Ghanaian News - February 2013 Edition by Emmanuel Ayiku

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Ghanaian News KEEPING YOU IN TOUCH WITH NEWS FROM HOME AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ISSUES

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Government exists to GHANA: 56th Milestone make peoples’ lives of Nationhood better, to support people in realizing their dreams By: Dr. Michael Baffoe

Premier Wynne B y Wi l l i a m D o y l e - M a r s h a l l

Asantefuohene Nana Pokuaa-Gyamfi Kumanini on behalf of Asanteman Council of Ontario presenting a gift to Premier Kathleen Wynne

Canadians of African heritage like the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, Dr. Herbert Carnegie and Charles Roach and others who passed on recently have played their parts in breaking down barriers and accomplishing things as models for all says Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. She was addressing a Black History Month gathering Thursday night in the Parliament Building. While those individuals are considered models for the African Canadian community, the premier stressed “they are models

as human beings for every single one of us”. Premier Wynne, who was recently elected to head the Ontario Liberal Party, and become the 25th Premier of the Province, wants all Ontarians to learn from each other. Her new government’s vision is concerned with Ontario being a place where no one has to fight against prejudice or low expectations. Everyone must know that expectations are high. Premier Wynne continued: “we know that people can achieve; that we know our children can achieve in

school, no matter their background ; no matter the colour of their skin; no matter the language that they speak that we can lift each other up.” Wynne was emphatic that greatness has to be expected of everyone. She believed Ontario can be the model for the world. “On that front and we support everyone in being great. That’s why for me government exists to make peoples’ lives better, to support people in realizing their dreams and creating the conditions for people to be great,” she continued. “When you hear

Fifty-Six Years ago on March 6th, 1957, six political leaders led by Kwame Nkrumah stood on a podium at the Old Polo Grounds in Accra and declared the birth of a new nation called Ghana. The declaration was the country’s weaning of itself from the former colonial ruler, Britain. On that night the British Flag, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the flag of the new nation, formerly known as the Gold Coast, was hoisted. In his historic i n d e p e n d e n c e declaration, the first Prime Minister, Kwame Nkrumah declared that the new nation and its citizens reserved the right to “manage or

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, 1st President of Ghana

even mismanage its own affairs”. Over the past 56 years, Ghana has undergone tremendous changes, some very positive, others not so positive while others have been damaging and even self-destructive. The early years of nationhood under the first President, Kwame Nkrumah and

the first post-colonial government run by the Convention People’s Party (CPP) were full of euphoria, promises, and high expectations. The nation underwent dramatic infrastructural changes, social and economic development between 1957 and 1964. An accelerated fee-free elementary education dramatically transformed the hitherto mainly illiterate population and with an added affordable and accelerated secondary and technical education launched under the Ghana Education Trust initiatives, Ghana managed to train enough manpower to man the civil and industrial services that were created from the early independence cont'd on pg. 34

Kofi Barnes appointed to Ontario Superior Court of Justice By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

On February 8, 2013, the Federal Government announced the elevation of Ontario Court of Justice Judge, Justice Kofi Barnes to Ontario’s highest trial court, the Ontario Superior Court. The Honourable Justice Barnes was officially sworn in at a special ceremony at the

Brampton Court house on February 28, 2013. Justice Kofi Barnes was born in Accra, Ghana and had been a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice since 2004. He cofounded Canada’s first Drug Treatment Court in cont'd on pg. 30

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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Impact Deliverance Institute Graduation 2012 The graduation ceremony for Impact Deliverance Institute, School of Deliverance Class of 2012, was held at Impact Lives Church, December 17th, 2012. Friends and family where there to celebrate this special occasion with the students who graduated. Several of the graduates testified of the impact the School of Deliverance has had on their lives, family and ministry. They also testified of the freedom they have gained because of the knowledge they had received from the school. Dr. Bob Tacky, President and Founder of IDI, addressed the audience with a Word of Exhortation to the graduates, emphasiz-

Group of picture of graduates with Bishop Tacky and Lady Tacky

ing the importance of mentorship and helping others to also gain their freedom. He then presented the graduates with their certificate of Diploma of

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The Ghanaian News

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February 2013

The Ghanaian News February 2013

The Ghanaian News

Sorrow and surprise as Pope steps down Shock as world reacts to Pope’s resignation Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of February due to failing health, the Vatican has confirmed. The news stunned both the Church’s 1.2 billion followers and the rest of the world. The Pope, whose papacy began in 2005 with the death of Pope John Paul II, did not make the decision on impulse, his spokesman said. “It’s not a decision he has just improvised,” the Rev. Federico Lombardi said. “It’s a decision he has pondered over.” The Pope added that his decision stemmed from “advanced age”. “Strength of mind and

Pope Benedict XVI

b o d y a r e n e c e s s a r y, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me,” he said, according to the Vatican.

People responded with surprise from across the world, with reactions ranging from sorrow to incredulity. CNN received more than 1,000 comments on its Facebook pages within hours of the announcement. CNN World

February 2013

TDSB director resigns over plagiarism, PhD dissertation includes unattributed passages Chris Spence has resigned as head of Canada’s largest school board after a cascade of plagiarism allegations. The education director of the Toronto District School Board stepped down Thursday, effective immediately, the board chairman said in a terse statement. Mr. Spence did not respond Thursday to repeated requests for an interview. In a statement released after his resignation was announced, he made no specific reference to the numerous examples of his work that appear to have relied heavily on the words of others. The Globe and Mail has learned that parts of Dr. Spence’s dissertation, submitted in 1996 for his

Ph.D. from OISE appear to have been copied from unattributed sources. The 239-page dissertation is entitled “The Effects of Sport Participation on the Academic and Career Aspirations of Black Male Student Athletes in Toronto High Schools” and was partly based on interviews with student athletes and educators. However, passages are substantially similar to prior work which Dr. Spence does not attribute, and rely very heavily, in one section, on a 1991 book edited by Grant Jarvie, Sport, Racism and Ethnicity. In his bibliography, Dr. Spence lists the chapter in the book which his work resembles but does not

credit the author in the passage in question. In omitting to acknowledge that he is quoting from a 1991 book, he also uses the original citations as his own. The reader has the impression that he has read and is summarizing the original and earlier literature, a key task of any successful dissertation. On page 18, Dr. Spence writes: “Another view suggests involvement in sport has positive consequences for participants and society as a whole. Among the positive aspects associated with sport is its function as a transmitter of social values. Through athletic participation, it is argued, one learns not only how to play cont'd on pg. 30

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

EDITORIAL KEEPING YOU IN TOUCH WITH NEWS FROM HOME AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ISSUES

Stabilizing the Nation Ghana

March 6, 2013: Ghana attains age 56, four years more to the “normal” retirement age of a Ghanaian civil servant. Reaching age 60 in the life EDITORIAL of any person, and any nation, is a hallmark of Publisher / Editor maturity and wisdom. At that age in Ghana, public Emmanuel Ayiku employees are deemed to have passed their prime, Contributing Editors contributed their quota to national development Dr. Michael Baffoe Joe Kingsley Eyiah and therefore deserve to retire to “rest”. By this analogy, if Ghana was a young man or Director of Operations Comfort Ayiku woman public servant, he/she will be only four years away to be declared matured enough Community Reporter Jonathan Annobil to take a “rest” for all the good work that he/ she has done. Ghana, as a nation, is only four Winnipeg Bureau Dr. Michael Baffoe years away to the countdown to the matured “retirement age” of 60. It is therefore pertinent The Ghanaian News to take stock on where the nation has come Publishes news and comments from and where it is heading as it counts from the Community, serves Ghanaians across Canada with down to age 60, its normal “retirement” age. good source of information As Ghana and its sons and daughters both at home is committed to give good community Journalism and abroad celebrate 56 years of nationhood and countdown towards its “retirement age” of 60 The Ghanaian News is published in Canada by in four years time, it behoves all of us to critical The Ghanaian News examine where the nation has come from over Corporation the past 56 years and where it is heading to in Editorial Office the years ahead especially in the next critical four 2256 Sheppard Ave. Suite 202 years. The nation has been tested on a number Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 Tel:(416) 916-3700 of occasions to its endurance limits. Some of its Advertising leaders and citizens have engaged in misguided Fax (416) 916-6701 actions and behaviours that have had the potential Internet: to shatter the stability of the nation. In the midst www.ghanaiannews.ca E-mail: of these missteps, some have patriotically pulled cayiku@gmail.com the nation from the brink. Yet others continue to Subscription costs $12.00 for one year. engage in actions that continue to pose threats to $22.99 for two years. the stability of the nation. Some of those engaging plus postage U.S. and foreign in acts that threaten the stability of the nation are subscriptions costs highly-placed and responsible persons manning US$79.99 per year. critical sectors of the nation’s life and fortune. The sad thing about the typical Ghanaian Letters to the Editor behaviour is that we do not question persons in We encourage your responsible positions when they are misbehaving, feedback and value your comments. Please misbehaviours for which we will pay high prices feel free to write to us. should something go terribly wrong. Over the keep letters to a maximum of 200 words, past number of years, a number of highly-placed include your full Ghanaians have been engaging in actions that name, Telephone # and are really irresponsible which threaten the social, mailing address with all correspondence. economic and political fabric of the nation. In Address your letters to most cases citizens say and do little or nothing. the Editor But we all pay the price for these actions. The Ghanaian News 2256 Sheppard Ave. Suite 202 As another “independence” or nationhood Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 anniversary comes upon us, we all have Tel: 416-916-3700 or responsibilities to keep our eyes open for the actions Fax: 416-916-6701 or e-mail us at and behaviours of others that threaten the stability afrocan@afrocan.com of our nation. We have the responsibility to call to order those who are entrusted with leadership and responsible positions in our nation who place personal interests above those of the nation. We wish all our compatriots, both at home We acknowledge the and in the diaspora, happy anniversary financial support of the and entreat all to work towards ensuring Government of Canada through the Canada that we do not engage in any actions that Periodical Fund of the will alter the stability of our dear nation. Department of Canadian Heritage

Opinion/ Commentary Ghana’s Importation Ban on Old Home Devices Long Overdue By: Kwabena Akuoko Used refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners produced before 1995 contain chlorofluorocarbon gasses that are seriously harmful to the environment. As such, Ghana’s ban on these appliances, which took effect on January 1, this year, is therefore appropriate and long overdue because it is aimed at reducing their harm to the environment and also lessening energy consumption. Also, besides the above-identified used appliances, old home electronic devices otherwise known as electronic waste or e-waste similarly contain hazardous constituents that have damaging effects on the environment, and it is only appropriate that their importation proscription is considered. Chlorofluorocarbons commonly known as CFCs are organic compounds, which include chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFCs are present in all household appliances, but are significantly higher in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners manufactured before 1995. The compounds have serious depleting effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, the international community agreed approximately 26 years ago in Montreal, Canada to radically curtail the harmful substances in an effort to protect the ozone layer. The binding agreement formally known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer or simply, “The Montreal Protocol” was primarily designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting materials as a means to decrease their abundance in the atmosphere. From the standpoint of environmental groups, the main rationale for this global environmental agreement, which Ghana willingly signed on to from the onset was, and is still necessary to protect the earth’s fragile ozone layer. The original Montreal Protocol was agreed on September 16, 1987, but became effective and enforceable on January 1, 1989. This shows that Ghana should have long banned the importation of CFCs filled appliances to preserve the environment for our sake and the future generations. Although CFCs organic compounds con-

tain harmful carbon, chlorine, hydrogen and fluorine, they were nonetheless produced as a precarious imitative of methane and ethane, and used as substitution for coolants in pre-1995 appliances. Many countries have thus made efforts to reduce these compounds because of their immense contribution to ozone’s depletion in the upper atmosphere. Soon after the Montreal Protocol became enforceable for instance, Western countries such as Canada, United Kingdom, United States and others began to implement programs to encourage consumers to get rid of their pre1995 devices containing harmful chemicals considered to be destructive to the environment. Ghana and other developing nations have since emulated developed countries’ strategy in urging consumers to part with their old appliances for environmental protection purposes. To discourage their use, the Ghanaian government for instance recently introduced a rebate scheme for owners to do away with their pre-1995 manufactured refrigerators and other devices. It does not then make any sense for used appliances traders to lobby the government to rescind the importation restriction placed on these environmentally unfriendly items. It is similarly disingenuous for the traders to claim that they were not notified about the importation ban, and will as a result suffer economic consequences. As a matter of fact, the prohibition was first introduced in 2008, but was extended for four years to give the traders sufficient chance to adjust economically. The traders saw the importation ban coming and cannot support their contention that the government did not give them the opportunity to adjust. In addition to their destructive effects on the ozone layer, the Ghana Energy Commission has also concluded that old devices pose serious drain to energy consumption in Ghana simply because they were not built for use in Africa. Pre-1995 appliances and used electronic goods thus constitute problems relative to energy supply, and not to mention their destructive effects on the environment. Con-

sequently, importation ban on old electronic goods is also necessary. Further to flooding Ghana with environmentally unfriendly used appliances, the country is also a popular destination for old electronics or e-waste. Traders as well as individual Ghanaian residents in Western countries routinely bring large shipments of e-waste to Ghana. E-waste is a term used to describe obsolete, broken or irrevocable electronic devices such as television sets, computer central processing units, monitors and cathode ray tubes, etc. Besides used appliances, e-waste has also become a major global environmental concern because of their hazardous components such as lead, mercury, chromium and others. Accordingly, stringent regulatory policies have been implemented in the Western world to ensure safe discarding of outdated electronic devices. Consequently, businesses, individuals and sometimes even governments in developed countries look somewhere else to discard their end of life electronics. And unfortunately, they turn to developing countries such as Ghana to dump these materials considered to be harmful to the environment. Therefore, given e-waste’s destructive effects on the environment, I would suggest their importation ban along with used home appliances. Importation ban on second-hand devices that contain harmful elements with depleting effects on the ozone layer is in line with Ghana’s legal and moral obligations to protect the environment. Also, because of their serious damaging effects on the environment, importation embargo on outmoded electronic goods or ewaste is in order. Understandably, the ban will economically affect traders whose livelihoods depend on importing these obsolete devices into the country. However, for our sake and especially that of our children and children’s children, we all need to make some sacrifices to safeguard the environment. Otherwise, we mistakenly ignore these serious environmental challenges at our peril and also betray future generations. .

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Kathleen Wynne sworn in as premier of Ontario Ontario made history on Monday when the province’s first female premier was sworn in at Queen’s Park. Kathleen Wynne succeeds Dalton McGuinty as Ontario’s 25th premier. Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley presided over the swearing-in ceremony which started at 3 p.m. on Monday. Wynne beat out closest competitor Sandra Pupatello in the provincial Liberal leadership race last month. She will serve as minister of agriculture, as well. Ontarians and Canadians have high expectations for Wynne — a recent poll shows about 70 per cent of Canucks see her win as a significant breakthrough for women in politics. The telephone poll was conducted between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4. The Canadian Press-Harris/Decima survey has a margin of error of 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Wynne also becomes Canada’s first openly-gay premier. Her cabinet was also sworn in on Monday and she’s made some new appointments. Charles Sousa, who also ran for the Ontario Liberal leadership, was named finance minister, replacing Dwight Duncan. (See full list below) There are ten newcomers in Premier Wynne’s 27-member cabinet, including Guelph MPP Liz Sandals who takes on the education portfolio. Other new ministers include: * Peterborough’s Jeff Leal is the new minister of rural affairs * Sudbury’s David Orazietti becomes minister of natural resources * David Zimmer of Toronto takes on the stand alone ministry of aboriginal affairs

Kathleen Wynne smiles as she is sworn-in as Ontario premier at Queen's Park in Toronto

* Rezi Moridi of Richmond Hill is the minister of research and innovation * Ottawa’s Yasir Naqvi, the Liberal party president, is also minister of labour * Toronto’s Michael Coteau becomes ,minister of citizenship and immigration * Tracy MacCharles of Scarborough is minister of consumer services * Windsor’s Teresa Piruzza is minister of children and youth services * Mario Sergio of Toronto becomes minister responsible for seniors. Liberal cabinet ministers moved to other positions by Wynne include: * Premier Wynne herself as agriculture minister * Charles Sousa as finance minister * Ottawa’s Bob Chiraelli takes on energy * Brad Duguid leaves energy to become minister of training, colleges and universities * Laurel Broten from education to ministry of intergovernmental affairs * Hamilton’s Ted McMeekin moves from ag-

riculture to community and social services * Linda Jeffrey takes on municipal affairs and housing and is chair of cabinet * Eric Hoskins moves to economic development, trade and employment * Glen Murray becomes minister of infrastructure and minister of transportation * Michael Gravel moves to northern development and mines. Ministers staying in their same positions include: * Health Minister Deb Matthews, who also becomes deputy premier. * Environment Minister Jim Bradley * Attorney General John Gerretsen * Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur, also responsible for Francophone Affairs * Government services Minister Harinder Takhar * Government House Leader John Milloy * Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan. The Canadian Press

Ontario’s Speech from the Throne Focuses on Common Ground of Strong Economy, Fair Society, Effective Legislature The New Ontario Government Emphasizing New Jobs, Strong Communities and Healthy, Engaged Citizens The new Ontario government is working toward a stronger province that will create good jobs and build strong communities across the province. The Honourable David C. Onley, Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, delivered the government’s Speech from the Throne in the legislature today. The speech highlighted the government’s way forward to find

common ground with the opposition so that Ontario can build a fair society, a strong economy and establish a more accountable legislature. Highlights include: * Eliminating the deficit by 2017-18. * Introducing an evenhanded approach to balancing the budget, allowing all parties to work together to find savings. * Establishing better accountability in the legislature. * Focusing on employment opportunities for Ontario’s youth, in partnership with education,

labour and private sector partners. * Ensuring municipalities and families have input on the location of energy infrastructure in their communities, while continuing to protect the environment and encourage conservation. * Ensuring a respectful partnership with labour leaders by building a sustainable process for wage negotiation through collective bargaining. * Continuing to build the best education and health care systems in the world. resents Her Majesty the Queen of Canada.

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

Mother drowns son, nine, because she thought 'his small penis would ruin his life

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An Indonesian mother was so concerned that her nine-year-old son's small penis would ruin his life that she drowned him in the bath. Police in the capital Jakarta said today that the woman, 38, told them her son had a small penis before he was circumcised but that it was even smaller after the operation. Spokesman Rikwanto said the mother believed the boy would have a 'bleak future' because of the size of his genitalia.

The woman drowned the youngster in a bath filled with water before dressing him and laying his body on a bed. Officers said the woman is fully conscious of what she had done and had handed herself in. But the police have also ordered her to undergo psychological tests to assess her mental state. Rikwanto told AFP: 'She told police investigators that she killed him as he would have a bleak future with his small penis.

'She drowned her son in a bathtub filled with water. She then dressed him and laid him on a bed. 'After that, she went to a nearby police office to report her crime.' The woman is not thought to have been charged but is believed to be in custody. The death penalty is still used in Indonesia, although it is becoming rarer. Dailymail.co.uk

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Toronto declared ‘sanctuary city’ to non-status migrants Toronto has become the first Canadian city with a formal policy allowing undocumented migrants to access services regardless of immigration status. Toronto has made history by affirming itself as a “sanctuary city,” the first Canadian city with a formal policy allowing undocumented migrants to access services regardless of immigration status. O n T h u r s d a y, C i t y Council passed the motion by a vote of 37 to 3 that also requires training all city staff and managers t o e n s u r e To r o n t o ’s estimated 200,000 nonstatus residents can access its services without fear of being turned over to border enforcement officers for detention and deportation. The vote puts Toronto in the same league with 36 American cities, including Chicago, New York City and San Francisco that already have such policies. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday and councillors Denzil Minnan-Wong and David Shiner are the only council members who voted against the motion. “It is an enormous step for the city in the

right direction. We are all contributing to the city, the well-being of Toronto. It’s important that we are not making a distinction between those who don’t have rights or access to services and those who do,” said Harald Bauder, associate professor of Ryerson University’s graduate program in immigration and settlement studies. “Distinctions are divisive. They establish secondclass citizens. That leads to all kinds of other problems, not just a rift in the community, but other issues of exploitation.” C o u n c i l ’s v o t e w a s significant at a time when the undocumented population is expected to surge in 2015, when many legal but temporary foreign workers will see their four-year work permits expire under a new federal law and potentially move “underground.” Proponents of the

policy argued that the city must embrace and monitor the changing reality rather than just bury its head in the sand. Although undocumented migrants — often visitors overstaying their visas or failed refugee claimants dodging deportation — have been able to use city services such as library and public transit without hassles, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has not been consistent in other areas. “This is a historic moment because we are saying we are a sanctuary city and that anyone who is in the City of Toronto will be able to access all the services the city offers, be it in the areas of health, in the area of parks, in the area of library, in the area of health and safety,” said councilor Joe Mihevc. “That is the kind of city we want. We want to open our arms to anyone cont'd on pg. 32

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

A three-day week for Ghana? A street cleaner - wearing Ghanaian football colours - in Kumasi in 2008 In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Ghanaian Elizabeth Ohene considers whether Ghanaians, like Gambians, should be given longer weekends - to attend funerals. By now almost everybody has heard about the latest edict from His Excellency, The President, Sheikh, Professor, Dr, Alhaji Ya h y a J a m m e h , t h e ruler of The Gambia. He has decreed that the public sector should embark on a four-day week work regimen, with schools the exception. Most of us spend weekends attending funerals around various parts of the country; that is how internal tourism works here”

According to him, a shorter working week will allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture. Government employees will still work a 40-hour week, made up of four 10hour working days starting at 0800 and ending at 1800. I have been wondering if this was something we could adopt in Ghana. The truth is that over here, public sector workers have always found ways to have fourday weeks if they want. It is not official but many people end up doing four-day weeks. I probably need to point out that we in Ghana take funerals seriously and these are timeconsuming ceremonies. Most of us spend weekends attending funerals around various

parts of the country; that is how internal tourism works here. In many parts of the country, Fridays tend to be the days when bodies are taken home from the mortuary to be laid in state. This is not something that can be done during the lunch-hour break. I have this horrible feeling that the weekends will end up as stressful as the working days” If you have a funeral to attend, you need to have Friday off and you are deemed to have a funeral when the dead person is a parent, a sibling, a child, a spouse or partner, an in-law, a grand-parent, a cousin, an aunt, an uncle, a friend, a classmate, a nephew, a niece, a boss, someone you go to church with, a workmate, a neighbour

and of course, a president. In other words, you are likely to have a funeral every weekend. Even though Fridays are official working days, we have all learnt to accept that if we have any business with anybody in the public sector it is not a good idea to try to go to the office on a Friday. The unwritten rule is that business is conducted in the public sector from Monday to Thursday. On Saturdays, we have services and bury the dead and have funeral rites and on Sundays we have thanksgiving services. So, would it be a good idea to simply declare Fridays non-working days? ‘Thank god it’s Thursday’ I can think of a really

smart way of packaging the announcement to make it sound like we are the business-like people that we indeed are. A military cortege with the body of Ghana’s late President John Atta Mills on 10 August 2012 in Accra Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral of Ghana’s President John Atta Mills last year It would go something like this: As part of innovative efforts to brand Ghana and make us a leading funeral tourist destination, Fridays will be spent organising funerals. But something tells me if Fridays are sanctioned officially as non-working days in Ghana, Thursdays will become the new Fridays.

