THE
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 1 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE Keeping Ghanaians InCOMMUNITY Touch
NEW GHANAIAN
10 YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY (2001 - 2011) VOLUME 11 NO. 7 FREE
Adoma Ofori Passes Away
In our Volume 11 No. 5 edition of the New Ghanaian newspaper, we shared the story of beautiful Akua Adoma Ofori, the Ghanaian teenage student who was in urgent need of surgery. We regretfully announce that though Adoma was flown to the United States from Ghana to seek medical treatment for the tumor lodged in her brain, she passed away on July 24, 2011. Akua Adoma Ofori underwent successful surgery in Pennsylvania following a bold effort on the part of her brother, Kodjo Afriyie Karikari (currently a medical student), to raise funds with the help of friends and students on his campus at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. According to Oral Ofori, the family's spokesperson, Akua's initial response after the surgery in Pennsylvania was quite encouraging, she however lapsed into a coma a couple days after the procedure and had to be placed on life support till she eventually departed this earth. Since she was brought to the States
with the sole objective of seeking medical treatment, Oral Ofori told The New Ghanaian that the family reached the conclusion to send her body back home to Ghana for burial.
"We did this because it was what Adoma would have wanted, and in any case, all her friends and family members were back home in Ghana and my family felt the need to give all these loved ones the opportunity to pay their last respects to a friend, a sister and indeed an angel" says Oral. The family was hit hardest as far as Adoma's death is concerned. Juliana Oates, Adoma's mother, believed so much in the future her daughter had and to see all that cut off by a sudden death was indeed hard to grapple with. "Yet who am I to decide against the will of God, He gives and He takes and if He wants my daughter to return to Him, who am I to refuse that?" she sadly disclosed to the paper. Kodjo Afriyie Karikari, brother of the deceased, was at a loss for words. He showed immense gratitude to all who helped in various ways in bringing his sister to the States for her treatment. He specifically mentioned the York Hospital Cont’d on page 23
Jonathan Butler Storms Ghana Hype for acclaimed acoustic guitarist and jazz impresario, Jonathan Butler's impending concert in support of Maternal Health (MDG 5) in Ghana on July 31, 2011 reached a climax on that day as Butler was expected to land in Accra at 2pm on the same day for the 5pm locked time for the concert. Soon, news started filtering through text messages and social network beeps that there was a hitch and that the show was cancelled. Then the announcement came on radio confirming the cancellation, or shall we say postponement. Flight issues were to blame for the hiccup, and the embarrassed organizers scuttled around in the next few days to communicate their apologies, promising and announcing a new date. All original tickets bought were still valid. So it was that on the new date August 27, die hard Butler fans, jazz enthusiasts - and Accra's pretentious set who need to be seen at every event that evoked some sort of cultural ascendancy, made their way to the International Conference Centre for the show. Expectations were high, especially as Dominic Oduro-Antwi, chairman of the
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apocalypse that had been mentioned! Within an hour the auditorium was brimming with eager music lovers who were then being titillated by a carpet band. It was Ackah Blay, perhaps the greatest guitarist of his generation today, and his band whose Nzema antics Cont’d on page 8
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HEALTH WATCH
Editorial
THE EYE
Healthy vision is accomplished through healthy eyes—and good nutrition is vital to healthy eyes. The eye is made of various structures working in concert to focus light rays from objects into images and send them to our brain via electrical impulses. The eye itself is protected in a bony orbit (socket). The socket provides protection against trauma, but it cannot protect the eye from internal injuries. The front of each eye is covered by an eyelid, which blinks periodically to spread tears over the eye surface and remove unwanted material. The eyelids also have glands that secrete oil onto the cornea, forming a portion of the tear film of the eye. The cornea is the transparent covering through which light travels. On all sides of the cornea, covering and shaping the rest of the eyeball, lies the sclera, which is made of tough connective tissue. This sclera is the “white” of the eye, while the cornea covers the pupil and the iris (the dark hole and colored portions, respectively). A delicate, thin layer of tissue, the conjunctiva, covers the entire surface of the eyeball and lines the inner surfaces of the lids. Beyond the cornea lies the iris, which gives the eye its color. The iris is a sphincter made of smooth muscle that contracts and expands in response to light levels. The open area in the middle of the iris is the pupil. When the iris contracts, the pupil gets smaller, allowing less light to enter the eye. Conversely, when the iris sphincter muscle relaxes, the pupil dilates, allowing more light into the eye.
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The area between the cornea and the iris is known as the anterior chamber; it is filled with a fluid called aqueous humor. The aqueous humor bathes several structures in the eye. Directly behind the iris is the lens, which is held in place by small, string-like structures called zonules. The lens and the cornea together focus all the images coming into the eye. Behind the lens, the eye is filled with vitreous humor, a clear substance with the consistency of firm jelly. Vitreous humor fills the bulk of the eyeball and gives it the round shape needed for proper image production. The inner back surface of the eye is lined with light-sensitive nerve tissue called the retina. An easy analogy is to compare the retina of the eye to the film of a camera: they both capture images. The retina consists of photoreceptors (light-detecting cells), nerve fibers, and blood vessels. There are two kinds of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Rods are extremely light sensitive but detect only black and white. Cones detect colors but require more light than rods do. This explains why objects in dim light often appear in shades of grey, black, or white. Together, rods and cones capture the image and send it to the brain via the optic nerve. The most important part of the retina is the macula. This area has a very high concentration of photoreceptors and is responsible for one’s central vision. The nerve fibers in the macula and the other parts of the retina coalesce to form the Cont’d on page 30
Going to School and Bearing the Cost One thing that definitely makes African parents proud is when their children go to school and attain degrees in higher education. So much so that it is almost impossible to find a parent who would chastise their ward for wanting to, say, pursue a PhD, especially in the hard sciences. The dedication, commitment and prestige of getting an education among African families is not lost in how hard African parents (and Asian parents ie. Tiger Mom) push their children in school. At graduations, African parents are proudest as their offspring strut sashes of distinction, academic, leadership and participatory excellence that adorn bland colored gowns as the names are reverberated on loud speakers for all in attendance to admire. And why not? In pushing for academic excellence, these parents themselves make countless sacrifices, economic and sometimes professional, to see their children attain heights greater than they ever could in their lifetime. A ticket to an Ivory Tower of higher learning, in the eyes of many an African, is the best trust fund an African child can have. The investment and tremendous sacrifice made by African parents as well as the small ‘village’ involved in the rearing of the child should and will eventually pay of. That logic, within reason, was fairly accurate until recently. With the rising cost of tuition, room and board, textbooks, a slump in employment for young adults and recent graduants to consider, there’s a lot more
