D ia s po r a .  Yo u ma y als o vis it o u r web s ite a t www.af r ik an pos t.co m f or d a ily n ews u p da tes on Af r ica.

D is claimer : Th e op in ion s ex pr es s ed in ar ticles an d s to r ies in th is N ews pa per ar e th os e o f th e a u th or s a n d do n o t n eces s a r ily r ef lect th e views o f Af r ik a n Pos t . All co mmen ts a n d s u g ges tion s ar e welco me.

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immune system, so it is more able to fight off infections.

Or the presence of the microbe in the insect could be having a profound effect on the mosquito's metabolism, making it inhospitable for the malaria parasite.

Microsporidia MB infections appear to be life-long. If anything, the experiments show they become more intense, so the malaria-blocking effect would be longlasting.

George Kwasi Bright Publisher and Editor

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D E PA R T M E N T S Vol 12 Issue 4

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies aged 79 Pg.10

Kenyan Catholic priest charged for spreading Coronavirus Pg. 24

Why there are two Congos in Africa Page 24

Bishop Dag Heward Mills Loyaly and Disloyalty Pg. 11

Coronavirus: The different approaches to lockdowns in Africa Pg. 5

Pai Grande, Angolan Polygamist Who Fathered 281 Children With 49 Wives Laid To Rest

Pg. 14

Scientists have discovered a microbe that completely protects mosquitoes from being infected with malaria.

The team in Kenya and the UK say the finding has "enormous potential" to control the disease.

Malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, so protecting them could in turn protect people.

The researchers are now investigating whether they can release infected mosquitoes into the wild, or use spores to suppress the disease.

What is this microbe?

The malaria-blocking bug, Microsporidia MB, was discovered by studying mosquitoes on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It lives in the gut and genitals of the insects.

The researchers could not find a single mosquito carrying the Microsporidia that was harbouring the malaria parasite. And lab experiments, published in Nature Communications, confirmed the microbe gave the mosquitoes protection.

Microsporidias are fungi, or at least closely related to them, and most are parasites.

However, this new species may be beneficial to the mosquito and was naturally found in around 5% of the insects studied.

How big a discovery is it?

"The data we have so far suggest it is 100% blockage, it's a very severe blockage of malaria," Dr Jeremy Herren, from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya told the BBC.

When can this be used against malaria?

At the very least, 40% of mosquitoes in a region need to be infected with Microsporidia in order to make a significant dent in malaria.

The microbe can be passed between adult mosquitoes and is also passed from the female to her offspring.

So, the researchers are investigating two main strategies for increasing the number of infected mosquitoes.

Microsporidia form spores which could be released en masse to infect mosquitoes Male mosquitoes (which don't bite) could be infected in the lab and released into the wild to infect the females when they have sex "It's a new discovery. We are very excited by its potential for malaria control. It has enormous potential," Prof Steven Sinkins, from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told the BBC.

This concept of disease control using microbes is not unprecedented. A type of bacteria called Wolbachia has been shown to make it harder for mosquitoes to spread dengue fever in real-world trials.

Bacterial allies make dengue fever cases dive GM fungus rapidly kills 99% of malaria mosquitoes What happens next?

The scientists need to understand how the microbe spreads, so they plan to perform more tests in Kenya.

However, these approaches are relatively uncontroversial as the species is already found in wild mosquitoes and is not introducing something new.

It also would not kill the mosquitoes, so would not have an impact on ecosystems that are dependent on them as food. This is part of other strategies like a killer fungus that can almost completely collapse mosquito populations in weeks.

He added: "It will come as a quite a surprise. I think people will find that a real big breakthrough."

More than 400,000 people are killed by malaria each year, most of them children under the age of five.

While huge progress has been made through the use of bed nets and spraying homes with insecticide, this has stalled in recent years. It is widely agreed new tools are needed to tackle malaria.

How does the microbe stop malaria?

The fine details still need to be worked out.

But Microsporidia MB could be priming the mosquito's

Source:By James Gallagher Health and science correspondent

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Coronavirus: The different approaches to lockdowns in Africa

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By Christopher Giles and Peter Mwai BBC Reality Check

Meanwhile, a fact check shows that it is false. The picture of a lion on the street is from the year 2016 in South Africa.

If you can hold your breath for 10 seconds, then you don't have the virus?

This long message began circulating early on in the crisis and the claims have been shared more than 30,000 times on Facebook in over a dozen countries, including India, Nigeria and the USA.

It goes saying "If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection."

However, a fact check proved this wrong. The check proved that "Fibrosis is not a feature of coronavirus and you cannot tell... if you've got COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) you won't be able to hold your breath for 10 seconds anyway. And some people who have , the only symptom they've got is a fever and not a cough."

Read the original article on Premium Times.

African countries have fewer coronavirus cases than much of the world, but weaker healthcare systems do put the continent at risk.

Lockdown measures can help prevent the virus spreading, yet governments have taken very different approaches to imposing restrictions on their populations.

Are any countries lifting restrictions?

Some, like Ghana, are now easing these measures, concerned about their impact on the poor and because they've taken other steps against the virus.

Ghana did place lockdown restrictions on its major cities - which it has now largely lifted. But a ban on social events, and school closures will remain in place for the time being.

"The lockdown was beginning to have a negative impact on the poor who mostly depend on their daily sales to make a living," says BBC Ghana correspondent Thomas Naadi.

He later deleted the tweet. As against this claim, Ghana on Sunday closed all its borders to human traffic to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after the country confirmed its first death from the disease.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has said increased testing and improved treatment centres meant they could ease measures.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has also relaxed some restrictions in those parts of its capital city, Kinshasa, that had been badly hit by coronavirus.

And some countries did not implement severe restrictions in the first place.

Tanzania reported its first case in mid-March and the government closed education centres, but public and religious gatherings were not prohibited and it only suspended international flights on 11 April.

But this may have come at a cost, according to the World Health Organization.

"We have observed that physical distancing, including the prohibition of mass gatherings, took some time to happen," says Matshidiso Moeti of the WHO.

She adds that this may have been a factor leading to a rapid rise in cases there.

Ghana's Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, disclosed that travellers from highrisk countries with more than 200 cases of the Covid-19 would not be allowed into the country.

In all, only 21 cases have been confirmed in the country as at the time of filing this report.

Sex kills coronavirus?

A viral WhatsApp message/image claims constant sex kills coronavirus. The image featured CNN's, Wolf Blitzer.

Checks, however, showed that it was doctored. A reverse image search revealed the same picture was used earlier with the caption "Alcohol kills coronavirus". This is not also the original caption by CNN.

Sex is an activity that has to do body contact. This is the first red flag. Coitus or sex involves close contact, close contact means interaction with body fluids, a sure way of contacting coronavirus, a fact check reveals.

Putin vs Lions

Social media went agog on Sunday as some reports claimed that Vladimir Putin ordered a release of around 500 lions on the streets of Russia to ensure that people remain inside their houses during the coronavirus outbreak.

Pictures and Videos of lions on a street were being circulated and a tweet also claimed that "Vladimir Putin has given Russians two options. You stay at home for 2 weeks or you go to jail for 5 years. No middle ground."

Continued from Page 22

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Former Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro fined $7m in absentia

His property in the commercial capital, Abidjan, was confiscated and he was also barred from civic duties for five years.

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Outrage as Ivory Coast PM flies to France for medical treatment amid COVID-19

The verdict was announced after a trial that lasted only a few hours, adds Reuters. Soro was not present as he lives in exile in France.

The former rebel leader has also been A presidential candidate in Ivory Coast's election has been accused of plotting a coup against President convicted in absentia of embezzlement and money launAlassane Ouattara, who is due to leave dering. office later this year.

Guillaume Soro, who has been a rebel leader and prime minister, was accused of buying a house with public money.

Soro denied the allegations and his lawyers boycotted the trial, denouncing it as a way to exclude him from October's election, reports Reuters.

Soro was sentenced to 20 years in jail and fined $7.6m (£6.1m).

What's Ivory Coast like?

How Ivory Coast's president stunned West Africa Meet the student who has created African emojis

Soro was once an ally of Mr Ouattara's. He commanded a rebel force which backed the current president in his fight against President Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to accept he had lost the 2010 elections.

As the number of leaders of nation-states are busily coordinating their countries’ responses to the deadly novel coronavirus, Ivory Soro still retains the loyalty of former rebel Coast’s Prime Minister, Amadou Gon commanders who now hold senior positions Coulibaly, is flying to France for medical within the military, reports BBC Africa edi- tourism.

tor Mary Harper.

https://www.bbc.com/

Trump 'promises To Send Ventilators To Nigeria'

Gon Coulibaly, who is also the ruling party’s candidate in the country’s October presidential election, flew to France for medical checkup on Saturday, the presidency said.

Ivory Coast has recorded 1,398 cases of the coronavirus, one of the highest cases in West Africa, with 17 deaths at the time of filing this report.

The statement announcing Gon Coulibaly’s departure said he left the country Saturday without giving details of health status. But a source close to the prime minister said he missed scheduled checkup in France last month because of the need to lead the country’s coronavirus battle, Reuters reported. In 2012 he had heart surgery.

had flown to France for medical checkup sparked outrage online, describing the move as “sad.”

“Ivory Coast, one of the best economy/advanced technology, first minister flew to France due to medical check-up . This means Ivory has poor and lack medic-equipments.

The presidency said Defence Minister, Hamed Bakayoko, will serve as interim prime minister in Gon Coulibaly’s absence, as he’s expected back in a few days.

Gon Coulibaly was selected in March by President Alassane Ouattara as the ruling RHDP party’s candidate for the presidential election after declining to seek a third term.

“His intense activity these last weeks had an impact on his health, but it is nothing very https://face2faceafrica.com/ serious. He is doing well,” the source told Reuters.

The announcement that the prime minister

Nigerian officials say US President Donald Trump has promised to send the West African nations ventilators to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC's Chi Chi Izundu reports.

In a phone call with President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Trump also re-assured Nigeria of the US' solidarity and support during the outbreak, Nigerian government officials announced in their daily press briefing.

A presidential aide tweeted further details:

The US has the highest death toll in the world more than 56,000 people there have died after contracting coronavirus.

Covid-19 is a respiratory infection and treatment often requires breathing aids but ventilators, as they are know, are in short supply globally.

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What Are Africa's Chances of Economic Recovery After COVID-19?

By Greg Mills, Emily Van Der Merwe, Marie-Noelle Nwokolo and Ray Hartley Today's trillion-dollar question is: What will the post-Covid-19 world look like? Will the world indeed deglobalise, will supply chains shorten and what will all of this mean for Africa's many already-fragile economies?

Over the last few weeks, there has been a multitude of predictions on the size and scope of the economic upset caused by Covid-19.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the global economy will contract by 3% in 2020, making the "great lockdown the worst recession since the Great Depression, and far worse than the Global Financial Crisis".

McKinsey, for example, finds that in the absence of significant fiscal stimulus, Africa will experience a three to eight percentage point cut to GDP growth, up to a $200-billion decline, notwithstanding the effects of currency devaluations, inflationary pressure, or declining credit ratings, all of which could further worsen the economic outlook.

Economists are usually more cautious to predict good things.

However, a global reset does not have to be a bad thing for Africa if it can use this crisis as an opportunity for much-needed economic reform, and in so doing reposition itself to take advantage of a changed global order.