We shall thank God it is Thursday instead of thanking God it is Friday. The impossible traffic in town will move from Fridays to Thursdays and we will spend endless hours stuck in traffic on the roads and officialdom will find reasons to make Thursday afternoons inconvenient for meetings. I have this horrible feeling that the weekends will end up as stressful as the working days. Then there is the other little problem of Ghana not having the equivalent of anybody who can simply decree that we change from a five to a four-day working week for whatever reason. African Executive

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Yahya Jammeh gives Gambians an extra day off The Gambia has started a four-day week for public sector workers, with Fridays now an extra day off. P r e s i d e n t Ya h y a Jammeh has said the shorter week will give The Gambia’s mainly Muslim population more time to pray, socialise and tend to fields. Mr. Jammeh, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1994, is known for

his eccentric behaviour. Critics say his latest decision will promote laziness and disrupt the poor West African s t a t e ’s e c o n o m y. Agriculture, especially peanut exports, forms the backbone of The G a m b i a ’s e c o n o m y. This new arrangement will allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities

and agriculture” It is also a popular tourist destination, because of its beaches. Most people in The Gambia, which has a population of about 1.8 million, are Muslims for whom Friday i s a d a y o f p r a y e r. Thursdays and Fridays or Fridays and Saturdays are non-working days in most of the Muslim

world but some say this disrupts work with We s t e r n c o u n t r i e s , who have Saturdays and Sundays off. In a statement last month, Mr. Jammeh’s office said that from 1 February, the working times in the public sector would be Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00 to 18:00. “This new arrangement will allow Gambians

to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture - going back to the land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow, for a healthy and wealthy nation.” The statement said state schools would also be closed on Fridays, but were free to open on Saturdays to compensate f o r t h e l o s t d a y. Until now, government

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employees have been working a five-day week, from 08:00 to 16:00. The change means they would still work a 40hour week, but critics say it would be disruptive. They point out that the private sector would still work on Fridays, but would not be able to do any business with the government on that day. In 2007, Mr. Jammeh announced that he could cure HIV-Aids in just three days with a special potion of secret herbs. This was widely condemned by medical professionals around the world. Mr. Jammeh has also been accused of human rights abuses. Last year, nine prisoners on death row were executed by firing squad, with the president vowing to kill all death row inmates within weeks. He later suspended 37 other executions after an international outcry. BBC News

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

FOCUS "The Celebration of February as Black History Month is Meaningless Unless…" Asks Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto-Canada The celebration of the Black History Month should not bring us together for only ‘talk-talk’ and dancing as well as feasting but move us forward towards unity, perseverance, hard work, respect for each other and the ultimate sacrifice of making our Black communities better than we have come to meet them. I am tempted to discuss again the meaning of the celebration of Black History Month to us as black people the world over. ‘February’ is designated as Black History Month and the month after it we celebrate the independence anniversary of our beloved motherland, Ghana. Is Ghana’s Independence becoming as meaningless as the celebration of Black History Month? This is thought provoking question which needs to be handled on its own relevance so for now let’s focus on the celebration of February as Black History Month. This year, on Tuesday, February 12, a group of Ghanaian youth living in Toronto was organized by the Ghanaian community cultural ad-

Thus, February every year is used, especially in North American, as the month to promote awareness about the contributions of people of Black ancestry to the development of freedom and justice in this part of the world. From the time of Harriet Tubman in the ‘Abolition and the Underground Railroad’; Jackie Robinson integrating major vocate, Mr. Abankwah, league baseball in 1947; to witness at the Parlia- and Martin Luther King ment Hill in Ottawa, the Jr. delivering his faunique launching of the mous ‘I Have a Dream’ Black History Month in speech during the 1963 the Country. My school march on Washington; in Toronto, throughout to present, that barrack the month, has been en- Obama has become the gaging students in learn- first Black and the 44th ing about contributions President of the Unitand great quotations of ed States of America, people of the Black race the history of African who have positively im- Americans has struggled pacted their communi- to find its rightful place ties and the world as a in American History. whole. They are engaged Black History has its in poster contest, skits, own tall history which is poetry, African plays and not my point of discusschool-wide assemblies sion in this discourse. among other activities! However, I emphasize here and now that hisBlack History Month is tory in itself must be a a time to reflect on the GUIDE for the PRESarduous but triumphant ENT and must serve as civil rights movement in an INSPIRATION for the the United States. It is a FUTURE. In this wise, celebration of obstacles HISTORY becomes dysurmounted, tests passed, namic and useful! Hisand wills strengthened tory ought to empower in conquering injustice.’ people to be all they can

be. And all things are possible to those who believe in history and learn from its lessons as well. Just studying about events and personalities of Black History only during the month of February each year is not enough to empower students of African heritage to succeed in the society which marginalizes the Black race. Black History ought to become permanent part of the school curriculum so that students of other races can learn to appreciate Black contributions to society. Activities planned for students during the celebration of Black History Month must not end with the month. Such promotional activities in Art, Science, Language and Mathematics must be encouraged throughout the school year. The contents of Black History must challenge students to higher feat of achievements in their studies. Black History Is Meaningless Unless..: Black History on its own is meaningless unless it makes lasting impact on development of society. And to borrow the words of another great son of Africa, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

(first President of the reborn nation of Ghana in 1957 from the ashes of the Old Ghana Empire) of blessed memory: ‘The celebration of Black history month is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the Black race and the overall advancement of the human race!’ All people of African heritage must use Black History as a tool for perseverance to liberate themselves from ‘mental slavery’ and economic hardships that confront them wherever they find themselves in the world. African governments must reflect on achievements of Black people around the world such as Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela as well as Bosomburu Kofi Anan and endeavor to create opportunities for their countries to achieve economic independence through political tolerance and sound policies. As Black people, we ought to be proud of our culture and advance it to enhance productivity for the development of our communities wherever we find ourselves in the world. It is my strongest opinion that, the celebration of the Black History

Month should not bring us together for only ‘talktalk’ and dancing as well as feasting but move us forward towards unity, perseverance, hard work, respect for each other and the ultimate sacrifice of making our Black communities better than we have come to meet them. We ought to develop our local talents and skills in all fields of life; and patronize our local businesses which must also be run efficiently by the local entrepreneurs. We have to demonstrate by resolute actions and practical decisions our determination to develop the welfare of the Black race. With such determination and resilience on our part, we will make our celebration of the Black History (ie recognition of the contributions of Black people to the world) Month more meaningful and relevant to progress and prosperity. Only in this way will the celebration of Black History anytime, anywhere play its full part in the advancement of true happiness of mankind. Happy Black History Month to All!!!!!!

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Extra-curricular activities Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Statement on the Return of returning to Ontario Extracurricular Activities public high schools in Schools Wynne ‘glad’ extra-curriculars back Extra-curricular activities are set to return to Ontario high schools — bringing to an end a monthslong protest that has stopped a large portion of the province’s high school students from participating on sports teams or school clubs. A statement posted on the Ontario Secondary S c h o o l s Te a c h e r s ’ Federation website late Friday afternoon said local leaders have agreed “to suspend political action regarding voluntary activities.” OSSTF president Ken Coran said in a prepared statement that he hoped “this sign of good will” will “prompt the government to have genuine discussions that

can lead to a fair resolution to this current impasse.” Teachers’ unions across the province were outraged when the Liberal government of former premier Dalton McGuinty imposed a contract. Some unions approved the new contract, but OSSTF members decided to drop all extracurricular activities as a demonstration of their unhappiness The recent election of K a t h l e e n Wy n n e t o replace McGuinty as Ontario premier appears to have improved relations between the OSSTF and the Liberals and paved the way for a settlement to the dispute. Just minutes after the OSSTF released its

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decision, Wynne released a statement saying “I’m so glad that teachers, support staff and students will once again enjoy the extracurricular activities and programs that mean so much to them.” Later, at a news conference at Queen’s park she said the government did not make any concessions to the union in order to bring an end to the protest, other than to work with the OSSTF to fix a broken relationship. “The arrangements that have been reached do not add any money into the contracts or into the framework,” she said. She said her government has told the union leadership “we’re willing to talk about some of the things that are bothering you, and one of those things is what’s the collective bargaining process going to look like going forward.” Coran said that the decision on whether to resume those activities — things like coaching sports teams and supervising clubs — will be up to the cont'd on pg. 32

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Premier Kathleen Wy n n e r e l e a s e d t h e following statement: “I’m happy to hear the results of today’s vote by OSSTF members, and I’m so glad that teachers, support staff and students across the province will once again enjoy the extracurricular activities and programs that mean so much to them. For the past few weeks, my team and I have been meeting with our partners in the public sector and engaging in positive, frank and collaborative

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

Profile of Heads of Governments in Ghana since 1957 It would be exactly 56 years ago on March 6, this year (2013) that Ghana gained its independence from British Colonial rule. The struggle for independence had begun with the United Gold Coast Convention in the aftermath of World War II. However, the man who led the nation to freedom and became its first President was Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Dr.Nkrumah was overthrown in a military coup in 1966 and since then the nation has seen 5 more military governments and 4 more civilian administrations. As we celebrate the 56th birthday of our great nation, we bring to our readers the profiles of the heads of governments in Ghana since 1957 when the country became a sovereign state.

D r. K w a m e N k r u m a h (21 Sept; 1909 – 27April 27 1972) Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who became the first head of government of independent Ghana under the Convention People Party (CPP) in 1957 was born on Saturday, September 21, 1909 at Nkroful in the Western region of Ghana. He married Helena Ritz Fathia, a relative of President Gamal Abdel Nassar of Egypt in 1958 and had three children with her. Nkrumah was formerly known as Francis Nwia-Kofi, but he later changed his name to Kwame Nkrumah. Interestingly, the Fanti teacher who enrolled Francis Nwia-Kofi Ngonlomam into school inadvertently wrote “Nkrumah” for “Ngonloma” and it remained as such. After completing his elementary education at Half Assini, Nkrumah in 1927 entered the Government Training College in Accra (became known as Achimotta School later that year). He obtained his Teacher’s Certificate from the College in 1930. His life as a schoolteacher was brief as in 1932 he became a student at the Roman Catholic Seminary at Amisano near Cape Coast. He left for USA in 1935 to further his studies and obtained his BA degree in 1939 and another one, this time in Theology in 1942, all from the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. By 1943, Kwame Nkrumah had annexed MSc Education and MA Philosophy degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. Meanwhile, he had combined his studies with lectureship, a job he did so well that he was voted the “Most Outstanding Professor-Of-TheYear” by ‘The Lincolnian’ in 1945. In the same year Kwame Nkrumah left USA for London, England to study Law for his

Doctoral degree. He shortly met George Padmore in London and they teamed up to organize the Sixth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, England. Thereafter, Nkrumah intensified his activities for the decolonization of Africa. He wrote his first book titled ‘Towards Colonial Freedom’ in 1947. In December 1947 Nkrumah returned to Gold Coast and became the General Secretary of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). The Colonial government in 1948 detained him and 5 other Executive Members of the UGCC. Nkrumah was dismissed as the General Secretary of UGCC the same year due to his radical stand on independence. He had already formed the Convention Peoples Party (CPP); and declared Positive Action to demand Independence for the then Gold Coast in December 1949. He was arrested in January the following year and incarcerated. However, while in prison, Nkrumah won the seat for Accra Central in an election held in February 1951. He was immediately released from prison to form new government. Kwame Nkrumah again won the 1956 elections leading to independence and subsequently declared Ghana’s Independence on March 6th 1957. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah then turned his efforts toward the unification of African States. He therefore held an AllAfrican Peoples Conference in Accra in December 1958. I n 1 9 6 0 D r. N k r u m a h declared Ghana as Republic. Unfortunately, he became the target of assassination attempts by his ‘political enemies’ as was seen in the Kulungugu bombing in August, 1962. Dr. Nkrumah narrowly escaped death in that attempt on his life. He turned Ghana into One Party-State with himself as Life President in 1964. Political tension gripped Ghana and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was deposed in a military coup d’etat while he was on a peace mission to Hanoi, North Vietnam. He went to live in Conakry, Guinea after his overthrow in 1966 until he died naturally in a Romania hospital on April 27th, 1972. His body was brought to Ghana for a fitting burial on July 7th, 1972.

Lt. General Joseph A. Ankrah (18th Aug., 1915 – 2 5 t h N o v. , 1 9 9 2 ) The next head of government after Dr. Nkrumah was a soldier by profession. He was Lt. General Joseph A. Ankrah, a native of Accra. Gen. Ankrah was recalled from

enforced retirement following the February 1966 coup staged by Gen. Kotoka and Gen. Afrifa to be the chairman of the National Liberation Council (NLC) and head of state. From a very humble beginning, Ankrah had worked hard to obtain his Cambridge School Certificate in 1937. Two years later, he was mobilized into West Africa Frontier Force on the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1946, he trained as Officer Cadet in U.K. and was commissioned as Lieutenant in 1947. By the dint of hardwork he rose through the ranks over the years to become Lieutenant Colonel. In August 1960 he was appointed Colonel, a position that few Ghanaians could occupy at that time. He was made a Brigade Commander of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Congo from 1960 to 1961. Ankrah exhibited excellent soldiering qualities that won him a promotion to Brigadier in 1961. Unfortunately, 3 years after being the head of government has was forced to resign as the Chairman of NLC and head over a bribery scandal. He died on 25th November 1992 leaving behind several wives and 18 children.

Lt. General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa (24 April, 1936 – 16 June, 1979) Upon the resignation of Gen. Ankrah in 1969, Lt. General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa became the chairman of NLC and the head of government. Afrifa was born at Mampong, Ashanti where he attended the Presbyterian Boys Boarding School. He had his Secondary education at Adisadel College, Cape Coast from 1952 to 1956. He had his military training, first at the Regular Officer’s Special Training School from 1957 to 1958; and at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England in 1958, From 1958 to 1960 he continued with his training at the Military Academy in Sandhurst, England; and in 1961 at the School of Infantry, Hythe in England. He returned to Ghana and became the Commander of the Rifle Company and, as a General Staff Officer from 1962 to 1964. Afrifa was made the Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion of Infantry in 1966. It was during the same year in Kumasi where he was the Commander of First Infantary Brigade under Kotoka that the two planned and carried out the coup that toppled Nkrumah. He became a member of the eight-man ruling NLC, and a Commissioner of Finance, Trade and Economic

Affairs. However, he took over as the Chairman of NLC and head of government in 1969 when Gen. Ankrah was forced to resign that position. In 1972, Gen. Afrifa was arrested and detained for almost the whole year by the National Redemption Council regime under Gen. Acheampong. He led the Popular Movement for Freedom and Justice to protest against UNIGOV and demanding the return of the nation to constitutional rule. On 16th June, 1979 he was taken from his farm at Mampong and executed by firing squad after the June 4th, 1979 upspring.

Sociology and Culture at the University of Leiden in The Hague. He later moved to the University of Oxford in England as Senior Member of St. Anthony’s College. Dr. Busia returned from exile in 1966 after Dr. Nkrumah’s overthrow and got appointed as the chairman of the National Advisory Committee of the NLC. From 1967 to 1968 he served as the chairman of the Center for Civic Education selling himself as the next leader through his countrywide assignments. In 1968 he formed the Progress Party when the ban on politics was lifted and won elections in 1969 to become head of government (as a Prime Minister following the British type of government). He adopted a liberalized economic system and devalued the cedis by 44% in 1971. This attracted a lot of resistance from the public and while he was away in London his government was ousted in a coup led by Colonel I.K. Acheampong on January 13th, 1972.

Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia (11th July, 1913 – 28th August, 1974) Gen. Afrifa in October, 1969 handed over the governing of Ghana to Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and his Progress Party (PP) after the parliamentary elections of that year which the PP won 104 of the 105 seats contested. Thus, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, a native of Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region became the second civilian head of government in Ghana after Dr. Nkrumah. He was anti – Nkrumaist stance. The education and career life of Busia could be described as very academic. He entered Mfantsipim College at Cape Coast after completing his elementary education at the Wenchi Methodist School. Busia trained as a professional teacher in 1931 and 1932 at the Wesley College in Kumasi. From 1936 to 1939 he taught at the Achimota College in Accra during which period he did a correspondence course to gain a first degree with honors in History from the University of London. He went to the Oxford University in England and by 1941 earned his BA degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics as well as MA and Ph.D. degrees i n S o c i a l A n t h r o p o l o g y. Dr. Busia returned to Ghana and worked as a District Commissioner from 1942 to 1949. He was appointed the first lecturer in African Studies at the University of Gold Coast in 1949. Eventually, Dr. Busia became the first African to occupy a Chair in that University. In 1951 the Ashanti Confederacy elected Dr. Busia to the Legislative Council. He became the leader of the Ghana Congress Party, which joined with the other opposition parties to form the United Party (UP). As a leader of the opposition against Nkrumah, Busia felt his life was not safe and therefore fled the country in 1959 to Netherlands where he worked as Professor of

General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (23rd Sept., 1931 – 16th June, 1979) General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong used the general discontent against Busia’s government to stage a coup in 1972 to become the 3rd military head of government in Ghana. Acheampong schooled at Trabuom elementary school near Kumasi where he was born. He furthered his education at St. Peter’s Catholic School in Kumasi and Central College of Commerce at Agona Swedru in the Central Region. From 1945 to 1957 he worked at Timber Sawmill in Kumasi as Stenographer Secretary; at Kumasi Commercial College as a Tutor; and at Agona Swedru College of Commerce as Vice Principal. He got enlisted as a Private in the Ghana Army in 1951 and later went to Cadet training at Mons, Aldershot. Upon his return to Ghana in 1959 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. Determined to climb the ladder in the Army, Acheampong between 1959 and 1966 attended various courses including one in Personnel Administration at the Staff College. He also trained at Leavenworth, Kansas in USA and later became the Commanding Officer of the 5th and 6th Battalion. Gen. Acheampong served as the chairman of Western Regional Committee of Administration from 1966 to 1971; and as the Commander of the First Infantary Brigade from 1971 to 1972.

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Profile of Heads of Governments in Ghana since 1957 When he assumed the head of government of Ghana in 1972, Gen. Acheampong reversed the devaluation of the cedis and refused to pay the debts Ghana owed the outside world. He also embarked on the “Operation Feed Yourself”. However, by 1976 Acheampong’s regime has become unpopular as a result of mismanagement and economics hardships. His UNIGOV idea which was to do away with partisan government was vehemently opposed with massive protests. There were clashes with his opponents and some protestors were killed in Kumasi. On July 5th, 1978 Gen. Acheampong’s second-in-command, General Fred Akuffo and other members of the ruling supreme Military Council (SMC) staged a palace coup and removed Acheampong as the head of government. Acheampong was confined to his hometown, Trabuom in Ashanti Region until he was picked up and executed alongside other top military officer on 16th June, during the 1979 uprising.

General Fredrick William Kwasi Akuffo (21st March, 1937 – 16th June 1979) When Gen. Acheampong was removed in a palace coup on 5th July, 1978 General Fredrick Akuffo became chairman of SMC II and the head of government. Akuffo who hailed from Akropong-Akwapim in the Eastern Region was educated at the Presbyterian Secondary School at OdumasiKrobo from 1952 to 1955. He got enlisted as an OfficerCadet in the Ghana Army in 1957. He then studied at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK from 1958 to 1960; and at the Staff College in 1967; and also at the National Defense College, India in 1973. Posts he held included: Commanding Officer, Airborne Training School in Tamale from 1965 to 1966; commanding Officer, 6th Battalion from 1969 to 1970; Director General of Operations and Planning, Ministry of Defense in 1970. Gen. Akuffo was appointed Army Commander in 1974 and Chief of Defense Staff in 1976. When he took over from Acheampong, he initiated the return of the country to civilian rule by instituting a new Constitution Drafting Committee. He lifted the ban on politics though some prominent politicians were still banned. Unfortunately, his efforts could not solve the country’s economic problems, which sent workers demonstrating in the streets. Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and his men took advantage of the situation in the country and

staged a coup d’etat on the 4th of June 1979 to overthrow the SMCII. Rawlings became the chairman of ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the fifth military head of government in Ghana. However, the AFRC handed over power to democratically elected head in September, the same yar. Gen. Akuffo was shot by firing squad at the Teshie Military range with Gen. Acheampong and other on June 16th 1979.

Dr. Hilla Limann (12th Dec; 1934 – 23rd Jan; 1998) Flt. Lt. Rawlings and the AFRC organized elections in 1979 to return the country to civilian rule 3 months after the June 4th uprising. Dr. Hilla Limann who was the presidential candidate for the Peoples National Party (PNP) won the elections to become the third civilian head of government in Ghana. He was sworn in on 24th September, 1979 as the President of the Third Republic of Ghana. Limann was born on 12th December, 1934 at Gwolu in the Upper West Region. He was named Babini but he was brought up by his uncle, Heli Limann whose name he (Dr. Limann) assumed on entering primary school. Limann attended Tamale Government Middle School from 1946 to 1949. He became a District Councilor at Tumu in the Upper West Region between 1952 and 1955. In 1954, he lost parliamentary elections as an Independent Candidate. Limann left Ghana for London in 1957 and later to France where he obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science and Constitutional Law in 1965 from the University of Paris. He was made Head, Europe Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs form 195 to 1968. In 1967 he served as a member of the Constitutional Commission. After working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Head of Ghana’s Mission in Togo and Counselor of Ghana’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, Dr. Limann returned to Ghana in 1975 and when the ban on politics was lifted Alhaji Imoro Egala, a ‘giant’ in the PNP – a group of Nkrumahistselected him to lead the party. Thus, Dr. Limann became the head of government when PNP won the elections in 1979. He immediately replenished the depleted food stock in the country and launched the Gold Endowment Fund to attract investors to Ghana. Unfortunately, on 31st December 1981 Flt. Lt. Rawlings took power back from Dr. Limann in a military coup called “a revolution”. Dr. Limann lived a private life till he died of natural causes on 23rd January, 1998 in Ghana.

Flight – Lieutenant Jerry John Kwasi Rawlings (22nd June, 1947-) Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings came back to Ghana politics as the sixth military head of government in 1981 and ‘metamorphosized’ himself in 1992 to become the fourth civilian head of government and the President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. His second and final term of office (by the constitution) expires at the end of this year, 2000. The only head of government who is still alive is Rawlings. Though a native of Dzelokope in the Volta Region, Rawlings was born in Accra on June 22, 1947 and has since lived almost his whole life in Accra. He schooled at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School at Adabraka in Accra and furthered his studies at Achimota School also in Accra in 1966. In August 1967 he got enlisted as a Flight Cadet at the Ghana Air Force Station in Takoradi, Western Region. He was selected for Officer-Cadet Training at the Military Academic, Teshie in Accra. Rawlings went for Military Training Course in Takoradi after which he was commissioned as Pilot Officer in January 1969 (won the coveted Speed Bird Trophy as the Best Cadet in flying and airmanship). In April, 1969 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. On May 28, 1979 Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings was arrested for muting of the junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces. Before he could be sentenced on June 4, 1979 he was sprung from jail by Major Boakye-Djan and some junior officers. The coup makers formed the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) with Flt. Lt. Rawlings as the head. The AFRC did some ‘house cleaning’ by executing 3 former military heads of state and other military officers by firing squad. They handed over power to Dr. Limann and his PNP government in September, 1979. But Rawlings came back and ousted the Limann government in 1981. He formed the Provincial National Defense Council (PNDC) to carry out a “revolution”. In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the Army and contested elections on the ticket of National Democratic Convention (NDC) and won. He won again in the 1996 elections.

