The Ghanaian News
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Vol. 15 No. 11 November 2011
November 2011
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His Excellency President Ghana High Commissioner John Evans Atta Mills in Canada passes away visits Ottawa Staff Reporter, Ottawa
By Emmanuel Ayiku and Jonathan Annobil, Ottawa
Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Richard Turkson is dead. He was 68, He died Wednesday morning Nov. 23, 2011of unknown cause. Dr. Turkson had only days ago played host to President John Mills who paid a four day official visit to Canada. He left behind his wife Alice and 3 children.
President Atta Mills and Prime Minister Harper
The President of Ghana, His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills paid a 4day working visit to Ottawa, Canada from
Thursday 17th November to Sunday 20th November 2011. Part of President Mills’ visit was to drum up business investment for
By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto
Ghana by holding discussions with Canadian business people as well as commercial corporations.
Dr. Richard B. Turkson was from 1990 to 1993 Africa Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) whose headquarters is located in London, UK. In November 1993, he was reassigned to the newly-created post of IPPF
The Late Dr. Richard Benjamin Turkson
Cont'd on pg. 5
cont'd on pg. 5
Women's Courage Awards The 2011 Women’s Courage Awards was a resounding success. The evening involved celebrating the courage of women who have made a difference in various communities, professions, philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership. The award which focuses on women’s work also brings together family, friends and community for inspiration. Founded in 2005 by Anna Aidoo in honour of her Mom, it is run by Endless Possibilities and Hope Development Organization, a Canadian charitable organization whose mandate is to educate the public about abuse in various forms, self worthiness and self development. The evening started with a solo performance by Cheri with a Celine Deon classic “Because you loved me” and proceeded with dinner, awards, various forms of Group picture of the Award recipients
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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African Ministers call for increased transport infrastructure for economic development The Second Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Transport (CAMTII) was held 24 November 2011, in Luanda, Angola. Under the theme: consolidating the transport sector for the stimulation of Economic Integration in Africa”, the Ministers gathered to adopt the programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) transport component; and to review implementation of the various sub-sector plans of action, among other issues. CAMTII was organized by the Africa Union Commission (AUC) and hosted by the Government of Angola. It was attended by Ministers of AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), development partners, UN agencies, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and other organizations. The meeting considered the experts session report, 21-23 November 2011, which was mainly focused on Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and implementation of plans of action in the transport subsectors: such as; - Air transport- (African Civil Aviation Policy, aviation safety and security and environment protection); - Maritime transport (African Maritime Transport Charter, port management and development); - Land transport (development of transport corridors, facilitation of transit transport and improvement of road safety). “We are all aware of the overall state of transport infrastructure and services in Africa. In most of our countries, transport has become a constraint rather than a facilitator of economic development. The biggest challenge for the continent to be competitive and combat poverty more effectively is to reduce transport costs to the world average”, said Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim, Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, during the opening session of CAMTII. The Commissioner informed participants that AUC, in collaboration with development partners and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) is working to ensure implementation of outstanding regional and continental transport
programmes, which has already been formulated. She further went on “the African Union Commission and its partners have finalized the elaboration of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)”, which covers four areas: transport, energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and trans-boundary water. (the complete speech of the commissioner is available on www.au.int PIDA is an ambitious and achievable programme for the interconnection and upgrading of infrastructure networks, capable of contributing to the creation of the African Economic Community announced for 2028 by the Abuja treaty of 1991. The Minister of Transport in the Government of Angola, Dr. Augusto da Silva Tomas, addressed participants at CAMTII, highlighting economic integration as important milestone for the development of infrastructure in Africa. This great exponent of modern economic thinking defines “integration” as the “process of elimination of discrimination between different economic units belonging to different national states” - which facilitates and promotes territorial and economic cohesion among them, on the basis of cooperation, solidarity and mutual aid, and concurrently ensures sustainable social progress, he said. According to Mr. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, President of Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), “Between 2000 and 2010, the number of air carriers in Africa went from 325 to 431, a 33 percent increase, while the total number of aircraft increased by 49 percent, from 1282 to 1908”. Acknowledging the impressive progression on the continent, he however added “still, air transport in Africa holds tremendous potential for growth, with enormous benefits in terms of economic and social development”, he underscored. Mr. Gonzalez highlighted that as Africa moves towards liberalization, focusing on the improvement of the aviation industry, safety is a must. In this regard, “of the 121 accidents worldwide last year, 17 were in Africa, 3 of them being fatal accidents”, he recalled. The Conference of African Ministers of Transport was established as a statutory meeting of the African Union by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2008 with the adoption of its Rules of Procedure. African Press Organization
November 2011
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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
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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.
We mourn the sudden sad end of Ghana’s High Commissioner
Opinion/ Commentary Religious Tolerance in Ghana a Conduit for Harmonious Christian-Muslim Relations By Kwabena Akuoko
The Ghanaian community in Canada, the Ghanaian government and citizens at home and the diplomatic community in Canada were hit with the shocking news of the sudden death of Dr. Richard Turkson, Ghana’s High Commissioner in Canada. Dr. Turkson died from unknown cause only three days after hosting Ghana’s President John Evans Attah Mills who paid an official visit to Canada. The President left Canada on Sunday November 20, 2011 for the United States and Dr. Turkson was discovered dead by his wife on Wednesday morning November 23. He died exactly two years to the day he assumed office as Ghana’s representative in Canada, having presented his Letters of Credence to the Governor General on November 24, 2009. While the Ghanaian-Canadian community has been shocked about the sudden death of Dr. Turkson , the High Commissioner, it is regrettable that many of our community members did not know him. The late High Commissioner did not make himself fully available and known to the Ghanaian community during his two years of duty tour of Canada. Apart from one or two short trips to some community events in Toronto, the rest of the Ghanaian communities outside of Ottawa never got to meet him. In other words, Dr. Turkson did not really reach out to the larger Ghanaian-Canadian community Apart from their obvious diplomatic responsibility of promoting and strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and the countries of their postings, politically-appointed diplomats also have the responsibility of reaching out to their compatriots in the diaspora. The undeniable fact which has been underscored by many Presidents, past and present of Ghana and the late High Commissioner himself is that the governments of the day including the High Commissioners regard Ghanaian citizens in the diaspora as very important development partners. Many smart countries around the world make very conscious efforts to woo their citizens in the diapora to assist in the development efforts in the home country. The opposite, regrettably, has been the case of successive Ghanaian governments and their diplomatic representatives in the diaspora. It is all talk, talk and talk; pretensions and hypocrisy and no action. We wish to offer our very heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Dr. Richard Turkson, the government and people of Ghana on this loss. It is particularly painful and difficult for the family of the late High Commissioner considering the fact that it was exactly a year ago that a son of the late High Commissioner, in his early thirties, also died suddenly in Ottawa. We will, in conclusion, appeal to the government to consider seriously the idea of posting relatively younger persons to its top diplomatic positions abroad since the work is rigorous and demanding. We do not know whether that was a factor in the death of the High Commissioner but it would certainly have helped if he had spent the last few years of his life enjoying his retirement in the comfort of the warm weather in the land of our birth. May his soul rest in perfect peace!
Religious intolerance is an old age problem, which is even more prevalent in many contemporary societies. At this moment, somewhere in the world, religious tension between different faith groups is taking place. Christians and Muslims are for instance at each others’ throat in Nigeria. Hindus and Muslims regularly kill each other in India. Similarly, Muslims and Jews relations in the Middle East are characterized by endless violent victimizations on both sides. Also in the Persian Gulf, there is no peace between Sunnis and Shiites, who happen to be differing sects within the same Islamic faith. Several instances of violent conflicts between different faith groups abound globally. Despite the neverending vicious hostilities between Muslims and Christians in many parts of the world, both faith communities in Ghana have always co-existed harmoniously. Many countries can therefore learn a few lessons from the peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims in Ghana. As I have already pointed out, the interminable ChristianMuslim conflicts, which often result in the slaughter of hundreds of lives, are rampant in many parts of the world. Nigeria notably provides unfortunate and repeated examples of Muslim-Christian vicious clashes and the resultant massacres of people. While the relations between Muslims and Christians in some countries tend to be achromous with extreme violent and fatal results, the two faith communities in Ghana have always had undisturbed co-existence. Ghana has worked and continues to work hard in ensuring that Christians and Muslims brethren live together peacefully. The two communities live in harmony partly because of the mutual understanding and respect between them. Members of both religions have always shown a high sense of tolerance toward the other. This is contrary to other
countries where religious prejudice flourishes, And as our political leaders have repeatedly pointed out for instance, religious tolerance and the deep seated healthy relations between Ghanaians of different faiths have in many respects created an enabling environment that has a played significant role in moving forward with the Ghana’s economic, social and democratic development efforts in positive ways. Ghana government has always promoted interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians. One that is apparent is that long-held tradition in which the government continually encourages Christian and Muslim leaders to meet periodically to discuss issues of mutual and national interests. Ghanaian political leaders have never ceased to stress publicly, the importance of religious tolerance in fostering harmony between different faith groups. Similarly, one important observable fact that the government does to promote peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims relates to the equal attention given to the important observations on the respective religions’ calendar. The Ghanaian government for instance acknowledges and observes the following important religious days as national holidays: Christian Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas as well as Muslim Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Regardless of religious affiliation, all Ghanaians enjoy these holidays to the fullest. Interfaith dialogue and mutual respect that exist between the adherents of both faiths is key ingredient toward peaceful religious relations in Ghana. Christian and Muslim leaders in our country are well known for making deliberate efforts to reach out to each other. They genuinely and respectfully engage with each other amid the willingness to listen, understand and the readiness to learn and be challenged. The leaders engage their
counterparts with the strong desire to relate to, communicate with and most importantly, be understood by one another. Christian-Muslim dialogue in the Ghanaian context unlike some countries is primarily focused on the two faiths and their implications for their respective communities or believers. Excellent leadership among both faith groups and the level of religious tolerance in Ghana are thus hugely credited for the peaceful relations between the two communities. Next to effective and respectful leadership is the ability of Ghanaians Muslims and Christians to understand others’ worldviews. And where there is genuine understanding between two parties, violence and its corresponding intended or inadvertent killings are easily preventable. Ghanaian religious leaders also steer clear of extremism partly because of the awareness that radicalism or fundamentalism whether it emanates from either Christians or Muslims leadership or any other source provides fertile grounds for tensions that could lead to massive destruction of lives as witnessed in other countries for example. It is thus no coincidence that Ghana has never experienced any violent or fatal religious clashes. This is mainly due to the absence of radical Islam or Christian fundamentalism because Christians and Muslims genuinely tolerate and respect the other. In today’s world where religious strife flourishes, Ghanaians of various faiths take pride in their ability to tolerate each other and live together peacefully. The world can therefore learn from Ghana regarding religious open-mindedness, tolerance and co-existence. While religion has been used to destroy peoples’ lives in other parts of the world, Ghana has shown the way that people can belong to different religions and at the same time live together peacefully without hurting or killing each other.
cont'd on pg. 9
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills visits Ottawa cont'd from pg. 1
The President met officials of Canada Commercial Cooperation (CCC) over breakfast which is supporting Ghana with the rehabilitation of the Kotoka International Airport, Tamale Teaching Hospital and also involved with the Tema General Hospital Accommodation Project. H.E. Prof. John Atta Mills also met with CanadaAfrica Parliamentary Association at Parliament Hill and later on met privately with Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper at the Prime Minister’s Office, all in the morning of Friday November 18, 2011. In the afternoon, President Mills and his entourage visited the Ghana Embassy at #1 Clemow Avenue in a motorcade to commission the refurbished Chancery Building. President Mills then called on the chiefs from Toronto led by Nana Amoabenko to help in cutting the ribbon after prayers led by Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel AsareKusi of the Ghana Methodist Church in Toronto. The President said that the Project was started by the previous administra-
tion and was completed by his administration, he then unveiled the plaque amid thunderous applause. He went on to sign the visitor’s book followed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni. The President then had a tour of the offices of the chancery building. Later on the President met with Heads of African Missions followed by another meeting with CCA President, Mr. Lucien Bradet. The Late Dr. Richard B. Turkson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada hosted President Mills and his entourage to a dinner at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. It was attended by selected members of the Diplomatic community of accredited countries to Canada, government officials and selected members of the Ghanaian community in Canada. President Mills promised the diplomatic community in Canada and the other invited guests including diasporans that his government is committed to ensure that the impending polls in Ghana will be fair
and transparent. He also assured investors that Ghana government has improved the investment climate and that they are welcome to participate in the Ghanaian economy. On Saturday 19th November 2011, there was a meeting by the President with the Late High Commissioner and staff of the mission at the High Commissioner’s residence. This was followed by a Town Hall meeting with the Ghanaian Community in Canada at Saint Paul’s University amphitheatre in Ottawa at which His Excellency President Evans Atta Mills gave a statement on current developments in Ghana. The floor was then opened for questions from the audience which were answered by the President. The questions ranged from high cost of duty on imported cars, opening of a diasporan office to cater for diasporans and prisoners being allowed to vote. Most of the Town Hall participants expressed disappointment at not being given the opportunity to pose some pertinent questions to the President.
THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST
Profile of the Late Dr Richard Turkson Legal cont'dConsultant from pg. 1 (Africa), a position he held until July 1995.
He has been Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon; Visiting Professor, Temple University Law School, Philadelphia, USA; Commonwealth Secretariat Technical Expert attached to the Department of Law, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius; Member of the General Legal Council, the statutory body charged with the function of regulating the legal profession in Ghana; National President, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, and Member of the National Census Technical Advisory Committee (2000 Population and Housing Census). He has led several Ghana Government delegations
to meetings of the UNFPA Executive Board (1998-2000) and the UN Commission on Population and Development (2002 and 2003). He also actively participated as a member of Ghana Government delegations to The Hague Forum (1999); the ICPD + 5 Review (New York, 1999); the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (2001), and the ICPD + 10 Review (New York, 2004). He has been a member of the Ghana Bar for a long time and has practised extensively in the Courts of Ghana as Barrister-atLaw and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. He was Vice-Chairman-cumRapporteur of the 35th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development (20022003).
Before his appointment as High Commissioner, he was on retirement from the Public Service of Ghana and consulting for non-governmental organizations such as IPPF Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya, IPAS Africa Alliance Office, Nairobi, Kenya, African Population Advisory Council, Nairobi, Kenya. His broad areas of interest include the following: ·ð gender and human rights, particularly promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive rights at the national and international levels ·ð the critical role of African parliamentarians and other law-making institutions in promulgating relevant laws affecting sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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November 2011
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Budget for 2012 presented to Budget presented with usual parliament mixed reactions by minority and majority yield of the 91-day money market instrument from 24.67 per cent in 2008 to 9.1 per cent in September 2011, making it the lowest recorded money market rate in decades.
The Finance and Economic Planning Minister on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 presented governments 2012 fiscal budget to parliament for approval. The Budget, on the theme: “Infrastructural Development for Accelerated Growth and Job Creation,” recognized that the present state of the global economy presented the country with a number of unanticipated events and that a further deterioration of the global economic environment could have substantial spillovers to the Ghanaian economy. Dr Duffuor said preliminary results from the West Africa Monitory Institute’s half year surveillance report showed that the overall economic performance remained strong with real the GDP expected to expand by 8.0 per cent in
Dr Kwabena Duffuor
2011 as compared to 7.7 per cent in 2010. On the 2011 Macroeconomic Performance, he said, the GDP growth of 4.0 per cent in 2009, 7.7 per cent in 2010 and 13.6 per cent in 2011; made significant reduction of fiscal deficit from 6.6 per cent of GDP in 2008 on cash basis (14.5 per cent of GDP – old series) to 2.0 per cent of GDP as at September 2011. He said inflation which was 18.1 per cent at the end of 2008 now stands at 8.40 per cent in September, 2011 with significant reduction in the
Dr Duffuor said Gross International Reserves of US$4.98 billion was recorded in October 2011 exceeding 3.0 months of import cover of goods and services compared to reserves of US$2.0 billion at the end of December 2008 which could barely cover 2 months of imports. On major achievements of the economy, he said, real GDP growth rate of 13.6 per cent was made compared to a growth target of 14.4 per cent and the actual growth out turn of 7.7 per cent in 2010. Dr Duffour said the 2011 provisional GDP growth translates into a real GDP of GH¢27.49 billion and a nominal GDP of GH¢56.28 billion. GNA
Ghana owed 14.8 billion dollars as at September this year Ghana’s total public debt increased from 11.2 billion dollars in September 2010, representing 37.8 per cent of GDP, to 14.8 billion dollars, representing 39.0 per cent GDP, in September 2011. Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance, said during the budget hearing in Parliament on Wednesday that as at the end of September 2011, external debt amounted to 7.1 billion dollars, representing 48 per cent of the total public debt stock and 19.1 per cent of GDP. The increase in external debt stock is attributed largely to a positive net flow of project loan disbursements compared to debt service payment on existing loans. Dr Duffuor said domestic debt on the other hand increased from 5,682 million dollars in 2010 to 7,521.6 million dollars in September 2011, representing 51.0 per
cent of the total public debt stock and 19.9 per cent of GDP. He attributed the increase in domestic debt to the issuance of the 5-year and 3-year fixed rate bonds to settle arrears owed to contractors and the securitization of the TOR debt owed to Ghana Commercial Bank. He said in November 2011 the Government in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank conducted the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) which showed the public debt to be sustainable in the medium to long term, even when compared to the external debt thresholds. “The solvency and liquidity condition, which demonstrates the ability to service the public debt, are, thus, favorable over the medium to long term at a ratio of 33.6 per cent of GDP in 2008,” he said, and added that the public
debt was expected to rise to 37.2 per cent by 2015, by which period the CDB and other pipeline loans would have been disbursed. The Finance Minister noted that the combination of fiscal consolidation sustained over the medium to long term, together with stronger real GDP growth, higher export levels, post-oil and gas production, contributed to a more favourable DSA baseline. On expenditure, Dr Duffuor said total expenditure, including arrears clearance and commitments, in the first 9 months of 2011 amounted to GH¢10,412.3 million, equivalent to 18.3 per cent of GDP. This figure is 1.2 per cent lower than the budget target of GH¢10,543.8 million. For the whole year, total expenditure, including cont'd on pg. 9
Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance on Wednesday presented the Financial Policy of the government of Ghana for the year-ending 31st December 2012, with the minority calling it a “bye bye” budget for the government while the majority regard it as one full of hope . Dr Duffuor appeared before the House around 11.55am instead of 10am looking very calm even when he was made to lay papers which he had to withdraw later because the procedure applied was wrong. Mr Samson Ahi, Member for Juaboso, described the budget as one meant for the retirement of Nana Akuffo Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party. He said the budget would make people to vote for President John Evans Atta Mills during the 2012 Presidential elections. Mr Ahi said the budget targeted areas such as tax reduction, health care delivery, among other social interventions which made the minority to be mesmerized”. Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi- Buah, Deputy Minister for Energy and NDC member for Ellembele said the budget humbled the opposition; to the extent that they could not utter a word. Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Minority Leader said the budget had met his expectations. Mr Alfred Abayateye, Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament and NDC Member for Sege said the budget was a drastic initiative by the government, “ with government coming out with tax amnesty which would help those businesses faced with penalties and encourage them to stay in business.” He said for the eight years that the NPP government was in power it was not able to attain the four convergence points for the West Africa Monetary zone but that the Mills administration had attained those benchmarks, adding that the NDC government had been able to obtain over one million tonnes in cocoa production. He noted that government had been able to implement the Single Spine Pay Policy
(SSPP) which took 41.2 per cent of the country’s total revenue, a scheme which the NPP advocated but dodged its implementation. He said the wage bill as at now had about 97 per cent of total workforce in public sector hooked to the SSPP . He explained that government had been able to account for oil revenue from the first three liftings and was yet to receive the budget of the fourth lifting, saying inflation had remained at a single digit and that for the one time premium, the “ doubting Thomases’” would be proved wrong. Mr Abayateye said government was also creating the enabling environment for Small Scale Enterprises to be listed on the stock exchange. Mr Isaac Osei, NPP member for Subin said nothing was said to encourage the business community, adding that on interest rates remained high. “ Looking at the the 2011 budget, government did not perform up to expectation,” he said, adding that this was a government which had had more money than previous governments did but could not deliver. Dr Richard Anane, NPP member for Nhyiaeso, said because the election year was drawing closer, government intentionally said it would implement the one -term premium questioning why government did not do it a long time ago and what preparations had been made for its implementation. Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said the only new thing found in the budget “is new environmental tax,” adding “ I did not expect much and even they did not start well, as the procedure for laying papers in the house was wrong. I have not seen anything in the budget to impress me. It is their bye bye budget”, he added. The minority, though calm, shouted “away” “away” to the Minister after he ended the reading of the budget statement. The house was adjourned. GNA
Monetary policy for 2012 to focus on maintaining singledigit inflation Dr Kwabena Dufuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Wednesday said the country’s monetary policy in the medium-term will focus on maintaining single digit inflation while responding to volatility in the foreign exchange market. To this end, he said, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) “will continue to deploy its instruments within the in-
flation targeting framework to preserve the gains of macroeconomic stabilization”.
the private sector is expected to play in the country’s growth and development process.