The first step, as pointed out, is thus to...

https://allafrica.com/stories/

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Pompeo Pledges U.S. Health Funding for Africa, Criticizes China

In response to a question from AllAfrica about calls for debt relief or cancellation for African countries, Pompeo said the U.S. government is "constantly evaluating both the how and the when" debt relief is appropriate. He welcomed "critical financial support" and debt suspension to low-income African countries that has been agreed by G20 and G7 countries and Paris Club members.

By Reed Kramer Washington, DC — The decision by President Trump to end U.S. funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) will not diminish U.S. support for health across Africa, including efforts to combat Covid-19, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a telephonic media roundtable on Monday.

"No other nation is doing more than we are," Pompeo told the seven journalists on the call. "We've committed more than $170 million to this fight in Africa, part of $775 million that the United States has pledged worldwide."

Pompeo also thanked African governments and airlines for help in repatriating more than 10,000 Americans. Earlier this month, the State Department issued a fact sheet detailing U.S. assistance for 37 African countries.

President Trump's critique and suspension of funding for WHO earlier this month was met with widespread criticism across Africa. Pressed by roundtable participants on U.S. de-funding of WHO, Pompeo said "accurate information is needed" to evaluate performance. "When a multilateral institution fails in its primary mission, which is to ensure that everyone has accurate timely information and makes good decisions," he said in response to a question from the BBC's Andrew Harding, "there's a responsibility to get that right."

"I would also remind everyone that there's an enormous amount of debt that the Chinese Communist Party has imposed on Africa," he said. Some Chinese loans "have incredibly onerous terms that will impact the African people for an awfully long time," he said, adding that African countries should consider seeking relief from China as well.

Aly Diouf from Le Soleil in Dakar asked Pompeo whether he supports the proposal by Senegalese President Mackey Sall to cancel public debt and reschedule private debt for African countries. "I don't think it's possible to make a blanket response," the Secretary said. "These are complicated situations," adding that the United States will respond "a responsible way."

Elias Meseret asked the Secretary about an offer of assistance by President Trump, who Tweeted after a phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali: His Country needs Ventilators, and the U.S. is in good position to help him. We will!

Meseret, who reports for the Associated Press from Addis Ababa, questioned whether African countries could expect to receive ventilators when governors from U.S. states are seeking them from the Federal government.

"I'm very confident that we will live up to that commitment," Pompeo responded. Conceding "a global shortfall across a broad range of items that have been needed to push back against this virus," the Secretary added: "The United States is engaged in a economic effort that is unrivaled anywhere in the world, to meet that demand, and as our supply chain begins to kick in, we're going to do the right thing."

Peter Fabricious, a veteran South African journalist who writes for the Daily Maverick and Institute for Harding also asked Pompeo about "reputational damage" International Studies, pressed Pompeo on whether the from President Trump's decision to end funding for WHO United States has banned the export of ventilators and and "unproven suggestions for how to deal with Covidrespirators, citing reports that South Africa had been 19." Pompeo said he is concerned about disinformation unable to purchase test kits needed for mobile testing labcampaigns, adding: "It's incomparable – if you stare at the oratories. "Good gracious, no!" Pompeo responded, notfacts of what the United States is doing to assist Africa, not ing Trump's recent declarations pledging that "significant only in this time of Covid-19 but what we have done over numbers of ventilators" will be exported. "We're going to the years." create a supply chain for the world so that this equipment is available for all citizens all across the world," Pompeo He insisted that U.S. funding for health care in Africa is said. not being reduced. "Indeed, far from it. I'm confident we will actually increase that number," he said. But we need to Raquel Rio, an Angola-based journalist for LUSA News make sure its part of a multi-national institution that funcAgency, asked whether the repatriation of U.S. citizens tions, that can actually deliver good outcomes for the peoworking for oil companies might have a negative impact ple in some of the poorest countries in the world that are on oil-dependent African economies. "Global energy marthere in Africa." Pressed by Daily Nation senior diplomatic kets have been upended by this virus," Pompeo said affairs writer Aggrey Mutambo on the extent of U.S. assisadding that he is confident those workers will return after tance as the number of Covid-19 cases in Africa rise, the Coronavirus crisis ends and the world economy Pompeo said "the United States is engaged in an all-out recovers. effort to provide both capability for therapeutic response and ultimately a vaccine" and is committing "a great https://allafrica.com/ amount of resources" to defeat the pandemic.

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Stay home ‘Shutdown Quarantine Season’ party with DJs amid Covid-19

April

Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen dies aged 79 2020

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Pioneering Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, a co-founder of the Afrobeat musical genre, died in Paris on Thursday aged 79, his manager says.

"We don't know the exact cause of death," Eric Trosset told AFP, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus.

The promoter of the Year award-winner at 2019 edition of the Eastern Music Awards in Ghana Julian Asiedu of Jagonzy TV also known as Jagonzy, told TheAfricanDream.net that 2020 was going to be a very busy year for him, not realizing the Coronavirus had its plans for him. Fast-forward to April 2020 and a defiant Jagonzy says "COVID-19 or not the party must go on, this virus will not stop us!"

With the world going through all these hard times and we not knowing when this pandemic will end, Jagonzy who is also a coFounder of the Shutdown Franchise along with Charles Berko of Berk’s Concepts explained that their entertainment companies specializing in event management and live concerts “decided to put together a virtual party by the name Stay home shut down quarantine season party with the DJs.”

Mr. Berko in a phone conversation with TheAfricanDream.net said that “this all started on April 10, with the help of DJs and some promoters around the globe after Jagonzy and I decided we owe it to our fans and supporters to keep the jam alive, after all, we are called Shutdown ‘Shutdown Franchise’ and now more than ever, we needed to live up to our identity.”

Read also: Jagonzy picks Promoter of the Year award at 2019 Eastern Music Awards

“The first edition that took place on the Shutdown Franchise Facebook page was successful, we had an audience reach of about 35000,” said Mr. Berko who explained, “since one of the core goals of the franchise is to connect and bring together Africans in the diaspora, the continent and persons of other nationalities globally, the first edition needed to reflect that for the founders.”

“This wasn’t a problem for us since we are in touch

with a close-knit family of event organizers, promoters and DJs across the globe who comes from different backgrounds,” Jagonzy disclosed.

He said further, “Shutdown Quarantine Season Party with the DJs is not just a virtual party but also a platform for our DJs to share updates of the virus from their corners of the world with viewers,” Jagonzy and Mr. Berko use the online gathering to also talk about COVID-19 safety precautions while endorsing global stay-athome policies.

The coFounders, both originally from Ghana urged all to rest assured that the Shutdown Franchise through entertainment and quality music will beat corona virus if all continue to stay at home, they also thanked essential workers and first responders across the globe for the jobs they do to keep the world running.

They also appreciated their participating DJs from Ghana, those around the United States and in Belgium, Europe.

Based on the success of the first edition, the duo received lots of positive responses and calls for another jam, so they have settled going to do this every weekend till things calm down and all can get back to normal daily lives.

Watch out for the second edition starting Friday, April 17 and running till April 19 on their Facebook page also known as Shutdown Franchise to join the virtual parties.

Source: TheAfricanDream.net

Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti's famous band Africa '70 in the 1960-70s.

Kuti, who died in 1997, once said that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat".

Allen has also been described by UK musician Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived".

Allen's career and life story were documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat,

Afrobeat combines elements of West Africa's fuji music and highlife styles with American funk and jazz.

Allen, who was born in Lagos in 1940, taught himself how to play drums when he was 18.

He said he learnt his technique by mimicking American jazz drummer Max Roach.

Allen first met Fela Kuti in 1964, and they went on to record dozens of albums in Africa '70, including Gentleman and Zombie.

Allen left the band in 1979, after reported rifts with Kuti over royalties. Kuti needed four separate drummers to fill the void.

Allen emigrated to London in 1984, and later moved to Paris.

He collaborated with a number of artists during his long music career, and was the drummer in The Good, the Bad & the Queen, with Damon Albarn, Paul Simenon and Simon Tong. https://www.bbc.com/news

The E States tions apply Instru 539.A with advis

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How To Extend Your Stay In The US

The Embassy of Ghana, USA, wishes to inform Ghanaians who are currently in the United States on valid visas, and are unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions that they may apply for an extension of stay. Ghanaians who need extensions can apply by filing Form I-539 by mail together with Form I-912 to request for a fee waiver.

Instructions on where to file for an extension can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/I539.Applicants must include an explanation of why they are unable to leave the U.S. along with any other relevant documents. If your visa is close to the expiration date, then you are advised to call USCIS Customer Service for further instructions. Please have your I-94

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Departure record number available at the time of the call. This is the form stapled in your passport at the time of entry into the country. Further information on special situations and extending visas can be found at the following web addresses: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations https://www.uscis.gov/visit-united-states/extend-your-stay Ghanaians who find themselves in this situation are encouraged to notify the Embassy via email covid19@ghanaembassydc.org if they have not already done so.

Source: Embassy of Ghana, USA

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Coronavirus: Cuban doctors go to South Africa

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most likely to spread".

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned of overconfidence as lockdown measures ease, saying infections are likely to reach their peak in August.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the country is seeking international funding to help fund a 500bn rand ($26bn; ÂŁ21bn) rescue package to cushion coronavirus's economic impact.

The government is to give new welfare grants to help South Africa's poorest families, as millions of people have lost their incomes, and aid organisations warn of growing signs of desperation. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa

More than 200 doctors from Cuba are due to arrive in South Africa to help fight coronavirus.

The medics left on a plane that first carried a donation of South African medical supplies to the Caribbean island, its embassy in Pretoria said.

With COV are im the C in So delet propo tal.

They are among 1,200 healthcare workers sent to battle Covid-19 in 22 countries that have requested help from the communist state.

South Africa is to begin easing strict lockdown restrictions next month.

More than 1.5 million people will be allowed to return to work, some schools will reopen, deliveries of hot food will be permitted and cigarettes will be back on sale.

But the sale of alcohol and public gatherings will still be banned.

Is South Africa's alcohol ban working?

The hidden world of doctors Cuba sends overseas How Cuban art fed Africa's liberation struggles The country, which at one point was following the UK's infection curve, has stunned observers in the way it has slowed the spread of the virus, says the BBC's Andrew Harding from Johannesburg.

It has recorded 4,361 cases of coronavirus, including 86 deaths.

Special relationship The Cuban doctors - arriving in Johannesburg late on Sunday night - are to be deployed to different provinces by South Africa's Department of Health, Cuba's ambassador Rodolfo BenĂ­tez Verson has said.

The two countries have close ties as Cuba was instrumental in the fight against white-minority rule in South Africa, which did not end until 1994 when anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was elected president. .Cuba is well known for its medical diplomacy, though it has not been without controversy.

The US government under President Donald Trump has urged countries not to accept Cuban medical missions, accusing the country of exploiting its medics - allegations Havana denies.

Cuba, with 1,337 recorded cases of Covid-19 and 51 deaths, has the world's highest ratio of doctors to population and began preparing for the virus early.

According to the Reuters news agency, it is renowned for its focus on prevention and communityorientated primary health care to fight epidemics.In South Africa, thousands of community health workers have been screening millions of people for coronavirus.