Mr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufour Ghana’s 4th Republic saw a smooth changeover

from the NDC government to a new government of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) under the leadership of Mr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufour on January 7, 2001. Thus, Mr. Kufour became the fifth civilian head of government after Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings. At the age of 62 years, Kufour who hails from the Ashanti Region of Ghana is the first opposition leader in Ghana to have beaten the i n c u m b e n t g o v e r n m e n t ’s presidential candidate to become the President of Ghana. Like the first, second and third civilian heads of government, Kufour is well educated. He went to Oxford University in Britain and earned a Masters degree in philosophy, political science and economics. He was called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in London in 1961 but he soon returned to Ghana and took to politics. He became a member of the Constitutuent Assemblies, which drafted G h a n a ’s r e p u b l i c a n constitution in 1969 and 1979. Mr. Kufour won a parliamentary seat and was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister in 1969 when Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and his Progress Party (PP) came to power. Busia government was overthrown in 1972 and Kufour went into business running a brick and tile factory. However, he returned to politics in 1979 and became the Deputy Minority parliamentary Leader when Ghana returned to democratic rule. That was to be for short time since Flt. J.J. Rawlings overthrew the government of Ghana in 1981. Kufour was then appointed by Rawlings as Minister for Local Government but after nine months in office Kufour resigned from Rawling’s PNDC government due to political incompatability. He then returned to entrepreneurship until 1992 when he came back to politics Kufour lost the presidential elections to Rawlings in 1996 but stood again for presidency and won in 2000 to become the 5th civilian head of government of Ghana. He won the presidency for the 2nd time in 2004. It is interesting to note that Ghana’s new democracy since 1992 has seen stability and grown over the years. This is evidenced by the fact that the last two presidents of the country, in the persons of Rawlings and Kufour have both successfully served as heads of state for two consecutive terms of 8 years a term each. Kufour will hand over his presidency to a newly elected president in January, 2009, thus, ending successfully his second term in office as the Head of State of Ghana. Kufour is married to Theresa, a nurse with whom he has five grown-up children. We congratulate Kufour and Rawlings (the only heads of states of our country still alive) as Ghana celebrates its 51st independence anniversary.

on the ticket of the then opposition National Democratic Party (NDC). He was sworn in by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Georgina Theodora Wood on January 7, 2009 as the Third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. (the 3rd John consecutively to rule Ghana!) Prof. John Atta Mills was born on 21 July 1944 at Tarkwa in western Ghana. He graduated in law at the University of Ghana in 1967 before pursuing his legal studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. John Atta Mills then won a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford Law School in the US. He came back to his alma mater the University of Ghana as a lecturer for nearly 25 years. From 1986 to 1993, Prof Atta Mills was the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and the substantive Commissioner during 19931996. He was then selected as the running mate to former President Jerry Rawlings for the 1996 elections, and served as vice president from 1997 to 2001. He was a keen hockey player, at one time a member of the national team, and also enjoyed swimming. President Mills had more than one dozen publications in the taxation and law fields to his credit. The 64-year old former President of Ghana was married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, a director of education and trained marriage counsellor. He died on July 12, 2012, the first sitting President of the country to die in office.

John Dramani Mahama: (July 24, 2012-present) President John Mahama was born on November 29, 1958 at Damongo, in the Northern Region of Ghana. He is a communications expert, historian, writer, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, and immediate former Vice-President of Ghana. He ascended to the high office of President following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24 in Accra. After completing his education, President Mahama went on to pursue an additional postgraduate diploma in social psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, and returned to Ghana from 1991 to 1996. He worked as Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra. In 2000, President Mahama was re-elected for another four-year term as the MP for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency. He was again re-elected in 2004 for a third term.

Professor John Evans Atta Mills (2009-2012) John Atta Mills became President of Ghana after two failed attempts. He lost twice against former President John Kufuor in 2000 and 2004. However, in 2008 he won the country’s presidential election

From 2001 to 2004, President Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications and in 2002 he was appointed the Director of Communications for the NDC. He was swornin on Monday, January 7, 2013, as the fourth President of Ghana's Fourth Republic. President Mahama has seven children. He is married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama.

The Ghanaian News February 2013

IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES By: James A. Kwaatemg, B.A. (Hons), LLB (Hons)

Impact of Criminal Convictions on Permanent Residents of Canada Pursuant to section 27 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada (IRPA), a permanent resident has the right to enter and remain in Canada, subject to the provisions of the Act. However, like any other non-Canadian, permanent residents may be subject to deportation if they are convicted of a serious offence in Canada. The nature of the offence committed and the length of sentence imposed in respect of the offence, would primarily determine the fate of a convicted permanent resident. A permanent resident of Canada may become the subject of a deportation order if convicted of an offence in Canada that is punishable under an act of Parliament by a potential penalty of at least 10 years of imprisonment (regardless of actual sentence), or if sentenced to more than six months of imprisonment for any federal offence. It is important to note however that no one is subject to automatic deportation as a result of a conviction in Canada. A delegate of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness reviews the circumstances of each case and in many cases may allow

and compassionate considerations.

the person to remain in Canada. However, the delegate may refer some cases to the Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to have a removal order issued. Under the current Immigration Act (IRPA), permanent residents do not have any right to appeal a deportation order to the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the IRB if they are sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least two years. The permanent residents m a y, h o w e v e r, s e e k leave for Federal Court judicial review of the deportation on matters of legal or procedural error. A jail term of two years or more precludes a permanent resident from seeking relief on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. But if a permanent resident receives a sentence of less than two years, he will retain the right to appeal his removal order to IAD on issues of law as well as humanitarian

Pentecost University to award Masters Degrees cont'd from pg. 13 He said modules of tertiary institutions should be more engaging and rooted in innovation, creativity and self-initiative to enable graduates to think outside the box and be job creators. CEO of Zoomlion, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, said the government alone cannot deal with graduate unemployment but rather, the private sector had a critical to role to play in job creation. A total 550 students graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Information Technology, Commerce, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Human Resource Management Marketing, Corporate and Business Development Studies,

Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Insurance with Actual Science. Martha Acheampong, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, emerged overall best student and took home four awards. Pro Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic a n d S t u d e n t A ff a i r s of the University of Ghana charged the University to desist from admitting unqualified persons into their graduate programmes. He warned the University of Ghana would not hesitate to sanction Pentecost University College if they are found culpable. Joy Online

Also, under the current Immigration Act (IRPA), if a permanent resident or a protected person is under a stayed removal order by the IAD for reasons of criminality and he is convicted of a serious criminal offence with a potential sentence of at least 10 years or an actual sentence of over six months, the person will have his or her stay of removal cancelled by operation of law, and the appeal will be terminated.

a permanent resident status holder within the zone of deportation if the maximum penalty for the offence in respect of which he is sentenced is less than 10 years of imprisonment. However, a sentence of two years or more will take away a permanent resident’s right to appeal a deportation order to the IAD. Also, under IRPA, a foreign national who is convicted of two or more summary offences, not arising out of the same incident, may also be subject to a deportation order.

It’s necessary to bear in mind that a sentence of six months or less does not bring

Vi s i t o r s , s t u d e n t s , temporary workers and other residents in Canada who are neither permanent

State of the Nation: Power a priority Tackling the country’s power problems with innovative solutions is at the top of President M a h a m a ’s a g e n d a , according to the State of the Nation address he gave this morning. For months the nation has been experiencing power shortages which have been affecting businesses, households and hospitals across the country. But in his speech President Mahama said he was “adequately aware of the challenges and the extreme discomfort” that the current situation was causing and said that it was, in turn, causing him “sleepless nights”. He said he hoped that over 500MW of power will be introduced into the power grid this year from the Takoradi 3 Thermal Plant and the Bui Hydroelectric Dam as well as a small amount of energy from a solar park in Navrongo. This will cover the current 200MW deficit which is the reason for the current load shedding. “Government will continue during the year, to support the utility companies to carry out distribution system improvement projects and increase electricity access to all parts of the country under the Energy for All programme to ensure universal access by 2016,” he Other projects include

a transmission line in the Upper West and another at Kpando, Tamale and Bolgatanga among others. “Government’s overall objective for the energy sector is to ensure reliable, stable and progressively cheap power for economic development in the country and the w i d e r We s t A f r i c a n region,” he said. He added that bringing the country’s own gas supply on stream would further supply affordable power and grow the economy. R e c e n t l y, t h e We s t African Gas Pipeline C o m p a n y ( WA P C O ) experienced damages to underwater pipes and caused Ghana to lose 250 MW of power, leading to frequent blackouts.

residents nor Canadian citizens may be referred to collectively as foreign nationals. The threshold for deportation of these people is lower than that for permanent residents. Regardless of the length of the sentence, when a person who is neither a permanent resident nor citizen of Canada is convicted in Canada of an indictable offence or of a hybrid offence (which is an offence that may be punishable by way of indictment or summarily), the person may become the subject of a deportation order.

in Canada must know that no matter how long they might have lived in Canada, if they are convicted of a ”serious crime”, they could lose their immigration status and be deported. The law on criminality and immigration is very complicated and it is important to get legal advice on such issues whenever necessary.

James A. Kwaateng is an Immigration Law Practitioner who has his offices located at 168A Oakdale Road, Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario. For a thorough discussion of your imN o n - C a n a d i a n s – migration and associated permanent and temporary legal issues, you may residents - who reside contact him at telephone number (416) 743-2758.

President appoints Council of State members President John Mahama has appointed a number of persons, including the immediate past Central R e g i o n a l M i n i s t e r, Ama Benyiwa-Doe to the Council of State. The Chairman of the Council is John Henry Martey Newman, former Chief of Staff under the late President John Mills. The other members of the Council include Cecilia Johnson, Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Osei Asibe, Ashanti Region and Patrick Enyonam A g b o g b a ( To g b u i S r i ) Vo l t a R e g i o n .

The others are Rashid Sulemana Mahama, of the Northern Region, Okogyeman Kweku Gyamerah of the Western Region, David Kanga of the Upper East Region, Ama Benyiwa Doe of the Central Region, Edward Gyader of the Upper East Region, Abraham Kweku Edusei representing the Eastern Region and Dr Rabiatu Deinyo Armah of the Greater Accra Region. The Council of State members were sworn into office by the President on Wednesday. Joy Online

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

Miss Awoulaba Positive Body Image Beauty Pageant held in Toronto The third edition of the Miss Awoulaba positive body image beauty pageant was held on February 17, 2013 at the Downtown Courtyard Marriot Hotel in Toronto. Miss Evelyn Ama Koomson of Toronto was adjudged the winner out of eight contestants The Miss Awoulaba beauty pageant is a unique show opened to contesting females with large and full bodies and seeks to differentiate itself from other

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Ghana and the modern day disgrace: Paramedics clean newborns with sachet water By: Kwaku A. Danso, USA Alimatu Sharifu; suffered excessive bleeding during childbirth but has not had a bath because of water shortage

and oil, and an educated and now experienced pool with global skills form around the world. Ghana as a modern day pioneer and promise for sub-Saharan Africa, and consequently for the black race, has failed. In the 47 years after the first premier was overthrown, Ghana has failed because of the greed and selfishness of a few people who grabbed power and were G h a n a t o h e r k n e e s supported by Western despite massive natural interests. Whatever roads resources such as gold and other infrastructures

The shortage of potable water and electricity in the cities and rural areas in Ghana for a nation with no rainfall problem, in the last ten years, is a major national disgrace. It is a symptom of a deeper and endemic fraud and corruption that has brought

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were built in 1966 were never continued. According to a former and retired Chief Engineer of Ghana Water company, a government-owned agency, 1965 (before the 1966 coup) was the last time government allocated funds for expansion of the water treatment facilities. The West, through massive loans, has encumbered the nation with loans for Water, Electricity, and for Roads and Highways that were never built. For example in the 1989/90 budget then Minister of Finance Dr. Kwesi Botchwey indicated Ghana had procured a $4.2 Billion World Bank loan for roads and asphaltconcrete highways that for a small nation of Ghana would have put Ghana on a solid path of transportation, one of the key elements of modern development. Instead, the moneys were diverted, most probably in private pockets and shoddy work that did not last two years for potholes to develop. Nobody was held responsible and the World Banks has since granted Ghana more than $603 million for Water projects in 2005-2006 that never got completed.

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Betty Mould Iddrisu did not defend the case and instead wrote a letter for the Minister of Finance to pay Mr. Woyome. Today the Attorney General has been appointed to a new Ministerial position by the new President John Mahama while the case is still under investigation. One cannot help but hold these nations, including the World Bank and IMF, partly responsible for the collusion and public theft that has taken place especially in the last thirty years after the Dec.31, 1981 coup. The coup overturned a legitimate elected government of Dr. Limann and ushered in the PNDC era that eventually transformed into a political party that has dominated Ghana with a defective constitution allowing one man to exercise the absolute power to make over 4,000 appointments f o r t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s cabinet as well as Chief Executives for the towns, districts and regions of Ghana and government water and electricity corporations. Many educated Ghanaians consider Ghana now as is a trick that even Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama cont'd on pg. 45

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In the West any lender would verify project funds for intended use, but when it comes to Ghana and perhaps third world nations, the World Bank pretends innocence. Ghana’s infrastructures have not kept up with growth, and yet there is a lot of fake statistics and reports that benefit a few investors in the natural resource extraction industry. A few trickledown benefits of the gold and oil extraction have made a few Ghanaians in power and their friends and allies very rich. There is no other major production with large employment outside the mining and oil industry. Why? The reason is that a large chunk of the capital that comes to Ghana is suspected to be stolen and eventually sent outside again to the West. In 2012 under a President who claimed to be a devout Christian, one Alfred Woyome, reputed to be one of the ruling party’s financiers, was awarded a $51 million court judgment for a breach of contract his associates had won to build stadia, and that he was going to perform some subcontract work. The Attorney General

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

BUSINESS Principles of Financial Success II By Eddie Twumasi Smith Bsc(Hons) Chem Eng, MBA,CGA, CPA

anywhere at home, but rather in a bank account or in a safety deposit. C e r t a i n l y, l i f e a n d disability insurance is necessary too, to protect those closest to you. That should be the first of your financial goals.

In the January edition of the Ghanaian News, I elaborated on some of the underlying causes of increasing debt and diminishing investment for most middle class particularly in North America. In this article I conclude my earlier article with some suggestions as to how we can over come some of these challenges and organize towards financial freedom. Where

start?

One of the reasons why most people do not become wealthy is that they do not have a clear definition of what is an asset for them. That is to say, they do not have a clearly defined goal. Admit it, it is very hard to achieve something, you do not have a clear idea about. Therefore, you should start with your long-term goals. What are your long-term financial goals? What kind of lifestyle do you want to live when you achieve your goals? Before starting to move towards long-term goals, each person should address their financial s e c u r i t y. F i n a n c i a l security is based on two things: life and disability insurance as well as the development of a “financial buffer”. What is a “financial buffer”? This is the amount of money, stored in a safe place, which is necessary to cover your essential family expenses for 6-24 months, in the event that you suddenly lose your source(s) of income. Everyone thinks, “It will never happen to me.”, but usually it happens to those who are thinking about it minimally. In addition, imagine how much calmer a person feels, when he knows that if it is necessary, he will have enough time to find another job, calmly, or even change careers completely. You have to keep this money unused, and you cannot risk it. It is not recommended that you keep these funds

After taking care of financial security, you can make decisions about how you will increase your capital. The first decision you need to make is what part of your income you will pay yourself? That is to say, what proportion of your income you will save every month. But there is a problem. How could I know how much I will retain every month? Because financial circumstances may differ from month to month and sometimes nothing is left? The answer is, when you receive a payment, pay yourself first! That means as soon as earnings falls into your account, you should deposit a part of that money, which is intended for saving, into a special savings account. However, that is not enough, because most people are unable to resist the temptation to spend the money and their discipline is breached. They do not pay themselves, believing that the next month they will save twice as much. Next month history repeats itself and eventually there comes a time when people feel powerless to carry out this part of their plan. In order to avoid this, you need to automate this process. For example, if you receive your salary on the 10th of each month, create an automatic money transfer to your savings account on the 11th of the month. Let’s see what would happen if a 19-year-old young man would pay himself $250 US each month? He would save $3000 US each year! Please guess how much capital he will accumulate as a 65-year old, if he does not use this money until he reaches 65 years of age and if he invests the money in financial instruments, which give him an average of 10% growth a year? The answer is $1.5 million US. The final result is always impressive, because if you save some money every month and invest it, the compound interest will take effect. If you are not experienced

in investing, you can go to your bank and communicate with the manager of investment product marketing. Look for a manager that will not attack you, suggesting one or another fund, without having clarified your long-term investment goals ahead of time. A good manager should help you in preparing the personal investment strategy which is best suited to your goals and personal characteristics; such as you degree of risk tolerance. Unfortunately, in most banks, managers behave as ordinary salespeople today. They have a product and seek to sell it in anyway. However, this is not a reason to avoid saving. It is just not worth it to rush the process. Take your time and focus your efforts on finding the right specialist; one that concentrates on your needs as the client. To

conclude:

1. Decide what part of your income you will pay yourself. 2. Pay yourself first of all. Pay others after that. 3.

Automate

it.

Does this mean, under most circumstances each person can gradually become rich? If everything should be put into a single sentence, I would say, most people never become rich, because t h e y d o n ’t o rg a n i z e their life like a business, which must return profit at the end of each year. We did not explore specific skill-intensive, capitalraising techniques, such as an active trade on a stock exchange, trading options or other methods. In this article, the greatest attention was paid to beliefs and habits, for which each of us is responsible and each person can change. After some habits change, we will increase our access to greater a m o u n t s o f m o n e y. I hope we will all start by assessing our current financial situation, however dim or flamboyant, set out a vision for our future, working out a strategy as to how to get there and taking bold steps to narrow the “GAP” between now and our vision.

I WANT TO INVEST IN A PUBLIC COMPANY – HOW? By: Konstantine Chatzidimos and Jayson Schwarz LLM Every company (not a charity or not for profit) has shareholders. Shareholders are the owners of the company. The most common type of shares are “Common Shares”. These are the shares that represent the equity or ownership of the company. A company needs to have officers and directors. Directors set the strategy of the company and officers provide the management. In order to accomplish certain goals often more money is needed then the founders of a company can put into the company. Often in start ups banks won’t lend money. One method of raising this money is to sell shares to the public. Once a company offers it shares to the public it then gets listed on a stock exchange. In Canada there are really 3 main stock exchanges – the Canadian National Stock Exchange (“CNSX”), the Toronto Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). Once a company is listed its shares can be bought and sold through the exchange where it is listed. To buy shares on the exchange you need to hire a stock broker (like my friend Andrew Rudensky at Richardson GMP Limited, 1 416 941 6748) or sign up for an online trading account on the net or through your bank. In Canada to get listed a company usually has a long form prospectus and goes through many steps with very stringent and expensive requirements and then the underwriters and brokers and promoters can sell shares to the public as can the company directly. Another way to buy shares is through something called a private placement. Private Placements are used to raise money using a shorter Subscription

Agreement in order to sell shares to the Public under certain exemptions. As an example Organic Potash Corporation (CNSX:OPC)(www. organicpotash.com) a company that manufactures 99%+ pure organic potassium carbonate from cocoa husks in Ghana, raised its initial capital through a private placement. In order to buy shares in a private placement you have to be an “Accredited Investor”. This means you have to promise to the company that either alone or with your spouse, you beneficially own, directly or indirectly, financial assets having an aggregate realizable value that before taxes, but net of any related liabilities, exceeds $1,000,000.00 or you are an individual whose net income before taxes exceeded $200,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years or whose net income before taxes combined with that of a spouse exceeded $300,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years and who, in either case, reasonably expects to exceed that net income level in the current calendar year; There you have it a short version on public companies. I hope this gives you some knowledge and understanding, please know that the lawyers at Schwarz Law LLP would be happy to help you and answer your questions. Jayson Schwarz LLM is a business lawyer and partner in the law firm Schwarz Law LLP. If you have a topic in mind, or a question, mail, deliver or fax letters to the newspaper or to the firm, call us (888-609-8888), use the web site (www. schwarzlaw.ca), email (info@schwarzlaw.ca) and give us your questions, concerns, critiques and quandaries.

Schwarz Law Barristers and Solicitors Schwarz Law LLP is a full service law firm, offering sound and practical professional advice in the areas of Business Law, Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, General Litigation, Personal Injury, Construction Liens, Immigration and Estates and Tax Planning. Schwarz Law LLP is also associated with law firms in Providenciales (Turks & Caicos Islands), Kansas City, Missouri (USA), Accra (Ghana) & Montreal, Quebec. Jayson Schwarz is also a foreign referral associate of Cyrus Ross International (Europe). As a result, through our network of associated firms, we can provide national and international solutions as required.

Tel: 416-486-2040 schwarz@schwarzlaw.ca

Fax: 416-486-3325 www.schwarzlaw.ca

1984 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4S 1Z7

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

TALKING FINANCES Entitlement: Financial Disaster By: Gabriel Quayson, Toronto Entitlement is defined as “a guarantee of access to benefits because of rights, or by agreement through law. In a casual sense, it refers to someone’s belief that he/she is deserving of some particular reward, benefit, lifestyle, or privileges. It is often used negatively as “a sense of entitlement’. In clinical psychology, it refers to an unrealistic, exaggerated, or rigidly held sense of entitlement; it may be considered a symptom of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Wikipedia indicates that the entitlement generation is the group born between 1979 and 1994, who believe they are owed certain rights and benefits without further justification. The entitlement generation expects higher salaries, flexible work hours, and ample time off. Where do you think entitlement comes from? Most people in today’s western society have some sense of entitlement simply because they haven’t seen any worst. They have food every day, nice shoes, a car, two or three children and a home bigger than they actually need. These said individuals have never been hungry. Those who have never been hungry, never wondered where they would sleep, always have had most things at

their fingertips or came from a wealthy family. Such people therefore have a skewed sense of entitlement. I’m certain that somewhere within your circle of friends you know a few people that feel that they are entitled to many things. The same shallow-minded people feel that they are always entitled to something. Despite knowing many individuals who feel this sense of entitlement, I have yet to realize how they got that way. Aside from being selfish, shallow and materialistic, they “sincerely believe that they are entitled to this and that. Much of the reason why these poor souls feel entitled is because they developed an appetite for finer things in early life and the sense for having whatever they want, whenever they want it. To put it in politely, very few people in today’s society have deep pockets for having whatever they want, whenever they want it. One exception may be Bill Gates whose pockets are so deep that he can’t feel the bottom. But Bill worked hard for his money in the early stages, made the wise moves, and most importantly knows the value of starting from the bottom to get to the deep pockets of having whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.

Prior to the birth of this entitlement generation, homes were typically 2 bedrooms with one washroom and families were much bigger, parents stayed in one and all the children in the other. Currently, homes are typically 3 to 4 bedrooms, plus basement, with 3 washrooms, with

smaller families, yet we feel crowded and uncomfortable. Why is that? A skewed sense of entitlement is the answer. We all feel a sense of entitlement at some points in our lives. Unfortunately, as our expectations have gone up, our ability to pay for them has been seriously challenged. Fingers are often pointed to others for our feeling of entitlement and our inability to pay for our desires. Entitlement can be seen right across various age groups, including teens (all want the latest phone, but have never worked), young adults in their 20s (want brand new cars, while being a student) adults in their early thirties and

above (want mansions, but have low income). Insecure individuals who roam malls, buy $8 coffee’s, with fancy names, read Celebrity magazines or watch a lot of TV are feeling this sense of entitlement. They look at a celebrity and say; “Wow, I want to live like them. They fail to realize the Brad Pitt’s of the world were waiters and taking acting classes after work until their big break came. The entitlement generation wants the benefits but none of the burden. If this said group were farmers, you will think, they lost their mind. Imagine a farmer that plants orange seeds today and want freshly squeeze or-

ange juice the next day. One of the reasons for entitlement or poverty trap, is that people feel they are deserving of it (whatever they want) because they have worked hard, ie: the price is already paid. The school of life does not reward us for just paying the price; we are rewarded for doing the right thing. If a student goes to a library and text friends for 10 hours and briefly skim through study notes, is he/she deserving of an “A”?. This student paid the price of spending 10hours in the library. Employees with poor attitudes spend years on the job in a company but never get promoted and financially rewarded. Yet cont'd on pg. 47

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

TDSB director resigns over plagiarism, PhD dissertation includes unattributed passages cont'd from pg. 5

a specific sport, but also how to play the game of life (Snyder and Spreitzer 1989). Sport presumably transmits, among other values, the importance of hard work, character development and team work values that are complementary to those necessary for success in academic life. Sport, therefore, has been traditionally viewed as beneficial to the achievement of academic goals.” The words appear almost exactly the same on the first page of a chapter by Othello Harris in the Jarvie book: “One view of athletic participation suggests involvement in sport has positive consequences for participants and society as a whole. Among the positive consequences associated with sport is its function as a transmitter of social values. Through athletic participation, it is argued, one not only learns to play a specific sport but how to ‘play the game of life’ (Snyder and Spreitzer, 1983). Sport presumably transmits, among other values, the importance of hard work, character development and team work values that are complementary to those necessary for success in academic life. Sport, therefore, has been traditionally viewed as beneficial to the achievement of academic goals.” Dr. Spence continues for one long paragraph in which he discusses the chances that a black high

school football player will play for a “Division 1college football team.” The paragraph following is again almost identical to Harris’s chapter. Dr. Spence writes: “Coleman (1961) expressed his concern that high schools give the appearance of being organized around sport rather than academics, as indicated by the visibility of symbols of athletic achievements (for example, displays of athletic trophies in school lobbies) and the relative invisibility of academic accomplishments (for example, an absence of displays of scholarly awards). It is significant to note that although Coleman’s concerns are dated (1961), little has changed in the appearance of how schools are organized. Furthermore, athletes are accorded higher status in high school than scholars. The notion of sport as a threat to academics has lead to the conceptualization of the athlete as an individual uninterested in academics. This stereotype encompasses the idea that time and energy spent on athletics is time and energy taken away from the pursuit of academic concerns, because athletic excellence requires an enormous amount of time and energy for practice and competition. This stereotype has given rise to the dominant ideology that athletes are poor students. The

phrase ‘dumb jock’ is evidence of this stereotype.” Harris wrote: “More recently, Coleman (1961) expressed his concern that high schools give the appearance of being organized around sport rather than academics as indicated by the visibility of symbols of athletic achievements (for example, displays of athletic trophies in school lobbies) and the relative invisibility of symbols of academic accomplishments (for example, an absence of displays of scholarly awards). Furthermore, athletes were accorded higher status in high schools than scholars or bright students as indicated by the backgrounds of members of the high schools’ leading crowds. This notion of sport as a threat to academics has led to the conceptualization of the athlete as an individual interested in athletics but not academics. This stereotype encompasses the idea that time and energy spent on athletics is time and energy taken away from the pursuit of academic concerns. Because athletic excellence requires an enormous amount of time and energy – for practices, team meetings, home and away games, time to reflect, etc. – university athletes have little time to spend refining their academic skills. This stereotype has given rise to the dominant ideology that athletes are poor students.”