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that goes into attending, financing and successfully matriculating from a university in the United Sates. A recent article in Huffington Post by Arrianna Huffington “Back to School and Deeper in Debt” shared facts that are definitely worth pondering on: “For the first time, student loan debt will be approaching $1 trillion. In 2000, that number was around $200 billion. Also for the first time, last year student loan debt outpaced credit card debt. In the last decade, student loan debt has skyrocketed by over 500 percent. In the 1990s, less than half of those graduating with a bachelor's degree did so with debt. Now it's two-thirds. The average 2011 graduate entered the job market carrying around $27,200 of debt, according to Mark Kantrowitz of the financial aid websites Fastweb.com and Finaid.org. The debt load is now so great, says Kantrowitz, "in the coming years, a lot of people will still be paying off their student loans when it's time for their kids to go to college." That will certainly change the fall ritual. Parents can drop off their kids' stuff at the dorm and then the whole family can take a trip to the student loan office. Of course, today's college grads are not only entering the job market with a crushing debt burden, they are entering it at a time when the unemployment rate for those 20-to-24 years old is nearly 15 percent. According to economist Andrew Sum, the number of college graduates under 25 who are "underutilized" (e.g. working Cont’d on page 12
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Faith & Community
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Visits To Sunlight Radio Studios
Agya Koo, DJ Mike, Joe Mainoo and A.B. Crenstil
Real Estate Broker Bill Ampofo, Joe Mainoo and Lawyer Kwaku Ofori
Pastor George Addae Mintah and Presenter Nana Yaa
Solomon and his father Sam Amaning visiting Sunlight Radio Studios from North Carolina
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SARKODIE “the Rappaholic” at Sunlight Radio Studios Photo by Sonny - 703.901.4277
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 8 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY Cont’d from 1
gingered the crowd and elicited much animated responses and applause when he explained the meaning of his songs. His dexterity on the lead guitar was evident of his skill, and in a short matter of a few minutes he warmed the audience, preparing them adequately for the "majestic heights" Dominic had promised. His was also music that was quite "perfectly time"! Propped up, with Butler said to take centre stage in a little while, the audience was ready for the onward journey, but the MC appeared, presenting too much information that exposed that Butler was, in fact, not in the building at the time, though on his way to the center.
Information that deflated the crowd somewhat, and one that aided in making the music of the Eclipse band who was returned to spread as a carpet on the stage, after Ackah Blay's rather connecting performance, sound like refined dirges. What greeted him was a great cheer, an uproar that was spontaneous and rhapsodic when award winning international South African music superstar Jonathan Butler and his 4-man band with one backing vocal finally appeared on the stage. T h e h a l l , n ow bu z z i n g with great expectations, and an anticipation which Dan Nettey's uplifting number help restore when he came to fill in the gap while Butler's band sound tuned, came even more alive. Considering he is such a
giant among musicians of his generation, Butler is actually not a tall person. But he is an incredible musician, and evidently a great performer as well! He came across as very subtle, with no prima donna tendencies. On stage, strumming his guitars, emitting synergistic vibe and creating rapport with his audience, it was clear Butler knew exactly why he was there. He came across as knowing the business of his trade, and he delivered. He knew when to speak, and when he just had to play the music! Butler's ability is easily evident in his delivery, and even in the structure of his show. Kicking off with his earnest anthem 'Africa', which he knew would connect with the
audience, who, once they heard the distinguishing acoustic melody of the tune immediately responded with an rewarding applause that set the backdrop for a thoroughly enjoyable concert and a most fulfilling night out. That was around a quarter past 8pm. His distinctive silky voice, matured with age, reverberated well in the listeners' ears, its sweet, soulful and honest rendering melody and measured rhythm, bringing back much reminiscences to his diehard fans, and sheer joy to those recent converts. He did some of his love songs, which saw him descend the stage and into the audience to interact, getting good old Dominic to surprise the night when he was encouraged to sing
a line from the song. Perhaps, if travel had eluded JB a second time, Dominic could have made up by singing himself! Butler's performance was full of passion, his demeanor exuding respect for his audience. The rapport was unmistakable! After a couple more jazz tunes, in which his band comprising Kevin Teasley on piano, Lamont Sydnor on drums and the inimitable Nate on bass guitar, had a jam session as if they were in a small room feeding off the vibe from each other, and in turn the audience being completely immersed also. The background singer, who happens to be Butler's own daughter Jodie, showed that the clan had succession! He did Cont’d on page 20
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Faith Faith & Anxiety
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6: 25-34] There are times when the Good News of Jesus doesn’t sound like good news at all. If I have to give the above-quoted scripture a title, it would be: “Don’t worry; Be Happy- God is in Charge”. This may sound a bit cheesy and I hesitate to put it out there, because the world has surely changed from
the time when Jesus spoke those words to the disciples who had left everything; their jobs, their homes, their families, to follow him and become his disciples. The challenge that this Bible passage gives us is almost laughable by today’s standards. For who among us is not worried about the future? Who has no worries and concerns? In fact, I dare say that sometimes it is our worries and concerns that draw us closer to God; indeed, those same worries and concerns bring us to church, hoping to hear some good news to which we can hold on to get us through another daunting week. Yes, birds and lilies are beautiful, and they tell us a lot about the boundless grace of God; but to tell me “don’t worry”, is like telling me to stop breathing! Our desire for stability and security requires that we worry about how we save, how we spend or how we invest our time and resources. The truth is, there is a lot to keep us worried for every waking moment of our lives! For many of us, worrying has becomes a coping mechanism; a way of life. But these words of Jesus take on a new meaning when we set them back into the context in which they were spoken. As you may already know, Chapters five through seven of Matthew’s gospel comprise of one long sermon given by Jesus. I am referring to the Sermon on the Mount. Many of us are only familiar with the opening verses of the sermon, which are the beatitudes. “Blessed are the
poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. But right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount are these words we heard in our Bible passage above. “Don’t worry about a thing!” We often look for ways in which Scriptures can speak to us in real life circumstances, but this passage seems to be out of sync with our current lives and the way we live in this modern world. Perhaps these words brought comfort to the disciples who had left everything they had, to follow Jesus. They are assured of God’s providence which will provide for their basic needs. And it is known among biblical scholars that these disciples lived a common communal life and shared everything. In deed, the book of Acts describes for us the life of the early Christians. No one was found wanting or lacking anything, because everyone shared everything in common. No wonder they could look at the birds and the lilies and see the wonder of God’s graciousness! T he scripture seems to suggest that Christians do not need to work at all for the future, but must simply trust in God to provide their needs. It may seem as if Jesus is suggesting that we need to be passive and wait for things to be handed to us. The truth is, birds of the air and lilies of the field are not good examples of role models for us humans, but certainly they demonstrate for us powerful symbols of God’s providential care for his creation. But to tell a twentieth
century person about watching birds and lilies when she doesn’t know where the next pay check is coming from, or how to avoid foreclosure on her home is really adding insult to injury! In fact, this passage offends our sensibilities, for we know how the world works. Those who slow down to smell the roses get trampled upon. They become losers! None of us wants to be that guy who gets the short end of the stick, or the smaller piece of the pie. So in our striving to achieve greater success and accumulate as much as we can, we spend every moment of our lives worrying! [Stressed out!!!] And therein lies the problem Jesus was trying to address with this rather difficult teaching! The symbolism of birds and lilies points us beyond these creatures to God the source of every living creature. Jesus intends to show his disciples [and us] that true discipleship must be singularly focused upon and devoted to God and his promise. Jesus is not calling us to forget our retirement savings plans or to empty our savings accounts, but rather, he is seeking to address the basis for our excessive worry and anxiety which is caused by a life separated from God. This scripture calls us to a different set of values and priorities! As followers of Christ, is our allegiance solely to God, or is our loyalty divided between God and worldly desire? Thus the scripture calls our attention away from the frantic pursuit of the necessities of life to a more serene vision of God’s bountiful care and grace
Reverend Father C. John Thompson-Quartey in this natural world! It shows us plainly, that it is our lack of faith that leads to worry and anxiety! In deed, it is one thing to sing about trust in God, and another to be faced with a life-threatening illness. That is when our faith is challenged. The birds of the air and the lilies of the field tell us that our worrying will not bring us joy; rather, true joy comes with our total dependence on a God who provides! As Christians, when we seek first the kingdom, our worldview changes to make room for caring for others who are less fortunate than us. We shift our focus from ourselves to a starving world, and we want to do something about that! We m ay n o t f i n d a ny usefulness for watching birds of the air and lilies of the field in this twenty first century world of ours, but perhaps they have a lot to teach us about depending on a God who promises to provide our every need, so that we could give up the worrying and the anxiety, and trust that our God who is always faithful, will give us today and always, our daily bread. So my friends, : “Don’t worry; Be Happy- God is in Charge!”
Can I Borrow $5? A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door SON: 'Mommy, may I ask you a question?' MOM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman. SON: 'Mommy, how much do you make an hour?' MOM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily. SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?' MOM: 'If you must know, I make $20 an hour' SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down. SON: "Mommy, may I please borrow $5?" The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard every day for such childish
frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.. The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' She asked. 'No Mommy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $5 you asked for. 'The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mommy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother. 'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother rumbled. 'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Mommy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.' The mother was crushed. She put her arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 11 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY
YaaYaa of Asanka Delight Restaurant Mourns Father
Yaa Yaa (2nd from left) and friends dancing bobobo
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 12 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY Cont’d from 4
part-time, working at a job that requires no college degree, like bartending or waiting tables, or just plain unemployed) is over 3 million.” From these statistics a very strong argument can be made that the financial entrapment involved in financing a college degree is very real, very daunting and can lead to a lot of strain in a young adult’s life. The purpose of a college degree and/or pursuing higher education, besides bringing home prestige, is to secure a lucrative job that improves the standard of living of the individual, and in our cases as Africans, of the families and even villages that we’re from. When the investment made, however, exceeds the returns there’s a need for pause. With few African immigrant parents having the opportunity to set up college funds for their wards, a college education and beyond, without need-based or merit scholarships, is near impossible. In a competitive world where a college education is a prerequisite for entry level jobs, the challenge of college funding needs to be tackled with care, an open mind and an all-hands-on-deck approach. It is not sufficient for African high school students to be valedictorians without the necessary funds to support them and the prudent consideration during the loan application a degree could be worth less than it costs, and deemed “worthless”. The topic of college funding should be openly discussed among parents and kids. The prospects of not being awarded merit based scholarships should be addressed (with budget cuts in the public and private sectors, University departments are also feeling the pinch), credit scores and terms of federal loans via the FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) website should be explored thoroughly. The responsibilities and consequences are very real and the more open as Africans we are in discussing the challenges and finding creative solutions, the better chance we have of making our parents proud and gaining an education that makes us competitive on the world stage and prepped to make a positive change where ever we may find ourselves. This month’s front page article sadly reports the passing away of beautiful Adoma and in keeping her memory alive we will be making a presentation during our 10th Anniversary Banquet on November 19th to show support to the Adoma Ofori Foundation, and we will continuously explore community and organizational contributions that can tackle higher education funding for our bright African students; many of whom have the potential to be the next Einstein, the next Denzel Washington, or Barack Obama (who after law school had a combined debt with his wife of $120,000 in student loans). College funding challenges will not go away but as Africans our sense of community puts us in a unique position to help. We want to partner with already existing organizations that are making headway in supporting African students. If you are a part of such an organization or know of any, kindly email us at tngeditor@gmail.com .With a collaborative effort we can support our African students and secure our future.
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Gladys Gyamfuaah’s 50th Birthday Bash
Gladys Gyamfuaah
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Can Ghana Run A Good Metro Mass Transport System?
