Ghanaian News

The Ghanaian News

2010 Personal & Business Tax Filing HST Filing

March 2012

1

Ghanaian News is Now Online www.ghanaiannews.ca

Vol. 16 No. 3 March 2012

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Ethnic Press discusses issues of concern with Liberal Leader

By Staff Reporter, Ottawa

On March 26, 2012, members of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council met with Liberal Leader, the Honourable Bob Rae, Liberal Members of Parliament and Senators to discuss a variety of issues.

The meeting, held in Ottawa, was part of The Liberal Party of Canada’s community outreach initiative to engage as many multicultural communities as possible so that the Party can truly represent all Canadians.

In a Round Table discussion, journalists posed questions to the Liberal Leader with respect to a number of national and international issues including the

Members of Ethnic Press Media with Hon. Bob Rae and Hon. Jim Karygiannis

situations in Iran and Syria; Canada’s immigration policy; and,

the re-building of the Liberal Party.

Mr. Rae said the international community is closely watching

developments in Iran concerning the country’s nuclear program. He

said the United Nations imposed sanctions on Iran and that any further cont'd on pg. 7

Mayor of Edmonton urges Newcomers to strive for success From: Emmanuel Ayiku, Edmonton

From left Nii Okine, Musician, Mr. Stephen Mandel, Mayor of Edmonton, Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw, President ofGhana Friendship Assoc. Edmonton, Emmanuel Ayiku, Publisher Ghanaian News

The Mayor of the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, Mr. Stephen Mandel has advised immigrants and new comers to Canada to strive for success as part of the larger Canadian dream and mosaic. In a lively chat with The Ghanaian News as part of activities marking the celebrations of Ghana’s 55th Independence Anniversary, Mayor Mandel stressed that the City is making every effort to make newcomers feel

comfortable and welcome as part of the larger Edmonton and Canadian family.

“Much as we encourage people to maintain a sense of their original identity, as who they are, we also feel strongly that people should think more in larger terms as Canadians. It is our policy to help people pursue their individual goals for opportunities and success”, he said. It is for this reason, the Mayor pointed out, that the City of Edmonton has devel-

oped a Race Relations Policy and provides financial support for new and emerging communities like the Ghanaian Community in Edmonton. It is also part of this initiative, the Mayor stressed, that the City is helping to develop an African Community Center in Edmonton.

Mayor Mandel advised Newcomers and indeed all immigrants to Canada to realize that the choices they make now and the contributions they make to cont'd on pg. 7

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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

EDITORIAL Publisher / Editor Emmanuel Ayiku Contributing Editors Dr. Michael Baffoe Joe Kingsley Eyiah Director of Operations Comfort Ayiku Community Reporter Jonathan Annobil Winnipeg Bureau Dr. Michael Baffoe

The Ghanaian News Publishes news and comments from the Community, serves Ghanaians across Canada with good source of information is committed to give good community Journalism The Ghanaian News is published in Canada by The Ghanaian News Corporation

Editorial Office 2256 Sheppard Ave. Suite 202 Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 Tel:(416) 916-3700 Advertising Fax (416) 916-6701 Internet: www.ghanaiannews.com E-mail: cayiku@gmail.com Subscription costs $89.95 for one year. $129.95 for two years. U.S. and foreign subscriptions costs US$120.00 per year.

Letters to the Editor We encourage your feedback and value your comments. Please feel free to write to us. keep letters to a maximum of 200 words, include your full name, Telephone # and mailing address with all correspondence.

Address your letters to the Editor The Ghanaian News 2256 SheppardAve. Suite 202 Toronto, Ont. M9M 1L7 Tel: 416-916-3700 or Fax: 416-916-6701 or e-mail us at afrocan@afrocan.com

Articles appearing in various columns of the Ghanaian News are intended to generate civil and informed public discussions. You do not have to agree with opinions expressed by the writers.

That should encourage you to write to express your own views. This is the way we generate lively and civil discussions in the community.

Rejoinders are not forums for personal insults and we want readers to adhere to these principles.

Saluting the City of Edmonton for the Honour As part of activities marking Ghana’s 55th Independence Anniversary, the City of Edmonton, capital of the Province of Alberta in Canada decided to honour Ghana with a Proclamation of March 2012 as “Ghana Month” in the City of Edmonton.

We devote our Editorial piece to this recognition event and gesture from the City of Edmonton for a number of reasons. That City has a long history of ties with Ghana. It was one of the first Cities in the British Commonwealth that offered opportunities in the immediate aftermath of Ghana’s Independence, for a number of Ghanaians to study in Universities in Alberta especially at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Many of such students returned to assist in the building of the young, emerging Black Star of Africa from the early 1960s. Others stayed and some later returned and have contributed a lot to the building of the Province of Alberta. There are a number of Ghanaians in very senior positions in the political and economic life of the Province of Alberta. It is gratifying to note that people of Ghanaian origin who live in Alberta have discharged and distinguished themselves very honourably.

This proclamation and recognition from the City of Edmonton is also a strong indication of the respect and confidence that one of the largest Canadian Municipalities and for that matter the Province has for Ghana. The proclamation underscores the leadership and shining roles that Ghana has played and continues to play in post-colonial Africa. It makes reference to the peaceful political transitions in Ghana “without plunging the country into war” as our other neighbours have sadly chosen to do on a number of occasions. This is a strong message that we should all take seriously and be proud of as Ghanaians. And it is an image that we should all strive and vow to uphold and protect.

In the 55th year of our Independence, in the year that the City of Edmonton has bestowed this honour on our dear nation, our country will be embarking on another political journey: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in December 2012. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that these political events pass smoothly and peacefully to justify the honour that other countries, institutions and municipalities, including the City of Edmonton, have bestowed on us.

We salute the City of Edmonton and its Mayor for this honour. We also salute the Ghanaian-Canadian residents of the Province of Alberta and of the City Edmonton through the leadership of the Ghana Friendship Association of Edmonton for conducting themselves honourably in that Province and City.

Long Live Ghana! And Long Live the Ghanaian-Canadian relationships!

Opinion/ Commentary

By Kwabena Akuoko

Boosting Road Safety in Ghana is a Collective Responsibility Every year, horrendous, but preventable mishaps are recorded on Ghanaian roads resulting in the tragic deaths of many people. This sad reality is evidenced by the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit of Ghana Police Service’s recently released sombre statistics, which indicates that as many as over 20,000 precious lives were accidentally claimed on Ghanaian roads during the past decade alone.

The Ghana Police Service’s report is also collaborated by the National Road Safety Commission’s (NRSC) data, which states that a whopping 125,857 of all kinds of road accidents occurred in our country between 2000 and 2010.

According to NRSC, these accidents resulted in over 63,000 serious injuries to victims.

Given Ghana’s population of 24 million people, it is no brainer that 125,857 road accidents and the loss of more than twenty thousand lives within a decade or 2,000 per year through preventable accidents are simply outrageous and unacceptable.

By all means, this is certainly a serious concern, but public policy response to this epidemic seems to be muted. Ghanaian authorities need to recognize the problem as a grave public health crisis and come up with comprehensive and preventable policy measures to combat this growing trend.

Understandably, accidents could occur anywhere and at anytime, but most road accidents in Ghana are preventable and as such, even one lost life is one too many. It is imprudent for us to pretend that the problem is minimal or non-existent and will somehow dissipate if ignored. Ghanaian roads have increasingly become death traps and so many precious lives are routinely and needlessly lost, therefore it is long overdue for the authorities to come up with far-reaching measures to deal with the problem. It is unfortunate for so many people to perish on our roads in such a high proportion through something that is highly preventable.

This calls for all road users, including passengers and pedestrians to be on

the lookout to help ensure that they, and of course all drivers respect road traffic regulations.

The simple, yet important questions that need to be asked are: what are the major causes of all these road accidents and most importantly, what can be done to avoid the resultant increasing levels of the obvious mayhems? Many factors are simply responsible for many of the senseless killings on Ghanaian roads. Arguably, over speeding, drunk driving or driving while under the influence of mood altering substances, roadunworthiness of many vehicles operating on the roads as well as blatant disregard for traffic rules and above all, lack of sound driver education among the driving public and poor traffic rules enforcement regime among others are predictors of fatal road traffic accidents in Ghana. Also, many of these accidents are attributable to poor driving skills and lack of common sense on the part of those who are not qualified to drive, but have elected to do so anyway.

Many people operate vehicles in Ghana without even the required driver’s license. Also, some people refer to themselves as drivers due to the simple fact that they can move a vehicle from a parking gear to a few metres away. Similarly, there is a poor knowledge of traffic rules and regulations among Ghanaian motorists and that certainly is one of the major causes of road injuries and fatalities. This therefore calls for a thorough incorporation of sound driver education into the licensing system so that only those who are rigorously tested and determined to have the skills to operate vehicles would have the privilege to be drivers.

This will also allow the citizenry to realize that driving just like in many jurisdictions around the world, is a privilege and not a right.

In addition to effective driver education, strict traffic rules enforcement regime is of critical relevance in order to markedly reduce injuries and fatalities on our roads. In a similar vein, since speeding is strongly a con-

tributing factor to the problem, implementing preventive measures to ensure lower speed levels on the roads will reduce the annual number of people killed in accidents significantly in our country.

Also, future measures should concentrate on preventing head-on collisions, off-the-road accidents and those involving nonmotorists. This too calls for general public education around road safety. In this regard, an effective public education campaign analogous to the August 4, 1974 nationwide safety campaign before, during and immediate aftermath of Ghana’s switch over from lefthand drive to right-hand drive is crucially necessary. Such nationwide campaign will significantly educate drivers, passengers, pedestrians or the general public about road safety in order to help reduce avoidable accidents.

Reinvigorated national road safety campaign and driver education are conduits through which a clear message can be put across that all citizens have a responsibility to ensure that they do not become victims of road accidents. Passengers and pedestrians for instance need to be educated to identify and avoid passenger drivers who exhibit poor driving skills, make poor judgement such as unnecessary overtaking and speeding as well as those who drive while impaired.

Most road accidents, which result in serious injuries and subsequent disabilities or deaths, are highly avoidable. It takes individual and collective efforts and responsibility to ensure that our roads are safe. Ghanaian motorists must have deep respect for traffic rules and the Ghana Police Service’s personnel must also live up to their professional responsibilities in enforcing traffic laws effectively. Finally, Ghana led the way in 1974 when it had one of the safest changes over from lefthand drive to right-hand drive. There is no reason why we cannot employ similar safety measures again to avoid or reduce carnages on our roads.

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

7

Mayor of Edmonton urges Newcomers to strive for success cont'd from pg. 1

Canada are not for themselves. “It is for your children and the future of your children”, he said, The hope of the City of Edmonton, according to the Mayor, is to create the best possible opportunities for everyone to achieve such dreams and opportunities. He advised Newcomers to “live outside their communities”, get more integrated into the mainstream and take advantage of the opportunities that exist in Edmonton and in Canada as a whole.

“We encourage people to come to Edmonton to help build and be part of the larger Canadian life and

not just “Ghanaian life” or “Ukrainian life” or “Somalian life”, he stressed.

“If people think in those narrow terms, then they should have stayed in their countries of origin.

Multiculturalism is not just hanging out with your own people. The Canadian dream is bigger than that”.

He noted with pride that the Ghanaian Community in Edmonton is very well educated and very well organized. “They are not only “looking inside” their community; but outside their community as well where they reach out, work with and integrate

with other communities as well”.

The President of the Ghana Friendship Society of Edmonton, Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw also underscored the fact that the Ghanaian Community in Edmonton has made a lot of effort to integrate into the mainstream Canadian society and achieved a lot of successes. He also pointed out that the Community makes every effort to reach out to other Communities as well in most of the activities and projects the Ghanaian community organizes.

Tel: 416-241-1366

Ethnic Press discusses issues of concern with Liberal Leader cont'd from pg. 1

response must be an international decision.

Questions were also asked about the escalating and horrifying civil unrest in Syria and Canada’s role with respect to Syrian refugees. Canada closed its Embassy in Syria in early March 2012 due to the increasing risk to the safety of staff. Presently, anyone in Syria wanting to apply for temporary resident status in Canada has to apply through the Canadian Visa Offices in Beirut, Lebanon or Amman, Jordan. Mr. Rae told reporters that Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Multiculturalism, has given some assurances that ongoing cases will be taken care of. Liberals, he said, will continue to press for diplomatic and immigration services be provided in the area.

Mr. Rae told reporters that The Liberal Party

finds the Conservative Government’s immigration policy disturbing. He cited Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act and The Marine Transportation Security Act that punishes vulnerable refugees seeking a better life in Canada and the Minister ’s ability to designate certain countries as being ‘safe’.

Mr. Rae said that international law states that all refugees must be treated in the same manner, and this Bill does not meet that test.

Mr. Rae went on to say that one of the most important issues facing new Canadians is recognition of foreign credentials. He said the private sector and public institutions have to be engaged to develop programs for people to obtain practical

experience in their new country.

The future of the Liberal Party of Canada was on the minds of reporters.

The Liberal Leader told the group that the Party is reaching out to all Canadians in its rebuilding efforts.

Fundamental to this process is earning the trust and regaining the confidence of Canadians.

Journalists also had an opportunity to attend Question Period.

The outreach event was organized by the Honourable Jim Karygiannis, M.P., Scarborough-Agincourt and Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism. He believes that, in developing and maintaining an open dialogue with Canadians, the Liberal Party needs to ensure that it listens, exchanges ideas and respects the views of others.

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Ontario Increases Funding Per Student McGuinty Government Protecting Gains In Education Ontario is increasing funding for students for the 10th year in a row.

The 2012-13 Grants for Student Needs (GSN) will rise this coming year to $11,189 per student. That is an increase of about $4,000 per student since 2003. The increased funding has led to significant

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full-day kindergarten is rolled out on schedule to give our youngest learners the best possible start.

This year’s increases will help protect full-day kindergarten, a cap on class sizes and teaching jobs.

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The Ghanaian News

March 2012

9

Strong Action for Ontario A Plan to Balance the Budget, Create Jobs, Protect Education and Health Care The 2012 Ontario Budget includes a deficit elimination plan that reduces program spending growth and contains costs by $17.7 billion over the next three years, while increasing revenues by $4.4 billion without raising taxes.

This is serious action for a serious time and puts Ontario on track to eliminate the deficit by 2017– 18.

More than 50 cents of every dollar spent by the Ontario government pays for the compensation of teachers, doctors and others in the broader public sector. Given the serious fiscal challenge the Province is facing, compensation costs must be managed if the government is to meet its fiscal targets and protect the gains made over the past eight years in education and health care.

The collective bargaining process will be respected.

Where agreements cannot be negotiated that are consistent with the plan to balance the budget and protect priority services, the government is prepared to propose the necessary administrative and legislative measures.

The government intends to introduce a number of measures to make public sector pensions more affordable for taxpayers and sustainable for pension plan members, following consultations with affected stakeholders.

For example, in cases where pensions are in a deficit, many public sector workers would be asked to reduce future benefits before seeking additional pension contri-

butions from employers or the government. Current retirees would not be affected.

The 2012 Budget proposes strong action to balance the budget by 2017– 18, including: Implementing savings of $4.9 billion over three years Freezing the general Corporate Income Tax rate and Business Education Tax rate reductions until the budget is balanced Capping the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit at 3,000 kWh per month Changing the Ontario Drug Benefit program so that about five per cent of seniors — those with the highest incomes — pay a larger share of their prescription drug costs Ensuring Ontario user fees recover more of the cost of providing programs and services Extending the pay freeze for MPPs for another two years — for a total of five years Extending the pay freeze for executives at hospitals, universities, colleges, school boards and agencies for another two years.

The deficit for 2011–12 is projected to be $15.3 billion — $1 billion lower than forecast a year ago and an improvement of over 38 per cent from the 2009–10 deficit forecast in the fall of 2009. Without the measures announced in the 2012 Budget, Ontario’s deficit would approach $25 billion in 2014–15. Instead, it is projected to be $10.7 billion that fiscal year.

The government will con-

tinue to focus on its priorities to further strengthen the economy and spur job creation.

Jobs and Prosperity To help build a strong and diversified Ontario that enables business to invest in innovation, improve productivity and become more globally competitive, the government will: Consolidate many business support programs into a Jobs and Prosperity Fund that will focus on productivity growth and job creation, while generating overall savings of $250 million in 2014–15 Establish a multi-stakeholder Jobs and Prosperity Council to advise the government on a plan to boost Ontario’s productivity, and lead a research agenda on Ontario’s productivity and innovation Diversify Ontario’s exports to emerging economies by streamlining and coordinating the trade promotion activities of relevant ministries.

Knowledge and Skills The government will continue to build on its plan to have the world’s best-educated workforce to ensure future prosperity in the knowledge-based economy by: Fully implementing fullday kindergarten by September 2014 Keeping a cap on class sizes in the early grades Remaining committed to the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant for eligible fulltime undergraduate university and college students Further integrating training programs across government to make them

more responsive to today’s job market.

Transforming Health Care The government will build on Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care to create a sustainable and highquality health care system by: Transforming health care to reduce the rate of growth of spending to an average of 2.1 per cent annually over the next three years Enhancing communitybased care to treat patients in alternative settings such as non-profit clinics and at home instead of in hospitals, where appropriate Moving to patient-centred funding models to improve the value and quality of care.

QUOTES “We are making the right choices to ensure that Ontario families are receiving the best possible services and the best value for tax dollars. All of us have a role to play in balancing the budget.”

- Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance “Building a stronger Ontario requires strong action. We will make the right choices to protect the vital gains we have made together. When we make these choices, we will choose protecting education and health care — every single time.”

- Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance QUICK FACTS As a result of measures proposed in the 2012 Budget, Ontario’s accumulated deficit would be $22.1 billion lower in 2014–15 than if no action

was taken.

For every dollar in new revenues outlined in the 2012 Budget, there are four dollars of savings and cost-containment measures.

Measures to reduce program spending by a cumulative $17.7 billion over the next three years, compared to what it would have otherwise been, include: $4.9 billion in planned savings from removing overlap and duplication, implementing more efficient delivery models and focusing on core business $6 billion in government actions to restrain compensation for school boards, payments to physicians and public servants $6.8 billion to contain costs across the broader public sector.

Ontario’s economy is projected to grow at 1.7 per cent in 2012, 2.2 per cent in 2013 and 2.4 per cent in 2014.

In 2011, more than 121,000 jobs were created in Ontario — with full-time employment increasing by 123,400.

The cost of servicing Ontario’s debt is approximately $10 billion, the third-largest annual expense behind health care

and education. To put this in perspective, Ontario spends more on interest each year than on colleges and universities.

For every one per cent increase in interest rates, the cost to service the debt increases by $467 million in the first year of the increase. If no action is taken to balance the budget, Ontario would pay almost as much to service the debt in 2017–18 as it spends on education today.

In February 2012, the Conference Board of Canada suggested that if no action was taken to control growth in spending, Ontario’s deficit could be $16 billion by 2017–18.

Using similar assumptions, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services estimated that the deficit could be as high as $30 billion.

In 2011–12, Ontario’s per capita program spending is projected to be $8,560.

This is the lowest among the provinces and 11 per cent below the average spent across the other nine provincial governments.

Ontario delivers government services with the lowest per-capita number of provincial public servants.

Minister Kenney Proposes to Assess Foreign Education Credentials Before Skilled Workers Arrive Canada is proposing a major change to how foreign skilled workers’ education credentials are assessed, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

The proposed new requirement would mean that applicants wanting to immigrate as Federal Skilled Workers would have their foreign education credentials assessed and verified by designated organizations before they arrive in Canada.

“Our Government is building an immigration system that is focused on economic growth and ensuring that all Canadians, including immigrants, are able to contribute to their maximum capacity,” said Jason Kenney. “By having their foreign education credentials assessed before their arrival to Canada, foreign skilled workers will have a better sense of how their credentials fit into the Canadian labour market and will be able to contribute their full skill set to the economy more quickly. This proposal is part of a broader package of transformational changes that will make Canada’s immigration policies work better for the Canadian economy.”

A pre-arrival assessment would let applicants know how their education credentials compare to Canadian credentials and it will give immigrants a sense of how Canadian employers are likely to value their education.

This will also screen out people without proper education levels and is an important step in helping to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field.

The assessment of international educational credentials would not mean that Federal Skilled Workers would automatically find employment in Canada cont'd on pg. 14

10

The Ghanaian News March 2012

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is ready to offload its 80% stake in the ailing Intercity STC Coaches Limited (STC).

“We have held some discussions with SSNIT, and as it stands now they are not interested in the company anymore; they want to sell,” a senior official of the transport company said in an exclusive interview with the B&FT. The valuation of the company and modalities for offloading the shares by SSNIT are expected to be finalised after a series of meetings between the par-

STC For Sale ties involved, the source said.

Earlier in the month, STC officials made a plea to SSNIT to invest capital in the company or sell-off to a new investor ready to inject resources. SSNIT’s move is seen as a response to STC’s appeal, but is also possibly linked to the ongoing rationalisation of the pensions-manager’s investments, which cut across the financial, real-estate, energy and transport sectors.