Kofi Barnes appointed to Ontario Superior Court of Justice cont'd from pg. 1

1998, with the late Justice Paul Bentley. In 2006, he founded the Durham Drug Treatment Court and in 2011 the Metro West Youth Community Restoration Court. All these programs provides intensive. court-supervised treatment to drug offenders who commit non-violent crimes related to their addiction. In March 2004, Barnes was sworn in Oshawa as Canada’s 25th Black judge. In addition to his extensive criminal law experience, Barnes has served in various administrative capacities, including team leader

of the Federal Prosecution Service, the Toronto Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Justice prosecution teams. A graduate of Trent University and Osgoode Hall, Barnes is a member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and founding president of the Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals. He has also provided training internationally under the sponsorship of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. In his acceptance remarks, Justice Barnes

pledged to carry out his duties to the best of his ability and to maintain the highest standards that the public has come to expect and demand of members of the judiciary. He thanked, Ghanaian born, retired Justice of the Peace Julius Dogbe, for his unyielding support and encouragement and acknowledged the positive impacts of his career mentors, Justice Michael Moldaver of the Supreme Court of Canada and the late Chief Justice Julius Isaacs, former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada. Mr. Justice Kofi Barnes shall preside in Brampton

For All Your Events Coverage Call The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Community Information IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Movement of United Ghanaians Abroad ( MUGA-GHANA FIRST )

GHANAIAN CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO - GCAO 168a OAKDALE ROAD, SUITE # 6c, TORONTO, ON, M3N S5, 416-740-9734 GHANA’S @ 56TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY DUBAR DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 VENUE: THE APOSTLES’ CONTINUATION CHURCH #10 BELFIELD ROAD @ KIPLING TIME: 7.00PM SPECIAL GUEST: M. S.V. AKYIANU GHANA’S HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CANADA CHURCHES, ASSOCIATIONS, CHIEFS, YOUTH, ETC, ARE ALL PARTICIPATING ADMISSION: $10 DONATION AT THE DOOR INFO: WOFA YAW @ 647-340-3755, MARK @ 416-553-3787 WATCH OUT FOR MORE DETAILS

The Official mouthpiece Ghanaians Abroad OUR MISSION Is to serve as a forum where Ghanaians living Abroad express our concern about event and circumstances in Ghana that affect our well being and of our brother's and Sister's at home. BE A MEMBER AS A GHANAIAN For more information or to register contact: Tel: 004917627 727777/00494721685881 Or 647-717-3362 Osei Bonsu 416-716-5977 Kojo Owusu 647-349-1865 Maame Dufie E-mail: ghabroad@googlemail.com Website: www.muga.co We shall Over Come DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY

Watch Out For Ghanaian Women's Prayer Conference May 20th 2013 For more info, please call

416-916-3700

The Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto (GMCT) is ideally Ghanaian congregation under the Methodist Church Ghana. Our worship style incorporates elements of traditional Methodist liturgy, hymnal and contemporary gospel music. Our Music Ministry consists of the Choir, Singing Band and Praises/adoration Team. We are accepting application for the Position of Director of Music Ministry. GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: The Director of Music Ministry provides leadership and manages the Music Ministry of GMCT which includes the three sectors (The Choir, The Singing Band, and The Praises/Adoration Team). The Director of Music Ministry is a consultant, not an employee of the GMCT. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Teach or facilitate the learning of new songs (in all three sectors) which may be culturally current or theologically/doctrinally appropriate.  Provide leadership and enhance professional communication, coordination, and mutual respect between the Choir Master, Organist, leaders of the Singing Band, and the Praises/ Adoration Team or anyone associated with the Music Ministry.  Plan and schedule practice periods with the Choir, Singing Band and the Praise/Adoration team.  Consult with the Minister-in-Charge to select hymns, soloists, choruses and practice or rehearse with various sectors for Sunday Church Services and any other special occasions.  Ensure the inventory and maintenance of all musical instruments and equipments in the church.  Recruit and coordinate a Youth Music Team and subsequently develop a Youth Music Ministry.  Encourage church members’ participation in the Music Ministry by recruiting, training, and motivating interested members to join the Music Ministry.  Attend appropriate meetings pertaining to the Music Ministry of GMCT.  Any other duties as assigned by the Minister- in-Charge. QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE: The Director of Music Ministry is expected to be an experienced and accomplished musician, choral director, organist and teacher of traditional Methodist Hymnals and contemporary gospel music. The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5years experience of attested music skills and demonstrated competence. Ability to legally work in Canada is required. Salary is negotiable.

Please send your resume with 2 referees by fax 416-744-1411. Or mail to; The Secretary, The Committee on Administration Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto 19 Penn Drive, North York, Ontario. M9L 2A6 (DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS MARCH 15TH, 2013)

The Ghanaian News February 2013

The

Youth Journal

MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR YOUTH THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY

Treat Youth Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis By Kwabena Akuoko, MSW, RSW, Toronto

Young Black males in Canada especially in the big urban centers of Toronto, Montreal and Calgary are dying in numbers through gun violence, and those doing the killings are ironically their own people. While the killings have been unceasing over the years, they have distraughtly exacerbated since the beginning of the year. Similarly, whereas several Canadian young people of African descent have been shot dead in succession in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) recently, the deaths of three 15 year-olds and a 9 year-old have garnered particularly attention than the rest. These youngsters were coldbloodedly gunned down within weeks between January and February in the comfort of their homes or steps away from there. Regardless of where children live, they are entitled to be safe and hence, the current spike of youth violence must be responded to as a public health crisis. Youth killings and their victims in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from January to the present are inexplicably young Black males. These recurring teen homicides can only be described as a serious public health crisis that calls for strategic and holistic response. The crisis is a double-edged sword for the Black community given the sad reality that our children are both killers and victims. The violence thus lopsidedly affects young African Canadian males than any other demographic. It seems that not a week goes by these days without the terrible news of a teenager shot dead or seriously wounded by another. Statistically, of the majority of youth homicides in Toronto and its environs, about 90 percent happen in the African Canadian community. No wonder we have somehow become anaesthetized to the problem. Whenever we lose a young life to gun violence, we helplessly and hopelessly throw up our hands in the air and simply conclude that there is nothing we can do about it. Needless to point out that the culture of youth gun violence has permeated in the community for far too long and we can no longer be oblivious of the alarming statistics. This is not a mere problem that will go away if ignored. It is public health crisis, which certainly requires strategic and far-reaching measures to address it. A plan of action that involves the government and also builds upon the initiatives of community groups, and most importantly, inputs from youngsters are needed to deal with this never ending crisis. We need to find solutions to the underlying issues that fuel youth gun violence in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada. The crisis must be seen and addressed from the perspectives of public health. In the public health policy sphere when an epidemic breaks up for instance, the immediate concern is first and foremost to find a way to stabilize the situation. Following stabilization comes with delving into what might have been the root cause or causes of the crisis and then taking wide-ranging measures to counter it. We can thus employ

similar public health policy framework to deal with the issue of youth gun violence. Such strategic approach has worked in a notable North American jurisdiction, and it can certainly work here as well. Back in the 1990’s, Minneapolis, Minnesota similarly experienced unprecedented rise of gun violence that disproportionately involved children and adolescents either as victims and perpetrators. Minneapolis was notoriously nicknamed “Murderapolis” to sadly reflect the widespread murder rate in that city. But with the joint and concerted efforts of local politicians of all political persuasions, Minneapolis rightly perceived the crisis from public health perspective and addressed it from that angle. Minneapolis City Council in 2006 unanimously voted to designate youth violence as a public health crisis instead of narrowly and traditionally viewing it as merely a law enforcement issue. Minneapolis consequently created a steering committee that consisted of Police and Public Health Departments’ personnel, social work/service sector professionals and other community groups, and tasked the working group to appropriately respond to the crisis. The committee produced a report suitably titled, “Blueprint for Action: Preventing Youth Violence in Minneapolis” (thinkprogress.org). The document set out wide ranging recommendations under the auspices of 4 main guiding principles. Specifically, the principles sought to ensure at-risk youth’s access to trusted adults via governmentfunded mentoring programs, helped to incentivize susceptible youth and connect them with employment, volunteer and other vital programs. Part of the youth violent crime reduction strategies in Minneapolis also sought to help reorient young people who have already been involved with the juvenile justice system through steps such as adjusting probation requirements around reintegrating the youth into the community instead of the often familiar surveillance. Another strategy also strongly worked against the broader culture of violence by ensuring that those who made weapons available to minors are deservedly penalized under the law (ibid.). The Minneapolis approach strongly suggests that youth crime, including gun violence cannot be entirely addressed through law enforcement or punitive measures as it has so far obviously been the case in Toronto. A holistic approach, which encompasses the efforts of various stakeholders, including community groups and most importantly, youth themselves is one of the possible best means through which the question of youth crime can be comprehensively addressed. It is evident that the youth gun violent crisis in Toronto and other jurisdictions across Canada is beyond the scope of law enforcement alone. Therefore, our civic leaders must have the foresight, political will and the courage to declare the problem as a public health crisis and appropriately address it.

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Africa Food Imports Costs Equivalent to Aid Invest in agriculture to bolster employment opportunities in Africa Africa imports close to USD 50 billion worth of food, equivalent to what the continent receives as Official Development Assistance (ILO.org; accessed January 29, 2013). The continent’s food imports take place against the backdrop of untapped arable land and growing unemployed populations. Close to 30 per cent of Africa’s 18 – 29 year olds are out of work (Edition.cnn.com; accessed January 29, 2013). Africa’s food imports are geared towards meeting food

demands driven by rapid urbanization. Investment in agriculture in Africa will not only assist the continent divert its meager resources towards other vital sectors such as health but also create a platform for employment. In Sub Saharan Africa, an estimated 60 per cent of the continent’s workforce is involved in agriculture mostly as unpaid family work (Fao.org; accessed January 29, 2013). Rapid urbanization should trigger a revitalization of agriculture practice in Africa to bolster food supplies and offer salaried employment opportunities.

Toronto declared ‘sanctuary city’ to non-status migrants cont'd from pg. 9

who comes here while they are here.” However, Mihevc pointed out the new city policy will not address barriers faced by non-status residents for services under the provincial or federal jurisdictions such as housing, income security, welfare and labour protection. “With the police, their policy is, ‘don’t ask.’ But if they find that someone tells them, they actually have a legal obligation to report it to Immigration Canada. That’s the nuance with respect to the police. This doesn’t change that,” Mihevc explained. Thursday’s motion was a second attempt by migrant advocacy groups to formalize the city’s sanctuary policy; the previous administration under mayor David Miller did not commit to affirming the policy but opted to simply put a poster online to promote it. “This is a great show of what community organizations can do. But this is only a policy . . . The only way we’re going to get changes in our community is if our community

is organized and standing strong, and we keep councillors to what they said today,” said Tzazna Miranda Leal of the Solidarity City Network, a community umbrella group behind the campaign. However, councillor Minnan-Wong, a vocal critic of the motion, said undocumented people are illegal in Canada and do not deserve government services. “We shouldn’t encourage them. We shouldn’t help them. We should not facilitate them. They are an insult to every immigrant who plays by the rule to get into the country. They are an insult to every immigrant who is waiting to enter this country legally,” said Minnan-Wong. “It sends a message to the world that it is okay to break the law to come to Canada and it says that the City of Toronto is an accomplice to this lawbreaking.” Council also voted to ask Ottawa to establish an amnesty program for undocumented migrants and the province to review its policies to ensure their access to health care, emergency services and community housing. Thestar.com

Extra-curricular activities returning to Ontario public high schools cont'd from pg. 13

teachers themselves. But with support from the local leadership it appears the re-introduction of extra-curricular activities is a foregone conclusion. “We encourage members to review recent information and decide if they are willing to return to participating in the activities we know they feel so passionately about,” Coran said. Wynne’s statement appeared aimed at bringing an end to the bitter protest which has affected hundreds of thousands of students in Ontario’s high schools. “Today’s news is a great indication of the hard work all parties are putting into the repair of this valued relationship. It shows our willingness to work together, to listen to one another’s concerns, and

to find common ground on which we can rebuild a foundation of trust and create an effective process going forward. “I’ve been clear that this issue needs to be addressed within Ontario’s existing fiscal framework. But I am confident that our government’s commitment to fairness, consistency and respect in our conversations with OSSTF and all our partners will continue to result in real work being done for the people of Ontario.” The union says it will have a news conference on Monday morning. Wynne said she hoped the Elementary Teachers’ Federation would decide to end its protest as well and resume extracurricular activities. CBC News

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Toronto Students Get History Lesson on Parliament Hill BY WILLIAM DOYLE-MARSHALL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the place you get to dream your greatest dreams and we have to support you.â&#x20AC;? This message was given to 42 Toronto students when they visited Parliament Hill as part of Black History Month in February. Kirsty Duncan, member of Parliament was among parliamentarians welcoming them to the Hill Hon. Jean Augustine , Rick Gosling, Emmanuel Ayiku and Gordon Cudjoe cont'd on pg. 60

Presentation to RCMP

Arrival at Ottawa train station

Presentation to Toronto Police

Hon. Judy Sgro lecturing the kids

At Union Station

In front of eternal flame

Via railtrain ride

Group of MPs with Gosling at Parliament Hill Arrival at Parliament Hill

Via railtrain ride

Fun time in the snow

Some of the teachers of the Breakfast Club

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was Ubiquitous By: Mickson Addo, Toronto

O s a g y e f o D r. K w a m e Nkrumah, a romantic African marxist determined to play the part of a revolutionary and leader of a docile party most of whose active members were bemused and dazzled by their own success, yet his ubiquitous influence has been felt by a significant number of Ghanaians and people within the African continent, especially the baby-boomers. Here was a principal source of anxiety - the volatile, unpredictable nature of Nkrumah himself who fashioned the myth that Ghana was engaged in-a perpetual revolution against hidden enemies (like disgruntle local politicians who were neo-colonial sympathisers). Nkrumah’s overthrow from power was orchestrated by the imperialists (the CIA) because they thought he was too nationalistic.

cont'd from pg. 1

Nkrumah lived in the United States for 10 years (1935-1945) and observed the rampant racial atrocities e.g. hanging, lynching, rape, abuse and torture-all unleashed to AfricanAmericans because of the colour of their skin. He had his ups and downs and we should not feed on his flaws, even some right wing noise machines labeled him as a dictator. Was Abraham Lincoln a dictator when he used the union forces of the American North to fight the American South to save the Union? Was Martin Luther a dictator because he had to work against his fellow Black Americans for snitching, and lastly was Nkrumah a dictator because he had to fight some disgruntled politicians who were neocolonial sympathizers? When Nkrumah arrived in Ghana, he joined the United Gold Coast Convention headed

P e o p l e s P a r t y - C P P ) . I t Thereafter, several assassination was a grassroot movement attempts were made on his life. which attracted the masses. Nkrumah therefore secluded himself in Christianborg Castle, In 1948, Nkrumah led a cocoa guarded by soldiers having riot in the then Gold Coast after disarmed the police. In those which he was incarcerated. years, the African political Whilst in prison, he was able scene became bewilderingly to organize his party through complex, and increasingly a dynamic network. Nkrumah unstable, as plots, counter-plots, was in prison when he won assassinations, and seizure of a general election and was power by army commanders released to form a government. took their toll of the early leader.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, 1st President of Ghana

by Paa Grant, but soon Nkrumah found himself at loggerheads with the establishment, whilst Nkrumah’s vision was “self government now or never,” the UGCC manifesto was “independence at an opportune time.” This clash of interest led Nkrumah to breakaway from the UGCC to form his own party – (the Convention

After Nkrumah assumed office on July 01, 1960 the regime appeared triumphant, the opposition was reduced to no more than a token force. The CPP dominated the unicameral assembly and Nkrumah was the president with very great executive authority. A positive neutralist policy was pursued with vigour abroad and Pan-African theories continued to flourish.

Within the country itself, the economy lost much of its buoyancy as cocoa prices fell and as the cost of living went up and goods became scarce under a clumsily administered system of import control. By 1966 the excitement of selfgovernment had receded, independence was taken for granted. In February 1966, Nkrumah’s government was toppled by some military and police officers. It was a coup d’etat orchestrated by the CIA.

GHANA: 56th Milestone of Nationhood

years. Free Teacher Training Education was also introduced that helped to train teachers to staff the numerous elementary schools that were opened across the country. For post-secondary education the CPP government expanded the University of Ghana, the Premier University opened earlier by the colonial government in 1948. Two more universities were established: The University of Science and Technology in the nation’s second largest City, Kumasi to train the nation’s needed technical personnel. A third University was opened in the Central Region City of Cape Coast, the cradle of Ghana’s education network, the Cape Coast University originally mandated to train teachers to staff the numerous secondary/technical and teachers’ colleges that had sprang up all over the country. On the industrial front, a number of industries were established. A national airline, Ghana Airways, was launched. Ghana was then set to fly high and determined to take its place among the community of nations. The country became the center for the independence and anti-colonial struggle for other sub-Saharan African countries still under colonial rule. Two major liberationoriented conferences were held in Accra: the All-Africa P e o p l e ’s C o n f e r e n c e i n 1958 and the Conference of Independent African States in 1965. Most African countries looked up to Ghana for political leadership and inspiration. It became known as the “Black Star” of Africa. On this front

the nation was somehow “managing” its own affairs. The high expectations and hopes for Ghana’s accelerated development and political stability and maturity did not materialize or last long enough. Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP government he headed started to exhibit uneasiness and intolerance of any dissenting views. A Preventive Detention Act was passed that gave wide-sweeping powers to the government to arrest and detain its political opponents, real or imaginary. A number of politicians from the main opposition United Party (UP) notably Joseph Boakye Danquah, William Ofori Attah, Obetsebi Lamptey were arrested and dumbed at the Medium Security Prison at Nsawam , 22 miles north of Accra. J. B Danquah was to later die in detention. The first post-colonial government headed by Kwame Nkrumah lasted nine years and was violently overthrown in a military take-over initiated by the American C.I.A on 24 February, 1966. This event accelerated the political upheavals, social and economic dislocations and destruction that Ghana had descended into from the early 19660s. The nation has not fully recovered from this mess since then. The violent political change in February 1966 was to usher in a period of constant and misguided intervention in the nation’s politics by restless military officers. Of the 56 years that the nation has existed, the military has intervened five times to overthrow the elected or

reigning governments. The military has succeeded in ruling the country for 21 years of its fifty-six years of life as a nation. The first military government, the National Liberation Council (NLC), established with the 1966 take-over lasted from February 1966 to August 1969. It was first headed by Lt. General Joseph A. Ankrah and later by Lt. General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa who handed over power to a democratically elected government headed by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia and his Progress Party (PP) after an election held in August 1969. This Parliamentary government lasted only 28 months before it was shot down by another bunch of restless soldiers led by then Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong who established the National Redemption Council (NRC) government. This government ruled for three years and re-organized itself into a Supreme Military Council (SMC) manned by all the service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces who felt that their junior officers were doing all the looting and “chopping” of the nation’s resources and demanded to participate in the looting of the nation’s resources. A palace coup organized in July 1978 brought a new set of military commanders into power with the establishment of another Supreme Military Council headed by Lt. G e n e r a l F. W. K A k u f f o . On May 15, 1979 a group of young military officers led by Flt. Lt. Jeremiah John Rawlings attempted to overthrow the government of the Supreme Military Council. The uprising

failed and the mutineers were arrested. In the course of their trial before a military tribunal, another group of young officers engaged the government in a violent shoot-out and succeeded in overthrowing the government on June 4, 1979. They established the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) government manned by corporals and sergeants with Flt. Lt. Jeremiah John Rawlings as the head which ruled for only three months: June 4, 1979 to September 23, 1979. This three-month rule of the AFRC was a real watershed in Ghana’s history. This period witnessed the most brutal and worse human rights abuses ever unleashed on the population o f t h e c o u n t r y. U n r u l y, undisciplined and drunken soldiers roamed the streets and neighborhoods of the country, terrorized and cowed the population into submission. Six top military officers including three former Heads of State were executed by firing squad by Jerry Rawlings under some very flimsy and questionable excuses. Thank God this traumatic experience lasted only three months, but it left serious wounds and scars on the nation’s psyche. The AFRC and Jeremiah Rawlings handed over power to a new democraticallyelected government headed by Dr. Hilla Liman and his Peoples National Party (PNP) on 23 September 1979. This was the Third Republic of Ghana. The same Jeremiah John Rawlings who handed over power to Dr. Hilla Liman again staged another military take-over of the government on 31 December, 1981, only

27 months into the life of the government of the Third Republic. He established the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) which ruled the country until December 1992. As is his manner and style, Jeremiah Rawlings and his second military government subjected Ghanaians to another bout of brutality and human rights abuses including the arrest and brutal murder of three high court judges and a retired military officer on June 30, 1982. Under pressure from the international community to return the country to constitutional rule, Jeremiah Rawlings lifted the ban on political activity to allow political parties to be formed and function. He himself formed his own political party, got a Constitution to be written (on his terms), got elections organized and won the Presidency along with his political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). This was the beginning of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. Rawlings ruled the country again for another eight years, the maximum two terms allowed under the 1992 Constitution. The second elections of the Fourth Republic organized in December 2000, was won by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under John Agyekum Kufour who won the Presidency after a second round run-off with the second place John Evans Attah Mills. The NPP also won a slight majority of 124 of the then 200-seat Parliament. President Kufour and his NPP won re-election in December 2004 for anothercont'd four-year term. on pg. 52

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

This Day in History: February 24, 1966 Nkrumah's Overthrow! On February 24, 1966, Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first president, Kwame Nkrumah flew out of Accra to Hanoi, Democratic Republic of North Vietnam at the invitation of President Ho Chi Minh. Nkrumah was to offer his Vietnam War solution. Ghana was left in the control of a 3-man Presidential Commission, consisting of a traditional Chief and 2 politicians. In the early morning hours of 24 February, 1966, Ghana's armed forces, with the cooperation of the National Police, took over government in "Operation Cold Chop", a well organized coup d'etat. The first announcement made from Radio Ghana said that the coup was led by Col. Kotoka of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. A National Liberation Council (NLC) was formed to run the affairs of state. Parliament was dissolved. Nkrumah's ruling political party, the Convention People's Party (C.P.P.), was banned and Nkrumah himself was dismissed as President of Ghana's First Republic. General J. A. Ankrah, was selected to be head of the new government.

Cover of Africa Report magazine, 1966.