Undoubtedly, the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) limited since its establishment in 2002, has provided good transport service to majority of Ghanaians both at the rural and urban centres. When MMT buses begun plying on our roads in Ghana especially in the major cities, it was not uncommon to hear Ghanaians express good comments on its safety, convenience and comfort. Unfortunately today, the safety, comfort and efficient service of the MMT buses, which many hailed on account that it was going to revive the bus transport system in Ghana, seemed to be eroding or have eroded entirely given the recent avalanche of complaints about poor service, poor management and frequent breakdowns of the buses. The public outcry concerning the operations of MMT in Ghanaian mass media seemed to have fallen on deaf ears of the authorities of the MMT Limited and the challenges and problems keep compounding. A look at the operations of the MMT in the north of Ghana appears to give more credence to the revelations and issues. Just visit Northern Region and join MMT bus and immediately you will begin to realise how poorly the national bus transpor t system had become. There seems to be little or no supervision at all of their operations, hence leaving commuters at a big disadvantage
any time they patronise the buses. Most commuters, who spoke with me during my investigations in Tamale, said the company had lost the trust and confidence of the public because MMT buses’ safety and comfort were things of the past. A major but common problem identified at Tamale was the issue of double ticketing – It was found out that usually between ten to fifteen MMT tickets were always reserved for some special category of people, who might have some relationships or dealings with officials at the Tamale Terminal. Unfortunately, if you cannot speak the local dialect and can’t find a way of getting an insider friend, then you should be prepared to go through the ordeal of waiting for long hours before you can get ticket to join a MMT bus. Travellers, who do not speak the local dialect or have some connection with officials at the terminals, had to accept to pay fares above the normal amount to middlemen in order to book a seat in the bus. If the ticket is sold at GH¢10.00, one was required to add between GH¢1.00 and GH¢2.00 to be able to get the “special” ticket. A common phenomenon identified which a regular traveller confirmed was that usually ticket numbers one to 13 belongs to the so called “well connected” passengers, whilst tickets numbers 14 and
above are sold to the “ordinary” passenger. Another disturbing development was that, after securing a ticket, a passenger would have to wait for hours before a scheduled bus comes to load and when you enter you would find out that someone had occupied your seat with the same ticket number. On one of my journeys, a serious misunderstanding ensued between a lady and a gentleman who both had the same seat numbers. The lady, the first to occupy the seat was later asked by the gentleman to vacate the seat because he owned the seat number. The verbal insults that this matter generated alone into delayed the journey for about 30 minutes. Four of the tickets I was able secured from passengers bear the same seat numbers. The first two set of tickets had seat number 44 with the codes 01276464 and 01276451. The other two also bear seat number 48 with the codes 01276455 and 01276468. On the 6th of June, 2011 under the watch of MMT staff a Tamale-Bole bound bus with registration number AS 1246Z, 13 extra passengers got on board without tickets. The bus, which was to carry about 63 passengers, had on board a total of about 75, including lots of luggage and other belongings parked inside the passenger walk ways in the bus. Though there were Cont’d on page 20
Ghana is endangered by oil find -Dr. Sackey
Ghana
Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi A Ghanaian resident in Cologne in Germany has sounded a word of caution to Ghanaians to beware of the evil machinations of the New World Order (NWO), and the dangers associated with the oil find. Dr. Chrys Kwesi Sackey said Ghana was highly endangered in joining the world’s dangerous oil club, and warned her not to be so complacent over the oil discovery. According to him, oil, being the blood of modern technology and the deadliest weapon of economic enslavement of the peoples of the earth, makes Ghana totally endangered, because she would never be economically and technologically free, henceforth. He said Ghana was among the unsafe countries because of the gushing of oil from the bowels of the Atlantic ocean, along its coastal belt, and that the worse was yet to come from unseen forces.
According to the political scientist and member of the Green Party in Germany, the commodity was the deadliest weapon of economic enslavement since its discovery, and control does not lie in the hands of Ghana, because Ghana does not have the technology to have discovered, nor exploit her oil. He explained that Ghana, as a new “member” of the Oil Club of the world (OPEC), would still depend on the fixers of oil prices, foreign technicians and engineers, since the local institutions cannot produce them. He says with over-dependence on classical technology, Ghana was enslaved with the lack of trained oil platform technicians and international management, placing her (Ghana) at the mercy of outsiders, expressing worry over the seeming offer of American navy protection of its oil platforms against “terrorists,” by way of navy
ships as gifts. Dr. Sackey wondered if the Ghana Navy would have the power and authority to stop an American ship spilling oil waste on our seas, killing fishes, and destroying the economic livelihood of our helpless fishermen. He also questioned if Ghana could set the price for its oil and determine its own customers, let alone, know how much she gets from her oil, and who manages the proceeds. According to him, Ghana would also have to depend on foreign expertise to market the product, because she has no say over production and distribution, neither can she sell in any other currency, apart from the “almighty” dollar. He noted that no Ghanaian president (present and future) would have the guts to sell or save Ghana’s share in Yen, Yuan, or even Euro, without facing Cont’d on page 20
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THE NEW GHANAIAN | 20 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY Cont’d from page 14
conductors in the bus to inspect tickets that never happened throughout the journey. Every MMT bus driver was seen to be guilty of overloading. The bus detailed to leave for Bole at 1400 hours delayed till 1730 before it took off from Tamale. Official of MMT at Temale refused to give any reason for the delay and passengers who tried to find out were verbally abused. When the bus got to Damango in the West Gonja at exactly 2030 hours a handful of passengers alighted and more people were asked to join till some of the passengers started shouting to complain of overcrowding and suffocation. At the Damango stop, a bushy hair dark man wearing a reflector jacket with inscription “Inspector 082” supposed to check the tickets of the passengers came around but never inspected the tickets. Besides, a number of people got on board although the bus was overloaded under his watch. When I asked one of the passengers, who joined, whether they were given tickets, he replied no, saying “Are you a stranger or is it your first time of joining metro mass”. This is just one of the many ordeal market women and other travellers go through when travelling with MMT from the regional capital to other districts. Later when the Regional Manager of MMT was contacted on the