SSNIT, which acquired a controlling stake in the

company from VANEF in 2001, has neither injected any significant capital into the ailing transport company nor re-structured its finances, operations and administration. This has led to a steady decline in revenue and the eroding of the company’s working capital, plunging it into debt.

The state owns a minority 20% stake in STC, whose current debts stand at GH¢40million.

The source at the company said its situation is not helped by the fact that the government, the minority

shareholder, virtually runs the company with SSNIT assuming a secondary role. In 2009, when President Mills directed the dissolution of all boards of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), the board of Intercity STC Limited — a private entity — was also dissolved. Subsequently, government appointed a new board for the company.

“The purchase of 45 FAW buses in 2005 is what has brought STC to its knees.

We borrowed so much money from the NIB to purchase the FAW buses,

but they did not last for two years. Those buses were not tested, and no was prototype tried. Under the normal procedure, we were supposed to be given at least two to try out. The company’s engineers were not involved in the purchase of the FAW buses. The buses disappointed us a lot,” the source said.

“In 2005 when the FAW buses were acquired, STC used to make about GH¢45,000 from the Accra branch alone, and could do 16 services from Accra to Kumasi. For the entire country, we used to

make GH¢100,000 per day. Now we cannot do a single service to Kumasi and make around GH¢35,000 for the entire country.”

The fortunes of the oncevibrant transport company will continue to hang in the balance until an investor ready to invest new resources and capital takes it over, the source said. STC’s net worth dwindled from GH¢10.9million in 2000 to negative GH¢6.2million in 2009, and will continue to remain in the red if not salvaged, the source added. BFT

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The Ghanaian News

March 2012

11

Ghana bourse aims for 50 listed companies The Ghana Stock Exchange is targeting a total of 50 listed companies within five years, up from 34, and will launch an alternative market this year to enable smaller companies to raise capital.

It will also introduce its first exchange traded fund, deputy managing director Ekow Afedzie told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“Our target is to get 50 listed companies as early as possible ... to make the market look more viable and more interesting. We are giving ourselves three

to five years,” he said on Thursday.

Afedzie said the west African cocoa producer’s solid economic fundamentals, the government’s recapitalisation of the banking sector and pension reforms would all contribute to the growth of the stock market.

“I think there is potential for the market to grow,” he said. “The macroeconomic environment is very stable. Inflation is below 10 percent and it has been like that for a long time. We have seen a little instability in the cur-

rency, but it has stabilised now.”

He said the bourse, which has a market capitalisation of 50 billion cedis, was aiming to add three or four companies by the end of the year and he hoped this would include at least one bank.

Just seven of Ghana’s 27 banks are listed on the stock exchange, and the Bank of Ghana is encouraging lenders to use the stock market to meet minimum capitalisation requirements of 60 million cedis.

“They have up to Decem-

ber to be able to meet their minimum capital requirements,” said Afedzie. “We are hoping one or two of them will use the market to raise capital.”

He added that pension fund reforms introduced in 2008 would lead to the release of additional funds that could boost the stock market.

The bourse has also introduced rules for exchange traded funds and is aiming to list a gold-based ETF within the next month or two, Afedzie said.

“Now that we have the rules, other groups can

create all kinds of ETFs, should they be interested,” he said.

The alternative market, to be launched in the second half of the year, will focus on companies “with the potential for growth”, including small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups, Afedzie said, and will have more flexible requirements than the main board.

There will be no listing or application fees and companies must have minimum capital of 250,000 cedis, compared with 1 million for the main index.

Under rules that still have to be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the minimum number of shareholders companies must have in order to list has been reduced to 20 from 100 on the main market.

Afedzie said the alternative market could be more successful than the main market, potentially attracting “30 to 50 companies in a few years”.

The main bourse was established in 1990 with 11 companies and has since added 23, roughly one a year, the GSE council chairman said. Reuters

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

FOCUS

Let’s as Parents/Guardians Help Students Overcome Their “Little Foxes”!

By Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto The Akans of Ghana have an adage that, “Opanyin na obi nnye bi da, na enye abofra” which literally translated means, “all adults have been children before but all children are yet to be adults.” Well, maybe children of today are supposedly ‘smarter than their parents’! True or false?

Remember the story, which was told in Ghana about a student who duped his illiterate parents by asking them to pay 3 pounds for a geography book that cost 1 pound.

He told parents that “Geo” was 1 pound; “gra” was 1 pound and “phy” was 1 pound. Thus, the Geo-gra-phy book was 3 pounds instead of 1 pound!

Today, students play many other “tricks” on their parents and guardians. I would therefore use this column to shed light on a few of these tricks, which I view as “little foxes” of students. They include, lying about teachers to parents, skipping classes, ignoring their homework, coming to school unprepared and bullying weak students outside the classroom.

“The Little Foxes” The Good Book advises us to be aware of the little foxes which spoil the fields!

Lying: A student chooses to do his or her own thing in the classroom while teaching is going on. For example, the student breaks one important principle for learningpaying attention to the teacher. The teacher takes control of the situation by, say, changing the seating position of the student concerned.

However, the student fails to take responsibility for his/her own action and goes home to tell the parents/guardian that the teacher is picking on him/ her. Surprisingly, some parents/guardians simply buy into their ward’s cooked story about the teacher without finding

out from the teacher the truth of the story told.

These parents, unfortunately, develop illfeelings toward the teacher in question. The student is therefore unwittingly encouraged by the home to show arrogance towards school authority. The whole community in the long run becomes the loser. For, that student grows up an indiscipline community member who willingly flouts laws of the society.

He/she demonstrates irresponsibility in life. Sad! Isn’t it? Please, don’t let your child outsmart you with lies about his/her teacher. Always verify stories from your child about school from the school before jumping to conclusions. The doors of every school are open to parents who care to knock at them.

Skipping Classes: Some students are “specialists” in skipping classes or school. Many parents for economic reasons leave home early in the morning for work before their children go to school. A few students from such homes take advantage of the early departure of their parents from home and skip school. Such students may roam the malls till school is over and return home creating the impression that they have been to school.

The more intriguing part of skipping classes is seen after lunch break. Some of the students who leave their school premises to eat lunch elsewhere (home, McDonalds or restaurants within the vicinity) fail to return to classes. They seek

“refugee” in friends’ homes where adults are away on work or hang around parks and malls in the neighborhood. Though schools have ways and means of cross-checking on the absences of their students, it becomes difficult to track the whereabouts of students who skip classes when their (schools) telephone calls to homes of skipping students are not promptly answered. Parents could work closely with schools to close all loopholes, which students may explore to skip classes or school. These could include lunch break calls by parents to their homes from their workplaces to check on their child or leave their children in the care of responsible relatives close-by.

Parents must also endeavor to return calls from their children’s schools promptly.

Moreover, parents could periodically communicate with their children’s teachers on the progress of the students (their wards) at school.

Ignoring Homework: Another area of concern is how some students neglect doing their homework often “fooling” their parents that they (students) have not been receiving homework from their teachers. Though the Ministry of Education has advised teachers not to give home work to their students, it stands that some work can not always be completed at school hence some home assignments for students from teachers might be necessary!

The question is how do parents know that their children have homework from school to do? Most schools, if not all, have planners (agenda books) supplied to all students at the beginning of each school year. In these planners students record all their daily homework given at school. Parents MUST check this planner everyday after school to ascertain which homework their child has to complete for school. If your child has lost his/her

erasers and rulers as well.

Coming to school prepared is the right way to begin the day at school.

due to a petty misunderstanding between the victim and one of the aggressive students (gang).

Preparing for School: It is very disturbing when a child comes to school without pencils, pens, erasers, rulers and exercise or textbooks.

Can a farmer go to work without a cutlass or hoe?

What does the farmer go to do on the farm emptyhanded?

Nothing!

Absolutely nothing!! Sad enough some students come to school with no working tools mentioned above. They either sit idle or go round begging other students for writing materials when work is assigned them. Precious time for school work is therefore lost.

Bullying: This may sound strange and far from some societies where physical or even verbal harassment is highly prohibited by law. Yet, bullying of younger students by older (senior) students at the blind side of teachers is not uncommon among students in places like Toronto. There have been and continue to be instances whereby older students have coerced younger students to buy them (older) lunch out of their (younger) pockets.

Some younger students are made to share their lunch with bullying students under threats!

Parents ought to ensure that their children are prepared for school with not only food but also exercise/textbooks, pens,

The worse situation is whereby group of three or more students team up to fight another student immediately after school

One could go on numerating a lot of these “little foxes” of students that parents need to be aware of and help “catch” them-lying, skipping classes, ignoring homework, coming to school unprepared, bullying, swearing, showing attitude and vandalizing school property as well as disrespecting others.

Teachers have moral and professional responsibility to protect students and they need the unflinching support of parents/ guardians in this task. I couldn’t agree the more with the celebrated author Austin Clarke on his assertion that teaching elementary school is the most important stage in the process of the training of our youth. “Let’s catch them whilst they are young.” Together we build, divided we destroy!

school planner, get him/ her a new one immediately. The planner or student agenda has a lot of valuable information necessary for your child’s learning!

The Ghanaian News

Canada budget raises pensions benefit age and cuts penny Canadian Finance Minister James Flaherty speaks at the 41st Washington Conference on the Americas in Washington DC 11 May 2011 Finance minister Jim Flaherty said Canadians had “every reason to be confident” in their economy The eligibility age for Canada’s Old Age Security (OAS) benefits will rise to 67 from 65 starting in 2023, as part of the government’s new budget.

The budget outlines C$5.2bn (£3.3bn) in cuts, with reductions across defence, health care and agriculture.

It also stops the minting of the Canadian penny, for a savings of C$11m. Pennies can still be used in purchases.

The change to the OAS will not affect Canadians who are currently above the age of 54.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the budget on Thursday, calling the OAS change an example of the government looking ahead over the next generation.

“Canadians are living longer and healthier,” he told the House of Commons. “Canada has changed. Old Age Security must change with it.”

The benefit is worth

C$6,000 a year and the age change will also apply to a supplemental programme.

While the move has been explained as a way to deal with increasing costs of the benefit to the government because of the baby boomer generation, most boomers will not be affected by the increase.

Canada now joins at least 10 countries in ending the minting of low denomination coins, including Switzerland and Brazil. The cost of producing a one cent coin is 1.6 Canadian cents.

The proposal had support from the opposition as well.

New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Pat Martin, who has campaigned for the change, told Reuters the move was a “nobrainer slam dunk”.

“There are 30 billion pennies in circulation and every year they are minting more,” he said. “It’s a place where we can save money.”

The budget recommends rounding transactions to the nearest five cents, but allows debit and credit card purchases to be priced in individual cents.

Moving towards balance Critics of the budget include newly elected NDP leader Thomas Mulcair.

March 2012

13

ADMISSIONS 2011 - 2012

“The Conservatives were elected on a promise to create jobs, instead they’re slashing health care, they’re slashing pensions,” he said in a statement.

Liberal leader Bob Rae also warned the budget changes would fall hardest on the provinces.

Officials are now planning for a balanced budget in three years, slightly earlier than expected.

The C$5.2bn cut is larger than a recommendation made in last year’s budget, but smaller than earlier proposals of C$8bn.

Department cuts include C$1.1bn for defence, and C$370m for public safety, while the budget looks to encourage skilled immigrants by refunding the application fee to the immigration scheme.

The foreign skilled worker programme will now also include nurses, doctors and teachers.

In the public sector, the budget plans to cut 19,200 public service jobs, with 600 at the executive level, and raise the government retirement age to 65 for new hires.

MPs will eventually join public service workers in paying 50% of their pension, increasing the proportion they pay gradually starting in 2013 BBC News

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Delta Airline rolls-out array of benefits for customers in energy and mining sectors

Delta Airlines’ customers within the energy and mining sectors in Ghana can now enjoy a broad array of benefits follow-

ing the launch of an initiative by the US global airline.

Perry Cantarutti, Senior

Vice President of Delta Air Line for Middle East and Africa told journalists in Accra on Wednesday

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that the 2011 most admired airline, had opened up an Energy and Mining Desk for customers in Ghana.

The desk, he said, would offer a wide range of benefits including discounts on business class and some economy class fares, complimentary protocol by Delta service at the Accra Kotoka International Airport and business elite passengers and a dedicated phone line service.

The establishment of the desks would be replicated in other countries, he indicated.

In a brief statement on the launch of the desk, Bobby Bryan, Delta’s commercial manager for West and East Africa, said: “This new initiative dem-

onstrates Delta’s strong and continued commitment to the Ghanaian market.”

The new service adds a personal escort for Delta customers through checkin, customs and immigration, as well as lounge pick up and luggage assistance.

On Delta’s presence in Ghana, Mr Cantarutti sees the country as potential destination for growth, noting that the company is committed to the market place to further improve its intra-Africa network.

He said Delta achieved solid results in 2011 in Ghana despite challenges such as increase in fuel prices, economic weakness in the world two largest economies, and

war and unrest in the Middle East.

According to him, the company made $1.2 billion net profit, fully recovered from the fuel price increase, adjusted its net debt with a reduction of $4.1 billion. It’s return on invested capital.

Mr Cantarutti said the airline carried nearly 500,000 passengers between Accra and US and nearly 3.5 million kgs of cargo in 2011.

For Delta’s future investment plans in Africa, the company hopes to develop a Global Position Satellite (GPS) in Liberian airspace, rolls out an energy and mining desk, deepens partnership with Air Nigeria and consolidate its footprint in Africa.** GNA

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c commensurate with their skills nor would it guarantee that they would become licensed to practice in a regulated occupation. Applicants who intend to work in a regulated profession would likely need to have their qualifications assessed in greater depth for purposes of licensure by a regulatory body specific to their profession and intended province of work.

“Internationally trained workers make an important contribution to Canada’s job market and the economy,” added Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“That’s why our Government is working in partnership to improve foreign credential

recognition so that skilled newcomers can put their knowledge and skills to work sooner.”

Minister Kenney also used the occasion to release the 2011 Government of Canada Progress Report on Foreign Credential R e c o g n i t i o n , Strengthening Canada’s Economy. The annual report, led by the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, highlights achievements made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Health Canada to help foreign trained individuals integrate into the Canadian workforce.

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— expansion of the Canadian Immigration Integration Program (CIIP), which is designed and managed by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

CIIP currently offers prearrival orientation sessions in up to 25 countries, based on demand; — an innovative assessment and bridging program to help internationally educated nurses meet regulatory requirements for licensure across Canada; and — the launch of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Qualifications Network Website for stakeholders to share information and best practices in credential assessment.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

City of Edmonton declares March 2012 Ghana Month 2012 PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF EDMONTON WHEREAS, this year marks the 55th anniversary of Ghana’s Independence from British colonial rule; AND WHEREAS, Ghana has the distinct honour of being the First sub-Saharan African nation to achieve autonomy without going to war and is an inspiration on for other African states seeking independence; WHEREAS Ghanaian-Canadians of Edmonton will join together to commemorate this historic event and to celebrate their cultural heritage; AND WHEREAS during the month of March a number of activities will be planned to celebrate Ghana’s Independence and Black History Month; THEREFORE I, MAYOR STEPHEN MANDEL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2012 GHANA MONTH IN EDMONTON. Dated this 17th day of March 2012

Karen Lebovici, Councilor Ward 5 presenting the proclamation on behalf the Mayor to Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw, President of Ghana Association in Edmonton

Stephen Mandel MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDMONTON.

Recipe

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PREPARATION 1. put the cooking oil in a pan on fire then add the sliced onion when heated 2. add the powdered pepper, the diced tomato to it and cook for about 5 minutes 3. add the grounded ginger and the flaked fish to it and season to taste 4. let it cook for another 10 minutes then add the eggs to it, do not stir for about 3 minutes, so the eggs can clot after stiring 5. add the chopped spinach to it and just a little water, about half a glass to cook the spinch 6. mix the agushie with just a little water and pour into the spinach and do as for the eggs 7. correct the seasoning and serve with boiled yam, plantain, rice or kenkey

Chef kwesi Asiedu was born in kumasi, the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He studied catering at Sunyani Techenical Institute now known as Sunnyani Polytecnic. He then went on to open his own catering school, named Blackberries Catering Institute with a Restaurant attached, in kumasi. Due to his hard work, enthusiastic, energetic, and love for what he does which is "cooking delicious food" he quickly established rapport with his coustomers and the community in which he served. He was able to provide delicious(mouth watering) food, that earned him a contract as a special event planner and caterer for Ashanti regional cordinating Council, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assesmbly including dignitaries. He was also assigned to cater for the Officials of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008. He relocated to Canada in 2009 and currently works as a chef at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Mississauga. In Canada, he catered for the Kumasi Asafo Social Club in Toronto in 2010 and the Kumasi Youngsters (high Blood) in Toronto in 2011. He also caters for wedding receptions and many more. .

The Ghanaian News

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

21

Ghana Supports Death Penalty Ghana still supports death pen- tion since 1993, Mr Lawrence on Tuesday. the death penalty in the statute Mr Amesu made the observaalty even though in practice Amesu, Director of Amnesty books, Ghana supported the tion when launching the “Glothere had not been any execu- International(AI), Ghana said He explained that by retaining action. bal Death Penalty Report” at a press conference in Accra.

He appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to declare an urgent moratorium based on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee on expunging the law from the country’s constitution.

Mr Amesu said though Amnesty International Ghana did not condone crime nor excused the perpetrators of their actions, he stressed death penalty was gross violations of the victims’ human rights. The report said China, the leading country with the highest number of executions in 2011, put to death more people than the rest of the world put together.

Iran was ranked the country with the second highest number of executions followed by Saudi Arabia. Iraq was ranked fourth followed by the United States of America (USA).

Yemen came sixth and was followed by North Korea and Somalia eighth.

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The methods of execution included beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting.

About 18,750 people including 138 Ghanaian prisoners were reported to be on death row.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Serving the dentally -underserved in Ghana Much talk and no action Dental Health Research from all around the world reports that most countries are working to address ways to “improve access” for dental services to their under-served rural populations.

In Ghana we cannot even say we want to “improve access” for dental services to our under-served rural populations because they’ve never had any “access” to begin with. In the Northern and Upper Regions of the country, for example, the ratio, for years, has been a mind-boggling one to two dentists to a million people and for the whole country about one dentist to 120,000 people. Now how does that grab you? The optimum ration should be around 1 dentist to 3500 people!

This is unfair and something has to be done about it. It boggles my mind to know that the country has two Dental Schools, with the second Dental School in Kumasi which will produce its first Dental graduates just this year, and we cannot even employ those we have already trained. To my understanding, a fact that came out at the recent June/11 Dental Congress of the Ghana Dental Association, there are Dental graduates who are presently not being put to useful work because the government does not have the funds to procure dental equipment for these trained dentists to work with! Note that the Ghana government is the largest and sole employer of dentists in the country. Now my fear is that there is going to be a surfeit of dentists languishing around the country doing their own thing or leaving the country in the coming years because we can’t put them to work.

I have a few suggestions for the Ghana government and the nation: 1.

Instead of buying “high end” dental equipment as has been the Ghanaian way, these equipment being heavy, costly and fixed in one place, I have for years suggested that we equip our armamentarium with “portable, mobile”, very inexpensive dental equipment

and put our young dentists ( who I know are itching to apply their knowledge ) back to work.

The greatest advantage about these portable dental units is that they can be repaired right in the field by the dental team itself or by a roadside mechanic. Moreover, if the dental team happens not to be busy in the locale they find themselves, they can very easily pack up the equipment within thirty minutes and move to another catchment community to work, effortlessly and efficiently.

around from community to community and school to school and am using dental assistants and receptionists recruited off the streets trained by myself. So lets’ put our act together and get moving.

2.

The sub-district communities with health centres or health posts can buy these inexpensive portable dental equipment ( units ) themselves and apply to the government for a dentist to work in their locality. Presently I am spearheading a project where one community in the Central Region has obtained its own dental unit and supplies and is in the process of applying to the government for a dentist. This community-based dental program of course puts some burden on the poor rural underserved communities but it also increases their social capital and gives them some involvement in the decision-making process affecting their clinic and the pride of ownership.

a. look for dental auxiliary workers for the assistant and receptionist positions;

3.

Traditionally there is a bias towards “higher technology” in Ghana and “good” medical care is viewed as synonymous with “advanced and sophisticated” paraphenalia.

Well, let me tell you that the province of Saskatchewan in Canada has been using just such inexpensive, supposedly “nonsophisticated” dental units for years and have efficiently cleaned up their dental disease burden in the Province. Moreover, they are STILL being used effectively in isolated deprived areas all across Canada. I know what I am talking about because even though I am presently in Canada, I am myself involved and am doing exactly all that I have written above— - using portable, mobile equipment, I move

To begin with, the prospective communities can also be proactive—by laying down the infra-structure and human resources needed to set up and run a dental clinic in their locality, thus:

b. get accommodation (residence ) readied for the prospective, in-coming dentist; c. look for a fitting space for the dental office, maybe a suitable room in the existing (medical) health centre or a classroom in the school; d. set up a local dental board / committee to oversee all these projects; e. surrounding catchment communities may be pre-empted to prepare a similar room somewhere for the visiting dental team.