The Minister who was presenting the budget statement for the 2012 fiscal year on the floor of Parliament, said real credit to the private sector “will increase on a sustained basis to an average of 18 per cent per annum over the medium term, in view of the crucial role
“The BOG will continue to engage the deposit money banks on the determination of base rates in the banking sector, with the view to bringing standardization and transparency into the determination of lending rates. cont'd on pg. 9
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES By: James A. Kwaatemg, B.A. (Hons), LLB (Hons)
Eligibility of Foreign Students to Participate in Foreign Student Work Program A work permit is a written authorization in Canada issued by an officer to a person who is not a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. With the exception of fulltime students attending universities or colleges and who have obtained employment offers on the campuses of the colleges or universities where they are registered full-time, foreign students generally require work permits to work in Canada.
gram. And to be eligible for a work permit under any of the three programs, a foreign student must meet certain requirements.
manent residents in the Canadian labour market out of the campuses. To be eligible for a work permit under this program, the student must possess a valid student permit and must have studied fulltime and maintained satisfactory academic standing in his or her specific program of study at a participating institution for at least six out of the twelve months preceding the application to work off-campus.
Fortunately for foreign students, Canada has three main foreign student work programs. These are: off-campus work permit program; co-op work program and post-graduation work permit pro-
Off-campus work permit program allows students to carry on activities for which wages or salaries are paid or commission is earned or that competes directly with activities of Canadian citizens or per-
An off-campus work permit program applicant must apply for the work permit program at a participating institution and must have been, and continue to be, registered as a full-time student in a
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Co-op work programs are meant for studies that require work experience as a component of the program of studies. In such cases, open work permits might be issued with the institution as the employer. To be eligible for a work permit under a co-op or internship program, the applicant must have a valid study permit and the intended employment must be an essential component of the program of studies being undertaken in Canada. The employment must be certified as a part of the academic
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program by a responsible academic official of the institution and should not constitute more than 50 percent of the total program of study The post-graduation work permit program is designed to provide graduating students with Canadian work experience. The program may permit students to work in Canada for a maximum period of three years after graduation but the work permit cannot be valid longer than the length of time the student studied in Canada. To be eligible for the postgraduation work permit program, the applicant must have graduated from a specific program of fulltime study of at least eight months in Canada at a public post-secondary institution or a private postsecondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its
overall operations from government or a private institution that is authorized by provincial law to confer degrees but that applies only if the applicant is enrolled in one of the programs of study leading to a degree as authorized by the province and not in any other programs of study offered by the private institution. Readers are cautioned that this article is nothing more than an overview of foreign student work permit programs in Canada. Prospective applicants are seriously advised to seek professional advice if their situations are not clear-cut. James A. Kwaateng is an Immigration Law practitioner with offices located at 168A Oakdale Road, Suite 4, Toronto, Ontario. For thorough discussion of your immigration and related social and legal issues, contact him at telephone number (416) 743-2758.
Women's Courage Awards cont'd from pg. 1
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entertainment such as belly dancing and cultural performance by Vanessa Otuo Acheampong, the current Ms. Ghana. There was also a solo performance by Solomon Wunnibe also known as “S. The Psalmist” and Natalie Tacuri who performed a lyrical dance. Prizes that were awarded ranged from wine, to hotel stay, books, gift baskets, and much more, but
most of the entire ambience and the inspiration could be felt by each and every person who came from near and far. The event was truly multicultural, typical of a successful Canadian mosaic reflecting what Canada is about, “a sense of inclusion”, and not one single person of the nearly 200 people left unsatisfied and looking forward to coming back again. The event was made pos-
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The Ghanaian News
Ewe To Be Studied At Ohio University The president of Ohio University, Professor Roderick MacDavis has announced that Ewe will be studied as a course in Ohio University in the United States of America (USA) from the 2011/2012 academic year. Professor MacDavis announced this when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister in his office in Ho. The delegation was in the country to visit Ohio University students studying in Ghana and also to explore possibilities to set up a satellite programme for child development using the arts. According to Professor MacDavis, his institute has developed a lot of programmes for children which lay emphasis on child education through the use Arts. He said the University has an open door policy to students all over the world who have a desire to study and urged a lot more students from Ghana to take part. He also announced their intention to set up an institute of
Music and Development studies in Ghana. The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Amenowode expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the Volta Region and Ohio University. He said “child education is very important and I’m very happy that the Ohio University has come up with a programme to educate children using arts” Mr. Amenowode described the visit as a “divine intervention” and said that he was looking forward to fruitful and mutually beneficial collaboration between Ohio University and the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region which he said would take off soon. Other members of the delegation included Professor Komla Amoaku of the Institute of Music and Development, Mama Agblatsu and Togbe Adzimah of the Asogli Tradional Area and Professor Yao Younge, an indigene of the region.
He said the emergence of oil exports would also engender many benefits to the country, including high capital inflows from petroleum exports and the attraction of Ghana as a preferred investment destination. The Minister however con-
ceded that such inflows of capital could pose “significant risks” to the management of the country’s exchange rate, adding that the Central Bank would ensure effective management of the exchange rate, with the view to maintaining adequate and sufficient foreign exchange reserves, export competitiveness, as well as smoothening excessive volatility on the foreign exchange market.” He said Government would
9
4.5 million barrels of oil ‘missing’ Over 4. 58 million barrels of crude oil produced from the Jubilee fields are unaccounted for as Kwabena Duffuor, the Finance Minister under the ruling NDC and Tullow Oil have, on separate occasions, stated different production figures for the same period under review.
by Tullow Oil, the largest partner in the Jubilee Field project, stated that during the same period under review, “over 22 million barrels of oil have been produced and 21 oil cargoes have been safely exported. ”
Using the average crude oil price over the material period of JanuarySeptember 2011, the missing barrels add up to $493. 5 million or $458 million, going by the lower hedging price that the government bet its crude oil sales on.
The disparity in these production figures put out by the NDC government and by Tullow Oil has raised further doubts over the transparency in the actual volumes of crude oil being lifted from Ghana.
Paragraph 58 of the 2012 budget presented by Dr. Duffuor on the 16th of November 2011 states: “Actual production from January to September 2011 is 17. 42 million barrels. It is expected that 2011 will close with an annual oil production of 24. 78 million barrels. ” However, just a week earlier, on 9th November 2011, a press statement
Monetary policy for 2012 to focus on maintaining single-digit inflation cont'd from pg. 7 Dr Dufuor said the expectation was that there would be a further build-up in Gross International Reserves to an average of US$7.5 billion, estimated around 4.5 months of import cover, over the medium term.
November 2011
build higher benchmark bonds, with the introduction of seven-year and 10-year fixed rate bonds in 2012 to reduce liquidity in the short-dated instruments and extend the yield curve. “To mitigate the risks of rising floating interest rates for debt servicing, government will hedge the interest rates through swap arrangements to allow for enhanced predictability of debt service planning and forecast” he said.
Earlier this year, anxiety gripped the nation over alle-
gations of improper accounting of how much oil was being drilled following the reported malfunctioning of flow metres on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah. This malfunction appeared to have been glossed over by the operators of the FPSO until a leading civil society advocate on oil and gas of Ibis Ghana, and a fellow of the Danquah Institute, Mohammed Amin Adam raised alarm over it in May. It was not until August 2 that the flow metres were fixed.
Ghana owed 14.8 billion dollars as at September this year cont'd from pg. 7
provision for arrears clearance and commitments was projected at GH¢15,565.5 million, or 6.0 per cent higher than the 2011 budget estimate of GH¢14,397.4 million, he stated.
had been driven mainly by a decline in food inflation.
Dr. Duffuor attributed the higher projected expenditure mainly to the higher-thanexpected public sector wage bill resulting from the implementation of the single spine salary structure and the clearance of more commitments than programmed during the year.
He said interest rates continued their downward trend during 2011 in line with declining inflation and inflationary expectations. The policy rate which stood at 18 per cent in December 2009 had by September 2011 dropped to 12.5 per cent.
The overall budget balance for the period showed a deficit of 2.0 per cent of GDP, compared with a budget target of 4.4 per cent of GDP. He said based on the projected end of year data, the fiscal deficit in 2011 was expected to be 4.8 per cent of GDP and the domestic primary balance would register a surplus equivalent to 2.6 per cent of GDP. Dr. Duffuor said demand for money was generally strong in the first three quarters of the year. Broad money supply, including foreign currency deposits, grew by 41.9 per cent year-on-year, driven mainly by a huge surge in the accumulation of net foreign assets. Inflation, however, had been on a downward trend since the peak level of 20.7 per cent in June 2009, he indicated. “Inflation dropped and has remained in a single digit since June 2010,” he said, and explained that the decline
Developments in the first nine months of the year indicated that the end of year inflation target of 9.0 per cent would be achieved.
Rates on Treasury bill instruments had also been on a downward trend. The Finance Minister said the banking system continued to show a steady growth during the year, with its assets to GDP ratio rising to 43.5 per cent in August 2010, from under 30.0 per cent of GDP in 2008. “Commercial banks’ lending rate has been trending down during the year, with the market leaders dropping their lending rates to 17 per cent and below. We expect all other banks to follow suit,” he said. Dr Duffuor said the external sector continued to show strong performance during the year, mentioning that the trade balance recorded a deficit equal to 4.5% of the GDP for the first nine months of the year on account of a faster export growth. The stock of gross international reserves at the end of October 2011 stood at 4.98 billion dollars, enough to cover more than 3 months of imports of goods and services, he said. GNA
10
The Ghanaian News November 2011
Ghana Commercial Bank Partners Western Union Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), the nation’s premier bank has entered into partnership with Western Union, a worldwide money transfer service provider to offer remittances in the country.
offering customers alerts of transactions on their accounts through mobile phones and allowing finance directors of corporations to pay salaries of employees from their offices.
GCB, with 282 service outlets, thus becomes the 11th banking and financial institution to partner Western Union in this direction.
“GCB customers have access to their accounts twenty four seven, thanks to a reliable network of 110 ATM nationwide with close to 99 per cent up time and full benefits of internet banking.”
Launching the partnership at a short ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Managing Director (MD) in a charge of Operations at GCB, Samuel Sarpong said the bank has made significant investments in enhancing its system and technology platform. “We have leveraged our robust IT platform to introduce a number products and services,” he said. He said GCB, under its ‘Easy Banking’ agenda, is
Mr. Sarpong said GCB has introduced mechanism that is ensuring that the bank offers personal
loans within 24 hours and promised the bank’s commitment towards excellence in the banking sector. “It is the vision of this bank to transform GCB into a world-class bank and we will continue to ride on the back of our robust systems and technology platform to bring the best in banking products and services.” The deputy MD said the bank’s numerous branches and its solid IT platform would enhance the prospects of the partnership, adding “we have
tested our systems over the past few weeks to ensure a smooth take-off.” Leticia Tagoe, Head of International Banking Division of GCB, said as at October, the bank had mobilized $198,703, 238 as total foreign exchange from transactions in the money transfer business alone.
“The partnership with Western Union will greatly increase the values and the underlying revenue earned by the bank especially when the need to increase commissions has become very necessary.” She said the Global Transfer Department of International Banking Division has completed the train-
ing of all customer service representatives, systems administrators, operations/retail managers, who are to handle remittances from Western union. She said the team will also act as the back-up team for all the branches in the resolution of all operational related issues. Daily Guide
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The Ghanaian News
The life expectancy of Ghanaians, an indicator of how long a person can expect to live on the average, given the prevailing mortality rate, has appreciated by 11 years from 53.1 years in 1980 to 64.2 years in 2011. According to the latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report (Human Development Index (HDI) launched in Accra, the country has also made giant strides in education, increasing its mean years of schooling, the average number of years
November 2011
Ghanaians Living Longer
people spend in school, from 3.4 years in 1980 to 7.1 years in 2011.
According to the UNDP, Ghana was chosen to host the formal launch of the report on behalf of Anglophone Africa because of its achievements and commitment to sustainable development. The document ranked Ghana 135 out of 187 countries assessed globally in a report which is a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development — long and healthy life, ac-
cess to knowledge and a decent standard of living. In 2010, Ghana ranked 130 out of the 169 countries assessed. Ghana’s HDI showed a rise from a value of 0.385 to 0.541 in the Medium Human Development country category. The top five countries on the HDI are Norway, Australia, The Netherlands, the United States and New Zealand. However, the positive development still puts Ghana very low in its category where the average is 0.6 73 but above the 0.463 for countries in sub-Saharan
naians.
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Future for All”.
The objective of the human development concept is to promote the notion that sustainable human development should, in the end, extend the health, knowledge and incomes of people by expanding their choices and opportunities.
The report indicated how poverty imbalances and gender inequality at the national level were linked to reduce access to improved sanitation, potable water and income disparities.
With such a definition, human development in the Ghanaian context is assessed in terms of the health, education and livelihood of the people.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who launched the report, admitted that even though the country had achieved a lot of economic growth, it was important that development was accelerated for the growing needs of Gha-
Since its inception, the HDI has been produced on various themes. The 2011 Report is on the theme: “Sustainable and Equity: A better
11
To achieve the required growth which would impact positively on the lives of people, while sustaining the environment, the Vice-President said the government would strive to increase investment in areas including health care, social intervention, infrastructural development and education. He said Ghana’s policies, including the Ghana Educational Trust Fund (GETFund), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the District Assemblies Common cont'd on pg. 12
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
FOCUS
What is happening to Basic Education in Ghana? Asks Joe Kingsley Eyiah, OCT, Brookview Middle School, Toronto Reports reaching us from Ghana recently speak of a dire situation for most of the graduates of the Junior Second School (JSS) during last school year. Only forty-six (46) percent of the graduates passed the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). This shows an awfully drop in percentage of successful graduates of JSS in the country by four percent during the last two years. Also, the Computer Selection System which places successful graduates to their respective Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country has been saddled with problems which have led to the unnecessary delays for the placements the JSS graduates. Many are the parents of the graduates who have been frustrated by the system! Unfortunately, concerned Ghanaians in Canada, who met with His Excellency, President Prof. Attah Mills and his entourage from Ghana in Ottawa recently were not satisfied with answers they were given on the current state of education system in Ghana. They were told that the educational policies of the President Attah Mills’ led National Democrat Council (NDC) government has not differed in any way from those put in place before Mills’ administration. However, the implementation of the good educational policies is being undermined by personnel in the education sector who are considered by the government as saboteurs of the NDC government. If the government’s allegation is true then President Prof. Attah Mills (a renowned educationist) must wake up to the current situation and fix it! It becomes obvious from the foregoing revelations that the education reform in Ghana is defective. While some experts in education argue that there has been inadequate preparation of students at Senior High School (SHS) for tertiary education in Ghana, I add that there has been shocking neglect of kindergarten and primary education which form the very foundation of the child’s basic education. Also, “there is neglect of teacher education to produce teachers to cater for the new system.” The latter is a huge case, which needs to be addressed on its own. For, a policy document on basic education published by the Ministry of Education in April in 1996 in Accra
states in part, “The implementation of the new basic education initiative will not only imply increased financing in terms of inputs and infrastructure, but also additional recurrent costs in the training of teachers and other staff and salary expenditures with posting of additional teachers required as a result of envisaged expansion.” I would therefore limit my discourse here to the issue of basic education under the reform in Ghana. Basic Education Improvement in Ghana: Ghana like many other countries around the world has, over the years, sought to improve its education system by introducing reforms and making projections based on the education needs of the country. However, the basic education in the system is yet to experience the impetus the will fortify it as a strong foundation for the child’s educational journey. Hence, the appalling results in the Senior High School Certificate Examinations over the years and now poor results in BECE! Basic education under the former system was 10 years in duration and Secondary education 6 years. Thus, making preuniversity education in the country 16 years. This was not cost effective. So to reduce the duration of pre-university education in the country the government introduced the Junior Secondary School (3 years after 6-year primary school) and the Senior Secondary School system as part of the education reform in 1998. A policy document on basic education improvement sector program put together by the government in 1996 to ensure Free Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) for all outlines government intentions for basic education in these words, “The Government is committed to making schooling from Basic Stage 1 through 9 free and compulsory for all school-
age children by the year 2005. Through the components of its program for Free Compulsory and Universal Education, the Government of Ghana is committed not only to achieving universal access to basic education in ten years, but also to IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION SERVICES OFFERED.” (Emphasis supplied) One can conveniently argue that we are yet to see any improvement in the quality of education offered at the basic level, if not at all levels, of education in the country since the implementation of the education reform. No wonder the news report from Ghana last month that the President’s Committee on Review of Education Reforms has detected a number of defects in the existing educational structure! The Neglected Part of the Basic Education: Though some people argue for the return to the former system, especially for the duration of pre-university education, I agree with the President’s Committee (during President Kufour’s government) on its view that “the 11year basic education made up of kindergarten, primary and junior schools will be adequate in providing the needed foundation for further education.” However, I see the need for revamping the resources at the kindergarten and primary schools at the basic level to establish quality foundation for the country’s education system. Adequate learning and teaching materials MUST be provided in classroom at that level to ensure effective learning and teaching process. Teachers must be well prepared for our primary schools throughout the country to facilitate learning and smooth transition for students from the primary to the junior secondary school. This calls for the involvement of the education committees at the district assemblies in effectively recruiting potential and capable teachers for training at the Teacher Training Colleges and their subsequent postings to primary schools in the districts. The programs at the Teacher Training Colleges must also be made to address the needs of teaching in our primary schools. With the adequate preparation
Ghanaians Living Longer cont'd from pg. 11
Fund (DACF), had been vehicles that pushed growth. Mr Mahama underscored that climate change was real and that the government would not sacrifice the environment for economic progress. Giving an overview of the report, the UN Under SecretaryGeneral/UNDPAssociate Ad-
ministrator, Ms Rebeca Gryspan, noted that to improve human development, and increase equity and sustainability, environmental degradation had to stop. According to her, projections showed that the gains made in global development could be reversed in the next 40 years if
the current global environmental degradation continued. The Minister for the Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Hanny Sherry Ayittey, said as the world strived to deal with environmental degradation, Ghana, a resource-dependent country, remained vulnerable. Daily Graphic
of teachers, well equipped classrooms and effective supervision of teaching at the basic education level Ghana will be on track to solving the problem of poor results of the BECE and Senior High School Certificate Examinations in the country. There is also the absolute need to include “pre-school education, which prepares the child to acquire rudimentary skills for transition from home to primary school” as identified by the President’s Committee on education reform in the government’s plans to improve
education in Ghana. Parents must be made effective partners in this effort. All said and done, education is undoubtedly an effective tool for national development which requires long term investment and coordinated efforts on the part of all the stake holders in education including the government, parents, teachers/educators, students, business bodies and the general public. It is therefore very prudent for any government not to play politics with education but rather take the hard/bitter but effective road to improving education in
the country. This calls for long term investment and periodic reviews of national educational policies to assess progress being achieved in the area of education for national development. The hen that lays the golden egg must be taken very good care of. In the education system Basic Education is that hen! It prepares the child who will become a lawyer or a doctor or a teacher or an accountant or a scientist or a nurse or a businessman, or a pastor in future for further education.