issue he did not denied the revelations but promised to intensify monitoring to deal with corrupt officials. Other problems identified along routes from the Tamale Terminal to Yendi, Salaga, Bawku, Bunkpurugu–Yunyoo, Wa, Gambaga, Bolgatanga, Bole, Wa and many other towns were poor customer service and lack of maintenance of the buses. Many of the buses that the company use in the Tamale are over-aged vehicles without the full complement of spare tyres and tools to carry out simple maintenance during journey. The conductors lack basic customer care skills. It is very common to find conductors and ticket agent shouting at people when trying to ask questions as to when a schedule vehicle would be arriving. Prosper Abdulai, 26, a regular user of the MMT buses in Tamale, who often journeys to Tachiman, Salaga, Suyani, Damango and other districts in the region, sharing his experiences said he sometimes paid GH¢5.00 instead of GH¢3.00 from Tamale to Damango. “Although I go to the station early with the idea of getting a ticket because the bus that ply on the route is only one. Usually when you get to the station they will say the tickets are finished but someone will come to tell you that he has a ticket which goes for GH¢5.00...” Complaining about the rude attitude of conductors, Madam Nayima Abubakari, a trader, said verbal abuse of passengers was a common thing when one sat in the MMT bus. “One spends a lot of hours when travelling with Metro Mass buses. Thus the bus virtually stops at every town to pick passengers and for others to alight”, she said. By Albert Oppong Ansah
Four armed robbers jailed a total of 280 years GNA — Four armed robbers, who have been terrorizing traders on the Enchi-Kumasi highways in the Western Region, have been sentenced to a total of 280 years, in hard labour, by a Takoradi Circuit court. The court on Friday sentenced each convict to 70 years imprisonment and would run concurrently. They are Philip Buabeng (alias Allo), Kwasi Amoh (alias Bontia), Shaibu Mumuni (alias Wahabu) and Ebenezer Animah Nachia (alias No lies). The convicts were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit crime and eight counts of robbery. They, however, pleaded not guilty but the court found them culpable after almost one-year trial and sentenced them accordingly. Presenting the facts of the case, the Western Regional Chief State Attorney, Madam Patricia Klininogo told the court, presided over by Mr Kwasi Boakye that, the convicts are close friends residing at Enchi and Assankragwa respectively. She said on November 1, 2010, in the early hours of the day, the robbers blocked a road near Yiwabire Nkwanta on the Enchi-Kumasi main. The robbers attacked traders in a Kia truck and a 2007 Benz bus and ordered them to lie down and collected their monies and mobile phones, with some of the victims sustaining minor injuries and traumatized. The robbers bolted into a cocoa farm to a nearby school park to share their booty. The prosecutor said the victims reported the robbery to the Enchi Police Station and police investigations led to the arrest of Philip Buabeng, with his share of the booty amounting to GH1, 400 on him. She said Buabeng then mentioned his three other accomplices as Amoh, Mumuni and Nachia and subsequently led the police to their hideout. A police search of their homes, retrieved one television set, one video deck, one live ammunition and GHC662, being their share of the proceeds from the robbery, which the judge ordered be paid into the Consolidated fund. Some of the victims, who testified in court said they lost various sums of monies, mobile phones and personal effects during the robbery. Pronouncing judgment, the presiding judge, Mr kwasi Boakye said he took into consideration the 10 witnesses, who testified in court and the confession of Buabeng. He described the convicts as young men full of energies, which can be used judiciously in prison, describing the robbery as most reprehensible and diabolical. He said “the youth nowadays want to reap where they have not sown, saying the court would punish them severely when found culpable. “These armed robbers are a danger and threat to society and must not be entertained”, he added. Story from the Ghana News Agency
Ghana is endangered by oil find Cont’d from page 14
sanctions like Saddam and Gaddafi. Dr. Sackey feared that the unseen foreign forces, who have many methods of creating trouble near oil platforms in countries they have an interest, might destroy our share of oil revenues. “Ghanaians must be informed to beware that they are dealing with, not only “angels”, but also devils, which are hovering around in their numbers,” he warned. Dr. Sackey explained that Ghana’s role in the struggle for independence all over Africa, and the fact that she (Ghana) has the most highly educated people, must have triggered America’s interest in Ghana, described as “the snake of Africa”. “Grab its head and it (Africa) is powerless,” he noted. Painting a picture, Dr. Sackey likened Ghana’s position on the African map to the trigger of a pistol, with which she (Ghana) triggered the struggle for African independence through the high standard of education, the industriousness of the Cont’d from page 8
a tribute set, one to Miriam Makeba and another to Bob Marley, delivering an eclectic version of Marley's 'No Woman No Cry', ably accompanied by Jodie. This helped dovetail into the rapturous moment when he hit the first notes of his more recent offering, the spirit-filledpraise-and-worship-tune, 'Falling In Love With Jesus'! When he asked the audience to stand and join him sing this song, it was by consensus that everyone just jumped up, with hands raised, singing, swaying and
people, and her rich natural resources. To render the pistol (Ghana) unusable, Dr. Sackey alleged that there were plans to uncork the trigger (Ghana), also perceived as a thorn in the flesh of the powers that be, hence, the alleged concerted efforts to stop her in her tracks, and with the help of anti-patriotic politicians and socio-economically and politically illiterate soldiers, Osagyefo Dr. Nkrumah was overthrown. He said Ghana had never recovered from this shock to date, when US$14 billion presently stands in her name as indebtedness to the World Bank. Dr. Sackey says in spite of its oil, Ghana cannot recover from this debt. As a result, Dr. Sackey wished oil was not discovered in Ghana, because, “Ghana needs no oil for her social and economic welfare” in the face of abundant resources. According to him, every Ghanaian was bound to live well in the face of vast lands, fruitful soils, rich natural resources, and favourable weather conditions, except that “greedy stomach politicians and opportunists” have stood in the way of quality life.
communing. A few more hot jazz tunes picked the hall once again till he signed off just before 10pm. But, he had to return when the crowd refused to leave, shouting repeatedly, "We want more!" "He didn't play 'Lies', O! That is my favorite! O!" mused one lady who had been shaking and jamming throughout the night. Butler obliged his audience and returned to deliver a very live version of his hit number, "Lies", ending an evening that promised "majestic heights" with just that!
Weddings
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Abigail & Emmanuel
Adwoa Kwartemaa & Nana Yaw
Photography by Anointed Hands Studios. www.ahfotos.com
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Four Presidents Ask Business to Back Democracy with Investment - and Make Money
Africa
President Barack Obama with, from left, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, President Boni Yayi of Benin, President Alpha Condé of Guinea, and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire.