Professor Salim Abdool Karimwe, who is leading South Africa's scientific response to outbreak, says they have been targeting "the most socially vulnerable communities, where this likely was

South Africa has sent protective gear and other supplies for Cuban health facilities

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COVID-19 - Fact Checking a Must as Misinformation Spreads

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These schools operate illegally since they are unregistered and they cost about $3 a month as compared to fees at government-run schools which must be paid upfront and ranges from $30 and $700 a year.

According to Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac), in 2019 at least 60% of the children in primary school were sent home for failing to pay fees. The new law makes it an offence to expel children for nonpayment of school fees or for becoming pregnant.

Prior to the new law, Zimbabwe‘s first leader Robert Mugabe who was a teacher himself had adopted commendable education policies after the country’s independence in 1980.

The school system he implemented saw Zimbabweans ranked among countries with the highest literacy rates in Africa. However, the education system began to crumble when free education ended in the 1990s.

The onus is now on parents as they have to ensure that their children go to school. If their children fail to attend school, they face up to two years in jail or a $260 fine if their children are found not to be attending classes if they can afford to pay it.

With U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that people could receive injections of disinfectant to treat COVID-19, Madagascar's president saying he has "herbal remedy", and three in ten Nigerians believing that they are immune to the disease, misinformation and disinformation continues to get in the way of Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous misinformation surrounding the virus included social media posts circulated in South Africa claiming the government would only assist companies that were 51% black-owned, and a nowdeleted tweet from a Nigerian entertainer that featured a doctored image of a television breaking news segment, proposing that cocaine can cure the novel coronavirus.homes and backyards, especially in poor areas of the capital.

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Pai Grande, Angolan Polygamist Who Fathered 281 Children With 49 Wives Laid To Rest

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“I’m called Danger because I overshadowed many men when it came to women. I was very handsome. I dressed well and I knew how to charm women with sweet talk. No woman could decline my advances. I was a magnet,” Akuku once told The Standard.

Reports said he outlived 12 of his wives, marrying the last one in 1992. With so many children in his family, Akuku had to establish two elementary schools specifically to educate his children, as well as, a church for his family to attend.

Akuku was a global case study in the institution of marriage.

A disciplinarian in his home, he knew all his children by name and even had a schedule on when to spend on which house.

Since his death, people have tried to compare him to other successful polygamists from the continent. Names like eSwatini’s King Mswati III, who has about 14 wives and 23 children, have come up. South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma is also noted to have five wives and 20 children.

But perhaps the one who comes close to Akuku is Abumbi II, the 11th king of the Bafut kingdom in north-west Cameroon.

About a thousand mourners and sympathizers flouted Angolan president João Lourenço’s directive banning large gatherings – as a measure to curtail the spread of coronavirus – to pay their last respects to Francisco Tchikuteny Sabalo at Mungongo Island on April 19.

According to VOA, Sabalo, who was also known as Pai Grande, or Big Dad, was a popular polygamist, who fathered 281 children and had 49 wives. He is survived by 42 wives (7 left the marriage), 156 children, 250 grandchildren and 67 great-grandchildren.

Polygamy in the Southern African nation is illegal, but still popular.

Pai Grande, who died in his early 70s after battling prostate cancer for over a year, was initially taken to the country’s capital city of Luanda as well as other places for treatment, but was returned home when his condition worsened to ensure that “if God called him, at least he would die beside the children and their mothers,” one of his sons said.

A dedicated family man and respected personality in his community, Pai Grande, was described as “a complete human being” who was an advocate for education. Speaking to VOA in 2015, Sabalo, who said it was his wish for some of his children to take up careers in science and technology, revealed he spent over $1,500 on school supplies annually.

Two of his sons and three daughters, who are currently in high school, are undertaking courses in computer science and medical sciences respectively.

Tributes from other family and community members

also poured in during the funeral, with his first wife vowing to do everything she can to keep the family together as per her husband’s wish.

“I will do anything to keep his children fed and OK,” she told VOA.

The director of the island’s school also lauded him for his contributions towards improving education on the island and for starting “a revolution against illiteracy… He was a man and a complete human being.”

Pai Grande’s extended family live on subsistence farming, growing crops and rearing livestock. They also generate revenue from their sales.

Polygamy on the African continent is a centuriesold tradition that is widely practiced till date. Just like Pai Grande, there have also been other men who have made the news for their conspicuously large families.

In Kenya, Acentus Akuku was regarded the country’s prominent polygamist, having married 130 times with nearly 200 children at the time of his death in his late 90s.

Nicknamed “Danger” because of the magic he had with women and his love for polygamy, he had married five women by the time he turned 22. At 35, he married his 45th wife.

The king has 100 wives and 500 children. The only exception is that he inherited 72 wives from his father, King Achirimbi II, who died in 1968. With 28 wives already, King Abumbi ended up with 100 queens and 500 children.

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Aril 2020

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Concerts, Christmas Concert or Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

In addition to being a Choir of choice for national functions, it has performed at annual events of various international embassies in Ghana.

Prominent among these have been the following: the embassies of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy.

Others are the embassy of Denmark and the High Commission of the United Kingdom. It has also undertaken joint performances with foreign Choirs visiting Ghana like Choirs from Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), the Fisk University Jubilee Singers (Nashville, Tennessee), Morgan State University Choir (Baltimore, Maryland), and the Mokoyaala Choir from Germany.

Apart from the Choir engaging in quarterly concerts, (TYC) was performing from time to time at private, public, corporate and national functions.

The following are the Choirs significant engagements over the years:

25th Wedding Anniversary of Ghana’s Former President & Mrs. Jerry John Rawlings (10/09/02) Birthday Party of Ghana’s Former President John Agyekum Kufour (12/08/02) & (12/08/04)

Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice by the US Embassy, Accra at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Center.

(01/15/06)

In November, 2019, Mr. Allotey founded Tema Choir USA, Inc. Tema Choir USA, Inc. (TC USA) takes its root from the famous Ghanaian Choral group, Tema Youth Choir (TYC). Following the relocation of the founder of TYC, Ebenezer A. Allotey, to the United States from Ghana, TC USA was founded to sustain and build upon its sister Choir’s praiseworthy feats.

MISSION: The mission of the Tema Choir USA, Inc. is to create community, foster unity and build a better world through music.

VISION:

To create and nurture a diverse community through singing and performing together.

To develop the musical skills and talents of volunteer, non – auditioned singers through the discipline of learning and performing high quality Choral music.

To use Choral music performances as a pathway for social change and nurturing cultural interactions.

To perform charity benefit concerts to support the homeless and the less privileged in the community.

To bring emotional and spiritual healing through music and singing to residents of Senior Assisted Living Centers.

Ghana, and a recipient of the Ceval Gospel Award.

As part of efforts to raise awareness about the pandemic “Coronavirus” the Tema Choir USA (TC USA) has come out with a heartwarming song as their contribution to Global awareness and education on the pandemic.

The song is hoped to stem the spread of the disease and to reassure the global community that their own efforts will play a pivotal role in curbing the extent of the virus.

Using music as a way of communication and education, President George Weah of Liberia has joined the efforts with a new song released as his quota towards the global conscientization.

Tema Choir USA under the renowned musicologist Ebenezer A. Allotey, in recent times graced the various Assisted Living facilities in the Washington metro areas with melodious tunes to soothe the hearts of the staff and residents. Their music has provided the healing therapy missing in a persons life. They have been embraced wherever they performed. The Coronavirus song was composed by Newlove Kojo Annan for Tema Choir USA, Inc.

Tema Choir USA, Inc is a non-profit organization established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and operating under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.

A contemporary community Choir, the Tema Youth Choir (TYC) was founded in November, 2001 under the direction of Mr. Ebenezer A. Allotey. Tema Youth Choir is an award-winning, internationally renowned, youth choir with five popular recorded compact disc (CD) albums.

It has about 50 members ranging from 18 to 28 Internationally recognized musician, conductor and educayears. tor, Ebenezer A. Allotey is well-known for his work as organist and Founder/Director of the Presbyterian Senior Tema Youth Choir holds regular quarterly concerts each Secondary School Choir in Tema-Ghana founded in June year. The first Quarter concerts are normally Easter con1997, as well as the Founder and Artistic Director of the Tema Youth Choir. Founded in November 2001, the Tema certs; 2nd Quarter concerts are Western Choral Youth Choir is currently known as one of the top choirs in Classicals; 3rd Quarter concerts, African/ Ghanaian Contemporary Choral Classics; and the 4th Quarter

The State Dinner Reception of H. E. Junichiro Koizumi, Former Prime Minister of Japan, at the Accra International Conference Center.

(05/02/06)

Ceval Gospel Awards, Finalist Nominee for Best Choral Group at the Royal House Chapel Int. Ahenfie, Accra. (11/18/06)

The State Dinner Reception of H.E. the Former President John Agyekum Kufour for H. E. Mr. George W. Bush, Former President of the United States of America at the State House Accra. (02/20/08)

The CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist Awards at the State House, Accra.

(07/19/08).

In 2008, Mr. Allotey relocated to the United States. Over the years, he has served as the Music Director/Organist for Ghana Calvary United Methodist Church, Montrose, NJ, St. Catherine of Genoa Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY, Ghana Wesley United Methodist Church, Woodbridge, VA, and Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, VA.

Through Mr. Allotey, (TYC) was invited to the United States of America three times as ambassadors of African music to build bridges between people of different cultural backgrounds, thereby promoting religious, educational, and cultural exchanges between the rich blends of cultures in the States. (2013, 2014 and 2017) Email: temachoirusainc@gmail.com

To organize and perform charity benefit concerts and events, with the aim of assisting deprived schools in Ghana with educational materials.

Webpage: http://www.temachoirusa.org

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Drolor Bosso Adamtey I Opens Up To Theafricandream.Net In A Candid Interview Quitting has never been an option for this fighter, but human as he is, he quickly confirmed that like everyone he too has had tough and trying times. At the moment, one of his favorite challenges is the mobilization of people for a common course on how to change lives and contribute to society. “As a leader sometimes, it gets difficult to have people sold out to a noble vision, but such challenges keep me up at night and through the spirit of God enables me to come up with ways around them — I learn to grow through my storms.”

When TheAfricanDream.net asked Drolor Bosso Adamtey I (the first) about his source of inspiration when beginning his work, he responded: “The words and actions of my parents; pointing me to the future greatly inspired me.

Additionally, I am inspired when I see the vulnerable population, especially those marginalized and poor being denied their fundamental human rights.”

Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, formerly known as Dr. Kingsley Fletcher, is a Ghana-born public speaker who mentors global leaders, a humanitarian, an entrepreneur, and preacher of the Gospel who has traveled the world sharing his spiritual thoughts and ideas that uplift humanity.

He continued his phone interview with TheAfricanDream.net from his North Carolina (NC) base in the United States (US) by finishing his answer to what inspires him: “It naturally comes to me to be of help to such people, you know it’s like an innate drive that propels me to act with compassion. This also encourages me to give my very best. Above all, I am inspired by seeing possibilities in every circumstance, as I see every opposition as an opportunity and every resistance as a reset.”

In case you’re wondering what the location of the Kingdom he rules is, it is the traditional area in the Dangme West District of Ghana, in West Africa where he bears the traditional title “Drolor” and the royal name “Bosso Adamtey I.” He is also King of Kordiabe-Madaam in the Shai OsudokuDistrict of Ghana.

