507 african voice

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013 ISSUE 506

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SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R Rat jibe lands journalist in dock

£1.00

Reforms for female offenders to improve family ties SEE PAGE 6

SEE PAGE 17

Harper’s bizarre!

Baby swaddling: the NHS responds

Minister fails to see problem with ‘victimisation vans’

By Alan Oakley Immigration minister, Mark Harper, has given the British public the strongest hint yet that he plans to revive the ‘go home or face arrest’ mobile billboards he controversially trialled earlier this year.

Speaking on BBC TV’s Question Time, Mr Harper said he failed to “see any problem with saying to people who have no right to be in the United Kingdom that they can’t be here anymore”.

Question Time host, David Dimbleby, who chairs the weekly debate, asked Mr Harper about the UK Home Office’s decision to send mobile poster boards through six London boroughs where large numbers of immigrants, both legal and illegal, are thought to live. The adverts, carried through the streets on vans, carried pictures of a pair of handcuffs and a warning that illegal immigrants should ‘go home or face arrest’.

The campaign caused a considerable furore, leading to over 400 complaints about them to the Advertising Standards Authority. It was dubbed “stupid and offensive” by Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable,

and questioned by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Many commentators claimed the posters were ‘racist’ and ‘nasty’ and likely to cause suspicion towards and unease amongst genuine immigrants. The ASA ruled that the billboards may have been ‘distasteful’ but were not ‘offensive’, while admonishing the Home Office about the misleading nature of displayed statistics, referring to a supposed tally of ‘arrests this week’.

The campaign caused a considerable furore, leading to over 400 complaints about them to the Advertising Standards Authority. It was dubbed “stupid and offensive” by Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable, and questioned by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Many commentators claimed the posters were ‘racist’ and ‘nasty’ and likely to cause suspicion towards and unease amongst genuine immigrants. The ASA ruled that the billboards may have been ‘distasteful’ but were not ‘offensive’, while admonishing the Home Office about the misleading nature of displayed statistics, referring to a supposed tally of ‘arrests this week’.

Continued on page 2

Immigration minister Mark Harper, MP

SEE PAGE 22

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‘Maisha Mema’ Good Life for people with HIV

This November, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is launching a new free and confidential HIV support group for Africans and refugees in London.

The group will provide an opportunity for people who are living with or affected

by HIV in the capital to get emotional support and learn new skills for managing their life, feelings and relationships.

Called ‘Maisha Mema’ (which translates as ‘Good Life’), the group will launch on 11th November and will run over six sessions on Monday evenings from 6pm to 8.30pm.

Africans are one of the groups most at risk from HIV in the UK, accounting for 57 per cent of all heterosexually acquired HIV infections in the UK in 2011. In 2009, a national study¹ reported that over a third of people with HIV had experienced discrimination in the previous year.

Justin Dickson, Groupwork Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Not only do these groups offer practical support, they also offer a non-judgemental forum away from the stigma that can still persist. Group members have the opportunity to talk to others in the same situation, and build friendships and support networks and ultimately improve their own emotional wellbeing.”

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Managing Editor Alan Oakley Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Assist. Sports Editor Olubunmi Omoogun Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Ryan Holmes Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Ryan Holmes Legal Adviser Nosa Kings Erhunmwunsee London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 0203 737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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Minister fails to see problem with ‘victimisation vans’ Continued from front page

After Mr Harper defended the campaign, Dimbleby asked him whether he would sanction an extension of the advertising campaign in other locations outside London. Mr Harper said that the government was evaluating what effect the initiative had had. If analysis of the data proved that the pilot scheme had been cost-effective, he said, the government would “keep rolling it out”. He added that the government’s policies were about “welcoming people to the country who contribute and deterring those that don’t”.

The debate was held in the run up to January 1, 2014, on the expiry of seven years of ‘transitional controls’ that currently prevent a predicted large influx of immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria, who joined the EU in 2007, from arriving in Britain. A questioner asked whether the UK would be able to absorb more immigrants that will be free to come and live and work here. Romanians and Bulgarians can already, unlike nationals of other Countries, also apply for UK Highly Skilled Migrant Program visas if they have the required skills and qualifications.

The purpose of the transitional controls is to give time for the economies of new member states to benefit from EU membership, in the hope that these economies will experience economic growth, and provide more, and better

One of the ‘victimisation vans’

paid jobs so that, by the time the transition controls are lifted, the number of people wanting to leave will be reduced.

That embargo will end at midnight on 31st December 2013, while six and a half years remain of transitional controls on Croatians, who joined the EU on July 1 this year.

Commentators who fear an unmanageable deluge of eastern Europeans point to the fact that since Poland joined the EU in 2004, it is believed that over one million Poles have settled in the UK. They also say that the economies of Romania and Bulgaria have not converged with the rest of the EU and therefore many people from both countries will take the opportunity to move to the UK. Diane James of the UK Independence

Party, an anti-immigration and anti-European Union party, said that no one had any idea how many people would come from Bulgaria and Romania to the UK when the current transitional controls expire. She accused Mr Harper of a failure to deal with uncontrolled immigration into the UK. Mr Harper said that under half of immigration into the UK is from within the EU. He said that the UK’s Coalition government has reduced immigration from outside the EU by a third since 2010 and that a higher proportion of those coming are now skilled workers and students.

He said that the government was taking steps to cut immigration from outside the EU because it recognised the pressures that uncontrolled immigration placed on local housing and services.

Mandela assassination plotters handed up to 35 years

Mike du Toit is believed to have spearheaded the plot to assassinate Nelson Mandela

Twenty-one white supremacists, some of whom were involved in a plot to assassinate Nelson Mandela, have been given jail sentences of between five and 35 years Ringleader and former university lecturer Mike du Toit was convicted in July last year of treason for his leadership role in the plot, after a trial lasting nine years.

By his own admission, he was behind nine bombings in Johannesburg’s Soweto

township in 2002 in which a woman was killed. He was also found guilty of planning a ‘revolution’ intended to evict black people from most of South Africa to establish a racially “pure” nation, killing anyone who got in the way. Twenty other members of his white supremacist militia Boeremag were also convicted for being involved in the bombings, the assassination plot or for their involvement in the wider plot to overthrow the governing ANC.

Du Toit was the first person to be convicted of treason in South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994. Nearly 200 people gave evidence for the state - including police informants within Boeremag. The accumulation of their evidence is one reason why the trial took so long, correspondents say.

Two of du Toit’s co-conspirators, Herman van Rooyen and Rudi Gouws - who both escaped from custody and were subsequently rearrested - were given longer sentences for their roles in planting bombs and plotting to kill Mr Mandela, according to local media.

Judge Eben Jordaan took into consideration that almost half of the accused, who were aged from 32 to 74, have spent up to 11 years in jail, which means some of them were able to walk out of court on Tuesday as free men. Correspondents say that there is hope that the sentences have brought an end to one of the longest-running and most expensive trials in South African legal history.

A frail Mr Mandela continues to recover slowly from the grave illness that saw him spend several weeks in hospital earlier this year.

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Black History Month gets Noticed by Chuka Race, class and social mobility in today’s Britain

By Peter Olorunnisomo When Chuka Umumnna MP and shadow Business Secretary walked into Herbert Smith on the morning of Thursday, 31st October, 2013, the obvious clue would have been to expect a lot of Labour programmes being enunciated.

Yes, he did that and a little more than more. Nostalgic about the days of yore when there were few blacks in a similar gathering, his pleasure and enthusiasm couldn’t be hidden at the assemblage that proved that Black Britain had so much to offer, and indeed were, if the gathering of the professionals in seating were to pulse a beat, there would be many a beat to keep the heart of London going.

Yes, he was one of them then; yes he was there, and he knew the feeling. Now he has come: picking up the beats from yesterday in the space of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP with the kite of the Black History Month celebration to talk about the Britain today looking at tomorrow.

And NOTICED, an inter-firm initiative across the legal sector aimed at promoting “Networking Opportunities to Integrate, Celebrate and Educate on Diversity” simply made sure there was something to ‘notice’. That is a core mandate.

Hear him.

And I’m delighted to be speaking to a room full of black City professionals. There was a time when the numbers of black City professionals would barely have filled this room – when we all knew each other so well because there were so few of us. That is no longer the case and that says to me that despite all the obstacles black people have faced, we are making progress.

And when I say “we”, I actually mean Britain – all of us – whatever our race, in every walk of life.

Because I think there’s a powerful desire in this country to live in a society where people have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and aspirations regardless of their background. A social contract: shared responsibilities should mean shared opportunities and shared prosperity.

Because if we hold back any part of society – in this context black Britons - then we hold ourselves back as a country. And that’s something we can’t afford to do at a time when, as Ed Miliband has said, we need the talents of everyone to help shape our future in this modern, complex and competitive world.

So progress is vital for individuals – and it is vital for us as a country.

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Labor MP Chuka Umumnna

Celebrating progress

The progress we have made is now deeply embedded in the British psyche.

Emile Sande and Tinie Tempah have provided the soundtrack to our lives over the last few of years. Zadie Smith is a regular fixture on our Kindles. The entire country celebrates whenever Mo Farah or Jessica Ennis-Hill cross the finish line.

That is one view of progress – and an important one.

But there are other perspectives on progress too, which can no longer be ignored. Pick up a copy of the Powerlist – the annual list of Britain’s most influential black people – and you will also see those achieving excellence in other fields: like here in the City, in our Boardrooms, in medicine, in science and other areas – where black people are not so prominent.

So you’ll see Thiam Tidjane, CEO of Prudential, in the Powerlist Hall of Fame.

He became CEO in 2009, and under his leadership the value of the company has more than doubled.

You’ll see Mo Ibrahim, who came to this country from Sudan in 1974, started working as a BT engineer and ended up founding Celtel International, one of Africa’s leading mobile phone companies. With over 24 million subscribers in 14 countries, Celtel was sold in 2004 for $3.4bn. That’s not a bad return!

Inspiring the next generation You see, it’s so important that we use Black History Month not only to celebrate those on whose shoulders we stand who broke down the barriers in times past – but also those who are pioneering a new future today.

Both are vital to giving our young people the confidence and inspiration to back themselves and go after their ambitions and dreams.

If young black people can’t see people who look like them editing our newspapers, sitting on the Supreme Court or running our great British companies, how can

we give them the hope that if they work hard, they can make it too?

You see, shining a light on our role models is crucial because too many of them are ignored.

One of the reasons is because our broadcast and film media have a tendency to stereotype black people: to present an image of black British people that suggests we can succeed in sport, entertainment and music, but not necessarily in other fields.

If I am wrong about this, then why do so many black British actors have to leave the UK for the US to get decent film and television roles that fall outside the stereotypes?

Too many in the British film and television industries simply don’t cast black British actors in certain roles that fall outside those stereotypes.

It’s often only after they’ve made it big in the States that black British actors get more – and more varied – roles here. That is unacceptable and has got to change. As a society, we cannot allow people to default to lazy stereotypes.

Outstanding race inequalities So, I think we all recognise that though we have made great strides towards a more equal society, we still have a long way to go.

As a non-white person in Britain today, you’re twice as likely to be unemployed as a white person.

If you are a young black graduate, you’ll earn on average only three quarters of what a white graduate earns.

If you have an African-sounding surname, you need to send about twice as many job applications as those with traditional English names – not even to get a job – but just to get an interview.

And I’m being generous here. I haven’t gone into the over-representation of black people in the criminal justice and mental health systems - or the disproportionate numbers of young black Caribbean boys, say, being excluded in our schools.

So the message is clear: If you believe that we are all created equal and ours should be an equal society – then we cannot let up. Our commitment cannot waver. We cannot be complacent.

Carrying on Labour’s tradition tackling race inequality That’s why I’m a proud to be Labour.

Over the years it was my party that enshrined non-discrimination as a guiding principle not only of our beliefs, but also of our laws – from the Race Relations Act of 1965 to the 2006 anti-age discrimination regulations.

And during our most recent period in office, we did what the previous Conservative government failed to do – to set up the full judicial inquiry into the disgraceful mishandling by the police of the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, an inquiry that acknowledged formally for the first time what we all knew to be true – that there is institutional racism in our country – and we sought to deal with it.

Of course, the real credit for that inquiry belongs to the Lawrence family for their refusal to give up in their demand for justice – and I am proud to say Baroness Doreen Lawrence formally became a Labour peer this month following her nomination

by Ed Miliband. That tradition of working to stamp out discrimination in all its forms – deliberate or subconscious – wherever it exists, continues. Just last week our new Shadow Equalities Minister, Gloria De Piero, launched our race equality strategy.

We are consulting on it so please visit our website at yourbritain.org.uk and have your say.

Social mobility stalled So I’ve talked about progress made, the need to challenge stereoptypes, and the ongoing quest for race equality in Britain.

But we must go beyond this.

I think we’re unlikely to see future generations of black British people go on and do better than the last if we focus on race inequality alone – we must address issues of class and social mobility which are holding people back as well.

Social mobility is an annoyingly dry phrase for something so fundamental to all of us: making possible the basic desire of people to create a better future for themselves and their families.

I’ve worked very hard to get to where I have. However, I do believe that I would have had to work even harder had I not come from a middle class background.

When I was growing up the black middle class was still in its infancy. But now it is growing.

However, unless we make social mobility for everyone our driving purpose, people won’t be able to meet their aspirations, we will not be a more equal society and we won’t make the most of our potential as a country.

Just two weeks ago, the Government’s Social Mobility & Child Poverty Commission couldn’t have been clearer: Britain remains a deeply divided society and economic disadvantage still strongly shapes life’s opportunities. They say there’s a real danger that social mobility could go into reverse in the first part of this century if we don’t act.

So our goal is not only to eradicate prejudice in all its forms and reduce racial and other inequalities, but to create a society where if you want to get on, move out of your flat into a house, progress from the shop floor to the board room, we empower you to do it.

We want to create a society in which the son of a bus driver can go on not only to run but own the bus company. A society where the teenager working the check out at Sainsbury’s in Streatham Common can become its CEO. A society where the budding Richard Bransons and Mo Ibrahims growing up on the Tulse Hill Estate, in one of the most deprived wards in my constituency, can turn their ideas into thriving businesses and make their first million.

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Reforms for female offenders to improve family ties

Keeping women prisoners closer to home and giving them the skills to find employment so they turn their backs on crime for good are at the heart of significant reforms announced by the new minister for female offenders Lord McNally.

The new model will see us provide genuine employment opportunities for lower risk offenders, with staff forging close links with local employers and providing practical training so offenders are able to join the workforce on release.

All women’s prisons will also become resettlement prisons so offenders serve their sentence as close to home as possible, allowing them to maintain crucial family relationships, especially with children.

These changes sit alongside the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms that will see every offender leaving prison given tailored support for at least 12 months, providing targeted access to programmes that help cut reoffending.

The reforms will help build on a falling female prison population, down by 10 per cent since 2010, alongside falling crime rates.

Justice Minister Lord McNally said:“When a female offender walks out of the prison gates, I want to make sure she never returns.

“Keeping female prisoners as close as possible to their homes, and importantly their children, is vital if we are to help them break the pernicious cycle of re-offending.

“And providing at least a year of support in

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Lord McNally

the community, alongside the means to find employment on release, will give them the best possible chance to live productive, law abiding lives.”

Next year we will be testing a pioneering new open unit at HMP Styal focused on helping women into jobs on release. We are also considering options for opening a commercial-run business at the prison that could provide training and employment for offenders. This follows the success of other projects, including those at HMP High Down and HMP Cardiff.