Mills’ biggest test yet Ahead of elections, President Mills has promised stability, growth and jobs in his 2012 budget, but ending a bizarre cycle of fiscal maladministration as the poll approaches could be his biggest test yet. Presenting next year’s budget to Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor projected strong growth of 9.4 percent, average annual inflation of 8.7 percent and said the gains of stabilisation will be preserved. “Notwithstanding the fact that 2012 is an election year, the NDC government will maintain the fiscal consolidation achieved so far,” he assured. Vice president, John Mahama, has also said the government will tighten its grip on the public purse during the election season to avoid a repeat of past mistakes. But despite the assurances, there is still concern — both within and outside Ghana — about whether the government can avoid a fiscal slippage in the upcoming election year. History suggests this concern is well-founded. In the past (particularly 2000 and 2008), governments, including the previous NDC administration, have let the economy slip their grasp as they came under pressure to spend to placate voters. And before the damage was done, there had been plenty assurances. Here’s what Kwame Peprah, finance minister under ex-president Rawlings, said in 2000 in his budget speech: “This is an election year, but the charge from the president is that we should not allow the elections to distract us from the work which lies ahead during the year. Indeed, we must resist the temptation to play political football with the economy in this election year. Populist demands, populist rhetoric, blackmail threats (and) wildcat strikes all combined to wreak havoc on the progress of our economic forward march during the two previous elections in 1992 and 1996. Let us all take note, however, that when the economy goes off course in an election year, it takes years of belt-tightening and further harsh fiscal measures to bring it back on course. We must all undertake to put Ghana first even though it is an election year.
Let us all accept that whatever damage may be done in this election year, the party that wins will find it difficult to repair it. Since each of our parties believes that it will win the elections, we owe it a collective responsibility to the people of Ghana to exercise discipline in our discussion and in our handling of the economy.” In the end, however, his worst fears came to pass, and the economy wound up in grim circumstances: inflation run at 40.5 percent, the government was borrowing shortterm at 38 percent and banks were lending at 47.5 percent. To be fair, all of it was not the government’s doing. By some accident, the global economy had not been in favourable shape in each of the 2000 and 2008 election years, and had been partly responsible for the problems at home. In 2000, a fall in cocoa prices, a key foreign-exchange earner, to a thirty-year low of US$506 per tonne hurt export earnings and taxes. Meanwhile, oil prices surged from an average of US$18 per barrel in 1999 to US$31 in 2000, raising the oil-import bill by 56%. The combined effect of these external shocks, amid an underlying debt overhang, triggered runaway inflation and brought down the currency. Similarly, in 2008, no one had expected the price of a barrel of crude to touch US$147 by July; in fact, the authorities had forecast an average price of US$80 before the year began. And by the time the oil price peaked, import tariffs had had to be slashed to mitigate the impact of a surge in global food prices. In the absence of the necessary fiscal restraint, the year ended with a budget hole that cost 8.5% of GDP (using recently revised output figures) and a current account deficit at 10.8% of GDP. Each of these episodes threw up serious macroeconomic difficulties for the new government that was elected — and the real sector suffered, too. Businesses borrowed expensively, and the belt-tightening caused pain to many households. In February 2001, two months after the former administration, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had been sworn into office, Ghana declared itself a heavily-indebted poor country (HIPC) and
signed on to a debt-forgiveness programme with external creditors. The public debt was a whopping 124% of GDP. Everywhere in government circles could be heard righteous rhetoric about the ills of fiscal imprudence — and the importance of macroeconomic stability for sound economic growth. When the NPP left its own legacy of large domestic and external deficits in January 2009, President Mills and his new administration sought succour in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which provided loans to sustain povertyreduction programmes, and foreign exchange to build up the Central Bank’s depleted reserves. In both 2000 and 2008, the magnanimity of Western creditors helped to ease the pain and restore confidence in the economy. That is one reason why there is anxiety among officials of the World Bank, the IMF and other Western donors over how macro-economic policy will be conducted when voters gain the initiative during next year’s elections. At a recent meeting between government officials and representatives of Western donors, the latter cautioned thus: “There are high risks of fiscal slippages in the period ahead... relating to the upcoming elections which will increase the political pressures for spending. “[Our] call on the government is to avoid the easy temptations of deficit-led growth in the coming period — the costs of stabilisation that the country had to bear in the past three years attest to the destructive nature of these short-term and myopic temptations.” So, will Mills break the jinx? That is uncertain, according to analysts. What is clear is that he must prepare for the worst — both at home and abroad. Given the ambush of the global economy by the Arab Spring and persisting debt problems in rich countries, every prognosis on the world economy is given to uncertainty; and it is hard to imagine trade unions, whose total wage entitlements under the new pay policy have only been partially paid, not taking to the streets in an election year. Mills’ “Better Ghana” agenda may just be up for its biggest test yet. BFT
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
13
TALKING FINANCES Jack of Many Investments, Master of One Profession will eventually become expert or specialist.
By: Gabriel Quayson, Toronto Most of us have all heard of the phrase “Jack of all trades, Master of None”. The world is filled with millions of people that know a little bit about everything. They are not paid very much and it is not a place you should aim to be. Then, there are those that are well rewarded for their expertise and multiple streams of investment income. The acquisition of general knowledge on any topic or sector is not very difficult and does not take much time. Some people spend most of their life experimenting on many sectors of employment or professions. If you quantify the average person’s working years to be from 25yrs old to 65 yrs, that is only 40 years, if you plan to work that long. If you don’t decide what you want early and pursue it, time would be eventually against you. The world will not pay you for knowing a little bit about many issues. There is no market value for that. There is market for being able to do things the average person has not acquired the skills for. Regardless of your location, society puts a price on everything we do and can do. Some skills and knowledge come with a heavy price tag and oth-
ers you cannot give away for free. Those among us that are financially rewarded for our efforts have been able to master a field by becoming very knowledgeable in that field. They are usually a stand-out among their peers. They reach expert or specialized level by being focused in the one profession or business activity and pursuing constant growth in that field. With the focused and constant pursuit of excellence in a particular field, you will eventually arrive at a point where your skill sets are so far removed from the average person. Once you reach the summit/plateau in your field, you don’t have to chase money any more, money will chase you. Some professionals that are in the top tier of their fields cherry pick who they want to work with and at what price. At the same time, some generalists are chasing every single client that shows the slightest interest. There are millions of dollars/ Cedis in any sector you go into. Just make sure you enjoy where you are and work on being the very best at what you do and you will be financially rewarded. If you examine the top 10% of any business sector, you will find they are extremely rewarded, yet many
waste valuable time moving from sector to sector. Your main objective is to ensure that the sector of affiliation is one that you enjoy, value, and provides a sense of fulfillment. Without interest in what you are doing, it will be very difficult to reach your full potential. The difficulty with constantly changing sectors is that every industry has hidden obstacles you will only discover while in the field. This will not be discovered in a seminar or course. The time spent going through many new learning curves are valuable time wasted that could have been used for advanced knowledge enhancement in your current field. So, to achieve extraordinarily skill sets, you need to be around a sector long enough to discover most of the unwritten conduct in the area and combine it with ongoing educational training. With a tunnel vision focus, you
In addition, regular educational up-grading in your chosen field will give you credentials to substantiate your knowledge base. Your experience will show you how to manoeuvre in that sector for successful outcome and top financial gain. Once you have achieved specialist status and plenty of money is now chasing you, your goal will be to find ways to put the money to work. You should learn many simple ways of putting your money to work. This is very important because NO ONE WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR MONEY BETTER THAN YOU. There are many inexperienced individuals out there claiming to be financial experts rushing to take your hard earned money to play/experiment with it to see what will happen. They will usually give you risk tolerance analysis. Many adult male investors will select the high risk section due to their ego and cause the majority of their money to be invested there. Think about it for a moment, if you invests $10,000.00 in high risk stock at the top of the bull market and you lose 90% ($10,000.00 - $9,000.00 = $1,000.00) of your capital in year one, double your money in year two (100% return), again in year three (100% re-
turn), and again in year four (100% return), your total portfolio will only be worth $8,000.00. This is less than what you started with 4 years ago. The simple guide line you should use in investing money is, “if it doesn’t make sense to my common sense, leave it alone”. I am suggesting you start slowly educating yourself financially and gradually engaging in more sophisticated investment including working with advisors when you feel comfortable. Your investment objective is to learn many investment vehicles that you are able to comfortably put your money in so your money may grow exponentially. Being the Jack of many investments is good because if done properly it will only require semi-annually or annual management. Stock, bonds and mutual funds are ideal for this type of investing. In the USA, financial stats tell us that 90 % of the millionaires made their money through Real Estate. This is another field some of us have managed to invest there and become very successful at it. Real Estate is perhaps one of the best investment vehicles out there. You leverage as little as 5% of the value of the property for its acquisition and it will provide
you with a huge return either via appreciation or elimination of mortgage debt in the long term. Being jack of all trades requires your daily labour output for financial reward. Whereas jack of many investments only requires initial labour output. The investment will then provide you with positive returns or income in your absence. Real Estate, Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds all allow the owners in the long run to make money with little or no effort. In summary, there is huge money in any sector of the business environment. Find a profession or business you love early in life and aim to be the best in that field. Pay special attention to the unwritten rules while in the field especially, the way the top 10% operates. Constantly, upgrade your academic credentials in that field. Once that is accomplished you will receive substantial earnings for your effort. You next task is to train yourself to be able to determine many investment locations where your money will grow with minimum effort on your part. At this point you would become JACK OF MULTIPLE INVESTMENTS, MASTER OF ONE PROFESSION, a.k. a, a wealthy individual.
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Impact Deliverance Institute Graduation 2011 Impact Deliverance Institute (IDI) had their School of Deliverance graduation ceremony on Sunday, November 20th, 2011 at the World Impact Church. Friends and family were there to witness and to celebrate the accomplishments of the twenty-five students who received their Diploma of Deliverance Education (DDE). Dr. Bob Tacky, founder and president of IDI, presented the graduates with their certificates and declared prophetic blessings over them. Dr. Roy Matheson, professor of Tyndale Seminary University who is also one of the instructors at IDI, delivered a word of exhortation to the graduating students.
Impact Deliverance Institute “School of Deliverance� provides solid biblical teaching and training in the area of spiritual warfare. The students are taught the dynamics of spiritual warfare and strategies to overcome Satan and his demons. They are equipped with the word and power of God to be victorious in spiritual warfare in their life, ministry and family. The next class will be held in July 2012. For registration information, please call 416-745-7082 or visit www.worldimpactchurch.org, Bishop Bob Tacky representing a certificate
Bishop Bob Tacky representing a certificate
Retouched group
Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto, St John's Anglican Church (Ghanaian Congregation), Ghana Calvary Methodist United and Ghanaian Presbyterian Church PRESENT
3-Day Joint End-of-Year Program December 29th - 31st, 2011 Rev. S.V. Mpere (Methodist, U of T)
Theme: Christ Our Hope In The MidstOf Our Hopelessness Heb. 6:16-19 SPEAKERS
Rev. Frank O. Adu (Ghana Presbyterian Church)
December 29th - 30th 2011 TIME: 7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. December 31st 2011 (Watch Night) TIME: 8:00 P.M. - 12:30 P.M. Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi (Ghana Methodist Church)
VENUE: Ghanaian Presbyterian Church 51 High Meadow Place (Finch/Signet)
Very Rev. De-Graft Semie Obiri (Calvary Methodist)
Rev. Gabriel OpokuWare (St. John's Anglican Church)
Contact: Brothers: F. Owusu - 416-407-3161(Presby), Ebenezer Acheampong - 416-675-3677, Sister Agnes Donkor - 905-450-3745 (Calvary Methodist) Rev. Gabriel Opoku Ware - 416-901-3932 (St. John's Anglican Church)
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Ont. Liberals lose HST vote Bill unlikely to be called for third reading NDP introduce bill to chop HST from home heating A bill introduced into the provincial legislature by the NDP that would remove the harmonized sales tax from home heating bills has passed second reading. The bill passed by a vote of 54-50. The defeat for the Liberal minority government comes less than a week into its first legislative session since the October election but isn’t necessarily a long-lived one. Even with the Progressive Conservatives throwing their weight behind the HST legislation, the governing Liberals can still block it by refusing to call the bill for third and final reading in the legislature. On Thursday Premier Dalton McGuinty said it’s hard enough for the minority Liberals to find enough money in Ontario’s cash-strapped coffers to fulfill their own campaign promises, without trying to find the cash to fund those of the opposition parties.
Yet the premier says he wants to find “common ground” with his rivals in what’s turning out to be a combative legislative session. The Liberals and opposition parties are battling it out with duelling legislation: the NDP — backed by the Tories — are fighting for the HST cut on home heating, while the Liberals are pushing a home renovation tax credit for seniors. With the Liberals one seat short of a majority, neither side can get their legislation passed without some support — or abstentions — from the other side of the chamber. McGuinty said he wants the support of the NDP on the tax credit, which formed part of the Liberals’ election platform. But he wouldn’t reciprocate by backing their HST bill, which will cost the province $350 million a year in lost revenue. The proposed tax credit will create jobs, while the HST cut won’t, he said.
The government found room in its red-ink budget to fund the tax credit, which will cost $136 million a year once fully implemented, McGuinty said. “It’s going to be challenging enough for us to fund our platform, let alone now to find ways to fund their platforms,” he said after visiting a 91-year-old woman in Hornby, Ont., to promote the tax credit. “So we’re going to be focused now on different ways to move forward.” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she doesn’t understand why the Liberals are giving corporations billions of dollars in tax breaks, but say they can’t afford to give families a break on their heating bills. “The government keeps telling us there’s no revenue to help families, but billions and billions of dollars are available for corporate tax giveaways, billions of dollars are available for hikes to CEOs salaries and billions of dol-
lars are available to move private power plants to help get votes for Liberals,” she told the legislature. The Liberals have also pledged to reduce tuition for some post-secondary students, which will cost $423 million a year once fully implemented. Deputy premier Dwight Duncan said Thursday that blocking the final reading of the HST bill isn’t subverting the will of parliament. “We won the election, we have the most seats in the house, we’re the government, we’re the one who calls orders at third reading and we will call the orders that we think reflect the results of the election,” he said outside the chamber. It’s disappointing to hear Duncan say that the Liberals will block the “popular” bill, said Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak. The Canadian Press,
Canadian Commercial Corporation to invest in Ghana President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday whipped up Canadian investor interest in Ghana, as he began his official visit to that country. Significantly the visit is beginning to yield positive results with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), declaring its intention to increase its investment in Ghana, as well as partner the country to explore various opportunities of development in Ghana. At a meeting with President Mills on Friday in Ottawa, Canada, the leadership of the CCC, which is the main platform through which the Canadian investments are channeled to other countries, noted that the organization was impressed about the economic progress being made in Ghana. “We are ready to cooperate fully with Ghana,” said Marc Whittingham, President of the CCC, which is currently working on some 2 billion dollars worth of development projects in the power, mining, rail, health, aviation and oil and gas sectors in Ghana. Delighted at President Mills’ visit which he believes would enhance the cooperation between the two countries, and Ghana’s relations with the CCC, Mr. Whittingham, announced that the CCC would next invest in a second
power project at Takoradi in support of expanding the nation’s power pool. “We see vision in Ghana, and the CCC is proud to partner such a country in a win-win situation,” he stressed. He also announced that a team of investors from the Corporation would be in Ghana next week to explore new areas of cooperation and investment, adding that the various financial institutions in Canada have developed more interest in funding projects in Ghana due to her consolidated economic and political stability. President Mills, who was glad for the expression of support by the Cooperation, indicated that such partnership from Canada would be very helpful in government’s quest for enhanced infrastructural development. “Ghana is making a lot of progress in the infrastructural development, but a lot more remains to be done,” he said, adding that “we want to welcome more investments from Canada in that direction. ” He assured the Corporation of his government’s cooperation to advance the ties with the investor group, and the Canada in general, saying “this is the kind of relations we desire to enhance the welfare of our people. ”
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photos found in trees A B.C. man has seized two surveillance cameras he says RCMP had hidden in trees near his trailer home, and they are full of images from crime scenes and investigations. Dion Nordick of Grand Forks told CBC News on Tuesday he found the motionactivated cameras in June, in trees overlooking the trailer he rents. They are now in his lawyer’s possession. Nordick said he took the cameras down, removed the memory cards inside, and found pictures of himself and his friends coming and going from his trailer among the 200 images on the cameras. There were also pictures of drug busts, suicides and assaults, “and it looked like they just hadn’t been erased off the card,” said Nordick. He said he saw a photo of a dead body and images of a woman who was the apparent victim of an assault. “That corpse that I viewed is someone’s loved one. Those pictures of that woman standing in her brassiere, covered in bruises — she probably had a hard time letting the police take those pictures. She probably had a hard time going to the police,” said Nordick. The cameras even had pictures of police installing the devices in the trees. He said he was alerted to the cameras because they used a flash when they were filming.