Four heads of state from French-speaking West Africa appeared before the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) membership last month to appeal for American support for the democracies, including increased investment and trade. Presidents Boni Yayi of Benin, Alpha Condé of Guinea, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire came to Washington, DC, for a meeting with President Barack Obama on July 29. Obama called them "effective models" for Africa's democratic progress. "All these leaders were elected through free and fair elections," Obama said. "They've shown extraordinary per sistence in wanting to promote democracy in their countries despite significant risks to their own personal safety and despite enormous challenges," the American leader added. Excerpts from their remarks at the CCA breakfast: Thomas Boni Yayi - Benin Our continent is truly open. It's the continent of the future – it's a virgin continent. We are ready to welcome you. You have been slow in coming. As you know, countries such as China have already taken the frontrunner spots in Africa. However, it's not too late. There are still possibilities in Africa. We are a region that's very functional [with] a market of over 300 million people. On the political level, Benin is recognized for its security and stability. For the last five years, the democratic culture has flourished. In my last year in office, I have committed myself to accomplish great reforms for the people of Benin. We have started to create better governance in our country - to assure security so that we can undertake great reforms. The state cannot do everything. We have in place partnerships that guarantee the interest of all – a winwin situation. We need more i nve s t m e n t [ a n d ] b e t t e r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . Wi t h t h e American MCC [Millennium Challenge Corporation] we are undertaking great reforms to have a [better] harbor. We are
looking for roads and for railroads as well. If you come to visit you'll understand the importance and the opportunities. The continent is ready to welcome you. Alpha Conde - Guinea We have many mineral resources, but our country was asleep for 50 years. We've known very poor governance, we've known military regimes and this is the first time we're having democratic elections. Coming out of a military regime is quite difficult. We're still a very fragile country. We have huge potential, but everything is yet to be done. We have the highest agricultural and mining potential, but we lack electricity. We could have very large dams. We have the ability to have three deep harbor ports. We have railroad projects to transport iron, bauxite, and other minerals. In Guinea, everything is yet to be done. We need the support of the American government and all our friends because the situation is extremely fragile. We're looking to create an open, competitive market. We're concerned with the security sector, with good governance, and putting aside the private interests that prior to this were only serving themselves. We are counting on you to help us clear our huge debt. We're also asking the IMF to help, so that Guinea can once again start its movement toward the future. Everybody speaks of bauxite and iron, but Guinea has so many other resources. Very soon we are going to start a geophysical study of our mineral assets. We're going to be exploring for petroleum. I would like to emphasize the promotion of interregional projects, to develop markets around us. We're interested in sharing projects with neighboring countries so that each country can benefit from its assets. Rather than each country reinventing the wheel, we can have more efficient sharing of assets and organization. We ' r e v e r y o p e n t o investment, we're very open to American business. Come and invest in Guinea. The investment potentials are enormous. We
would like to see the U.S. take a more important role in Africa, such as China has. But it's never too late. The important thing is to get started. Mahamadou Issoufou - Niger African countries in the future will have the best performing countries in the world. Unfortunately, until now Africa has been somewhat marginalized in globalization. It participates very little in international exchanges – about two percent. And I believe that Africa is the region of the world that receives the least FDI [foreign direct investment]. This must change. We hope that American business people take a closer look at Africa. All of the analyses prove that African countries will have the highest growth rates in the world. Niger is among the countries the IMF projects to have the highest performing economies in the future. As you know, Niger has lived through a political crisis. And then we organized elections, and these elections have been recognized by all as being transparent and credible elections. During the elections, I presented a program to the Nigerien people – a program that I invite American business to participate in. It's an ambitious program. Our goal is to develop agriculture. The success of agriculture allows the financing of other industries. We've decided to make agriculture a priority because we are a country that is subjected to climatic difficulties where there are recurring droughts. And it is for this reason that we'll like to develop our own agriculture so that we can feed our own people. We've also decided to invest in infrastructure –roads and railroads – because Niger is a landlocked country. We're also investing in the energy sector. We're currently constructing a hydroelectric dam, which will provide less expensive energy than the energy we use today that comes from biofuels. Not only will the dam project produce electricity, it will also allow for irrigation of many of our lands for agriculture. We are also investing in education - it's the base of a country - to boost productivity a n d c o m p e t i t i o n fo r o u r economy. We'll also invest in health. Another problem is access to fresh water for all our people. So these are the programs we hope to roll out over the next five years. It'll cost us 12 billion dollars. We have to find these resources from within Cont’d on page 28
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 23 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY Cont’d from page 1
in Pennsylvania and the Casa Corazone (an organization that helps to bring Latin American children critical need of surgery to the USA for treatment). He was impressed by the fact that Casa Corazone decided to make an exception in his late sister's case; making her one of the very few children they brought into the country not from South America. Kodjo is appreciative to fellow students and tutors of Bucknell University, Uncle Ben of Harrisburg PA, and all members of the Ghanaian community in the USA (especially in Pennsylvania) who helped in diverse ways to make sure Adoma received the best of everything. Oral Ofori, the family's representative
also gave thanks to Jocelyn Winter, Nelson Chung, Benjamin Bertlett and Christopher Bartells, all of Alexandria Virginia and the entire Ghanaian community out here in Virginia who helped in one way or the other during Adoma's ailment and after her passing. Details obtained from the family include that Adoma was laid to rest at the Osu cemetery located inside Ghana's capital city of Accra. Prior to that, her funeral service was held at the International Central Gospel Church at Abossey Okai, also in Accra, Ghana. Both events occurred on August 19, 2011. After the funeral, there was a gathering of family, friends and sympathizers at the SSNIT Guest House behind the Canadian embassy in Accra Ghana to bid Akua
Adoma Ofori a final adieu. In representation of what Adoma stood for and in memory of her strength and zeal to hang on in spite of her hardship, her family told our paper that they intend to establish the Akua Adoma Foundation to provide help to children in need of dire medical attention but without the funds to afford it. Akua Adoma Ofori would have turned 17 this December. The New Ghanaian wishes to express its sympathy to the entire family of Akua Adoma ofori and we pray that the Lord Himself gives them the strength they need to pick up the pieces and move on with their respective lives. During the 10th Anniversary celebrations of The New Ghanaian, management and staff
plan on making a presentation in support of the Akua Adom Foundation. Kindly stay tuned for more details. Photo credits: Oral Ofori
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INAUGURATION
ASONA ABUSUA OF WASHINGTON METRO Washington Metro Asona Abusuapanin Wiredu, Nana Wiredu Akwafo, Nana Wiredu Ampofo, Akyem Bomaahene, Nana Obuo Gyau, Becehem Adumhene, Nana Adu Acheampong, Effiduasi Mponua Kyidomhene, Nana Kwasi Akuoko Mensah, Bosora Adehyeahene and Washington Metro Asantemankuohene, Obaahemaa Nana Yale Adjuba, Apowa Takoradi Hemaa, Asona Obaapanin Akua Saah, Executive and Planning Committee of Asona Abusua of Washington Metro cordially invite you to join us for the memorable inauguration of ASONA ABUSUA OF WASHINGTON METRO
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011 Time: 10:00pm - 2:00am Venue: Comfort Inn Springfield
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“Your gift is important but your bargaining power will determine the value of your gift.” Apostle A. Arnolds, Springs Gate Chapel Listen to “Hour of Anointing” on www.sunlightradio.com. Fridays 11:00am Visit us this and every Sunday. 9:30am - 12:30pm 6621-H Electronic Drive, Springfield, VA 22151
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Marriage Ceremony of Francis and Denise Boamah
Elder John Boamah
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75th Birthday Party for Elizabeth Aborah (aka Eno)
MCs Mr. Incoom and Elder Nyarko Antwi
Eno on the dance floor with friends and loved ones.