The new approach to tackling female offending is set out in a number of reports published today which recognise the needs of female offenders are different to those of males. We know many women who offend are themselves victims of domestic

and sexual violence, with 53 per cent reporting childhood abuse; and many struggle with mental health issues with 49 per cent reporting to suffer from anxiety and depression.

The Government’s response to the Justice Select Committee report on Women Offenders: After the Corston Report and the NOMS Women’s Custodial Estate Review set out the challenges and how we will improve our approach.

This includes: • keeping women closer to home; • setting up new community employment regimes aimed at getting the majority of female prisoners into work on release; • improving prison capacity near some urban areas;

• establishing and testing an open prison unit at HMP Styal; and • assigning responsibility for the delivery of through-the-gate support in all women’s prisons to the new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC).

We are also working with the NHS to create four new personality disorder treatment services for female offenders and will be introducing specialist services at HMP Peterborough to deal with female offenders expected to be deported.

The fall in population means we are in a position to make significant changes to the women’s estate making it a more efficient service that meets the needs of offenders.

On 4 September, we announced HMP Downview in Surrey will be changed to hold male prisoners. The re-role will be completed by Spring 2014.

The development of community employment regimes across the women’s custodial estate means there will no longer be a requirement for dedicated women’s open prisons. We will therefore look to close the two open prisons, HMP Askham Grange in Yorkshire and HMP East Sutton Park in Kent, in due course.

The Mother and Baby Unit at HMP Holloway will also be closed due to under-occupancy. Any demand will be met by the nearby modern, purpose built unit at HMP Bronzefield.

As part of their contract, they will be required to identify and provide services tailored to the needs of female offenders, supporting them through the gate. They will only be paid in full if they are successful at cutting reoffending.

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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News

Prostate Health Clinic wins Diversity and Equality Award

Staff from the Department of Health Understanding and Engaging with Communities Award A prostate health clinic set up in Cancer UK worked with NHS Newham and Newham was last week awarded Barts Health Care NHS Trust to pilot the Newham Prostate Health Drop-in Clinic at the “Understanding and Engag- the Newham African-Caribbean Resource ing with Communities” award at Centre. The clinic was an innovative modthe 2013 Civil Service Diversity el aimed at supporting the healthcare needs of men who often feel excluded from acand Equality Awards. cessing healthcare support.

These awards are held annually to celThe clinic attempted to map itself on ebrate the work of the Civil Service in to the needs of the service user rather than promoting equality in the workplace and the other way round. Men could self-refer share best practices for placing equality and did not need an appointment to attend; and inclusiveness at the heart of Governopening hours were flexible and specialist ment Policies. nurses and doctors operated a one-to-one The Department of Health, the National service offering information and support Cancer Action Team (NCAT) and Prostate

about all aspects of prostate health. Following on from a consultation, service users could access diagnostic investigations on site with a follow-up in secondary care if necessary. Blood could be taken for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing in clinic, and analysed at the acute Trust.

322 men visited the clinic and nine new diagnoses of prostate cancer were made, along with diagnoses of other conditions.

Men scored the clinic very highly on access and convenience. 25% of men who visited the clinic did so because of wordof-mouth, complementing the advertising campaign in the local community.

Research shows that black men have poorer knowledge of prostate cancer, believing it is incurable with grave concerns over the impact of treatment on sexual issues. In Newham, reported outcomes for cancer were poor, especially for black men. The pilot outreach clinic provided a safe environment for men to express fears or concerns that were not being addressed elsewhere: many symptomatic men who visited the clinic said that they would not have visited a GP because of fear, embarrassment or simply not thinking their worries were warranted. Economic analysis showed the clinic compared favourably with the cost of a GP consultation.

In discussion with local men, a wide range of media were used to promote the accessibility of the clinic and education

about prostate cancer, including posters/flyers, local radio/press, and a bus campaign.

Promotional materials were changed over time to reflect feedback from local men.

The evaluation concluded that further clinics should examine optimal service models and locations to reach men reluctant to use traditional services. This is being taken forward by Prostate Cancer UK, and considered by NHS England.

Tim Elliott, from the Department of Health’s Public Health Cancer Team said: “We are very proud to have received this award, which is testament to a great collaboration between the Department of Health, NHS partners, clinicians, Prostate Cancer UK and the evaluators at King’s College London.

“The clinic attempted to tailor itself to the needs of the patient rather than the other way round. For me, its success is summed up by a man who attended the clinic, and said - ‘It’s great, you walk in, you walk out with a plan, instead of having to go to your GP and wait to be referred into hospital’.”

Head of the Civil Service, Sir Bob Kerslake said: “I have long said that the Civil Service is at its best when it is representative of the society it serves and they have shown what we can achieve with a fully inclusive workforce that puts our understanding of diversity at the heart of the public services we deliver.”

Civil Service graduate scheme wins award for inclusive employment The team running the Whitehall graduate programme, The Fast Stream has won a Civil Service Diversity and Equality Award for a their innovative approach to promoting the Civil Service to underrepresented groups.

The awards identify and celebrate the many exceptional achievements that are made across government every day. They demonstrate the importance of promoting diversity and equality in the workplace, and provide an opportunity to share knowledge and best practice.

Fast Stream is the flagship Civil Service graduate programme that identifies and develops future leaders within the Civil Service. It is ranked in the top five of The Times ‘Top 100 Graduate Employers.’ The scheme has put in place many progressive diversity and inclusion initiatives and continues to refresh its approach.

Excellent outcomes have been achieved as a result of their positive action strategies.

The Fast Stream has led the way in using positive action to drive up the diversity of its intake, in particular through: • The award winning Summer Diversity Internship Programme. A three month paid work experience programme for students from BME or disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Establishing a coaching programme to

Fast Stream Inclusive Employment Award support interns looking for full-time Civil Service roles.

• Using social media to engage with students, including a moderated Facebook community, live web chats, video profiles and Twitter updates.

• Providing professional leadership around diversity themes at national conferences, seminars and workshops.

• Developing a bespoke disability positive action package.

• Building partnerships with groups including Rare and UpRising to reach out to prospective applicants from under-represented backgrounds

Significant progress has been seen as a result of these initiatives: • In the last four years over 100 SDIP interns have become Fast Streamers.

• 35-40% of Coaching Programme participants were successful in their Fast Stream applications (compared to average success ration of 3%) • 82 BAME graduates were recruited into the Fast Stream in 2012 - the highest number ever. (In 1998 there were only eight).

• 24.1% of successful Economist and 21.7% of successful Statistician candidates were from an ethnic minority.

Head of the Civil Service, Sir Bob Kerslake said: “Many congratulations to the Fast Stream team on their award.

“I have long said that the Civil Service is at its best when it is representative of the society it serves and they have shown what we can achieve with a fully inclusive workforce that puts our understanding of diversity at the heart of the public services we deliver.”

Head of the Fast Stream, Gillian Smith said: “I am delighted that my team’s efforts have been recognised by this Award.

I hope the Award will help to spread the word that the Fast Stream is continuing to change and will encourage applications from people who may not have previously considered a Civil Service career. We are working to secure a Fast Stream that is representative of the citizens we serve, and we can do this without compromising on quality.

Whilst appointment rightly remains based on merit, we have significantly expanded our outreach programme to include a broader range of Universities and organisations through which we can reach a wider and more diverse pool of talented graduates.

Our social media platforms have proven very popular with diverse groups and we have expanded our positive action programmes.”

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African Economic Conference session on regional integration

Paulina Elago, Country Director for Trade Mark East Africa (Tanzania), cites restrictions on free movement as a major obstacle to regional integration in Africa

Regional integration is still the driver of inclusive growth in Africa. This was the opinion of the panellists during the session on “Leveraging regional integration for inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa”. It was organized on Monday, October 28 in Johannesburg as part of the eighth African Economic Conference (AEC).

The low level of intra-regional trade, shortage of good quality infrastructure and lack of qualified workers are among the obstacles cited by the panellists to explain the

difficulties that the continent is experiencing in accelerating integration.

Africa has a huge market for all kinds of products. However, the panellists regretted the fact that the continent is still having difficulty in using that opportunity to consolidate its growth for the benefit of its populations.

Abebe Shimeles, Division Manager at the African Development Bank (AfDB), particularly stressed that, in his opinion, developing infrastructure in Africa was a prerequisite to full integration of the continent. Shimeles said that many African agricultural producers still have difficulty selling their products on account of the desperate shortage of means of access to sub-regional markets. He believed that this situation exacerbated exclusion and poverty at different social levels.

Speaking during the plenary, Paulina Elago, Country Director for Trade Mark East Africa (Tanzania), drew particular attention to the problems of the free movement of qualified workers. In her opinion, this obstacle had a negative impact on accelerating regional integration in the continent. Elago regretted that “in recent years, East Africa has experienced rapid economic growth that has had an impact on its integration. However it is still facing

the problem of free movement for its executives and skilled workers.” She hailed the example of Rwanda in this area, saying that the country had “made efforts to attract skills from other East African countries in order to boost various sectors of its economy.” Referring to the case of teaching the Swahili language, she said that the countries of East Africa, particularly Burundi and Rwanda, were able to make use of large numbers of Tanzanian teachers. They assisted in developing the language in the countries’ education systems.

The successful achievement of monetary and customs union in the West African currency area was also praised by the panellists. Jean-Gustave Sanon, Technical Adviser to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), acknowledged that the successful economic integration of the eight West African countries comprising the organization could not hide the low economic growth. This had occurred year after year, with unpredictable rates of progress largely due to fluctuations in world markets, and to the socio-political problems that occur frequently in that part of the continent.

Delphin Rwegasira, lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), believes that economic and monetary union

in West Africa could serve as an example.

Nevertheless, he suggests caution on the issue of creating a single currency. Rwegasira warned that, above all, African States must not rush into creating a single currency.

The example of Europe is very telling on that subject. He also stressed that African countries must, as a prerequisite, undertake to respect the economic convergence criteria set out in the different currency areas.

The African Economic Conference was organized jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It concluded on October 30.

The conference brought together heads of State and experts in business and development from all over the world. They discussed “Regional Integration in Africa”, and its role in strengthening the economic growth and well-being of the continent’s populations. The conference also provided the opportunity to reflect on the efforts being made in various sectors and fields.

These include finance, road transport, power pools, management of water resources, tax convergence and the free movement of workers.

South Africa and DR Congo sign Grand Inga Project

South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday signed a crucial treaty on the Grand Inga hydropower project, which could eventually become the largest hydroelectric project in the world, with the potential to power half of the continent.

President Jacob Zuma made the announcement earlier on Tuesday while addressing the Parliament of the DRC, where is arrived, accompanied by a strong ministerial and business delegation, for a two-day state visit on Tuesday.

Zuma said that the signing treaty was a major step towards the realisation of the long-cherished dream of the people of the DRC. “I must convey how particularly pleased and excited I am by the progress taking place towards the realisation of the Grand Inga Hydropower Project.

This incredible feat of human ingenuity, when completed, will have the capacity to power Africa and indeed to export electricity beyond the continent.”

The Grand Inga project will seek to harness the power potential of the Congo River, sub-Saharan Africa’s greatest waterway.

“South Africa is extremely proud to be working so closely with the DRC in realising this accomplishment,” Zuma said. “This represents one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken on 8

the African continent, and one which will long be a resounding symbol of the rise of Africa and her people.”

Zuma said South Africa stood ready to share its experiences and expertise in helping the DRC to further strengthen and deepen their democracy as well as to further entrench their impressive commitment to human rights.

“We look forward to extending and deepening the close relations between our two great nations. We can do this across the many areas of shared interest, and in pursuit of a better future for our two great nations and peoples.

“In the spirit of ubuntu, which means ‘I am because we are’, and which is a core principle underpinning the work of the South African government, we will continue to stand side by side with the DRC. “We will work together in seeing this great nation assume its rightful place as a fellow powerhouse of the African continent.”

He added that South Africa would forever be grateful for the solidarity it had received from the Congolese people during the country’s liberation struggle.

Established in March, the tripartite mechanism is a body designed to help consolidate peace in the Great Lakes region, and safeguard the conditions favourable to the implementation of the Framework Accord for Peace, Stability and Cooperation in the DRC, signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February.

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News

Measures to help hardworking families with the cost of driving The UK Government has announced measures to help motorists to cut the cost of running a car. These include a crackdown on whiplash fraud, a freeze on MOT test prices and a scheme designed to reduce the cost of fuel at motorway service stations, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced.

Average motor insurance premiums have already fallen by more than 12% over the past year, equivalent to an £80 reduction on an average policy, thanks to Ministry of Justice reforms to no-win, nofee deals and action on rogue claims firms – according to new statistics from the AA. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are turning the tide on the compensation culture and helping hardworking people by tackling high insurance premiums and other motoring costs.

“We have already helped families by cutting income tax for 25 million people by raising their personal allowance, by freezing council tax and by helping with tax-free childcare for example. But we want to do more.

“It’s not right that people who cheat the insurance system get away with it while forcing up the price for everyone else - so we are now going after whiplash fraudsters and will keep on driving premiums down.”

He has announced that: • Whiplash cheats, whose bogus compensation claims have helped to force up average motor insurance premiums, will be targeted by new independent medical panels which will ensure only evidence from accredited professionals can be considered. This will mean people can no longer profit from exaggerated or fraudulent compensation claims but victims with genuine cases can still get the help they deserve. These will be introduced from next year.

•

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling The statutory maximum price of the MOT test for a car will be frozen at £54.85 until 2015 – potentially saving up to £50m for drivers every year.

• Action will be taken on high motorway fuel prices. New comparison road signs will be trialled which will show prices at different service stations along a route, making it easier for drivers to get the cheapest deal and encouraging competition on prices.

• The fees charged for the driving test will be reviewed, including the current £31 for the theory test, £62 for the practical test and £50 fee for the provisional licence, to identify any opportunity to save money for the 1.5m car drivers who take

their test every year.

Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said: “The costs of owning and running a car are felt by millions of households and businesses across the nation. The Government is determined to help keep those costs down. That is why we are freezing the price for an MOT test and looking again at the costs associated with getting a driving licence.

“We also want to make it easier for people to get a better deal on fuel at motorway service stations, for instance through a trial of motorway signs that will show motorists the different fuel prices on offer on their route.”

New statistics from the AA show that motor insurance premiums are now falling at the fastest rate since 1994 – a fall of 12.3% in the year to October for an average comprehensive insurance policy, from £648 in October 2012 to £568 in October 2013.

New figures from the MoJ’s Claims Management Regulation unit also show that the number of claims firms in the market has plummeted by more than 1,000 following the law changes, from a peak of 2,553 in December 2011 to 1,485 last month. The firms are responsible for bombarding the public with adverts for profitable compensation claims.

Despite these successes whiplash claims remain an issue which Government will continue to fight. The number of claims has fallen since 2011 but there were still almost half a million whiplash claims in 2012. Insurers say these claims cost them more than £2bn in payouts and lead to an average premium increase of £90 for drivers. Each whiplash compensation payout costs an average of £2,400 insurers say, with an additional £2,000 in legal costs.

The Government will now work quickly with experts to implement the independent medical panels. This will include developing a scheme for accrediting medical experts who can assess whiplash injuries, enhancing the medical reporting process, improving information for medical assessments and carrying out spot checks to ensure quality.

Plans for improved data sharing by insurers will also help police, including the specialist Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, to track down criminal fraudsters.