”I would say it’s 100 per cent sloppy police work. It’s Charlie Brown technique, I would say,” said Nordick. Nordick said he believes the RCMP installed the cameras in the trees because he is a graffiti artist and they wanted to track his movements to help determine if he had been spray-painting tags around the community. He said RCMP raided his home in June and told the local media they found evidence of a grow-op, but no actual marijuana plants. They also found spray paint and stencils, which they took, he said. Nordick said he gave the cameras to his lawyer, Jesse Gelber, who said police had no right to be on the property installing surveillance cameras. “Generally, police don’t have judicial authorization on private land. That’s not legal; that’s trespass,” said Gelber. Gelber said he is keeping the cameras until he gets an explanation from police. But the RCMP say they want their cameras returned. “The fact that someone has committed a criminal act and stolen our cameras certainly is, I guess, a concern for RCMP and for our investigators,” said Sgt. Dan Seibel. Seibel also said RCMP would not be recommending any charges related to drugs or graffiti-related mischief. CBC
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Public safety Spokesperson Sgt. Pierre Chamberland acknowledged the OPP had undercover officers involved in the G20 but declined to speak about specifics, saying the force can’t comment on operational matters. But he said generally, undercover agents are constrained in what they can say and do by strict policies. “So it’s not a matter of like you would see on television where they can do or say whatever they want. They’re not authorized to break the law unless they have special permissions,” he said. Chamberland affirmed that the main motivation for using undercover officers is, like most police work, to protect the public. “We’re always concerned about public safety. That’s our number 1 concern,” he said. Stacey sees it differently, arguing that undercover agents create a chill effect on activism. “The practice of infiltration and undercover policing of political protest is legally about making a case for conviction, but politically about creating a culture of fear about dissent.” CBC News
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Undercover operatives The Crown built its case against the 17 around the work of the two officers, Ontario Provincial Police members Bindo Showan and Brenda Carey. It was a massive case: 59 criminal charges in all, more than 70,000 pages of Crown evidence disclosed to the defence, and months of scheduled testimony. Earlier this fall, Showan told the court about how he attended a meeting prior to the Toronto summit. There, a protestplanning group that included several of the 17 main G20 defendants was discussing whether to lend their support to a First Nations rally. Adam Lewis, one of the 17 accused conspirators in the G20 case, interjected, “Kill whitey!” The group chuckled. Lewis, like all but one of his co-accused, is white. When a Crown lawyer asked the officer what he thought Lewis meant, Showan said in complete seriousness, to “kill white people.” “Deliberately or accidentally, the undercover officers misinterpreted hyperbolic jokes as literal statements of belief,” said Kalin Stacey, a community organizer, friend and supporter of the defendants. “This undercover case highlights the incentive for undercovers to ensure that charges are laid.” Canada-wide surveillance The two undercover officers at the core of the Crown’s case were just a small part of a Canada-wide operation to spy on activist groups in the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the G20 summit in Toronto and the G8 meeting in Huntsville, Ont. RCMP records obtained under freedom of information legislation reveal that at least 12 undercover officers infiltrated groups. Organizations in Vancouver, the southern Ontario cities of Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto and Montreal were scrutinized. In all, the RCMP-led joint intelligence group — a conglomeration of federal, provincial and municipal police tasked with G8/G20 reconnaissance — employed more than 500 people at its peak, the records show. The group ran under-
cover operations, recruited confidential informants and liaised with domestic and foreign governments, law enforcement agencies and even corporations. The JIG’s targets included activists protesting the Olympics, the migrant-justice group No One Is Illegal, Southern Ontario Anarchist Resistance and Greenpeace. “The 2010 G8 summit in Huntsville ... will likely be subject to actions taken by criminal extremists motivated by a variety of radical ideologies,” reads a JIG report from June 2009, before the G20 summit was scheduled, that sets out the intelligence group’s mission. “These ideologies may include variants of anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism, nihilism, socialism and/or communism. ‘We’re always concerned about public safety. That’s our number 1 concern.’— Sgt. Pierre Chamberland, OPP spokesperson “The important commonality is that these ideologies ... place these individuals and/ or organizations at odds with the status quo and the current distribution of power in society.” The surveillance was widespread. Campers at Rattlesnake Provincial Park west of Toronto were monitored, while another document indicates that police had a process in place “to obtain information on registered campers” who stayed at Algonquin Provincial Park and Arrowhead Provinical Park, both of which are within driving distance of Hunstville. And RCMP records suggest that the reconnaissance continues. Report logs indicate at least 29 incidents of police surveillance between the end of the G20 summit and April 2011 — more than nine months after world leaders departed Toronto. The same document indicates that the RCMP-led intelligence team made a series of presentations to private-sector corporations, including one to “energy sector stakeholders” in November 2011. Other corporations that received intelligence from police included Canada’s major banks, telecom firms, airlines, downtown property companies and other businesses seen to be vulnerable to the effects of summit protests.
CO
Police organizations across the country co-operated to spy on community organizations and activists in what the RCMP called one of the largest domestic intelligence operations in Canadian history, documents reveal. Information about the extensive police surveillance in advance of last year’s G8 and G20 meetings in southern Ontario comes from evidence presented in the case of 17 people accused of orchestrating street turmoil during the summits. The court case ended Tuesday before it went to trial. Six of the defendants pleaded guilty to counselling mischief and two of those to an additional count of counselling to obstruct police, while 11 people had their criminal charges dropped. Testimony previously under a publication ban describes how two undercover police officers — one male, one female — spent 18 months infiltrating southern Ontario community groups ahead of the June 26-27, 2010, gathering of world leaders. They were part of a much larger socalled joint intelligence group (JIG) operation that the RCMP, in its internal post-summit review, called “likely the largest JIG ever assembled in Canada.”
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Morocco votes in first election since reforms Moroccans voted Friday in the country’s first legislative election since the constitution was reformed to give parliament more power, with an Islamist party expected to post strong gains. The election, the second in north Africa since the Arab Spring uprisings began, pits the moderately Islamist Justice and Development party against a coalition loyal to King
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parties — the Popular Movement and Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar’s National Rally of Independents. The election risks being marred by tradionally low turnout, however, as well as a boycott call by the pro-reform February 20 movement. The election comes less than five months after a July referendum overcont'd on pg. 26
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The Ghanaian News
November 2011
23
Hot Exchanges Over Kumasi Military Hospital MEMBERS OF Parliament on Tuesday engaged in heated arguments and wild gesticulations over the construction of a proposed 500bed military hospital near the Sofoline Interchange in Kwadaso, Kumasi in the Ashanti region.
Leader Osei KyeiMensah-Bonsu and other NPP MPs to seek further clarification on rumours that government intended to divert the hospital project to Accra generated heat, virtually reaching boiling point in the House.
The apparent confusion ensued following an urgent question from the New Patriotic Party MP for Kwadaso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, asking the Minister for Defence when the construction of the hospital would commence.
“There are rumours that you want to divert the hospital to elsewhere. We need your assurance that this is not true,” Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei told Defence Minister amid shouts of “sit down sit down” from the Majority side.
The MP did not understand why the project, which was awarded to a contractor before the Kufuor administration left office, was not being executed by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) three years after taking over power, probably giving credence to rumours that government intended to divert the project to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
It all started when Majority Leader Cletus Avoka accused the Minority Leader of using gesticulations that did not show respect to other members in the House.
He contended that the long delay in executing the project was denying the people in the northern part of the country the needed medical emergency services. Attempts by Minority
“The Minority Leader has the habit of using wild gestures to intimidate members and this is an acceptable,” Mr. Avoka remarked. Replying sharply, the Minority debunked the claim, stressing it was rather the Majority Leader who had the record of showing disrespect to members. The altercation flared up tempers, compelling First Deputy Speaker Edward
Doe Adjaho, who was chairing proceedings in the House, to call for ceasefire. “You are the leaders of the House and you should make my work easy,” Mr. Adjaho, who is also the MP for Ave/Avenor, urged. Answering the question from Kwadaso MP, Dr. Akoto, the Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Joseph Smith, indicated that the project had not started because 90 percent of the land earmarked for it had been encroached, with the remaining 10 percent going to Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly for a community project. This, he stated, was based on a report received on November 21, 2011. The Minister told the House he had set up a committee on November 21, 2011 to resolve the issue of the land, promising that once the matter of encroachment was sorted out, the project was going to commence in Kumasi and not diverted to Accra. “Every effort is being made so that we start the project as soon as possible,” the Defence Minister added.
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But Dr. Afriyie Akoto disagreed, pointing out that those occupying the land where car mechanics who had been there for the past 50 years and were prepared to relocate
any time government wanted to commence the project. “The mechanics are aware of the relocation because I am in touch with their executives,” Dr.
Akoto maintained, stressing the mechanics were in four groups and all of them had given him their word they would relocate for the project to commence.
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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Government would soon receive four helicopters from the Chinese Government to provide security and surveillance in the oil and gas fields in the Western Region, Vice President John Dramani Mahama, has announced.
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“This will be complimentary to the recent provision of patrol boats to the Ghana Navy, which would help in all the peace keeping programmes the country’s security has been undertaking.” Vice President Mahama announced this when Lt General Lian Guanlee, Minister for National Defence of China led a 21member delegation to call on him at the Castle, Osu. The delegation apart from visiting the Vice President, also visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, where they laid wreaths on the tombs of the First President of Ghana and his wife. They also held bilateral talks
bordering on peace and security between the two countries. This is the first time a sitting Chinese Minister for Defence has visited Ghana since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
age,” he emphasized. Lt. General Guanlee said his visit which was at the instance of the Ghanaian Government was to enhance mutual understanding and to strengthen the relations between the two countries.
Vice President Mahama said the Chinese government had over the years been instrumental in moulding Ghana’s socioeconomic activities, particularly in the provision of loans and grants towards the procurement of equipment and infrastructure.
Lt. General Joseph Henry Smith, Minister for Defence, who led the Chinese delegation, announced that government had signed an agreement with the Chinese Government, where China would provide a grant of 20 million yuan to procure military equipment of their choice.
“Ghana has been engaged in many peace keeping missions and China has been very supportive in that direction which is raising our national im-
He promised to cement relations with China in the coming years to ensure mutual benefit and development between them.
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The Ghanaian News
November 2011
25
The Oil Is Not Flowing .... Jubilee producing less than expected Anadarko Petroleum Corp. APC said Wednesday that Ghana’s massive Jubilee oilfield is producing less than expected and that some wells will have to be reworked in order to try to achieve the original production target.
president worldwide operations, told analysts during a conference call to discuss earnings. The problem wasn’t associated with early depletion of the reservoir, but rather with the way wells were completed, Meloy added.
“We have seen some greater-than-anticipated drawdown in several of the wells,” Charles Meloy, Anadarko’s senior vice
“The operator and the partnership have concluded that it’s in the best interest of our development to go and see if we
can remediate” the problem, Meloy said. The company hopes Jubilee will achieve its target production once wells are reworked, but a longerthan-anticipated production ramp up could potentially increase the project’s development costs and reduce net equity production to the field’s partners. Anadarko, which hold a
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Asked by an analyst how much it would cost to rework the Jubilee wells, Meloy referred the ques-
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The head of Anadarko also said the company expects to increase its capital expenditures next year over this year’s budget of up to $6.3 billion.
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
Akwamuman Association of Ontario
A Clarion Call Odeneho Nana Kwafo Akoto sons and daughters of Akwamu traditional area in the Eastern Region of Ghana, resident in Ontario and their families and all people who recognize their historical, cultural and spiritual ties with Akwamu are kindly requested to come together urgently to consider and discuss plans in support of development projects and other relevant issues in Akwamu State. Contacts: Barima Darko Margaret Owusu Comfort Ennin Augustina Dampare Faustina Owusu Ansah
416-419-7762 905-455-2433 416-614-2736 647-294-6454 647-462-4313
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OKOFOROBO AKWAMU KOTOI Long Live Akwamu State! Long Live Ghana!
Morocco votes in first election since reforms cont'd from pg. 22 whelmingly approved a new constitution proposed by the 47-year-old king as neighbouring autocratic regimes toppled. The amended constitution gives parliament a greater role in the legislative process and strengthens the role of the prime minister, who now must be appointed by the king from the party which wins the most seats in the assembly. The February 20 movement, which also called for a boycott on the referendum on the constitutional changes, argues the reforms do not go far enough and that the election will only give credibility to an undemocratic regime. Analysts blame a lack of faith on the part many Moroccans that lawmakers will work to improve their living conditions for voter indifference. “Many Moroccans do not have the sense that the platforms put forward by parties will change their daily lives,” said Haizam
Amirah Fernandez, senior analyst for the Arab world at Spanish think tank Real Instituto Elcano. “There is something that never fails. If a citizen sees that his vote can change his daily life, he votes. If he does not believe his vote can change his daily life, he does not vote.” During the last legislative elections in 2007, only 37 percent of eligible voters took part — and of those 19 percent deposited blank ballots. Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi’s centre-right Independence party took the most votes in that election, winning 52 seats, followed closely by the Justice and Development Party which took 47 seats. The Islamist party focused initially on social issues, such as opposition to summer music festivals and the sale of alcohol, but has shifted to issues with broader voter appeal like the fight against corruption and high unemployment.
The party promises to cut poverty in half and raise the minimum wage by 50 percent. Morocco’s complex proportional representation system lends itself to fractured parliaments and no party is expected to obtain an absolute majority on its own so the winner will have to govern in a coalition. In all, 31 parties are vying for the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament — 70 more than during the last election in 2007. The new seats are reserved for women and others for younger deputies in a bid to give the assembly, until now dominated by ranking public figures, a more modern look. Of the 13.5 million Moroccans eligible for voting, over half — 57 percent — are 35 or younger. Voting stations opened at 8 am (0800 GMT) and will close at 7 pm with the first provisional official results expected several hours later. Final results will be announced Saturday. AFP
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Offeh-Gyimah The Ghanaian Abena News Kwatemaa November 2011
27
Community Information Prophet Samuel Bakare Are you in NEED OF PRAYERS? The solutions are here for all your problems: Bible says "Come unto me all ye that are heavy loaded .." Jesus Christ is your solution, the Anointed Man of God is here with you to pray over your problems, mention how big or great they are. Please don't hesitate to call the Prophet, Man of God
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28
The Ghanaian News November 2011
The
Youth Journal MOVINGFORWARD WITH OUR YOUTH THE FUTURE OFOUR COMMUNITY
Future Fit: Preparing Young Ghanaian University Students Well for the World of Work By Kwabena Akuoko, MSW, RSW, Toronto
Despite the significant increase in the number of universities in Ghana in recent years, it seems that they are not doing enough in terms of preparing graduates for employment. This fact is confirmed by none other than the Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey who recently commented that many people are graduating from universities unfit for the world of work. On his recent appearance on Ghana’s Joy FM radio program, the Springboard, Dr. Aryeetey sounded the alarm bell by pointing out that many Ghanaian university graduates lack employable skills. Presumably, Dr. Aryeetey’s remarks are not reflective of mature or adult university graduates who have had lived experiences, including diverse employment backgrounds before they decided to pursue university studies. It can therefore be fairly assumed that the Vice Chancellor was referring to young and inexperienced university graduates. The head of Ghana’s leading university statement that many people graduate from universities without the rudimentary skills to enter the workforce raises serious concerns that must be addressed before it is too late. Undoubtedly, educating people for employability in modern knowledgebased economy is a necessity, which must become a higher priority for every country. And hence Ghana must ensure that top quality and employable university graduates are produced yearly to meet the demands of the workplace in order to propel the economic development agenda. Young university graduates need to be equipped with the right skills to succeed in the workplace because today’s labour market expects students to take personal responsibility for developing the competences that will help make them employable and their employers competitive. It is thus important that students are not only well educated, but also well informed about the skills necessary to cope with the demands of modern life and work. For being well educated and well informed are conducive to successful career experience. The popular belief
that scholastic competency alone is the pathway to successful career is not true because employable skills are equally important to succeed in the workforce. To this end, Ghana’s higher education policymakers have a sense of responsibility to innovate the educational policy in order to produce employment-ready young graduates for easy transition into the labour force and beyond. That fact that many Ghanaian university graduates are unfit for employment clearly suggests that the National Service program does not sufficiently prepare students for employment. Universities need to expose all students to work experience before they graduate. In addition to the National Service, which is a post-graduation program, internships must become integral part of Ghana’s higher educational curriculum in order to provide job experience to students. Thus in addition to program specific core courses, universities must also be well equipped to provide a framework within which all students, not only those in professional programs are exposed to meaningful employment experience before graduation. While employers train new employees on the job, the onus is always on the novice employees to have broad range of abilities to make a smooth transition to the workplace. Graduates should be trained in skills that will allow them to contribute meaningfully to their employers’ development and future growth because employers view employable skills as important consideration when recruiting new employees. It is in this context that the quality of higher education in Ghana must be assured through the development of robust and wide-ranging national quality assurance frameworks, which cover the key areas of tertiary institutions’ operations in the areas of courses
taught.This will contribute to Ghana’s economic prosperity and its human capital that are essential factors for a more competitive and dynamic 21st century society. Innovative education is thus seen as central to fostering skills development among Ghanaian university graduates. In the nutshell, Ghana’s efforts to become economic power may be at serious risk without a cutting edge higher educational system. Well-rounded university education is of paramount importance to a country’s economic and social development. It inculcates relevant knowledge and advanced skills in graduates and also provides society with the human capital required for leadership, management, business and other professional positions. Ghanaian higher educational providers therefore have a duty to shift the focus on improving the employability of learners. This must lead to greater attention on a range of institutional policies and practices that focus on students’ learning, which seek to address their deficits of knowledge and skills that are conducive to the complexities of today’s world of work. Quality education, which includes adequate preparation of graduates for effective labour force participation and a country’s social and economic progress are intertwined. Therefore, Ghanaian universities must be required to establish career centres tasked with the responsibility of instructing students pertinent employment skills. Private and public sector employers must become strategic partners in the training of our young university students for the world of work. This can be done through vital internship programs and delivery of guest lectures by employment recruiters who can help students appreciate the relevance and the link between what they learn in the classroom and workplace knowledge base and expectations. Such innovative teaching and learning approaches will benefit young university graduates by helping them to develop skills necessary for employment. It will also equip them with the capacity to function well on the job initially, be able to move between jobs and most importantly, remain employable throughout their work life. 1
The Ghanaian News online Check it out www.ghanaiannews.ca
ABORTION: AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WITH THE YOUTH By: Abena Kwatemaa Offeh-Gyimah
Abortion is a silent topic in the Ghanaian community. It almost seems forbidden to talk or even hiss about it. But the reality is most pregnant women whether married or unmarried face the difficult choice of keeping or aborting their unborn child. Abortion is more than just terminating a fetus, most women carry an emotional, mental and physical strain that often haunts them. This can be due in part to either going against their religious, cultural, family or personal values. In our community, the topic of abortion is barely discussed within the family, or church organization, but the reality is, abortion is prevalent among the young women. Within the community, abortion is usually simplified as either “God does not like it,” or “you are going to hell,” but the issue is much more in depth than that. In today’s society, young women are taught to view abortion with a different lens. It involves the woman’s right to her body, her mental and emotional ability to prepare and raise a child, her
financial circumstance or support, her relationship with God, and etc. The subject of abortion needs to be discussed in the homes of every parent. It is important especially for families who have girls, and even if they don not, it is still imperative. If parents fail to discuss such issues with their youth, they will get the wrong information from else where. Sometimes, in the Ghanaian homes, parents feel or think because they are the authorative figure their children will most likely fear them and do as they say but modern society has taken a different route in shaping the growing youth. Life has changed and society
is no longer the same. Many young children have access to the internet and advice from friends that have little or no experience in life. It is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on these topics. Sometimes, parents feel that when they discuss such topics with their children, they are giving them the right to indulge in it. However, it is important to provide your child with your perspective on this issue and why you may or may not agree with their point of view. It is usually preached that the children are the future but if the children are the future then the values of their parents should be passed on to build a better society. Today’s society is a very different society, children are taught to be free by doing as they please but without guidance and direction many children will inevitably make mistakes that will haunt them. It is important for us, as Ghanaians, both parents and youth to open up to each other and discuss issues that are central to raising our children and providing them with the tools to succeed in life.