Elder Nuamah
Deaconesses of Church of Pentecost Silver Spring Assembly
Chairman Elder Paul Osei
Mr & Mrs Opoku-Kusi (daughter), Eno Aborah, and friends cutting the birthday cake
Grandchildren sharing kind words Martina Quaye, Michaela Asabere & Esther Bediako
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Sports & Leisure
Majid Michel heads to Hollywood in September
Although the muchanticipated Ghana premiere of the movie ‘Somewhere in Africa’ never happened as advertised in July, the excitement and anticipation is moving to the US as the Los Angeles premiere has been slated for September 24. Erawoc Bros Group and Zebrachild Enter tainment (Majid Michel’s North American management) have collaborated with Heroes Productions (Executive Producer Kwame Boadu) and Raj Films (Director Frank Rajah Arase) to premiere the “Somewhere in Africa” in Los Angeles, California, Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Other US Cities are in the works including collaborations with promoters in Maryland, Minesotta, Texas and New York. Majid has visited Hollywood leisurely, but this time around it’s for his fans. This is officially his first appearance in California and his promotional team in L.A. say the anticipation is just so crazy probably because most of Majid’s appearances have been in the Eastern part of the
United States. But of course L.A. is definitely ready for him. Reggie Erawoc comments, “We want to expose Majid to his fans in markets such as California and Miami where Majid has a much broader fan base that travels deep into the West Indies with demographics including Haitians, Jamaicans, Trinidadians and recently Central and South America. Coming to L.A. is significant, Majid’s Hollywood journey has already started and there are things in the works, hopefully with time, his fans will have the opportunity to see him on the big screen of Hollywood.” ‘Somewhere in Africa’, which has already been nominated for twelve Nollywood and African Film Critics Award and 10 Zafaa Awards, has been reported to be one of the biggest budget films coming out of Ghana. Majid Michel (nicknamed Shaker, born September 22, 1980) is a Majid was born in Cantonments, Accra, Ghana, the son of a Lebanese father and a Ghanaian mother. Along with
his other nine siblings, Majid grew up in Accra, Ghana. He attended St. Theresa’s Primary School, and later, the Mfantsipim School, the alma mater of Van Vicker and also of former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. In secondary school, Majid was actively involved in theater and was a member of the school’s Drama Club. As a member of the drama club, Majid received a Best Actor Award in one of their performances on Emancipation Day in Cape Coast, Ghana. Majid entered professional acting by chance. He was invited to join the modeling agency, Super Model Agency, on the behest of his next door neighbor. The director of the modeling agency, now turned producer, invited him to participate in a new TV series (GTV), dubbed Things We Do for Love. Majid acquired his nickname “Shaker” on the set. His role on Things We Do for Love, was to be played by a Lebanese boy, and Majid attributes his acquiring the role to his Lebanese heritage. “Thing We Do for Love” became a success and propelled Majid into the mainstream. On the strength of his performance in “Things We Do for Love”, Majid was cast in his first movie “Divine Love” as the male lead, alongside Jackie Appiah as the female lead with Van Vicker in a supporting role. All three used their roles in the movie to debut their movie careers. “Divine Love” was a huge success turning Majid Michel, Jackie Appiah, and Van Vicker into household names across Ghana and to a large extent Nigeria. In 2008 Majid starred as the lead role in the film “Agony of the Christ”. This film received seven nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
Ace Actor, Sam Loco Efe Dies At 66
8 August 2011 - Lagos — Ace multi-talented actor Sam Loco Efe died yesterday in an hotel room in at Rapour Hotel, Amakaohai along Orlu road in Owerri, Imo state shortly after returning from location. He was in Owerri, to direct a film titled "Unknown Prophet". Sam Loco was said to have
asked the cast and crew of the new film to return to their hotel rooms, hoping to continue the shooting the following morning. S o u r ces t o l d Va n g u a r d yesterday that his colleagues who were worried when he didn't come down for breakfast had alerted the hotel management and after banging on the door of
his room, forced the door open only to discover his lifeless body on the bed. T h e r e w e r e c o n fl i c t i n g reports as to the real state of health before his demise. While some said he was hale and hearty before his demise, others said he was ill while on the movie set. Eye witness account said the Edo State born actor had gone to sleep after concluding the day's shooting and was reported to have complained of a heart problem. Our reporter gathered that he had shared his usual jokes with colleagues before retiring to his room. Sam Loco 66, died less than a month after the remains of another veteran actor Ashley Nwosu was laid to rest in his home town, in Umuahia.
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THE GARDEN HALL
$700 TO RENT
For more details please call: 703.490.1100
14834 BUILD AMERICA DRIVE, WOODBRIDGE, VA. 22191
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FASHION
The weather is getting better according to me, LOL, and soon we will be on our toes thinking of what’s new to wear for the fall. Sad to say, New York is no longer the Fashion Capital or city of the world. London is! So what’s the big thing about the sixties fashion that keeps making a comeback on the fashion stage? The early part of the sixties has been a favorite reference point on the fall runways. There are a lot of Mod-themed outfits from the Mod Squad TV series (popular in the sixties) this season amidst a myriad of other influences. Bright colors have been a success for some time now, and bright, bold-colored pants are a hot ticket whether they are cropped, flared, tapered, or high-waist. Super –saturated hues give a punch for a clean silhouette, one of those “cant-take-your-eyes-off-it-look.” The polka-dot, big or small, is back with a vengeance! Polka-dot prints and round spots of cut fabric (sequinlike discs onto peek-a-boo tulle) is a fall must have. Polka dots are all grown up now, without limits on whether certain types look better only on little girls, and outfits in cocktail dresses and others are in full gear this season giving looks of feeling chic and sophisticated. The tuxedo for women is also flying high. Borrowed-
from-the-boys tuxedos, either as separates or with matching pants, are in. The black leather skirt is also in fashion. The leather skirt, whether tapered or flared, paired with casual-chic tops and sweatshirt-like sweaters will make you look like a Londoner, LOL. Sheer maxi dresses and skirts are in vogue and are fashion forward for the fashionistas. This trend is still considered extreme, and there are umpteenth ways to wear it, and they don’t all have to be revealing. FASHION KOTI My Ladies! What’s up with wearing the sheer outfit you parade in when your behind is showing a wedgie or other things I don’t have to mention. Remember that what you reveal will be good for gossip! What may make you feel good may not necessary look good on you, and what may look good on you may not necessarily make you feel good, for example, if you are constantly checking to see if people are gaping at you, etc. Dressing like Lady GAGA may make some people gag. Reporting for Duty! By Eddie Ekuban