And funny enough this issue is not even new.

In my hand right now is a copy of the July 2006 ( Vol.16, Number 4 ) Ghanaian Magazine, “The Health Courier Periodical”, and here on page 7 it reads: “ ALL NEW DISTRICT HEALTH FACILITIES TO HAVE DENTAL CLINICS”. And the first sentence is: “All new health facilities in the districts, as a policy, must be equipped with dental clinics”. Reading on: —“the Ministry is establishing new dental facilities and equipping existing ones with the requisite manpower and logistics to improve access”; still quoting from the same page, —“Dr. Gladys Ashitey, the (then) Deputy Minister of Health, said oral health in the country was not the best and did not promote good health for the population—; there is low

coverage of services and low utilisation of limited services”; keeping on, ——The then Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, at the same Congress, said, ”many trained dental surgeons had left the shores of the country not to seek greener pastures, but because the facilities to work with were not available”—now that was in the year 2006! Six years ago! Can I say more? I rest my case, only to add that: Lets’ face it—what my folks and your folks in the village all need is just basic dentistry to relieve their pain and make them comfortable so they can go to sleep at night without the pounding headaches from an uncontrollable toothache; so the kids will not cry themselves to sleep at night with toothache and can go to school, cutting down the attendant absenteeism; so our grandmothers can make their way, gingerly though it might be, to the local dental clinic in their own village, get treated, and walk or hobble back home to their kitchen to eat their measly ampese with kako and palm oil in peace (that was my grandmother’s favourite when she was able to chew. It still is my favourite, when I can get it!).

But lets’ do this for our rural folks. They are not asking for much. They have never asked for much, just for a small piece, in fact just a small corner, of the national pie. Our rural folks, the whole 70 -80% of the population, are hardworking farmers and fishermen who feed us everyday and we should not neglect them as we have all these past generations. I know Prof.

Atta Mills, our leader, as a good and compassionate man who will go to bat for the common man so let us emphatically encourage but demand that his government implements this measly project for our rural folks. And his, and our folks, in the country, will be the healthier for it.

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national polls.

“This is something that is on the drawing board because the process of voting has been changed by the introduction of the verification machine,” IT chief at the EC, Hubert Akomea told the newspaper.

“In the past you can cast your vote – because it is a manual system – and then ask to cast the second one for your proxy, your wife or whoever.

“But with the biometric verification, the system allows you to vote only if it is able to authenticate you, meaning giving you chance to vote once.

Therefore, you cannot come back to vote,” he said.

Afari Djan@2004 Elections

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The acting Director of Public Affairs of the EC, Christian Owusu Parry, was emphatic on the issue saying all eligible Ghanaian voters living outside the country have no option than to come down to register else they will be disenfranchised.

“They have to come back home to register,” Mr. Parry stressed.

In a related development, the Globe newspaper last week also quoted ICT experts of the EC to have said they “are yet to find a way” of extending the ballot to registered voters who wish to vote by proxy during this year’s polls.

For decades, proxy voting has been used by registered Ghanaians outside the jurisdiction or persons bedridden on the day of

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Ghanaians living outside the borders of Ghana cannot vote in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has served notice.

According to the electoral body, all Ghanaians living abroad who are bent on voting in the December elections have to return home to register in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise.

The EC is compiling a new voters’ register for the December 7 polls and with the new biometric register, the old identity cards will be nullified.

The current position of the EC means that all Ghanaians of voting age will have to come down to register, go back and return again when the election is due, to vote.

23

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Ghanaians abroad can’t vote in 2012 elections-EC

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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

The Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement and Eligibility of Refugee Claimants from the U.S. to Canada Under the Safe Third Country Agreement which was signed between Canada and the United States on December 5, 2002 and became effective on December 29, 2004, refugee claimants are required to request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in unless they qualify for the exceptions to the Agreement discussed below.

It is interesting to note that, to date, the U.S. is the only country designated as a safe third country by Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Canada therefore has a Safe Third Country Agreement only with the U.S. and not with any other country. The Agreement only applies to refugee claimants who are seeking entry to Canada

from the U.S. at CanadaU.S. land border crossings, by train or at airports, only if the person seeking protection in Canada has been refused refugee status in the U.S and is in transit through Canada after being deported from the U.S.

Canada. They may also be protected persons under Canadian immigration legislation or family members who have made claims for refugee status in Canada that have been accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or family members who are holders of valid Canadian work permit or holders of valid Canadian study permit or a family member who is over 18 years old and has a claim for refugee protection that has been referred to the IRB for determination.

Despite the Agreement, some refugee claimants coming through the U.S. may qualify under certain conditions. These exceptions may cover refugee claimants who have family members in Canada.

The family members may be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of

The other category of exceptions under the Safe Third Country Agreement is unaccompanied minors.

This covers persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by their mother, father or legal guardian, who have neither a spouse nor a common-law partner, and who

do not have a mother, a father or a legal guardian in Canada or the United States.

Refugee claimants generally referred to as “document holders” may also be rescued by the exceptions clause. This category embraces any refugee claimant from the U.S. to Canada who holds a valid Canadian visa (other than a transit visa), a valid work permit, or a valid study permit. Any refugee claimant from the U.S. to Canada who holds a travel document or other valid admission document issued by Canada or claimants who are not required to get a temporary resident visa to enter Canada but require a U.S.-issued visa to enter the U.S. may also benefit from the exception.

Lastly, the Safe Third

Country Agreement may grant exceptions to refugee applicants from the U.S. side of the border if public interest so dictates.

This last category which may be referred to as “Public Interest Exceptions” may include a refugee claimant who has been charged with or convicted of an offence that could subject him or her to the death penalty in the U.S. or in a third country.

Unfortunately however, this category of exceptions has a very narrow scope because a refugee claimant may be found inadmissible in Canada on grounds of criminality and other serious violations of human and international rights.

Thus, notwithstanding the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, the foregoing exceptions may render a refugee claimant

eligible and push the claim successfully through the first phase. But this initial success does not necessarily mean a refugee claimant would succeed in his or her application for protection. At the hearing phase, the IRB would look at the claim in its totality.

This could be a complex task for an unrepresented claimant. In almost all situations of refugee protection applications, it would be advisable to seek professional advice.

James A. Kwaateng is an Immigration Law practitioner with his offices located at 168A Oakdale Road, Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario. For thorough discussion of your immigration and related social and legal issues, you may contact him at telephone number (416) 743-2758.

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The Ghanaian News

March 2012

25

300 Year Stay In Ghana Does Not Make You A Ghanaian Bizarre Xenophobia from Kumasi 300 Year Stay In Ghana Does Not Make You A GhanaianImmigration The Zongo Community in Kumasi are angry over growing xenophobia and ethnic discrimination after a leading member of the community denied a passport because of his ethnic identity and origin.

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) was said to have argued that, there is nothing called Hausa tribe in Ghana and therefore anybody who has his/her ethnic origin outside Ghana is not a Ghanaians.

“Being in Ghana for more than 300 years does not make you a Ghanaian”. This came to light at a well attended press conference in Kumasi by the Zongo Community calling on the government to clarify the position of members of their tribe in Ghana. The Chairman of the Zongo Community in Kumasi, Alhaji S. M. Shariff, told a press conference that they are dreading the ongoing consequences of this year’s voter’s registration exercise, as they fear a problem of citizenship and identity, which they experienced during the population census exercise in 2010, will re-occur again.

The call also follows the recent refusal by the official of the Ghana Immigraton Service (GIS) in Kumasi to grant

a Ghana Passport to one Malam Shaibu Suleimana, because the GIS officials claim he is a Hausa by tribe and does not qualify for a Ghanaian passport.

Malam Shaibu, who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Subin Constituency in Kumasi, said he was refused a Ghanaian Passport though he fully satisfied the requiements needed for one to be granted a passport.

Alhaji Shariff said, Malam Shaibu then informed the Sarkin Zongo of his predicament. The Sarkin Zongo, according to the chairman tasked some people to verify the allegation made by Malam Shaibu Suleimana against the Ashanti region passport office.

“After the committee found the information to be true, the Zongo chief reportedly had a discussion with the Director of Passport in Kumasi, one Mr. Sylvester and explained to him

that the Hausas in Ghana are real Ghanaians whose history date back 300 years ago”. He added.

According to him, the Director, Mr. Sylvester asked one Mr. Essah to deal and resolve the issue amicably so that Malam Shaibu could have his passport, but the immigration officer continues to demand proof of his Ghanaian identity after producing documents such as Voters ID, Birth Certificate and Subin NDC card amongst others.

Alhaji S.M. Shariff, who is also a former Diplomat and a leading Member of the Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP), said the attitude of officials at the passport office was a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of the applicant.

“We want the government to come clear on the citizenship of Hausa people in Ghana in order to put an end to the confusion”, he added

Alhaji Shariff made reference to a Daily Graphic pubilcation of 20th March, 2012 with headlined “Citizenship not by Bith Certificate”.

He said it was against this backdrop that they would require the government to publicly come

out to explain the position of Hausa people in Ghana.

“We are Hausa of Ghana and not Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger, Sudan and Benin and our forefathers were in the country even before the state Ghana was born, so there should be

no doubt about the citizenship of a Hausa man in Ghana but events in recent times give us cause to worry. We therefore want the government to come out once and for all to end all these fuss about our citizenship”, he noted.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Ontario budget 2012: Highlights Ontario’s Liberal government said in the 2012 Ontario budget it would: * Find savings and curtail planned spending to the tune of $17 billion over three years, ending with a balanced budget in 2017-18. * Record an average annual increase in revenue of 3.5% for the next three years, and average spending increases of 1.5%. * Post a deficit for

* Cut subsidies to businesses by $250 million in 2014-15 under guidance from a new jobs and prosperity council. * Cap clean-energy rebates on electricity bills to save $500 million over three years, affecting mainly businesses. * Add an income test to the provincial drug plan for seniors for the first time: single seniors making $100,000 or more a year and couples earning at least $160,000 will begin paying

2011-12 of $15.2billion, $1-billion lower than projected in last budget * Not increase taxes. * Ask all workers in the public sector, including doctors, to accept a two-year pay freeze, with legislation threatened if they do not comply. * Freeze pay for public-sector executives for another two years, for a total of four years.

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more for medicine * Cut the cost of publicsector pensions by limiting benefits, and merging pensions into a smaller number of larger plans that can generate a better return on investment. * Freeze planned cuts to corporate income tax and business education tax, saving more than $2 billion over three years. * Maintain the plan to fully implement full-day kindergarten, and keep reduced elementaryschool class sizes. * Change school-board funding to discourage them from keeping under-used schools open, eventually saving $70 million a year. * Cap number of high school credits at 34 to

curb number of students – now about 20,000 – who take a fifth year. * Encourage consolidation of small school boards, saving $27 million. * Set up a childhood obesity strategy to cut the problem by 20% over five years. * Cancel four planned major hospital building projects: three in rural facilities, one in Toronto. * Increase Ontario child benefit from $1,100 to $1,200. * Close five “inefficient” jails in small cities or towns. * Shutter seven touristinformation centres with few visitors, as more people get their travel information online. * Cut funding for

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interviews with drivers who lose nine or more demerit points, which rarely leads to suspended licence * Reduce incomestability funding to farmers by $20 million a year. * Cut overtime in the OPP and jails. * Cut transfers to school boards for a number of programs by close to $300 million over three years. * Save $200 million over three years through lower-than-expected demand for nursing homes. * Cut funding to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum and other cultural institutions. * Delay and cancel infrastructure projects to cut borrowing by over $3 billion * Sell off or close parts of the Ontario Northland rail service, saving $250 million over three years * Cut of nearly 1,000 full-time government jobs.

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The Ghanaian News

March 2012

27

Federal budget highlights Budget 2012 Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has delivered a deficit-cutting budget in the House of Commons.

Here is a look at some of its key details and measures: * Savings of $5.2 billion a year by 2015. * 19,200 federal public sector jobs cut over three years. * Return to surplus by 2015 (an election year).

2012-13 deficit at $21.1 billion. * Penny to be discontinued this fall (it still holds value for spending). * Age of eligibility for Old Age Security rises gradually to 67 from 65 starting in 2023 — but does not affect anyone 54 or older as of March 31, 2012. * One review for major resource development projects, capped at 24

months, including current projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline. * Governor General to pay income taxes as of 2013 — but he’ll get a raise. * No significant tax changes for individuals. * Duty-free cross-border shopping limits rise this summer to $200 for 24hour trips and $800 for trips of 48 hours or more. * Canada will continue

Kaf African Caribbean Market Tel: 905-855-3595 We specialize in African, Caribbean Groceries: *Gari Pounded *Yam *Vegetable Salad *Fufu *Potato Starch *Stock Fish *Salted Fish *Smoked Fish *Cerelac *Rice *Bournvita *Milo *Corned Beef *Phone Cards *Cosmetics *Goat meat and many more We are wholesalers and distributors of smoke fish

with International Space Station mission to 2020. * Government to clear backlog in federal skilled worker program by removing some applicants and refunding their fees.

They can reapply under new criteria. * Public servants to pay more into pensions under a 50/50 formula. * Retirement age for federal public servants rises

to 65 from 60 for people hired in 2013. * A First Nations education act and $275 million to build and renovate schools on reserve, and renewal of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy. * CBC funding cut by 10 per cent over three years, with annual $60-million programming top-up rolled into base funding. * Canadian Forces regu-

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lar force strength remains at 68,000. Reserves stay at 27,000. * Canada to review participation in some international organizations. * Katimavik program for youth will be eliminated. * Government will sell some official residences abroad and downsize others. * Atlantic investment tax credit phased out.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

2012 GHANA POLICY FAIR (ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA) 16TH-21ST APRIL, 2012 THEME: BUILDING TOGETHER IN A BETTER GHANA

Black History Month in Retrospect

Ghana’s 55th Independence Day celebration in Edmonton From Emmanuel Ayiku, Edmonton, Alberta

PROGRAMME FOR DIALOGUE SESSIONS VENUE: ACCRA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER MONDAY: 16TH APRIL, 2012 10: 00AM OPENING CEREMONY BY PRESIDENT JOHN ATTA MILLS 2:00PM AFTERNOON DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Taking Full Advantage of Ghana's Economic Gains to Transform The Ghanaian Society Speakers: Dr. Kwabena Duffour (Minister of Finance) Dr. Joe Abbey (CEPA) Dr. Yao Graham (TWN) Moderator: Mr. Kwame Peprah (Board Chairman, SSNIT) TUESDAY: 17TH APRIL, 2012 10:00 AM MORNING DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Meeting Ghana's Energy Needs-Current Status and Preparations for theFuture Speakers: Hon. Dr. Joe Oteng Agyei (Energy Minister) Mr. Goosie Tannoh (Consultant) Togbe Afede XIV (President, Volta Regional House of Chiefs) Moderator: Mr. Ato Ahwoi (Board Chairman, GNPC)

2:00PM AFTERNOON DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Promoting the Creative Arts to Accelerate National Development Speakers: Mr. Kwaku Sintim Missah (C.E.O, Sapphire Production) Mr. Bice Kuffour (President, MUSIGA) Mr. John Dumelo Shirley Frimpong Manso Moderator: Hon. Akua Sena Dansua WEDNESDAY: 18TH APRIL, 2012 10:00 AM MORNING DIALOGUE: TOPIC: All we must know about the 2012 General Elections Speaker: Dr. Kojo Afari-Gyan, Chairman EC Moderator Mr. K.B Asante

2:00PM AFTERNOON DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Mobilizing the Youth for National Development Speakers: Hon. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah (Deputy Minister, Youth and Sports) Dr. Yaw Perbi Mr. Roland Agambiri Moderator: Mrs. Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu-Coordinator, NYA

THURSDAY: 19THAPRIL, 2012 (INFRASTRUCTURAL DAY) 10:00 PM MORNING DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Focus on the Roads and Health Sectors Speakers: Hon. Joe Gidusu (Minister, Roads and Highways) Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin (Minister, Health) Moderator: Mr. Ben Ephson 2:00PM AFTERNOON DIALOGE: TOPIC: Focus on Education and Transport Sectors Speakers: Hon. Lee Ocran (Minister, Education) Mr. Sam Garba (Administrator, GETFUND) Hon. Collins Dauda (Minister, Transport) Moderator: Prof. Jane Naana Agyemang. (UCC).

FRIDAY: 20TH APRIL, 2012 (Family Day with Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo) 10:00 AM MORNING DIALOGUE: TOPIC: A Healthy Home, a Healthy Nation Speakers: Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo Moderator: Esther Cobbah (CEO, StrattCom Africa) 2:00PM AFTERNOON DIALOGUE: TOPIC: Principles of Pursuing Family Excellence Speakers: Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo Moderator: Dr. Christine Amoako Nuamah SATURDAY: 21ST APRIL, 2012 Tourism/Cultural Day Closing Ceremony

Display of culture

Under the auspices of the Ghana Friendship Association of Edmonton, Alberta, the Ghanaian community gathered to celebrate the 55th Ghana’s Independence Day on Saturday March 17, 2012 with a Dinner/ Dance at the Holiday Inn South, 4485 Gateway Boulevard.

The Event started with a procession of Dignitaries followed by an opening Prayer by Rev. Joseph Achempong and a welcome and acknowledgement of the Executives of the Association and dignitaries.

Renditions of the Ghana and Canada National Anthems were performed by Mrs Margaret and Emmanuel Tetteh respectively.

Captivating Cultural performances were delivered by the Ghanaian “Adowa and Kete Group” of Edmonton, and the Adehyemanma of

Calgary. The Adowa group also performed a gospel music show mixed with a rendition of the nGhanaian nTradional Anthem, “ Yenara ya saase ne”.

This was followed with an Address by the President of Ghana Friendship Association of Edmonton, Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw. He expressed his appreciation to the dignitaries and special guests for their Friendship and support for the Association on this special occasion.

Fraternal greetings were delivered by some public officials and Politicians: Carl Benito, MLA, Edmonton, Mill Woods, and Karen Lebovici, City Councilor Ward 5. A special speech “Reflection on Ghana’s contribution to World Peace was delivered by Dr. Andy Knight , Chair Faculty of Political Science, University of

Alberta, Edmonton.

The Highlife Musician Samuel RobertsonOkine (Nii) of Montreal who was a special Artist graced the occasion with some Dance and High Life music performances.

The Event was Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada with some support from Community Businesses, Adom Convenience Store, Heads of Hair Impressive, Kasoa Tropical Food Market, Ecomog Tropical Food Market, Fresties( Your Ultimate Beauty Superstore), Nasam Hair Fashion Ltd, Mama Afro Beauty Supply In attendance was His Excellency Kwasi Obeng Koranteng, Acting Ghana High Commissioner in Canada who delivered a special Independence message on behalf of His Excellency the President of Ghana John Evans Atta Mills. see more pictures on pg 33

Check Us online @ www.ghanaiannews.ca 416-916-3700

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

29

Community Information The Immigrant TV Talk Show

GHANAIANS SPEAK!!!

- Motivational presentations on how to aspire higher education · Leadership and skills development · Community mentors sharing their journey to success · Strategies to deal with systemic barriers

with Host Vivian Premiered January 9th 2012 on ROGERS TV 63 & 10

Exploring the realities of immigration, settlement & integration . .

Keynote speaker: Joe Kingsley Eyiah Experienced Educationist and Communications Expert based in Toronto. A seasoned teacher, writer, parent, youth activist, social commentator, and motivational speaker.

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121 Kendleton Drive, (Kipling and John Garland) Saturday, May 12th 2012 3:00 - 7:00pm Contact: Ben Antwi (416) 570-7443; Daniel Sem (416) 787-3007 ext 246

Light snacks and refreshment will be served

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Facilitating an open forum for the immigrants & their receiving communities to discuss professional experiences with special reference to "getting into the Canadian system" & Social experiences with focus on dealing with "culture conflict" e.g. challenges unique to Canadian immigrants, topics such as: teens, retirement, bereavement…..

Producing a program that does NOT only focus on immigrant challenges, frustrations or system gaps, but also captures success stories to inspire others Increasing public awareness of the services available to immi grants and understanding of challenges facing them (complimenting current services) A grounded theory approach to immigrant integration (concepts emerge from real life stories) Locating topic experts to give immediate feedback on emerging concepts, opportunities, resources and solutions Resonance for our audiences: that they are not alone in their experiences, there is help!

*Narrowing the gap between intended process/outcome (policy) & the actual experienced process/outcome (reality)?