Victim: Brigadier Afrifa who overthrew Nkrumah

Major (Lieutenant) General J. A. Ankrah

Nkrumah was mocked

Col. Kotoka of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. Kotoka, an outstanding soldier, was a national hero, honored for valor and bravery while serving as part of Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Nations 1960 and 1961 Congo contingent was also one of the coup plotters

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Community

y in Pictures

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

The Ghanaian News February 2013

PEOPLE AND PLACES Kwahuman Cultural Association of Toronto elects new executives

Valentine Night at Ahenfie

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

The Kwahuman Cultural Association of Toronto swore in the new executives at a special meeting held on February 10, 2013. The venue was Domenico Di Luca Community Centre, 25 Stanley Road, North York. The new executives swore in were: (seated from left) Ms Adriana Hammond (Secretary), Mr. Dickson Akora Obeng (Chairperson), Ms B. Anokye Quayson (Vice-Chairperson), Standing L: Mr. Michael Osei (Asst. Treasurer), Ms Mary Frimpong (Porter), Mr. Wilson Akuamoah Boateng (Asst. Secretary), Mr. Joseph Djan (Trea(seated from left) Ms Adriana Hammond (Secretary), surer) Not in the Mr. Dickson Akora Obeng (Chairperson), Ms B. Anokye picture Stephen Ad- Quayson (Vice-Chairperson), Standing L: Mr. Michael Osei jekumhene.(PRO) (Asst. Treasurer), Ms Mary Frimpong (Porter), Mr. Wilson

Miss Valentine 2013 Akua Afriyie (2nd from right flanked by 1st Runner-up Sandra Anin (2nd from left and 2nd runner-up Hagar Owusu (extreme right) with Joe Mensah, Organizer (m) and Lucy Crentsil, MC (left)

Akuamoah Boateng (Asst. Secretary), Mr. Joseph Djan (Treasurer)

Cross section of Association members

Ruth Asare hits 26 Ruth Asare celebrated his 26 birthday at Ahenfie on Saturday, February 16, 2013

Friends and well-wishers helping Ruth to cut her birthday cake

Nana Obuabasa and wife, winners of Best dressed valentine couple

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Apostolic Church International ends 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

A special Church service held on Sunday 27th January 2013 climaxed 21 days of fasting and prayer event organized by the Apostolic Church International at 94 Kenhar Drive. The theme for the events was “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee (Zeph. 3:17) with the sub theme “He is a powerful God”. The speaker was Apostle F.Y. Agyeman who delivered a message he titled “He deserves our worship” taken from Rev. 4:8 and Psalm 95:1-7. Apostle Agyeman exhorted the congregation to truly worship God for He is a powerful God who deserves our worship for all what he has done us. We have let Him down so many times but still He is a loving God who continues to bestow goodies on us, he added.

Apostle F.Y. Agyemang giving a sermon with interpreter Deaconness Rose

Pastors and Elders

Church Elders

Apostle Agyemang and wife with Elders and wives

Cross section of congregation

Ghanaian Anglican and S.t David’s Anglican churches celebrate Black Heritage of their church

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

St. David’s Anglican Church on 1796 Lawrence Avenue West was the venue for the celebration of the Black Heritage of their church. The celebration was organized in conjunction with Ghanaian Anglican Church of Toronto. It was part of activities

Ms Jackeline Daley

marking Black History Month in Canada. The celebration was under the theme “The Unchanging God in a

changing World” with the Very Reverend Samuel Victor Mpreh as the guest preacher with Rev. Father Gabriel Opoku-Ware as the celebrant. The event occurred on Sunday February 17, 2013.

Very Rev. Mpreh

Church Choir with Very Rev. Mpreh and Rev. Fr. Opoku-Ware

Rev. Fr. Gabriel Opoku-Ware and Devon King

St. David's Anglican Church congregation

Congregation Congregation

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Debt worries can make you impotent Many men generally have a problem. I do not know whether it is a matter of pride, fear, foolishness or all of the above, we men keep our financial problems from our better halves for as long as possible. We hope against hope that the financial problems will go away before our wives ever found out. If you are an employee and you lose your job, that’s not so bad because it is immediately obvious

that if you don’t find a replacement job soon, your family will face financial difficulties sooner or later. The problem is when you are self-employed and the business is not going so well. Rather than telling your wife how bad business is, you tend to try to be a “man” and keep it to yourself hoping for the big break which never seems to come. It is a good idea to let your spouse know as soon as you see signs of a down-turn in your business ventures and ask for support., financially, if she can. Some smart women can even offer suggestions that you may not have thought about because you are so engulfed in your predicament. If you pretend that things are well with you when in fact, they are not, then it becomes difficult to tell your wife when the mortgage is three months behind. Your wife will eventually k n o w, a n y w a y, s o why don’t you tell her

right from the onset? I don’t blame some of the men though, because some of the women flip on such news. The first person they call is their telephone friend seeking advice on how to divorce you before you lose all the money. Financial problems can cause you sleepless nights. When at night, every part of your body is wide awake except your vital body-part which is deep asleep and your wife is thinking that you are not doing your duty because you are having an affair when you know you are not, it can become very frustrating for you. So, tell her now, before you see divorce signs on the wall. She may even surprise you and be more understanding and accommodating than you ever thought she would. If you are having debt problems, call me at 416-398-1877 ext 201. I will help you face them squarely and resolve them. Ken Ntiamoa, MBA BIA Insolvency Counsellor Mortgage Broker

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February 2013

Frankly Speaking The Rise and Fall of Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Ghana’s Electoral Commissioner By: Michael Baffoe, Winnipeg, MB

Since the end of the Kwame Nkrumah regime in 1966, the position of Electoral Commissioner has become very important. It started with the appointment of Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe as the Electoral Commissioner to oversee the elections of August 1969 that ushered in the Second Republic of Ghana after the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP government. That was the first time Ghanaians were learning about this important public position. To his credit, the bearded Judge discharged himself very creditably in this position in his conduct of the 1969 elections. After 1969, Ghana’s political destiny was in the hands of reckless military adventurers who toyed with the nation’s politics for many years. One of such military adventurers was Colonel (later General) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong who seized power from the Progress Party government of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia in 1972. Acheampong sought to perpetuate the military in government by introducing a model called “Union Government” or “Unigov” for short. He proposed a marriage between the Armed Forces, the Police and Civilians in subsequent governments effectively doing away with any form of total civilian government. This model decried by its opponents as the “APC” (army/ police/civilian) became a very contentious national issue which was vehemently opposed by many. Kutu Acheampong ordered a referendum on this APC Unigov model which was held on 30 March 1978 to accept or reject this concept. The Electoral Commissioner at the time, Justice Isaac Kobina Abban (who later became Chief Justice), went into hiding from the government for fear

of his life after refusing to bow to the pressure of the military government to manipulate results. The government went ahead and declared its own “official” results of 60.11% for and 39.89% against which was widely believed to be rigged. The Unigov APC idea died when Acheampong was himself overthrown in a palace coup in July 1978. The two Electoral Commissioners referred to above, Justice Crabbe and Justice Abban have been the finest of Judges and Electoral Commissioners Ghana has produced. They had conscience and they stuck to the truth even on the threat to their lives. We cannot say the same or heap the same virtues of honesty on the current Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Djan who was appointed by Jerry John Rawlings to the position in 1990 and has held the position since then. Dr. Afari Djan was my former political science professor at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1978. He tasted the tough times in Ghana during the difficult days from the mid 1970s through the 1980s. He actually feels a real sense of gratitude and loyalty to Jerry John Rawlings and his political establishment for saving him from the extreme hardships of the period referred to above to the powerful plush position of Electoral Commissioner. He has since his appointment to the position in 1990 conducted six major

elections in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. The 1992 and 1996 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were shamefully and openly rigged by AfariDjan in favour of his master Jerry Rawlings and the NDC. The1992 Parliamentary elections which were held first in November were so blatantly rigged that the main opposition Party, the NPP then led by history professor, the late Prof. Albert Adu Boahene boycotted the Presidential elections. The Professor later wrote a book on the elections titled, The Stolen Verdict. The conduct of those elections was so bad that at one polling station at North Kaneshie in Accra, one presidential candidate, General Erskine voted together with his wife and daughter and when the results were declared by Afari Djan, Candidate Erskine got zero votes. He was told he did not even vote for himself. By the year 2000, Dr. Afari Djan had become something of a tingod. His word reigned supreme. Because Ghanaians are timid and do not engage in electoral violence in the face of massive rigging, Afari Djan always interprets the silence after the various elections as a tacit approval of his conduct and that of his outfit. He became an international consultant on elections where he traveled around the world ostensibly to “teach” other governments, dictators and electoral commissioners tactics on stealing elections for governments in power. He could not manipulate the 2000 and 2004 electoral results in Ghana because the votes were so massive and the watchdogs were vigilant. When the NPP let their guard down in 2008 and 2012, Afari Djan was

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back at his manipulating tricks, skewing the results in favour of the NDC and its candidates. His conduct over the 2012 elections has been so shameful that he has absolutely no credibility left to carry on as the Electoral Commissioner. Before the 2012 elections Afari Djan engaged in so many questionable actions including creating 45 new constituencies only three months to the elections over the objections of all the opposition parties and wise counsel from many well-meaning Ghanaians. He ignored all wise suggestions and advice to do the right thing, believing himself to possess all the powers in Ghana to do whatever he wants, as and when he wants, as long as the Constitution allows. The NDC party and government were always supportive of his actions, offering him unflinching allegiance, knowing he was in bed with them. So much of the actions of Afari Djan and the Electoral Commission point to nothing but gargantuan fraud. Before the 2012 elections, the Electoral Commission informed all participating political parties in the 2012 elections that there were 13,917,366 registered voters. After the election, the figure had bloated to 14,158,890. Then he said as many as 241,524 Ghanaians on the voter register were supposedly registered abroad. It turned out the number was only 491. In some constituencies in the Northern, Upper and Volta regions, the number of votes casts and declared for President Mahama were in some cases more two hundred times the number of registered voters. These inconsistencies in numbers of registered voters and actual votes form the basis of the electoral challenge filed by the NPP before the

Supreme Court of Ghana. Afari Djan and his outfit have been struggling, since the NPP raised its objections to the electoral results, to justify the huge differences in numbers. He has been fumbling for words, ruffling his hair and scratching his head. He is rumoured to be making last-minute attempts to get names and addresses of Ghanaian residents abroad to dubiously use for the figures he presently finds insurmountably ominous to justify. He is foaming at the mouth, wallowing in complete ignorance, shocked at how he is about to be reduced to Mr. Nobody, but a complete clown by his own obstinacy. He is no more the tin-god and the all-powerful untouchable that he has believed himself to be all this while. As if the disgrace so far is not enough, Afari Djan has ordered his field officers to manufacture new “pink sheets” on which the electoral results were recorded in December to illegally secure evidence to facilitate the EC’s case in court against the

New Patriotic Party. The Savelugu/Nanton District Director of the Electoral Commission, Ben Akumanua and Salamatu Usman, a national service personnel at the EC, were arrested with 15 pink sheets, allegedly trying to validate the electoral results of the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections. We understand that similar fraudulent exercises are being undertaken by the EC officials in the Northern and Volta regions to manufacture new evidence to justify their fraud in the 2012 elections. Oh! How low can a respectable person sink? It is said that he who the gods want to kill they first make mad. My humble advice to my former political science professor is that the game is up. He has brought enough shame to himself and needs to call it quits. His one-man showmanship that defies conventional wisdom has now come to a disgraceful end. And he now finds himself the most disgraced person in Ghana.

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

View Point

Community Concerns

Facing up to mental health Issues in our community By Golda Abena Quayson

The issue of mental health problem is one that is talked about in our community. This is because in our original Ghanaian cultures there is no equivalent description of “mental health”. We equate any slight departure from “normal” mental health functioning as “madness”. And madness carry a very heavy stigma, not only for individuals suffering from the problem but for their whole families and communities. No wonder we do everything to avoid admitting, recognizing or doing anything about such problems when they affect us or members of our families and communities. Mental health issues or problems comprise of many causes. They may range from issues from childhood that were not addressed or issues that developed in teenage years. They may also be issues that cropped up as a result of mismanagement in adult relationships. They may be issues with mistrust, abusive relationships and depression. For teenagers and young adults, it may have been issues relating drugs and alcohol use and/or abuse. One common drug being used by a lot of teenagers and young adults is marijuana. It is common knowledge that excessive smoking of marijuana can impair your thinking and can drive someone to act violently. It is also reported that constant use of marijuana leads people to become very obsessive and controlling. Large dosage of marijuana can lead to “toxic psychosis.” This can cause people to hallucinate, see or hear things that aren’t really there, and become paranoid and make them feel like people are out to get them, and believe things that aren’t true. These are findings from research done by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Information Centre (CAMH) regarding the use of Marijuana. According to CAMH, if you use marijuana, you may feel more relaxed and less inhibited or more anxious, confused, panicky or even paranoid. You will be more outgoing and talkative, and laugh more, or you may be quiet and

withdrawn. You will find that time seems to pass more slowly and distances become distorted. Again, you have keener senses, such as sharpened hearing and vision, having trouble keeping your balance, have trouble thinking clearly, remembering things that just happened, and doing some tasks (e.g., homework) want to eat a lot; have sore throat and lungs, have increased heart rate, feel sleepy as the drug wears off, hallucinate, have a dry mouth and/or red eyes. Marijuana makes it harder to concentrate, pay attention and tell how far away things are, for up to five hours after you use it. It also makes your hands less steady and slows your reaction time; this means you wouldn’t be able to react as quickly to a sudden, unexpected emergency. Your risks go up when you combine smoking marijuana with drinking alcohol. All these things may make it harder to drive safely. Returning to the issue of mental health and community’s attitudes towards it, we decided to find out the attitudes towards mental health in other cultures. We talked to people from India, Mexico, South Africa, Iran, Sri Lanka, Senegal and Ethiopia mentioned that. People from these cultures seem to have the same attitudes of stigma attached to disability. On the other hand, people of British and American cultures talk of seeking outside help from family members suspected of having mental health problems. In these cultures emphasis is not placed on the stigma attached to mental health but on seeking help. We a r e n o m o r e i n Ghana. We are living in a new culture, the North American society which functions on help seeking for situations over which we have no control. I believe there is no shame when you are

finding proper support/ treatment for your loved ones who need help for mental health problems. There are lots of resources and treatment centres for persons with issues of addictions and mental illness. We should keep our eyes open on our youth and young adults who are experimenting with drugs and/or are abuses alcohol and drugs. It may lead to serious mental health problems in the very near future. Do you, a family member or a friend have a problem with substance use? If you want help, you may want to talk to someone you trust, such as your doctor, a teacher, a health care nurse, or a guidance or addiction counselor. You might also want to contact an addiction assessment centre or a self-help group (look in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under “Addictions”). Here are some other places to look for help: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Information Centre: 1 800 463-6273 Kids Help Phone: 1 800 668-6868 Ontario Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment: 1 800 5658603 or www.dart.on.ca. For more information on addiction and mental health issues, or a copy of this resource, please contact: C A M H ’s R . S a m u e l McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre: Ontario toll-free: 1 800 463-6273, In Toronto: 416 595-6111 To order multiple copies of this resource, or other CAMH publications, please contact: Publication Services Tel: 1 800 661-1111 or 416 595-6059 in Toronto E-mail: publications@ c a m h . n e t To make a donation, please contact: CAMH Foundation Te l . : 4 1 6 9 7 9 - 6 9 0 9 E-mail: foundation@ c a m h . n e t If you have questions, compliments or concerns about services at CAMH, please contact: Client Relations Coordinator at 416 5358501 ext. 2028. CAMH General Information Toronto: 4 1 6 - 5 9 5 - 6 1 1 1 To l l Free: 1-800-463-6273

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Community Effort Needed in Crusade to stop Domestic Violence!

On February 14, 2013, a group of Torontonians gathered in Nathan Phillips Square Thursday, not to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but to unite to bring an end to violence against women. In a case of tragic irony, a young woman who ardently decried violence against women was shot to death on the same day women around the globe staged a demonstration calling for action to stem such violence. And it happened on Valentine’s Day. The movement “One Billion Rising” was created to raise awareness about the plight of women who endure violence around the world. People joined together to dance as an act of solidarity. Many people think that domestic violence comes only between a husband and wife. IT must be understood that the outward violence is a manifestation of events way before then. Teen dating abuse can start when you are young and just getting into relationships. Statistics show that on average, in every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. Each year several Canadians experience some kind of fatal and non-fatal domestic violence. Each year over 40,000 arrests result from domestic violence, which is about 12% of all violent crimes in Canada. Women are 10 times more likely than men to be assaulted by a partner or spouse Most relationships begin with an introduction. One might first take positive notice of the other person, perhaps identifying him or her as someone they’d like to get to know better. It is at this time that we need to know the warning signs of an abusive individual and use these signs as a kind of personal litmus test as we consider this person for a long-term relationship. Knowing the characteristics of such an individual can help you avoid the emotional and physical pain that accompanies an abusive relationship. Both sexes can and do bear the emotional scars that are inflected on them by someone who initially professed to love and care for them. Therefore your choice of a friend, partner, or spouse is the most important emotional choice you will ever make, one that can have significant long-term consequences if you make the wrong decision. Every time I have presented on abusive relationships some women and a few men attending the workshop put their heads down, their eyes welling up as they think about the abuse they have suffered at the hands and in the presence of a significant other. “If only I had known,” they would later tell me. Most people who marry today hold out some hope that they will spend the rest of their life with their spouse, establishing a home, raising children, experiencing the joy of grandchildren, and perhaps dying in bed together some 50+ years later of old age. Most also realize that upwards of 50% of marriages end in divorce. Therefore half of us will never realize our marital dreams, at least not with our first spouse. But we hope, pray, plan, and work toward this goal anyway. Although some accept the remote possibility that their marriage will not work out, few anticipate that they will be the victim of severe domestic abuse by their partners/ spouses. If a husband will murder his partner or wife, there are signs,

characteristics and indicators that should not be overlooked. These may include: History of abuse as a child; history of acts of vandalism or other crimes, especially those of violence against others; lack of a positive male role model in the home, or the presence of an abusive male or female authority figure in the early or formative years of someone’s life. Other signs are: Some people exhibiting a violent temper along with poor conflict resolution skills; always needing to be in control of situations and of those closest to him; is usually jealous and may spy on friends and family. It also include: someone abusing alcohol or exhibits other kinds of substance abuse; has a very low or especially high self-image; if male, a “macho” man, possibly connected to his physical stature, or his educational or professional background or occupation; is unable to talk about or discuss his personal feelings. The person may also be insensitive to the feelings of others ; does not feel your pain; lies frequently, many times for no apparent reason; cannot admit to guilt or responsibility in any situation. Yo u s h o u l d k e e p i n m i n d t h a t knowing these early warning signs can help you “self-screen or screen out” those who could be abusive in a personal relationship. Non-abusive individuals may also exhibit some of these characteristics at various points in their lives, but with less frequency, severity, and duration than the potentially-abusive individual. We also know that homicides occur during or around the time of separation and abandonment. How and why the Scott Petersons and others who kill or are accused of killing their spouses may have progressed from loving spouses to believed or convicted killers of their wives and children is unknown. Anyone who says he or she can accurately predict violent human behavior is being less than honest at best. Indicators of emotional challenges that could lead up to homicidal behavior are usually present to some degree in relationships but are intentionally overlooked, foolishly disregarded, or perhaps simply missed by the victims of spousal homicide. Who, after all, wants to admit that the person they trust most with their life is the person who may take that same life in a moment of panic, frustration, anger, rage, or calculated stupidity. No one who marries usually expects to be murdered by the one closest to them. But for hundreds of women who are murdered on a yearly basis, the ones they trust the most commit the ultimate betrayal. If you are considering a new relationship, know the early warning signs of an abuser and avoid him or her. If you are already in such a relationship, or know someone who is, seek help and assistance. The abuse will not get better by itself. It will not go away, and it may even kill you. We also need to work together, as a community to stop this cycle of frightening conjugal violence that is creeping into our community. We all know people closer to us who exhibit some or all of the signs enumerated above. We must encourage them to seek help. We must also support those trapped in abusive relationships to get out or seek help. This is our communal responsibility and we need to do something about it....NOW!!!

The Ghanaian News

Ask The Doctor

February 2013

Lifestyle

By: David Yaw Twum-Barima, MD, MSc, FRCPC

This column is devoted to answering your questions on health and discusions of diseases which are common among the African Canadians.

CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATIONS I want to address the issue of vaccinations in children As a Paediatrician in private practice I see my role as not just treating diseases that from time to time affect our children but educating parents about healthy life style choices and DISEASE PREVENTION In this issue of Ghana News I will discuss vaccinations in children . In Canada and especially in Ontario childhood vaccinations are compulsory ( with very few exemptions) before a child goes to school. In spite of this I am occasionally confronted by parents who do not want their children to be vaccinated Vaccines prevent diseases in children There are vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis( whooping cough) tetanus(lock jaw) polio, meningitis ( infection of the brain and

spinal fluid) chickenpox, hepatitis A and B, childhood diarrhea, pneumonia , influenza and many others. In Ontario we typically start vaccinations at 2 months continue at 4,6 ,12,15, and 18 months before children reach their 2nd birthday Why vaccinate children?? one may ask. As infants and young children our IMMUNE system is not fully developed which means we can easily get serious infections which can lead to serious illnesses or even death To illustrate lets

talk about MENINGITIS . When I started practice more than 30 years ago I saw about 4 cases of meningitis /week out of which 2 or 3 children died per month and if they survived because of very aggressive treatment some were left with long term complications eg learning disability deafness and blindness to name only a few. In those days vaccines were not available to prevent the bacteria that caused the meningitis In the past 20 years since the introduction of the meningitis vaccine I have had only 2 deaths and this occurred because these children were not vaccinated.In many parts of the developing world where children have no easy access to vaccines children are still getting polio, they are dying of meningitis and other childhood diseases

Diarrheal diseases still post the greatest danger to infants and young children in those countries. In Ontario and most developed countries there is a vaccine against this deadly disease. Let me remind our readers that SMALLPOX has been totally wiped out from the the surface of the earth and very soon polio will be totally irradicated as well all because of the vaccination programs undertaken by the United Nations through its agency The WHO. In general vaccines boost our immune system produce antibodies that protect us from these deadly diseases Are there any side effects of vaccines? Yes

there are but these are minor compared to the diseases that can result without them without them The most common misinformations out there is that 1) there are far too many vaccines given to children. Not so at all if you consider the billions of potentially deadly bacteria and virus lurking in our mist !! Wont it be great if there is a vaccine to prevent MALARIA, HIV-AIDS or even the common cold? I strongly believe technology and science will in the not distance future come to our aid to protect us against these diseases as well 2) I read somewhere or a friend told me measles vaccine can cause AUTISM

Let me assure you that VACCINES DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM or any other serious illness Some will have a fever, swelling at the injection site and aches and pains as we see often with flu vaccine these mils side effects generally disappear within days ,parents can give Tylenol or ibuprofen(advil,, motrin) In summing up vaccinating our children is a good thing with great health benefits for the future I encourage you to see your Health Care Provider so your children can be vaccinated . Dr Kwame Donkor MD , FRCP(C ) Consultant Paediatrician and Allergist

Ghana and the modern day disgrace: Paramedics clean newborns with cont'd from pg. 27 sachet water have not been able to decipher. Nobody in high office gets punished. The future of Ghana is uncertain but if the nation is to avoid the disgrace where mothers have no water to wash after a baby is born, and doctors also have to use sachet water to wash their hands, then critical solutions must be found. We offer the following: 1. Let the new President John Mahama, or whoever is reported as President after the Supreme Court verdict, have the courage to have Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constitution amended to decentralized all Regions and Districts and towns to hold elections and elect their chief executives, and a City, District and Regional Council be

formed with power to manage their resources according to their population and assets. 2. Let all assets built by previous central governments in that district, city or region such as schools, city roads, hospitals and clinics, police stations, water and electricity infrastructure, (all with the exception of major roads linking others districts and regions or national security bases), be managed for the good of their own people, and learn to budget and be self-empowered to do so. Many Ghanaians in the Diaspora contribute to their villages and towns. However, it is our strong recommendation that this formula will allow capital

to be channeled directly from Ghanaians in the Diaspora who come from these areas and towns, all towards the development of the areas and hence the nation at large. We strongly recommend for Ghanaians to call the office of the President in Ghana and let the staff know what we all think are the right things to do to decentralize power, to stop this global disgrace of our nation, to solve this water problem, the poor reliability of electricity, the ugly open gutters and the poorly designed and unplanned transportation system in our nation. We believe that Ghana can do better. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make the call for a better Ghana under a democracy!