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the country and also seek them from outside Niger. I hope that American investors will come to Niger. Niger is an open country. For 2011, we're estimating for Niger to grow by 5 percent. We hope that after 2012, it'll grow by 7 percent. We're hoping that you'll invest in Niger. We currently have low levels of outside investment at this time." I believe the development of Africa can sustain the development of economies in the Northern hemisphere. The markets in Africa can wake up the economies of the north - thanks to our growing markets. You should come and invest in our countries and in so doing you're actually helping to invest in your economies. And this is the kind of partnership I believe that we need to establish, a win-win partnership between American and African business entities. Of course, for this to be possible we need to offer you more security, more judicial security and for this reason we plan to establish very strong rule of law institutions to protect you. Alassane Ouattara - Cote d'Ivoire Unfortunately, for the past five years, Cote d'Ivoire – which was known as the 'economic miracle'– left the map of Africa. The economy has grown only two percent per year for the past five years, after many years of solid growth in the previous decade, numbers will be worse this year. Our objective is to establish stability and rebuild our economy, and this will require an investment of about U.S.$20-25b by 2015, with a minimum contribution of 25 percent from the private sector. We are determined to recreate a positive environment for business. We want to promote investment in sectors like infrastructure, petroleum, and cocoa processing. We plan to have an ambitious investment program. We have the economic potential and the people to do it. Cote d'Ivoire, up to 2000, had investments that were 16-18 percent of GDP. That has now fallen to 10%. We want to attract private investment again. I'd like to assure you that problems you have encountered in the past are being addressed. We are open to investment again. This is important not only for Cote d'Ivoire but for the region. Cote d'Ivoire was an engine for growth before, and it can become a growth engine for the subregion again. This invitation from President Obama is quite significant. By inviting four democratically elected African presidents, he is getting the message that what matters now for the United States is democracy. And that it is with democracy that you can get prosperity.
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God Is Wonderful So Fear Him!
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Presenters
Komla the Odade3 DRIVE TIME SHOW: Week days - 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Muriel Vanderpuye THE WORD: Mondays - 11:30am - 12noon
Rev. M. Asiedu Frimpong TIME WITH THE KING: Thursdays - 11:30am - 12noon
Stago THE BASEMENT: Saturdays - 1:00pm - 3:00pm
CR GOSPEL MUSIC: Sundays - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Sonny LET’S TALK NOW: Tuesdays - 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Dr. Love LOVE LANE: Mon, Wed & Fri- 9:00pm - 11:00pm
Evan. Harry Agyemang GOD’S PROMISES: Sundays - 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Auntie Araba LOVE LANE: Wed & Fri- 9:00pm - 11:00pm
Elder Isaac Opoku NEW HOPE HOUR: Sundays - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Rev. Emmanuel Nkrumah WESLEY TIME: Fridays - 11:30am - 12:00noon
Nana Yaa TIME WITH NANA YAA: Saturdays - 12:00noon - 2:00pm
Lawyer Kwaku Ofori RADIO LAWYER: Saturdays - 11:00am - 12:00noon
Apostle Ayvel Arnolds HOUR OF ANOINTING: Fridays - 11:00am - 11:30am
Pastor Josiah Kambutu GOSPEL HOUR: Wednesdays - 11:30am - 12:00am
Joe Mainoo AWARE3 MU NS3M: Mondays - 7:00pm - 9:00pm ANADWO NKOMO: Thursdays - 7:00pm - 9:00pm KYER3 W’ADWENE: Fridays - 6:00pm - 9:00pm WOSO KA BI: Saturdays - 8:30am - 11:00am
Pastor Fiifi Ocran ANADWO NKOMO: Thursdays - 7:00pm - 9:00pm NEW HOPE HOUR: Sundays - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Rev. Kwasi Gyimah HOUR OF DECISION: Tuesdays - 11:30am - 12noon AWARE3 MU NS3M: Mondays - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Anokyewaa KYER3 W’ADWENE: Fridays - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
THE NEW GHANAIAN | 30 | FOCUSING MORE ON THE COMMUNITY
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optic nerve, which is a sort of cable that connects the eye to the brain. The eye’s health is highly dependent on healthy neurological and cardiovascular systems. The images obtained by the eye are transferred via electrical impulses to the brain, where they are processed and in turn transformed into the mental images we “see.” Thus, maintaining optimum neurological health and capacity contributes to visual
functioning. Similarly, the cardiovascular system supplies the eye with oxygenrich blood and removes waste products produced in the eye’s structures. The retina and surrounding structures are especially rich in blood vessels and rely on a healthy cardiovascular system. Many nutrients have the potential to maintain or improve the eye and its function by acting on the cardiovascular and brain systems.
Healthy Eyes: The Basics You can take several steps to protect healthy vision: Stop smoking. Smoking can increase one’s risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and many other diseases by increasing oxidative stress, narrowing blood vessels, and reducing blood flow to the eye. Wear a hat and sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) protection whenever you are outdoors. The sun’s UV rays can increase the risk of developing
skin cancer, cataracts, and macular degeneration (Xhauflaire G et al 2005). Get regular, comprehensive eye examinations. Many eye diseases have no symptoms until late in the disease. Thus, many eye diseases are not apparent until diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination. Since everyone’s situation is different, ask your doctor how often you should get a comprehensive eye examination (American Academy of Ophthalmology 2000).
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GHANA WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Come join us worship this and every Sunday in Woodbridge: St. Paul United Methodist Church 1400 G St., Woodbridge, VA. 22191 11:00am - 12:00noon in Arlington: Calvary United Methodist Church 2315 South Grant St., Arlington, VA 22202 1:00pm - 3:00pm Officiating Minister: Rev. Emmanuel Nkrumah For further details please call: 703.342.7886
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10TH ANNIVERSARY
Banquet & Awards Night Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011 Time: 7:00pm to 12midnight Venue: Hilton Springfield 6550 Loisdale Road, Springfield, VA. 22150
Ticket: Advance - $50.00; At Door - $55.00 Guest of Honor:
Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere Chairman of Media Commission, Ghana
Special Performance by Ken Appiah & others Music by DJ Veejay Cash Bar. FREE PORTRAITS (Photography). Dinner will be served at 8:30pm prompt For purchase of tickets and further inquiries please call: 571.577.0937 | 703.901.4277 | 571.435.4576 Come join us celebrate 10 years of serving the community!