The Genesis and how this King survived a bullying school-teacher “From my childhood experience as a young boy, I vividly recall this memory of a teacher I had named Mr. P. Abeka who always approached me with words of negativity and discouragement. Yes as a young child with little experience, this negative attitude of my teacher who was supposed to be seeking my well-being did have a harsh impact on. Despite my age, I somehow realized that listening to Mr. Abeka wasn’t going to help me, hence I refused all he said.”

“It was at this point that I discovered no one had the power to determine my future, a realization that also opened my eyes to the fact that the power to prevent him from breaking my spirit solely rested in me. I concluded that every human could do what they are sent here for if only they apply themselves in truth and honesty. It was not so long after this experience that I vowed to make every young person realize that they had the strength to do what they wanted to do irrespective of the opinion of others.”

This new-found positive attitude towards life as a young person followed Drolor Bosso Adamtey I into his teens through his young adulthood, to where he is now as a man. Funny enough, when we asked whether he could recall other experiences from his past that shoved him so hard to the wall that he wanted to give up, he laughed briefly and simply said, “I do not remember ever in my life wanting to quit!”

“Today people and situations like Mr. Abeka that tried to break me have done the exact opposite by strengthening me. I am the visionary and trendsetting leader you see me as today because I have built passion around adversity and a burning desire to bring positive changes to lives. I have the grace to forecast trends and mobilize people for action.

Because of my purposeful intent and consistency, I have built my blessing to discern and act wisely. I leave a very profound and long-lasting impact on those who encounter me.” — Drolor Bosso Adamtey I.

A message to Africa amid-COVID-19 from this global thought-leader Asked what Africa could learn to prepare for disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic, His Majesty admitted the problem we have now is lack of preparedness on the part of the health system, he also believed even some developed countries are in the same boat with first world countries on this particular issue.

“Africa needs to strengthen our health system to be able to provide emergency response in an event like this. I would want to commend the government of Ghana for investing in local companies to produce Personal Protective Equipment in fighting COVID-19. I believe this gesture should continue even after the pandemic, as a show of support for local industries. An act of this nature would boost the economy and reduce the rate of unemployment.”

who asked that we visit his official website at www.KingAdamtey.com for more information about these institutions.

Giving back and the way forward 2020 has presented rather unusual times to the world, but hard times or mishaps are inevitable. His Majesty believes it is therefore important that we take courage and stand tall, never giving up on our visions or allowing tough times to overtake us because it always works out well in the end.

“We need to seize the moment and see it as life’s way of giving us the opportunity to re-strategize to come back stronger. Also, what we know as normal has changed hence we have to now embrace a new normal, creating new systems and structures to be more effective. We must however in the process not forget our cultures and customs, especially the goodness in them that continually shape us as upright people,” advised the king.

Part of the vision of Drolor Bosso Adamtey I as an educator, minister, and humanitarian is to eternally stay committed to the Se Kingdom as well as the Ga-Dangme people of Ghana through restoring their historical, traditional, and cultural values. He emphasized this objective when he said “I’m involved in improving health care, creating sustainable education programs and job opportunities for the youth. Also, I am mobilizing resources among my people (Se and the Greater Ga-Dangme) and training new leaders to sustain our on-going development.“

“There is a coming together of the traditional leadership, the Elders and the whole youth of Se and Ga-Dangme in general, in response to the awakening of our restoring to our place in history and our contribution to the development of Ghana,” the king professed. He acknowledged that “this coming together is a result of a growing awakening that is One of the king’s spiritual mandates includes bringing all stirring within the African wherever he or she may the Se People in the Diaspora, throughout Africa, Europe, be now — Africa shall as a continent soon maintain North & South America, the Caribbean, and Central America, back home to their ancestral lineage. He feels this her God-given rightful place to restore balance within humanity.” effort would encourage them to also contribute to the

development of Ghana as a country and Africa as a continent.

It is with much excitement that the king informed Africans everywhere and the world in general that come 2021, the Global Leadership Centre (GLC) in Durham, NC will be launched. He afterwards took some time to also talk about Ghana’s Drolor Centre for Strategic Leadership (DCSL) with TheAfricanDream.net during this interview.

DCSL exists to nurture a global community of leaders who are willing to make a difference with their presence by creating and delivering value that go beyond their time and/or geographical boundaries. Leaders who understand the consequences of their actions and inactions on current and future generations and can act ethically in such context.

“GLC is a world class executive leadership institute designed to nurture a global community of leaders to help develop strategies to address critical long-standing and emerging issues for this century and beyond,” said the king

Written by Oral Ofori for TheAfricanDream.net

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April 2020

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Coronavirus - Fake News You Should Ignore

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WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus says countries should ensure they have the capacity to detect, test, isolate and care for any confirmed cases as they ease restrictions.

"Lifting so-called lockdown restrictions is not the end of the epidemic in any country, it's just the beginning of the next phase," he said.

Who's kept tough restrictions in place?

Many African countries have had experience in combating infectious diseases, and many took tough measures even before they reported outbreaks.

Some 13 countries closed schools before documenting their first cases of Covid19.

Coronavirus in Africa tracker BBC Africa Live: Updates from the continent The South African government has said it will gradually ease the lockdown from 30 April, but is currently enforcing one of the harshest lockdowns anywhere in the world.

It has closed schools and universities, limited hospital and prison visits, and restricted movement to key workers. All public gatherings apart from funerals are banned - and the army have been deployed to enforce it.

Nigeria, by far Africa's most populous nation, closed its land borders and banned all international flights in late March.

It then shut down its major cities of Lagos and Abuja, following more than 100 reported cases, and restricted movement between states.

Zimbabwe did a total lockdown around the same time, although it only had a small number of infections.

Kenya has had a partial lockdown, with travel in and out of major cities banned.

It also had an overnight nationwide curfew, that has resulted in more than 400 arrests for violations.

Are lockdowns the right response in Africa?

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the body that co-ordinates pandemic responses across the continent, told the BBC that lockdowns have played a role in reducing new cases.

"Without the lockdown, we would have seen a more explosive outbreak," says director John Nkengasong.

He adds that it's not just the lockdown itself, but also what else you do during that period.

"You intensify your testing, your isolation and your contact tracing so that when you unlock the system at least you have created a huge impact on the virus spread."

It's important to say that coronavirus is a much greater risk to older populations, putting particular pressures on countries in Europe.

The median ages in Italy and the UK are about 45 and 40 for example, whereas the average age in sub-Saharan Africa is about 20.

However, that's not to say other factors don't come into play in Africa such as sanitation and limited access to good healthcare.

Some voices have questioned the need for continuing lockdowns, for example the main opposition party in South Africa.

There are economic concerns - Western countries have put huge sums into supporting businesses and social welfare schemes. But many African countries simply do not have that option.

And overseas remittances, a big source of income, will decrease, further harming local economies.

There have also been human rights issues raised about the behaviour of some security forces when enforcing restrictions.

Human rights group Amnesty International reported that there'd been abuses by security forces in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

"Most states have expanded police and army power, and for the most part it has led to an increase in police violence and misconduct," says Eda Seyhan at Covid State Watch, an organisation monitoring the global abuse of powers during the pandemic. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52395976

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Nigeria confirms receipt of $311m Abacha Sudan Makes FGM Punishable loot from US, Jersey

By Three Years In Prison April 2020

The Nigerian government has confirmed the receipt of more than $311 million of public funds stolen by the country’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha. This follows an agreement by the United States and the British dependency of Jersey in February, to return the stashed monies.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the West African nation, Abubakar Malami, in a statement by his special assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu, disclosed that $311,797,866.11 of Abacha’s loot was repatriated from the US and Jersey.

According to local news media, Premium Times, “The amount increased significantly from over $308 million as stated in a press release in February to over $311 million because of the interest that accrued from February 3, 2020, to 28th April, 2020, when the fund was transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The Justice Minister further disclosed that the litigation process for the return of the asset titled, “Abacha III” started in 2014, while the diplomatic process that culminated in the signing of the Asset Return Agreement on February 3, 2020, by the governments of Nigeria, the US and Jersey commenced in 2018.

“This recovery is based on International law and cooperation measures that set out the procedures for the repatriation, transfer, deposition and management of the assets,” he said.

Per the agreement, the AGF said the Nigerian government will use the asset to support and assist in expanding local infrastructure, including the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria, namely: The Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Abuja – Kano Road, and the Second Niger Bridge.

Meanwhile, the United States has cautioned the Nigerian government against misusing the funds. According to the U.S Justice Department, the money must be used for the various public projects stated in the agreement.

In ensuring equity, the Justice Department disclosed a “claw-black” provision in the event of malpractice.

“Should any of the parties-including the United States- conclude that any of the returned funds had been used for an ineligible expenditure, a ‘claw-back’ provision would then obligate the FRN (Nigeria) to replace fully any such improperly diverted monies,” the letter said.

According to Transparency International, Abacha, before his death in 1998, stole as much as $5bn of public funds. He ruled Nigeria between 1993-1998.

https://face2faceafrica.com/

NOVIEKU-BABATUNDE ADEOLA

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The Sudanese government has approved an amendment to its criminal legislation, stating that anyone who performs Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) either inside a medical establishment or elsewhere faces three years in jail and a fine.

Up until now, it was a common practice in Sudan for women to get the inner and outer labia, and usually, the clitoris removed, a practice which can result in urinary tract infections, uterine infections, kidney infections, cysts, reproductive issues and pain during sex.

FGM was already illegal in some Sudanese states, but these bans were widely ignored. Criminalizing FGM, according to activists, will usher in a new era in the predominantly Muslim country where 87% of its women aged between 14 and 49 have undergone some form of FGM, the United Nations stated.

In spite of the latest development, women’s right groups believe it will be difficult to change minds in communities that view the traditional practice as necessary to marry their daughters.

“FGM prevalence in Sudan is one of the highest globally. It is now time to use punitive measures to ensure girls are protected from torturous practice,” Faiza Mohamed, Africa regional director for Equality Now, said.

According to her, having a law against FGM acts as an important deterrent, however, Sudan may face challenges in enforcing the legislation. “People who still believe in the practice might not report cases or act to stop FGM when they know it is happening”.

She warned that communities may look for ways to avoid detection while officials, who believe in the practice may not uphold the law.

“There is so much work to be done. This is a start, a good start,” said Fatma Naib, communication officer of the UN children’s agency, Unicef, in Sudan. “The crucial step will be to ensure there are consequences for those who perform the cut on their girls.”

UNICEF representative in Sudan, Abdullah Fadil, said the practice is not only a violation of every girl child’s rights, but it is also harmful and has serious consequences for a girl’s physical and mental health. “This is why governments and communities alike must take immediate action to put an end to this practice.”

Sudan has been applauded for criminalising FGM. The UK’s international development secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, tweeted: “In our turbulent world, fantastic to see the new government in #Sudan outlawing female genital mutilation.

There is no place for #FGM in the 21st century.”

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Kenyan Catholic priest charged for spread- COVID-19: Africa may lose ing Coronavirus up to $37bn in remittances Afrikan

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April 2020

Africans on the continent are looking at losing up to $37 billion in remittances due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest forecast by the World Bank.

Kenyan Catholic priest, Richard Onyango Oduor, has been charged in court for spreading the coronavirus. He was charged with having “negligently spread an infectious disease” after authorities said he failed to adhere to coronavirus quarantine rules following a visit to Italy.

He denied the charges in a Nairobi court and was released on a 150,000 Kenyan shilling ($1,415) bond.

He was, however, ordered to spend another 14 days in quarantine and return to court on May 2.