ROGERS TV CHANNEL 63 YORK REGION VIEWING TIMES Mondays at 1pm & 9.30 pm Wednesdays at 9:30am & 7pm Saturdays at 8.30pm, 10:30pm

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Sundays at 1 pm to 6:30 pm

ROGERS TV (i) DURHAM & (ii) PEEL REGIONS: CHANNEL 10

FREE REGISTRATION Organized by: Across Boundaries, Youth Unlimited, YConnect, Youth Development and Empowerment Project (YoDep), Ghanaian Social Workers Assoc, Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo Organization

(i) Tuesday: 2.30am, 10.30am & 9pm (ii) PEEL: BRAMPTON & MISSISSAUGA

Friday: 12:00am, 10:30am, 12:30pmSat. 2.30pm & 8:30 pm TUESDAYS 1:00am (Wednesday morning1:00am)

To be a guest or to advertise your business/Organization during the show or through our website please Email us at: info@theimmigranttalkshow.com 905 370 0093 or our Rogers TV Sponsorship Consultant: Carla.RoblinPryce@rci.rogers.com 9057807257. For details visit www.theimmigranttalkshow.com

10th Anniversary Celebration Ghanaian Women's F asting & Pra yer Fasting Pray Conference And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language: and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do Gen 11:6

Monday, May 21st 2012 Victoria's Day Holiday At or d Assemb ly of God Chur ch Living W Wor ord Assembly Churc 139 Mill wic k Driv e (Steeles/Islington) Millwic wick Drive

9:00 a.m. - 12noon For more info call:

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30

The Ghanaian News March 2012

The

Youth Journal MOVINGFORWARD WITH OUR YOUTH THE FUTURE OFOUR COMMUNITY

Ghana’s Growing Education Divide and Unequal Academic Opportunities for All Children

By Kwabena Akuoko, MSW, RSW, Toronto

Early quality education from crèche through secondary, either public or private provides children with equal initial opportunities in terms of best future academic outcomes. In this regard therefore, one way in which Ghana has always been exceptional among other African countries is in its strong support for public education, which gives all children unhindered access to better learning opportunities regardless of which part of the country they reside or their parents’ socio-economic background. The once unparalleled Ghana’s quality public education system is however increasingly fading away.

The country now faces education divide and it is not coincidental that the subject nowadays attracts much discussion.

This piece is about the deteriorating state of Ghana’s public education system. I highlight the growing divide between rich and poor as well as rural verses urban in the area of learning opportunities for all Ghanaian children. There are obvious disparities between public and private schools when it comes to the quality of early education. This therefore calls for immediate drastic intervention to address what many see as a growing education divide in our country.

As I have already pointed out, quality public education, which provides the best starting point for all Ghanaian children’s future academic opportunities, is increasingly disappearing right before our eyes.

Observably, most school age children in the in the rural areas depend on the failing public school system while their urban counterparts whose parents can afford to pay for expensive fees have the opportunity to utilize quality private schools. This phenomenon therefore underscores that fact that Ghanaian education system is not only unequal in terms geographic location, it is also divided on the basis of socio-economic status. In short, while urban children and more specifically, those whose parents can afford have access to the best quality education because of the availability of private schools, the same cannot be said of rural and poor children who have no choice, but depend on the failing public school system.

Equal access to quality early public education has for years given Ghanaian children of all backgrounds the opportunity to adequately prepare for post-secondary studies. This is however no longer the case because of the falling standards of public primary and secondary schools.

Many parents now rely on private schools for better education opportunities for their children. Better equipped, but expensive private primary and secondary schools now offer top quality education for children whose parents are able to afford. This is contrary to the past in which all children had equal access to quality education either public or private.

Understandably, private schools help to accommodate many children in the education system, we cannot however ig-

nore the fact that their increasing presence in the Ghanaian education scene and mostly in urban areas has also systematically exacerbated the demarcation between the ruralurban and rich-poor divide in terms of quality education for all school age children. This is due to the fact that private primary and secondary schools are well funded and equipped with state of the art education aid materials such as computers as well as books and other supplies. Private schools also have well maintained buildings and other facilities that make learning more conducive for children.

Unfortunately however, the same cannot be said of the once envious public schools because of their falling standards.

Examples of lack of facilities or their deterioration in Ghanaian public primary and secondary schools abound in all parts of the country. It is not uncommon for example to notice school children receiving lessons under trees because the vast majority of public schools lack basic facilities. Not too long ago for instance, the head of a well known and once better equipped public secondary school in Kumasi publicly bemoaned the deteriorating state of her school’s administration block and the non-existence of dinning and assembly halls. These problems, while may seem minimal or unimportant to many people underscore one of the important differences between public and private schools and the quality of education in today’s Ghana.

When a boarding school does not have a dining hall for instance, it affects students’ quality of life on campus, for they are compelled to take turns to eat during meal times, a development, which seriously distracts academic activities.

The quality of public education in Ghana now has fallen too low to the extent that teachers in the system even rely on private schools for their own children’s education. Public school teachers thus do not disagree with the contention that drastic reforms are necessary to resuscitate the public school system from total collapse. The issue here is that when public school teachers refuse to have their own children educated in the system in which they are educators, it does not take much to convince any doubting mind that Ghana is heading the wrong direction as for as the preparation of our young people for a better future is concerned.

While there is certainly nothing wrong with the increasing rise of private primary and secondary schools, the deteriorating state of the public school system if not addressed will continue to create unequal access to quality education in Ghana. The apparent disparity in education opportunities for Ghanaian children must be seen in the context as a disservice to our beloved country’s future wellbeing. Ghana’s future economic and social viability is at stake when a significant segment of its primary and secondary school age population faces education inequality.

The Ghanaian News online Check it out www.ghanaiannews.ca

Choosing an advisor for your financial affairs; The Right Advisor Makes a Difference By: Marian Ayiku-Teye, B.Adm You don’t have to be wealthy to get good advice about your financial matters, but if you want to have a million dollars, you’ll need good advice!

In fact, the amount of money you have isn’t relevant. An advisor’s expertise and knowledge can help you accumulate wealth and protect your family and your investments. But before choosing the person who is right for you, it is important to do your homework.

The first thing you must do is establish your financial goals. Be specific, and put them in writing. Clear objectives will help you create a plan with a dollar value and within a specific time frame. To say I want to be wealthy is a desire. To say I want to have a million dollars by the time I am 65 is a clear financial goal.

Once you know what you

want, an advisor can help you develop a strategy to begin your journey to your targets. Often your incoming money and outgoing expenses will be organized into a budget. Your assets and liabilities may be included in a net worth analysis. It’ll help you see how realistic your expectations or goals are. And it’ll guide you as you make crucial decisions about how much life, disability, and health insurance you’ll need to safeguard your livelihood and your family’s security.

The next step is to choose an advisor. Before you talk to potential candidates about your personal financial information, you

should always check their credentials. Are they accredited with a recognized financial industry organization? Are they licensed to sell insurance products? Which investments are they licensed to sell?

Are they licensed to provide financial planning?

Make sure you understand how your advisor is compensated. And keep in mind that fees paid to advisors are tax deductible. All this may take time and effort, but it’s worth it to find an advisor you trust and feel comfortable with. You wouldn’t trust the first dentist you come across in a directory to work on your teeth.

Asking the right questions, and adding some research of your own will enable you to choose an advisor who can help you set a wide variety of clear goals, from providing for your family to becoming wealthy by the age of 65!

What does it mean to be Ghanaian?

By Kwaku Wirekoh-Boateng

In our collective consciousness as Ghanaians in the diaspora, we strive to integrate into our adopted societies while at the same clinging to our Ghanaian culture(s). This is something that is common among any diasporic group. In our striving, we have an imagined sense of Ghanaian culture, and this imagination largely informs how we live, and how we perceive Ghanaian society. But the question I ask is this: what is Ghanaian culture, and what does it really mean to be Ghanaian?

Is Ghanaian culture as we imagine it to be?

The same as we left it? I think not. This line of

thinking locates and freezes culture within a specific space and time.

In other words, it sees culture as static. I would venture to say that, in the collective imagination of Ghanaians in Canada who long for this return to our culture, there is a view of Ghana of the past – most likely the ’80s and ’90s.

But, in truth, the Ghana you left is not the Ghana of today. Culture is a dynamic phenomenon and it is ever changing.

We complicate things when we come to police our sense of culture, not least because it is based on this misguided imagination. Not only is cultural policing unwarranted, it is divisive. For one, it alienates those who do not fit our imagination of how a Ghanaian should be. In sum, it does not foster an environment in which all people of Ghanaians, whether living in the homeland or in the diaspora, can feel comfortable in their identities.

This brings me to a point on the youth who

were either born or spent a large part of their formative years in Canada.

The fact of their being Ghanaian is not any less authentic than those who grew up in Ghana – it is something that will never change. Ghanaian identity can take on many expressions. In the process of our integration into this adopted society as a people, we develop new identities. This is both natural and inevitable, and it is not a cause for concern. Within our collective consciousness as Ghanaians, a space needs to be created to allow these identities to flourish.

Still, our question remains – what does it mean to be Ghanaian?

Admittedly, it is not my place to answer this question for an entire people.

In fact, it is not the place of any one person to answer for another. It is a highly personal question that each must answer for him or herself. With that being said, what does it mean for you?

THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

31

BUSINESS Food for Thoughts for Small Business Owners

By Eddie Twumasi Smith Bsc(Hons) Chem Eng, MBA,CGA, CPA

The growth of a business require forward thinking on strategies on how to improve the top line (revenue) and reducing the operating costs and minimizing taxes paid.

Most small business enterprise (SBE) owners have the acumen and skills for improving revenue through smart marketing mix of product strategy, pricing, promotion and place (distribution), it is a different story when it comes to taxes. One of the key attributes of successful and profitable SBE has been tax planning, taking advantage of any possible credits or deductions that are available to SBEs in a given tax year.

As we approach the tax season for both personal and corporate tax filing, there is the need to raise awareness on this “necessary evil” called taxes. There are potential costs savings for SBEs if owners can plan their fiscal year taking advantage of available deductions, credits or concessions for SBEs in the tax year. For every avoidable tax dollar paid using profit is worth many sales dollars “lost” which could have been allocated elsewhere to grow the business.

The following tax planning strategies are food for thought for SBE owners who want to save some dollars in any tax year. I would like to add, SBE owners contact their professional accountant/ lawyer to discuss any of these strategies to ascertain whether these can be applied to their specific circumstances.

A. Income-splitting This is a classic way of saving on taxes. Basically, it means that you arrange your income to have it divided amongst other family members (spouse and/or children). That way, each of the individuals will be paying less tax, because of lower marginal tax rates. The aggregate taxes paid will therefore be less than what you would pay if all the money went into your hands. Here are some examples: RSSP Contribution for Spouse You want to try to reach the maximum of your “earned income” for RRSP calculation purposes.

Rather than put the RRSP in your own name, you can put up to l00 per cent of your RRSP annual contribution into the name of your spouse (assuming that your spouse has less taxable income than you do). You take the tax deduction from your taxable income. The advantage of this arrangement is that when the time comes to collapse the RRSP (take out the funds), it will be taxed in the name of your spouse, who presumably is still in a lower tax bracket and will therefore pay less tax.

Share Ownership and Compensation

By splitting your shares with your spouse and children, you can reduce the amount of tax paid in aggregate because the lower the income (from dividends) the lower the marginal tax rate. This point was covered above. For example, you could have 51.0% of the shares, while your spouse and children share the remaining 49 per cent. You can deal with the issue of control by having Class A voting shares for yourself and Class B non-voting shares for your spouse and children. You also want to have the right to buy back the shares at any time from the other shareholders at the original, or some other set share value. There are various formulas you can consider. You also want to get professional advice if your children are minors and don’t pay fair market value for their shares–their dividend income could be attributed back to the business owner for tax purposes.

Another key decision with tax implications for entrepreneurs of incorporated businesses is whether to pay salaries or dividends to yourself and other employees.

A dividend is not an expense to the corporation, so it obviously doesn’t qualify as a deduction for tax purposes. It is also taxed in the recipient’s hands at a much lower rate than a salary would be. But the downside is it isn’t eligible for the Canada Pension Plan, nor is it counted as an eligible amount for registered retirement savings plan contributions. Up to 18 per cent of the previous year’s earned income counts toward RRSP contributions. Salary counts as earned income; dividends do not.

Creating Family Trust If you set this arrangement up carefully, and there are several options, you can keep more tax-free money in the family unit. For example, if your spouse and children are holding shares in your company through the means of a family trust, and have no other family income, they could each receive up to approximately annually in dividend income totally tax-free. Sounds rather attractive doesn’t it? Normally, it is structured so that you hold Class A shares (voting) in your own name, while the Class B (non-voting) shares are held in the name of a family trust. This can be set up through the assistance of your lawyer and accountant. If you own an incorporated company that intends to pay or currently pays dividends to a spouse or children who are not actively involved in your business, ask your professional accountant, make sure you receive skilled tax advance.

There are other types of creative tax benefit arrangements you can discuss with your accountant to minimize the tax hit. For example, you could do an “estate freeze” of the shares of your existing corporation, convert them into preferred shares, and then issue new common shares with a nominal fair market value of say $.0l each to your children. This

could be with the same corporate name, or by forming a new corporation for tax purposes.

Again, you will need expert advice on how to do this.

Pay family members If you are not already doing this, consider the benefits. You can pay family members (again, your spouse or children), reasonable salaries or hourly wages for actual services. No tax is paid on income up to approximately $8,000+ if there is no other source of income, and those who receive the money can make RRSP and CPP/QPP contributions. You can probably think of ways to use the skills and services of your family members and pay them accordingly, in terms of comparative market rates B. Tax Credit SBEs should also be alert to special research and development tax credits that might apply to their enterprise. For instance, businesses involved in the manufacturing, food or high-tech industries, among others, might be entitled to scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax credits available federally, and also in some provinces or territories.

These credits can be quite substantive. For instance, the federal SR&ED tax credit for a private Canadian company is worth up to 35 per cent on eligible expenses, if the CRA agrees the expenses were incurred to advance knowledge toward the resolution of a significant problem affecting business or industry. Missing out on such potential savings can be a real wallop to the bottom line.

C. Tax Deductions There are many deductions business owners should be on top of, ranging from accounting and legal fees to home-based business write-offs and vehicle expenses.

Don’t forget capital asset deductions. Assets belonging to the business, such as computers, automobiles and furniture, may be depreciated at varying rates.

And remember special deductions. For example, computers and accompanying software purchased last year are eligible to be fully depreciated for tax purposes on your 2011 return.

D. ……And Finally Avoid Being Audited There are many ways SBEs can raise the red flag due to many ways some owners try to circumvent the tax code in the process adopting short cuts and abusing the tax code. CRA experts warn, people using their personal vehicle for work purposes often have a tendency to over-estimate the proportion of expenses related to business. In many cases they assume, incorrectly, that most of their travel must be for business purposes, but those guesses ultimately prove far off the mark. The key message, learn and follow the rules about what’s deductible and what’s not – and record, record, record and organize your file and record transactions and keep all receipts for future reference. Don’t guess. If in doubt contact your lawyer or professional accountant.

What to do after a car accident By: Jayson Schwarz and Zane Roth There you are driving your car and someone hits you . . .. WHAT TO DO!!!!

Following a car accident, the most important thing to do is stop the car, turn on the four-way signals, and stay safe. If anyone is seriously injured or the car has been badly damaged, or if a crime has been committed (like a hitand-run), call 911 right away. Otherwise, you should contact the local police, who will provide you with instructions. They may just tell you to gather information and report the accident to your local collision centre.

Gathering information is very important.

Start by taking down the name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, plate number, insurance company and policy number for the driver(s) and owner(s) of every vehicle involved.

You should also jot down notes describing the cars involved and how the accident happened. If you have a camera on your phone, like most people, take it out and take pictures of the scene, a lot of pictures. Document the damage to the vehicle (or people involved) and pictures giving a sense of how the accident took place. If there are witnesses, politely try to get their contact information as they may prove helpful if other drivers dispute your account of the accident.

Most importantly, whether speaking to a police officer, witness, or other driver, do not admit that the accident was your fault, even if you feel like it is.

If no one requires immediate medical

attention it is still a good idea for everyone involved to advise their doctor of the accident as soon as possible after it happens, just in case injuries arise later on. We recommend you go directly to emergency to report the accident and be checked out.

It is always to better to be safe then sorry.

Once it is safe to leave the scene, and the police have advised you to go to a collision centre, go immediately to the nearest collision centre and report the accident to your insurance company.

Whether you are a driver or passenger, it is important to report the accident to your own insurer in order to avoid a number of problems that may arise down the road.

The process of insurance claims takes a tremendous toll on the victims, who generally want to focus on getting back on their feet. Whether you have been in a serious or a minor accident, it is important to know your rights and what forms of benefits and compensation you are entitled to. At Schwarz Law LLP, we offer a complimentary assessment of your claim and we are always happy to help.

Jayson Schwarz is a Toronto lawyer and senior partner in the law firm Schwarz Law LLP. Zane Roth is the litigation associate at the firm. If you have a topic in mind, or a question, mail, deliver or fax letters to the newspaper or to the firm, 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

32

The Ghanaian News March 2012

Historic visit of the Rt. Rev. Benjamin K. Asare Supervising Mission Coordinator of the Methodist Church, North America Mission to the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church Toronto

The SMC delivering the sermon The SMC receiving on behalf of the Society a presentation towards the monse construction by the Sunday Sch.

See full story on pg. 38

Rt. Rev. Benjamin K. Asare, the SMC with the Very Revs. DeGraft S. Obiri, Dr. Ammanuel K. Asare-Kusi, Jacob W. French

Dedication of musical instrument

Ms Mira Osaah Bonsu a Sunday Sch. child presenting a welcoming flower to the SMC

Mrs. Mary Queenship Obiri welcoming the Rt. Rev. Benjamin K. Asare thre SMC to the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church Toronto

Picture of the SMC with the Church Leaders

A group picture with the chiefs and queenmothers

Congregation, Mr. Dan Owusu and Charles Kwofie of the Ghana Methodist Church, Penn Drive

Praises and worship team leading the congregation in worship. Behind them is the church choir

Congregation - Mr. Seth Opoku Agyemang the first Society Steward in connexional cloth

Cultural display by the Sunday School children

The Communion Service led by the SMC

Congregation

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

33

Ghana at 55th celebration in Toronto

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

The Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) and Ghana Consulate, Toronto organized Ghana’s 55th I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary at the Luna Ballroom with a dinner on Saturday March 10, 2012.

The 2 MCs were Appiah Kubi and Gifty Frimpong.

Opening prayer was

Hon. Judy Sgro MP York West

Dr. La-Kumi

Kwodjo Mawutor Ghana Consul General

Dignitaries at the function

cont'd on pg. 39

Fa Nyame Pathfinders of SDC Church Some of the Executive of GCAO

Southern Volta cultural troupe

Elder Appiah Kubi, MC

Cutting of the Anniversary Cake

Reps from Western Union with other Executives of GCAO

Women's Fellowship Anniversary Celebrated at Calvary Methodist United Church Toronto

See full story on pg. 38

Esther Toah, Current President

Mrs. Roselynn La-Kumi, chairperson

Mrs. Constance Assifo, preacher

Women Fellowship members sitted in the middle the Mrs Obiri, Very Rev. S.V. Mpereh, The Very Rev. De-Graft S. Obiri Mrs. Vida Boateng, Liturgist

Newly elected officers

New enrolled memb ers

Group picture

Girls Fellowship

Invited guests

34

The Ghanaian News March 2012

Community in Pictures Edmonton

Community in Pictures Calgary

www. ghanaiannews.ca

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

35

Black History Month In Retrospect: Ghana's 55th Independence Day Celebration - Edmonton See full story on pg. 28

Acting H.C. Obeng Koranteng, Carl Benito and Ben From left. Acting H.C. Obeng Koranteng, Austrilia 3rd from left, Rev. Ameyaw, Carl Benito, Hai Nguen. Karen Lebovici, Steve Zepp

Nii Okine special Hilife Artist from Montreal in action

Stephen Mandel, Mayor of Edmonton and Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw

Executive Members, From left, Benjamin Kyeremeh, Edward Adunya, Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw, Ben Nartey, Harry Mensah, Karen Hagan, Victoria Lamptey

Karen Lebovici

Carl Benito

Dr. Andy Knight

A guest trying Adowa dance Rev. & Mrs. Ameyaw

Dancing Time

Hai Nguen, Snr Officer Citizenship & Immigration Canada

Dr. & Mrs. Mitra Knight

Carl and Austrilia being appreciated for their friendship and support

Adehyemanma Adowa group from Galgary

Reps of Africa Centre

Adowa and Kete group in Edmonton

36

The Ghanaian News March 2012

PEOPLE AND PLACES Mama Doris launches CD: "What He has done for me"

On Saturday, March 24, 2012 Mama Doris launched her CD at Trinity Baptist Church. Special guests artists Pastor Samuel Nelson. Other performance were Francis Asumadu, Trinity Baptist Choir, Ghanaian-Canadian Music Association. On the same occasion she also celebrated her birthday

3 Testimonial Babies Dedicated at Heritage Ghanaian SDA Church

FROM left Betty Acquah, Collins Kyeremeh, Nana Akua, Josephine Appiagyei and Eric Adjei

On March 17, 2012, Pastor Damson Oppong, the senior resident minister of the Ghanaian S.D.A. Churches in Toronto, dedicated 3 ‘special’ babies to the Lord at the Heritage Ghanaian S.D.A. Church. Each parent of the babies presented had a testimony about their baby to the glory of God. The babies are: Jovannah Yaw Walker born to Mr. Alexander Walker & Betty Acquah; Colina Akosua Konadu Kyeremeh born to Mr. Collins Kyeremeh & Nana Akua; and Adelle Akua Adjei born to Mr. Eric Adjei & Josephine Appiagyei. To God be the glory!