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

The Gang Rape Of Mother Ghana In Parliament By Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi (Voice of Reason) Do the Math: Let’s multiply their allowances and perks by 275 Mps. I swear, if I write one more article this year about politicians and their unyielding appetite for money, I’m going to throw up on my computer screen. With all the political scams that have been tumbling out in Ghana one after the other and the previous governments’ blind rejection of any wrongdoing, one wonders why our politicians will do anything crazy to get unwanted publicity. Yes, indeed our MPs don’t need housing allowances; they need a day of national ‘Atonement’ and explanations. And, now the handwringing, secondguessing, and soulsearching begin, but where one sits determines where one stands on issues. Is there a single MP with Integrity in the House to fight against the Ghc50,000 housing allowance, Ghc7,200 salary, car loan, 30,000 gallons of petrol ,top up loans and other perks each MP is wantonly raking while we panhandle for foreign loans ? L e t ’s f a c e i t , m o s t politicians everywhere are viewed with wariness and disdain but, Cory Booker, a mayor of Newark, New jersey, USA is one fine politician. And, I mean that in every sense of the word. He rescued his constituents from fires, dug people out of snow banks and opened his home to people during hurricane storms. To top it off, he’s now collaborating with jewelry designers to turn confiscated handguns into $376.00 bracelets and handcuffs. And 20 percent of the proceeds go back to support gunbuyback programs--to take illegal guns off from the streets. What

wonderful attributes worth emulating! That is his effective way to combat illegal guns and address gun violence in his city and USA—what an innovative and creative idea! Yes, his ideas and actions are not a panacea to all the problems, but every politician has the power to do something little to make a difference wherever he is…. What went wrong in our part of the world? Please don’t ask me! It’s said that there are basically four vices that can lead to the downfall of nearly every great person in history: Women, drugs, alcohol and money. If you’re gluttonous and excessive in any of these four areas, you risk losing everything to a few mistakes. I don’t have to mention how many of our past and present politicians who have tragically become victims to one of these vices for you to understand what I’m about to say. The question is this: Do you know any Ghanaian politician whose attributes and stewardship are worth bragging about? Why fifty- thousand cedis (Gh50,000.00) housing allowance each, for every four years to our Mps while we could build nice bungalows to accommodate them once the Parliament is in session? People are making a career out of politics these days. No wonder, our college graduates are abandoning their career goals and focusing on politics with laser beam because they know that it guarantees their fastest and shortest route to stable social status and acquisition of worldly toys as well as state properties at ‘donkomi’ prices. Democracy doesn’t have to be this affordable. I can’t be nicey-wicey about this one. I have a solution to cut all the fats

out. To encourage people to make a real living in an old-fashioned way, our MPs should be parttimers .That means they would be convened two weeks every other month. The MPs would be housed in nice government -owned bungalows and work every day for the two weeks that they are on the public business then return home and run their own businesses. To help limit their work load, there should be a limit of Bills that need to be passed every year in the House. I have been thinking of at least six Bills a year as a start. I’m sure that should be enough for them to deal with. It will also help Ghanaians to keep track of what the government is doing to address the needs and concerns of its people. The point is, the purpose of being a public servant is to serve your nation honorably .Therefore, If you want to be wealthy then use your creative imagination to produce valuable ideas and products or provide a service and meet consumers’ expectations and needs. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that our MPs or politicians should work for free or starve themselves in the name of serving their country. But, when you multiply Ghc50,000 housing allowances, car loans, free 30,000 gallons of petrol, GHc 7,2,000 salary and other perks by 275 MPs then you will see where I’m coming from and why I’m wriggling my fingers in confusion . To m e , i t ’s v e r y difficult to understand the rationale behind giving a huge amount of money to our MPs as housing allowances in a country where most towns don’t have money to replace street bulbs. The trouble with most of our politicians is that

they got into politics not with any inborn desire to make a difference in the lives of the ordinary people, but because it is a lucrative profession. In other words, being a politician in Ghana is now regarded as the fastest career path to upward mobility. Our politicians sometimes become so isolated and insulated from the aspirations of the people who elected them. They have become so intoxicated with material things of the world to the point that they have lost sight of the things that made them who they are and neglected the people in their villages and towns who brought them to where they are today. It should be reminded that no matter how much money or houses a politician needs, or the prestige his academic achievements may have afforded him, if one is in public service ---either he’s an appointed or elected official, he must always consider his service or post as a means for improving the living conditions everywhere in the country. He must remember that he has responsibilities toward the people and the nation. Therefore, it’s almost inconceivable that some of

our Politicians and policy makers have failed to see this self-evident truth. Nevertheless, there are others who have conveniently resolved not to view the problem in proper perspective. This form of blindness has handicapped Ghana’s ability to fulfill its promises and obligations t o i t s o ff s p r i n g . A s a result, the sons and daughters of Ghana have become globetrotters— meandering everywhere on this troubled planet in search for greener pastures. To s a f e g u a r d a n d protect Ghana from our disingenuous politicians, the Ministry of finance should publish the carloan repayment for the last four Parliament terms. Also to prevent any political mambo – jumbo our elected and a p p o i n t e d o ff i c i a l s ’ salaries and perks should be constitutionally prescribed and enshrined. Till that happens, the greed nexus that has Ghana in its grips will continue to revel in its behavior of unabashed abuse of power and pelf. Ghana’s salvation lies in controlling the “unhealthy appetite” of our politicians and their cronies. As I have always said,

the expectations of Ghanaians are soaring, and they are unwilling to negotiate or compromise on them. Would these expectations be realized if our politicians renege on their promises and live as though there is no tomorrow? Sooner than later concerned Ghanaians will meet on facebook to work out a plan to petition the parliament, or take to the street with their peaceful brand of “Arab Spring” to tell the MPs that enough is enough! Indeed, money is a ‘drug’ and it can easily distort the perceptions of politicians, pastors, police officers, public officials and publishers of Bibles alike. By the way, speaking of housing, take a trip to the Police stations across the land and check out the housing conditions of our Police personnel. Do our disingenuous MPs have any sense of empathy for these people? Don’t they deserve better living conditions than that? Is their work less important than that of our MPs’? Now, just multiply 275 Mps by the number of perks they take home…. Do you get the drift? Kwaku Adu-Gyamfi (voice of Reason) Tema,Ghana.

Entitlement: Financial Disaster cont'd from pg. 19

ed. Yet they might feel entitled to things that are the possession of those that have been financially rewarded due to positive attitudes. Business owner(s) that do not look for ways to be efficient and trim waste will be financially handicapped. Yet all these confused individuals might feel a sense of entitlement, because in their minds a benefit is owed, because the price has been paid. Famous words by en-

titlement individuals: “I worked hard, I deserve it” If you were to ask 100 people if they work hard, at least 95 if not 100 percent of them would say that they have. Even a street beggar will have to invest about 8 hours of his/her time standing in the heat or snow to come up with any substantial amount. The said beggar will feel a great deal of entitlement to many things, based on the output of the day. Entitlement will lead to poverty

as we overspend and create heavy debt by buying (by credit) things we feel we deserve. One thing that the average person fails to realize is the shallowness of their pockets compared to the deepness of the pockets of a celebrity they imitate. Entitlement without the earning power or resources is an irrational approach to financial management that will lead to poverty, frustration, unhappiness and misalignment of priorities.

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by Campaign 2000. “The government can either help low-income families get back on their feet in the next budget or once again push them deeper into poverty,” said DiNovo. Since 2003, the Liberal government has been promising action on poverty but has yet to deliver results. Instead,

there have been cuts to housing and health benefits, delayed child benefits and frozen minimum wage below the poverty line. One in seven Ontario children live in poverty. The report finds that policy decisions made by the Liberals have made survival even more difficult for low-income children and their families.

The Ghanaian News February 2013

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The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Annual 40 Days Breakthrough Fasting of The Apostles’ Continuation Church International (ACCI) comes to a climax By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

The annual 40 days Breakthrough Fasting of the Apostles’ Continuation Church was brought to a conclusion with a 4-day crusade from February 21-24 2013. The event took place at the church’s premises on 10 Belfield Road, Toronto. The climax was a special service on Sunday February 24, 2013 after which the fasting was declared over. The theme was “Press on towards a high mark” taken from Philippians 3:14. Pastor Brian Ohemeng-Amoateng

Apostle Charles AnokyeManu

Pastor Brian OhemengAmoateng, Guest Speaker

from the United Kingdom was the guest speaker. He exhorted the congregation to pray and believe that power of Jesus will protect us from all darts being thrown at us by Satan and his cohorts. The host pastor, Apostle Charles Anokye Manu thanked Pastor Brian OhemengAmoateng for accepting the invitation and takingk part in the crusade. In attendance were all the area pastors and an elder from New York.

Apostle Anokye-Manu and Pastor Brian Ohemeng Amoateng with Pastors and Elders Pastors

Pastors and Elders

Church Elders Media Crew

Pastors and Elders dancing to the glory of God Worship Team

Congregational prayer time

Congregation

Cross section of the Congregation

Men's Ministry

Seth Boateng raising funds

Youth

Cross section of the Congregation

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Honouring African Soldiers of 1824 War By William Doyle-Marshall, Toronto Soldiers of African heritage who fought in the 1812 War and were buried in the Town of Oro-Medonte, Ontario are to be honoured. This was disclosed during Black History Month celebration in early February organized by the Thorn hill African Caribbean Association at the Vaughan City Hall. It was an elaborate event mounted by TAACA with the support of other community organizations like the York Regional Police, the City of Vaughan, Ontario Black History Society and the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Ontario. Tim Crawford, the town historian announced that African heritage veterans of wars prior to the First World War are to be honoured with a plaque at the front of the cemetery of the Oro African church. Prior to First World War nothing had been established for Canadian veterans he disclosed. There were initial objections to the original request for recognition of these individuals who fought for the country. Because Canada was not established until 1867 and the War of 1812 was before Canada was established Canadian soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 were not honoured. Bruce Stanton MP for Simcoe-North was not satisfied with the situation and was determined to correct the situation. Harry Hughes, Mayor of the Town of Oro-Medonte, a former school principal

announced that the town has added an additional five acres of land around the African church in the community. “What that is going to do is allow the foundation for the dream or the vision we have to build on,” he suggested. We have things in the works and the partnership you can had to that is going to be really significant what we accomplish.”, who has always stressed the importance of all students feeling inclusive acknowledged with this attitude, it was possible to get people to work together. “We’ve had a dream and we have a vision and last year as you came up you saw the possibilities and I knew when I come back today I should be able to deliver something. I have a white paper to show you. Maurizio Bevelaqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan presented a $2,500 cheque to Vernon Hendrickson, President of TACCA during the Black History Month observance as a very small token of the appreciation, and heartfelt gratitude for TACA’s work in the community. “The work that you do is not just for one specific group but it’s for everybody because our lives are enriched by the work that you do, by the commitment that you make, by the incredibility that you have to enrich our spirit by celebrating diversity and in this city where we speak 99 different languages,” the mayor told the Sunday afternoon gathering. “It is so incredibly wonderful

Mayor Maurizio Bevelaque of Vaughan presenting a cheque to Vernon Hendrickson President of TACCA

to have a community that works so well together. Black History is extremely important: deeply, deeply rooted in that which is the social experiment called Canada,” he continued. The money was a donation from the Mayor’s gala as a gesture of thanks. The Mayor lauded the fact that the Black community was there, every step of the way making incredible contributions early on when Canada was finding its roots, expanding and dreaming bigger dreams. The event was attended by a large community gathering including politicians from the three levels of Canadian government. Bevelaqua believe the 300,000 plus residents of Vaughan must know they share their blessing through the efforts of TAACA.

Peter Kent MP for Thornhill, Minister of the Environment, said it is important for all Canadians whether born in Canada or abroad and naturalized like himself, to remember those who came before them and to recognize the sacrifices they made to help build the country that exist today. Among them, Kent said, it is appropriate to recognize every day the important contributions of Canadians of African and Caribbean descent. “While Black Canadians have made significant contributions to all areas of Canadian life over the centuries, your federal government is focusing this year on the contributions of Black Canadians in law enforcement, both past and present,” Kent reported. F e b r u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 2

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Assemblies of God Churches, Toronto Leaders Training and Awards

Presentation to Rev. Lantei-Mills (Trainer)

Pastor Osei-Amoah and wife Mama Mary with Deacons and Deaconnesses of Living Assembly of God after being honored by the church

Organisers and Participants at the end of the training

Group picture of Pastors and Deacons and Deaconnesses

Dr. Kwame Sarpong with Living Assembly of God Men's Ministry at Health Seminar

Rev. Dr. Lantei-Mills receives Honorary Doctors Degree

Dr. Stephen Hambly (Vice President), Dr. Lantei-Mills, Dr. Paa Kwesi Dadzie Dr. Stephen Hambly (vice president of Ca-

left: Dr. Paa Kwesi Dadzie, Dr. Stephen Hambly (Vice President), Dr. Lantei- nadian Christian Theological Seminary, and Canadian Christian Clinical Counselors ColMills, Rev. Milton Ofei, Rev. Ayisi Boateng lege presenting the Degree to Dr. Lantei Mills. In the highlights of 27th January 2013 in Assemblies of God Church, Ghana. morning services at Evangel Assem- This highest honor was recommended and a member of Living Word Assemblies of God Church, 1245 Martin by Rev. Dr. Paa Kwesi Dadzie, Faculty blies of God Church, Toronto Canada. Rev. Dr. Lantei-Mills started his minisGrove Road Toronto, the Canadian member of Psychology and Theol- try at Southern Ghana Bible College in Christian Theological Seminary in ogy Department of Canadian Christian 1963 and obtained a Diploma in Bible conjunction with Canadian Christian Theological Seminary, and Canadian Studies. He continued his studies at Clinical Counselors College, Calgary, Christian Clinical Counselors College. West Africa School of Theology with Alberta, Canada awarded the highest Advisory Board Member of Evan- the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He travelled to United States of America to honor of Doctor of Divinity to Rev. gelical Order of Certified Pastoral study at Assemblies of God TheologiJoseph Lantei-Mills of Assemblies of Counsellors of America (E.O.C.P.C) cal Seminary, Missouri and obtained God Church, Accra for his work done representing Eastern Canada, Ghana Master of Arts in Christian Education.

Rev. Dr. Lantei-Mills served as Regional Superintendent for Grater Accra Region, Central Region and Western Region, from 1965â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1974. From 1974 to 1983 he worked at Southern Ghana Bible College as Registrar and Academic Dean. Rev. Dr. Lantei-Mills was appointed as a first black principal at Southern Ghana Bible College â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Salpond from 1983 until the time he retired, 2003. He is presently teaching at Glory Leadership Institute, Accra Ghana

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Government exists to make peoples’ lives better, to support people in realizing their dreams - Premier Wynne

Invited guests Premier Wynne delivering her speech at the event

Dr. Alvin Curling with Hon. Michael Coteau

Premier Kathleen Wynne with some community members

Premier Kathleen Wynne (center), MPP Coteau with Nana Anokye Bresiama, Asantefuohene and his entourage people coming at us about We pat ourselves on the back important to enslaved Africans fiscal responsibility, I want to but you better be careful not to fleeing the United States. For reassure you that we understand lose our humility because we them Coteau noted Ontario that being fiscally responsible is have not yet achieved what we represented freedom, safety absolutely essential but we also have to achieve and each one and hope for a better future. understand that a fair society is of you in this room has story “The contributions of the absolutely essential and a fairer to tell about how we haven’t first courageous arrivals and society,” the premier continued. got there yet.” Wynne warned succeeding generations of She warned “we are not there Ontarians against being too Black people have transformed yet folks. Everyone in this room self righteous as they have a that hope into reality,” he added. The minister concluded knows we are not there yet. long way to go. “We know that the Black community has that as your government and contributed tremendously to the we want to work with you to Canadian society. Mary Ann make sure that we can make Shad who was the fi rst to bring our society a fairer place forward an integrated school to live,” Wynne concluded. and the fi rst Black woman to President and Father of the Jamaican-born Dr. Alvin publish a newspaper; Elijah nation, John Evans Attah Curling, former Speaker of the Mills did nothing and said Ontario Parliament was pleased McCoy, mechanical engineer nothing about this dangerous that the Premier stepped away who is responsible for 57 culture of political insults from tradition with her speech patents; Anderson Abbott, the and intolerance that engulfed to deliver what he termed “an first Black Canadian licensed and enveloped the nation. almost heart-to-heart” talk. physician. His career included Naked robbery and pillaging He reminded the gathering participation in the American of the nation’s resources that that the Premier expected the Civil War and attending the has been occurring since the community’s help in carrying death of Abraham Lincoln; country attained nationhood out her duties. “This is our William Hubbard who was fifty-five years ago has reached country and when we go about the first Black Torontonian to alarming proportions. Just in our ways and feel that we are become a City Councilor are before the close of the year strangers here and behave like all early contributors to be 2011, a whooping forty million strangers, we will be responded celebrated in the observance dollars of the nation’s money to as strangers. You are citizens of Black History in Canada. was paid out to a known of this country and we want T h e p r o v i n c e ’ s B l a c k financier and member of the to make this place a better community (artists, journalists, ruling party in some very place,” Dr. Curling concluded. p l a y w r i g h t s , m u s i c i a n s , questionable circumstances. Michael Coteau, Ontario’s business people, scientists, The government’s own Attorney Minister of Citizenship and elected officials) continues General and Minister of Justice Immigration recalled since to make history today. Many questioned the legality of 1 8 6 0 C a n a d a h a s b e e n are considered trail blazers. February 22, 2013 that payment, describing the process as a “gargantuan”

GHANA: 56th Milestone of Nationhood cont'd from pg. 34

Perhaps the greatest test of stability of the nation came in the run-up the 2008 elections which ended the term of office of President Kufuor. The NDC party won the Parliamentary elections on December 8, 2008 but the hotly-contested Presidential elections again run into a second round. In the end, John Attah Mills beat the NPP candidate Nana Akufo Addo in the second round run-off by less than 20,000 votes to win the Presidency. Tension in the country over this elections reached fever pitch threatening to plunge the country into mayhem. Political giants like former U.N Secretary General, Kofi Annan had to be flown into the country to persuade the warring electoral opponents to let cool heads prevail to salvage Ghana’s image as a peace-loving nation and the

beacon of political maturity and stability for Africa. In the end, the NPP and Akufo Addo had to concede defeat. John Evans Attah Mills was sworn in as President on January 7, 2009 as the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The rule of John Evans Attah Mills-led NDC government between January 2009 and July 2012 has tested the stability of the nation. A culture of political intolerance, insults and naked robbery of the nation’s resources and finances have engulfed the country. Political opponents publicly haul insults at each other, in the media especially on radio and television. The most guilty of these behaviors of political insults and intolerance have been government and NDC party officials. They attack their political opponents, real or imagined, at will. The

cont'd on pg. 53

The Ghanaian News

Need to embrace newcomers Fairness Commissioner An assessment by the Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC) of regulators’ assessment of internationally trained professionals shows that while some improvements have been made, there are still a number of issues that need streamlining. In its 75page report A Fair Way to Go: Access to Ontario’s Regulated Professions and the Need to Embrace Newcomers in the Global Economy which culminates five years of research and observation about Ontario’s professional licensing system, the OFC identified 12 areas for improvements for registration practices among the various regulatory bodies. These include providing clear rationales for requirements, recognizing acceptable alternatives for meeting registration requirements, identifying exemptible requirements and strengthening assessment criteria and methods. The OFC report states that in order to ensure no one is excluded unfairly, regulators must be able to explain why requirements are necessary and relevant for safe and competent professional practice. “Assessment needs to be more flexible, going beyond a narrow focus onacademic credentials to recognize the variety of ways individuals develop profes-

Hon. Jean Augustine

sional knowledge and skills.” Among other areas for improvements identified are improve information for applicants, addressing the burden of fees, ensuring reasonable and transparent timelines and facilitating opportunities to start the registration process outside Canada. “More accessible information and efficient processes would help all qualified professionals both begin and complete the registration process without unnecessary expense or delay,” The OFC report further states. “Five years into the job, I am pleased to be able to point to many improvements in the licensing process. Most of these changes are relatively small. But they are incremental, adding up to systemic, institutional improvements,” Commissioner Jean Augustine said. “These improvements make a difference far beyond the af-

fected individuals. They impact our communities, our economy, our society. They open doors – for people to bring their skills and talents to Ontario, and for Ontario to connect to markets and ideas around the world.” According to the OFC, Ontario’s Ministry of Finance has projected that 100 per cent of the province’s net labour market growth will come from immigration by 2016 – A Fair Way to Go emphasizes the need to embrace professionals trained in other places. “What I am really hoping is that today marks the beginning of a discussion: a dialogue we must have to ensure we are all making the most of the resources – the human resources – available to us,” Augustine said. “Yes, we talk like we welcome the world with open arms. We need to make sure we act like it.” While reporting satisfactory progress among individual organizations in improving the licensing process, the report raises questions about collective attitudes. The report also highlights the need for a fair access agenda for regulatory bodies and their members. These include streamlining the registration process, widening the reach of international mutual reccont'd on pg. 67

February 2013

GHANA: 56th Milestone of Nationhood cont'd from pg. 62 rape of the nation’s finances. His patriotic and honest stand incurred the wrath of the ruling party and the President fired him early in the year 2012. Throughout his reign, President Attah Mills was rumoured to have serious health problems but his aides and government functionaries constantly denied his health problems. It was really visible to everyone who encountered the President that he was a “dead man walking”. The nation woke up one day in July 2012 to be greeted with an announcement of the “sudden death” of President John Evans Attah Mills, the tenth Head of State/Government since independence in 1957. This shocking news was the first in the nation’s history when a sitting President had died in office. The remaining term of his office, July 2012 to December 29012, was served by his Vice President, John Dramani Mahama. Another round of watershed elections, Parliamentary and Presidential, were held in December 2012. The results of the Presidential elections which declared John Dramani Mahama as the winner is currently being challenged by the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party and its candidate, Nana Addo

Dankwa Akufo Addo. The election challenge and petition is now before the Supreme Court of Ghana as required by the Constitution. How this highest court of the land hears and decides on this election challenge will have serious political and social implications for the country. The nation is currently holding its breadth. In the meantime, John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as the eleventh Head of State/ Government on January 7, 2013. The nation called Ghana has over the past fifty-six years, fulfilled the declaration and prophesy of its first leader, Kwame Nkrumah who declared the right of the country to “manage or mismanage” its own affairs. Overall Ghana has succeeded in “mismanaging” its affairs much better than “managing” its affairs. These are the background events within which Ghana is celebrating 56 years as a nation. As we celebrate fifty-six years of nationhood, we all need to hold our breadth and pray for the nation to come out of this political process peacefully. The portends are not really good. The mismanagement of the nation and its resources has reached frightening proportions as public officials collude with others to loot a n d p i l l a g e t h e n a t i o n ’s resources with impunity. And as the words of our national

Ontario’s first Africentric high school program to open this fall The Leonard Braithwaite Program at Scarborough’s Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute has attracted 17 students and the momentum is strong, the Toro By: Leslie Ferenc News reporter, Published on Thu Feb 28 2013 With 17 students already enrolled and more expected to register, Ontario’s first Africentric high school program will officially begin classes this fall for students in Grade 9. The Leonard Braithwaite Program was to have begun last September at Scarborough’s Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute but a late start and lack of promotion resulted in only six applications, not enough for a full program, board officials said. Until numbers increased, program students were integrated into traditional classes at Winston Churchill Collegiate. Registration began in February and 17 students have already signed up with momentum building, said Toronto District School Board spokeswom-

an Shari Schwartz-Maltz. “It’s good news,” she said, referring to the announcement made Thursday at Canada’s only Africentric elementary school where lessons focus on black historians, scientists, authors, artists and leaders like the late civil rights activist Charles Roach. The Africentric Alternative School, which shares space with Sheppard Public School in North York, opened in September 2009. The teachers and almost 200 students at the junior kindergarten to Grade 8 school are all of African heritage and some students come from Peel and York regions, said principal Jacqueline Spence. One of the aims of the Africentric elementary school is to curb the high dropout rate among black youth and help those at risk achieve academically. Anecdotal evidence and strong early test scores show the program “is absolutely helping,” Spence said. This year, 13 Grade 8 students will be the first to graduate from the program. It’s not yet known how many will go on to Braithwaite.