UK VISA BOND IS NOT IN PLACE The British High Commission in Nigeria has stated that the proposed visa application bond scheme is not in existence. Nigerians have thus been called upon not to be anxious for nothing.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Lagos at the Solar for Security and Renewable Energy exhibition organised by a UK firm, Solar and Electric Gates Limited, in partnership with a Nigerian firm, YOMADEK Global Networks Limited, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, said no decision has been taken by British government on any form of visa bond.

According to him, “Nigerians absolutely do not need to be apprehensive about visa bonds first and foremost, because they do

not exist.

“If such a scheme were to be introduced, it will be limited to very small number of visa applicants, who in other circumstances might have their application refused visa applicants who are judged to present a high risk that they would break the term of the visa.”

Carter noted that the commission receives over 180,000 visa applications a year and grants over 125,000 visa applications. “Overwhelming majority of Nigerian travellers will not be apprehensive even if the visa bond scheme was introduced, but for now, such scheme does not exists,” he said.

Commenting on the prisoner swap policy, Carter said that Nigeria and the British

government are discussing the possibility of allowing Nigerians in British prisons serve their sentences at home.

“Those negotiations continue because the British government wants to see them concluded, because we believe it is both in the interest of the UK and Nigeria,” he said. “It makes good sense for foreign prisoners to return to their countries to serve their terms.”

Meanwhile, he advocated the use of solar energy to address insecurity in the country, as he noted that the exhibition focused at creating solutions, particularly in the security sector, where Nigeria needs not only security of power supply but also absolute security.

“One of the innovations in the technology

on show here is the ability of solar panels to store energy in battery that can then be used when the sun is out. This guarantees the usage of the security facility whether it is connected to the electricity grid or not,” he said.

“United Kingdom Trade and Investment work very closely with British companies and Nigerian authorities both at federal and state levels to identify areas where British expertise can be made available to Nigeria to alleviate problems and allow companies to develop and expand successfully.

“We will start visiting some states in Nigeria specifically to understand their needs and how British industries and investment can help to address the issues.”

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NDC Participants commends Osun Empowerment Scheme Reports from Abuja indicate that there has been a reaction to the activities of the Osun state government concerning the youths in the state.

Course 22 participants of the National Defence College Abuja have commended the Government of the State of Osun for using its Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and other strategic youth engagement programmes to reduce youth restiveness in the state.

This was the conclusion of the Course 22 members during its presentation following the study tour of Osun with the theme: ‘Infrastructure as Catalyst for Development in the State of Osun: Issues and Prospects.” at the Sani Abacha Hall of the National Defence College in Abuja.

Navy Captain B E Dauda on behalf of participants applauded the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun for its OYES initiative that has become a model for other states in Nigeria on how to bring unemployment to its barest minimum in spite of the meagre resources at its

disposal.

He also commended the state for its financial ingenuity which has allowed the state to embark on developmental projects that has restored progress and prosperity to people of the state.

According to him, “I want to use the opportunity of this presentation of the Course 22 participants of the National Defence College Abuja following a Geo-Strategic tour recently carried out by us to commend Aregbesola’s three year old administration.

“This among others is to applaud Osun for using the OYES to arrest idleness and restiveness among youths by profitably engaging them despite the fluctuations in federal allocations.

“Our geo strategic tour of the state indicates prudent management of resources accruing to the twenty two year old state under Gov Rauf Aregbesola’s administration”. The Naval Officer pointed out.

He revealed that the fluctuation and dwindling Federal allocations to states in the country poses significant threats to infrastructural regeneration in states of the

FROM Left –Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Titi-Laoye Tomori, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the 37th West African College of Physicians [WACP] Nigeria, Dr. Rasak Adebayo and Chairman Nigeria Medical Association[NMA], State of Osun Chapter, Dr. Anthony Onipede during the courtesy visit to the Governor at the Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo,

From Left- Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Titi-Laoye Tomori, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman Nigeria Medical Association [NMA], Dr. Anthony Onipede, Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the 37th West African College of Physicians [WACP] Nigeria, Dr. Rasak Adebayo and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori during the courtesy visit to the Governor at the Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo,

10

Federation.

Group Captain Iroubuisi in his own remarks held that the Course 22 found out during its stay in Osun that there is an appreciable decrease in crime rate in the state as a result of the engagement of youth through the OYES scheme.

He also commended Governor Aregbesola for its government’s internal revenue generation as well as massive encouragement given to farmers committed to agriculture.

In his words, “We of the Course 22 of the National Defence College want to commend Osun for the robust security infrastructure provided in the state.

“Our findings have also revealed a sharp decrease in crime rate in the state as a result of the engagement of youth through the OYES scheme of the government.” Group Captain Iroubuisi stressed.

In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Osun, Mr. Sunday Akere, noted that figures of the National Bureau of Statistics identified Osun

as NO 1 in public schools enrolment.

The Commissioner held that the feat was achieved as a result of the state’s investment of N12. 7million daily for the feeding of pupils in primary schools across the state.

Hon. Akere also added that, “it was on record that twenty one states of the country were ravaged by flood last year, but for the foresight of our amiable governor, the state has not recorded any since the inception of the administration in the state because of the regular channelisation and dredging of waterways in the state.

“Aside the OYES scheme which you have noted, various companies to mention a few like the Omoluabi Garment Factory, RLG, an Information Technology company are some companies established in the state to provide employments for the youths of the state.” The Commissioner revealed.

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Nigeria is not broke, just cash-strapped

Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla

Dr Bright Okogwu, DirectorGeneral, Budget Office of the Federation, and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, have both acknowledged that Nigeria is cash-strapped but not broke.

The duo made the declaration in Abuja, on Tuesday, while speaking at a meeting with federal revenue generating agencies, organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

The committee had organised the meeting to consider the 2012-2014 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) earlier forwarded to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan, preparatory to the 2014 budget presentation in November.

According to Otunla, “Nigeria is not broke, but it is currently having cash flow problems. We may have cash flow problem, but we are not broke.

“Countries like Greek and Spain are broke, they are now approaching their in-

ternational neighbours for bail out, but Nigeria has not done that and we are nowhere near that situation.”

Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Maria Alade, who represented the governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, at the joint sitting, said since the AGF and the DG of the Budget Office had said Nigeria was not broke, that was also the position of the CBN. “As bankers of the Federal Government, it is not our duty to tell the nation whether it is broke or not. But we can tell the amount in accounts at anytime,” she said.

However, the Ministry of Defence is broke, owing to limited budgetary allocation and arbitrary reduction of proposed budgetary appropriation by the Budget Office of the Federation, which has left the ministry with liabilities and unpaid debts.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Aliyu Ismaila, disclosed this on Tuesday, during the visit of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni Aji and the Peer Review Team of Permanent Secretaries, at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, to assess their level of implementation.

The permanent secretary said there was the need to reconsider the importance and strategic role of the ministry, by increasing capital and overhead allocations.

According to him, over N19 billion was approved for the ministry in the 2013 appropriation, adding that so far, only about N13 billion had been released.

He explained that the ministry was burdened with over N194 million unpaid hotel bills, N14 million outstanding burial and death expenses and over N108 million outstanding repatriation allowance.

Aji, in his remark, noted that the Peer Review was to understand the feeling of staff, through the union headship and an assessment of the performance of the permanent secretaries.

He disclosed that the issue of ghost workers would be resolved with the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which, he said, would solve delays in the payment of salaries.

Aji said the Federal Government was working to complete the IPPIS exercise and capture all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) by February 2014.

Mass housing bill stalled Goodluck to present According to reports, the bill seeking to guarantee mass houses Wednesday suffered setback as Senate referred it to the Committee on Housing and Urban Development for further legislative actions.

Titled Social Housing Bill 2012, the proposed law, which has passed second reading was rejected on the ground of faulty procedure and legal technicalities.

President of the Senate, David Mark, however upheld that since both the concept and motive of the bill are of extreme importance to the provision of mass housing, the bill should not be outrightly thrown out. Rather, he said the committee should be given proper guidelines on how best to package the bill in the interest of the general public.

“The committee should be able to identify reliable sources of funds, where the funds would be domiciled as well as likely legal issues that may arise over unclaimed dividends”, Mark said.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, while presenting the report, explained that its passage would

make it easier for poor and low income Nigerians to own their houses.

Sources of funding the scheme as contained in the bill had included unclaimed dividends, deposit of deceased, who had no next of kin, proceeds from dormant bank accounts, five percent of ecological fund as well as two per cent of the oil and gas proceeds.

Senator Nkechi Nwaogwu, Abia State however observed sourcing the scheme through some of the means could pose a serious challenge without legal backing.

“Recovering people’s personal money either in form of dividends or in dormant bank accounts to fund the housing scheme would be a difficult task because there was no law that backs access to personal funds in banks after a period of time”.

Others contributors maintained that there was no identifiable or sustainable source of funds for the scheme. They therefore suggested that the committee should returns to the drawing board and interface with the Ministry of Housing as well as relevant agencies on how to best to implement the scheme.

N4.49trn budget on Nov 12

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has communicated his intention to present the proposed 2014 budget estimates valued at N4.49 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly on November 12, 2013.

This was stated in a letter dated October 23, 2013 and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, was read on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, on Tuesday.

“I write to crave your kind indulgence to grant me the slot of 12.00 noon on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 to enable me to formally address a joint session of the National

Assembly on the 2014 Budget.

“While thanking the honourable members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the constancy of their support, please accept, Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter read.

Nigerian Tribune recalled that President Jonathan had presented the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, where it was indicated that the aggregate sum of N4.49 trillion would be proposed as 2014 budget, as against N4.98 trillion budget of 2013.

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News

Met Police Launches Operation Safer Autumn Nights

By Our Crime Reporter With Halloween and Bonfire Night around the corner, the Metropolitan Police Service, Monday 28 October 2013, launches its seasonal crackdown on anti-social behaviour and associated crime.

Anti social behaviour [ASB] can blight the lives of communities never more so during the period of half term, Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Vulnerable people can be left feeling scared and worried around this time of year because of uninvited trick or treating, or firework misuse.

Criminals also exploit the period, coupled with the nights drawing in, to commit robbery; theft and burglary targeting high value mobile phones; jewellery and other valuables.

Although overall there has been a reduction in the number of ASB incidents over the past twelve months [rolling year Oct to Sept 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, there have been 37,950 fewer incidents] and ASB calls are down by nine per cent over the same period, there is always traditionally a rise in ASB incidents around this time of year.

This is particularly evident on Halloween and Bonfire Nights. Statistics show that the daily average of ASB incidents for the rest of the year is 998, whereas last year, on Halloween there were 1,761 ASB incidents on 31 October 2012, [a 77% rise] and 1,255 on Bonfire Night [a 26% rise].

Officers will be stepping up patrols at key times in hot spot areas, Under ‘Operation Safer Places Autumn Nights’, all 32 boroughs, working closely with partner agencies, will have a local plan in place to target ASB perpetrators and associated crime.

Borough plans will be delivered by Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, supported by specialist colleagues and partner agencies.

Innovative predictive crime mapping will be used to identify ASB hot spots and associated crime types, including criminal damage and robbery in every neighbourhood in London.

Officers will be stepping up patrols at key times in hot spot areas, including after school patrols and patrols at town centres and transport hubs to disrupt potential involvement in robbery, violence and other criminal activities.

The predictive maps direct officers to

areas where they are more likely to be successful in preventing and detecting crime and provides enhanced opportunities to engage with the public and offer crime prevention advice in targeted areas, reducing opportunities for criminals.

Screening arches will also be used as part of wider detection tactics to deter the carrying of weapons. There will also be test purchasing operations regarding the sale of fireworks, alcohol and over the counter weapons.

Schools officers have been reiterating safety tips to young people ahead of the festivities and Safer Neighbourhood Teams are visiting vulnerable residents who can be affected by this period to address any concerns.

In addition, the MPS Safer Transport Command [STC], in partnership with

Transport for London, will be carrying out increased high visibility patrols to prevent disorder on buses and at transport hubs across the Capital.

STC officers will be using this opportunity to engage with young people when they are out enjoying the Halloween and Bonfire period reassuring them and providing travel safety advice, as well as educating them on the importance of respecting their fellow passengers when travelling on London’s transport network.

Chief Superintendent Jim Read, leading the initiative, said: “Dealing effectively with ASB is an ongoing priority for the MPS and we have made great progress in the way we tackle the problem.

“Whilst we have seen a reduction in both numbers of ASB calls; incidents and repeat victims over the last year, ASB tends to spike in the days and weeks around Halloween and Bonfire Night.

“We want people to enjoy the activities that go with Halloween and Bonfire Night - just make sure your fun is not at another person’s expense as not everyone will want to get involved in activities such as trick or treat, which can leave people feeling scared and intimidated.

“We want people to feel safe and secure in their communities and feel confident in reporting their concerns to police. We are listening to local communities and victims to work on solutions to ASB, working closely with our partner agencies.

“ASB will not be tolerated by the MPS and we will take action against those who cause alarm or distress in their communities, using the full range of civil and criminal powers available to us to tackle offenders.”

Television broadcasting in courts goes live

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara

Live television broadcasting from the Court of Appeal can begin from Thursday 31 October 2013, Courts Minister Shailesh Vara 12

has announced.

This significant change will allow for unprecedented access to the country’s judicial process and will allow televi-

sion broadcasters to film the legal arguments and the final judgment in criminal and civil cases.

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara said: “This is a landmark moment that will give the public the opportunity to see and hear the decisions of judges in their own words. It is another significant step towards achieving our aim of having an open and transparent justice system.

“We are clear that justice must be seen to be done and people will now have the opportunity to see that process with their own eyes. It will also help further the public’s understanding of the often complex process of criminal and civil proceedings.

“While this marks an opening up of the court process we will always balance the need to make the justice system more accessible with the needs of victims and witnesses. That is why we will ensure that throughout the court process, they will not be filmed.”

The move comes after legislation was agreed by Parliament. Advocates’ arguments, and the judges’ summing up, decision and (in criminal cases) sentencing remarks may be filmed.

The Government intends to commence consideration of the filming of sentencing remarks in the crown court in the future. However, victims, witnesses, offenders and jurors will continue to be protected, and will not be part of broadcasts.

Proceedings in the country’s highest court, The Supreme Court, are already streamed live on the internet.

The Crime and Courts Act 2013 contains an order making power that allows the Lord Chancellor, in concurrence with the Lord Chief Justice, to make an order setting out the conditions under which the prohibitions on filming and broadcasting from court will be lifted.

The ban on filming and recording in court is contained within

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France

Heartless Hollande’s Hobson’s choice Now back in Kosovo, Leonarda Debrani was removed from the school she attended for three years

France’s government has been branded conniving and heartless after a 15-year-old Kosovar girl whose deportation has dominated French airwaves and newspapers in the past week was invited back subject to the condition she abandons her family.

Leonarda Dibrani was removed by border police from a school trip in front of her shocked teacher and classmates, and then expelled with her mother and five siblings.

France’s President François Hollande’s answer to the resulting furore turned scandal

into bleak farce. To the dismay and even disbelief of many, he publicly invited her to return to France to continue her education but without her family. Sections of the French media have suggested that he reduced an already embarrassing episode to fiasco. Leonarda, now in the Kosovo city of Mitrovica, told Reuters she would not return alone and accused Mr Hollande of “having no heart”.

Critics of the decision say Mr Hollande is relying on the fact few 15-year-olds and their families would voluntarily separate.