Gala Fundraising in Aid of Needy Students From Staff Reporter, Toronto

The “Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo” Scholarship Foundation of Toronto organized a gala fundraising in aid of needy students at the Ahenfie Palace in Toronto on March 11, 2012 as part of the activities marking Ghana’s 55th Independence anniversary.

The event attracted a cross section of Ghanaians living in Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga. They included Social Workers, Teachers, Politicians, Businessmen/women, Youth Activists, Chiefs and some friends of the Ghanaian community.

The introductory address praising the initiative

by Mavis Terkper and urging Ghanaians living in the metropolis to give support by donating to the scholarship foundation was delivered by

Gala fundraising

Pround Ghanaians

Dr. Raphael Djabatey who is a forensic expert and a lecturer based in Toronto.

Joe Kingsley Eyiah, an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) and also the Assistant Editor was at hand with an eloquent yet unfamiliar version of the historical account tracing the path to Ghana’s independence. The guest speakers at the function also included Foster Owusu, the Owner and CEO of First Canadian Complementary House Inc. and Edwin Williams, community activist.

Some Ghanaians of exemplary community service were recognized by the organizers of the event. Benjamin Osei was recognized for his youth leadership and Rev. Eleanor AduAnane for spiritual leadership.

Having fun while helping others

Queenmother

Doing the dance

The function was also characterized by cultural dance and performance. The community broadcaster of Sankofa Radio and linguist Appiah-Kubi was the master of the ceremony.

A BIG thank you to the following: George Boadi (Ahenfie-Palace), Mr. Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Elder Appiah-Kubi, Nana Adjeikumhene, Foster Owusu, Sis. Afia Wiafe (Agies Fashion World), Sound Masters (Emma & DJ Shortie), Mr. Benjamin Osei (Youth Connection), Royal House of Chiefs CEETEX FABRICS (Mr. & Mrs. CK Amoateng), Peace and Ben, Pastor AduAnnane, JoycePrempeh, Michael Kpodjie, Gosfred. Mr. Ben Maccarthy and all the leaders at Apostolic Church International-Canada Branch.

Showing how they reached

Dance to the race

Paving the way

Helping the way

Depicting the road to success

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

37

Press and Media Reception hosted by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at At Tahir Hall in Maple The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at hosted a dinner reception at Tahir Hall,a newly built complex adjacent to Baitul Islam Mosque in Maple. Mr Farhan Khokhar Chairman World media forum welcomed the guest and introduced the program.

The program started with recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Basal Butt.

Mr.Abdul Haleem Tayyab, National Media Coordinator presented an introduction of Jama’at and its founder Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (aa) and His peaceful mission. He also highlighted persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan.

Farhan Basharat presented a documentary about the world wide Ahmadiyya Muslim community in service to humanity under one leader ship. Honorable Prime Minister of Canada and the other world leader have been shown in the documentary who praised the peaceful mission through His holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad the present successor.

Mr. Badar Shamim, elaborated the Sitting From Left To Right Khalifa Abdul Aziz Vice President, Mubarak Ahmad Nazir Missionary Incharge, Mr Kalim Malik Vice President, role of Media to write and speak about Abdul Haleem Tayyab National Media Coordintor, Standing Mr Farhan Khokhar Chairman World Media Forum and Mr Lal Khan Malik human rights and to raise their voice Adressing Media Seminar against any sufferings/ persecution. tremely critical juncture and so there Mr Tayyab Peerzada through power is an urgent need for us to all recogpoint presentation highlighted services nize our Creator and to fulfill the rights to the country by the Ahmadiyya of His Creation. As we stand on the youth. brink of disaster, we must all join toThe National president of gether in an effort to prevent such a Ahmadiyya Muslim Community huge catastrophe from befalling us.”

Canada, MR Lal Khan Malik also (Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of thanked the guest and invited media Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) to attend Annual National convention 42 members from the Press and to be held on July 6th to July 8th at the Media attended and covered the International Centre. He also pre- event. sented the message of His holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad who FarhanKhokharAbdulHaleemTayyab warned in one of his recent address. National Media coordinator From left Mr Lal Khan Malik, Emmanuel “The world today is fraught with dan- ChairmanWorldMediaForum From left Alhassan Ahmed, Dr. Mohammed Baten, Emmanuel Ayiku Ayiku, Mubarak Ahmad Nazir ger and turmoil. We sit at an ex-

Living Waters Assembly of God Church Edmonton

Rev. & Mrs Nyanzu (center) and church elders

Congregation

Instrumentalists Congregation

Praises and worship team

Congregation

38

The Ghanaian News March 2012

Historic visit of the Rt. Rev. Bawumia Is Running Mate of Benjamin K. Asare Supervising Akufo-Addo In Election 2012 Mission Coordinator of the Methodist Church, North America Mission to the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church Toronto

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

The Supervising Mission Coordinator of the North American Methodist Missions, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin K. Asare recently paid a visit to the Methodist Churches in Toronto.

On Sunday, March 11, 2012 he delivered his first sermon at the Ghana Methodist Church on Penn Drive and continued to Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church on Mayall Avenue.

The Rt. Rev. Benjamin Asare who was ushered in by the Ministers and leaders and was later on introduced by Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri, the host pastor.

He preached on the theme “Understanding the importance of the Cross”.

He began by exhorting the congregation to forgive

one another as Christians, stop in-fighting and back biting for these things draws us backwards. Rt Rev. Asare continued that unbelievers don’t understand the work of God. God is a mysterious God. “We cannot use our mind to understand God but we believe there is God, the Bible says so. We use faith to believe there is a God, the same God of yesterday, today and tomorrow”.

He added that people are put in positions to serve and not to be served.

“Believers”, he said, “have to ponder over everything we do so as not to regret later”. He admonished parents not to incur curse on generation after generation by their deeds. He pointed out

that sacrifice is very important in our Christian pilgrimage, and that one’s Christianity is not real if nobody benefits from us.

We can feel some satisfaction if we are able to help some under-privilege persons.

Rt. Rev. Asare continued that it is an undisputable fact that the power of God really exist. There is no name under this earth greater than Jesus and also a Christian doesn’t curse. He concluded by saying that the believers should seek Christ first and all things shall be added to it for if believers have Christ, they have everything.

Rt. Rev. Asare used the occasion to dedicate new instruments for the church.

See picture on pg. 32

Women’s Fellowship Anniversary celebrated at Calvary Methodist Church, Toronto

By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto

The Women Fellowship of Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto on Sunday March 18, 2012 celebrated its anniversary with a special church service.

The theme was “Lift up Jesus and live”. It was a day when the Women Fellowship took over the conduct of service. The liturgist was Sister Vida Boateng with the outgoing President Sister Constance Assifo as the preacher.

In her sermon, Sister Constance reminded the sisters to note the fact that they have been born again through the power of Jesus and they should therefore lift up Jesus in everything they do. She

added that because of our lifestyles we cannot lift Him up in our daily chores.

We need to make people see the difference in our lives to underscore the fact that we have been saved by Christ.

“Our lifestyles as Christians”, she pointed out, “should attract people to Jesus not to drive them away. We have to live according to what we preach” He admonished the believers to exhibit the lifestyle showing that the old has passed away and the new has been ushered in.

She continued that if we want peace we should exercise patience and understanding and always strive to be the true ambassadors of Christ.

The introduction of chairperson, Mrs. Roseline La-Kumi and supporters was done by Sister Agnes Adu Brempong. In her remarks, Mrs. La-Kumi exhorted the congregation to be true ambassadors of Christ.

An induction of new members was made and the Very Rev. Obiri then introduced the new officers. It was followed by appeal for funds after which the chair lady gave her closing remarks. Vote of thanks was given by Sister Esther Toa who succeeded Sister Constance Assifo who is also the Circuit President of North America. Secretary Julie OdameOsarfo, Treasurer Vida Boateng were the other elected officials.

See pictures on pg. 33

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Bank of Ghana, Responsible 2008 running mate of Nana for Monetary Policy, FinanAddo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cial Stabilty, and Payments has been maintained as the System Reform running mate of the New PatriJune 2006-January 2008 otic Party (NPP) flagbearer for Member of Board of DirecElection 2012. tors, Bank of Ghana, Ghana The announcement was made International Bank (UK), at the Party’s Headquarters in Ghana Telecom, Revenue Accra by Mr Jake Obetsebi Agencies Governing Board, Lamptey, National Party ChairSocial Security and National man, when he addressed news- Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Insurance Trust. men a while ago.

January 2005-January, 2009-Chairman, CapiHe said Nana Akufo-Addo’s choice had been tal Markets Committee (Ghana). Had oversight given unanimous acclamation by high ranking responsibility for putting together the strategy party officials and supporters, including Former for Ghana accessing the international capital President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Vice, markets with a debut 0 million sovereign bond.

Alhaji Alihu Mahama.

August-December 2008, Vice Presidential canThe news was also hailed by supporters of the didate, New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Departy who had been massing up at the NPP cember 2008 Ghanaian Presidential Election. headquarters from morning, in waiting for the 2001-2006-Head, Monetary Policy and Finanannouncement. cial Stability Department, Bank of Ghana. ReOn why the choice of Dr Bawumiah, Mr sponsible to the analytical work leading to the Obetsebi-Lamptey said the greatest problem setting up of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Comfacing Ghana now, is the prudent management mittee (MPC) and oversight for technical work of the economy and how to use the economy to presented to the MPC. create jobs for the youth, stressing that the best Leader of Bank of Ghana technical team and person to help bring this about is Dr Bawumiah, part of Government Team that has negotiated an experienced Economist. with the World Bank and International MonDr Bawumia, Former Deputy Govenor of the etary Fund since 2001 through HIPC and PRGF. Bank of Ghana and the Resident Representa- Member of the Government of Ghana technitive, African Development Bank Group (Zim- cal negotiating team on HIPC Paris Club and babwe), returned home Tuesday night to a rous- Completion Point Negotiations. Member of ing welcome from party members in what high Government team to negotiate the Millenium ranking party officials said, was for him to be Challlege Account (MCA) compact with the presented when the announcement was made US Government. Was responsible for drafting Thursday. the financial sector component of the compact.

CV EDUCATION Member of Government technical team on the From 1991 - 1995 - Ph.D. in Economics Simon deregulation of the petroleum sector in Ghana.

Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia., 2000-2001 Senior Economist, and Head of EcoCanada; Specialisation: Macroeconomics, In- nomic Analysis, Bank of Ghana Research Deternational Economics, and Monetary Econom- partment. ics.

1996-2000 - Assistant Professor of Economics, 1987- 1988- M.Sc.Development Economics Hankamer School of Business, Baylor UniverUniversity of Oxford, UK (Lincoln College); sity, Texas, USA; 1994 Summer intern, Inter1984-1986- B.Sc. Economics (First Class national Monetary Fund. Washington. D.C. ReHonours) University of Buckingham, UK. search Department.

1982-1984- Chartered Institute of Bankers Di- 1988-1990 Lecturer in Monetary Economics, ploma (A.C.I.B) –U.K International Finance. Emile Woolf College of With distinction in Monetary Economics, Ac- Accountancy, London, England. countancy, Law and Banking Principles. Emile PUBLICATIONS Woolf College of Accountancy, London, En- “A Future Currency Regime for Zimbabwe”. gland.

African Development Bank Policy Brief. Forth1975-1982 Tamale Secondary School – Gen- coming. Towards a Green Economy. Lead Aueral Certificate of Education Ordinary Level thor, UN Green Economy Report 2011. Monand Advanced Level. etary Policy and Financial Sector Reform in WORKING EXPERIENCE Africa: Ghana’s Experience. Booklocker. 2010 January 2011 - March 2012, Dr Bawumia was “Africa and the Global Financial Crisis”. Paper the Resident Representative, African Develop- presented at the American Economic Associament Bank Group (Zimbabwe). tion Meetings. Atlanta, January 2010. The He was responsible for AfDB relations with Emerging International Financial Architecture.

Zimbabwe, Research-Based Technical Advice Implications for Africa”. Paper prepared for the to Government, Coordination with Donor Com- Economic Commission for Africa. March 2010. munity, Oversight Responsibility for Adminis- “African Perspectives on the G20 London and tration of the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Pittsburg Summits”. Paper prepared for the Fund.

Economic Commission for Africa. March 2010.

October 2009-October 2010 —Visiting Senior “Africa and the G20 Summit”. Paper prepared Research Associate, Centre for the Study of for Economic Commission for Africa, March, African Economies, Department of Econom- 2009 ics, University of Oxford. Undertook research “Overfishing and Piracy in Somalia” with Ussif on Monetary Policy and Financial Sector Re- Rashid Sumaila, University of British Columform in Africa. bia, Fisheries Centre Working Paper, October, Fellow International Growth Centre (IGC). 2009 Served as IGC Country Team Member for Si- Ghana’s Reforms Transform its Financial Secerra Leone. Also served as Advisor to Central tor” with Theresa Owusu and Arnold McIntyre, Bank of Sierra Leone on redesigning the IMF Survey, May, 2008. “The Choice of Monorganisational structure of the bank and its mon- etary Policy Regime in Ghana”, with Banjamin etary policy framework.

Amoah and Zakari Mumuni, Bank of Ghana April-October 2009, Visiting Scholar, Univer- Working Paper, July 2008. sity of British Columbia, Liu Centre for Global “The Determination of Bank Interest Spreads Studies and Fisheries Centre. in Ghana: An Empirical Analysis of Panel Data” February-March 2009 Consultant Economic with Martin Ofori and Franklin Belnye, Bank of Commission for Africa. Prepared a paper on Ghana Working Paper, September, 2005.

Africa’s Position for the G20 London Summit. “Developing a Composite Indicator of EcoJune 2006-January 2009, Deputy Governor, nomic Activity in Ghana”, with Benjamin cont'd on pg. 59

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

39

Frankly Speaking Living in Fools’ Paradise: The Wade Election humiliation in Senegal and the Malian Coup d’etat

By Dr. Michael Baffoe The thirty-year period from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s was marked with series of political upheavals on the African continent. We witnessed series of reckless events with restless, bored and confused military adventurers’ intervening constantly in the political lives of Africans, over-tuning established constitutional governments. The period also saw the emergence of mad, very mad, people emerging on the continent, and in their greed and evil machinations plunged parts of the continent into brutal civil wars resulting in the death and maiming of millions of people.

From East, through Central to West Africa, few countries were spared the scourge of this military menace and insane adventurism. We can recall with extreme pain the events of the 1990s in Rwanda where over a million people were killed and countless numbers maimed for life. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, millions were killed and maimed as well through brutal civil wars that were driven by greed and the sheer desire to loot the nation. As recently as the 2010s and 2011s, a greedy, confused and irresponsible man, who was ironically a Professor of History who learnt nothing out of history, Laurent Gbagbo, plunged the once stable Ivory Coast into civil war. The result?

Hundreds of thousands of

people are dead, missing and/ or maimed. Gbagbo is now resting “comfortably” in a jail in the International Criminal Court with a paper and pencil to write his own history.

The once stable and “shining” Black Star of Africa, Ghana, was also plunged into long periods of military interventions dating from 1966 through the 1980s.

No wonder other countries like Nigeria, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Gambia and the rest copied our “shining” sinful examples in coup-making and overthrowing of constitutional orders. The tragic thing about all these military adventurers is that they all come to power complaining about corruption and lack of accountability on the part of the constitutionally-installed governments. But all over Africa; wherever these military adventurers have intervened in politics, evidence abound on how these “probity and accountability” teams of military hooligans end up messing up the social, political and economic order of their countries and end up personally more

wealthier and corrupt than the so-called “corrupt” constitutional governments they overturn. You don’t need to look far: Just look at the bunch that roamed Ghana in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s led by Kutu Acheampong and Jerry John Rawlings. Compare the state in which they were when they shot their way to power screaming “probity and accountability”. Assess the state in which they left the social, and economic order of Ghana and how good, extremely good, they look now.

Look then into Nigeria and reflect on the activities of the Murtala Muhammeds, the Idiagbons, the Obasanjos, the Abachas and Co. And say a prayer for Nigeria for the mess in which they left that country.

The list of irresponsibility and reckless behaviour by these military adventurers in Africa is endless.

Enter the mid 1990s through the early 21st Century: Africa seem to have turned the corner. We now seem to have understood that the only path to good governance, stability on the continent and good life for its citizens is through constitutional rule. The order of people declaring themselves “Presidents for Life”, messing up their countries, jailing and disappearing their political opponents, real or imaginary, seemed to have come to an end. We thought everyone in Africa had got this simple message. We were wrong!!

Ghana at 55th celebration in Toronto

c ont'd from pg. 33

given by Pastor Issac Takyi DeGraft. Military display and the mounting of troop colours was done by the SDA Youth Brigade. Wofa Yaw Adusei Nyarko, president of GCAO gave the opening remarks.

Southern Volta Dance Ensemble entertained the crowd to cultural displays. The Bobie Ansah Sisters also did a special song dedicated to the Ghanaian flag written by Okofo.

Hon. Judy Sgro, Liberal MP for York West brought greetings from the Liberal Party of Canada. Mr. O.J. Fabian, president of Nerian Canadian Association led a 3-man

delegation to the event and also brought greetings from the association Mr. Jean Michael Itoua, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Congo also attended the event.

Mr. Kodjo Mawutor, Ghana Consul General, Toronto gave the anniversary address. He brought greetings from the president and people of Ghana.

The chairperson for the occasion was Dr. Martin LaKumi.

Cutting of the 55th Birthday cake was done by Consul General Kodjo Mawutor and Dr. La-Kumi with the help of Mr. O.J. Fabian and Mr. Jean

Michael. Vote of thanks was given by Diana Dickson.

The closing prayer was also give3n by Pastor Isaac Takyi De-Graft of Lighthouse Assembly of God Church.

The event was sponsored by Moneygram. Also at the Forum Banquet Hall was the 6th Annual Red-Gold-Green organized by the Ghana House to celebrate the 55th Independence Anniversary.

The youth attended this event to prove that they really have links to the motherland as some were dressed in the colours of Ghana.

Talking about democracy, “good” governance and rule of law, we thought we had one perfect example to hold up in Africa in the country called SENEGAL. The first President of that country, Leopold Senghor, gracefully and honourably retired when his time was due. A peaceful transition followed. One of the “longest” men on the continent, Abdou Diouf took over power.

He ruled for his constitutionallymandated two terms and gracefully left office. Enter his successor Abdulai Wade. He completes his constitutionally-mandated two terms of eight years.

Just as preparations for elections were been made, Wade decided to copy the stupidity of the Iddi Amins, the Musevenis, the Mobutus, the Ghadafis and the Gbagbos of Africa. He decided that he was going nowhere. He schemed to get a socalled “constitutional” Court to declare that he was “qualified” to rule again till thy kingdom come. And this is one man we thought had some brains.

Hmmmn, power corrupts...and absolute power corrupts absolutely! This decision and action of Wade plunges the once stable Senegal into chaos. Riots ensued and a number of people die and were wounded...all in the name, and for the greedy nature, of one stupid old man.

Wade decided to press ahead.

The Senegalese people decided to take their country and government back from this seemingly insane old man. In the elections that followed, he failed to win in the first round. As the Great Old One above would want it, he was humiliated in the run-off elections when his opponent soundly beat him. Good riddance, Wade!!!. This old man was living in a real fool’s para-

dise. He kept dreaming about the “good old days” of the Amins, Mobutus, the Bokassas and the Ghadafis where he could be “President for Life”.

Despite whatever good he had done in his constitutionally-mandated eight years, Wade is now consigned to African history as one of the reckless leaders who caused mayhem in his once stable homeland.

Before we could sing the requiem mass for Wade, we were hit again with news of another bunch of restless young military adventurers on another part of West Africa who are now “learning” the lessons in overturning constitutional orders. In the third week of March, this group announced that they had seized power from the constitutionally-elected government of Mali. The irony of the Malian situation is that the President was due to step down in April, 2012. These guys couldn’t wait for only three weeks. Watching these Malian coup plotters on TV reminds me very much of Jerry Rawlings and his AFRC group of 1979. Their faces look the same: hungry and ready to loot. Rawlings staged his June 4, 1979 coup when elections were due then in Ghana on June 26, 1979. The result is what we all know.

Like Wade in Senegal, these Malian guys seem to be living in the middle ages. Coup d’etat?

We thought we had buried this nonsense long time ago in the 1980s. Every respectable institution and country around the world has demanded that the Malian coup plotters cede power and restore the constitutional government in Mali. We wait to see what they will do.

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool!!!