Africentric Alternative kindergarten and Grade 1 and 2 students sing Hymn to Freedom by Oscar Peterson at the Homage to African Canadian Civil Rights Struggles Assembly at their school on Feb. 28, VINCE TALOTTA/TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE

Grade 7 student Genelle Gerald, who has attended since Grade 4, said she loves the school because she’s learned a lot about African Canadians and Americans, and their importance in history. Genelle didn’t hesitate when asked if she’d recommend the Africentric Alternative School. “Yes,” she nodded. “I’d tell them it’s a good school.” And though Genelle said she’d like to attend Braithwaite, it’s not likely. Scarborough is too far from her home in North York. She’d have to get ride or use public transit, which could take

hours. The Toronto school board doesn’t provide transportation to students attending either Africentric school. Genelle was among the students who participated in the moving assembly that paid homage to those who fought for freedom and civil rights. Many of the teachers and parents at the standingroom-only celebration wore clothing made of traditional African kente cloth as well as gele or head wraps as a tribute to their heritage. Michelle Frances is a strong supporter of the school. Her daughter Ella, 6, has attended since junior kindergarten because Frances

wanted to immerse her in a program where she would know her African roots as well as her Scottish/British heritage on her father’s side. “Ella is getting a strong foundation,” said Frances, adding it helps build confidence in young people when they know where they come from. Asked about criticism from some that the school segregates children, Frances said that for her, it offers an opportunity for kids to embrace their culture and be proud of it and themselves. “I hope that’s how Ella will feel,” she added. “Everybody wants that for their children.” TORSTAR

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Black History Month celebration at Ghanain Presbyterian Church February 9, 2013

Dignitaries at the event

Mr. Kwodjo Mawutor (Consul General) with Clergies

Nananom

Some of the Award recipients

Rick Gosling with special Award Recipients

Mrs. Anna Aidoo (MC) with guests The Clergies

Hon. Judy Sgro, MP York West, and Councilor Anthony Perruzza with Ghanaian Presbyterian Singing Band

Invited Guests Gas Mantse and his entourage with Dignatries

The Ghanaian News

Resizing Ghana’s Public Sector:

By Kwaku Danso

Editorial on: Ghana’s President slashes executive freebies We share this editorial due to its relevance and bold move by the current President John Mahama. Ghana’s President’s John Mahama’s announced policy to reduce executive spending is most laudable and welcome news. It takes a tough man to do this kind of selfexamination and we are glad President Mahama plans to take this bold step. However it should not stop at the executive. We believe that the whole government machinery needs to be trimmed down at least by 50%. No matter what happens at the end of the Supreme Court verdict, current President Mahama would have left a mark with some of his recent decisions, if the nuts and bolts of implementation are put in place. There is a popular saying that man only lives once. Whether this is true or not, the saying depicts the urgency of time in life to do the best we can, since nobody can predict the future. For a nation to reach a point where almost 60% of their employees work for government, and yet Government-owned enterprises have all failed and closed down, while others are sold for dirt cheap, and public service delivery is very poor, is a shame for Ghana! Ghana has lost all the investment our first government after independence put in factories to produce the very items we consume. Ghana was producing sugar, salt, flour, soap, cutlasses, matches, plastics, metal, building materials, electronics and pharmaceuticals. What kind of people are we if we cannot even produce what we eat and allow factories already paid for to go belly up! Our shipping lines, airlines, public buses were all mismanaged! And yet Ghana has some well educated people around the world as well as some savvy businessmen and women able to survive and compete globally. Our telephone company was managed by the Malaysians, then the Norwegians, and now finally sold to Vodafone for $900 million. Can anybody say Vodafone has done better except

make good profit for themselves, and mostly in the cellular phone business! Internet connectivity is sold at three times the price consumers pay in say the USA and yet about a tenth the download and upload speed and very unreliable! One cannot blame Vo d a f o n e . D u e t o corruption and abuse of power by executives, no Ghana state enterprise was allowed to run without interference. Singapore run stateowned enterprises for years, and still have a state airline that is one of the most efficient airlines. Obviously there is nothing wrong with Ghana, as others can do well. What then is wrong with Ghanaians, especially when they get to public office? Are we that devoid of love for nation or we still think government is an external entity as our uncles thought in the colonial days? For God’s sake, can we make it mandatory that our MPs and elected officials make have town-hall meetings with their constituents every quarter so that hopefully our people will realize the essence of government and share their feelings and pain with their elected officials. It is hoped that the current President will confront the reality and cut out the fake reports provided by some segments of the public sector, and fire some people who are not performing! No organization survives without discipline and Ghana needs discipline. The public sector could do better with half the employees it has now. Government belly is simply too fat! This is not just the executive but the Judiciary that is so slow and non-performing, and the legislators who seem to have no agenda to accomplish laws and policies within any time frame. One effective organizational management structure is the “profit center” method. Ghana can perform better if we allow every department to become like a profit unit. In other words let say the Ministry of Agriculture justify what new food products they are coming out for the private sector to buy into

and market globally. A call to the Crop Research Institute last week showed that they only conduct research on local products like Mangoes and oranges. There is no research on any of the high priced fruits and vegetables such as apples, blueberries, blackberries, plums, peaches, grapes, brocolli, cauliflower, cabbages, tomatoes, and a myriad of crops that can be sold locally and globally to help Ghana’s GDP. Let the CSIR, CRI and the Ministry justify their existence or cut employees back as much as possible! This applies to all Ministries. Let the Ministry of Roads and Highways for example justify how many kilometers of road they have constructed in the year, how much tolls they have collected, and how much they have paid their employees compared to their output. If they cannot balance and justify it publicly with numbers, it means they are over-bloated. Nobody should be expected to work overseas and bring a car home to pay 45-200% duties and taxes to support anybody in Ghana. And in Ghana nobody is expected to work and pay taxes to support non-performing public sector employees. Some of these at the Ministries don’t even feel they owe the public any explanation. During this water and electricity crisis in the last ten years, one would have expected the Managing Directors of these companies to face the public and explain their plans; but instead they send sweettalking PR men and women who may not know much except talk. We wish the President all the best and simply suggest that he makes hay whiles the sun shines, as the British say. Let him put in place all policies he had envisioned, and let the ball roll!! Let the chips fall where they will fall! Kwaku A. Danso, M.Eng., PhD (Organization & Management/Leadership) Livermore, California, USA & East LegonAccra, Ghana Te l . 9 2 5 - 2 9 2 8042 (USA PST) President - Ghana Leadership Union ( N G O ) , M o d e r a t o rGLU and GLF Forums.

February 2013

President Slashes Executive Freebies Government would in the next few weeks institute measures to cut down on the rising expenditure of its executive arm, which includes the presidency, cabinet ministers, and all those who have the sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state. President John Dramani Mahama, who disclosed this during the State of the Nation’s Address, in Parliament last week said rationalization of state vehicles and fuel shall be some of the measures, adding that, the Chief of Staff had been given appropriate directions on the matter. “We will discuss with auto companies a scheme to enable our senior public servant to buy their own vehicles on high purchase and curtail the reliance on the use of state vehicles, “the President hinted. He added: “We are taking strict measures to curtail MDAs spending beyond their budgetary allocations and new mechanisms of strict monitoring will be announced by the Minister of Finance in the 2013 budget.” The biggest fiscal challenge facing Ghana currently has to do with misalignment of the expenditure categories in the budget namely, emoluments (i.e.,

wages, salaries and allowances), goods and services (including debt service), and investment or capital expenditure. Personnel emoluments portion of the Budget, President Mahama noted, had tripled in the last three years, from GH¢2.5 billion to GH¢7.5 billion. This, according to him, has been mainly due to the Single Spine Salary Scheme (SSSS). “We now spend a staggering 60.9 percent of our entire national revenue to pay public sector salaries. This is almost double the globally accepted prudent level of between 30 to 35 percent,” the President lamented. President Mahama said the issue was even more significant because, “as we struggle to tackle the wage bill, thousands of public workers continue to make demands for wage increases and threaten work stoppage if we do not meet their demands.” “Mr Speaker, the meat is now down to the bones and it is now time for serious rethinking about the level of wages in relation to our national competitiveness and the related productivity issues. It is said to whom much is given, much is expected,” he stated. Economic Tribune Ghana

The Ghanaian News February 2013

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

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Toronto Students Get History Lesson on Parliament Hill cont'd from pg. 33

and she advised “Here is where we reach for the stars”. She told them a story about Wilma Rudolph who went on to win an Olympic Gold medal as a runner, through pure determination. “Remember it’s all our job in this room to make it happen,” Duncan advised. In addition, the

students met other parliamentarians like Judy Sgro, Elizabeth May, Ted Opitz and others as well as Dr. Jean Augustine, former MP who is credited with having Black History Month recognized as a national affair in the House of Commons. The young visitors to Parliament Hill sat through Question

Period and witnessed politicians behaving like school children as they either refused to answer questions or pretended the questions were irrelevant. A toured of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Horse Barnes offered the students a chance to pet horses and enjoy sleigh rides. Also on the Hill, June

Girvan talked to them about Lady Agnes MacDonald – the second wife of Sir John A. MacDonald who was born in Jamaica. Because very little is known about Lady Bernard, Girvan said it is time for reconciliation. Lady Agnes MacDonald was Jamaican. The First Lady of Canada was Jamaican. “We have a

heritage that is already reconciliation. That is what happened on the 16th of February 1867, the year of Confederation when Sir John A. MacDonald and Jamaican Agnes Bernard got married,” the students were told. “In our history somebody thought up the bright idea that human beings came in black and yellow,

red and white and that has divided humanity and made it difficult for us to get along sometimes,” Girvan told the gathering. She showed the students a chain link which represents the various communities and attempted to get them together in one group as Canadians. This effort is being celebrated as “Reconciliation Day” in February in observance of Black History Month. “February is the birthday of John Gray Simcoe who gave us the first anti-slavery bill in the British Empire and made it possible for the Underground Railroad to happen so people could follow the North Star into Canada to freedom; so Canada has been considered the land of the North Star,” Girvan explained. February 1851 is also the date that the Honourable George Brown, who was a Father of Confederation, founded the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada, Girvan continued. “One member of that society was Oliver Mowatt for whom the Ministry of Education Mowatt Block in Queen’s Park is named. In all of our history we have people who are trying to pull us together,” she added. Rick Gosling, president of the Children’s Breakfast Club, said the Ottawa visit started to celebrate the contributions that the Black community has made to Toronto, Ontario and Canada. Each year Gosling and his team of volunteers highlight individuals who contributed and knocked down doors. Jean Augustine, the first woman of African heritage elected to the House of Commons was featured on the club’s first poster. “Our theme this year is “Black History Month: we all have talents”. And we can all contribute to making (Canada) our city, our province and our country a better place. That’s what we are asking everyone to do. We are using this poster this year to thank everybody who’ve contributed and made Black History Month the great celebration,” Gosling explained.

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Let's Think Family - By Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo GOSSIP AND SLANDER IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS I would want us to discuss the issue of GOSSIP AND SLANDER in our daily communication, as well as in our marriages, and all of our relationships. Gossip and slander are among the most subtle and most destructive forms of communication that each human being can easily be lured into. You can slip in out of gossip and slander several times, and get so caught up in the sticky, syrupy, satanic trap of their juicy elements that tickle your base human sentiments to the point that they become a lifestyle and eventually a form of bondage that cause you to be an agent of destruction of fellowship, love, marriages, homes, and families in your community. I am yet to meet any human being under the sun who has never indulged in any form of gossip and slander. Even the most mature and most spiritual person slides into gossip and some slander here and there, even if it is once a year in a pulpit, in a special speech, during a radio broadcast or television discussion, on telephone or in other forms of conversation, in a group discussion, during testimony time, in a letter or electronic mail, in a newspaper article, at the lunch or dinner table, during a car or bus trip, on an airplane, at a committee meeting or conference, during an interview, in a bedroom love-chat session etc. Look back and honestly admit where you can catch yourself falling victim in any of these occasions engaging in gossip or slander. Kindly take note of the following points: 1) Gossip is rumor or talk of a personal or sentimental nature. It also refers to someone who, habitually, spreads sensational or intimate facts. Such a person reveals secrets and confidential information that he or she is supposed to faithfully keep and protect. Such an individual is therefore

an unfaithful fellow who cannot be trusted. He or she is in fact detrimental to any successful marriage or family life, and any progress in any community or organization. Such a person should never be trusted as a friend to you, your spouse, or children and other family members. He is or she is simply a danger to effective and healthy c o m m u n i c a t i o n ! We may sometimes use the term loosely to refer to the sharing of the latest interesting news in town, but the use of the term gossip is normally derogatory, and in every society, a gossip usually means a person who engages in idle chatter and spreading of rumors through conversation. Gossip and slander, in my opinion, have broken up groups and separated close friends more than many others factors of disunity. 2) Slander is a false or malicious statement that is harmful to another person’s reputation. 3) Gossip and slander are more of character traits that emerge from within us, and are therefore more spiritual than physical. We should know that words (which constitute all forms of gossip and slander) are not physical things we can see or hold. They can easily entangle us through their highly deceptive nature, and the spirits behind them can bind and enslave us. Therefore if someone has such bad habits, the person has to make a deliberate effort to build an inward character that constitutes a mind and heart that are loving,

godly, and God-fearing, and consequently upright. You cannot claim to sincerely love someone, and simultaneously say evil or damaging things behind him or her. True love for your neighbor that seeks for his or her welfare will cause your mind and heart to avoid destroying the one with gossiporiented or slanderous communication. 4) Learn to control your tongue. Before you marry anyone, one of the primary areas you will need to thoroughly discuss, caution each other, and honestly face the facts and teach each other is the control of the tongue. Seek to develop the best communication between the two of you, and with everyone around you. When your reputation is degraded by gossip and slander, it is often sad when you finally learn that your precious secret that everyone is kicking about in your environment, or the devastating rumor damaging your hardearned reputation in your community was surprisingly engineered by your own spouse, lover, family member, in-law, or close friend. 5) Seek to be a lover of the truth, and a sincere neighbor who looks out for the welfare of others. One of the best ways to avoid gossip and slander is to always ask yourself two questions: i) Is that story true? ii) How will I feel and react if that story is told about me? Every time you hear or read a story about anyone, pause to question its veracity, then check the facts before you believe and react to it or begin to tell others about it. If you are really in doubt or upset about it, and especially if you love the one being slandered, then go to the person personally and find out the truth for yourself. Talk is cheap, and anyone can therefore become an expert in gossip and slander without sitting in any classroom and learning under any

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frivolous speech guru. When we need favors from others and crave to be in people’s good books (especially people who can supply us with money and other resources, or are in positions of power), our selfish human nature easily drives us to tell secrets and “special” stories about others to those we seek to please. Because gossip and slander are among the most useless and unfruitful works that mankind can produce, the less productive and lazier you are in society, the greater your chances of becoming a skilful gossip or slanderer. Both sexes engage in such acts, but women in particular, who are naturally gifted to talk more than men, must be trained by their spouses, parents, and elders to bridle their tongue. All of us must eschew greed, selfishness, and malice, and train ourselves to develop controlled desires and emotions. Some conditions (for example feelings of pain, frustration, hurt, anger, offence, disappointment, envy, jealousy, shame, and boredom) provide fertile grounds for slander and gossip. We must all watch out for bitter airing of grievances, complaints, grumbling, protests, and self-defense that is done in the wrong spirit, or ignores the real facts of the matter in question. You should also beware of prolonged or intimate conversation and discussions or meetings with protracted chit-chat that have no definite goals, especially in hair-dressing saloons, parking lots, in the malls, bars and restaurants, and particularly on telephone when talk is cheapest, and when you cannot even see the face of each other to detect the reactions of the receiver of your gossip and slander. Yes, it is important to discuss important and baffling issues that come out of meetings, discussions, family issues, or love affairs, but we can often drift into backbiting,

hypocritical, selfish, greedy, self-promoting, and malicious comments that we were not bold enough to utter in front of the person or people we interacted with during the meeting or at home. We might end up going to our homes with poisoned minds. Some spouses or family members always go home with an unloving or hostile and ungrateful attitude or mindset after visiting some particular individuals or being at some places. If your spouse, lover, or member of your household visits his or her home country, attends a funeral or a particular function, or visits a particular friend or in-law, you should be alert with wisdom and discernment to detect significant changes in his or her speech, actions, and behavior that sound the warning bells of mental and spiritual pollution from some toxic gossip and slander intended to destroy your marriage, family, home, or relationship. These are days when promiscuous and illicit sexual or love affairs are rampant, promoted by liberal philosophies and pornography, especially on the Internet and in magazines. There are people who therefore set out to virtually “steal” other people’s dear husbands, wives, fiancées, and loved ones. Others use gossip and slander to steal people’s trusted friends, business partners, church or career associates, and diligent labor companions. Persons competing for position and power, in the home or outside the home, are often caught up in this kind of messy communication, even among competing husbands and wives, children, and other family members. They compete for money, recognition, intelligence, family prestige, property, attention, love, and use of resources, and end up shamefully destroying each other. Even church

leaders, respectable business executives, college professors, great politicians, intimate friends, honorable fathers and mothers or husbands and wives, are all guilty of shameful gossip and malicious slander from time to time. These bad habits are no respecter of persons!! Sometimes we are even deceived to believe that we have the right to say some damaging things because of our special circumstances, especially when we are criticized, misunderstood, ignored, abandoned, mistreated, abused, unloved, deceived, disagreed with, defeated, lost an opportunity, not obtained our expected reward, not supported, and worst of all, when we hear that someone or the particular person we are dealing with is spreading gossip, slander, and rumors about us. We immediately spring into action to revenge with “better” g o s s i p a n d s l a n d e r. This has caused many separated spouses to finally end their marriage in divorce, and there are experts in the society who graduate in making sure that they separate close friends, destroy homes, and break up marriages with diabolic slander and crafted gossip. When tempted to engage in gossip and slander, we must immediately go to God in prayer and rely on Him for strength, grace, and guidance to use wisdom, humility, patience, and diligence to deal with ourselves, and the situation. Otherwise our inability to gather courage and faith to move on in life, and occupying yourself with useful activity will make “the devil to give idle hands some work to do”. Always plan to make your important point in few words, and learn to shut your mouth and control your spirit to cease talking, and learn to listen, so that the other person can digest what cont'd on pg. 63

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PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY The Apostolic Church Int'l.

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The Apostolic Church International (Toronto Assembly) is a Branch of The Apostolic Church in Ghana

Sunday (Worship) 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Wednes: - (Bible Studies) 7:30 p.m. Fri: (Intercessory/Deliverance Prayers) -7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Fri: (Alt.) All Night 10:30 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. Saturday(Alt.) Women's, Men's,Youth Movement Meetings) 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. 1st Saturday of every month Prayer for breakthrough) (Montreal)

9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. TORONTO CENTRAL ASSEMBLY Pastor: 905-791-8190 Cell: 647-218-1052 Church: 416-740-1979 94 Kenhar Drive, Unit 39 & 40, North York, Ont. BRAMPTON ASSEMBLY 270 Rutherford Road, Unit 10 Brampton, Ontario, L6W 3K7 HAMILTON ASSEMBLY 801 King Street East Hamilton, Ontario, L8M 1A8 MONTREAL ASSEMBLY Church 514-279-6565

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EVANGEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH 1245 Martin Grove Road, Rexdale, Ontario, M9W 1L4

Place of Worship: 19 Penn Drive, North York, Ont. (off Finch Av./Milvan)

416-743-4555 (Office) 905-216-2323 (Residence) Day and Time of Worship: Sunday: Bible Class Meeting: 41 10:00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. Church Service: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Jericho Hour Prayer Meeting 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday: Bible Teaching/Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Saturday Organizational Meeting: 6.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Sunday Brampton Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m. Calgary Methodist - 403-603-2864 Edmonton Methodist - 587-336-1223 Ottawa Methodist - 613-823-2291

In Montreal at: Place of Worship: 6870 Rue de Terreborne, Montreal, Que, H4B 1C5

Day and Time of Worship Sunday Divine Service: 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday Prayer Meetings: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Contact: Rev. Emmanuel Ohene Gyimah - 514-542-0871 SERVICES ARE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL GHANA METHODIST LITURGY. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU

CHRIST REDEEMER CHURCH Pastor-in-charge: Pastor Eric Amoah Tel: (416) 748-1242 Cell: (416) 300-9970 Church Services Sunday Service: Bible Study: 10 a.m.-11a.m. Worship Service: 11a.m. - 1p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study 6:30p.m.-7:30p.m. Friday Night Prayer: 8p.m.-10p.m. Pastor Eric Amoah Location: 4 Racine, Unit 9

Pastor in Charge Rev. Milton Offei

(Kipling/Rexdale)

Redemption Faith Church Invites you to worship with us at 1485 ALBION ROAD (Albion/Kipling) Tel: 905-495-1936 Fax: 905-495-1937

Tel: 416-242-7950 Fax: 416-242-8573 Church Activities Sunday School: 10a.m. -11:00a.m. Church Service: 11a.m. - 1:30p.m. Sunday Evening: 7p.m. - 8:30p.m. Wednesday Bible Studies: 7p.m. - 8:30p.m. Friday Prayer Meeting: 7p.m. - 9:00p.m.

Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi

Toronto Society

This is a loving and caring Church that preaches and teaches the whole counsel of God. A place where the word of God is backed by strong anointing to bring Salvation, Healing and Deliverance to all people who believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST Rev. Dr. Stephen Ofori-Darko

CHURCH ACTIVITIES: Sunday Search the Scriptures - 12 noon - 12-45 p.m. Church Service - 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Fridays - 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Bible Study, Intercession & Deliverance

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

FOOD FOR LIFE Bringing the Gospel to our Community By: Rev. Joseph Osei-Amoah IF A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? The above title for this edition of The Ghanaian News was taken from the Book of Job, chapter 14 and verse 14 of the Holy Bible. I believe Job was not alone in trying to unravel the mystery associated with death. When I made an attempt to google “Life after death”, there were 171, 000,000 responses. When I narrowed it down to, “Ancient beliefs about death”, the result was 1,880,000. The huge result I obtained on the subject of death was a proof that a great number of people are interested in the topic enough to spend time to express their views on the topic. Interestingly, the Spirit of God had inspired Job to answer his own question as we shall discover from the statements of this great man of God. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus spoke authoritatively on the subject while the Apostles Paul and John under the influence of the Holy Spirit spoke about the hope that awaits those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and eternal doom of the unbeliever. J o b w a s described as “blameless and upright and one who feared God and shunned evil”. He was a faithful husband, a good parent and a very rich man until he mysteriously lost all his possession including his ten children in a short period of time. Before he realized what was going on, he was covered with painful boils, from the sole of his feet to the

crown of his head. The tragedy which came upon the family was too much for Job’s wife who told him to curse God and die. As Job realized death was gradually creeping on him, he began to ask himself the age old question, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” This is a question that had been on the minds of countless number of people throughout human history. King Solomon in his backslidden condition could not see the difference between human beings and animals in death. To him death ends the existence of both man and animal and man has no advantage over an animal (Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 NKJV). Today, many people agree with King Solomon and their purpose in life is what the Apostle Paul stated in 1Corinthians 15:32: “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Just before his death, Solomon realized that man created in the image of God would not end up like an animal but will face a day of judgment to give an account of his earthly existence. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) When death seemed so close, Job began reflecting in his mind if there was life after death. He acknowledged the brevity of life on earth. “Man who is born of a woman is of few days

and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.” (Job 14:1, 2 NKJV) Then by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it dawned on him that death was not the end of the existence of man. He even remembered that, “…there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.” (Job 14:7-9 NKJV) Job’s prayer was for God to hide him in the grave should he die and conceal him until God’s judgment was past and then remember him. Job continues, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You…” (Job. 14: 1415 NKJV) Job realized that even in death, he would have to respond to the call of the almighty God. The Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:

Gossip and slander in our relationships cont'd from pg. 61

you have said, and will have the opportunity to give appropriate response. This will also contribute immensely in saving you from gossip and slander. If you are in doubt of what you are listening to, or definitely detect that it is gossip or slander, then I suggest you: 1) Leave the scene if necessary or if possible, but walk away or hang up the phone in a wise way. Do not do it a way that will prevent you from reaching out to help the one out of the bad habit in the future. 2) If it is not possible to leave, then try to switch of your mind and heart to dam the poison from flooding your mind and spirit. 3) You may confront the speaker verbally, and let him or her know that you do not approve of what he or she is saying. 4) You can show your disapproval by your behavior and facial expression (but do so in a mature way without violence, rudeness, or

being silly). 5) Learn how to quickly ask questions or make statements to change the subject that is provoking the gossip and slander. 6) Ask for godly wisdom to nullify the poison of the gossip and slander with a good testimony, exhortation, counsel, or any form of statements or discussion that will draw the mind and heart of the gossip and slanderer to true wisdom, and the need for love and forgiveness for his or her fellow human beings, and the consideration of God’s justice, mercy, wisdom for all mankind. Obtain more information from Dr. Kisseadoo’s b o o k s o n l i n e f ro m : RedLeadBooks.com or Amazon.com by searching with his name. Tune in to JOY 99.7 FM in Accra, Ghana on Saturdays at 5:30 am – 6:00 am (Ghana Time) or US Eastern ST 12:30 am – 1:00 am November to March, and listen to Dr.