The French left, including some ministers from Mr Hollande’s ruling socialist government, have condemned the girl’s

Skydivers plunge to their death inside stricken plane

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has officially welcomed gay athletes and visitors to the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Putin, who has been accused of discrimination against homosexuals by his critics, made the promise on an inspection visit to Sochi, the host city, with Thomas Bach, the Head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The president said: “We are doing everything – our organisers, athletes and fans – so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi, regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation.”

A new Russian law banning homosex-

creasing threat to the mainstream “republican” parties, Mr Hollande is anxious not to antagonise an electorate disillusioned with his presidency and hostile to the influx of foreigners. His hardline interior minister Manuel Valls, though himself born in Spain, has adopted a heavy-handed immigration policy, suggesting that most Roma, moving from one encampment to another in France, lived lives “extremely different from and clearly in conflict with” those of the French and should return to Romania or Bulgaria.

Mr Valls insists no error was committed by the authorities in Leonarda’s case. He told Le Journal du Dimanche that the family’s request for asylum had been rejected at all seven stages of its process since their arrival in France in 2009.

While presenting himself as conscious of the “situation of this young girl”, he said emotion was not the only factor to influence policy. He made the limited admission that police showed a “lack of discretion” but otherwise insisted that the law had been correctly applied, adding: “The president’s gesture is an act of generosity towards Leonarda, but her family are not coming back.”

Australia

Russia

Despite his recent statement (and this incongruous gesture), Vladimir Putin has made his personal opinions about homosexuals very clear in recent years

expulsion. Even the administration’s Moroccan-born official spokeswoman, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, acknowledged the circumstances were “shocking”.

Leonarda was removed from a school bus on October 9 as she was about to go on a class outing the day after her father had been detained elsewhere in France and deported. Police realised she was missing when they arrived at the reception centre where the family was living in Levier, eastern France. The teacher accompanying the children was contacted and ordered to stop the bus, which she did with reluctance. A local socialist politician suggested in vain that he should take her back to rejoin her family.

The left-of-centre Libération newspaper quoted the teacher as saying she badgered officers into parking away from the vehicle to avoid the tearful schoolgirl being seen getting into their vehicle “humiliated in front of her friends”. She is reported to speak excellent French and to have successfully immersed herself in school life, at odds with the stereotype of immigrants failing to integrate.

However, with the far right, anti-immigration Front National (FN) posing an in-

ual propaganda among minors has cast a shadow over the lead-up to the Olympics. There had been concern that the legislation could apply to gay athletes and visitors to Sochi leading to calls for the Games to be boycotted.

Russia decriminalised homosexuality in 1993 but gay people are frequently blamed for the nation’s demographic problems and face ostracism from the resurgent Orthodox Church, which has fostered increasingly close ties with the Kremlin during Putin’s 13-year rule.

Mr Bach made no public mention of the issue, offering praise for Russia’s preparations for the Olympics. He urged Russia to brace itself for tough competition during the event which will challenge not only Russia’s organisational skills but also its confidence in its sporting standing.

“When the Olympic flame will be burning at the Olympic stadium, it is up to you, because the success of Olympic Games also very much depends on the success of the home team,” Bach told Putin.

Olympic preparations have been marred by over-running costs and delays and organisers have faced criticism from rights groups over the treatment of migrant workers engaged in large-scale construction works.

Australia set to pull out Afghanistan security force

After suffering some 300 casualties, Australian troops will gradually withdraw from Afghanistan over the next several weeks

New Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, declaring that the return home of more than 1,000 troops before Christmas would be “bittersweet” because Afghanistan remained a dangerous place where many foreign soldiers had died.

Speaking at a special ceremony at the Australian-run base in Tarin Kot in Uruzgan province, Prime Minister Abbott announced the end of his nation’s longest military engagement. About 1,000 will be ordered home by the end of the year, although there is a commitment to train Afghan National Security Forces, meaning

several hundred Australians will continue to serve in non-combat roles in the country.

Abbott hopes the US-led campaign will leave a positive legacy in Afghanistan.

“Australia’s longest war is ending not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that’s better for our presence here,” he said.

Abbott said that Australian troops in Afghanistan have helped to build 200 schools as well as health clinics, while roads have been upgraded. He said Australians don’t fight wars of conquest but fight for peoples’ right to live their own lives and worship in their own way.

Australia, like all other foreign forces, has paid a high price during the long conflict.

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CRIME

16 year old acid attacker jailed

Victim Tara Quigley

A teenager who threw acid in a woman’s face which disfigured her for life has been jailed for eight years and three months at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Liam Sibbons, 16 years old, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook court of throwing corrosive fluid on a person with intent to do grievous bodily harm (contrary to Section 29 Offences Against the Person Act 1861).

He admitted the offence in court earlier this month and was sentenced today, Friday 20 September, at the same court.

The teenager assaulted his victim Tara Quigley, on the evening of 30 April, 2013.

Ms Quigley was at her home in Marshalls Road, Romford, when she heard a knock at the door.

Her sister and her children were also

in the property but upstairs when she answered the door.

When she opened the door, the teenager was at the door and asked for “Michelle” but then walked away when he was told no one of that name lived at the address.

Around ten minutes later, the teenager knocked at the door again. Ms Quigley opened the door and then realised the boy was holding a white bottle in his hand.

He squeezed the bottle and pushed it towards Ms Quigley. She felt the liquid on her face and immediately felt a burning sensation straight away. She stepped back and shut the door.

She ran into the kitchen and put water on her face and eyes but could feel burning on her body and arms. Her sister called 999 and she was taken to the Royal London Hospital by London Ambulance Service.

Ms Quigley was then transferred to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s special burns unit. She had 10 percent burns on her face, neck and arms and is still receiving treatment for her injuries.

Following analysis, by Police it transpired the liquid thrown at Ms Quigley is believed to be is Chromic Acid, a highly corrosive substance.

After intelligence was received the Liam Sibbons was arrested on 11 May and subsequently charged.

Officers found he had an acid burn on his torso. The motive for the attack is still unknown.

The curious incident of the three-legged dog

Police in Lambeth have arrested three people after a police vehicle was rammed by a van in Tulse Hill.

At approx 2250hrs on Thursday, 24 October an unmarked police car in Cherry Close, SW2 indicated for a white Citroen van to stop after the van had triggered an ANPR activation for involvement in the theft of mopeds.

The van pulled over and the unmarked police car pulled up behind, indicating its presence by activated its blue lights. As it did this, the van reversed - ramming the police vehicle at least two times and injuring the two officers inside.

The van then made off from the scene and a short pursuit occurred with a marked police vehicle. As the vehicles travelled along Brixton Hill, again the white van rammed the police vehicle. The van was then abandoned in St Saviours Road, SW2 and the occupants fled on foot.

The details of the van’s occupants were circulated, including one particularly distinctive description of a grey haired man seen carrying a three-legged black dog.

Approximately an hour later, a Lambeth officer on patrol in Leigham Court Road,

SW16 saw a blue Nissan car containing three men - one of them carrying a remarkably similar looking three-legged black dog. A quick check noted that this vehicle was registered to the same keeper as the white Citroen van.

Backup was called and the vehicle was stopped at a petrol station a short distance down the road.

Three men, aged 18, 42 and 67, were arrested for a variety of offences including GBH, failing to stop, possession of a bladed article and driving offences. They remain in custody at a south London police station.

Borough Commander for Lambeth, Chief Superintendent Matt Bell, said: “I am thankful that the reckless actions of these people has not resulted in any serious injuries to my officers, but this incident once again demonstrates the dangerous work that police officers carry out on a daily basis.

“This series of events demonstrates the best qualities of Lambeth officers - from the bravery of those involved in the initial stop, the pursuit and arrests, to the eagleeyed work of the officers who identified the suspects.

Lambeth gang member jailed for 10 years

Jayden Teko

Jayden Teko, 21 (04.01.1992) of Scott Avenue, Gillingham, Kent was found guilty of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely heroin, possession of a firearm, namely a Sten machine gun and two counts of possession of ammunition.

A 17-year-old from Lambeth, who was 16 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty for possession of ammunition and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

He was given a two year supervision order, 100 hours community service, 100 hours

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intrusive training and a one year electronic tag with strict curfew conditions.

These convictions follow a pro-active operation by the Trident Gang Crime Command where drugs with a street value of £60,000 and a loaded World War II Sten machine gun were recovered.

On Monday, 1 October 2012, officers from Trident’s South Central Gangs Unit, were tasked with conducting a manhunt on a man named Jayden Teko. He was wanted for a recall to prison and is a leading member of a Lambeth based gang.

Extensive enquires located Teko in the Gillingham area where he was detained

by Trident officers near Gillingham railway station. Officers then attended Teko’s home address, upon arrival; a 16 year old boy was seen to throw a sports bag out of a window. He was detained and inside the bag was a large quantity of crack cocaine and heroin. Also in the bag was several rounds of machine gun ammunition.

A search of the property revealed a V5 car registration document for a vehicle and a set of keys. After an extensive street search the vehicle could not be found.

Both Teko and the youth were arrested, charged and remanded in custody for the drugs and firearms offences.

The next day a member of the public called Kent Police regarding a vehicle that was blocking their driveway. On behalf of

Trident, Kent Police attended the scene and a loaded Sten Machine Gun from World War II was recovered from the foot well of the vehicle. .

In a joint investigation, Kent Police and Trident officers conducted further enquiries retrieving forensic evidence linking both Teko and the youth to the premises and to the vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Champion, from Trident’s Central Gangs Unit said: “These convictions demonstrate that Trident will work with our UK police colleagues across both borough and county boundaries to arrest and convict those involved in gang-related criminality. In particular, the seizure of the machine gun has prevented a lethal firearm falling into the hands of violent gang members in South London.

“There are many reasons why people may join a gang. Our experience and research shows that gang members think they will get status, protection, sense of identity and financial gain - they are wrong. The reality is that the gang member is more likely to be injured or imprisoned. This conviction serves as stark reminder of this.

“The Central Gangs Unit’s primary focus is to work with local communities, local authorities, charities and other agencies to prevent young people from joining gangs in the first place, those involved in

gangs should be aware that there is a way out and that there are people we can put them in touch with to help turn their lives around, from mentors, to education centres to potential employers.

“However, if you remain in a gang and if you continue to commit crime, then we will keep targeting you.”

Appeal following robbery of injured man in Southwark Police are appealing for witnesses after an injured man was robbed in Southwark.

At approximately 02:15hrs on Tuesday, 29 October the 28-year-old victim fell from his bicycle on Nigel Road, junction with Rye Lane, SE15.

While lying unconscious, an unknown number of suspects stole his iPhone, wallet and cigarettes.

The victim was taken by London Ambulance Service to a south London hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Anyone who witnessed the robbery is asked to contact officers in Southwark via 101.

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America Plea bargain keeps fractious 50 on the street

Chris Brown scrap could lead to four years

Brown’s music frequently receives second billing to his personal escapades

50 Cent’s temper tantrum in June was one of several he is reported to have had this year

Rapper 50 Cent has dodged a prison sentence following his violent outburst at his baby mother’s house back in June by striking a plea deal with prosecutors.

‘Fiddy’ – real name Curtis Jackson - got into an argument with Daphne Joy, mother of his second child, which escalated to the point where he kicked her and vandalised property worth some $7,100. The “I Get Money” rapper was charged with one count of misdemeanour domestic violence and four counts of misdemeanour vandalism, to

which he pled not guilty.

Jackson’s legal team report that an agreement was arrived at that would keep him out of jail. The more serious domestic violence charge was dropped in exchange for a ‘no contest’ plea to one count of vandalism. The rapper was hit with three years probation and thirty days of community service. He was also ordered to attend counselling sessions and pay Ms Joy $7,100 in restitution.

According to reports on TMZ. com, Chris Brown has just checked himself in to a Los Angeles rehab facility for anger management issues, probably in a last ditch attempt to forestall a possible probation violation sentence.

An investigation has been launched

by LA County Department of Probation to decide whether Brown’s arrest at the weekend violated the five-year probation order he received for assaulting Rihanna in 2009.

The singer was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning (October 27) after a man accused him and his bodyguard of breaking his nose outside a Washing-

ton DC hotel. He spent Sunday night in jail and on Monday was released on bail to reappear on November 25. He denies a misdemeanour assault charge.

Brown allegedly met with LA County Department of Probation officials, who will determine whether he will be deemed to have violated the earlier probation order.

Unless they decide in his favour, Brown may face up to four years in jail.

Following Brown’s arrest, a guest judge on a US TV show said that the singer’s public threats to ‘kill’ anyone he has an altercation with could land him in serious trouble, since such outbursts can be interpreted to contravene California Penal Code 422 – the making of terrorist threats.

Considering the sentence that hangs over his head, Brown has hardly been diligent about staying clear of trouble. In August, he was cleared of hit-and-run charges after a judge ruled the singer and a woman, whose Mercedes he hit with his Range Rover, had reached an agreement over the case.

In January, it was claimed he was involved in a fight with singer Frank Ocean over a car parking space outside a Hollywood recording studio. At the time, detectives said Brown was under suspicion for punching the victim but the case was dropped after Ocean decided not to press charges.

Birthday girl Ciara thrilled with her Future Ciara and Future are engaged after the rapper popped the question as a 28th birthday surprise on Saturday. The pair have been dating officially since January this year and have attended several public events together, including the MTV Video Music Awards.

The rapper, real name Nayvadius Wilburn, is said to have proposed to his love with an impressive 15carat diamond ring.

The engagement comes a matter of days since unconfirmed rumours started to circulate that Ciara is expecting her first child. According to MediaTakeOut.com and several other popular gossip outlets, the rumour started at a party Paper magazine held at New York City’s Marque nightclub on Thursday evening (October 17).

According to her style team, members attempted to dress Ciara in a way that would “hide” her growing baby bump.

29-year-old Future, who is due to support Drake on his Canadian tour and has a collaboration with Rihanna

under his belt, has one child from a previous relationship. He was involved in controversy when the child’s mother filed for child support in 2012, which required Future to take a DNA test to prove he was the father. After his DNA matched, Future was ordered to start paying child support of $1662 a month, according to the Daily Mail.

Since then, another woman has come forward to claim that her child is also Future’s, although this claim is yet to be tested.

Grammy Award-winning Ciara has had a recent hit with ‘Body Party’ but her most well-known tracks include ‘Goodies,’ ‘Promise’ and ‘Like a Boy.’ On Sunday, she broadcast her sheer joy to the world with a succession of excitable tweets. “If I’m Dreaming I Don’t Want To Wake Up..Aaaaaahhh!!!:),” she tweeted along with “Today Has 2 Be Like One Of The Sweetest Days Of My Life! #TheBestBirthdayEver,” finishing her stream with a single heart. A date for the wedding has not yet been set.

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Gospel

By Michael Adekoya

LET GO AND LET GOD

“Therefore I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Rom. 12:1.

Dear Reader, do you know that it is just as much a sin to sing a lie as it is to tell a lie? I have heard many people sing hymns of total consecration and surrender to God, such as “All to Jesus, I Surrender All “ or “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go.” But when the offering plate comes around, they drop a quarter of what is in their wallet or purse. The two actions are not consistent. I have seen Christians who prefer to spend all night on Saturday in a party or watching movies than spending few hours with God. Yet on Sunday morning, they raised up their hands in surrender all to Jesus. Does any of these describe you? This message is for you.

These songs fuelled the missionary movements of the past.