Black Youth and the Culture of Bling By Kwaku Wirekoh-Boateng
We live in a materialistic society. Take a trip to your local shopping center or watch television for a few minutes and this fact will become quite clear. Our society places emphasis on what you own—not who you are. This reality prevails in most aspects of our society, but it is without a doubt most apparent in the mainstream media. The culture of materialism conspicuously presents itself on television shows, in magazines, in movies, and especially in music videos. The projections of the mainstream media resonate most with young people, who are generally more impressionable than older folks. Given this fact, it is not a stretch to conclude that media informs the values of many of our youth today.
Research suggests that young people today are more materialistic than those of generations past. The truth is that the same can be said of the general population, but the focus of this article will be on young people, and particularly black youth for obvious reasons. Among black youth, there is a real sense of obsession with brand names, designer labels, the latest gadgets, and so forth. In most cases, the roots of this obsession can be traced to a popular music video. Such is the extent of influence that the media often has on young minds. The media is unwavering in its parade of materialistic conceits. Young people are constantly told that they need to get the latest designer jeans or that new must-have smart phone in order to gain the respect of their peers. Whether it is in a music video or a reality show, the materialistic culture prevails. It is little wonder, then, that many youth today view the world through a materialistic paradigm. A number of problems arise when young people embrace this culture. Those who lack the means to acquire the valued objects may develop a low sense of self-worth. Re-
search indicates that there is a direct correlation between low self-esteem and materialism: as self-esteem decreases, materialism increases. This is particularly true of those who are younger. Moreover, some youth resort to illegal activities to procure the objects of desire, lacking the means to acquire them legally. The unhealthy desire for material possessions and the unlawful behaviour it sometimes inspires has landed an inordinate number of black youth in prisons in Canada and America. These possibilities are just two of the potential negative outcomes of materialism. In order to instill positive values in children, parents have to be cognizant of the negative influences that pervade our society—especially media influence. When they understand the extent to which the media inundates the youth with enticements, parents will be better able to help them stave off the constant pressures they face. Undoubtedly, counteracting this culture is a formidable challenge; but it is nevertheless a challenge that parents must face. Our youth need to learn to value people, not possessions.
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
29
BUSINESS Qualities and Attributes of Entrepreneurship By Eddie Twumasi Smith Bsc(Hons) Chem Eng, MBA,CGA
In October 2011 edition of the Ghanaian News, I wrote an article with the caption “self-employment –career option”. The idea was to provoke our thinking and raise the awareness of self directed businesses in our community. The Canadian fiscal and economic polices provides enabling environment for self operated and family owned businesses, however the key question to is, is self employment suitable for everyone? Katherine Kammer of Kammer Associate a career consultant with over 23 years of experience based in Atlanta, USA recommend MyersBriggs tests as well as Birkman Advance Report for assessing our personality traits and desire or ability to venture into self employment. These tests or psychometric based tools administered by a trained consultant can help us in determining if we have what it takes to move solo. In the book, Breakaway Careers Bill Radin writes success in self employment really comes down to just three things, idealism, the ability to execute and the desire to compete. Execution, he continues, is the ability to have the basic business sensibilities or translate opportunities into revenue, manage finances, organize recordkeeping and communicate effectively. This article will attempt to highlight some of the key qualities and attributes needed for successful self employment. 1) Be a Planner When you start a business, one of your first tasks will be to work through a business plan. As your business becomes operational, you’ll find that this plan needs to be revised and that other plans need to be
created, as you work towards the long-range goals that you’ve set for your business. From following someone else’s plan as an employee, you have to learn how to create your 4Ps (Product/services, Pricing, Promotion & Placement/distribution strategies) and adapt the 4Ps to changing circumstances in the external environment. 2) Be a Risk Taker As a self-employed entrepreneur, there’s no guarantee that the products or services you offer will be in demand six months from now. There’s no guarantee that your customers will pay their bills on time or even pay them at all. There’s no guarantee that your current big client, who seems to be perfectly happy with your work, won’t drop you next week. There’s actually no guarantee that you will make any income this month or the month after. You have to be able to think about the uncertainties and how to mitigate those probably risks. 3) Be Motivated & Energized Bluntly, starting a business takes energy, and you need to be able to give it 100 percent. You can’t afford to just coast along, or go through the motions, if you’re running a business. Your customer and/ or clients need to know that you are devoting 100 percent of your talent or skill or attention to them and will go elsewhere if they don’t feel this is the case. 4) Be a Strong Flexible Decision Maker And once you start a business, there’s nowhere to pass the buck. As an employee, you may be used to passing problems up along the food chain or not be very involved in decision making. As a selfemployed business owner, you’re the one who will have to deal with whatever the crisis is and solve the problem. You’re the one who will have to make the decisions. 5) Be Innovative When you’re an employee, other people tell
you what to do, either directly or indirectly. You get used to having your actions directed by others. But you have to direct your own actions as a small business owner. To be successful, self directed businesses have to be able to position itself with smart products and innovation that the larger companies are not offering their clients or customers within given market segment. 6) Be an Opportunist Most employees do what they’re assigned to do. There’s someone else who’s “assigned” to look out for opportunities, either a boss in a small business, or perhaps a sales department or a managerial team in a large corporation. If you start a business, you need to be the one constantly watching for opportunities and be able to recognize them when you see them. It might be a small opportunity, such as the chance to pick up a new client, or a large one, such as getting your product on the shelves in a large retail chain, but as a small business owner, you have to keep scanning the horizon yourself and positioning yourself to benefit from the opportunities that you find. 7) Be Persistent Finally, one ingredient required for successful self employment is consistency and tenacity for getting the job done and satisfactorily to the customer at all times. Let me end with Dave Barry words in Claw Your Way to the top “Well, why not? What, really, are you getting from your company job, aside from a steady paycheck, regular raises, job security, extensive medical benefits and comfortable pension? Hey, is that all you’re worth? Try doing it all by yourself and earning all the rewards”. By Eddie Twumasi Smith Bsc (Hons) Chem Eng, MBA, CGA E m a i l : eddiesmith77@gmail.com
I want to be a lawyer By: Jayson Schwarz LL.M. and Alexandra Schwarz HBSc. These days, understanding the road map to becoming a professional, and particularly a lawyer, can be as puzzling as trying to weave your way through downtown New York City. Everyone has an opinion on what you should do and where you should go. I have asked my daughter Alexandra who is a second year law student at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University to help me write this article and simplify the road map. The process is as follows: university; law school; bar admission course; articling; practice. In order to be accepted into a law school, you must first attend a (recognized) university. I recommend taking subject matter that you are interested in, as the degree you acquire at university does not influence whether or not a law school will accept you. It is important that you take higher level courses as you work your way through the undergraduate process as law schools are looking to see growth and progress. Marks are extremely important at this stage; most law schools recognize that first year university marks are usually lower and improve as time goes on. However, the earlier you can achieve higher marks the better, as grade point averages usually include first year. If you know from the start that you are interested in working in business or corporate law, I suggest taking business in undergrad, however this is not required as you can take business law courses in law school plus you will learn the necessary skills on the job. Once in university, you have to write the Law School Admission Test (“LSAT”). This is a standardized test by which your critical and analytical skills are assessed. Many courses are offered to help you prepare for the various sections of the test and to help improve time management skills; I took a month long course and it helped immensely. If you feel that you have the self motivation and organization to study without a course, many books are practice tests are available at the book store.
After you have your transcript and LSAT mark in hand, the next step is writing your application. Law schools want to know why you want to be a student there as well as why they should choose you amongst all the applicants. This is not a time to be modest; you have to show them why you are an excellent and worthwhile candidate. Highlight your accomplishments, be they academic, extra curricular or by community service. Furthermore, comment on a positive and specific aspect of the school such as interesting classes they offer, wellknown professors or the city it is in. It is also useful to explain why you want to go into the field of law. Each school puts emphasis on different aspects of the application package. Be careful to watch out for application deadlines, normally the beginning of November, and make sure to order your transcripts early because they may take a few weeks to get mailed out. Once you have been accepted to a law school, the hard work begins! There are many law schools across Canada from Victoria, BC to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Attendance at any Canadian school will allow you to practice anywhere in the country. Your first year of law school is extremely important, as the marks you achieve that year will be used in the future when looking for a second year summer student position. Take your marks seriously; law school can be a lot of fun, but always remember why you are there – to be a lawyer. While there is an opportunity to get a law-related job in your summer after first year law, it is not necessary, as the focus is more on summering at a law firm after second year. After your first year, you will start to prepare applications for these second year summer student positions. This package includes your undergraduate and law school transcript, your resume, a list of courses you intend to take in cont'd on pg. 39
Jayson Schwarz Law Office 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
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
The Ghanaian News
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For more information please In Ghana: 0243-360315 / 0240-328242 / 0278-204993 In Canada call Ghanaian News - 416-916-3700
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
His Excellency President John Evan
President addressing participants at the Town Hall meeting
President Evans Atta Mills delivering a speech at Townhall meeting
The Late High Commissioner welcoming President Evans Atta Mills
Mr. George P General for B Consul-Gener
President Evans Att Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni addressing the participants
Jonathan Annobil, Ghanaian News Reporter shaking hands with President Atta Mills
Invited guests
Presidential motorcade arriving at the Embassy
Cross section of participants
Cross section of participants
President Evans Atta Mills, High Commissioner Dr. Turkson, Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, and other officials.
Cross section of participants
High table from left, Nana Osei Mensah, The Late H.C. Dr.Turkson, H. E. Prof. Evans Atta Mills, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohammad Mumuni, and Mr. Kwaku Agyei, President of Ghana Association Ottawa
President Evans Atta Mills with invited guests before the ribbon cutting ceremony
Cross section of participants
Cross section of participants
Presidential Press Corps from Ghana
Cross section of participants
Cross section of partici
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
ns Atta Mills Ottawa visit in pictures
iprah, Honorary ConsulBC, and Mr. Kodjo Mawutor, ral for Toronto
His Excellency Prof. Evans Atta Mills
The Late H.E. Dr. Turkson, introducing the President
Kwaku Agyei, moderator
Refurbished Ghana Chancery Building, Ottawa
a Mills, High Commissioner Dr. Turkson with embassy staff.
ipants
President with Nananom
President Evans Atta Mills leaving the reception
Delegation from Montreal
Nananom from Toronto
President Evans Atta Mills with his past students at University of Ghana, Legon.
Giving of vote of thanks Nananom
From left, Mr. Emmanuel Ayiku of Ghanaian News, Ms. Eunice Appiah Ghana Cosulate, the Very Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare Kusi, Ghana Methodist Church
Cross section of participants
Cross section of participants
Cross section of participants
Children from the Ghanaian Language and Cultural Association of Ottawa
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
PEOPLE AND PLACES Constable Don Yirenkyi receives Planet Africa Award
Dr. Shafiq Qaadri helps open Royal Bank of Canada's newest branch in Etobicoke North
Opening ceremony for RBC Branch, Etobicoke
On Saturday, November 19, 2011, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, MPP for Etobicoke North along with Councillor Doug Ford helped inaugurate the newest Etobicoke North branch of the Royal Bank of Canada at
the intersection of Queen’s Plate Drive and Highway 27. The staff members of the branch were joined by senior RBC management, partners and clients for the opening, which included the presentation of a
$10,000 donation from RBC to the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish Program. The branch is located at 600 Queen’s Plate Drive and is open for business from Monday to Saturday.
The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri covenanted as the New Minister of Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, Toronto By Jonathan Annobil, Toronto
A special service celebrating covenant of Ministry was held at the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church on 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto on Sunday, November 6, 2011.
The Minister covenanted was the Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri (OS) and the congregation was the Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church.
Rev. Glen Smith, Past Chairperson South West Presbytery was the Presider at the covenant. The sermon before the covenant was delivered by the Very Rev. S.V. Mpereh of University of Toronto. In the presentation of convenant, the Very Reverend De Graft Semie Obiri was called upon to The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri with Clergy
The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri with Mary Queenship Obiri and children
The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri with family, invited clergy and guests
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
Lakeside Estate launches Community 8 project
Launch Community 8 Entrance
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Adenta, Nubyl Kakra Vanlare, has applauded the efforts of Lakeside Estate Limited, a leading real estate developer in the country, for providing affordable houses to complement strides by government to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
housing units are needed. It is by this that I commend you for your invaluable contribution to national development, “She said.
She explained that as per statistics, about one million new housing units were needed in Accra alone, which means that efforts by Lakeside Estate Ltd. Were more than needed to house the evergrowing population in the capital city.
The project is sited at New Legon in the Adenta Municipality in the Greater Accra region, would provide decent accommodation fitted with modern facilities such as gated communities, portable water and electricity, tarred roads, school, shopping mall, petrol filling station and the provision all-time security services.
“There’s an acute shortage of accommodation in the country, as statistics show that in Accra alone about one million new
Vanlare made the commendation at an event organized by Lakeside Estate to officially launch its ‘Community 8’ development.
The
launch
of
the
Cutting of Ribbon
Lakeside Community 8 project coincided with the 10th anniversary celebration of the company. Dignitaries in attendance at the launch of the project included Mr. Salem Kalmoni, the MD of Japan Motors Trading Company Ltd, Mr. Nouhad Kalmoni, and the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of Silver Star Auto Ltd, Mr. Salah Kalmoni, Director of Lakeside Estate Ltd, Col Timothy Barnes, Managing Director of Lakeside, Prince-Joseph Ayiku, Deputy Managing Director of Lakeside Estate and Mr. Lawrence De-Souza, the Marketing Manager of Lakeside Estate Ltd. The rest were, Mr. Mustapha Mohammed, and the Public Relations Officer.
The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri covenanted as the New Minister of Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, Toronto face the congregation by Rev. Glen Smith who invited him to make promises in the covenant of Ministry which he did. After that the congregation was also made to make their promise followed by presentation of symbols. The presbytery also made their covenant with the minister which was immediately followed the pastoral prayer and the Lord’s Prayer by the Very Reverend Obiri. The Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri was born on 1st March 1961 in Sekondi, and has 12 siblings. He attended Fijai Secondary School, Trinity
College and Trinity Theology Seminary, Legon where he had his external diploma in Theology and Bachelor in Divinity. He has served at a number of stations, including Sewua and Trede in Kumasi circuit, Abofour in Offinso circuit, Jukwa in Cape Coast circuit, Abandze in the Anomabu circuit. He was a Superintendent Minister from 1999 at Twifo Praso and Komenda in Cape Coast diocese, Ejura in the Effiduase diocese, Bawjiase and Ekumfi in the Winneba diocese. He is married to Mary Queenship Obiri and has
3 children, Charlotte, Mary Justina and De Graft Obiri. Rev. Father Gabriel Opoku Ware and Rev. Father Aba of St. John’s Anglican Church (Ghanaian Congregation) Rev. Frank O. Adu, Ghana Presbyterian Church, Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Asare-Kusi, Ghana Methodist Church, Rev. Jacob French, Rev. S.V. Mpere, U of T were all on hand to support the covenanting service. The Ghanaian News welcomes the Very Rev. De Graft Semie Obiri and family to Canada. Akwaaba.
Launching of Community 8 Legon House
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
WORLD NEWS Nigerians now travel through Ghana for lower fares to Europe At a time players in the aviation industry are complaining of the lopsidedness in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and many countries of the world, major European mega carriers are charging higher air fares from major Nigerian cities including Lagos and Abuja as against Accra, the Ghanaian capital to London and Frankfurt on first class, business class and economy tickets. A check on major airlines reservation system reveal that Nigerian passengers pay more to travel to European cities including London and Frankfurt if they book their flight from Lagos and Abuja as opposed to booking their flight from the Ghanaian capital Accra. According to an aviation expert, Mr. Chris Aligbe, who is chief executive officer of Belujane Konzults, booking a first class ticket on the Lagos - London route on British Airways on a one way fare will cost a passenger about $5,408 whereas the same booking for a passenger from Accra- London on British Airways for a way ticket which stands at $2,399. Same flight on British Airways between AbujaLondon on one way will cost passengers $5,288. He further explained flight booking between Lagos - Frankfurt on German carrier: Lufthansa Airlines will cost passengers $5,356 for a one way first class ticket, while same flight on the same airline between AccraFrankfurt will cost pas-
sengers $2,399. On Royal Dutch KLM Airline a one way first class ticket will passengers between Lagos London $4,236, while same flight between Accra- London will cost passengers $3,787. The lower fare offering according Aligbe is a strategy by the foreign airlines to get niche passengers on the first class cabin from Nigeria, only to fill it up with lower fare passengers from Ghana. Investigations further revealed that Nigerians passengers are paying more for business class seats from Lagos and Abuja to major European cities including London and Frankfurt as opposed to Accra. On British Airways one way business class fare passengers from Lagos London will cost $3,685, as opposed to flight booked from Accra - London going for $2,049 for one way fare. He further explained that Germany Airline Lufthansa business class one way booking from Lagos- Frankfurt goes for $3,981, whereas the same business class one way booking between AccraFrankfurt goes for $2,105. On the economy seat, passenger booking between Lagos - Frankfurt cost $749, as opposed to same flight one way economy between AbujaFrankfurt, which goes for $711, but same flight booking from AccraFrankfurt goes for $1,175.