Ghanaian News online www. ghanaiannews.ca

40

The Ghanaian News March 2012

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The Ghanaian News

Test your electrical safety know-how This fun, three-minute quiz will tell you if you’re a bright or dim light Electricity. Can you imagine life without it? Most of us cannot. Sometimes, though, we all take electricity for granted, forgetting that while it helps run our homes, businesses and lives, it also carries risks. This short quiz will help test your electrical safety know-how. (Answers below.)

1. Fuses that frequently blow, or circuits that frequently trip, can be a sign of overloading and can present a potential fire hazards, you should: a) Reset b) Replace the fuses as they blow c) Avoid using electrical products for the rest of the day d) Call a Licensed Electrical Contractor; this could be a sign of overloading which can present a potential fire hazard 2. outlets can cause overheating and present a potential fire hazard. a) Outdoor b) Small c) Bathroom d) Overloaded 3. What percentage of electrical fires are caused by electrical equipment and wiring in Ontario homes?

a) Less than 1% b) 5% c) 10% d) Over 25% 4. The power should be turned off from your electrical panel when: a) Electrical work is done in your basement b) Electrical work is done in your kitchen c) Electrical work is done near water d) Any electrical work is done your home 5. What is the best way to know if an electrical product or appliance is approved and safe? a) The product bears the name of a recognized certification agency b) The product bears a “Made in Canada” stamp c) The product comes with directions d) The product is in its original packaging 6. Ontario law requires that: a) Anyone offering electrical services must be licensed by the Government of Ontario b) Anyone offering electrical services must be licensed by the local municipal government c) Anyone offering electrical services must be licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority d) None of the above

March 2012

41

Better safe than sorry How to avoid future shocks from electrical repairs We believe that electricity exists, because the electric company keeps sending us bills for it,” humour columnist Dave Barry once noted, “but we cannot figure out how it travels inside wires.”

It’s an amusing line, for sure, but if you’re thinking of doing electrical work anytime soon, you shouldn’t joke around. A licensed electrical contractor—someone who knows how electricity really works—is the only person legally authorized in the province of Ontario to offer their services to undertake electrical repairs or work in your home or business. Failure to use one is no laughing matter.

Electrical work can be riskier than you think.

More than 25 per cent of electrical fires are caused by electrical wiring and equipment in Ontario homes. Ontario law requires that anyone offer-

ing to do electrical work or repairs be licensed by the province’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).

Be sure to check that anyone you are thinking of hiring has an Electrical Contractor licence.

“Far too often, people think that a handyperson is all they need to do electrical work,” says Normand Breton, General Manager, Harm Mitigation with the ESA. “Using someone who is not a licensed electrical contractor, though, can lead to significant property damage, injury, and possibly even death.”

Licensed electrical contractors can arrange all necessary permits, carry liability insurance, can provide references and written estimates, and employ only certified electricians qualified to do your work. They also schedule all necessary inspections and can provide

a certificate of inspection from the ESA when work is done. This is your record that electrical installations comply with requirements defined in the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

Why use anyone else?

“Many people, unfortunately, look for quick, inexpensive fixes to electrical problems,” says the ESA’s Breton. “The shortterm savings of hiring someone who is not licensed and qualified can be completely eclipsed by the longer-term costs, including liabilities that can arise if you don’t get a licensed electrical contractor to do the job right, according to Code. This is not something to joke around with. It’s simply not worth the risk.”

For a list of licensed electrical contractors in your area visit: www.pluginsafely.ca.

Hidden home repair damages Know when you must turn to qualified help If you’re like many Canadians, warmer weather probably gets you thinking about home improvements. In fact, a recent Bank of Montreal study found that two-thirds of us plan to renovate in some way over the next two years. As a nation, we spend $20 billion on home renovations each year.

You’ll want to make sure you get the job done right, though.

More than a third of Ontario residents have reported that they have had bad renovations done. And a whopping 36 per cent say they have had to arrange to have unsatisfactory worked fixed after it was completed.

How do you protect yourself?

Well, for starters, make sure you get the right person for the right job—and don’t attempt potentially dangerous electrical work yourself, hire a licensed electrical contractor.

An astounding 40 per cent of Ontario homeowners don’t ask for credentials from a tradesperson they hire. It’s your right to do so—and a serious mistake not to. Electrical work can be risker than you think, and only 58% of Ontario homeowners use a licensed electrical contractor when doing electrical work, despite the potential risks. In fact, Ontario law requires that anyone offering electrical services must be licensed by the province’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).

Licensed electrical contractors are the only tradespeople legally authorized to oversee electrical repairs and work in Ontario residences. They can provide written estimates and references, arrange all necessary permits and inspections, are fully insured, and send only qualified electricians to do your electrical work, sparing you future headaches, even tragedies, down the road.

“Using a licensed electrical contractor can help you avoid unsafe electrical work and possible problems,” says Normand Breton, General Manager, Harm Mitigation with the ESA. “Not only are there risks to property, but there is the danger of injury – even death. Protect yourself and your loved ones. When it comes to hiring someone to do electrical work you can’t afford to take shortcuts.”

To find a licensed electrical contractornearyouortocheckthecredentials of the person you have hired, please visit: www.pluginsafely.ca.

42

PARENTAL FAVOURITISM; DOES IT EXIST?

The Ghanaian News March 2012

View Point

Community Concerns

Taking Time/Break Off School The power of behaviour in relationships

The challenges Teens and Young Adult encounter when they decide to take break from Schooling

By Golda Abena Quayson

Many young adults and teens make a decision during their schooling that they need a break from schooling. These very important decisions are often taken before graduating from High school or they simply decide, while still in High School to take time off. Some young adults will start post-secondary education and decide half-way through their program that they need a break. This article, based on some interviews with some community members unearthed some issues and problems teens and young adults encounter when these decisions are made and how best parents, guidance counselors and teachers can intervene to assist such persons in transition.

Here are a few examples from this groups of people who have experienced this choice themselves. We met John at YMCA over the weekend and this is what he has to say: Just like you’ve probably heard a thousand times but we still do it anyway, “it’s difficult to get yourself to get back into it after a year off. I went to college for 1.5 semesters and was going to take one semester off. That turned into three years! If you do take a year off, I hope you do something amazing with your time. Live it up - travel, whatever but make something memorable and not something you’ll regret!”

We met Cheryl at work, making $15.95 at a retail store for the past 5 years at the age of 22 years. She stated that: “There are 20 days of individual holidays, about two weeks of spring break, three months during summer, and usually about a week during Christmas and few days for Easter and other holidays. That is plenty time to go on a vacation or do

all the things you mentioned. Travelling; You’re not going to travel for anything more than a month most of the time, so summer break alone is enough to fulfill this. You want to make money? Yes, you can make money during summer and maintain a part-time job depending on the program you are taking. There is no excuse if you really want to complete your career of choice.”

According to Cheryl, she regrets making that decision and did not listen to her parents at that time when she graduated from High School, and mentioned to her parents that she is taking a year off before embarking on postsecondary education, but she never went back.

Hear what Aba from a grocery store had to say to other teens and the young adults who are anticipating the same decision before and after high school or whiles you are still in post-secondary school. “Every person I’ve ever known who said they were going to wait and take a year off never actually go back, and end up regretting it in the long run. College life without a spouse, kids, mortgage, car payment, full-time job, all make success in school easier on you.

My advice is that you should consider the summer between graduation of high school and the start of fall to take your “time off”. Don’t do anything in a rush like buying a car or getting married in that time. It is wise to hit the books full force in the fall.” According to Aba she decided to take a one year break from York University and never went back.

There is also the danger in improper planning and lack of guidance from parents. Young adults decide to move out on their own for the freedom of been on their own and end up making pre-mature commitments with friends and create problems for themselves. Many a times the part-time job that they intended to obtain and attend school turns to fulltime employment with low income and to sustain their new life style, school becomes a secondary matter. Again, they go further

to acquire credit cards that put them in debts at the early ages of 19 and 20 years old.

During the last interview, Kwame, a former student of Seneca College mentioned that he regrets using his student loan to buy a flashy car and just giving his friends rides and not staying in school to complete his program.

Now he still has to work to support himself and to also pay his rent and pay his car insurance instead of staying at home when his Dad suggested to him and did not agree to it and moved out.

Thus, before deciding to take a year off before college, it is important to assess your reasons for the change and to make sure you spend your time in an engaging way that meets these aims. The biggest plus of a gap year is that few students who take time off before college find that the break from academics enables them to return to the classroom the following fall with renewed vigor and focus, but majority does not happen that way.

Some parents (maybe yours?) and even some students, too, worry that a detour from college may lead to a long-term derailment.

When discovering what the advantages of going to college right after high school might be, remember also that older teens and adults have different learning styles. Professors in freshmen classes habitually adjust their teaching styles to accommodate recent high school graduates, which can make it harder on non-traditional students.

It is also apparent that there is no easy answer when it comes to making this education decision.

That being said, facts and figures do bear out that foregoing the gap year in favour of the benefits of going to college after high school does help the average student to come out ahead.

Again, the earning potential of a person who completes a college degree significantly increases after leaving college. Please keep in mind that the higher your knowledge, skills or abilities, the the higher your reward.

Doris Osei Bonsu, Crisis Counselor, Toronto Have you ever wondered why you behave the way that you do? Or why others react the way they do to you? Successful individuals know that the foundation of personal or professional success lies in understanding yourself, others and realizing the impact of your behaviour on others. This understanding results in improving communication and reducing conflicts.

From the time we are born, relationships are one of the most important things to all of us. Let’s look at how infants or babies need their parents or primary caregivers. The need to attach or relate to others is there from birth. As the saying goes, “no man is an island”, thus relationships are a nectar of life and necessity for staying alive.

Our behaviour has the power to either bring people closer to us or push them away. Consider for a moment the people in our lives: family, friends, intimate partnerships etc. What are the qualities of relationship we have with them?

We have to be aware that we can never change another person or their behaviour. The only person we have direct control of is ourselves. Sometimes by slightly altering our own behaviour we can get the results or the outcome we desire from another person or the people we interact with. The key factors that determine our behavior include how we respond to our environment.

Let’s face it, we often have to work with difficult people like the managers we work with, colleagues, or customers. In our personal lives we deal with family members who may be quiet different than we see ourselves. Think about how much frustration we would avoid if we could learn how to reduce conflict and improve communications by simply understanding why those differences occur and then adjust our own behaviour accordingly.

Some years back, I remember visiting my friend who did not respond after her husband greeted her from work. Her son who was present at the time of the incidence made faces at her mother.

When the husband left to the bedroom I mentioned the incidence and she was not pleased. I wondered how this negative behavior has affected her household. How is it going to be perceived by her young son who witnessed it? Do you wonder how your behaviour affects your relationship with others? How can you measure the effect of your behaviour?

Do people, especially children copy your positive as well as your negative behaviour?

Knowing what causes or stimulates your behaviour and being aware of how your behaviour affects you and others are both important steps in learning new behaviours. Learning new behaviours involves at least four steps:

1. Modelling of the behaviour 2.

Practising new behaviour 3. Reinforcing the desired behaviour 4. Receiving accurate and rapid feedback It is important to realize that your behaviour has consequences. It affects your relationship with other people for better or worse.

Are there people in your life who are behaving in a way towards you that causes distress or anger? Don’t you think they have to take responsibility for this and make changes for the sake of the relationship? You may want to ask yourself weather this behaviour of these people draws you to them or pull you away from them.

On the contrary, do you have a trail of broken relationship behind you because of your behavior? Is your behaviour towards other people the way you want other people to behave towards you? In other words are you giving out what you want back? Or is your behaviour destroying your relationships? Does your behaviour towards people bring you joy or sorrow?

Behaviour that Draws Others to you may include the following: a) Making Eye Contact b) Active Listening c) Patience d) Being Open minded e) Being Approachable f) Kindness Behaviour that Pushes Others Away from us may also include: a) Dismissiveness b) Inconsistency c) Criticism d) Dishonesty e) Arrogance f) Disrespect Many a time people don’t understand the power our behaviour have on others and how much it hurt them. The fact is that our behaviour shapes the quality of our relationships whether it is between you and your intimate partner, child(ren), friend, boss or teacher. It is therefore an important element to consider in our lives.

Take an inventory of your life and examine if there is anything that you could benefit from by making some simple changes in your behaviour, or by accepting other’s behaviour. Consider making adjustments if need be. If you determine that you have healthy relationships with others and there is no need for any change, that is good for you! Consider yourself fortunate. But if after taking an honest inventory of your life, you discover an area that needs change or changes, please do modify your behaviour. You and the people closer to you will all benefit from this honest and genuine behaviour modification.

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

43

Lifestyle Ask The Doctor 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.

Artificial sweeteners: Understanding these and other sugar substitutes Whether your goal is cutting calories or eating healthier, options for sugar substitutes abound. Understand their pros and cons to make an informed choice.

Today, artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes are found in a variety of food and beverages marketed as “sugar-free” or “diet,” including soft drinks, chewing gum, jellies, baked goods, candy, fruit juice and ice cream. In addition, other sugar substitutes are being touted as healthier sweeteners than regular sugar, even if they don’t have fewer calories, such as honey and agave nectar.

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself. Artificial sweeteners are also known as intense sweeteners because they are many times sweeter than regular sugar.

Artificial sweeteners that are currently approved by Health Canada include: Acesulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet One),Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet),Saccharin (Sugar Twin, Sweet’N Low), and Sucralose (Splenda) Uses for artificial sweeteners Artificial sweeteners are attractive alternatives to sugar because they add virtually no calories to your diet. In addition, you need only a fraction compared with the amount of regular sugar you would normally use for sweetness. Artificial sweeteners are widely used in processed products, including tabletop sweeteners, baked goods, soft drinks, powdered drink mixes, candy, puddings, canned foods, jams and jellies, dairy products, and scores of other foods and beverages. Check the food label to see if a product contains artificial sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners are also popular for home use. Some can even be used in baking or cooking. Certain recipes may need modification, though, because artificial sweeteners provide no bulk or volume, as does sugar. Check the labels on artificial sweeteners for appropriate home use.

Some artificial sweeteners may leave an aftertaste. You may need to experiment with artificial sweeteners to find one or a combination that you enjoy most.

Possible health benefits of artificial sweeteners * Weight control. One of the most appealing aspects of artificial sweeteners is that they are non-nutritive — they have

virtually no calories. In contrast, each gram of regular table sugar contains 4 calories.

A teaspoon of sugar is about 4 grams. For perspective, consider that one 12-ounce can of a sweetened cola contains 8 teaspoons of added sugar, or about 130 calories. If you’re trying to lose weight or prevent weight gain, products sweetened with artificial sweeteners rather than with higher calorie table sugar may be an attractive option. On the other hand, some research has suggested that consuming artificial sweeteners may be associated with increased weight, but the cause is not yet known. * Diabetes. Artificial sweeteners may be a good alternative to sugar if you have diabetes.

Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners generally don’t raise blood sugar levels because they are not carbohydrates. But because of concerns about how sugar substitutes are labeled and categorized, always check with your doctor or dietitian about using any sugar substitutes if you have diabetes. * Dental cavities. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners don’t contribute to tooth decay.

Possible health concerns with artificial sweeteners Artificial sweeteners have been the subject of intense scrutiny for decades. Critics of artificial sweeteners say that they cause a variety of health problems, including cancer.

That’s largely because of studies dating to the 1970s that linked saccharin to bladder cancer in laboratory rats. Because of those studies, saccharin once carried a warning label that it may be hazardous to your health.

But according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there’s no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer or other serious health problems.

And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for

pregnant women. As a result of the newer studies, the warning label for saccharin was dropped.

Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the FDA as food additives. They must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before being made available for sale. In some cases, the FDA declares a substance “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). These GRAS substances, including highly refined stevia preparations, are deemed by qualified professionals based on scientific data as being safe for their intended use, or they have such a lengthy history of common use in food that they’re considered generally safe and don’t require FDA approval before sale.

The FDA has also established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each artificial sweetener. This is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day over the course of your lifetime. ADIs are intended to be about 100 times less than the smallest amount that might cause health concerns. * Sugar alcohols and novel sweeteners Sugar alcohols (polyols) are carbohydrates that occur naturally in certain fruits and vegetables, but they also can be manufactured. They’re not considered intense sweeteners, because they aren’t sweeter than sugar — in fact, some are less sweet than sugar. Sugar alcohols aren’t considered noncaloric or non-nutritive sweeteners because they contain calories. But they’re lower in calories than is regular sugar, making them an attractive alternative. Despite their name, sugar alcohols aren’t alcoholic. They don’t contain ethanol, which is found in alcoholic beverages.

Novel sweeteners are combinations of various types of sweeteners. Novel sweeteners, such as stevia, are hard to fit into one particular category because of what they’re made from and how they’re made.

As with artificial sweeteners, the FDA regulates the use of sugar alcohols. Approved sugar alcohols and novel sweeteners i n c l u d e : Erythritol,Hydrogenated s t a r c h hydrolysates,Isomalt,Lactitol,M altitol,Mannitol,,Sorbitol,Xylitol Uses for sugar alcohols Sugar alcohols generally aren’t used when you prepare food at home. Rather, they are found in many processed foods and other products, usually replacing sugar on an

equal basis. When added to foods, sugar alcohols add sweetness, bulk and texture.

They also help food stay moist, prevent browning when heated, and add a cooling sensation to products.

Sugar alcohols are used in a broad range of products, including chocolate, candy, frozen desserts, chewing gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, baked goods and fruit spreads. Sugar alcohols are often combined with artificial sweeteners in products to enhance sweetness. Check the food label to help see if a product contains sugar alcohols. Food labels may list the specific name, such as xylitol, or simply use the general term “sugar alcohol.”

Possible health benefits of sugar alcohols Weight control. Sugar alcohols are considered nutritive sweeteners because they contribute calories to your diet. Still, sugar alcohols have fewer calories than does regular sugar — about 2 calories per gram on average. This means that sugar alcohols can be considered lower calorie sweeteners, and

they may aid weight-control efforts. * Diabetes. Unlike artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols can raise blood sugar levels because they’re carbohydrates.

But because your body doesn’t completely absorb sugar alcohols, their effect on blood sugar is less than that of other sugars. Different sugar alcohols can affect blood sugar differently. You can consume sugar alcohols if you have diabetes but you still must pay attention to the total amount of carbohydrates in your meals and snacks. Talk to your doctor or dietitian for guidance. * Dental cavities. Sugar alcohols don’t promote cavities.

Possible health concerns with sugar alcohols As with artificial sweeteners, the FDA regulates sugar alcohols as food additives.

Sugar alcohols typically are labeled as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) and don’t require FDA approval before sale.

There are few health concerns associated with sugar alcohols.

When eaten in large amounts, usually more than 50 grams but

sometimes as little as 10 grams, sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect, causing bloating, intestinal gas and diarrhea. Product labels may carry a warning about this potential laxative effect.

Moderation is key with artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes When choosing sugar substitutes, it pays to be a savvy consumer. Get informed and look beyond the hype. While artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes may help with weight management, they aren’t a magic bullet and should be used only in moderation. Just because a food is marketed as sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s free of calories. If you eat too many sugar-free foods, you can still gain weight if they have other ingredients that contain calories. And remember that processed foods, which often contain sugar substitutes, generally don’t offer the same health benefits as do whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Source: Modified from Mayo Clinic Housecall,

44

The Ghanaian News March 2012

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The Ghanaian News

Ecowas gives Mali leaders ultimatum to relinquish power West African nations have given the leaders of a coup in Mali 72 hours to relinquish power or face sanctions.

Ecowas said the proposed measures included closing all land borders and freezing Mali’s assets.

The leaders met in Ivory Coast, after earlier plans for talks with the coup leaders in the Malian capital, Bamako, were abandoned as coup supporters occupied the airport’s runway.

Mali’s neighbours have already told the junta to step aside.

They have placed a peacekeeping force on standby.

Northern insurgency The president of the commission of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, told reporters that if the deadline was not met, all the 15 countries of the bloc would deny Mali access to their ports, and there would be no transfers to commercial banks in Mali from the regional central bank.

The coup leaders have unveiled a new constitution as well as announcing elections in which those who took part in the coup would be barred from standing. However, no date has yet been set.

The coup was led by soldiers unhappy with the way President Amadou Toumani Toure’s government had been handling a Tuareg insurgency in the north.

The Tuareg rebels have forced the army out of several northern towns in recent months.

Ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure says he is in good health and free Under the new constitution, a transitional com-

mittee composed of 26 members of the security forces and 15 civilians would take power.

Those who serve on the committee will be given immunity from prosecution.

March 2012

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Some of the document is similar to Mali’s current constitution, including guarantees of freedom of speech, thought and movement.

Mr Toure - widely known as ATT - said on Wednesday that he remained in the country, free and in good health.