But today, it is not so much. In many of our churches today, “altars” are a strange concept. They are referred to as “stages or platforms,” and they are used only for fog machines or music performances. “Altar calls” no longer fit in the time constraints of our trendy 120-minute services. Total surrender messages have been replaced by ‘self-empowerment’, ‘self-motivation’, ‘get-rich fast’ and ‘enjoy your life’ types of messages. My friend, if you are not going to give your life, time, talents, treasure, relationships, family to God, do not tell Him you are surrendering all because God is going to hold you to account for every

word you speak (or sing) in His presence.

Today, ‘The Good Life’ has replaced ‘The God Life’. ‘The Path to Prosperity’ has become more popular than ‘The Calvary Road’.

We are more interested in getting a breakthrough than brokenness. Yet, God is calling us back to consecration. He is calling us to genuine worship which involves a wholehearted abandonment of self. He’s calling us to die daily to self and to the worldly systems. Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome is still valid today. He wrote: “Therefore I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Rom. 12:1. When priests were set apart for God’s service in the Old Covenant, they were “consecrated” in a solemn ceremony.

The word for consecration in Exo. 28:41 means “to fill the hand.”

The word is a picture of an empty hand receiving God’s blessings and then giving them back to the Lord in unconditional surrender.

My friend, my question to you is: “Are your hands open and raised

Are you looking for a church? ­­

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue, school, park hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus fellowship

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worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), park royal Business centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

to God?” “Or are you making a fist or holding anything back?” “Have you been giving back to the Lord what He has given you?” “Or are your hands tightly clenched or you’re selfish?” It might be a good idea to examine how you can be holding some aspects of your life: Your relationships - Do you allow your spouse, any member of your family, friends or any relationship to lead you away from purity, integrity and spiritual faithfulness?

The Bible says friendship with the world is hostility toward God (Jam. 4:4). As painful as it may be, true surrender will involve cutting off some ties. You must be careful with relationship that stops your hunger for God or reduces your resolve to do His will.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God… Therefore, “Come out

from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

Your children - While we have been commanded to raise our kids for God, we also must entrust them to His care. After all, they are really His children, not ours. Once you’ve done your part, give them back to Him. Even in the earliest ages, there can be restraint in the heart of a child because of godly training by his or her parents. The only way I ever learned to play football was on the training field.

The classroom wasn’t enough.

Parents must provide training and education for the lessons of life to be ingrained in their children. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Pro. 22:6.Listen! Has God given you the divine responsibility of parenthood? Then, spend some time everyday to train your child in areas of godly living.

Your sexuality - Many Christians believe they can be faithful believers while practicing immorality. My friend, don’t buy that lie. God wants us to be holy, so we should keep clear of all sexual sin.” 1 Thes. 4:3. Living the consecrated life means repenting of all known sin daily—and fleeing from fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, masturbation, pornography and all forms of lust. The silent killer that destroys marriages, health and causes death more than anything else in our society today is not alcohol, drug or cigarette, but sexual immorality?

It is the little foxes that spoil the vine (SOS. 2:15) It is the little, but enjoyable, thing that we tend to tolerate which causes great damage. It causes sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS and most dangerously, it destroys marriages.

a bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel church - Battersea chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater farm centre, Adams road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forthnightly 12am

Your time - Does God have your life 24/7? Does He have your weekends? Have you made room in your life to spend time with Him? Has prayer become a burden instead of a lifestyle? Or has prayer been crowded out by your favourite TV shows, time with friends or the demands of work, business, entertainments or sports? You attend church services both week days and on Sundays and you pray fervently when you needed a child.

Now the same child is your excuse for your absence from prayer meetings and church services.

Your talents - Are you using your natural and spiritual gifts to reach others for Christ? Or you are using it just for your personal gains? Did you hide your talents, like the unwise steward in Jesus’ parable (Luke 17:7-10)? Have you assumed that, because others seemed more gifted, you should be a spectator while they serve?

Your money - The only way to know if you are truly surrendered to God’s will is if your wallet is open. A lack of generosity toward God’s work reveals who you are?

Until your salvation reaches your wallet, you’re not truly saved.

Harvest is not a natural event. You have to sow before you can reap.

The measure of your returns will be in proportion with the measure of your giving (2 Cor 9:6). That’s the principle of God. Your future - Are you driving your career plans—or have you allowed God to take the steering wheel? Ambition can take you a long way—but it must be yielded to His will or it will lead to crisis or tragedy. You must agree with what Jesus prayed at Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours be done” Luke 22:42.

Remain blessed!

Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at Unit B1 Galleywall Trading Estate, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3PB meets Sunday 7am & 9am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm. For details call 020 7237 7894 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH GRAVESEND, ST. AIDAIN’S CHURCH, ST. AIDAN’S WAY, GRAVESEND, KENT, DA12 4AG TEL. 01474 355 841, 07956 38 38 70 TIME OF WORSHIP: Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Africa Newsround

Sierra Leone

Rat jibe lands journalists in dock an article comparing President Ernest Bai Koroma to a rat.

Former insurance executive Ernest Bai Koroma was elected as Sierra Leone’s president in 2007

Amnesty International has called on Sierra Leonean authorities to drop proceedings against two editors charged with 26 counts of seditious libel after they published

On October 23, Jonathan Leigh and Bai Bai Sesay, both editors at the Independent Observer newspaper, were charged with criminal defamation for publishing the article. They have been in detention since, pending the resumption of their trial on October 29.

Leigh’s editorial, about supposed friction between Koroma and his vice-president, Sam Sumana, said Koroma “is regarded as an elephant, but he behaves like a rat and should be treated like one.”

Ibrahim Koroma (no relation), head of Sierra Leone’s criminal investigations department, said of Leigh: “He is bringing the name of President Koroma and the whole cabinet into disrepute.”

Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Sierra Leone, said: “Criminal defamation charges against media workers highlight the incredibly worrying climate for freedom of expression in the West African country.

DR Congo

Peace plan to bring back Mobutu

“All charges must be dropped and these two men released immediately and unconditionally. Their detention and criminal charges appear to stem from them peacefully carrying out journalistic work.

“The Sierra Leonean authorities must respect the right to freedom of expression.

Legitimate criticism of public officials should never be grounds for curtailing free speech.”

Sierra Leone’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed to Amnesty International that the two editors are charged with 26 counts, including “conspiracy to commit acts with seditious intent”. The CID claimed that editors exhibited a “tendency of bringing the name of his Excellency to disrepute and inciting hatred.”

“High-level government officials must be prepared to face public criticism about how they carry out their office. To refuse a space for such criticism and public accountability is a violation of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Sierra Leonean and international law,” said Ms Sherman-

Kenya

17 sackings as Westgate inquiry continues

A soldier patrols the Westgate shopping mall during the recent siege Mobutu Sésé Seko was founder and first and only president of Zaire

In what is being viewed as an attempt at reconciliation with rebels in the east of the country, DR Congo’s President Joseph Kabila has said he will allow the body of deposed former-ruler Mobutu Sésé Seko to be repatriated.

Former-president Mobutu is buried in Morocco, where he fled via Togo after being ousted in 1997 by rebels led

by Laurent Kabila, father of the current president. He died from prostate cancer aged 66, three months after being expelled.

The president made the announcement in a rare parliamentary address in which he pledged to create a new unity government to include “members of the

ruling majority as well as the opposition and civil society.”

Mobutu Sésé Seko is still fondly remembered by his supporters who believe one of his achievements was to keep the vast country he founded in 1971 united.

His critics accuse him of being a ruthless and corrupt ruler who crushed internal dissent and plundered the then Zaire’s mineral resources. He had also spent millions of dollars on a palace for himself in Gbadolite, deep in the rain forest, which was ransacked after he fled.

His son, Nzanga Mobutu, who is an MP and ally of Mr Kabila, is likely to have been consulted about the plan to reinter his father.

Nikolaus, adding: “The Public Order Act of 1965, which the Sierra Leonean authorities are abusing in this instance, is extremely antiquated. It should be repealed as it does not comply with international human rights obligations.”

Following the October 23 hearing, advocates for freedom of the press demonstrated outside the court building.

Protesters were reportedly pushed aside to allow police vehicles to leave the court compound.

“This is very unfortunate event and reflects a crackdown on media expression.

The media has a right to criticise a leader,” Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, the men’s lawyer, said of the charges.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) sees it as a clear attempt to intimidate journalists.

“These are coordinated attacks on press freedom in Sierra Leone. Police should not regulate the media,” said Abubakarr Bah, an SLAJ spokesperson.

Fifteen immigration officers and two soldiers have so far been sacked in the wake of the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi last month.

The immigration officials were dismissed by Kenya’s interior minister, Joseph Ole Lenku for what he described as endangering national security by issuing identity documentation to illegal immigrants. The minister said the government would also be carrying out a thorough audit of identity cards and passports issued in the country over the last two years and would begin the process of repatriating Somali refugees to prevent further attacks.

“This exercise will enable us flush out all those who have been issued with illegal passports and other identification documents,” Kenya’s Star

newspaper quoted him as saying.

“We have welcomed with open arms, refugees fleeing from insecurity in neighbouring countries but we won’t allow them to harm us,” he added in his address to journalists in Nairobi, adding: “Because of the returning calm in some parts of the Federal Republic of Somali, the process of repatriating Somali refugees has started.”

Kenya is host to the largest refugee camp in the world. Dadaab near the Somali border is home to about half a million people. Away from the camp, it is believed that Nairobi is itself home to 30,000 Somali refugees.

Meanwhile, two soldiers have been sacked and jailed and a third is under investigation for looting stores both during the four-day siege and in its aftermath. Army chief Julius Karangi had previously said that soldiers had only taken water, despite CCTV footage that appeared to show them helping themselves to goods in a supermarket.

At least 67 people, including six Britons, were killed during the attack

by Somali Islamist group al-Shabab.

It is thought four attackers were also killed, while Kenyan authorities continue to hold five people suspected of being involved in an ongoing investigation.

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Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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African Entertainment Travelmusic artist

In association with

Turning Point wins BEFFTA Awards UK

Turning Point, the Nollywood/ Hollywood production by HekCentrik Films wins big at last weekend’s BEFFTA (British Entertainment Film, Fashion, Television & Arts) awards, taking home the coveted prizes in film categories of Best Director and Best Film for director Niyi Towolawi and Turning Point respectively.

The “Nollywood meets Hollywood” feature was nominated in 7 categories including best in production, screenplay, actress, makeup and costume. This adds to a growing haul of international recognitions including 4 wins at America’s Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA), fondly called “African Oscars”, as well as a film festival Best Drama award at Trindiefest, Colorado, USA. This adds to a nod at City People Magazine in Nigeria as well as a Best Director UK at the Yoruba Heritage awards,

London. Other nominations include 2 nominations at African Academy Movie Awards (AAMA), Best Disaspora Feature at Nollywood Movies Awards, in addition to 4 nominations as the upcoming Best of Nollywood Awards.

Niyi Towolawi, writer/producer/ director of Turning Point on receiving the awards says, “I am over the moon about our BEFFTA awards. We have won several accolades in the acting categories, which I suppose says something about my directing. However, winning best director and best picture really bring things home.”

Turning Point is now available to watch on online via www.dobox.tv (Africa) and www.mymillennium.tv (Europe). The compelling drama features an ensemble cast of Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, The Crow, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Oz), Todd Bridges (Diff’rent Strokes), Victoria’s Secret model and actress KD Aubert (Scorpion King, Soul Plane), Joe Estevez alongside Jackie Appiah, Patience Ozokwor (Mama Gee), Oge Okoye, et al.

MISS AFRICA IRELAND

Miss Osuemhe Ugonoh Miss Africa Ireland 2012 (Middle)

Niyi Towolawi bags best director at BEFFTA awards UK

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The beauty pageant which promotes African heritage and bridges the cultural gap between Diaspora Africans and Irish will see the incumbent queen, Miss Osuemhe Ugonoh, a student from Nigeria, relinquish the crown to another African girl Ireland this Saturday 2nd November 2013 at the Gresham Hotel, 23, Dublin 1. The winner will be the African Cultural/Beauty Ambassador to Ireland.

The contestants are to wear traditional African costumes that represent different African Countries, they also will have to educate the audience about their countries of origin.

Since the pageant’s inaugural in the year 2000, the organisers have maintained their commitment to promoting African beauty and culture and encourage multiculturalism among the Irish and African immigrants in the Republic of Ireland.

Hip hop pioneer returns with new banger

Legendary Zimbabwean rap pioneer Shingirayi Sabeta yesterday made an explosive return on the music scene with the online launch of his new single, Ndamutswa.

Formerly known as Mau Mau, Shingirayi teamed up with the popular website, African Hip Hop blog and used the platform as a launchpad for the new track.

A pioneer on the Zimbabwe Rap landscape, Shingirayi is famed for his mid90’s hits Blackness with the late Afro-Pop star Prince Tendai, his debut self-entitled

single Mau Mau and the classic 2002 debut album, M’fecane.

Ndamutswa has a raw and bubbly Southern-esque beat fused with Sungura and Rock guitar riffs, courtesy of producer Xander. The track is also an introduction to promising rap femcee, Alvina.

Shingirayi says he strongly believes in using music as a form of the Christian ministry, and believes that, “Only a radical, bold Christianity will lead today’s hip-hop generation toward God.”

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Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

Event

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Events calendar What’s On & When Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Arts

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Ryan Holmes

to collect £6000 from his fiancee’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at the Cricketers’ Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be re-united with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

Haymarket Theatre,18 Suffolk St, London SW1Y 4HT Lenny Henry as Troy and Tanya Moodie as Rose

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Now- November 16th

Always first in line to play the ass, David Walliams hee-haws crowd-pleasingly as donkey-headed Bottom in this sultry reimagining of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, mingling with Sheridan Smith’s lusty Titania and a string of exceptionally chiselled fairies.

Set against the backdrop of fairyland’s glistening moon, Shakespeare’s tale of mischief and misplaced devotion is adeptly retold by a talented cast, whose comedic skills bring pace and energy to director Michael Grandage’s turbocharged interpretation. The high octane drama, mirth and calamity of this heady ‘Midsummer Night’ are riotously unpicked as Gavin Fowler’s naughty fairy, Puck, stirs up a love-fuelled frenzy on stage.

Noel Coward Theatre. St Martin’s Lane London, WC2N 4AU

The 39 Steps Now- March 2014

When Hitchcock adapted Buchan’s ‘The 39 Steps’, however, he introduced a love interest in a version which Buchan later conceded was better than his own. In this stage version, Patrick Barlow has continued the honourable tradition of mucking around with Buchan’s original, keeping the love interest (now elegantly played by new cast member Rachel Pickup) and adding a whirligig of self-conscious theatrical effects in a production where four actors evoke everyone from lingerie salesmen to a housekeeper who screams like a steamtrain..

The Criterion,218-223 Piccadilly, London, SW1Y 4XA

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Pride Now-November 9th

Set in both 1958 and 2008, ‘The Pride’ sees what appears to be the same love triangle play out in two very different eras. In 1958, closeted married man Philip (Harry Hadden-Paton) grapples violently with his feelings for writer Oliver (Al Weaver), while his fragile wife Sylvia (Hayley Atwell) looks on in impotent despair. And in 2008, the three seem to have been given their time again in a more liberated age…

Yet they’re not happy – promiscuous journalist Oliver has scewed up his relationship with straight-laced Philip, and Oliver’s chronic neediness is seriously bringing his BFF Sylvia down.

Trafalgar Studios,14 Whitehall SW1A 2DY

The Scottsboro Boys Now-December 21st

The Scottsboro Boys were nine young black men convicted of raping two white women in Scottsboro, Alabama in 1931.