Nigeria’s plastic bottle house
KLM one way economy booking between Lagos London cost $1,332, whereas between Accra - London on one way economy goes for $1,284. Same one way economy flight between Lagos Frankfurt on KLM cost $1,332, whereas same flight between AccraFrankfurt on economy cost $1,333. Aligbe explained that such fare offering is already positioning the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana as a hub for West Africa, with its lower fare offering by foreign airlines. He explained that many Nigerians now travel through Ghanaian airports where they could get cheaper fares to get to their destination. According to Aligbe, the only way for the Nigerian government to correct this abnormally is to engage the foreign airlines such that the lopsidedness in fares could be addressed. He said: “The threat to Nigeria from Ghana is a very serious threat. Ghana knows that it does not have the population; they know that the market is in Nigeria. “Most of the industries in Nigeria have relocated to Ghana, but the market is here. The airline industry market within the sub-region is here in Nigeria. “Nigerian airlines are dominating the west coast and Ghana wants to exploit this dominance and turn it to its advantage. thenationonlineng.net
On Royal Dutch Airline;
Ghanaian News is Now Online www.ghanaiannews.ca
Nigeria's first plastic house Nigeria’s first house built from discarded plastic bottles is proving a tourist attraction in the village of Yelwa. Hundreds of people - including government officials and traditional leaders - have been coming to see how the walls are built in the round architectural shape popular in northern Nigeria. The bottles, packed with sand, are placed on their side, one on top of the other and bound together with mud. “I wanted to see this building for myself as I was surprised to hear it was built from plastic bottles,” said Nuhu Dangote, a trader who travelled from the state capital, Kaduna, to see the house. “They were saying it in the market that it looks like magic, that you will be amazed when you see it, that is why I have come here to feed my eyes. “The whole world should come and look at it.” The real beauty of the house is its outside wall as the round bottoms of the exposed bottles produce a lovely design. But for those behind the project, its environmental benefits are what are most important. ‘Bullet-proof’ Twenty-five houses, which will be available to rent, are being built on this estate on land donated by a Greek businessman and environmentalist. Each house - with one bedroom, living room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen - uses an estimated 7,800 plastic bottles. This “bottle brick” technology started nine years
ago in India, South and Central America, providing a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional building bricks. Yahaya Ahmed of Nigeria’s Development Association for Renewable Energies, estimates that a bottle house will cost one third of what a similar house made of concrete and bricks would cost. It is also more durable. “Compacted sand inside a bottle is nearly 20 times stronger than bricks,” he says. “We are even intending to build a threestorey building.” The bottle houses are also ideally suited to the hot Nigerian climate because the sand insulates them from the sun’s heat, helping to keep room temperatures low. And because of the compact sand, they are bulletproof - which may also prove another attraction in more insecure parts of the north. A firm concrete foundation is laid to ensure that the structure is firm and stable - and the sand is sieved to make sure it is compact. “You need to sieve it to remove the stones otherwise it will not be nice and it would not be able to pass through the mouth of the bottle,” explains Dolly Ugorchi, who has been trained in bottle house building. Some have expressed concern about the amount of sand needed for the new houses. “My fear is that this building method will increase the demand for sand and even lead to an increase in the price of sand,” says
Mumuni Oladele, a mason in the southern city of Lagos “At the moment people looking for sand to build houses dig everywhere to get the sand. You can imagine what will happen when the demand for sand goes up to build bottle houses.” According to market research company Zenith International, most water in Nigeria is sold in small plastic bags, but it says the bottled water market is growing - accounting for about 20-25% of official sales, the equivalent of up to 500m litres a year. This means discarded plastic bottles are actually sought after in Nigeria where they are often used for storage or by street vendors to sell produce like peanuts. The bottles for these houses are currently being sourced from hotels, restaurants, homes and foreign embassies. The project is also hoping to help to remove children who do not go to school from their life on the streets. “I don’t want to be a beggar, I want to work and get paid - that is why I am doing this job,” says 15year-old Shehu Usman, who is working on the building site. “When I grow old I want to build myself a house with bottles,” he says. After the 25 houses have been completed, the next construction project for the Development Association for Renewable Energies will be a school on the estate, which street children like Shehu will be able to attend. BBC Africa
The Ghanaian News
Conservatives Failing New Canadian Families The Conservative government is failing new Canadians by banning applications for parental sponsorships, Liberals said today. “Family reunification is a right for new Canadians,” said Liberal Citizenship and Immigration Critic Kevin Lamoureux. “For some, it’s why they chose to immigrate here. By freezing sponsorships, the Conservatives are breaking a promise, and are breaking up families. What they are doing is wrong.” Liberals believe that family re-unification is an essential aspect of successful immigration to Canada. When in government, Liberals doubled parental sponsorships and made getting multi-year, multientry visitor visas for parents and grandparents easier. “First the Conservatives dramatically increased wait-times, now, under the false cover of dealing with the backlog they themselves created, they are forcing Canadian
families apart,” said Liberal Multiculturalism Critic Jim Karygiannis. “The Conservatives have failed, and families are paying for it.” Wait-times for parental sponsorships have increased over 100% in some cases since 2006. The processing time for an application can take almost a decade before a decision is made. “The Conservatives must be clear about their intentions,” said Lamoureux. They are reducing immigration levels by 11%, cutting sponsorships and forcing people to put their lives on hold. Either they are serious about immigration and family reunification or they are not. These extreme actions suggest they aren’t serious at all.” Liberals will continue to consult with stakeholders and impacted Canadians about the Conservatives’ cruel measures and will oppose any further actions taken against new Canadians by this government.
your upcoming years at law school as well as your cover letter for each firm to which you are applying. These applications are due beginning of September. Subsequently, firms will send a list of students with who they want to meet for first round interviews. This first round is called On Campus Interviews, where firm representatives visit each law school and carry out 17 minute long interviews with certain candidates. Depending on which school you attend and where you apply, different firms may or may not choose to visit your respective school. After that, firms will notify applicants whether they want them to come visit the firm for a second round interview. In Toronto, the second round interview process lasts three days. During this time, you schedule to meet interested firms multiple times to determine where you may be successful. On the final day of interviews, firms will call successful applicants to notify them of job offers. You are then hired as a second year summer student. Once you have this position, firms will usually offer you an articling position at the end of
the summer if you have done an adequate job. Articling is a ten month apprenticeship that occurs after your last year of law school and is required by the Law Society of Upper Canada as an example in Ontario, in order to become a lawyer. Before articling, however, it is common for law students to write the bar exam after finishing up law school, and then subsequently starting as an articling student. If you do not get a job during the OCI process, you have the responsibility to apply to other firms to try and find a summer job. It may also mean that you will have to go through another application process to acquire an articling position. After successfully completing this whole process, you will be licensed to practice law and you may call yourself a lawyer. Jayson Schwarz LL.M. is a real estate and business lawyer and partner in the firm Schwarz Law LLP. Alexandra schwarz is a 2nd year law student at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University
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TDSB votes in Flaherty to cut EI hike as deficit favour of targets slip Africentric high school The Toronto District School Board approved an Africentric high school in Toronto during a vote Wednesday night. Despite concerns raised by some trustees and a heated debate, the vote passed 14 to six. The location and opening date of the high school have yet to be determined, but the school division hopes to have it up and running within two years. Toronto currently has an Africentric elementary school, which opened in September 2009. Supporters of that school say it has been a success because it promotes a sense of pride and confi-
dence among students, while opponents see it as a form of segregation. Trustees have asked for a feasibility study to examine the elementary-tosecondary Africentric school pathway for students. The study will look at potential school models, course options and staffing implications. Staff will begin public consultations to gauge interest within “identified school communities, with the objective of having the secondary Africentric Alternative School in place within the next two years,” the TDSB said.
Minister Kenney Opens Nominations for Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism I want to be a lawyer
cont'd from pg. 31
November 2011
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today called on Canadians to submit nominations for the fourth annual Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism. The award pays tribute to people in Canada who have contributed to multiculturalism and the integration of new Canadians. It commemorates the legacy of the late Senator Paul Yuzyk, who worked to establish multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian identity. “Canada’s future depends upon our communities working together,” said Minister Kenney. “That is why we celebrate individuals who promote our shared Canadian values of acceptance, pluralism, and peaceful relations between communities in Canada. In taking on such leadership, these individuals help to foster an integrated, socially cohesive, and peaceful population in Canada. I encourage Canadians to support this award and nominate a friend, colleague or volunteer worker who makes outstanding efforts to build a stronger country.” While a single winner of the award is chosen each year, their selection is from one of two categories: Outstanding Achievement or Lifetime Achievement. The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group who has recently made a significant contribution to promote
and embrace Canada’s rich history and shared values, held by all communities in Canada. The Lifetime Achievement Award honours an individual who has demonstrated ongoing dedication to promoting a strong, peaceful and united Canada over a period of at least ten years. The award winner receives a certificate of honour, signed by the Minister, as well as the right to select an eligible, registered, not for profit Canadian organization to receive a $20,000 grant from the Government of Canada. Baljit Sethi, who received the award this past year, recently selected the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George to receive this $20,000 grant. Nominations for the 2012 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism must be postmarked by March 1, 2012. More information is available at www.cic.gc.ca/paulyuzyk. A public service announcement about the award can be viewed on CIC’s YouTube Channel at http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gmQ4xy_m4.
CONTACTINFORMATION: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister’sOffice CandiceMalcolm or Citizenship and Immigration Canada CommunicationsBranch MediaRelations 613-952-1650 Marketwire
Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will announce measures to boost employment in his economic update Tuesday, while conceding that worsening economic news means Canada will miss deficitcutting targets set just a few months ago. Flaherty will announce that an increase in employment insurance premiums planned for January will be reduced by half. The finance minister is also expected to extend a work-sharing program that allows employees who would otherwise be laid off to work part time and receive EI benefits. The program was first announced in the 2009 federal stimulus budget and has been extended in each of the past two spring budgets. EI premiums were set to increase in the new year by 10 cents per $100 for employees and 14 cents per $100 for employers. Those increases will now be five cents and seven cents respectively. The changes mean, for example, that companies will pay about $31 more a year for an employee earning just over $44,000, rather than $62 more. An employee earning that much will pay about $20 more per year rather than the planned increase of $40. Live coverage on CBC.ca Watch livestream video of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce online at CBCNews.ca at 2:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. MT). We’ll have details of his economic update and reaction following the speech.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business on Monday called for a delay in the EI hike for 2012, arguing it could dissuade small and mediumsized businesses from hiring. Flaherty froze EI rates in 2009 because of the recession, and last summer held consultations on the premiums. Flaherty’s update, to be delivered with a speech to Calgary’s chamber of commerce, follows G20 meetings dominated by discussions of the eurozone crisis, and just days after news that Canada had shed 54,000 jobs in October. The Conservatives maintain they have helped create 600,000 net new jobs in Canada since 2009. The government has pledged to cut $4 billion a year from the budget to bring it back into balance from deficit by 2014. Opposition MPs say now isn’t the time to cut government programs and jobs, when the economy is already weak. Finance Department numbers released Oct. 26 show the government isn’t likely to meet its deficit target. Based on predictions by private sector economists, the department’s numbers forecast an economy generating $83 billion less between 2011 and 2015 than the government projected in its June budget. That could mean government revenues will fall short by as much as $12 billion by 2015. Flaherty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have said they will remain flexible on new stimulus plans, but only in case of a recession. v
Ghanaian News online www. ghanaiannews.ca
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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The Ghanaian News
November 2011
39
Frankly Speaking President Mills should halt public insults and loose talk from his men From: Dr. Michael Baffoe, in Accra I have had cause in this column a while back to raise concern and issue with President Attah Mills on the conduct of his officials on the wave of public insults and loose talk that have engulfed the Ghanaian political scene and discourse. This was in reaction to the President’s own public expression of worry and concern over public insults in Ghanaian politics. He had summoned a number of chiefs and religious leaders to a meeting at the Peduase Lodge, Aburi, where he lamented that if the spate of public insults in our political discourse is not halted, it sets a bad tone for the country’s stability and does not set any good moral standard for our youth. In my comment on the President’s expression of “concern”, I posed the question that if insults have cropped into our political discourse, “na who cause am”. Time and time again since coming into office, the President, who took and clothed himself with
a phony cloak of “Asomdweehene”, (Prince of Peace), has surrounded himself with people whose stockin-trade is foul-mouthed rhetoric and vituperations. These range from the national Chairman of his NDC Party, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, to his Deputy Information Minsiters, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Agyenim Boateng and Baba Jamal. And there is another buffoon Deputy Minister of Interior called Kobby Acheampong and the worst of all, the Presidential Spokesperson himself of all people called Koku Anyidoho. Not a single day passes since Egya Attah Mills came to power that Ghanaians are not subjected to some stupidity or wild vituperations and shameful outbursts from his some of his party officials and/or government officials. A few examples to underscore the dangerous pattern of fanning the flames of public insults and anger: Two years ago, Egya Attah’s government, un-
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der strong pressure from Rawlings and his cohorts, in their avowed determination to dump most of the officials of the previous NPP government into jail, dragged the former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpianin and the former Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority and Chairman of the Ghana @ 50 Celebrations Committee, Dr. Wireko Brobbey to court for “causing financial loss to the state”. The evidence against the two men was spurious and baseless, but the government went ahead anyway under intense pressure from the Rawlings camp. The Judiciary of Ghana who decided to exert their independence and to prove their learned positions on the administration of justice and the rule of law, threw the charge sheet at the government, dismissed the case and acquitted the two gentlemen. In very angry reactions to the judgement, the whole government machinery, including the NDC party went into overdrive firing on all eight cylinders. The Party Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, threatened to deal mercilessly with members of the Judiciary stating publicly at a press conference that if the Chief Justice did not “purge” the Judiciary of Judges who did not tow the government line, the (NDC and government) will do it claiming that there are “many ways of killing a cat”. Wow! Wait a minute!! This was a serious yellow flag. This man is speaking on behalf of a group of people in a party and government whose immediate past history included the abduction, killing and burning of the bodies of Judges whose rulings the government did not like. And putting some ethnic connotations to the threat, Dr. Kwabena Adjei is from the Ewe tribe which is known not to have very good relations with cats. So if the Ewe man opines that there are many ways of killing “cats”, (in this case, Judges), then the “cats” (Judges) have every reason to fear, be on the lookout or take cover. The President of Ghana, Egya Attah Mills never condemned Kwabena Adjei nor disassociated himself from the threats. He felt they were OK and the decision, we believe, had been taken at the highest levels of the NDC Party and government. The floodgates of public insults and threats were then widely opened and NDC party members and Egya Attah’s government officials contin-
ued to heap insults and threats on their opponents and “enemies”, real or imagined with impunity. The President says nothing and does nothing to those of his officials and party members firing those canons. The Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe who has never shown any understanding of the concept of “self-respect” has been going about continuing her public insults and disgraceful behaviour unchecked or with the tacit approval of President Mills. In mid-November, Ama Doe threatened and attempted to stop the traditional festival and celebrations of the people of Asebu in the Central Region because the people of the Traditional area decided to honour former President John Kufour. She was rightly rebuked and chased out of town by the people. Then there is this Deputy Minister of (Mis) information called Baba Jamal who assembled public officials at the Information Services Department and gave them a tongue-lashing. He threatened to fire any official of that department who does not lie for the President. In his famous quote from that interaction, he said inter alia, “if the government buys a sheep, you have to report that it was a cow, if we buy a goat, say it is a sheep...” The least that is said about the two “schoolboy” Deputy Ministers (Agyenim Boateng and Okudzeto Ablakwa) the better. I am not the one calling them school boys. Their father, Rawlings did and likened them to Team ‘B’ players. Let’s focus on another gentleman called Kobby Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Interior, (of all Ministries), with oversight responsibility for the National Police Force. The man was recently caught by the police on the Accra-Cape Coast Road coasting about 40 km over the speed limit as if he was flying into hell. When the police pulled him over, he flew into a rage: “do you know who I am”. He then called the IGP on his cell phone and got the police officers who pulled him over arrested and suspended from the Police Force. That is Ghana for you!!! He goes on T.V and radio and insults the hosts plus other guests on the show and walk off with pride. And in all the above, the President of the Republic, Egya Atta says and does nothing!! Now to the greatest buffoon of them all: the Presidential Spokesperson called Koku Anyidoho. The man has been spewing invectives upon invectives upon his political opponents without any consequences. Recently he threatened to deal ruthlessly with the NPP leader Nana Akufo Addo for daring to campaign to take over the Presidency. In his own words: “we will show Nana Akufo Addo where power lies...” The big question is, who is “we”? This is the man through whom the President of the nation speaks. Would he have the nerve to go about spewing all these insults, threats and invectives if he did not have the backing of his boss, the President? The answer lies in the fact that either the President finds nothing wrong with the insults and threats his Spokesperson lashes out or he relishes in them and therefore we can conclude that that is the stance of the President as well. Either way, that points to a highway to hell. President Egya Attah Mills should sit up, distance himself from these moral turpitudes, and condemn them to salvage not only whatever is left of his assumed cloak of “Asomdweehene”, but to prevent these hoodlums within his party and government from plunging our beloved nation into chaos and flames. We have clear and dangerous examples just next door to learn from. A word to the wise, in this case....is in the West of Ghana.
40
PARENTAL FAVOURITISM; DOES IT EXIST?
The Ghanaian News November 2011
View Point
Communit y Concer ns Community Concerns
Do you know if your child is been bullied? How to handle situations when a child is been bullied By Golda Abena Quayson
timized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students, parents or family members.
It appears that bullying is in the news all the time nowadays. A lot of children are being bulled and parents are becoming more frustrated about how to deal with or handle this situation. In my last month’s article I discussed the issue of how to raise children to gain self confidence, which is a key element in life. Having self confidence and using it positively can really shape a child and give him/her the tools to handle themselves when situation like bullying. A number of studies from other countries have confirmed that rates of bullying are the same or higher in England, the United States, Japan, Ireland, Australia, and the Netherlands, among others. Bullying is an old and widespread problem. Most of us can recall episodes of bullying that we or our classmates were subjected to during our elementary and/or secondary school years. Research estimates indicate that the problem affects far more students than teachers or parents are aware of. We can start by asking the question, what is bullying? Bullying can be defined as repeated and systematic harassment and attacks on others. It can be perpetrated by individuals or groups. Bullying takes many forms, and can include much different behaviour, such as: physical violence and attacks, verbal taunts, name-calling and putdowns, threats and intimidation, extortion or stealing of money and possessions, exclusion from the peer group. Racially or ethnically-based verbal abuse and gender-based put-downs are also found in the bullying situation. Every child wants to feel belonged around their peers, but it’s always not the case if a child falls a victim to their peers and appears vulnerable instead of belonging. A student is being bullied or vic-
The dynamics of bullying is that there is a power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim. Bullies are sometimes students who are stronger, more aggressive, bolder, and more overconfident negatively than average. Victims of bullies are students who are weaker, more timid, and who tend not to retaliate or act in an assertive manner. Sometimes older students bully younger ones, or upper year students bully new students. Victims tend to lack assertive responses to peer aggression, and they tend to be low on skills for making friends. They generally do not retaliate when they are picked on, so that they come to be seen as “safe” targets for bullying. Sometimes bullies pick on students who are disadvantaged by being new immigrants or are from a cultural/ethnic minority group. As with other interpersonal violence, such as dating violence, racial harassment, child abuse, and wife assault, power imbalance is the main factor in understanding what is going on. Interventions must take this into account. It is also myth that bullies are insecure underneath their boldness. Research indicates that their self esteem is, mostly, average or above average. It appears that bullies tend to come from homes where aggressive strategies to conflict resolution is modelled, although more research needs to be done on this connection. Another important finding from these research studies is that most students who are bullied either do not report the bullying to adults, or they wait a very long time before doing so. The reasons include feelings of shame, fear of retaliation for reporting, and fear that adults cannot or will not protect the victim in the settings where bullying usually takes place: the playground, the hallway of the school, or on the way to and from school. What can parents do if your child is been bullied at school or anywhere? These are some of the things you can do as parents. Ask the child di-
rectly. Often children do not wish to tell their parents due to shame and embarrassment, or fear that bullies will retaliate if they tell. Look for signs such as: fear of going to school, lack of friends, missing belongings and torn clothing, and increased fearfulness and anxiety. You have to work with the school immediately to make sure your child is safe, that effective consequences are applied toward the bully, and that monitoring at school is adequate. Advocate for involvement of the bully’s parents. If the bullying is happening on the way to and from school, arrange for the child to get to school with older, supportive children, or take him or her until other interventions can take place. You can also suggest that the school implement a comprehensive anti-bullying program. A home-and school association meeting to discuss and support such an initiative can be helpful. If your child is timid, and lacks friends, try to arrange for your child to participate in positive social groups which meet his or her interests. Developing your child’s special skills and confidence in the context of a positive social group can be very helpful. You can also suggest that the school implement a comprehensive anti-bullying program. As parents, teachers and community members we can all be part of the defusing bullying activities that is hurting our children. These are few suggestions to run an effective anti-bullying program. There should be awareness and involvement on the part of adults, with regard to bully-victim problems. We can also influence the schools to have conference day devoted to bully/victim problems. Better supervision during recess and lunch hour by adult volunteers can be helpful. There should be a constant in monitoring, and immediate consequences for aggressive behaviour. There should be serious individual talks with bullies and with victims. Serious talks with parents of bullies and victims. A meeting of the school parentteacher associations can organize sessions on bullying topics and how best to help our children to acquire positive outlooks on life.