Kisseadoo’s broadcast “Hope For Your Family”. Access on the Internet using MYJOYONLINE. COM, and click on “Live Radio”. Contact him in the USA (1-757-7289330) for copies of his books, free counseling and prayer. Visit his website: www.fruitfulministriesint. com for essentials that will enrich your life, re l a t i o n s h i p s , a n d ministry. Use DrSamuel Kisseadoo or RevDr. Kisseadoo to access his Wall on Facebook. Copyright March 2013 Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Kisseadoo (Professor of Biology, USA. International Evangelist. Ordained & Licensed Minister. Teacher, Conference Speaker). Founder and President, Fruitful Ministries International Inc. (Evangelistic & Te a c h i n g M i n i s t r y ) . 6 Red Robin Turn, H a m p t o n , Vi rg i n i a 23669, USA. Tel.1757-7289330 E-mail: kisseadoo@msn.com

13-18, wrote concerning the resurrection of those who in their life time trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, who will be raised from the dead; and the living believers will be changed and be snatched from the earth into the presence of their Savior. The Lord Jesus supported the idea of life after death by His statement in John 5:28-29 NKJV, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” Thousands of years earlier, Job saw the second coming of the Lord Jesus and declared: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27NKJV) The writer of Book of Hebrews chapter eleven revealed the hope of some outstanding Old Testament saints who trusted God and followed Him when they were alive

for they were looking for a better resurrection. Abraham’s faith went beyond the land of Palestine God promised him and his descendants. While he was living in tents, he trusted God for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker was God (Hebrews 11:10). “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of P h a r a o h ’s d a u g h t e r, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Hebrews 11:2426 NKJV) The writer mentioned other Old Testament worshippers of God such as the former harlot Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets and concluded that “all these having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.” (Hebrews 11:39:40) Here the writer means these Old Testament saints would be made perfect in God’s plans of

eternal reward with us New Testament believers in Christ. The Apostle John saw the vision of the final judgment when all the dead stood before the Lord to be judged for what they did while alive on earth for refusing to accept God’s plan of salvation by faith in Jesus (Revelation 20:1113). The Lord Jesus still promises those who believe in Him, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4 NKJV) He further made this promise, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NKJV) “Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 NKJV)

Living Word Assembly of God Church (Affiliated with P.A.O.C.)

139 Millwick Drive Toronto, Ont. (Steeles/Islington) Tel: 416- 741-6285 Fax: 416- 741-0133 Email: livingwordag@bellnet.ca

Church Activities

Senior Pastor: Rev. Joseph Osei-Amoah

Sunday Early Morning Prayer: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer: 10:00 a.m-12 noon Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday Prayer 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (Last Friday of the month “All Night Prayer”): 7:30 p.m.-12 mid-night Youth Service (Fridays): 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Departmental Meeting (Every other Sunday): 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, Toronto 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto Ontario, M3L 1E7

Tel: 416-614-6110 647-341-7305 Email: gcmethodist@hotmail.com

Invites all Christians to join us to worship and glorify the Living God

Worship Schedule: Sunday Church Service/Class Meetings: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Friday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Do you desire to experience the power and the presence of God demonstrated in your life? Do you want to experience the marvelous work of God's grace in your life? Then, Bethel Prayer Ministry International would like to invite you to visit their church where the word of God is preached powerfully to release the power of God in your life. Pastor Dennis Awuku COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED Senior Pastor

Contact:

Res. 416-740-6963 Church 416-642-0390 Worship Hours: Sunday Service: 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 2 pm Consultation Wednesday: 7pm - 9p.m. Friday: 9pm - 12 pm Saturday (Prayer Warriors) 6pm - 8pm Location: 52 Carrier Drive, Unit 12, (Albion/Hwy 27)

Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5

Very Rev. De-Graft Semie Obiri (Calvary Methodist)

Saturday Auxilliary Minister Youth Musical & Computer Rev. Samuel Victor Mpereh Lessons Fellowship Meetings Choir Practice, Singing Band Practice 647-770-8440

Venue of Worship 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto (Route: Through Jethro Road or Haymarket Road, off Wilson Ave. between Weston Rd. and Jane St., or walk across bridge from Chalkfarm North)

Tel: 416-614-6110

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l

Harvest Christian Church Invites you for a wonderful time with the Lord

Worship Hours Sundays (Mornings) 10 - 12:45pm Wednesday (Bible Study) 7 -8:30 pm Friday (All Night Prayer) 8-10:30pm Rev Moses Sarpong

COME AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE WORD Join us at 196 Toryork Drive(Corner of Weston/Finch)

Tel: 416-743-2507 Email: gcmethodist@hotmail.com

IT’S HARVEST TIME SO REACH OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It’s A Great Commission!

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Peace Light Ministries Senior Pastor & Founder: Rev. Augustine Adu-Anane BRE, M.Th. CPC

Senior Associate Pastor: Rev. Eleanor Adu-Anane BRE, ECE

TIME OF WORSHIP Wednesday: Bible Study 7:00 - 9:00 pm Friday: Group Prayer Meeting 8:00 - 11:00 pm Sunday: Christian Education 9:30 am - 10:30 am Sunday Service: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Rev. Augustine Adu-Anane

Tel: 416-839-1662 / 647-892-9412 LOCATION: 100 Penn Drive, Unit #3, North York, Ont. M9L 2A9 Happy are those who work for PEACE, for God will call them His children Mtt: 5:9

Lighthouse Assembly of God Church Senior Pastor: Isaac Takyi De-Graft Exclusive English Service: 8:00am - 10:00am School of the Light: 10:00am - 10:45am Exclusive Ghanaian Service : 10:45am - 1:00am Tuesday(Time with the Holy Spirit) 10:00 am-12:30 pm Wednesday(School of Ministry) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm -Torontonians Thursday(School of Ministry) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Bramptonians Friday(Time in His Presence) 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Every First Friday is Special Youth Service 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Every Fouth Friday is Half Night Service: 9:00 pm - 12:30 am

THE APOSTLES' CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA) North American Headquarters: 10 Belfield Road Toronto, Ont., M9W 1G1 Tel: 416-247-6629 Fax: 416-247-5308

NEW LOCATION: 42 Steinway Blvd. Unit 1&2 (Hwy 27/Steeles) Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Y6

Tel: 416-740-1200 Fax: 416-740-6435 Email:

lighthouse@lighthouseag.caWebsite: http:/www/lighthouseag.ca Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Power of Grace Chapel Int'l Invites all Christians, Non-Christians and members of the Resurrection Power Tradition to join us worship the Great Jehovah

Place of Worship:

350 Deerhide Cres, North York, ON Sunday Wednesday Friday

Rev. Joe Bonnah Days And Time of Worship - Divine Worship - 10a.m. - 1p.m.Pastor-in-charge - Bible Studies 7p.m. - 9p.m. - Prayer / Deliverance - 7p.m. - 10p.m.

Contact Lines: Tel: 416-321-2796 (Pastor's Res) 289-981-1547 (Church)

Cell: 647-921-2414

Immanuel Assembly of God Church, Scarborough Sunday School: Church Service:

9:30am -10:30am 10:30am - 12 noon

There will be devotion each morning or evening from Monday to Friday on line 6:00 am to 7:00 am or 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Rev. Douglas O. Ansah Pastor-in-charge

Online telephone # 647-722-5570. Access code: 226688# or 124488#

LOCATION Don Montgomery Community Centre 2467 Eglinton Ave. E. Scarborough, Ont., (Kennedy/Eglinton Subway Station) For more info contact:

647-880-4216

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

SERVICE TIMES: Worship Service Bible Studies All Night Service Deliverance

- Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Friday 9:30 p.m. - Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Worship With Us At These Branches In Canada

Toronto 10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629 Scarborough Assembly 1632 Midland Ave., M1P 1C2 Tel: 416-288-1333

Montreal Assembly 378 Cremazie East Montreal, Quebec, H2P 1E5 Tel: 514-271-9083 Pastor-In-Charge: John Arhin Contact: 514-274-2978

Pastor In-Charge: Pastor Patrick Antwi Contact: 647-402-4708

Praise Temple of Christ International Snr. Pastor: Apostle Osei-Bonsu

336 Gary Ray Drive @ Signet Worship Schedule Sunday Worship - 10 am - 12:30 pm Wednesday - Bible Study - 7 pm - 9 pm Friday - Prayer Meeting - 8 pm - 10 pm Second and last Friday of each month All Night Prayer Meeting 8 pm - 12 midnight

For information call: Apostle - 905-487-6658 Emmanuel - 289-400-7626 (cell)

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Ghanaian Congregation

GHANAIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

ST. ANDREW’S PARISH 2547 KIPLING AVENUETORONTO ONTARIOM9V 3A8. MASS TIMES: 2:00pm – 4:00pm ON THE FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH. CONTACTS; FR. ALEX OSEI CSSp (Priest-In-Charge) 416-266-6787. FR. ANTHONY ADUSEI CSSp 416-266-6787 REV. MR. JOSEPH OWUSU AFRIYIE 905-970-0824. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATES FOR OUR MASS SERVICE IN THE MONTH OF MARCH ARE THE 3RD AND THE 17TH.

St. John's Anglican Church VENUE: 2125 WESTON RD., WESTON ONT. Priest-in-charge: Rev. Michelle Childs-Ward , Incumbent 647-234-8229 Rev. Fr. Jojo Eduam Entsiwah, Associate Priest 647-400-7055

Sunday: Bible Study - 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Regular Service: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Isaac Aborah-Sei Daniel Oteng Evans Ackah Dwomoh Abebrese

647-859-9922 647-891-4211 647-403-6385 647-774-0747

Transformation Centre Assembly of God Church, Mississauga Join us on Sundays for worship at: Venue: Meadowvale Community Centre, Mississauga

Address: 6655 Glen Erin Drive Main Intersection: Glen Erin Drive and Aquitaine Avenue Room: Youth and Seniors

Time: 10.00AM-1.00PM Contact: Pastor Isaac K. Bonful Tel: 289-814-5482 Email: transformcentreag@yahoo.ca "...Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2a

The Ghanaian News

Need to embrace newcomers Fairness Commissioner cont'd from pg. 53

ognition agreements, identifying acceptable alternatives for meeting the competencies embedded in academic and experience requirements and collecting applicant input on registration requirements and processes. “Measure the impact of fair-access initiatives on the experience of applicants.” The government was also included in the fair access agenda. The OFC states that the government needs to “project a clear and compelling vision for our province and country that values diversity and mobilizes the full potential

of all residents. Ensure policy coherence, integrating fair-access considerations into the development and implementation of related legislation and policies, particularly in the area of professional regulation, global labour mobility, and immigration. Continue to fill resource gaps by addressing applicant needs for financial aid and by funding bridging programs and foreign-credential-recognition initiatives.” The OFC also identified a fair-access agenda for research noting the need “to conduct

evaluation research on emerging fair-access developments, such as bridging programs and competency assessment. Conduct academic research on access to the professions and how access has changed over time. Identify promising practices and recommend priorities for further action. Contribute to the development of an evidence-based understanding of the promise and challenges of diversity for the regulated professions and the public they serve.” By Jasminee Sahoye Caribbean Camera

For All Your Events Coverage Call The Ghanaian News 416-916-3700 Christian Hope Ministry Int'l Invites You All To Come Worship With Us Apostle-in-charge: Apostle Twumasi Ankrah

Tel: 647-344-6726 Cell: 416-200-2453 TIME OF WORSHIP: Sunday 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Tuesday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Friday 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Apostle Twumasi Ankrah

VENUE: 1177 Finch Dr. #20, North York "And these signs will follow those who believe, in My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick , and they will recover. Amen (Mark 16:17)

"COME AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD"

Gospel Action Ministry Location: 135 Oakdale Rd. (Back door)

GHANAIAN ANGLICAN CHURCH OF TORONTO 1796 Lawrence Avenue West (Jane & Lawrence) Sunday: Bible Study Sunday Worship Wednesday: Teaching/Prayer Thursday: Prayer Meeting Friday: Prayer Meeting Saturday: Group Meetings Rev. Fr. Gabriel Opoku Ware Priest-in-charge

416-901-3932 Cell: 647-624-4044

- 2pm-3:00pm - 3pm-5:00pm - 7pm-9:00pm -10am-12noon - 7pm-9:00pm - 3pm-7:30pm

Bro. S.H. Morris(People's Warden) 905-792-9761 Sis. Monica Akrofi(Priest's Warden)416-748-8246 Sis. Beatrice Asare(Secretary) 416-745-8148

Welcome Home Evangelistic Ministries Affiliated with the Evangelical Church In Canada

Snr. Pastor & Founder: Evang. & Prophetess Winnie Manu BRE, M. Div.

Worship Celebration Services Sunday Worship Celebration: 10 a.m. Friday Prayer Meeting / Discipleship Group: 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Last Sunday of Every Month: Healing Service

Place of Worship 236 Queen Mary Drive Brampton, ON L7A 3L3

Contact Info: Tel: 647 210 7057 Fax: 905 495 4789 Website: www.whemtoday .org

Email: info@whemtoday.org

Healing Service: Last Sunday of every month at Cheyne Middle School. 236 Queen Mary Dr. Brampton.

Glory Pentecostal Ministry of Toronto Pastor-in-charge: Rev. Rockson Owusu Atwima - 416-708-7742

Invites all Christians and Non-Christians to join us to worship the Almighty God WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Regular Service 11:00 am to 1:30 pm Tuesday Prayer and Healing Service 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday Prayer Night 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

PLACE OF WORSHIP 230 Eddystone Ave., #207, North York, Ont. M3N 1H7 We are more tan our conquerors Romans 8:37 "Come and see the manifestation and the power of the Holy Spirit at work"

Living Praise Ministries Int'l Church We are a diverse group of individuals who come together to build a church based upon a common foundation in Christ Jesus

Senior Pastor: Rev. Peter Awuah

Tel: 416-836-9235, 416-667-8637

February 2013

Rev. Peter Awuah

Service Schedule Sunday: Church Service 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm Tuesday: Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Friday: Bible/Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Last Friday of the month: All Night Prayer Meeting 11:00 pm

Pastor Sam & Helena Addai Pastor Elvis & Sonia Henry Our Services Friday: 7:30 p.m. Healing and Deliverance Service Sunday: 10:30 a.m. - Intercessory Prayer 10:00 a.m. - Worship Team 12:00 noon - Sunday Sch., children 3-13 yrs. Weekly Spiritual Growth Tuesday: Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. at the church Friday: Youth Ministry, 7:30 p.m. at the church Pastor Sam Addai Friday: Prayer and Revival Service, 7:30 p.m. at the church Tuesday: Anointing Today, 7:30 a.m. on Vision TV (61) First Friday of each month: Midnight Prayer Meetings 11p.m.to1 a.m.

Tel: 613-228-2189, 1-800-973-2189 1877 Merivale Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K2O 1Y8

The Ghanaian News February 2013

Around the Ghana Sports Scene Gyan named in strong African XI Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has been named in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations best XI squad. The Black Stars striker scored one goal in six matches but created several assists for his teammates as Ghana finished fourth. Gyan was selected by CAF’s Technical Study Group to strike upfront with Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike who was joint top scorer with Mubarak Wakaso with four goals. African XI: Vincent EnyeamaBakary Koné, Nando Maria

Neves, Efe Ambrose-Jonathan Pitroipa, Siaka Tiéné, Seydou Keita, John Obi Mikel, Vi c t o r M o s e s , A s a m o a h Gyan, Emmanuel Emenike. Ghanafa.org

E Frimpong eager to make Black Stars debut

mmanuel Frimpong is eager to make his Ghana debut soon as the midfielder hopes to force his way into Kwesi Appiah’s team. The 21-year-old player was last year given international clearance to represent Ghana but missed the cut for the Africa Cup of Nations. Frimpong, who is on a six-month loan at Fulham from Arsenal

is hoping that his temporary switch to Craven Cottage will help him catch the eye of the Black Stars coach, Appiah. “I want to play for Ghana and, hopefully, I can start doing that very soon,” Frimpong told the London Evening Standard. “That is my aim, to get into the squad. But for that to happen, I need to start playing regularly.” And the player, who is yet to represent Ghana at international level has been encouraged by Appiah’s frank assessment of his chances. “I spoke to the manager recently and he said I should just carry on playing my football and see what happens for the next game. That is next month so we will have to wait and see what he decides,” he said. Ghanafa.org

with Jonathan Annobil

Nigeria Wins First Africa Cup Of Nations in 19 Years Nigerian came in very strong and determined at the beginning of the 2013 AFCON games but no one could have predicted that they will take the cup. The Super Eagles, as they are called, took home the prestigious title for the third time in AFCON’s history, and their first time in 19 years as they last took the cup in 1994 in a victory against Tunisia. In the finals match in South Africa, the team again defeated underdog Burkina Faso 1-0, with the winning goal scored by Sunday Mba. This was Burkina Faso’s first appearance at the AFCON finals. Victor Moses of Nigeria was honored as the champion of the match.

Coach Stephen Keshi of Nigeria made history by becoming the second man to win Africa’s top football prize as both a player and coach, matching the feat of Egyptian Mahmoud Al Gohari. He was the captain of the team when they defeated

Tunisia in 1994 in the finals. Nigeria will now represent the African continent at the Confederations Cup in Brazil later this year. Congratulations to the 2013 Champions of Africa. Face2face Africa

GFA confirms Appiah will continue as coach The Ghana Football Association confirms that Kwesi Appiah will continue as Black Stars coach. This followed a meeting of the Executive Committee of the GFA after an appraisal of the Black Stars’ performance at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The Ex.Co considered all aspects of Ghana’s performance and operations at the Nations Cup in South Africa and it was agreed that Appiah is the best man to continue coaching the Black Stars. President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi said: “We reviewed

Ghana’s participation at this competition and are very quick to admit that the performance fell below the expectation of everyone of us. “We will like to render an unqualified apology to all Ghanaians. We have looked at the reports and very useful lessons have been drawn on the way forward. “We also looked at the coaching department of the team. We thought that once the team did not do well, then performance [of the coach] was also an issue that ought to be looked at.

“The technical team headed by the head coach - Kwesi Appiah - did a commendable job considering that this was the first outing at such a major competition. However, we thought that the team deserve to do better. “We are looking at how to strengthen the capacity of the technical team to bring them to a level that will enable them do better in subsequent competitions.” Ghana finished fourth at Africa Cup of Nations. Ghanafa.org

Marseille star players Andre and Jordan Ayew quit Ghana national team

Andre Ayew (left) and Jordan Ayew say they should not be considered for futurematches

France-based players Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew have dealt Ghana a severe blow

after announcing a temporary retirement from the BlackStars, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The France-based players have asked the Ghana Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( G FA ) not to consider them for future call-ups into the Black Stars. A local radio station reported that the two brothers turned in their resignation letter to the GFA on Tuesday. The GFA is yet to confirm receiving the letter from the Ayew brothers who playfor French side Marseille. The decision by the sons of legend Abedi Pele comes in the wake of their exclusion from Ghana’s squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Jordan Ayew was ex-

cluded from the intial 26-man squad for the tournament which was announced by coach Kwesi Appiah on December. Andre Ayew was included in the squad but was subsequently dropped after he failed to arrive in time to be examined by the Ghana team doctors after suffering a hamstring injury. Jordan was furious over the decision to exclude him and cited Kevin Prince Boateng’s decision to quit the Black Stars as some of the thing not normal in the Ghana federation. Andre echoed similar sentiments when he

was also left out squad expressing his shock over Kwesi Appiah insisting he arrives in camp to be examined by the Ghana doctors. “It was shocking. The coach based on the fact that he only wanted players [who are 100%], which is surprising because apparently there are a lot of casualties there,” Andre Ayew said last month in the wake of his exclusion from the squad. “I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed. It made me know some people in the staffand federation. “Ghana is a big nation. There are things happening that are not normal,

Kevin Prince Boateng issue shows that there are reasons,” Ayew added. While the Ayews might have their reasons, some have pointed to disciplinary problems for their run-ins with Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah. Andre was given an ultimatum to apologise over some tantrums he was alleged to have thrown at the coach when he was substituted in their Nations Cup qualifier against Malawi in Blantyre. Andre scored four goals in 43 appearances for Ghana while Jordan scored twice in his 10 matches for the Black Stars.

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

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The Ghanaian News February 2013

The Contributing Editor of the Ghanaian News, Joe Kingsley Eyiah, has lost his mother in Ghana .Obapanyi Aba Yaa Tawiah (alias Hannah Ansah) died peacefully at her Agona SwedruWawaase home surrendered by some family members on Thursday, December 13, 2012. She was 96 years old. Madam Aba Yaa Tawiah (commonly known as Aba Yaa) was a popular trader at the Agona Swedru Central Market in the 1970s, 80s & 90s. She was the Dorcas (Welfare) leader of the Agona Swedru-Wawaase SDA Church for several years. Madam Aba Yaa was the mother of Elder Joe Kingsley Eyiah of the Heritage Ghanaian S.D.A. Church in Toronto-Canada who was also a former Communications Director of the South Ghana Conference of the SDA Church and Vice Principal of the SDA Training College, Asokore-Koforidua, a former writer for the Peoople's Daily Graphic and GBC in the 80s and early 90s and now a Contributing Editor of the Ghanaian News based in Toronto-Canada; Elder Isaac Ayiah of Techiman

Obapanyi Aba Yaa Tawiah (alias Hannah Ansah)

New Town SDA Church and also Director of Afamko Company Ltd at Techiman-B/A; Elder Samuel Eyiah of the Agona Swedru-Wawaase SDA Church; Madam Comfort Eyiah Arthur (Trader) of Kasoa New Town SDA Church, near Accra; Sampson Eyiah of Kumasi Asuyeboa SDA Church (Wood worker/ Driver) in Kumasi; Esther Eyiah of Techiman

New Town SDA Church (tutor) and John Eyiah of the United Kingdom She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Celebration of her life will be held at Agona Swedru-Wawaase on Sunday, March 17, 2013 All sympathizers and well-wishers are cordially invited to the funeral.

The Ghanaian News

February 2013

Fruitful House The Family Church

PRESENTS The Gathering 2013

See His Glory Come Down Speaker Dr Frank Ofosu-Appiah Host Rev Albert Akonnor

April 5-7 2013

Friday 7pm - Saturday 7pm - Sunday 10am Venue: 6380 Tomken Road, Mississauga ON www.fruitfulhouse.com 905 696 0050 gathering@fruitfulhouse.com Join us each sunday (2 services) 8am - 9:30am, 10am - 12 noon