Archbishop Anthony Muheria, who is in charge of the Catholic dioceses of Nyeri and Kitui, told Reuters he could not comment on the case. He said it was up to the authorities to determine whether the priest was at fault.

Oduor is the second person to face such charges in the country. Last week, a Kenyan court also charged a senior regional government official with willfully spreading the novel coronavirus by going out in public without taking precautions.

The Deputy Governor of the coastal region of Kilifi County, Gideon Saburi, was arrested after completing a 14-day government-enforced quarantine after the health ministry said he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

He also denied the charges and was freed on bond while

being ordered to self-quarantine.

Kenya has banned all public gatherings, limited the number of mourners at funerals, imposed a daily curfew and restricted movement in and out of four regions.

Citizens are reportedly holding parties in their houses and parks due to bar closures. A lawmaker was arrested for holding a party at a restaurant in the capital on Easter weekend.

The country has recorded 234 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 11 deaths so far.

Archbishop Anthony Muheria, who is in charge of the Catholic dioceses of Nyeri and Kitui, told Reuters he could not comment on the case. He said it was up to the authorities to determine whether the priest was at fault. https://face2faceafrica.com/

Migrant workers have been affected by lockdowns and layoffs across the developed world.The decline in remittances is the sharpest on record for the continent and the world at large. Monies sent by people globally are expected to fall by $445 billion.

Although many countries do not count remittances as part of foreign direct investment, a substantial amount of Africans depend on remittances from family, friends and acquaintances in especially Europe and North America.

The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic extends beyond remittances. Last week, the World Bank said the continent is going into a recession for the first time in 25 years.

The Bank’s report said “Covid-19 will cost the region between $37 billion and $79 billion in output losses for 2020 due to a combination of effects.”

It also added that “real gross domestic product growth is projected to fall sharply particularly in the region’s three largest economies — Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa — as a result of persistently weak growth and investment.”

South Africa’s currency, the Rand, initially recorded gains against the dollar prompting hopes in the country that the economy may be able to withstand hammering. South Africa’s Reserve Bank is expected to cut interest rates in May.

Reuters quoted a currency dealer, Andre Botha, who said, “If we look at the market, I think people are taking a pause for a moment. I think the market is exhausted and is just taking stock of where we are.”

All of Africa’s biggest economies have been impacted by various levels of restrictions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. https:https://face2faceafrica.com/

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with a death threat posted on his garage door.

Two days later, unknown persons smashed bottles against the door of his parish house.

“The attack against me have made it almost impossible to lead a normal parish life in Queidersbach,” Asomugha said in a statement.

Church officials say that he had earlier called for peace among people in the community in the wake of racist attacks. Last October, his church even held a “solidarity mass” over these concerns to drum home the need for unity. Nevertheless, the attacks continued.

The Nigerian woman who was put up for sale by a Lebanese on Facebook has been rescued. Peace Busari Ufuoma’s liberation was announced by the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Ufuoma is now with the Nigerian Mission in Beirut, Lebanon DabiriErewa said, The Punch reported. “The Nigerian girl who was trafficked and put for sale by a Lebanese man, Wael Jerro, has been rescued. She is presently with the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon,” she wrote on Twitter.

The Lebanese national Wael Jerro last Tuesday announced the sale of 30-yearold Ufuoma on the Facebook marketplace called ‘Buy and Sell In Lebanon’.

In the disturbing advertisement, Jerro placed a $1000 bill on the Nigerian, who is said to be a domestic worker in the middle eastern country.

He posted the advertisement in Arabic alongside the passport of the Nigerian saying: “Domestic worker from Nigeria for sale with new legal documents.

She’s 30 years old, she’s very active and very clean. Price: $1,000.”

In the video accompanying DabiriErewa’s tweet, Ufuoma shared her ghastly experience. “I told him if he knows that he can’t pay my salary, he should take me back to,” she request-

ed—a request that would land her on social media trading platform being offered for sale.

The rescue comes days after the arrest of Jerro by Lebanese security operatives. “Many thanks to the Nigerian mission in Lebanon for swinging into immediate action,” Dabiri-Erewa’s tweet said.

The incident was first brought to the limelight by an Instagram user, @thereneeabisaad. She called on the Nigerian government to save the victim. “This is inhuman. I have reported to the Nigerian embassy. Please do the same if you know anyone in the Nigerian embassy in Lebanon,” she wrote.

A manhunt for Jerro was launched after the Nigerian mission in Lebanon reported to the host authorities about the nefarious incident. The Lebanese government condemned the action of its citizen, describing it as “illegal and inhuman.” The government vowed to prosecute Jerro for trafficking. https://www.bbc.com/

Nigerian priest in Germany has been forced to leave his parish over concern for his safety after his car and house were attacked and he received a death threat. Catholic officials in Germany say the priest, Patrick Asomugha, who is the head of a parish in Queidersbach, a small municipality in western Germany, will leave his post this week.

“Concerns for the safety and wellbeing of pastor Asomugha makes this step unavoidable,” Andreas Sturm, vicar general for the Speyer diocese’s bishop, said in a statement. “It would be irresponsible to continue exposing pastor Asomugha to the threat.”

Asomugha has been head of the parish in Queidersbach since 2017 but his worries began last year after his parish house was broken into by unknown persons.He subsequently faced racist remarks during church services. According to reports from local media, parents last June were overheard saying: “I won’t let my child be baptized by a black man.”

During communion service, one parishioner is also reported to have said: “I’m not taking anything from those dirty black hands.”

Last fall, Asomugha’s car tires were slashed and this followed

“Under these circumstances, I can no longer fulfil my duties as a pastor in Queidersbach,” Asomugha said in a statement.

The diocese of Speyer said he would be given a new role during the course of the summer.

The local Catholic youth organization, which expressed its “deep shame” over the development, said it was “horrified to see that because of their skin color, origin or other characteristics, people can no longer exercise their professional activity or have to leave their employment”.

In recent years, there have been concerns that Germany is failing in its anti-racism efforts, given the many recent racially motivated attacks in the country.

In 2016, Congolese priest Olivier Ndjimbi Tshiende had to leave his post in Bavaria, Germany, after threats on him due to his race and his work with refugees. https://face2faceafrica.com/

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'Africans In Sports' CEO Nigerian Mr. Asuen on how it began and the future

passion and success that makes them African heroes in sports with a global impact," Through this, AIS aims to inspire and influence the next generation of African Athletes and the youths in general.

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Coronavirus: US criticises South Africa for accepting Cuban doctors

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The BSc accounting graduate, Mr. Asuen said that throughout his work, he has been inspired

by African athletes like Didier Drogba and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who give back and connect with the continent of Africa.

And for him, the AIS portal is his small way of giving back to the continent, and telling the rich African stories.

"In a world of millions of sports, many people make the games we enjoy have great memories that always keep us glued to them in love and joy and the passion we build over the years. 'Africans In Sports' (AIS) seeks to present all these feelings in a genuine place for consumers across the globe" -- Charles Asuen, CEO of AIS.

Mr. Asuen continued to say that "whiles many people may believe they are on this same tangent, we at AIS sincerely believe Africa has had its strong role to play in making all of her sports dream come to pass, which is why we ensure that when we tell or share such stories, they come directly from the African perspective."

In his conversation with TheAfricanDream.net Mr. Asuen shared how the United States (US) based AIS is nurtured by the stories all over the world of Africans in respective sports on and of the continent. They focus on those excelling in their respective disciplines whether they be athletes engaged in football, basketball, and all other forms of sports at the top level.

Sharing some of the moments that have stuck with him in the journey of telling the great African athlete’s story, he said some of the hardest moments for him that almost got him throwing in the towel include what one could unknowingly describe "merely" as connecting with athletes to interview.

"For someone without deep connections, it was hard to break into the inner circles of these high successful sportsmen, however, I was able to keep pushing because of my belief in the success of AIS and the importance of telling these relevant stories," he told hypercitigh.com.

Recent successes and the way forward Starting 2019, Africans In Sports contents run on PlayersTV, a network that airs on Samsung TV Plus and online. Some AIS interview subjects include Osi Umenyiora -- a former NFL Player & BBC Sports Analyst, NBA player AlFarouq Aminu, Seun Adigun -- the first African Winter and Summer Olympian in track & fields and bobsled, and Wale Ogunleye -- former NFL player all based in the United States (US).

Some of the athletes that have come under the lenses of AIS besides the few mentioned above also reside in European countries and on the continent itself. AIS wants to secure more sponsorship to travel around the globe to meet and interact with more of these persons and to especially shine more of the light on such young Africans starting out.

To highlight the great contribution of the sons and daughters of Africans all over the world, AIS have taken it upon itself to share their stories, struggles and ultimate successes and how their African backgrounds helped harness their passion or how it pos- AIS shared with TheAfricanDream.net that in the future, they plan to increase content and itively impacts their sports. quality of its podcast and attract sponsorship and partnership with potential partners across Birthing of AIS and surviving pressure the globe. Be the first to see their freshest At its early stage the AIS chalked much success material by finding them on popular social after just a year of their inception, CEO Charles media platforms as African In Sports, or visit Asuen in an interview with hypercitigh.com, our their website at www.africansinsports.com for sister website, he revealed that it is the goal of the more. group to look at the upbringing, traditions, family

influences and the decisions of the great African Sportsmen and women that made them who they are today.

"We pick our interview candidates based on their unique perspective after we consider their deep

Written by: Sam Christopher & Sam SwanzyBaffoe

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Wednesday criticised South Africa and Qatar for accepting doctors from Cuba to battle the coronavirus, accusing the communist island of profiting from the pandemic.

Cuba’s globe-trotting doctors have long been a source of diplomatic soft power and pride for Havana, but the US says the medical workers only benefit their government and has encouraged them to defect.

“We’ve noticed how the regime in Havana has taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to continue its exploitation of Cuban medical workers,” Pompeo told reporters.

“We applaud leaders in Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and other countries, which have refused to turn a blind eye to these abuses by the Cuban regime, and ask all countries to do the same, including places like South Africa and Qatar,” he said.

“Governments accepting Cuban doctors must pay them directly. Otherwise, when they pay the regime, they are helping the Cuban government turn a profit on human trafficking.”

South Africa, which like Qatar has friendly relations with the United States, on Monday announced that 217 Cuban doctors had arrived in the country, which has the highest number of coronavirus infections in Africa.

Cuba has sent doctors to more than a dozen countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, including hard-hit Italy.

France has also authorised Cuban teams to help in its overseas territories.

Cuba has made healthcare a societal pillar, despite the poverty of the island, which has been subject to US sanctions for six decades.

Former President Barack Obama sought to reconcile with Cuba, calling the isolation policy a failure, and ended a programme in which Washington encouraged Cuban doctors to defect and resettle in the United States – whose capitalist medical system offers exponentially higher incomes.

President Donald Trump’s administration has snapped back US pressure sharply and has imposed visa restrictions on Cuban officials involved in medical missions.

Cuba says it earned $6.3 billion from its medical dispatches in 2018 and used the proceeds to finance its own universal healthcare coverage.

One of the staunchest critics of the programme is Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, a farright ally of Trump, who kicked out 8 000 Cuban health workers when he took office.

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South African Airways Repatriates Stranded South Africans From Miami

Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 15, 2020) – South African Airways (SAA), repatriated over 300 South African citizens on April 14, 2020 aboard a specially planned charter flight from the Miami International Airport(MIA)to South Africa.