Doris Osei Bonsu, Crisis Counselor, Toronto
How can parents afford to stay with their little children
Mothers who stay at home to devote themselves to the needs of their children feel devalued by the unpaid, and still largely invisible work of nurturing. Mothers who pursue work outside the home feel guilty that they are not “good” mothers because they are not available to their children at all times. This is a sad contradiction society had saddled women with. Should one of us stay at home with the kids? This is the question some parents, especially mothers, ask after they start to have families; especially this part of the world where we cannot afford livein nannies or where there are no parents or family members to help us with childcare. Usually, most of these parents will conclude that they cannot afford to live on one income. While living on one income certainly is not easy, it is definitely doable for the vast majority of families. Let us look at the following. First, take a hard look at the numbers. How much money does your job cost you? You should get a piece of paper and write your monthly take- home pay, subtract all of your job-related expenses; daycare, food which is likely going to cost more when both parents work because sometimes lunch is eaten outside, cost of dry cleaning, the cost of new clothes, parking expenses and driving cost, gas, maintenance and insurance and transportation cost, if you don’t drive. After you subtract all of these expenses from your take-home pay you will have a more realistic amount of money you contribute to the family budget each month. For some parents it is very often even negative. They are just spending to hold a job. Most parents will also find that they are still bringing home money but it is not much. The question is “is being away from your children worth this small amount? As we begin to discuss this important issue, I think there are three primary factors that we have to talk about. Before we make the decisions to be stayat -home parents, we need to ask ourselves these questions; A) Would You enjoy Staying at Home with Your Kids? There are different personalities in this world. Parents have to be honest with themselves about this question. Some parents like to stay at-home and some do not. Not wanting to be a stay athome parent doesn’t make you a bad parent/mother/father.
Becoming a stay-at-home-mom/dad definitely is a sacrifice; parents have to weigh their personality, social needs and how important their children’s well being mean to them before making that decision. B. Would Your Children Benefit From Staying at Home? Research has shown that having one parent at home is the best option for children. * They get more love and attention: Children get a lot of love every day from their mother (father) because he/she is at home with them. They feel love which builds their self-worth. * They have a more stable home life. Stay-at-home parents are able to create a more stable, comfortable and loving. Children need this sense of security to flourish in life. * They get more education: A stay-athome has more time to be involved with their children education. * They get more guidance: More parental involvement helps our children to avoid common pitfalls. This is beneficial during the teen years. * They get consistent discipline: Parents are more in tune with the children because they are with them most of the time and are able to intervene when things are a little off track. The will have a positive impact on their lives in the future. The above are few of the important ways that children benefit from a stay-at-home parent. Don’t forget a father that works can do some of the above but it will take a lot of extra effort. B) Would You be Able to Make in Financially? Many a time, families often jump past the first two of these three considerations to wondering if they could make it financially. Once you think through the first two considerations, then you will have in mind the importance of staying at home. This will give you a much better basis for making the needed financial decisions. You just have to think through your priorities. You have to make significant adjustments to your lifestyle to make staying at home or making one income work. Mothers and fathers who choose to stay at home and raise children need to be applauded. They make sacrifices for the benefit of their family and so they need to be saluted. However, this choice is not for everybody. It is important that you think through it carefully before making that decision.
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
41
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.
Tips for Healthy Snacking For your Children In most households both parents are at work during the day and children are left under supervision of a baby sitter or an older sibling. It is always a good idea to take some time to plan for your kids while you are out there working. Let us start with snacking. Snacking is a major pastime for many kids — and it isn’t necessarily bad. Snacking can help your children curb hunger throughout the day, as well as provide energy and nutrients. But the quality of your children’s snacks is key. Consider these tips for healthier snacking. Many of these tips may sound unfamiliar to the appetite of the average Ghanaian adult but remember that these are the types of foods your kids are more likely to encounter in their school cafeteria or while playing
with their friends. 1. Give your kids a say. Offer comparable choices, such as regular or frozen yogurt, celery or carrots, whole-grain toast or whole-grain crackers, apples or oranges. Better yet, recruit your children’s help at the grocery store when you’re selecting snacks or in the kitchen when you’re assembling snacks. 2. Designate a snacking zone. Restrict snacking to the kitchen. You’ll save
your children countless calories from mindless munching in front of the TV. 3. Make it quick. If your children need to snack on the go, think beyond a bag of potato chips. Offer string cheese, yogurt sticks, cereal bars or other drip-free items. 4. Don’t be fooled by labeling gimmicks. Foods marketed as low-fat or fat-free can still be high in calories. Likewise, foods touted as cholesterol-free can still be high in fat, saturated fat and sugar. Check nutrition labels to find out the whole story. 5. Go for the grain. Whole-grain snacks — such as whole-grain pretzels or tortillas and lowsugar, whole-grain cereals — can give your children energy with some staying power. 6. Out of sight, out of
mind. If the cookie jar is full, your children will probably clamor for cookies. But if there aren’t any cookies in the house, fresh fruit or raw veggies may seem more appealing. 7. Play with your food. Ask your children to make towers out of whole-grain crackers, spell words with pretzel sticks, or make funny faces on a plate using different types of fruit. Use a tablespoon of peanut butter as glue. 8. Think outside the box. Offer something new, help your children to develop a taste for fruits such as fresh pineapple, cranberries, oranges, apples, banana etc. 9. Revisit breakfast. Many breakfast foods — such as low-sugar, wholegrain cereals and wholegrain toast — make great afternoon snacks. 10. Sweeten it up. Healthy
snacks don’t need to be bland. To satisfy your child’s sweet tooth, offer fat-free pudding, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit bars. 11. Pull out the blender. Use Make your own snacks with healthy products such as skim milk, fat-free yogurt and fresh fruit . 12. Promote independence. Make it easy for older children to help themselves. Keep a selection of ready-to-eat veggies in the refrigerator. Leave fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter. Store low-sugar, whole-grain cereal in an easily accessible cabinet, and stock fruit canned or packaged in its own juice in your pantry. 13. Remember your leftovers. A small serving of last night’s casserole might make a great snack. 14. Drinks count, too. Offer your children plenty of
water between meals. Liven it up with shaped ice cubes, a crazy straw, or a squirt of lemon, cranberry or other fruit juice. 15. Keep it safe. Make sure your children’s snacks are age appropriate. Never give foods that pose a choking hazard — such as nuts, raisins, whole grapes or popcorn — to children younger than age 4. 16. Practice what you preach. Let your children catch you munching raw vegetables or snacking on a bowl of grapes. 17. Be patient. Your children’s snacking habits may not change overnight. Look for positive changes over weeks or months. Teaching your children to make healthy snack choices now will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy snacking. Start today!
Not Under My Roof: Should Teenagers Sleep Over With Lovers? Your 17 year old SSS student has a girlfriend. He has not officially introduced her to you as his lover, and you haven’t asked any questions yet. She visits your house frequently, and you are aware your son also reciprocates the many visits. They stay in the living room most of the time, but sometimes he takes her over to the outhouse. The relationship is certainly deeper than mere friendship. The silent communication suggests your son is relieved that you should know what is happening. On his birthday celebration, lots of friends came over to party and eat. The next morning, your son is busy fixing his sweetheart breakfast. She didn’t seem to have left the house. Do you turn a blind aye or use your eagle eye? This week, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation tabled this on their midafternoon flagship radio programme. In many western cultures, sleepovers, especially among children of the same sex, are allowed. It is normal for 14 year olds to introduce their girlfriends to their parents. Parents receive telephone calls from lovers of their teenagers and pass the phone on
without any queries. They sometimes encourage the relationships by inviting the little lovers for dinner, or sometimes field trips, where their parents would consent. In many African, conservative Indian and strict Muslim cultures, teenagers are not supposed to have lovers. The question of introduction does arise. It is disrespectful. It is unthinkable. It is sacrilege. However, when cultures clash with the modernity of the western life in Canada, America and Europe, they necessarily need to cave in or make some adjustments. There have been serious family feuds as a result of these modernising influences. In extreme cases, girls from these ‘strict’ cultures have been murdered simply for having boyfriends, especially where the boyfriends are from other cultures. The ‘civilising’ influence of the liberal western life is countered forcefully by people who hold their culture/religion supreme. And it doesn’t matter how long they have lived in their adopted countries. East is east: You live in the west as if you are still in the east. Even then, many of these strict eastern cultures have had to adapt to the ways of the west, especially when their children had been born, bred and schooled in the
west. They are the ones who may have to turn a blind eye and pretend they never saw it when their children brought home their friends of the opposite sex. Some westerners, especially those who want to be seen to be practising their faith, may also not tolerate sleepovers at all. Often their children would not even dare. However, compared to the average African or Muslim family, these children would have the liberty to at least bring a girl home and introduce her to their parents as their girlfriend. As a Ghanaian parent living in megapolitan Toronto or New York, would you permit your teenage son of 16 or 17 to bring home a girlfriend to spend the night next room? Not many parents of Nkrumah’s Ghana would even be comfortable to invite the girlfriend of their son for mere dinner. In Christian homes, this is more sinful than speaking against the Holy Spirit. Traditional thinking has it that a 17 year old does not need a girlfriend in the first place. Modern thinking, however, counters that 17 year olds naturally need girlfriends, and may actually be having sex in cars and quickies in shopping mall toilets. The CBC debate
had sought answers to this reality: Do we as parents pretend that it is okay for our lads to sleep over with their girlfriends, or we should let kids be kids and bend their heads into their books, instead? The assumption was that these teenagers are at the age of experimentation: They are sexually active and would find ways of doing it anyway. Would it be smart parenting if we counselled them against diseases and pregnancies? It is often awkward, especially in our culture, to discuss sex with your parents. Even at university, I never had the courage to bring a lady friend home. “Hi Dad, meet my girlfriend. Lucy, this is my dad.” How does that sound? In some jurisdictions, however, Lucy would say to my dad: “Pleased to meet you, John”. Oh yes by his first name. Try that in Kukurantumi and see what happens. Girls who visited must be known family members of Dad’s friends. Even then, those visits were not encouraged. The father of a very dear friend who had ten daughters (yes 10, and all girls) had warned everybody: Boys must have boys as friends, and girls are only good with their lady friends. Cross-friendships would result in unholy criss-crossings. And that is not healthy for the
examination report from school. You would usually be bold to introduce a girl to your parents when your pubic hairs were about greying. Do parents wonder how children brought up in such strict conditions express their sexual desires and contain their libidos? Unless in the unfortunate cases of teenage pregnancies, the assumption is that they sucked them in and disciplined themselves. The reality was often very bad stories of orgies in the homes of their friends and cheap hotels. Parents would rather they never saw it happen, even if they know it is happening right under their nose. Who pays the price for that hypocrisy? Sometimes, our children think we are funny. On the CBC programme, a contributor had submitted that she encourages teenage sleepovers. In fact, she talks sex with her teenage boys and girls. She gives them condoms and gets them to use them as often as they eat. In her house condoms are not hidden from sight; they are displayed for ready use. She thinks it is working for her family. She doesn’t mind hearing her daughter yessing and kissing and panting right in her ears in the next room. She knows she is
doing with it her boyfriend Jason, and the environment is safer and cleaner than the toilets of McDonalds. There is a thought! Abstain? From sex, you mean? Tell that to the nuns. Sex is so cheap these days. Years ago, you needed legs for a marathon and the patience of a male dog suitor when you only wanted to be platonic friends with a girl. These days you can download sex from the internet, right in the comfort of your sofa. There are a thousand dating sites advertising casual sex, long term dating and marriage. There are even sites specially developed for bored married people who just want to have illicit encounters while staying married. It doesn’t offend modern sensibilities. The world just got so sexy. Marriage itself is getting funny these days. You can marry today by email and divorce with a text message. It is easier if you have a blackberry. Tomorrow you can download a new marriage f r o m www.iwantawife.com. These are exciting times. These teenagers know how and where to find sex. Their parents have no clue. Modern parenting has, accordingly, become challenging and exciting. Bestselling authors are
42
The Ghanaian News November 2011
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The Ghanaian News
November 2011
43
Ghana and Egypt – Getting Liberal Leader Bob Rae to Cochair International Election a Million to “Sit-In” Monitoring Mission in Morocco How serious are Ghanaians? By Kwaku A. Danso
refuse to consider the pain of the people, there is no choice left but a boiling point and possible societal disruption or revolt.
There seems to be interesting stuff going on around our world these days, and let us see what is happening in Egypt: One has to admire the spirit of the Egyptian mostly educated youth to stand up and push the military to cave in and call for elections! The Egyptian people seem obviously more serious, more advanced and courageous in their quest for freedom than our people in Ghana! Egyptian youth are calling for a “million-man” sit-in. If you don’t know what that refers to, it refers to the MILLION-MAN march on Washington DC organized by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored people) under Ben Chavis and other civil rights organizations on October 16, 1995, at which controversial Rev. Louis Farrakhan was invited to give the keynote address. The word “sit-in” was coined in late 1950s and used extensively during the Civil rights demonstrations in America. In the 1960s when Students at the University I attended, University of California at Berkeley, would go en mass and sit in the administration building all day, it was a very peaceful way for students to engage in peaceful protest! Those were the days when students stood against their American government and Presidents to end the Viet Nam war through massive peaceful demonstrations across the 50 states and all 2000+ Universities across America. This writer learned that the youth and students in a nation also have power!
Kwaku A. Danso
and improved clean living conditions and opportunities for jobs and engage in creative endeavors as people in other nations. They elect a government to facilitate the building of such desirable living conditions. These may include the provision of common water, electricity, roads, health care facilities, and provide other opportunities. When that government fails to deliver, it is left to the people in the nation to let the leaders know and sometimes, as in Egypt and Libya, topple that government by such demonstrations if the neglect persists. Venting through Radio talk shows are just the beginning of democratic freedom of speech and not enough! When workers and people are taking 4 -6 hours round trip in traffic every day to go to work and come home, for an 8 hour pay, and they are tired and frustrated due to lack of intelligently engineered and designed transportation systems to meet traffic demand some action needs to take place. When in addition government imposes bridge and road tolls, heavy port duties and taxes are levied on vehicles, and the leaders
There is a limit of pain any humans in society will take. When water and electricity and other fundamentals are missing and government keeps building open gutters that are known to breed mosquitoes that cause malaria known to kill hundred thousand per year, it not anybody outside who can instigate the people to find who their representatives are, and hold them to account! Nobody, and I repeat nobody can build Ghana for us! All talk, expectation and calling foreigners and lenders as “development partners” is only a sham!! It never works. People have to stand up for what they want! Kwaku A. Danso East Legon-Accra, Ghana & Livermore, California, USA President - Ghana Leadership Union (NGO), Moderator-GLU and GLF Forums. Author: Leadership Concepts and the Role of Government in Africa: The Case of Ghana -
Liberal Leader Bob Rae will co-chair an international observer mission in Morocco to supervise that country’s November 25th parliamentary elections. Mr. Rae will travel to Morocco this evening to take part in the mission which runs until November 26th. “It is a great honour and privilege to have been chosen to co-chair this distinguished international delegation along-side Kastriot Islami of Albania,” said Mr. Rae. “In my experience, I have seen firsthand the tremendous impact that greater civic participation and accountability can have on a nation’s development. The Arab World is at a turning point in its history. Morocco is engaging in a necessary dialogue on its evolving relationship with democracy, and it is vital that we do what we can to support this process.” Organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Mr. Rae will cochair an international delegation, which includes 41 observers from 21 different countries, and is tasked
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
Assin North Catholic Church Parish holds Corpus Christi Festival at Assin Wurakese From: Dr. Michael Baffoe, Assin Wurakese
Mass Servers and Alta Assistants bow in humility as the Sacrament is raised
Traditional Singer and dancer herald the adoration of the Holy Communion
Traditional Dancers herald the arrival of the Holy Gospel to the Mass
Roman Catholic Churches throughout the world celebrated their Annual Festival of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ, the King) at the weekend of November 18 to 20, 2011. The Ghanaian News attended one of the Festivals celebrated by the Assin North Catholic Parish at Assin Wurakese in the Central Region. Churches from ThirtyNine towns and villages in the Parish participated in the three-day colourful event. Activities involved
Brass Band and Singing Band Competitions, Prayer Sessions, Bible Teachings, Keep Fit Jogging Sessions and a Big Commemoration Mass to round up the celebration on Sunday November 20. The impressive aspect of the Catholic Church Mass and celebration was the total indigenization of the Catholic Mass and the festival of Corpus Christi. The original Latin Language and rituals associated with Catholicism no longer feature in the celebration of the Mass and
the festival. Alta Boys, Mass Servers and the officiating priests either spot traditional robes and clothing or had traditional Kente woven into their robes. The climax of the celebration was the parading of the Holy Sacrament of Jesus Christ in a Chief’s Palanquin heralded by the sounds of Fontomfrom Drummers in a mass procession through the streets of Assin Wurakese. This was in celebration and exaltation of Jesus Christ as King of the world.