Following a mistrial, the overwhelming evidence of their innocence did nothing to persuade a succession of white Alabama juries to find them innocent; their plight did much to lay the groundwork for the US civil rights movement – but that wasn’t a lot of comfort for the poor fellas left to rot in a Southern penitentiary.

Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ

One Man, Two Guvnors Now-March 2014

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton

Much Ado About NothingNow-November 30th

Age is the theme and the big talking point at the Old Vic as it plays host to two great theatre pros in Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy. Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones are Benedick and Beatrice: reluctant older lovers, grouchily bickering their way into each other’s hearts.

The play is reimagined in a Britain of old too. It’s 1944, and we get a wartime view of the country that perhaps only ever existed in our imaginations. A land of comedy policemen, dashingly handsome GIs and naughty boy scouts – it conjures up images of a particular kind of British sitcom or BBC radio play, a sort of ‘Archers’ does Shakespeare.

103 The Cut, Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8NB

Lutz Bacher: Black Beauty Now- November 17th

Get ready to be manipulated by an eclectic display of works by the elusive American artist for her first major UK show. Varying degrees of black will dominate with tons of coal slag being emptied into the lower gallery for ‘Black Beauty’ along with pulsating astrotuf in ‘Black Magic’. Accompanying these is an audio of the Shakespearean character, Puck from ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ that adds an enchantingly devious tone to the premise of Bacher’s exhibition.

ICA, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH

Crowning Glory

A new play by Somalia Seaton

17 Oct - 9 November 2013

“In a world saturated with images of unrealistic and unobtainable beauty, how do women see themselves?”

Join our all-female cast of fun and feisty modern women as they share the trials and tribulations of their hair, and try to uncover what true beauty means.

This current, funny and thought-provoking show will undoubtedly get you talking.

Come along with friends or family and take part in the conversation!

Theatre Royal Stratford East, London

The Djinns of Eidgah Now- Nov 9th

This Royal Court debut from Indian playwright Abhishek Majumdar is a gutsy, pummelling affair that offers an insight into the terrible daily pressures faced by young Muslim men living in Indian Kashmir.

It doesn’t quite work in the Court’s tiny upstairs theatre – after the almost kitchensink first half in which we follow decent bloke Bilal (Danny Ashok) and his efforts to keep his nose clean and advance the football career that will take him out of the troubled region, things start getting seriously confusing: ghosts turn up to have lengthy chats with the living, the living start spouting rambling philosophical screeds, and the focus of the play dissipates amidst its large cast of characters.

The space and attendant budget of the Court’s larger downstairs theatre would probably have clarified these flourishes – I can imagine the second half having a macabre, Sarah-Kane-ish texture that it never achieves here.

Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS

Olives & Blood Now- November 10th

The death of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca at the hands of Franco’s militia in 1936 is shrouded in mystery. People still don’t know where he was buried or exactly why he was killed – his death has now become a symbol for the brutality of the Spanish Civil War. In his new play, American academic and playwright, Michael Bradford speculates on the events leading up to the death of the poet Brixton East, 100 Barrington Road, London, SW9 7 JF

The Dumb Waiter Now- November 23rd

London’s fringe theatres tend to be blessedly free of half-baked Harold Pinter revivals, presumably because the greatest British playwright of the twentieth century was so bloody-mindedly challenging that jobbing directors don’t have the balls to take him on.

But Notting Hill’s Print Room is classier and better resourced than many of its peers and in this fine revival of 1960’s ‘The Dumb Waiter’, director Jamie Glover expertly captures the mix of humour and deep unease that characterises this 50-minute play.

The Print Room, 34 Hereford Rd, W2 5AJ

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Arts

Poet of the Week: Ousmane Sembene

By Peter Olorunnisomo

Born in 1923 in Casamance, southern Senegal, where his “crazy” fisherman father had migrated from Dakar around 1900, Ousmane Sembene has, from a marginalized and a very modest beginning, inscribed his name in world history.

Expelled from school in 1936 for indiscipline, his formal education would never go beyond middle school. Also unable to take on his father’s trade because he was always seasick, in 1938 he was sent to his father’s relatives in Dakar, headquarters of the territories of French West Africa.

From 1938 to 1944 he worked as an apprentice mechanic and a bricklayer. Although he was denied an opportunity of a formal education, Sembene developed a love of reading - mostly comics - and discovered cinema in the segregated movie houses of Dakar.

He spent his days at work as a manual labourer and his after work hours either reading, watching movies or, along with his neighbourhood mates, attending evenings of story telling, wrestling, and other “traditional” Senegalese cultural events . As a French citizen, in 1944, like many young Africans of his generation, he was called to active duty to liberate France from German occupation and subsequently was dispatched to the colony of Niger as a chauffeur in the 6th colonial infantry unit. Upon being discharged in 1946 at the end of the war, he went back to Dakar in the midst of charged social and political activism.

That same year, for the first time, he took membership in the construction worker’s trade union and witnessed the first general workers’ strike that paralyzed the colonial economy for a month and ushered in the nationalist struggle in French Africa.

In 1947, unemployed in the thick of a war-ravaged colonial economy, Sembene left Dakar in search of a better living and also for the opportunity to feed his unquenchable thirst for learning- “apprendre à l’école de la vie.”(to learn in the school of life), as he put it many times. He migrated to France and lived in the Mediterranean city of Marseilles until 1960, the year Senegal was granted its political independence.

As an black African docker who “knows” how to read and write, in Cold War Marseilles, he was soon identified by labor union leader Victor Gagnère (“papa Gagnere”, as Sembene affectionately referred to him) and enrolled in the CGT ( Confederation generale des travailleurs ), the largest and most powerful left wing workers’ union in post-war France. After backbreaking work unloading ships during the day (containers did not exist then), at night and on weekends Sembene enthusiastically attended seminars and workshops on Marxism, joined the French Communist Party in 1950, and the MOURAP (Movement against racism, anti Semitism and peace) in 1951, a political organization born of the

resistence movement during WWII. The same year, while unloading a ship, Ousmane Sembene broke his backbone.

After a long recovery and now unable to sustain the physical effort required by the work of a docker, with the support of his comrades, he was assigned a post as (aiguilleur), a switchman. A new opportunity was opened to Sembene to rise from a laborer who could read and hardly write, into a well-rounded intellectual, an exceptionally cultured humanist. As his comrade and friend Bernard Worms put it: “He rose to the status of the intellectual aristocracy of the labor movement; he become “un honnête homme.” He spent most of his free time roaming public libraries, museums, theater halls, and tirelessly attending seminars on Marxism and Communism. He read everything: literature on Marxist ideology, political economy, political science, works of fiction, and history. During those Marseilles years with the passion and ob-

1929 novel Banjo would influence his first novel) and the novels of Jacques Roumain, another Communist writer from Haiti and author of the classic Masters of the Dew (1947). Master’s of the Dew ‘s communist vision provided most of the powerful images in Sembene’s O pays, mon beau peuple (1957). In Marseilles he also became involved with the international Communist youth organization Les Auberges de jeunesses (Youth Hostels) and discovered the Communist theater, Le Theâtre Rouge.

However, as Sembene struggled with millions of others for revolutionary change at the international level, he also felt alienated by the quasi absence of “revolutionary” artists and writers from Africa, the voices of the masses of workers, women, and all those exploited and silenced by the combined external forces of colonialism and the internal yoke of African “tradition”. Through activism, Sembene proved that he was deeply aware of the urgent need

session of a convert to a new religion, Sembene also participated in the protest movements organized by the French Communist Party against the colonial war in Indochina (1953) and the Korean war(1950-1953).

He also openly supported (and later wrote about) the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) in its struggle for independence from France (1954-1962), and he vehemently protested against the Rosenberg trial and execution in the United States in 1953. Dreaming of the universal freedom and brotherhood mirrored by communist ideology, Ousmane Sembene also worked to educate and liberate the community of mostly illiterate and “apolitical” African workers shipwrecked at the margins of French society.

It was also in the midst of such an intense political activism that Sembene discovered other communist artists and writers: Richard Wright, John Roderigo (Dos Pasos), Ricardo Neftali Reyes (aka Pablo Néruda), Ernest Hemingway, Nazim Hikmet (Turkey), the works of French Communist writer and resistance organizer Paul Eluart, and, Jean Bruller (Vercors) co-founder of Les Editions de minuit (devoted to the publication of works dealing with resistance), and author of the classic work about the German Occupation and the Resistance, Le silence de la mer (1942) (Silence of the Sea). He also came into contact with the works of the Jamaican Communist writer Claude McKay (whose

for political and social change in Africa, but unlike many of his generation ( Sékou Touré in Guinée, Patrice Lumumba in Belgian Congo, Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, and Amilcar Cabral in Bissau Guinea who chose the political arena) he, like Palestinian writer Edward Said, strongly believed and still believes that the struggle against colonialism is not solely a fight over who should own the land but it also a contest over who should have the right to represent whom.

Thus, since 1956, while still a dock worker, and upon his return to an independent Senegal in 1960 until today, Sembene’s daily life has been devoted to the production and dissemination of emancipating and restorative images for those Frantz Fanon named the “the Wretched of the Earth”, those Africans disenfranchised and marginalized in their own society, but also whose unsung struggles are a Daily Heroism (The title of Sembene’s latest trilogy of films.) Yet for Sembene, in both literature and film, the work of “art” should not be a mere re-presentation of “reality” “une pancarte” (a political banner), as Sembene terms it. It is a work of art, a symbolic form of representation. In order to capture the imagination of the people they “speak” to and for , those symbols first must be intelligible to them. They must stem from and reflect their cultural universe. What is at work in Sembene’s literary and film creation is an endeavor to capture and project a

genuine African film language and aesthetics, that would also entertain a “dialogical” relationship with other world cultures.

Ousmane Sembene started his artistic career as a poet, a short story writer, an essayist and a novelist. His first published work was Liberté (1956), a long poem in which after an extended panegyric on the a vast inventory of human accomplishment in the area of art, the poet also launched into a heartbreaking lament over his estrangement from universal beauty. The long poem closes on a dream of a free Africa whose children will redirect rivers and build monuments to its beauty. This “programmatic” poem published in Cahiers du sud, a Marseilles-based left-wing review then directed by André Gaillard, also contains the contour of Sembene’s future work.. His novels and short stories since 1956 are: Le docker noir (1956) (The Black Docker), his loosely reconstructed experiences as an black African dockworker in Marseilles; O pays, mon beau peuple (1957) is almost, thematically, a sequel to the 1956 novel.

Les bouts de bois de dieu (1960) (God’s Bits of Wood) is a masterpiece of fictionalized history, conceived from Marxist ideology and yet Sembene’s first genuinely “African” story. It was a move away from the canons of the European bourgeois novel of the nineteenth century. This third novel, a fictional recreation of the second and most comprehensive French West African railroad workers strike against their colonial bosses in 1947 was followed in 1962 by Voltaïque (Tribal Scares), a collection of short stories.

In 1963, he released L’harmattan ( a political epic of the later years of the 50’s, in the final struggle against colonial occupation). Le mandat suivi de blanche genèse (1966) (The Money Order with White Genesis), was, to be sure, a first presentation of the post-colonial situation in Senegal. Afterwards came Xala (1973), a sarcastic satire of the new and “impotent” Senegalese bourgeoisie, and Le dernier de l’empire (1981) (The Last of the Empire) which laid bare the internal contradictions and subsequent demise of an impotent and narcissistic political leadership. In 1992, a collection of two stories Niiwam et Taaw explored the despair of the Senegalese peasantry and urban youth. Guelwaar (1996), Sembene’s latest novel, an adaption of a 1993 feature film (reversing the relationship between literature and film), warned against the dangers of religious fundamentalism while showing the ironies and humiliations if a nation relies on international aid for its own economic survival .

There has been a long love affair (literally, and figuratively) between Sembene and literature. He once fell in love and married a literary scholar who specialized in his work. Sembene’s rich literary imagination fed on a vast knowledge of world literature and its masterpieces.

He died in 2007

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Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Health

Baby swaddling: the NHS responds

Swaddling may have come back into fashion, particularly after speculation about how Prince George appeared to be wrapped as he left hospital. But the centuries-old practice could damage babies’ hips is the warning after the issue was highlighted by a British surgeon.

Professor Nicholas Clarke, an orthopaedic surgeon from Southampton University Hospital, argues that swaddling may damage the normal development of youngsters’ hips. He says that swaddling (tightly wrapping a baby) forces the hips into a straightened position where the legs are pressed together, which may lead to a condition called hip dysplasia. The condition is not always painful, but can cause joint abnormalities and result in long-term complications such as osteoarthritis if left untreated. Severe cases may eventually require hip replacement.

Professor Clarke does not describe whether there are current guidelines around the use of swaddling in the UK; however, the media has quoted advice from the Royal College of Midwives that says swaddling is not advised. If a parent does choose to swaddle their baby, tight swaddling that does not allow the baby’s hips and knees to move freely is generally not recommended.

Care should also be taken to make sure that the baby does not get too hot.

What type of study is this?

This is not a piece of new research into the practice of swaddling and its association with hip dysplasia. It is an opinion piece written by one surgeon following his review of the evidence. It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Archives of Disease and Childhood.

The author bases his piece on previous research that is only briefly described.

His methodology is not provided, so it is not possible to say whether all relevant evidence related to the use of swaddling has been considered. There is always the risk that the author may have cherry-picked the evidence that supports his argument, ignoring the opposing evidence. This is why the ideal approach to these types of questions is to carry out a systematic review.

22

What is swaddling and what are the perceived benefits?

Swaddling typically involves binding or bundling a baby in cloth or blankets with the lower limbs extended (straightened) and the arms restrained.

According to Professor Clarke, swaddling is commonplace in some cultures, and approximately 90% of infants in North America are swaddled in the first few months of life. It is thought that the feeling of being held tightly within the cloth or blanket helps babies feel settled and aids sleep by recreating the restricted space of the mother’s womb.

The author reports there has been a recent return of swaddling because of its perceived effect on promoting sleep and the management of colic (the medical term for excessive and frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy). There are also unproven claims in the media that swaddling has become fashionable as it is apparently being used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for Prince George, as well as by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

What potential harms does the author raise and what evidence are these based on?

The author describes how a 2007 systematic review and a 2013 review on the management of colic noted an association between swaddling and a condition called developmental dysplasia of the

hip (DDH). DDH is a term used when talking about hip dysplasia in children.

Hip dysplasia means that the bones of the hip joint are not aligned correctly, which prevents the hip joint from functioning properly. According to the opinion piece, risk factors for DDH include breech delivery (bottom-first) and family history.

Professor Clarke says that ultrasounds have shown that approximately 20% of newborns have hip dysplasia or hip structure growth abnormalities. In most cases this resolves by itself, but he says these hips may be vulnerable to continuing dysplasia if not managed appropriately.

Professor Clarke describes that swaddling forces the hips into extension (a straightened position) and adduction (when the legs are pressed close together). This may interfere with the body’s ability to resolve any abnormalities naturally. This may then lead to a worsening of hip dysplasia that requires treatment. The Professor cites numerous other reports and international studies that looked at the relationship between swaddling and hip dysplasia.

The author states that under the new UK Newborn and Infant Examination protocol, infants identified as at risk for hip dysplasia will have a hip ultrasound when they are six weeks old. Those found to have dysplasia may be monitored or managed with a harness that keeps the baby’s knees bent (flexed)

and out to the side (abducted) for a period of time and does not allow swaddling.