Thisflight, chartered by Workaway International, operated with SAA’s new state-of-the art flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft, departed Miami on Tuesday evening en route to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Workaway International is a USA-based recruiting agency, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, whose mission is to provide young South Africans with the opportunity for employment in the hospitality industry in South Florida during the traditional high tourist season of November through May. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 virus, many of the golf resorts and other business in the hospitality industry that employed these young adults have temporarily closed, requiring the South Africans to return home.

“SAA and Workaway International have enjoyed a long-standing partnership and we are honoured to be working with them on this special repatriation flightto carry this group of young South Africans home to reunite with family and loved ones,” said Todd Neuman, executive vice president, North America for South African Airways. “We felt a great sense of pride in seeing the excitement from this group as they boarded our A350-900 aircraft

with the beautiful colors of the South African flag emblazoned on the tail and the warm greetings from SAA staff as they embarked on their journey home.”

“MIA is proud to be open and operational, so that we can help facilitate the return of these South African nationals to their homeland during these challenging times,” said Lester Sola, Miami International Airport Director and CEO.

SAA has taken measures to ensure that the airport staff, cabin crew and flight deck crew were safe and secure by providing the appropriate training and protective clothing as approved by the World Health Organization’s Communicable Disease Plan. Health screening protocols were conducted at the airport for each passenger boarding the flight and upon arrival in South Africa, the group will be placed in quarantine for 14 days in accordance with South African government travel regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Why there are two Congos in Africa April 2020

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But as early modern Europeans would have it in the scramble for Africa, the unity of the Bakongo was defiled at the table of Otto von Bismark of the infamous Berlin Conference.

Many Western historians caution against overemphasizing the significance of Berlin for Africans. Indeed, it is quite common to read among scholars that the conference was a diplomatic tactic Germany took as part of reinventing itself as an imperial power.

But it would be intellectually dishonest to downplay what the conference held for Africans and how it has irrevocably shaped the lives of close to two billion people on the continent.

The Bakongo were split under French and Belgian controls when much of central Africa was decided to be the domain of both countries.

The share of the land the Belgian King Leopold II got from that conference, he called the Congo Free State from 1885. The land was the personal property of Leopold and he was mandated to do with it what he pleased.

In 1908, the land became the property of the Belgium government.

The other half of the Bakongo under French rule had their lands referred to as the French Congo, and later, the Middle Congo from 1903.

Both territories gained independence in 1960. While the Belgian half became the Democratic Republic, the French Congo became Congo-Brazzaville.

The two countries recognize their historical and ethnic connections and are two of the closest partners on the continent.

https://face2faceafrica.com/

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1635 Woodside Drive Woodbridge VA 22191

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How Togo came to have its name

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68-year-old Nigerian woman gives birth to twins

One of the more fascinating ways to look at the small country of Togo is that if Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah had his way, Togo would have been part of the territory formerly known as the Gold Coast.

As Face2FaceAfrica once explained, Nkrumah had always wanted more of Togo, perhaps all of it, to be part of Ghana. This was in line with his dreams of a united Africa.

But Sylvanus Epiphanio Olympio, Togo’s first president, was an Ewe nationalist. He believed the Ewe ethnic group needed their own nation and thus, never quite overcame the pain of seeing Western Togoland join Ghana.

The Ewe nation is also a fundamentally important factor in the conception of modern Togo.

Archaeological evidence suggests that what counts as primary Ewe identity, that is language and a few other customs, was solidified prior to the 13th century.

The Ewe language itself descended from the Gbe group of languages which also includes the Fon and Aja. This family of languages is spoken largely in west African countries.

17th-century Eweland spread from modern Ghana right up to Benin.

Consequently, Ghana, Togo and Benin are the three countries on the continent that house today’s Ewe people.

European slave trade ambitions in Africa put the Ewe people in the region callously named the Slave Coast. This stretch from the Volta river in the west to bight of the Benin river.

The territory that is today Togo is thought to have been conceptualized, or better still, named around the 15th century. Togo, in the most popular Ewe dialect, comes from to (toh) meaning “river” and godo (gohdoh) which means “on the other side”.

The country thus etymologically translates as “on the other side of the river”.

The said river is thought to be Lake Togo, historically a premium water source for the ancients.

Although the country is literally named by the Ewe, Togo does not even have the biggest population of that ethnic group. That honor falls to Ghana where the Ewe are in the country’s eastern region bordering with Togo.

Olympio’s dream of an Ewe nation may never be realized. But others like Togo’s first president may take pride in the fact that most Ewe have regarded the country as some sort of “spiritual home” since independence in 1960. https://face2faceafrica.com/

The 68-year-old woman and her twins - Pic Credit: LUTH/Twitter A68-year-old Nigerian woman has brought some joy into the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. She is said to be the oldest new mother in Africa, after giving birth to twins at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Reports say that was the first time in the country’s history that a 68-year-old primigravida (pregnant for the first time) has given birth to twins following an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, LUTH Medical Advisory Committee said that the woman delivered a

boy and a girl on April 14 through an elective Caesarean section, at 37 weeks’ gestation.

According to him, the IVF and embryo transfer were done at a facility outside LUTH, but the woman was, thereafter, referred to LUTH at early gestation and was subsequently managed till she delivered.

“This is the first in LUTH, Nigeria and Africa,” he said, adding that both the mother and the babies were in good conditions. https://face2faceafrica.com/

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How 14 Black women seized Disneyland in Africa wear

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Disney princesses wearing traditional African prints, Photo: Madeline Barr Photography

Most people growing up had some form of obsession or fascination with Disney. Some outgrow the Disney phase and others just cannot live without anything Disney.

Hence, they join a DisneyBound community that resonates with their personal ideals and that is just what Audrey Lee Young did. Disney bounding is a group of like-minded women who wear outfits inspired by Disney princesses at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

Young found a Disney bounding community that visits the parks regularly and five years down the line, she and her fellow women are changing the narrative in the way the world sees Disney princesses.

Hers is new era of Disney Bounding princesses wearing African print outfits inspired by Disney princesses; AfricanPRINTcesses to be more precise. https://face2faceafrica.com/

Tanzania and Comoros to import Madagascar’s COVID-19 ‘Herbal Cure’ April 2020

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Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina drinks a sample of the "Covid Organics" at the launch on Monday. Photo: AFP Tanzania and Comoros are the latest countries that are to import the purported COVID-19 herbal cure announced by Madagascar.

According to reports, the leaders of both countries confirmed their interest over the weekend.

Comorian president, Azali Assoumani, in a teleconference with his Malagasy counterpart, Andry Rajoelina, made a formal request for the product that has been described largely as effective.

“Assoumani wishes to benefit from CovidOrganics for Comoros,” Rajoelina wrote in a Twitter post. “We will supply them as a sign of solidarity with our brothers in the Indian Ocean,” he added.

Despite several warnings from the World Health Organisation against CovidOrganics, which hasn’t been proven to be scientifically safe, Rajoelina told ministers, diplomats, and the media that “tests have been carried out – two people have now been cured by the treatment”.

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s John Pombe Magufuli in a speech on Sunday said that his county will also make requests of the herbal cure to aid the fight against the pandemic.

“I have been in talks with Madagascar. They say they have discovered the medicine for COVID-19. We will send a plan to bring the medicine to Tanzania so that Tanzanians can benefit from it,” he said.

Equatorial Guinea was the first African country to take stock of CovidOrganics. According to reports, a delegation from Guinea-Bissau has already taken a consignment of the products.

Late last month, the president of Madagascar, Rajoelina officially launched the herbal remedy he claimed could “prevent coronavirus in seven days.”

The substance, called COVID-Organics, was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA). It contains Artemisia, a plant used to treat malaria.

During the launch, Rajoelina said he is sure of its effectiveness, adding that the drink would be given to schoolchildren.

Madagascar has so far recorded 149 cases of coronavirus with no deaths.

As people hold talks about taking a chance with traditional medicine that is not proven, the government of Zimbabwe is already allowing herbalists to treat patients with the deadly virus.

“Traditional medicine practice is older … than science and it is accepted by the majority of Zimbabweans,” said Tribert Chishanyu, president of Zimbabwe Traditional Practitioners Association.

“If modern scientists are given opportunities to try whenever there is an emergency disease (outbreak), why can’t we do the same to traditional medicine practice? We are treating symptoms related to COVID-19, so by (some) chance we may be able to treat COVID-19.”

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Elite Ladies Club USA fulfills a yearlong commitment to the Nwamasi Community Clinic in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Elite Ladies Club USA today has fulfilled their yearlong commitment to the Nwamasi Community Clinic in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

At their inauguration in the USA last year, the group raised funds for the Nwamasi Community Clinic to support them with hospital beds and other lifesaving medical equipment’s.

With overwhelming support from their members and the North American Community the group raised substantial funds to enable them acquire the equipment’s needed at the clinic.

On Wednesday April 29th, representatives of the Elite ladies club USA presented assorted hospital mattresses, beds, and lifesaving equipment’s worth thousands of dollars to the Nwamasi Community clinic to support them in their health delivery activities.

The team led by Gifty Sarponmaa, Nana Yaa Boateng and Joanna Afriyie made the presentation on behalf of Elite ladies Club USA to Madam Juliana Akomeah Opoku, Principal Physician In Charge of Nwamase clinic Madam Juliana Akomeah Opoku expressed her profound appreciation to the group for the effort and expressed her desire to put the items to good use.

Elite Ladies Club USA is a nonprofit voluntary organization of highly skilled, selfless, dedicated, and self-motivated young ladies committed to promoting opportunities to support and connect women in the community and other endeavors through mentoring, networking, developing and recognizing excellence.

The group has over the years been engaged in community development and support initiatives.

They have donated clothing to some homeless shelters in the past and embarked on outreach programs at assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania USA. The core values of the group are to support women and share in their communities both Ghana and the US. By building a strong network connecting women to women in North America and Ghana.

Their initiatives have been successful in strengthening in the community through donations and community service. They also play a role in mentoring women in leadership positions in various organizations and entrepreneurship. Ms. Patricia Kumah (Lady Smart), Bernice Fynn-Addo, Jemima Hagan, Natasha Osei, Gloria Adu, and Nana Ama Eleonu have been at the forefront in steering the affairs of the Association

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Former Marine gets 18 months in prison for threatening to assassinate Trump

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Texas man, who threatened to assassinate President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Friday. The 36-year-old former US Army infantryman and Marine, Mickael Gedlu pleaded guilty to the charges in December.

Gedlu’s sentence was announced via video teleconference by Chief US District judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox’s office in Dallas, Daily Mail reports.

According to plea documents, Gedlu confessed to threatening to assassinate the commander-in-chief on social media, stating on YouTube: “I am waiting for Trump to visit Dallas before I attempt to assassinate him,” The Washington Times reports. Gedlu said he threatened the life of Trump across social media between December 2018 and June 2019.

“For 20 straight months now, openly and publicly, I have been calling for President Trump’s death,” the 36year-old former marine said in another Facebook post.

Gedlu’s LinkedIn profile said he served as a Flight Equipment Technician for the US Marine Corps between 2002 and 2008. He was also a Mechanized Infantryman for the US Army between 2007 and 2010.

“I held up a sign saying, KILL TRUMP. I was placed in handcuffs by about 10 Dallas police officer,” Gedlu wrote, confirming prosecutors’ claims.