“I think the most important thing today is that we should, through consensus, find a way out of this crisis. The most important thing is not ATT, not the man. What is important is democracy, our institutions, Mali,” he told French radio network RF1.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

PERSPECTIVES ON MONEY By: Bernadette Mary Poku Until recently that I experienced a tragedy in my family, I just lived and worked expecting a paycheck. It is so sad that it took a tragic event that I had to take a second look at the type of life I had been living. I asked myself if I wanted to be in such financial constraints in the near future. It is at this point that I decided that I was not going to be financially decrepit. Come what may, I was going to get myself out of debt especially consumer debt credit cards and car loans and nearly maxed out my line of credit.

I used to be one of your everyday women who did not budget or control my spending, but I managed somehow to have meager savings tucked in my Ing direct account for a rainy day thanks to automatic/ preauthorized withdrawals. I remember when I finished Transitional Year Program at the University of Toronto being given a few thousand dollars to help pay down my student loans. Did I do that? No! Rather, I invested half of the money in Guaranteed Income Certificates (GIC), and the rest paid off various consumer debts. The GIC was redeemed a few years later as my emergency fund.

I am writing about money and perspectives or ideas about money because, many of our immigrant population women especially, wait until there is a tragedy before learning the importance of financial planning. I cannot tell people exactly how to live and spend their money, but I can share with

people the smart way to manage their money for the future. I deliberate on the future because unexpected events can influence our financial decision that often resorts to feeling financially constrained or stressed and unhappy with our lives.

I have a few perspectives about money that I wish to share with readers.

One view is that my money has to work for me.

Secondly, to pay less taxes as possible using government instituted tax savings vehicles RRSP. Thirdly, owe no one, pay no interest. Finally, cash and carry: I buy only when I have saved for it.

I want anyone reading this to know that, I did not just chance upon these perspectives. I had to assess myself. I deliberated on what I wanted out of live and at what point I wanted to exit the workforce. After analyzing myself and reading a host of personal finance books, I evolved into this new woman.

I only buy when I have the money. I live below my means and not above my means. Many financial advisors on the other hand say you should live within your means. I live like I am poor. I take the bus everywhere I go. I hitch rides if and when I can and if not I walk. At least that is exercise.

Some people are brand name consumers, thinking that those name brands awards them social status or class. These individuals are sadly mistaken.

Having name brands consumer products with no

savings is stupidity at its best or more or less ignorance. So for those in low income generating jobs, or social assistance trying to live like they have it all, they better smarten up. If you do not earn enough income, don’t try to live like the rich or high income earners. All you do is rack up debts.

Frankly speaking, I hardly recognize name brands.

Whatever, I buy has to fit within my budget and my plans. Secondly, I buy if and when I feel it’s a deal and those are for the small items purchase(s). For the larger purchases, I save for, so whether there is a sale or it’s regularly priced, my credit card or line of credit is not participating. Such monies come from my Susu account, referred to in this article as forced savings/ rotating savings/partner. I will be using these terms interchangeably in this article. The concept however, remains the same.

Forced savings/Susu/ Partner/or rotated savings schemes have been in West Africa and the Caribbean for centuries.

Forced savings is also known as Susu amongst most West Africans.

Caribeans refer to this concept of forced savings as Partner. I am part of a partner group at my work place, and it works well towards achieving my financial goals.

In forced savings or Susu, groups of well-meaning individuals/friends pool resources together for a period. For instance, each member of the group maybe requested to contribute 200 monthly. For a group of ten people collecting every week, this

will mean that each member is entitled to collect two thousand dollars every month until the savings has been rotated to the last person in the group. The flexibility in this savings scheme is that you can change when you want to get your money with other individuals. Remember, it is like a loan free from interest. Use it and contribute back into the pool.

There are NO INTERESTS I am not a mathematician or an economist, but I know money. Susu or rotating savings work in very simple ways. For instance two friends, Abena and Maya decide that they want to form a Susu group. The two ladies decide that the Susu will run throughout the whole year. Each member will

contribute $400 a month.

Therefore in one month between the two friends, they contribute $800. $800X12 months = $9600.

At the end of the year they divide the money = $4800 each. I hope people get the principle in this type of savings.

In participating in this type of savings, you do not have to deal with a bank.

Secondly, I find it particularly useful for big ticket item purchase(s) that you do not have the money readily available, or when you do not want to rack up further interest on your credit card. Once you have budgeted for all expenses and are able to set the hundred or so aside, when you become the first to receive the money, it’s like a free loan with no interest. You continue to

pay your hundred till the last person has been paid.

Depending on the susu/ partner you join, some set up a standard hand amount weekly, biweekly or monthly. For instance, if one hand is $100, you can decide to go two hands or three.

Since this type of susu/ partner or forced savings is not a main stream concept, if you are interested, you can start one yourself and tailor it to your group (you don’t have to have ten people to start Susu or partner).

Secondly, you can ask friends and family if they know any people engaged in Susu that you may join.

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The Ghanaian News

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48

The Ghanaian News March 2012

About 30 Ghanaian-Canadian Teachers Meet to Organize Themselves in Toronto

From Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Toronto

Group picture of teachers

Educators of Ghanaian background resident in Southern Ontario of Canada met in Toronto on March 10, 2012 to form an association to help the Ghanaian community in that part of the world. The meeting was called on the initiative of Ekwam Bilson.

The main speaker for the function was Professor Joe Mensah of York University in Toronto.

He used the occasion to congratulate the teachers for coming together to build themselves up in order to be in a better position to help the Ghanaian community in Ontario, Canada.

Prof. Mensah discussed issues that the group should be concerned with working in the Schools. They included the issue of race, heavy workload, as well as divide and rule tactics, which segregates and creates conflict between the few black.

He admonished Ghanaian teachers not to identify entirely by just the black community but also to create synergy with other communities, and to learn as much regarding how promotion is ascertained.

“Devote time to your own professional development to enhance your qualifications, and be careful about your behavior as always you are being looked upon looked up as mentors and leaders in the community”, he advised the educators.

On issues with the Community, he called on teachers not to overwork themselves with activities like late night funerals but rather extend counseling to parents on how to help their children with school fees, what courses their children are studying, or even be punctual at classes!

“Do not spread yourself too thin! Know your niche, make judgment call in managing time to be successful avoid unnecessary competition with others,” he concluded.

A moment of silence was held for a lost ECE worker during the floor discussions.

Plans are afoot for the next meeting and official launching of the Ghanaian-Canadian Teachers Association of Ontario soon. To God be the glory!

Check Us online @ www.ghanaiannews.ca

416-916-3700

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

49

50

The Ghanaian News March 2012

Dr. Kwabena osei Bonsu delivers the Independence Keynote Speech

Stephanie Arthur, right, born on March 6, helps to cut the Independence Birthday Cake

Winnipeg Ghanaian Community Women exhibiting their traditional dance move

Uncle Smithy and Patience Asante

A section of the independence revellers enjoy a light moment.jpg

Independence Party Revellers hit the dance floor

The Ghanaian News

Tribute to Nana Wiafe Akenteng former Asantefuohene of Toronto

May he rest in peace

March 2012

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Church of Pentecost Edmonton

Rev. Acheampong

Rev. Nicholas Ameyaw

Church Elders

Nii Okine dancing to the glory of God

Praise and worship

Congregation

Praise and worship

Praise and worship

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

53

Church of Pentecost Vancouver

Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Agyei Gyamera and Emmanuel Ayiku

Rev. Dr. Alex Agyei Gyamera Rev. Dr. & Mrs Agyei Gyamera (sitting right) and elders

Congregation

Congregation

Congregation

Congregation

Congregation

Community in Pictures Vancouver

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Paediatric Clinic Opens at Brookview Middle School From Joe Kingsley Eyiah, Jane/Finch-Toronto

Principal Karl Subban with the Director, Superintendent, Trustee, and other dignitaries at the cutting of cake to open the clinic

Brookview Middle School in the Jane/ Finch area of Toronto now has a Paediatric Health Centre that operates

two half days per week by appointment only. It is staffed with nurse practitioners and doctors from Black Creek Community Health Centre.

Dr Chris Spence, Director of TDSB (extreme left) drumming with students of the R.I.S.E program at Brookview to herald the opening of the clinic.

The Clinic which provides access to health care for students and their siblings (up to the age of 14years) was officially opened on March 22, 2012 among

drumming and speeches with the Director of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Dr. Chris Spence (himself a former teacher of Brookview) in attendance!

Dr. Spence, in his brief address to the gathering stressed the School Board’s commitment to bringing “care to students in the place they frequent and trust – their local school.”

“Clinics such as Brookview are giving students the support they need to be healthy, happy and successful, both in school and in life,” Dr. Spence opined.

The paediatrician in charge of the clinic, Dr. Malini Davi said that the clinic would also offer immunization and subsequent workshops for families on biabetes as well as childhood obesity which are common in the neighbourhood nowadays.

Ghanaian News is Now Online www. ghanaiannews.ca

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

55

CLASSIFIED ClassicVideos/Photos * Weddings *Birthdays *Christenings *Portraits Albert Aikins

Tel: 416-244-3465 Cell: 416-278-9674 15 LexingtonAve, Unit 4, Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 2G4

Master Jay Soundz (The Computer Man) We Do Best, But Charge Low "Wompe oyi na wope den" Call for all Your D.J. Services

Tel: 905-497-7418 Cell: 416-939-1515

Nana Ebrey Video Production & Barber Shop Super Quality Videos Specializing in: video coverage: Weddings, Outdooring, General Events, Birthday parties, Broadcasting Videos,

Nana's Barber Shop

Nyarkoh Plumbing For All Your Plumbing Needs Call Robert Nyarkoh

416-731-1679

New Home & Renovation All Repairs * Plugged Toilet * Plugged Drains

Comfort Transport Inc. AZ Truck Driver Wanted Qualification: - 2 Years experience of Highway Driving - Clean abstract/Cvor - Criminal record check Call Mike - Pay by miles 905 - Direct deposit by weekly 783-0748

Email: zmwanlan@yahoo.com

Immigration Sponsorship Pardon * Waiver Divorce Name Change Start with

Learn & Earn Get Diploma In

PSW / MOA Accounting & Payroll

$300 + Court Fees

Lawyer Assisted

416-973-7433

$1500

+ Tax

ABM College (415)913-4700 705 Lawrence Ave. W.

One Love Entertainment Brings Your The Best Music In the 21st Century

DJ Services At: * Weddings * Engagements * Outdoorings * Funerals * Birthdays .. etc.

Prince Adom 416-665-8772 / 647-261-7813 princadom@yahoo.com

Action Navigator Video Certified Electrician * Light fixtures * Switches Productions * Plugs * Panel Box * Upgrade SPECIAL EVENT VIDEO COVERAGE FOR ALL OCCASIONS QUALITY D.V VIDEO COVERAGE BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, OUTDOORINGS, ANNIVERSARIES PARTIES ETC.

ONE STEP AHEAD IN QUALITY TWO STEPS BEHIND IN PRICE

* Pot Lights etc.

Call Simon Ahenkora Adarkwa Electrician

647-834-2499

saaa@live.ca

Super Hair Cuts & Designs Call Nana Ebrey

CALL : ACTION NAVIGATOR

416-244-2838 416-825-3413

(JOE) 416-616-6070

21 Pioneer Ave., North York

3 Knightbridge, Brampton, Ont., L6T 3X3

Specializing In Shipping to Africa-Ghana Call Toney (Lingam) 416-833-2245 011-233-244-364954 Email: sanlinkam@yahoo.com 733 Fenmar Drive, Toronto, ON.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Gloryland Shipping Enterprise Inc. Seko Shipping & Freight Forwarding Inc. Commercial & Personal

Express Shipping Service to GHANA * Honest & Dependable * Low Rates * Customes Clearances *Pick-up & Delivery * Clear customs! Guaranteed delivery!

We do all the work for you!

For Easy, Reliable FAST Service Call Atuahene Tel: 416-398-0881 Fax: 416-398-0887 Cell: 416-725-3971

Bailing Of Used Clothes * Wholesale Food Distribution * Yam * Gari * Rice * Accra Kenkey * Canned Food * Dry Fish * Koobi and Many More We ship Cars, Trucks, Electrical Appliances, Computers, Clothing, Barrels, Personal Effects and many more Call Nana Djan

Tel: 647-895-1315, 416-913-1986, E-mail: anacas2008@hotmail.com

52 Carrier Drive, #8 (Hwy 27 & Carrier)

4480 Chesswood Drive, #7, Toronto, Ont., M3J 2B9

Hi-Tech Shipping

BLA CK ST AR F AST BLACK STAR FAST SHIPPING INC INC..

Freight Forwarders & Consolidators

Freight Forwarding

69 Millwick Drive, Unit 2, Toronto, Ont. M9L 1Y5 We ship to all African Countries. We are the cheapest, Fastest and most reliable agents in town.

We have been in successful business for twenty years.

We also have certified containers for sale: 40' H.C. from $2600 * 20' Container from $2000.00

Call Kobby or Nana Ababio

Tel: 416-744-2300 / 416-640-2310

Tawiah

The Most Reliable Way to Ship Overseas!

Fast, Reasonable and VERY Great Competitive Rates!

We Ship Trucks to Cars, Personal Items, Building materials, Used Clothes and Electronics. Also Deep Freezers and other.

Linda

Tel: 647-231-4504 or 416-988-1842

415 Oakdale Road., #385, Toronto, Ontario

Shipping To Ghana Abidjan & Cotonou & West Africa Cars, Furniture, Containers, Commercial Cargo Call Santino

Tel: 905-676-1233

Fax: 905-676-8800

Email: santino@atlanticandpacific.com 1750 Courtneypark Drive Unit #5, Mississauga, Ont, Canada L5T 1W1

Prestige International Import & Export *

GR OCER Y * AIRLINE TICKET GROCER OCERY * SHIPPING AGENCY * * * *

Shipping Overseas: Ghana, Nigeria, U.S.A., Jamaica Shipping Internal: Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, etc Grocery Money Transfer: Nigeria & Ghana

Tel: 905-459-2828 647-887-5536 (CBA) Located at: 190

Bovaird, Unit 34/35

Main Intersection Hwy 10/Bovaird on West of Bovaird & Gillingham

Tel: 416-213-0660 Fax: 416-213-0385 Cell: 416-831-9478 397 Humberline Dr., Unit 4, Toronto, Ont., M9W 5T5

The Ghanaian News

Ghanaian News online www.ghanaiannews.ca

March 2012

57

CARGO - LINK INTERNATIONAL (Freight Forwarders & Consolidators) Competent Commitment & Excellence

MOVE TO NEW LOCATION

Micangel Global Inc. Shipping and Freight Forwarding SEA * AIR * LAND Fast Easy and Reliable Service To All African Countries and Other Worldwide Ports CUSTOM CLEARANCE, PICK-UP, DELIVERY

For your Reliable Export Services - Shipping Services to Ghana, Nigeria, Clearing & Delivery Services in Ghana * You don't need to go to the Port * You don't need to see any Agent * Just see a CARGO-LINK Representative in Accra & Kumasi for your Safe & Affordable Shipment * We also do door to door in Accra & Kumasi at very low transportation cost (EXTRA) * We give Bill of Lading too to those who want to clear their own goods Contact: Regina or B'B Manu

Tel: 416-736-1905 416-822-9462 Fax: 416-736-9973 1111 Finch Ave. W., Unit 31, North York

Caleb Shipping Inc (CSI) International Freight Forwarders & Consolidators At CSI, we display excellence. We appreciate customers' shipping problems. Our goal is to ensure customers satisfaction Shipment to African ports and other worldwide destinations, CSI is your container experts.

Our rates are very competitive For unique services, call Captain Asare for quotation and any shipping related enquires

Tel: 416-614-1500 / 416-457-1174 4284 Weston Road @ Steeles

www.220v.com We Carry Brand Name 220/50Hz Export Model

USED GENERATOR SALE Household Products Kitchen Appliances Generator

Unlocked GSM Cellphones Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Siemens

Plasma TVs

Used Generator Sale Tel: 416-646-0495

Gas & Electric Stoves

FREEZERS, REFRIGERATORS, WASHERS, DRYERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, VACUUM CLEANERS, TRANSFORMERS Digital tape conversion, fast professional same day service

Freezers

NEW ADDRESS 5707 Steeles Ave. West,Toronto, Ont. M9L 1S7 South East Corner of Steeles and Fenmar / Pine Valley

Tel: 905-461-0083 Fax: 905-461-0084 E-mail: caleb@csi.bidcon.net 2585 Drew Rd, Unit 5, Mississauga, Ont, L4T 1G1

We bale Used Clothing

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

PLACES OF WORSHIP DIRECTORY The Apostolic Church Int'l.

Ghana Methodist Churches in Canada ( SOCIETIES UNDER THE GHANA METHODIST CONFERENCE)

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

Meeting Schedule

The Superintendent Minister-In-Charge

invites you to worship with us

Apostle F.Y. Agyemang (Area Supt. Canada-Wide)

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 Elder Eric Frimpong - 514-748-1545 Church 514-279-6565

845 Jean Talon West, Montreal, Quebec, H3N 1S5

HOLY ALPHA & OMEGA CHURCH

Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi

Toronto Society

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

Day and Time of Worship: Sunday: Bible Class Meeting: 9:00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

Church Service: 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Jericho Hour Prayer Meeting - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Friday: Bible Teaching/Prayer Meeting 8:00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.

Saturday Organizational Meeting: 6.30p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Contact: Tel: (416) 743-4555 (Church) 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 Anna Phillips (Church Secretary) 514-421-4152 SERVICES ARE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE TRADITIONAL GHANA METHODIST LITURGY. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US. WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU

Redemption Faith Church Invites you to worship with us at 1485 ALBION ROAD (Albion/Kipling)

We invite you to worship with us Church Service: Sunday Worship: 10.00a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Studies: 6.00p.m. - 7.30 p.m.

Friday Prayer Meeting: 7.00p.m. - 9.00 p.m.

JESUS Loves You

Tel:

Tel: 416-638-5990 / 416-419-6671

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

Tel: 416-242-7950 Fax: 416-242-8573 Church Activities

Pastor in Charge Rev. Milton Offei

Sunday School: Church Service: Sunday Evening: Wednesday Bible Studies: Friday Prayer Meeting:

10a.m. -11:00a.m.

11a.m. - 1:30p.m.

7p.m. - 8:30p.m.

7p.m. - 8:30p.m.

7p.m. - 9:00p.m.

Fax:

905-495-1937

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

Prophet John Mensah

869 Wilson Avenue, North York, Ont.

905-495-1936

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 Studies, Intercession & Deliverance

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

(Kipling/Rexdale)

The Ghanaian News

March 2012

59

FOOD FOR LIFE Bringing the Gospel to our Community By: Rev. Joseph Osei-Amoah IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE MESSIAH MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? The moment Adam and Eve, disobeyed God’s command in Genesis 3:6-10, the Lord acted immediately to set His redemptive plan for the fallen humanity rolling. He blocked any alliance between the serpent (Satan) and the woman he deceived; between any representative of Satan and the Seed of the woman. (Genesis 3:15) Of course that tragic event did not take God by surprise. He had created man with freedom of choice and was aware that man would fail the test, therefore made provision for man’s redemption through the future sacrificial death of the Seed of the woman (the Son of God who would take the form of a human being through the virgin birth— Isaiah 7:14; Luke1:26-38).

The people of Israel were looking forward to the coming of the promised Deliverer and their prophets had several titles referring to The Messiah (Daniel 9:25, 26) which means, “The Anointed One” (Psalm 132:10, 17). These and other titles described the role the Messiah would play and the office He would fill such as: “The Prophet” (Deuteronomy 15:18). In John 1:19-28 the Jews sent to ask John, the baptizer, if

he was the Prophet Moses mentioned and he replied he was not, but was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, (the Christ, the same One of whom Moses spoke) who was already among them.

The moment John met the Lord Jesus, he introduced Him to the people referring to Him as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and also added that he was the Son of God (John 1:29-34). Isaiah had several titles for the Messiah such as, “My Elect One” (Isaiah 42:1); My Servant (Isaiah 52:13). In Isaiah 53, the prophet saw the Messiah being offered as the sacrificial Lamb of God for the atonement of the sins of world. What the old Testament prophets said about the Messiah were so numerous and detailed that, had they not been inspired by the Spirit of God, their chances of been fulfilled would have been nil. Isaiah described in detail how the Messiah would suffer, “His face was marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52: 14). He also saw how the sinless Son of God was associated with criminals during His execution (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:13, 14, 33); on the other hand, He was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9).

This prophecy was fulfilled when Joseph of Arimathea, a rich secret disciple, buried Jesus’ body in his own newly prepared tomb (Luke 23:50-56). King David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit vividly described the Messiah’s execution by crucifixion in Psalm 22:12-18, a practice that was unknown to the Jews at the time of King David and mentioned how the soldiers cast lot for his clothing. More than one thousand years came between the prophecy and its fulfillment at Calvary (John 19:23-24).

Jesus’ claim to divinity was supported by Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 which ascribed divine names to the child, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His

Bawumia Is Running Mate of Akufo-Addo In Election 2012 cont'd from pg. 38

Amoah, Bank of Ghana Working Paper, February, 2004.

“A simple Vector Error correction Forecasting Model for Ghana”, with Joseph AttaMensah, Bank of Ghana Working Paper August 2003.