Professor Clarke says that healthcare professionals should determine if an infant with hip dysplasia is being swaddled and, if so, they should advise parents to stop swaddling or to “safe swaddle”. He says that “safe swaddling” with appropriate devices should be promoted, as it is recognised that traditional swaddling is a risk factor for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

The professor says that to allow for healthy hip development, legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips, allowing for natural development of the hip joints, and that babies’ legs should not be tightly wrapped in a straight position and pressed together. In discussing products for swaddling, he says these should have a loose pouch for the legs and feet, allowing plenty of hip movement.

Professor Clarke concludes by reporting that the International Hip Dysplasia Institute has issued a statement and emphasised the need for infant hips to be properly positioned to allow them to maintain the foetal posture during the first six months of life.

Conclusion

In summary, this is not new research into whether swaddling leads to hip dysplasia, which is what media reporting may lead you to believe. Rather, as the title of the piece describes, it is “an orthopaedic perspective”, written by one surgeon and based on previous research. However, as methodology is not provided, it is unclear whether all the evidence relating to the topic has been consulted.

While the decision to swaddle may be influenced by parents’ or carers’ personal beliefs and cultural practices, it appears to be generally recommended that if parents or carers choose to swaddle their baby, the baby should not be swaddled too tightly, still giving their hips and knees room to move freely.

The baby’s face should also not be covered and care should be taken that they do not get too hot.

SOURCE: NHS

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Culture

Culture: The Bambara of Mali

Masquerades of ancestral worship

The Bambara are among the most powerful and influential groups in Mali. They are also the largest ethnic group in the country. The Bambara live in the middle valley of the Niger River. They speak Bamana, which is one of the Manding languages. Bamana is widely spoken in Mali, especially in the realm of business and commerce.

It is related to the Bantu language, which includes Swahili and Zulu.

During the 1700’s, there were two Bambara kingdoms: Segu and Karta.

In the 1800’s, militant Muslim groups overthrew these kingdoms, leaving only a few anti-Muslim Bambara warlords to resist their occupation. This lasted forty years, until the arrival of the French. A very small number of the Bambara had converted to Islam by 1912.

Bambara woman

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After World War II, the number of Muslim converts grew due to their resistance to the French and their exposure to Muslim merchants. Today, the Bambara are mostly Muslim.

Most of the Bambara are farmers.

Their staple crop is millet, although sorghum and groundnuts are produced in large quantities. Maize, tobacco, cassava, and various other vegetables are also grown in private gardens. Unfortunately, drought and other ecological problems have hurt the farmers in recent years.

The Bambara farmers also raise cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and chickens.

The neighbouring Fulani herdsmen are often trusted to herd the Bambara livestock. This allows the Bambara to concentrate on farming during the short rainy season.

Many of the Bambara hunt animals such as antelope, boar, ostrich, and guinea fowl for their meat and skins. They also gather a large amount of honey from the wild bees in the area.

Both men and women share the farming duties. However, the wives usually arrive in the fields later and leave earlier than the men. This gives them time to prepare the morning and evening meals.

Children between the ages of 12 and 14 also help with the family’s work, leading the oxen as they plow and guarding them during rest periods.

Each Bambara village is made up of many different households, usually all from one lineage or extended family. Every household, or gwa, is responsible to provide for all of its members, as well as to help them with their farming duties. Bambara homes are typically larger than the homes of most other West African groups. Some of the houses contain as many as 60 or more family members. The members of each gwa work together every day except for

A Bambara wooden carving

Bambara woman has eight children.

All adults are married. Even elderly

Traditional Bambara women

Mondays. Monday is market day and the traditional day of rest.

Islamic schools have been set up in some of the Bambara villages. However, many of the non-Muslim villages have failed to establish schools simply because the children are needed to stay home and help with the farming. For this reason, some village populations are entirely illiterate.

Marriage is very important to the Bambara. Although the cost of marriage is high, it is viewed as a type of “investment.” The main purpose for marriage is to have children, which provide the family’s labour force and ensure the future of the family lineage. The average

widows in their 70’s or 80’s have suitors because the Bambara believe that a wife increases a man’s prestige.

Although most Bambara claim to be Muslim, many still follow their traditional beliefs such as ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for guidance). The Bambara believe that the ancestral spirits may take on the forms of animals or even vegetables. In special ceremonies, the spirits are worshipped and presented with offerings of flour and water. The eldest member of a lineage acts as the “mediator” between the living and the dead.

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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News

New rice import ban in Ghana causes quite a stir

Tonnes of rice coming through one of the available ports in Ghana

The call by the Government of Ghana to ban the importation of rice products by land, effective November this year, has angered some dealers and importers of the product in the country.

The Ghana-Ivory Coast Rice Importers and Sellers Association (GIISA) has described the policy as dangerous and unacceptable and has called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry to revise its decision.

The ban will mean any individual or

group that imports rice into the country could only do so through the Kotoka International Airport or pass through the nation’s ports at Tema and Takoradi, as it is no longer lawful to import the product by land.

The policy, according to the Ministry, is to check alleged constant evasion of taxes by importers, smuggling, under-invoicing and trade mark infringement.

But members of the Ghana-Ivory Coast Rice Importers and Sellers Association say the policy will not only push them out of

Malawi food shortages hit rural areas hard

business but also has the tendency to affect consumers of rice in the country.

According to them, once the policy comes into effect, it will breed monopoly and create opportunity for few importers to bring the product into the country which will in turn affect demand and supply, and eventually push prices beyond the affordability of average consumers.

At a press conference in Kumasi to register their displeasure against the decision, members of the association lamented that the government is creating an undue opportunity for foreign nationals and businesses to flourish at the expense of indigenes.

They bewailed that local small scale businessmen who cannot afford shiploads and rely on in importation through the country’s corridors will be pushed completely out of the market.

“As we are all aware that in Ghana, the rice business is controlled by foreigners; all the big importers who can afford to import shiploads of rice are foreigners and it is them who stand to gain and make profit

from this policy,” they argued.

Apart from this, the association further noted that prices of rice will significantly shoot up if the policy is implemented, estimating that a 25kg of rice for instance, which is less than GH100 cedis will be sold for GH¢150. They also cautioned that lots of Ghanaians will lose their jobs and become unemployed.

According to them, it is not entirely true that those who import rice by land evade taxes and engage in smuggling, stressing that the kind of corruption and malfeasances that go on at the ports and harbours cannot be compared to that which goes on at the borders.

They argued further that it will not be fair on the part of government to impose the ban, simply because some of their few colleagues are evading taxes or engage in under-invoicing, contending that the best solution is not to ban the importation by land but rather tighten security at the nation’s borders and increase supervision of tax collection.

22 feared dead as ethanol truck explodes

A child scrapes what little food she has from the bowl

Almost 1.5 million villagers are short of food in rural Malawi after severe weather disrupted harvests, reports Plan International.

Late and erratic rains, droughts and floods have all contributed, with the north of the East African country worst affected.

Many families are now down to one or two basic meals a day, instead of three, in a bid to ration what they have.

“Most households have given up breakfast as one way of saving the little food they have stocked,” says Plan’s country director in Malawi, Lilly Omondi.

“As such, their dietary intake has decreased below normal and this may result in increased cases of malnutrition in children under the age of five.”

Families could be short of food for up to five months while in one of the worst

24

hit areas, villagers walked 12 miles to get food aid.

The government will provide 25,000 tonnes of maize for distribution after 30,000 tonnes of grain rotted in reserves earlier this year.

Aid workers for Plan have begun distributing maize, pulses and corn-soya blend to families in Mzimba and Kasungu.

High maize prices and families’ lack of assets after repeated shortages are worsening the situation.

“The number of people in need of assistance is likely to increase as people’s livelihoods deteriorate influenced by negative coping strategies,” says Ms Omondi.

“Prices of most food have continued to rise driven by macroeconomic instability and high demand despite recent harvests.”

Police spot check cars passing through the area the explosion occurred

AT LEAST 22 people may have been burnt to death Wednesday morning after a Greenfuel ethanol truck carrying the inflammable liquid collided head-on with a lorry ferrying mourners heading back from a funeral.

spot while two died on admission at the

the horror crash which occurred at around

along the Tanganda -Chiredzi highway

Officers said the driver and all the pas-

“As we come to terms with the devastat-

Manicaland ZRP traffic police confirmed

nearby St Peters Hospital.

In a statement GreenFuel said: “Green

Fuel joins the Chisumbanje community,

the nation at large and most importantly

the families of the deceased, in mourning the lives tragically lost in a road accident

which occurred today in Chipinge South,

7am in Chisumbanje.

near Checheche.

sengers on the T35 truck which was carry-

ing aftermath of this tragedy, we convey

the ethanol truck burst into flames.

families of the deceased.”

ing the mourners were burnt to death after Witnesses said 20 people died on the

our sincere heartfelt condolences to the

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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News Central African Republic armed forces are wreaking havoc Armed forces who seized power in Central African Republic (CAR) this year are out of control, executing civilians, gang-raping women, conscripting children and looting aid, Amnesty International said this week.

The rights group called in a report for national authorities and the international community to take urgent action to establish law and order in the chronically unstable country, where the humanitarian situation risks “reaching a point of no return”.

“The level of hopelessness and despair has reached a new high as a result of these persistent, large scale human rights violations, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said the report’s author Godfrey Byaruhanga.

Seleka, an alliance of armed groups which was unknown a year ago, launched an offensive against former President Francois Bozize last December, eventually ousting him in March.

The report, compiled following a trip by Amnesty researchers to CAR in July and August, says Seleka soldiers have tortured and killed civilians, carried out indiscriminate shelling and burned homes. Many

CAF’s child soldiers

people have been killed for resisting pillaging and extortion.

In one case in July, soldiers killed as many as 200 people, including children, hiding in the forest after fleeing violence in their village in Basse-Kotto province, Amnesty said.

Researchers were told by a senior government official that ministers who were not heads of Seleka factions were powerless to prevent human rights violations.

Even President Michel Djotodia, the Seleka leader who declared himself president, is disobeyed by forces outside his own faction, the official said.

Kenyan rapists walk free after cutting grass

The Seleka alliance is reported to have recruited former criminals, including bandits and poachers, as well as Chadian and Sudanese fighters, who are believed to have committed a large number of abuses.

“The CAR has been undergoing a human rights crisis for several decades. It has clearly degenerated into a human rights disaster since December 2012,” Amnesty said.

Women interviewed for the report described how they had been gang raped by Seleka soldiers. One said she had been raped in view of her crying children during an ordeal lasting hours. She spent several

days in intensive care but cannot afford further treatment.

Some rape victims have been abandoned by their husbands or partners with serious social and economic consequences, Amnesty said. Others fear their injuries may have rendered them infertile.

Girls have also been forced into sexual slavery as the so-called wives of military officers.

Seleka’s ranks include up to 3,500 child soldiers under the age of 18, according to an estimate by local organisations and the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF. Researchers were told some had been recruited from Chad and Sudan.

Amnesty said it was extremely concerned that many children were effectively being held hostage for use as bargaining chips by foreign commanders waiting to be paid by the CAR government for their role in the war.

The African Union has promised to deploy some 3,500 soldiers in CAR, but Byaruhanga said less than half that number were in place, adding that even the full number would be “grossly inadequate” in a country more than twice the size of France.

Women protest for more action against rape in Kenya

Kenyan police officers freed three suspects, identified by a teenager who was gang-raped by six men and thrown into a pit latrine, after making them cut the grass in the police camp.

Sexual violence is widespread in Kenya and critics say the police do not take it seriously enough.

The 16-year-old girl was beaten up and gang-raped by six men on the way home from her grandfather’s funeral in western Kenya. After she lost consciousness, they dumped her inside a six metre-deep pit latrine.

Her spinal cord was broken and she has a double fistula.

The villagers took the girl to the Tingolo Administration Police Camp to record a

statement. They also frog-marched the three suspects she had identified by name to the police camp where they were arrested, it said.

“The three, for some strange reason, were only ordered to cut grass around the police camp and set free shortly after,” the girl’s mother told the paper. “In the meantime, the police told me to take the girl home so that she could take a shower before taking her to hospital.”

The suspects now taunt the family, according to the girl’s mother.

“They often call purporting to find out how she is faring. They promise to give us something small for medical expenses and then go under until the next call,” she told the paper.

The girl’s family cannot afford to pay for surgery for her injuries.

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Black History Month Special

BB Awards, a true ‘Celebration

It is often said that, ‘seeing is believing’! This was certainly the case at the 10th BB Awards 2013 held on Saturday 26 October 2013 at the prestigious Hilton London Tower Bridge.

“There are many Awards events, but certainly, there is only one BB Awards‘A True ‘Celebration of Diversity and Achievement’ in display.

The 10th annual BB Awards 2013 is truly in a class of its own.” This was the resounding verdict of the founder and executive director of BBI UK Ltd and the annual BB Awards gala night. This was probably true, judging by the mood, atmosphere and comments from almost everyone present at the just concluded 10th annual BB Awards 2013 held at the prestigious Hilton London Tower Bridge.

It has been another remarkable year for BB Awards, which has gone from strength to strength in its mission to promote ‘Diversity and Achievement’ by recognizing hard work, perseverance and success among the diverse social and economic movers and shakers in the society, wherever they come from.

Overall the event was a resounding success, with many guests commenting that it was yet again, the best awards event they`ve ever been. An event that demonstrates class and professionalism!

The Hilton London Tower Bridge played host to this year’s magnificent awards ceremony and dinner on Saturday 26 October 2013. The venue came alive once again with an array of prestigious guests, including dignitaries, celebrities and some of our finest business owners. We were pleased to welcome among our distinguished guests, Cllr.

Abdul Mohamed, the Worshipful Mayor of Southwark, Cllr. Sunil Chopra, Deputy Mayor of Southwark, Cllr. Ian Wingfield, Deputy Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr. Anood Al-Samerai, Southwark Council Liberal Democrat Leader, Rt. Hon. Simon Hughes MP (National

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, local MP and BBI UK Patron), Prem Goyal, BBI UK Patron and the keynote speaker Yinka Shonibare MBE (the highly celebrated artist with one of his most recent art works, ‘the Nelson’s Column’ being exhibited at the London Trafalgar Square), sharing the true meaning of diversity and achievement with the adoring guests. Among other VIPs at the event were the Olympics Medalist and recipient of Diaspora Honorary Award, Kriss Akabusi MBE, Roucheon Iloyi winner of the Arts and Creativity Award 2013, Femi Okutubo, founder and Chief Executive of Trumpet Newspaper and annual GAB Awards, Mike Abiola Publisher of African Voices and organizer of annual African Films Awards, Collins Nweke, chairman of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE).

Hosting the event were the duo BBC London radio presenter Eddie Nestor and the real surprise guest co-host of the night, Robbie Gee, who introduced the entertainment, which was without a doubt, at an optimum. Guests were treated to a live fashion show from a new young fashion designer, Mickisha Matthews of ‘Cherie Love Angels’, performance of youth dance from the Movement Factory, cool soul and hilarious night of sheer entertainment and relaxation.

The evening will be incomplete without mentioning our guest artist Roucheon Iloyi who treated us to a night of youthful musical energy which rounded up a duet with her husband Femi, while the night was brought to a new start with music from DJ Big Mike who kept the evening in full swing.

Co-hosts Eddie and Robbie, left the guests bowled over as they hosted the raffle and ‘interactive fashion show and best dressed and dance’ competitions’ which left almost everyone feeling part of the night. What a night to remember!