“I believe it was the SS that suggested I be taken to a hospital instead of jail. I was surprised at the leniency the police showed me as I screamed, “KILL THE PRESIDENT, KILL TRUMP, repetitively. The president showed up, where I was arrested, 2 hours after I was arrested. Grab ’em by the MAGA hat.”

The sentencing of Gedlu comes at a time Trump is struggling to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak in the US, which has so far infected over one million Americans with 56,634 deaths.

Trump became the third American President to be impeached last month. Deeply divided along party lines, the House of Representatives voted for two articles of impeachment to remove the President from

office.

The impeachment inquiry was instigated by complaints of an anonymous whistleblower about a call Trump had with the Ukrainian president in which he asked the latter to investigate former Vice President Joe Bidden.

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South African anti-apartheid veteran Denis Goldberg dies

Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg, who was tried alongside Nelson Mandela, has died at the age of 87.

As a member of the ANC's military wing, he was convicted of armed resistance to white-minority rule and sentenced to four life terms in 1964.

He was, however, exonerated by the senate.

“I held up a sign saying, KILL TRUMP. I was placed He was imprisoned for 22 years. in handcuffs by about 10 Dallas police officer,” Gedlu wrote, confirming prosecutors’ claims.

Confirming the news of his death on local media, Mr Goldberg's niece, Joy Noero, “I believe it was the SS that suggested I be taken to a said he had been suffering from lung canhospital instead of jail. I was surprised at the leniencer. cy the police showed me as I screamed, “KILL THE PRESIDENT, KILL TRUMP, repetitively. The presiHe "died peacefully" at his home in Hout dent showed up, where I was arrested, 2 hours after I Bay, near Cape Town, just before midwas arrested. Grab ’em by the MAGA hat.” night on Wednesday, she added, saying that he "never stopped believing in his The sentencing of Gedlu comes at a time Trump is ideals". struggling to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak in the US, which has so far infected over one million Apartheid was a legalised form of racism Americans with 56,634 deaths. in which white people were privileged above all others. It governed every aspect Trump became the third American President to be of life in South Africa, and only white impeached last month. Deeply divided along party people were able to vote until the first lines, the House of Representatives voted for two democratic elections in 1994 when articles of impeachment to remove the President Mandela was elected president. from office.

Mr Goldberg was a lifelong supporter of the African National Congress and became The impeachment inquiry was instigated by coma member of the armed wing, Umkhonto plaints of an anonymous whistleblower about a call we Sizwe, when it was formed in 1961.

Trump had with the Ukrainian president in which he asked the latter to investigate former Vice President Different prison for white people Joe Bidden.

Two years later, he was among the ANC officials arrested at a hideout in He was, however, exonerated by the senate.

Johannesburg.

On trial with Mandela, they were convicted of sabotage, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The black prisoners were sent to Robben Island. But as the only white person to be

found guilty in the case, Mr Goldberg was separated from the others, and spent 22 years in prison in Pretoria.

On his release in 1985, he went into exile in the UK, but returned home to South Africa after the abolition of apartheid.

In later years he was a critic of the alleged corruption which came to define much of Jacob Zuma's presidency of South Africa, reports the BBC's Nick Ericsson.

South Africa 'like Nazi Germany' Mr Goldberg's parents, who were both communists, had migrated from England before he was born, he said in a film made by the University of Cape Town last year.

He recalled that he was attacked at school because of his parents' politics and the fact that he was Jewish.

"I understood that what was happening in South Africa with its racism was like the racism in Nazi Germany that we were supposed to be fighting against," he said.

"You have to be involved one way or another. That's what I grew up with."

Reflecting on his activism, he said that he "came from a generation who were prepared to put our lives on the line for freedom. Freedom is more important than your own life."

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‘Deeply regrettable’ – AU boss slams Trump for halting WHO funding

April 2020

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The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, has strongly condemned Donald Trump’s decision to cut US funding save lives and stop the #COVID19 pandemic.” to the World Health Organization.

Faki said the move by the US was “deeply regrettable”. “The US govt decision to suspend funding to WHO is deeply regrettable.

Today more than ever, the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global COVID-19 pandemic response,” he said in a tweet.

Trump on Tuesday announced the halting of US funding to the WHO, accusing the organization of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the spread of the coronavirus.

Philanthropist Bill Gates who is also a major bankroller of the WHO added: “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds.

“Their work is slowing the spread of COVID19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.”

“I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in Ntiamoah Williams, Contributor severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronGhanaweb avirus,” Trump told reporters.

The withdrawal of the funding comes days after Trump and the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sparred publicly over the latter’s competence in dealing with the ravaging pandemic.

The US in 2019, gave the WHO over $550 million of the organization’s $6 billion budget.

Ghebreyesus also criticized Trump’s halting of US funding to the organization, stating: “We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in the funding to the WHO.”

He further added in a tweet that, “There is no time to waste” and the WHO’s “singular focus is on working to serve all people to

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This home is newly built, carefully planned with appealing spaces. Upon entering this cozy home., you are greeted by an open plan lounge and dining room where your family and friends relax and socialize. The house has a separate visitor’s bathroom/toilet and a fully fitted and functional kitchen with a stress-free space to enjoy. Ready to leave in with electricity and water on a 100 x 50 ft plot of land situated on the main road to Millennium City, Kasoa, Built to last with original features in a quite desirable area.The home offers 4 bedrooms each with en-suite bathroom that has a shower, basin and toilet. Original plan was for an Airbnb.Main features are as follows:A beautiful kitchen, dining room and lounge.4 large bedrooms and four large bathroomsTank for water and hot water, molded ceiling3 biodegradable manholesBig purposely build underground water tank linked with water harvest pipesParking space for 3 cars, airElectric fence/fire & smoke alarm, air conditions, fansAntique and modern lights from London all in boxes ready to be fixedSmall landscaped garden (still growing)All finishing/fittings are from UK: other fittings still in import boxes.Contact Nana Kwasi on:703-725-6968 or Phyllis on WhatsApp 0447440225799 for further information.

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Is 2020 the Year of Resolution or REVOLUTION

April 2020

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and Social Security Number for all borrowers (for instance, you and your spouse). If you’ve been at your current address for less than two years, you may need to provide former addresses for the past seven years.

• Employment information: Provide a history of where you’ve worked and for how long. If you haven’t been at your current job for at least two years, you’ll need to provide information on all employment for the past two years.

• Monthly income and combined housing expense information: List your monthly gross income (how Step 2: Regularly check your credit to see what is taking place on your credit. How do much you make before taxes or deductions) and monthly expenses. you do that? Every US consumer with Assets and liabilities: Include how much you Social Security Number has the capability to • have in bank accounts, savings, retirement accounts and check your credit status using annualcredinvestment accounts, as well as the value of vehicles, itreport.com. This website allow you to homes and other property for assets. For liabilities, check your credit report FREE once a year. itemize all of your current bills, loans and other debts, Although, the free report does not give you a credit score, you can purchase your credit including current balances and monthly payments. score at a fraction-$10 or so. it is important Debts include automobile loans, credit cards, student to check what items are listed on your credit loans and existing mortgages, including home equity loans. ***Please note that the debts you are being asked report. Any delinquency reported by credito list on the application is also going to be reflected on tors on your credit report could have an adverse impact on your credit score or your your credit report when the bank pull your credit report.

Be as accurate as possible*** ability to obtain a loan. card with a small loan amount; or you can even inquire at any department store such as Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club or BJ’s , furniture stores, etc.…. Although, departmental store credit cards typically carries higher interest rate, the trick is use the credit card to make small purchases, such as buying gas, groceries etc and pay it off immediately. As you do that, you will build credit over time.

It is with great excitement to have the privilege

and opportunity to ink this article to you.

Today, we will discuss “The Home Buying Process”. This is an important topic to discuss because, over the years as a realtor, I have had many clients expressed that, if they knew what they know now, they would have made the decision to buy a home sooner. They wish they had acquired information about the home buying process sooner; as it is one of the greatest investment ever acquired. Therefore, to you my reader thinking about pursuing home ownership venture but have no idea what steps to take, I dedicated this piece to you.

What are the necessary steps required to buy a house?

Step 1: Make sure you are credit worthy. What does it mean to be credit worthy? It means that you have established a good credit with the financial institutions such as the banks, credit unions, private lenders etc… It does not matter how much money you have sitting in your account, if you do not have an established credit, it will be difficult or close to impossible to make big purchase such as buying a house or even a car. You need credit.

How do you begin to establish a credit, if you do not have any? I recommend you get in touch with the bank(s) you bank with. I also recommend that you begin by obtaining a credit

Step 3: How do I know I have a good credit? You will know you have a good credit based on your own purchasing power or by your consistency of paying off credit card bills, medical bills etc …or periodically checking your credit report. What is considered a good credit score and qualify to buy a home? A good credit score is sometimes determined by the lender in house qualification guidelines; although there are also federal guidelines that are considered in the loan lending process. Some lenders who finance home buying loans could consider minimum/lowest 580 score or 620 credit score. Of course, the higher the credit score the better, but if you have a 580 credit score, you cannot count yourself out, there is still hope for you to pursue home ownership.

Once you have been pre-approved by the bank/credit union for the loan amount you are looking for, is time for you to contact a local realtor such as myself. I will guide you and help you find a property or your desired home that you are looking for.

I hope this article has provided a wealth of information for you to move from debating the idea of buying a home; into finally making the transition to buy.

For more real estate information contact me at 571229-6694 or email me at borderlessrealestate@gmail.com or visit my website at www.borderlessrealestate.com .

Anita A. Bediako- REALTOR®

Samson Properties Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia and Maryland Step 4: Now that you know that you have an Licensed Life and Health Insurance established credit. The next step is to contact CONTACT 571-229-6694 your local bank or credit union to apply and Email: borderlessrealestate@gmail.com qualify for a loan. The bank would need Website: borderlessrealestate.com some documents from you in order to approve you. Some of the information the bank would ask for are:

• Borrower information: Include the name, address, phone number, date of birth

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Senegal Sets the Pace With West Africa's Kenya: Trump Notifies Biggest Wind Farm Congress of Trade Deal With Govt

By Nellie Peyton Dakar — With the wind farm, Senegal will get 30% of its energy from clean sources, in a push to cut its dependence on fossil fuels

Senegal inaugurated the first large-scale wind farm in West Africa on Monday, a facility that will supply nearly a sixth of the country's power when it reaches full capacity later this year.

With the wind farm, Senegal will get 30% of its energy from renewable sources, which has been a goal of President Macky Sall.

"The energy mix we have today allows us to move past our dependence on petrol," said Papa Mademba Biteye, director-general of Senelec, the national electricity company, at an inauguration ceremony in the rural community of Taiba N'Diaye.

The 158 megawatt wind farm was built by British renewable power company Lekela, which also has wind farms in South Africa and Egypt and an upcoming one in Ghana.

Wind farms remain scarce throughout sub-Saharan Africa compared with solar plants, partly because they can cost more and take longer to build and because strong wind is generally less plentiful than sunshine, said Silvia Macri, an energy analyst at IHS Markit.

"Senegal pushed ahead its renewables agenda quite aggressively," Macri told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Senegal's first solar plant came online three years ago, and the country has since built several more. Other countries in the region are following suit with solar but are much further behind in terms of wind, Macri said.