‘Monetary Growth, Inflation and Exchange Rate Policy in Ghana’ Research Department, Bank of Ghana, Journal of the West African Monetary Institute, 2003.

“The Transmission mechanism for Monetary Policy in Ghana” with Philip AbraduOtoo, Bank of Ghana Policy Paper, August, 2003.

“The Determinants of Exchange Rates in Ghana”, with Zakari Mumuni. Bank of Ghana Working Paper. March, 2003.

“The Feasibility of Monetary Union in West Africa”.

Mimeo. Economic Commission for Africa. November 2002. “Comparative Institutional Features of Different Common Central Banks” West African Monetary Institute.

Mimeo. February, 2002.

“Designing an Exhange Rate Mechanism for the West African Monetary Zone”. West African Monetary Institute.

Mimeo. February, 2002.

“Explaining African Economic Growth Performance: The case of Ghana” with Ernest Aryeetey and A. Fosu.

Paper prepared for the African Economic Research Consortium. April 2001.

‘Why the Apparent Rush to Market Reform’? Journal of Economics, 1999.

‘The Sequencing of Fiscal Reform during Structural Adjustment. Lessons from Ghana, Uganda, and Zimbabwe’.

Comparative Economic Studies, Vol. XXXVIII No.2/3 Summer-Fall 1996 “A Closer Look at the Distributional Impact of Ghana’s Structural Adjustment Programme (1983-1992).

Journal of Modern African Studies. Vol. 36. No.1 March 1998.

“Estimating the Aggregate Values of Human Capital in Sub-Saharan Africa”, coauthored with Samuel A. Laryea. Review of Human Factor Studies. Vol. III No. 1.

June 1997.

“Ecosystem justice and the marketplace”, 2000,p. 140 – 153 in Coward, H., Ommer, R., and Pitcher, T. J. (eds.), with Sumaila, U. R.. Fish ethics:Justice in the Canadian

Fisheries. Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

‘Africa, the Challenge of Development’. Book Chapter in Stephen. Gardner’s Comparative Economic Systems, Dryden, 1999.

“The Human Factor in Japanese Economic Development.”

Senyo B.S.K. Adjibolosoo (eds). International Studies of The Human Factor in Economic Development. Praegar, AWARDS 2011 African Leadership Award, African Leadership Magazine. For Contribution to Economic Policy Reform in Africa. 2007 Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (FCIB) 1999 Young Researcher Award: Baylor University, Texas, USA. 2007 Fellow of the Chartered Instiitute of Bankers, Ghana (FCIB) 1999 Young Researcher Award - Baylor University, Texas, USA 1986 Sir Alan Peacock Prize.

Best Economics Student, Department of Economics, University of Buckingham, UK.

name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Answering the Lord question about His identity, Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) The Lord remarked that no human being revealed that truth to him but “My Father who is in heaven.”

(Matthew 16:17) The Jews understood the title, “Son of God”, to be a divine title that was why they attempted to stone the Lord when He claimed to be united with His Father (John 10:30-33). The apostle John called the Lord Jesus, “the Word”, who was in the beginning with God and was God, and that all things were created by Him and was the source of all life.

(John 1:1-4). John continued that the divine “Word” became flesh and lived among us, as ”The only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth” and that He came to reveal the invisible God to humanity (John 1:14, 18). Among the numerous miracles the Lord Jesus performed proving His divinity lack of space will allow me to mention a few such as walking on water (Matthew 14:25-32); and raised Lazarus who had died and was buried for four days to life (John 11:40-44).

When the devil offered the Lord all the kingdoms of the world if the Lord would worship him, the Lord told him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Deuteronomy 10:20; Luke 4:8) Angels would not accept worship which is reserved for God only (Revelation 19:10; 22:89), however, the Lord Jesus being the divine Son of God on several occasions accepted worship (Psalm 2:11, 12; Matthew 8:2; 14:33; 15:25; and 28:9). The Scriptures states that human beings were made “ a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:3-5), and to avoid any doubt in the mind of any angel, the Father gave this instructions to the angels in Hebrews 1:6, “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.” The Father Himself addressing the Son said, “But to the Son He says: Your throne.

O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8).

We should always be reminded of the total work of grace of God through the sacrificial death of the Son of God, “who being in the form of God, did

not consider it robbery to be equal with God , but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

(Philippians 1:6-11) The Savior today, will someday become the Judge of the whole world, “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22) “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Heb 2:3) If you have not made your peace with the Lord, now is the time of salvation!

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

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.

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

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.

Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l 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

End-Time Harvest Ministry 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)

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 Tel: 416-614-6110

Email: gcmethodist@hotmail.com

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

It’s A Great Commission!

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March 2012

61

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

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

RESURRECTION POWER EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES INT'L Invites all OLD and NEW members to come and fellowship with us and experience GOD'S RESSURECTION POWER through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.

THE APOSTLES' CONTINUATION CHURCH INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)

We fellowship on: Rev. Akwasi Kyeremateng

Sun. 10:30am - 1pm Wed. 7:00pm - 9pm Fri. 7:00pm - 9pm

North American Headquarters: 10 Belfield Road Toronto, Ont., M9W 1G1 Tel: 416-247-6629 Fax: 416-247-5308

Worship Prayer Meeting House of Prayer

Venue: 445 Eddystone Avenue, 2nd Floor For further information please call Tel: 647-351-8155 Cell: 647-700-5062 Secretary: 647-704-4904 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. (Col.1:28)

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

Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu

Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org

SERVICE TIMES: Worship Service - Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Bible Studies - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

All Night Service - Friday 9:30 p.m.

Deliverance - Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Worship With Us At These Branches In Canada

Toronto 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) 416-745-7065 (Church)

Cell: 647-403-2796

Peace Light Ministries

Scarborough Assembly 1632 Midland Ave., M1P 1C2 Tel: 416-288-1333 Pastor In-Charge: Pastor Patrick Antwi Contact: 647-402-4708

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

Praise Temple of Christ International

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

Snr. Pastor: Apostle Osei-Bonsu

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

336 Gary Ray Drive @ Signet

TIME OF WORSHIP

Rev. Augustine Adu-Anane

10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629

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

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

Worship Schdule 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 - 647-330-3346 (cell) or 905-216-5733 (Res) Emmanuel - 647-701-1912 (cell)

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Let's Think Family - By Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo How to face your challenges and win the victory The word “challenge” has become one of the most important words in the 21st century.

No matter who or where you are in this world, and despite any experience that you specially possess or great methods you employ for any activities, you cannot escape challenges that will confront you in one way or another as you go through life. This particularly applies to any relationship, marriage, family life, education, career development, work, or project that you will pursue or become involved in.

I wish to list 13 principles that I believe anyone who faces any challenges, should be able to overcome the hurdles, if these principles are carefully followed through. These principles are: 1) Recognize what challenges you are facing, and specific kinds that are confronting you.

2) Distinguish which ones are real and which ones are imaginations or mere intimidations from exaggerations.

3) Understand what the challenges are, the dangers they pose, benefits they will finally bring, and what is really at stake.

4) Be sure of your original vision, goals, and objectives.

5) Make an evaluation or appraisal of your challenges by carefully examining the facts surrounding the challenges, in order to categorize them. Find

out which challenges: a) were the results of your mistakes or carelessness. b) were created by an old or new habit (uncivilized or arrogant and stubborn behavior, lies, gossip, slander, profanity, insulting and abusive tongue, pornography, immorality or sex addiction, alcoholism, drugs or other forms of addiction etc. c) were created by an incident or condition (a quarrel, unresolved conflict, physical or verbal abuse, hurtful word or statement, tragedy, temporary or long period of separation, financial constraints, sickness or disease, denial of sexual activity, un-romantic attitude etc.). d) emerged out of your ignorance (lack of any real or adequate knowledge before plunging into the relationship or investment etc.). e) resulted from your neglect or delinquency (ignoring warning signs, (refusing to listen to good advice, pride, stubbornness, procrastination, laziness,

overconfidence etc.). f) are from attacks by outside forces opposing you (e.g. people’s envy or jealousy, witchcraft from people, occult curses from others, satanic forces of darkness attacking and fighting against your blessings). g) are from attacks by inside forces you are carrying along or cooperating with (e.g. fundamental evil motives for the relationship, constant selfish desire to get the best only for yourself, spirit of callousness, unkind or wicked and cruel spirit, witchcraft or occultism, carnal spirits in your life or the life of your partner).

6) Pray about the challenges.

Confess to the Lord and ask for his forgiveness where you contributed to the problem, as well as forgiveness for your partner. Ask God for His wisdom, power, and patience to consistently deal with them by faith.

7) Get yourself cleansed, energized, and instructed by personal Bible studies, meditation, and obedience to God’s word.

8) Seek for counseling and good advice from godly and trusted sources.

9) Learn to use appropriate scriptures to fight undesirable thoughts, attitudes, and feelings (of fear, discouragement, anxiety, worry, impulsiveness, impatience, greed, envy, doubts,

unbelief, lust, vengeance, temptations to quit etc.).

10) If you are in a relationship or marriage, go through all these step first. After that patiently and lovingly involve your partner in the processes, ensuring that there is no blame game which will generate more conflict and hinder communication and answers to your prayer. If your ego and pride, or timidity and immaturity rear their ugly heads in the process, communication and mutual prayer will break down completely, and no problems or challenges will be solved at all, or more challenges will rather erupt and tear both of you apart.

11) Determine to consistently handle things very well and very carefully with courage and utmost caution, and persevere patiently to overcome your personal challenges or challenges with your mate.

12) In any marriage or malefemale relationship, the man or husband is required to be the brave leader in facing challenges, and leading the fiancée or wife and children through tough times to the destination of victory and great lessons.

13) Allow God to use your challenges to chasten, guide, teach, instruct, toughen, and build greater faith and more godly character in you.

I encourage you to convert the

lemons of your challenges into lemonade! You may not be able to control the winds and the storms, but you can adjust your sails for the winds to move your ship in the right direction on the rough waters of life, until you conquer your challenges.

Believe that there is bright sunshine behind all the dark clouds that you see now. Let your problems and challenges become opportunities and important schools of discipleship for great lessons. See the horizon not as an intimidation but as an invitation to explore new territories. I pray that as you continue to navigate your way through the year 2012 and the times ahead, the Lord will enable you to know, understand, and effectively deal with the genuine challenges of this 21st century that you are facing, in the midst of a tangled maze of rapidly changing moments of unpredictable proportions, economic chaos, contorted varieties of social lifestyles, multiplicity of confusing forms of spirituality, proliferation of immorality in amazing dimensions, and signs that clearly point to the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His saints. May God give you the grace to courageously, wisely, decisively, diligently, precisely, and effectively handle your challenges successfully, in order to pass on a great legacy to

generations after you. Please take time to digest these rich principles, improve upon the concepts and principles, discuss the truths with your family members and friends, and pass on the valuable information to others. God richly bless you!

Obtain more information from Dr. Kisseadoo’s book” Challenges of modernmenAndWomenInRelationships”, plus other books online from: RedLeadBooks.comorAmazon.comby searching with his name. Tune in to JOY99.7FMinAccra,GhanaonSaturdays at 5:30 am – 6:00 am (Ghana Time)orUSEasternST12:30am–1:00 am November to March, and listen to Dr.Kisseadoo’sbroadcast “HopeFor Your Family”.Access on the Internet using MYJOYONLINE.COM, and click on “Live Radio”. Contact him in theUSA(1-757-7289330)forcopiesof his books, free counseling and prayer.

Visit his website: www.fruitfulministriesint.com for essentials that will enrich your life, relationships,andministry. UseDrSamuel Kisseadoo to access his Wall on Facebook. CopyrightApril.2012 Rev. Dr.SamuelA.Kisseadoo(Professorof Biology, USA. International Evangelist. Ordained & Licensed Minister.

Teacher, Conference Speaker).

Founder and President, Fruitful Ministries International Inc. (Evangelistic & Teaching Ministry). 6 Red Robin Turn,Hampton, Virginia23669, USA. Tel.1- 757-7289330 E-mail: kisseadoo@msn.com

GHANAIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MONTREAL INVITES YOU TO WORSHIP WITH US REV. SOWAH ABLORH - MINISTER-IN-CHARGE

SUNDAY WORSHIP 10.00AM - 1.00PM WEDNESDAY SERVICE 7.00PM - 9.00PM FRIDAY PRAYER MEETING 7.00PM - 9.00PM

OFFICE: 514-278-8109 RESIDENCE: 514-683-8444 Eugene Kotey, Clerk of Session - 905-502-7875, Jennifer Agbanti, Treasurer - 905-908-2152

1345 LAPOINTE (CORNER OF OBRIEN)

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March 2012

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Ghanaian Congregation

Check Us online @ www. ghanaiannews.ca The Christ Healing Church 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"

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

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

Pastor Sam Addai

Tuesday: Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. at the church Friday: Youth Ministry, 7:30 p.m. at the church 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

St. John's Anglican Church VENUE:

2125 WESTON RD., WESTON ONT. Priest-in-charge: Rev. Fr. Gabriel Opoku Ware

416-901-3932 Cell: 647-624-4044 Sunday: Bible Study - 2p.m.- 3p.m.

Divine Service: 3p.m. - 5p.m.

Wed.: Prayer Meeting: 7p.m. - 8p.m.

Friday: Encounter with the Lord: 8p.m. - 9:30p.m.

Bro. S.H. Morris (People's Warden) Sis. Monica Akrofi (Priest Warden) Sis. Beatrice Asare (Secretary)

-

905-792-9761 416-748-8246 416-745-8148

POWER OF THE CROSS MINISTRIES Saturday: Sabbath Worship 11:00 am Sunday: Celebration

11:00 am

Wednesday: Ask the Pastor 7:00 pm Friday: Healing and Deliverance 7:00 pm

Apostle Samuel Ansah Servant of God

ALL ARE INVITED 224 Garrison Road, Unit 10, Fort Erie, Ont.

905-994-8500 Email: info@powerofthecrossministries.com www.powerofthecrossministries.com

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.

Gospel Action Ministry Location: 135 Oakdale Rd. (Back door) Senior Pastor: Rev. Peter Awuah

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

Service Schedule

Rev. Peter Awuah

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

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The Ghanaian News March 2012

Around the Ghana Sports Scene with Jonathan Annobil Africa to become global pole for economy growth Ghana signs MoU with Chinese Government for Cape Coast Stadium

African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Development have resolved to seize opportunities in the global economy to turn the continent into a pole for global growth, underlying their determination to find home-grown solutions for development challenges.

A statement issued by the Economic Commission of Africa in Addis Ababa copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, said 50 Ministers from 37 countries adopted series of measures that their countries would need to implement to achieve that goal.

This was at the closing session of the Fifth Joint Annual Meetings of AU Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in Addis Ababa.

The statement said the Ministers recognised, “The opportunities, potentialities and challenges for the continent to become a pole of global growth” and committed to promote and implement “holistic,

coordinated and integrated policy approaches and mixes to help unleash balanced and sustainable growth and the development potential of our countries at the local, national and regional levels.”

Although the region’s progress could either be hampered or fostered by external factors such as the escalation of the recent euro zone sovereign debt crisis and the continuation of the global financial and economic crisis, the statement focused mostly on what could, and should be done by Africans themselves.

In that respect, it engaged countries to strengthen individual and collective leadership and capacities to grasp evolving local and global opportunities in order to speed up the attainment of development and transformation in Africa.

The statement took note of on-going regional integration programmes across Africa and urged the promotion of mutually beneficial intra-African and South-South cooperation, including facilitating efforts towards mainstreaming the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-

African Trade.

It said there was the need to support measures to strengthen participation by young people and women in wage employment and widening their access and opportunities in the labour market, accelerating measures designed to radically curb child and maternal mortality in Africa.

Focusing on the need for implementation which had often been a challenge to many African countries, the Ministers undertook to accelerate the scale up and implementation of different existing regional and global commitments and initiatives that were compatible with the vision of a “Transformed continent that is able to serve as a pillar of global growth,” the statement said.

It insisted on the implementation of the Road Map and Architecture for fast-tracking the Continental Free Trade Area, as well as various ancillary initiatives, such as the Minimum Integration Programme and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.**

Ghana, Nigeria cruise into U 17 World Cup Ghana and Nigeria will represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan later this year, marking the third successive time each side have progressed through to the tournament.

Ghana beat South Africa 5-1 to pick up the first qualifying ticket to Azerbaijan 2012 on Friday. Black Maidens and Bantwanas played out a goalless draw in Daveyton two weeks ago.

However, Alberta Yao’s hat-trick and a brace in the second half from captain Priscilla Okyere were enough to undo the Mosili Makhoali’s opener.

Then, all eyes toward Nigeria as they booked their place at the global showpiece against Zambia. The Flamingoes

hammered Zambia 5-0 in the second leg of their final round, after claiming a hard-fought 2-1 two weeks ago in Lusaka.

Patience Okaeme and Halimat Ayinde, who both scored in the first leg, again found the target in the first half of the second leg. Chidinma Edeji then hit a brace, while Mabel Effiom Michael completed the rout.

“The scoreline is okay and that showed the better of both sides.

We’re going to the [FIFA Women’s] World Cup to do Nigeria and Africa proud,” said Nigeria coach Peter Dedevbo.

The last qualifying slot from the continent will be decided after the tie between Tunisia and Gambia next weekend.

Gambia secured a slim 1-

0 advantage over Tunisia in the first leg.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chinese Government towards the construction of a stadium in Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital.

The 15,000 seating-capacity stadium is being funded by the Chinese Government as their contribution towards the development of sporting infrastructure in the country.

The signing of the MOU was heralded by series of meetings between the two parties after a team of Chinese designers visited the proposed site.

Clement Kofi Humado,

Minister of Youth and Sports said the stadium which would serve educational institutions and football clubs in the Central Region is in fulfillment of Government’s promise to construct a stadium in the former national capital.

He said the signing of the MoU signifies the intent of the two parties to collaborate effectively towards the construction of the stadium.

The Minister expressed Government’s gratitude to their Chinese counterparts for the stadium ‘gift’ to Ghanaians.

Gao Wenzhi, Economic & Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in

Ghana said the MOU is as a result of 20-days of works by designers and architects at the project site and with collaboration other stakeholders.

He announced that construction will commence in October after final study of the project details.

Wenzhi reiterated that the partnership between the two countries dates back to the 1950’s in all sectors of the economy.

The Chinese delegation also presented an artist impression of the stadium to the Minister, who later signed the MOU on behalf of Government.

Thirty called-up to Ghana U-20 camp Thirty players have been called-up to the national U-20 camp by coach OrlandoWellington.

The squad will be downsized to 23 ahead of their trip to South Africa for a friendly tournament in May. The 30-players were drawn from a nationwide scouting regime for the past two months.

The players are expected to converge at the Ghanaman Soccer School of Excellence in Prampram on April 2.

Below is the full list of players invited: Goalkeepers: Felix Annan

(Kotoko), Muntari Tagoe (Medeama), Michael Sai (Nania), Danso Wiredu (Unistar Academy).

Defenders: Baba Rahaman (Kotoko), Daniel Amartey (Inter Allies), Richmond Nketia (Mighty Jets), Larweh Asama (Tema Youth), Daniel Sowatey (Great Olympics), Emmanuel Obour (Unity FC), Tuffuor Frimpong (Liberty Professionals), Enock Kwakwa (Right to Dream), Inusah Musah (Mighty Jets), Lawrence Lartey (AshGold), Ahmed Adams (Berekum Chelsea) Midfielders: Prince

Baffoe (Kotoko), Tamimu Muntari (Mighty Jets), Appau Asiedu (Medeama), Anthony Tawiah (Medeama), Ibrahim Adam (Feyenoord), Moro Ibrahim (New Edubiase), Mumuni Abubakar (New Edubiase), Sarfo Gyamfi (WaAll Stars), Seidu Salifu (Wa All Stars), Isaac Sackey (Liberty Professionals), Nelson Ladzagbla (Juventus).

Strikers: Fatau Safiu (International Allies), Mohammed Nasiru (Rainbow FC), Benjamin Fadi (Heart of Lions), Bernard Arthur (Feyenoord).

GLO Premier League: Standings Head-to-head Rule Applies Premier League Kotoko AshGold Aduana Stars Hearts of Oak Berekum Chelsea Wa All Stars Edubiase FC Liberty Dwarfs Medeama SC Heart of Lions Tema Youth Mighty Jets Wassaman United Arsenals Bechem United

P 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21

W 13 10 8 8 8 9 10 8 7 9 6 5 4 4 4 2

D 6 5 9 9 8 5 2 6 7 1 9 7 9 6 6 11

L 2 6 4 4 5 7 9 7 7 11 6 9 8 11 11 8

GF 28 23 16 18 20 16 25 22 18 29 20 22 17 19 15 14

GA 9 25 9 13 13 12 26 18 17 26 18 27 22 30 28 29

GD 19 -2 7 5 9 4 -1 4 1 3 2 -5 -5 -11 -13 -15

PTS 45 35 33 33 32 32 32 30 28 28 27 22 21 18 18 17

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