Roucheon, Ian Wingfield Deputy SwK Council Leader and Femi, Roucheon’s husband

Sunny Lambe and guest Leanne Pero and the Movement Factory friends

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Gary Edwards BBI UK Board Chairman and Gavin Bryan receing Young Entrepreneur Award

A bevy of beauties show off their fashion steps

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Black History Month Special

of Diversity and Achievement’!

Then, down to the business of winning awards; 13 renewed and revamped Award Categories were available this year, including the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which was won by Dapo Odumeru and Rudi Page of Blood for Life, presented by the Worshipful Madam Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Abdul Mohamed. Paulette Tajah-Bell received the Honorary Merit Award, Kriss Akabusi MBE British Olympics Medalist bagged the Diaspora Honorary Award; Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE received the Community Honorary Award, Honorary Arts and Creativity by Yinka Shonibare MBE while the Union Bank UK plc walked away with the new Honorary International Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Barbara Campbell, Live Listing Mag, walked away with the Enterprise Life Achievement Award for her enterprise life endurance and risks taking. The Social Entrepreneur Award went to Nathaniel Oyinloye of Hospital Prison Action Network, Hospitality and Tourism Award went to Andrew McIntosh of Cottons Restaurant Islington, New Business Award went to Adam Pero of iMoves Estate Agents, Young Entrepreneur Award (Gavin Bryan (Bryan Estates, while one of the main highlights of the evening for the BBI UK and BB Awards founder was the annual Young Entrepreneur

Game Award (YEGA) business simulation with the runner-up won by Nandile Mlambo (Maphisa Production), participating and travelled to the event all the way from South Africa while the main coveted YEGA 2013 award was won by Luba Blay-Miezah (Proverbs 31 Lady).

The runner ups did not need to be disappointed as they were selected from a list of top achievers within their category. Well done to you all!

The Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Abdul Mohamed said; “it is very inspiring to see the good work BBI UK and Sunny Lambe are doing despite the very challenging economic climate we all have to endure and Southwark Council will to continue to support BBI and their work in the community”. Similar message of support was echoed by the Deputy Southwark Council Leader, Councillor Ian Wingfield.

Yinka Shonibare MBE recipient of Arts and Creativity Honorary Award and also the special guest keynote speaker of the night said during his presentation; “it is very important to encourage and inspire our young people, irrespective of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical abilities and so on to be the best they can. I’m a testament to that, despite my disabilities, I’m able to run my own business and employing several people from diverse communities”.

Leo and Cathy

Kriss Akabusi, Roucheon, award winners and friends

Yinka Shonibare receiving award from Mayor of Swk Cllr. Abdul Mrs Chopra, Cllr. Chopra Deputy Mayor of Swk and Cllr. Anood Al-Samerai, Swk Libdem Leader Mohamed

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FIFA U-17 UAE: A tale of two continents

The second day of Round of 16 action at the FIFA U-17 World Cup United Arab Emirates 2013 witnessed two teams from both Africa and South America book their tickets through to the last eight. While Côte d’Ivoire narrowly edged past continental rivals Morocco, Nigeria highlighted their title credentials with a crushing victory over Iran.

Uruguay were equally dominant in overcoming tournament debutants Slovakia, but Argentina were made to work hard for their quarter-final berth against Tunisia. Today’s victors will now jostle for a spot in the semi-finals in fixtures pitting South Americans against Africans.

The results Round of 16 - Day Two Uruguay 4-2 Slovakia Morocco 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire Argentina 3-1 Tunisia Nigeria 4-1 Iran Memorable moments The advantages of taking an early lead were clear to see in three of the day’s matches, with Côte d’Ivoire, Uruguay and Argentina all paving the way for their victories with swift goals. While the latter went ahead after just 90 seconds, the Africans hit the net with only four minutes on the clock, and Uruguay followed suit a minute later.

South American selflessness When Uruguay were awarded a penalty, most spectators assumed striker Franco Acosta would take it in order to bolster his tally in the race for the adidas Golden Boot. Instead, Acosta selflessly handed the ball to team-mate Kevin Mendez, who converted the spot-kick with minimal fuss. As Leandro Otormin grabbed a brace in the match, La Celeste now have two players, each with four goals, in the running for the prize as the tournament’s

30

best goal-getter.

Injury woe By way of contrast, Nigeria’s frontline are not enjoying such good fortune. Against Iran, Kelechi Iheanacho may have scored his fifth goal at the competition, but he was substituted off shortly afterwards with a muscle strain. His strike partner Success Isaac succumbed to a similar fate in the side’s group game against Sweden, suffering an injury moments after scoring in the first-half that has forced him to miss his country’s subsequent encounters.

From Fujairah with love Morocco’s Younes Bnou Marzouk could hardly contain his delight after leveling the scores at 1-1 against Côte d’Ivoire. The striker ran towards a television camera and celebrated his third goal of the tournament by sending a message to his parents back home with the words: “Mum, dad, I love you!” Yet family members were not the only fans to receive special thanks. After the final whistle, the North Africans showed their appreciation for the thunderous support of the spectators in the stadium throughout the game by doing a lap of honour, posing for numerous photos with their fans.

The number 9 - Nigeria’s victory means they have now reached at least the quarter-finals at nine of the ten U-17 World Cups they have participated in. The only time the Golden Eaglets failed to do so was at Finland 2003, when they were packing for home after the group stage.

The words “Our opponents today were quicker, physically stronger and better in the challenge. That’s how they gained the upper hand and were able to control the game.

A lot of good teams were eliminated in this round, and we played well, so there’s no reason to be downhearted. This group of players is the future of Moroccan foot-

Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates with one of his team mates

ball so we need to make sure we support the boys well and take good care of their development,” Morocco coach Abdellah El Idrissi.

Quarter-finals Friday 1 November Honduras - Sweden (Al Ain, 17:00, local time) Brazil - Mexico (Dubai, 20:00 local time)

Saturday 2 November Argentina - Côte d’Ivoire (Sharjah, 17:00 local time) Uruguay - Nigeria (Sharjah, 20:00 local time) The Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi, Taiwo is making the most of his time, just 16 years old, arrived in UAE expecting to learn lessons, supporting his older, more experienced mates from the bench. The No18 he wears on his back is a clear indication of his place in the pecking order behind No10 Kalechi Iheanacho, who has

Junior Ahissan celebrates scoring in the victory against Morocco

scored five goals so far at the U-17 finals, and Success Isaac, the first-choice No9 in this Golden Eaglets team.

“To achieve what we want here we have to have faith in every member of the team,” Awoniyi told FIFA.com after starting Nigeria’s Round of 16 win against Iran. “It’s not just about the boys in the first XI. We were all brought to the World Cup for a reason, because we can do a job. And when I’m in, it’s my turn to do that job.”

A late substitute in the opener against Mexico, he came off the bench again after 32 minutes of the next game with Sweden. It was a change forced on coach Manu Garba as his preferred striker, Isaac, pulled a hamstring. There was no time for Awoniyi to warm up, no time for him to be nervous. Garba shouted his name, he popped up off the bench and into the fray he went. “Whether I start or not, I will always put in my best effort on the pitch,” said the young man from Osun state.

He’s played every minute since. A tall striker with pace to burn, Awoniyi does the kind of hard work that only comes with limited chances, the hunger of having played second fiddle. He stretches opposition defences with his tireless and intelligent movement, providing outlets and options for playmaker Musa Yahaya.

He’s a beacon, a target, and his smaller, more agile, mates buzz around him like flies.

It’s is a selfless role and Awoniyi scores few goals for his troubles. In his 256 minutes of football here in UAE, he has just one. Although it was a crucial goal, the third nine minutes from time in a 3-3 draw with Sweden, Iheanacho has five and Yahaya – not even listed as a forward – has four. Nigeria have scored 18 times in their four games.

Friday, 01 November – Thursday, 07 November 2013

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Ghana FA considering court action against Glo

The Ghana Football Association is contemplating taking legal action against Globacom Mobile Ghana over a US$ 6.5 million sponsorship fee arrears.

Glo Mobile brokered a five-year deal in 2008 was worth US$ 3 million per season for the league and an undisclosed amount for the Black Stars.

The federation is at at its wit’s end

after several unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the outstanding sponsorship money from the mobile phone operator.

“We have kept to our side of the deal.

We have even gone on to hold several meetings, sometimes travelling to Nigeria, just to get this issue resolved,” Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi told the Graphic Sports.

“There have been several discussions and concessions given just to ensure that Glo could settle the outstanding bills, but after the last September deadline, no word had come from them. It is very frustrating and unfair to the clubs and the other parties involved and we must now act to claim the money.”

Globacom Mobile Ghana have reiterated their desire to settle its debts with the Ghana Football Association.

lion to the Football Association and as such would settle the remainder.

“We are trustworthy and creditable company whose work ethics are based on trust and principles. Indeed, we do not intend to owe the FA,” Head of Marketing Communications for Glo Mobile Ghana Dominic Icha is quoted by the Graphic Sports.

“There has been a reason why the payment has not been honoured on time and we have not failed to communicate this to the GFA. “What is happening is not an abnormal situation in the business. We do not take the relationship with the GFA and the Black Stars for granted, and at the right time, we will honour our obligation.”

Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi

Glo Mobile committed to settle Ghana FA debt The telephony company owes the Ghana FA a total of US$ 6.5 million for both the Ghana Premier League and for the national team.

Glo claims it has paid over U$ 12 mil-

Mikel hails Mourinho impact

John Obi Mikel celebrates after scoring his only ever league goal for Chelsea, against Fulham this season

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has praised coach Jose Mourinho for the positive impact he has made since returning to the club at the start of the season.

The blues are currently in second place on the Premier League standings and first in their group in the Champions League and Mikel believes the Portuguese has helped to restore their winning mentality.

“This game is all about winning and the manager that brought this transformation of winning to this club is back now,” he told Chelsea TV. “He still has the same idea of how he wants us to approach every game with a win, win mentality.

“I came to this club at 18 and he made me to think win, win, win. Whenever you see him, you see motivation.

“He walks around the place full of energy, full of confidence. And really, he is not doing it for himself but for you to see how he goes about his business and he wants you to emulate that into yourself and start behaving in a similar way.

“This is because confidence can lead you to so many places that you never thought you could go and it is just brilliant to work with him again.

“And now that he is back, we hope that we can continue winning the trophies that we won since he left.”

The Blues will look to continue with their winning form when they visit Newcastle United in a league clash on Saturday.

Kenya has massive talent - Toure Ivory Coast and Manchester City star player Yaya Toure has said Kenya has massive football talent that needs the right individuals to realise its potential.

The former African Player of the Year was in Nairobi, Kenya, at United Nations (UN) Headquarters, Gigiri, as a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador.

“The fact that Victor Wanyama could tackle all odds against him to reach the English Premier League is a clear indication of how resilient to Kenyan players are, they can grow anywhere in the world of football,” he said Toure, who said he has an ambition to mentor upcoming Kenyan and other players across the continent, also added that there is nothing special about Ivory Coast players compared to the Kenyans “Kenya should work hard on good management of football and all other things will move smoothly,” he said.

As a designated UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Toure now joins the ranks of Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, US actor Don Cheadle, Chinese actress Li Binging, French photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand and Indian economist Pavan Sukhdev to help generate public awareness and understanding of environmental causes.

Maidens draw in friendly ahead of qualifier

Ghana’s U17 girls are ready to face Equatorial Guinea on Saturday in their 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round first leg tie.

The Black Maidens prepared for the crucial assignment with a 1-1 friendly draw against Mandela Academy on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Maidens advanced to the final round without kicking a ball following the withdrawal of Congo Brazzaville.

Assistant coach Ben Fokuo says they are in top form for the difficult task this weekend.

“We have prepared very well and you know Maidens as always carry high expectations from Ghanaians so during our training sessions whatever we have been teaching them is working to perfection,” he told Joy sports “We have played some friendly matches and the girls are doing very well so I’m sure we are ready for the game on Saturday.”

The winner over two legs will advance to the finals to be hosted by Costa Rica from 15 March to 5 April

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FIFA U-17s UAE: A tale of two continents SEE PAGE 30

Dr. Yahya Jammeh is huge supporter of wrestling

By Peter Olorunnisomo

Reports from the Gambia has described His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr.YahyaJammeh, President of the Republic, as the biggest supporter of Gambian wrestling by sport’s promoter, Mr. Abdoulie Bojang.

Mr.Bojang,also popularly called Ablo, was quoted as stating this after the recent wrestling competition organized by the Gambian president at his native village of Kanilai, in the FoniKansala district of the West Coast Region.

The wrestling competition that was attended by several government dignitaries brought together competitors from both The Gambia and Senegal.

According to sources, the proprietor of AbloPromotions, who also doubles as

the desk officer for wrestling at the Gambian National Sports Council, thanked President Jammeh for his continuous support to the development of the sport in the past twenty years.

“Definitely we all know the president loves wrestling and there was this harvesting in Kanilai where he called people and he said he would like to incorporate wrestling into it,” Ablo said, while revealing that though the number of wrestlers was uncountable due to its large size, there were 38 different groups and individuals from the southern Senegalese region of Cassamance alone.

He described President Jammeh as a leader who promotes grassroot culture and traditional wrestling known as ‘mbapat’. He added that the Gambian leader encouraged wrestling and advised the amateur wrestlers to engage in pure traditional wrestling and also practising the sport without a referee. “He was em-

phasising the need to coordinate wrestling to the traditional ways. While not dismissingthe ‘boxing’ [form of] wrestling, he let the promoters promote our own traditional wrestling, which I think many promoters are ready to do now.”

Observing that whenever there is a national event in the country President Jammeh will incorporate wrestling as part of the events, the former vice president of the Gambia Wrestling Association revealed that the Gambian leader has given out D400,000 (four hundred thousand dalasi) to the wresters that participated in the Kanilai event, as an appreciation for their response to the call. AbdoulieBojang concluded by hailing Professor Jammeh for equally availing other sporting disciplines in the country the same opportunity, all in the name of attaining excellence in sports

Egypt to host Ghana in Cairo – FIFA rules

Against fears influenced by the unrest in Cairo by Ghana, Egypt has obtained permission from FIFA to host Ghana in the second leg of the 2014 World Playoff in Cairo, according to GHANAsoccernet.com.

According to the Ghanaian sports organisation, the world football governing body has written to the Ghana FA to confirm the Air Defence Stadium as the venue of the November, 19 world cup qualification match.

Egyptian authoritieswere able to convince FIFA that the security arrangements made for the game would prove adequate to enable a hitch-free match.

Fans will also be allowed in to see the game that is regarded as a foregone conclusion due to the massive 6-1 result recorded by the Black Stars in the first leg of the playoff in Kumasi.

The Ghana FA had requested a change of venue – citing security concerns in the ongoing political unrest following the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi in July.

The Egyptian authorities conviction that the Air Defence Stadium in Cairo is fit to host the game will also occasion the first time the Pharaohs will be playing in the capital throughout their qualifying series for the current world cup qualifiers.

The Pharaohs of Egypt have played all their in El Gouna but wanted to play before their vociferous home crowd in the capital – banking on their intimidating atmosphere to help their course towards their first World Cup qualification since 1990.

The 6-1 mauling suffered at the hands of the Black Stars in the first leg has however gone a long way to dilute the real essence of playing the game in Cairo.

Ghana remain in full control of the tie and are overwhelming favourites to pick one of the five African slots for next year’s World Cup.

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 3737 3077 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com