In Taiba N'Diaye, 46 giant wind turbines rise over scrubland about 90 km (56 miles) from the seaside capital.

One-third are operating, and the rest are due to come online by June.

Outside the cities, much of Senegal is still not electrified. Electricity reached only about 60% of the 16 million population in 2017, according to the World Bank.

The wind farm will provide enough electricity for 2 million people and prevent the emission of 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, according to Senelec.

"The next challenge is universal access," said Biteye.

(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, and covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)

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By Allan Olingo US President Donald Trump has officially notified Congress of its intention to negotiate a trade agreement with Kenya.

Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Charles Shumer.

"Under President Trump's leadership, we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional trade agreements across Africa," Ambassador Lighthizer said in his letter.

"Kenya is an important regional leader, a strategic partner of the United States and a commercial hub that can provide substantial opportunities for US trade and investment."

NEXT STEPS

It is now expected that in the next 30 days, the US trade representative's office will publish a notice in the Federal Register, requesting the public's input on the direction, focus and content of the trade negotiations.

It will also publish the objectives of the negotiations a month before formal trade negotiations begin.

Trade between the two countries rose by 4.9 per cent last year to Sh113.26 billion.

According to the trade representative, 2019's top US imports from Kenya were apparels (Sh46.76 billion) followed by edible fruit and nuts (Sh5.66 billion).

Titanium ores and concentrates stood at $5.35 billion while coffees exports stood at Sh3.5 billion.

Kenya imported aircraft worth Sh6.07 billion from the United States, plastics worth Sh5.97 billion, machinery worth Sh4.22 billion and wheat worth Sh2.78 billion.

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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Launches Women's Center as Change Catalyst

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The three former women presidents were joined by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Liberian President George Weah and other senior Liberian officials including former Liberian President Amos Sawyer and Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, the only female Senator in the Legislature.

Former President Obasanjo spoke for the entire assemblage when he noted that Ellen had raised the bar for other African presidents' post-office achievements. Equally important, she inaugurated and ensured a stellar pipeline of accomplished, confident women ready for senior leadership for decades to come.

The second important component of the EJS Center is its archives, an ongoing effort to collect and preserve Ellen's papers. In an era that demands documentation, the archives will encourage female literacy as well as comprise a permanent record of her legacy. The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Foundation, a U.S.-based complement to the EJS Center, has been established to support the archives.

The Bridges Institute (Washington, DC) GUEST COLUMN

By Vivian Lowery Derryck On March 8, in the midst of the global Coronavirus crisis, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf offered a bright, glittering antidote to the fear and uncertainty of Covid-19 with the International Women's Day (IWD) launch of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center on Women and Development.

The Monrovia-based center aims to advance women's public leadership in Africa with an emphasis on political participation.

The launch was not a moment too soon for Angela O., still haunted by the memory of going to bed elated that she had won her primary but waking up to read in the newspaper that her party had named her opponent as its election standard bearer. Or for Catherine W., named one of the ten best finance ministers in Africa, but summarily dismissed from the cabinet for opposing corruption and having the audacity to argue with her president for needed reforms.

As the first and only democratically elected female African president, "President Ellen" remains an iconic role model and inspiration to countless women across the continent. And she hasn't let them down. She is using her 2017 Mo Ibrahim Democracy Award of $500,000 a year for ten years and an additional $200,000 per year for public interest projects for up to ten years, to methodically develop a plan for a Liberia-based center with a mission to promote African women's leadership in the public arena, especially in politics.

The Center's first project, Amujae (a Kru word meaning moving up together), brings together 15 up-andcoming women leaders from across the continent--Anglophone, Francophone and Lusaphone-- for a long weekend three times a year to meet with senior leaders and veteran women politicians to give the younger women new skills and deeper insights into the complex role of a female leader.

To underscore the gravity and urgency of the Center's mission Ellen invited former Malawi President Joyce Banda and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza to join her for the workshop and launch.

The workshop's carefully curated curriculum was a rich mix of practical sessions and intimate meetings with the women presidents. In one session on women and the media participants learned that the mere mention of what the candidate wore dropped her polling numbers by six to eight percent. What to do!!

Listen to and learn from your elders: The highlight of the weekend was the full participation of the three women presidents. Each of them had been harassed, jailed and/or violently attacked. Yet each has summoned the courage to face the unimaginable vitriol and ultimately prevail to manage complex post-conflict recoveries, govern democratically and advance their countries' economies. Their willingness to spend hours with the younger women, patiently answer their questions and offer advice grounded in gritty experience gave the younger women concrete take-aways. As a bonus, the younger women learned the power of storytelling and the importance of controlling their own narratives.

To launch the Center on international Women's Day, Ellen invited African leaders from across the continent, including Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security; Finda E.M. Koroma, the (first female) vice president of ECOWAS; K.Y. Amoako, president and CEO of ACET, Africa's premier economic think tank; Antoinette Sayeh, the Liberian economist and former Minister of Finance, who has just been named Deputy Managing Director of the IMF; and countless other high profile African dignitaries.

The IWD launch of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center for Women and Development was a watershed for Africa, especially its women. When Angela, Catherine and their 13 counterparts departed Liberia, they left armed with a personal development plan, new strategies for enhanced political participation, a tensile network of likeminded women activists and a confidence that only caring former female presidents could bestow on their potential successors.

The weekend stretched and strengthened the 15 women participants in ways that not even the Coronavirus could tarnish, for the EJS Center is a gift that will keep on giving, continuously nurturing women leaders and enriching the continent.

Vivian Lowery Derryck is Founder and President Emerita of The Bridges Institute – Strengthening African Democracy through Global Partnerships. She previously served as Assistant Administrator for Africa of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State, Executive Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women, Vice President of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, and President of the AfricanAmerican Institute

https://https://allafrica.com/

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Heroes of COVID-19: South Africa’s Don Dehlia Umunna, the first Dada and Nigerian professor at Harvard daughter fight pandemic Law School Hayze brings a touch of sunshine to the whole series which when coupled with the voice of her father glues audiences to the screens. Also, every Thursday from 5PM -7PM he hosts his Soundwave.radio.net program titled INNA De Trenches Reggae broadcast where he gets busy with new music offerings.

In this 3rd edition of series ‘Heroes of COVID-19‘ on TheAfricanDream.net we chanced upon a special YouTube series hosted by South African musician Don Dada and his Daughter Hayze aka PRETYGUUURRL titled Don Dada Chronicles of #COVID-19 #LOCKDOWN.

As many artists reel across the globe from the shock of canceled events and wondering how to survive COVID-19 challenges, Multi-platinum Reggae and Hip-Hop artiste Menelik Nesta Gibbons aka DON DADA is has been determined to capitalize on the time to emerge with ways to inform people about the disease while welcoming South Africans into his home.

With his Don Dada Chronicles of #COVID-19 #LOCKDOWN series online, the musician manages to invite all of South Africa and the world into his home while adhering to social distancing through the power of the Internet.

What TheAfricanDream.net finds heroic about this is the dedication and preparedness with which he does it, without missing a single day and using his example to encourage viewers worldwide on how to positively engage themselves under lock down.

“I do believe that our artists are intelligent and agile enough to maneuver our way through these difficult circumstances. I also feel that it’s very important for us as artists to be in the forefront as ‘The Voice, The Face and The Messenger’ of the messages of hygiene, the importance of social distancing and #StayHome campaigns to the masses through music,” says Don Dada about artists amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Since South Africa’s lockdown began March 26, 2020, Don Dada has handled several interviews from stations across the globe promoting his album Alkebulan available on Spotify. By the way TheAfricanDream.net is looking forward to doing a zoom chat with this duo soon by the way.

The award-winning artist believes as influencers, musicians, and artists hold enough sway in their communities evident in their fan-bases.

This is why he feels “artists and entertainers worldwide can play a critical role to combat this epidemic. We need to come together to create a ‘We Are The World’ type of a song which we can use to champion the plight of Africans against the Coronavirus epidemic and use the proceeds to support the underprivileged and, to purchase more testing kits to be made readily available…“

A big lesson COVID-19 has taught humanity is the inequality amongst people Don Dada noticed, but in the same breath, he acknowledged “the spirit of UBUNTU is well and alive in Africa as we witness each other reach out to assist the vulnerable. Although some may not be the most well off, yet we all share what little we have in making provision for each other. This is absolutely amazing.“

The musician thanked all essential FRONTLINE FIGHTER for keeping South Africa afloat. He also thanked the government and President Cyril Ramaphosa for handling the situation well by his early response to it in South Africa. Africa has always found ways in which to deal with harsh tests to her humanity and this effort of Don Dada and Hayze makes them our hero and heroine in the fight against the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Check out episodes from the series which is available on RuFF CuTT Studio YouTube channel via this link bit.ly/DONDADAchroniclesoflockdown.

Click this link to read more ‘Heroes of COVID-19’ stories

Now one of our favorite parts of the series here at TheAfricanDream.net is when together with his 11-year-old daughter Hayze, Don Dada summarizes COVID-19 information in the layman’s terms, making it attractive for children as well through the process. Don Dada believes that understanding what the children are going through and supporting them through this period is extremely important.

Written by Oral Ofori

Dehlia Umunna, deputy director, and clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School’s Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) is the first Nigerian to be appointed as a professor at the school. Umunna has been appointed Clinical Professor of Law.

Criminal Defense and Theory, Mass Incarceration, and Race Issues. She serves as a Faculty Adviser to some student organizations, according to a biography of her.

“Dehlia’s students revere her; her colleagues at HLS and nationally look to Umunna has been a lecturer at Harvard her as an exemplary advocate, teacher, and mentor,” said Martha Minow, dean Law School since 2007. She authored of Harvard Law School. the article, Rethinking the Neighborhood Watch: How Lessons “From her unprecedented win record in from the Nigerian Village Can Creatively Empower the Community to criminal defense trials, her deft leadership of the Criminal Justice Institute dayAssist Poor, Single Mothers in to-day, and her superb coaching of stuAmerica, which was published in the dent moot court teams, her published American University Journal of scholarship, to her numerous awards in Gender, Social Policy & the Law As recognition of her outstanding work as a the Deputy Director and Clinical Instructor at Harvard Law School’s CJI, criminal defense attorney, advisor, and teacher, Dehlia is simply extraordinary, Umunna oversees third-year law stuan inspiration to her students and her dents in their representation of adult clients in every way. It is a true privilege and juvenile clients in criminal and to be her colleague.” juvenile proceedings and arguments before Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals court, Harvard Law A former board member of the District of Columbia Law Students in Court Today reports.

Clinic from 2002 to 2007, she also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law “I am blessed and honored to join Harvard Law School’s remarkable fac- and Practitioner in Residence at ulty,” Umunna was quoted as saying. “I American University, Washington relish this extraordinary opportunity to College of Law. She was a guest lecturer continue work that I am truly passion- for several years at the George Washington University Law School. ate about, and I am grateful for the deep interest and commitment of the Before joining Harvard, the proud school to issues of criminal justice, mother of two spent several years at the mass incarceration, indigent defense, Public Defender Service for the District and social justice.” of Columbia (PDS) as a trial attorney.

Some of her cases received nationwide A law degree holder from the George media attention.

Washington University Law Center, Umunna also received a Masters in Public Administration (MC) from the Harvard Kennedy School of https://face2faceafrica.com/ Government and a B.A. in Communications from California State University, San Bernardino.

Umunna’s teaching interest and research focus on Criminal Law,

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