The Faithful bring their Thanksgiving offering to the Altar
Officiating Priests and Mass servers in procession to the Altar
Persons with Disability in Ghana to receive ICT Training From: Dr. Michael Baffoe, Accra
Five Thousand (5000) Persons with disability in Ghana are to receive ICT training in the assembling and repair of mobile phones and computers. The Project, known as “Equipping Persons with Disability with ICT Skills for Today’s World”, a partnership between rLG Communications, the Ministry of Employment & Social Welfare, the Ministry of Communications, Local Enterprises and Skills Development, and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, was launched at the Accra International Conference on Monday November 21, 2011. Launching the project, the Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama stated the government’s commit-
ment to the welfare of persons with disability. He announced that the Cabinet had approved an increase in the percentage of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocated to Persons with Disability from two to three per cent . Further underscoring the government’s commitment to the welfare of PWDs, the Vice President expressed the disappointment of the government at those public institutions and other sectors who have failed so far since the enactment of the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) in 2006, to provide walkways and wheelchair access to their buildings. He directed the relevant organizations not to issue building permits to any department or organization that does not com-
ply with the provisions of the Disability Act. The 5000 persons with disability who will benefit from this ICT training program will be trained at the 45 Training Centers of the Institute of Technology of rLG Communications
spread across regional and district capitals in Ghana. The Ghana government is contributing 21,741,000 million Cedis to the project while rLG Communications will contribute 1,983,000 million Cedis to the project. An Armless Lady Louisa Enyonam delivers the Vote of Thanks
A section of the large number of persons with diasbility at the event
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
47
Mark Carney takes control of world banking watchdog Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney will take on global leadership in the key job of strengthening and clamping down on commercial banks around the world in the wake of the financial collapse that caused the recent recession, it was announced Friday. In addition to his role as head of Canada’s central bank, Carney, 46, is being named chairman of the Financial Stability Board
(FSB), the principal body behind the reform of global financial institutions, said Canadian government officials attending the G20 summit. BMO CEO Bill Downe lauded the appointment, calling Carney the “right person at the right time” in a statement. “There is no question that the Governor is exceedingly capable and he has enormous personal credibility — both in Canada
and around the globe. He brings clarity of purpose and steely resolve to the role, yet has the consensus-building skills to improve the resiliency of the global financial system.” The FSB has been established to address the kind of vulnerabilities in banking and finance that imperiled the world economy in 2008. Its job is to develop and implement strong regulatory, supervisory and other
policies to promote financial stability. Carney takes on the job as consideration is being given to greatly expanding the board’s powers and operations, which will give Canada a leading role in tightening regulation of global financial institutions. Carney will replace current chair Mario Draghi, Governor of the Bank of Italy. Downe acknowledged
that Carney will face significant challenges as new regulations governing the global banking industry are phased in over the next few years. “The banking sectors in many countries need to build capital,” Downe said, “but it is critical that the new standards be applied evenly and consistently. We must have a level playing field.” Since beginning his sevenyear term as Bank of Canada governor in February 2008, Carney has been a leader in international banking reform, notably refusing to back down in September when a furious U.S. banker took the podium at a private meeting to denounce a proposal to increase to bank reserves as “cockamamie nonsense.” Deputy governor of the Bank of Canada from August 2003 to November 2004, Carney left to become senior associate deputy minister of finance. He also served as Canada’s top finance official at the G7. Carney was a trusted economic adviser to Liberal finance minister Ralph Goodale and has seemingly earned the equal trust of Conservative finance minister Jim Flaherty. He masterminded Canada’s $3.1-billion sale
of its stake in PetroCanada, which was viewed as extremely successful. He helped solve the problems in Canada’s asset-backed commercial paper market, persuading all six big banks to act together, including TorontoDominion Bank, which had never sold ABCP. More controversially, he was behind Flaherty’s decision in 2006 to tax income trusts, creating a backlash among voters who had invested heavily in them after Stephen Harper campaigned on the promise he would not impose new taxes on them. Carney has a reputation for being brilliant, hardworking, and at times harshly critical. His experience as onetime investment banker is likely to be a help in his new position as he navigates through the intense politics of bank regulatory reform, which have pitted policy-makers against financial sector lobbyists in a fierce legislative struggle in recent years. Carney will remain head of Canada’s central bank as the FSB job is parttime. Carney’s seven-year term at the Bank of Canada expires in 2015. Les Whittington Ottawa Bureau and Francine Kopun Business Reporter
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
Tribute to Dr. Richard Turkson in Pictures
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
Community in Pictures Ottawa
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50
The Ghanaian News November 2011
Mama Zimbi saves a teenage mother and her triplets
Mama Zimbi, left with mother and triplets
The citizens of Enyan - Maim in the Central Region were shocked to see Akumaa Mama Zimbi in their village in less than 24hours after the premature birth of triplets by a
16year old girl’s issue was reported to her on phone. According to Olivia Yanney, the 16year old girl, she came to Lapaz in Accra to live with one of her eldest cousins so she can find some
sewn cloth for the teenage mother, work to do and get money to continue boxes of mineral water and an her education. She then met a young unspecified amount of money for the guy of 21years old who sells Cocoa daily upkeep of the young mother and drinks in the traffic on the street and the triplets. She also promised to they entered into an illicit relationship personally take care of the welfare and education of the teenage mother and and she later got pregnant. the triplets through the Mama Zimbi Unfortunately, the gentleman run away Foundation (MZF), bringing the total when he heard that she was pregnantso number of children she is personally and they could not locate the young guy.Her fully taking care of to 25. cousin then sent her back to her parents in the village. On Wednesday Later, Mama Zimbi entreated the 16thNovember, 2011 she successfully parents within the huge crowd which gave birth to one boy and two beautiful had gathered at the Enyan - Maim girls. At birth, the first girl, the second Community Clinic when news went girl and the third boy weighed 1.5kg, round of her arrival in the village that they should be equally responsible for 1.0kg and 1.5kg respectively. the actions of their children, and that is The ace actress and talk show host of why they are supposed to be interested OdoAhomaso on Adom FM, Akumaa in the better upbringing of their children. Mama Zimbi, known privately as Joyce She went on to tell the young ones AkumaaDongotey-Padi, donated gathered there that they should only be assorted baby care products, clothing interested in having sex after they are for babies, baby food, several already grown and married and concentrate more on their education and apprenticeship. She also thanked and appreciated the nurses at the clinic for the yeoman’s job and dedicated service they are offering to our people in the villages. Present at Mama Zimbi’s visit were the mother of the teenage mother, Hon. Isaac Crayner, the Assemblyman for the Enyan - Maim Electoral Area, Rev. Samuel Tawiahof the Showers of Blessing Ministries (Mankessim Branch), Madam Gladys Addae and Madam Christiana Nyarkowaa, both are nurses and a host of others. You can also watch the video on http:// youtu.be/pW-PwGc6rgA and send your donations and support to mamazimbifoundation@gmail.com or call Akumaa Mama Zimbi on +233244261200.
Not Under My Roof: Should Teenagers Sleep Over With Lovers? cont'd from pg. 41
churning out books on parenting more and more to match up. How do you tell a Facebooking-twittering-buzzingcraiglisted son of a computer to stop ipoding and go to pray? Media experts bemoan troubling times where scholarship is gradually losing to fastpaced downloads of answers we spent months to research and rewrite. Everything is quick these days. So parents ought to be quick too. And perhaps that means sidestepping the bounds of modesty and conventional wisdom, and playing to the changing tides. But just how much space should today’s parents allow their children at home? Do we talk sex off their minds or talk of sex, actually? In a world of instant hookups, would it be wise to have them hook up at home, where we can direct (may be not supervise) them and ensure their safety, or we should hook them up with their books instead, and pray out those distractions that titillate their spongy brains? Perhaps that is the price we pay for the convenience of internet banking and quickie divorces. Let’s pretend they only slept over, but did not sleep together. That saves us some sleep. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario, where he works in partner relations and outreach management. peacefmonline
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
51
Dedication of Living Praise Ministries Int'l Church new building at 1877 Merivale Rd. Ottawa on August 30, 2011
Pastor Samuel Addai leading the congregation in prayers
From left Pastor Addai, Pastor Andrew, Pastor Wood, Eld. Daniel
Pastor Sam and Helena Addai
Congregation
Worship Team
Dedication of building by Pastor Elvis Henry
Congregation
Backgrounder — violent criminals barred Helping Seniors Stay from sponsoring members of their family At Home, Safely The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations), as previously worded, prevented a person from sponsoring a member of the Family Class where the sponsor had been convicted of an offence of a sexual nature against anyone or an offence that resulted in “bodily harm” against specific members of their family. The intent was to assist in the protection of sponsored individuals from family violence. A Federal Court decision (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration v. Brar, 2008 FC 1285) highlighted a gap in the Regulations. In this decision, a man convicted of killing his brother’s wife was allowed to sponsor his own wife because his sister-in-law did not meet the definition of relative or family member in the Regulations. This case also highlighted the fact that individuals who committed particularly violent offences against people other than specified members of their family were not barred from family class sponsorship.
The regulatory changes now in force fix both of the gaps highlighted in the Brar decision. Sponsorship bar for violent crime The bar on sponsorship for violent crime means that a potential sponsor convicted for committing or attempting to commit a violent offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years against anyone is now barred from sponsoring a member of the family class to come to Canada. This regulatory change is similar to the current prohibition for convictions of a sexual nature. Someone who has committed such a serious crime, regardless of who it was against, should not benefit from the privilege of sponsorship. Sponsorship bar for family violence The sponsorship bar for family violence provides that anyone convicted of an offence causing bodily harm against a list of relatives is barred from sponsorship. The previous list
of relationships included: * the spouse, partner, dependent child, or dependent child of a dependent child of the sponsor or the sponsor’s partner; and * the brother/sister, parent/ grandparent, aunt/uncle or cousin of the sponsor or the sponsor’s partner. With the regulatory changes now in force, the following relationships are examples of those now included in the expanded list: * the sponsor’s ex-spouse or ex-partner and their children; * the ex-spouse of the sponsor’s current spouse or partner and their children; * the partner or ex-partner of the sponsor’s brother/sister, parent/grandparent, aunt/ uncle, or cousin; * the spouse or ex-spouse of the partner’s brother/sister, parent/grandparent, aunt/ uncle, or cousin; * a foster child under the current or former care and control of the sponsor or their current or ex-spouse or partner; and
* the sponsor’s current or exboyfriend/girlfriend, whether or not they live together, or a family member of that person. Given the importance of protecting sponsored people from family violence, the addition of these other relationships aims to ensure that there are no future cases of family violence convictions where the sponsorship bar cannot be imposed. Duration of the sponsorship bar The sponsorship bar remains in effect until an individual convicted in Canada is either pardoned or acquitted on appeal, or where five years have elapsed since the completion of an imposed sentence. For convictions outside Canada, the sponsorship bar is in effect until an individual is acquitted on appeal, or where five years have elapsed since the completion of an imposed sentence and the sponsor has demonstrated that they are rehabilitated. The regulatory changes do not alter the duration of the bar.
Proposed Tax Credit Would Support Renovations To Senior’s Homes Ontario is proposing a new tax credit that would make it easier for seniors to stay safely in their homes for longer. Premier Dalton McGuinty visited the home of a 91-year-old senior who lives in Hornby, Ontario today to talk about his government’s proposed Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit. The credit would make it more affordable for seniors to make upgrades to their homes, such as installing a ramp or a lift. This would allow seniors to stay in their homes longer. The tax credit would be available to senior homeowners and tenants, and people who share a home with a senior relative. It would be claimed on the Personal Income Tax return for 2012 and following years, and would be 15 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses per year. The maximum credit would be $1,500 each year. Homeowners should save their receipts for eligible expenses
made on or after October 1, 2011 — that would include permanent modifications that improve accessibility or help a senior be more functional or mobile at home. This credit would help keep seniors safe, relieve pressures on long-term care home costs and support jobs in home renovation. QUOTES “We want families to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that a mom can make it safely upstairs, or a dad can easily get to the kitchen. This credit would help our seniors live independently longer and it would also create jobs across the province to help build a stronger future for all Ontarians.” QUICK FACTS The credit would create jobs by spurring additional demand in the construction sector and for products that improve mobility around the home. It would support about $800 million in home renovation activity and around 10,500 jobs every year.
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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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 * Dr y Cleaning Dry * * * *
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
November 2011
53
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
NEW ADDRESS 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 4, Mississauga, Ont, L4T 1G1
We bale Used Clothing
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The Ghanaian News November 2011
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
November 2011
55
FOOD FOR LIFE “I HAVE FOUND IT!” In the early ‘70s, “I have found it!” was a popular saying among the members of the Christian Fellowship in Ghana. The use of that slogan was intended to elicit the question, “What have you found?” then the Fellowship member uses the opportunity to share the gospel with the inquirer. When someone suddenly tells you, “I have found it!” the immediate question that comes to mind is, “What has he or she found that is so precious, I want to know it.” That was an effective evangelistic tool in personal evangelism. May God continue to bless Ghana, where people of diverse religious faith co-exist peacefully. Unfortunately in many nations Christians are persecuted more than any other group yet more people become Christians. These persecutors may be wondering what is in Christianity that is worth suffering or dying for? The main reason is that the genuine follower of the Lord Jesus Christ “has found it”. The Apostle Paul “found it”; the truth of the gospel Christ, after years of leading a group to persecute the followers of Christ, with the aim of putting out the fire of the Holy Spirit that was burning in the hearts of the apostles of the Lord Jesus, deacons such as Philip and Stephen and the entire membership of the early church. Years later, Paul declared he was ready to die for preach-
ing the good news that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, crucified and raised from the dead, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NKJV) History attests to the fact that persecution of the followers of Christ rather serves like fuel that spreads the revival fire far and wide. It was a common saying that “the blood of the martyr is the seed of the church” My heart goes out to fellow Christians who are in jail, lost their properties confiscated by the enemies of the gospel or lost their loved ones. The Lord Jesus predicted, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service . And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me” (John 16:2-3 NKJV). What is unique about genuine Christians is that they are not encouraged to hate their persecutors but to pray for them to know the truth. What is the truth? The Lord Jesus gives the answer to question I posted above, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV) Paul explain the truth in Romans 5:1-11 “There-
fore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 Christ in Our Place For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
Liberal Leader Bob Rae to Co-chair Int'l Election Monitoring Mission in Morocco cont'd from pg. 43
mittee and review of the 1985 Air India Bombing have given Mr. Rae a keen understanding of the fundamental relationship between government accountability and the rights and expression of the individual. His committed activism and breadth of knowledge on public policy have made him an internationally-recognized author and voice on governance issues. In his
most recent book, Exporting Democracy: the Risks and Rewards of Pursuing a Good Idea, Mr. Rae describes democratic development as an essential but delicate process. “Though it is not without its struggles, democracy remains the political gold standard because of the values that underpin it – freedom, pluralism, equality, and the rule of law, to name but a few,”
said Mr. Rae. “While we may face setbacks, just as our ancestors did before us, it is only by learning and sharing our collective experiences between nations that we will be able to nurture democracy from the bottom up.” Contact: Press Office Office of the Liberal Leader 613-947-5100
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” The above text, implies that sinful man has problem with a holy God. After Adam’s rebellion against the will of God, all humanity became sinful. Even the law given to Israel through Moses rather proved how evil the heart of man was toward God and one another but was ineffective to reconcile man with God. However, God’s love toward man He created in His image, made Him send His Son, the Lord Jesus, to offer Himself as fitting sacrifice so humanity could be reconciled to the Holy God. Reconciliation becomes effective when one received Christ as his or her substitute by faith. That moment the sinner is justified by God as if he or she has never sinned. Faith in Christ enables God to deals with the sinner by His grace without
judging the individual by his or her sinful life. The holy God then deals with the sinful nature of the repentant through the sanctifying power of the word of God, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth”. (John 17:17) The Spirit of God also sanctifies the sinner, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) One may still wonder what advantage does a Christian have over a non-believer since both commit sin. The difference is that the believer submitted to divine provision for his salvation and is taken through the purifying process of suffering which leads to perseverance, which in turn produces godly character which also leads to hope. This is a life time process which is completed at the appearing of Christ, “2
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3) Job in his suffering expressed this hope, “ For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27) The world does not have this unwavering hope neither do the persecutors understand. You can also be reconciled to God if only you will accept Jesus Christ as your Savour, “But as many as received Him He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) And you can also shout, “I have found it”.
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 November 2011
Ghana Calvary Methodist United Church, Toronto 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto Ontario, M3L 1E7
Tel: 416-614-6110 Email: gcmethodist@hotmail.com
Invites all Christians to join us to worship and glorify the Living God
Worship Schedule: Sunday Class Meetings: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Church Service: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday Midweek Service: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday Youth Musical & Computer Lessons Fellowship Meetings Choir Practice, Singing Band Practice
Do you desire to experience the power and the presence of God demonstrated in your life? Do you want to experience the marvelous work of God's grace in your life? Then, Bethel Prayer Ministry International would like to invite you to visit their church where the word of God is preached powerfully to release the power of God in your life. Pastor Dennis Awuku COME AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED Senior Pastor
Contact:
Res. 416-740-6963 Church 416-642-0390 Worship Hours: Sunday Service: 9am - 1pm Tuesday 9am - 2 pm Consultation Wednesday: 7pm - 9p.m. Friday: 9pm - 12 pm Saturday (Prayer Warriors) 6pm - 8pm Location: 52 Carrier Drive, Unit 12, (Albion/Hwy 27)
Etobicoke, Ont., M9w 5S5
Very Rev. De-Graft Semie Obiri (Calvary Methodist)
Venue of Worship 65 Mayall Avenue, Toronto (Route: Through Jethro Road or Haymarket Road, off Wilson Ave. between Weston Rd. and Jane St., or walk across bridge from Chalkfarm North)
Tel: 416-614-6110
Bethel Prayer Ministry Int'l
End-Time Harvest Ministry Invites you for a wonderful time with the Lord
Worship Hours Sundays (Mornings) 10 - 12:45pm Wednesday (Bible Study) 7 -8:30 pm Friday (All Night Prayer) 8-10:30pm Rev Moses Sarpong
COME AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE WORD Join us at 196 Toryork Drive(Corner of Weston/Finch)
Tel: 416-743-2507 Email: gcmethodist@hotmail.com
IT’S HARVEST TIME SO REACH OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
It’s A Great Commission!
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
57
Lighthouse Assembly of God Church Senior Pastor: Isaac Takyi De-Graft Starting from the 6th December 2010 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
Location:
595A Trethewey Drive (Blackcreek Dr. & Hwy 400)Toronto, Ontario
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: 95 Milvan Drive (Off Finch/Milvan) 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
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 10 Belfield Road Tel: 416-247-6629 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
Apostle Charles Anokye-Manu
Website: www.apostlescontinuation.org
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)
58
The Ghanaian News November 2011
Let's Think Family - By Rev. Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo THE CHALLENGE OF LONG DISTANCE MARRIAGES AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS – PART II In my previous article, I narrated some examples of the pathetic stories of people who have experienced the bitterness of long distance family and marital separations in our era. I underscored the importance of putting your courtship, marriage, and family life first before all other plans and ambitions. Let us now delve into a few practical suggestions that we can apply to prevent or cure the wounds inflicted by the downside of long distance relationships. SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU TO PLAN YOUR TEMPORARY SEPARATION Here are a few of the many suggestions you could consider before you travel to another locality in the same country or outside your country away from your fiancée or spouse: 1) Both of you must take some time to examine your minds and hearts to ensure that you sincerely love each other, and wish to do and endure all that it takes to be together forever. Be very honest with all of your desires, motives, intentions, goals, and feelings regarding the moves you want to make.
2) Make time to discuss everything thoroughly for all the major issues at stake (job, school, finances, investments, obligations, childbirth, education of children, housing, welfare of your parents and family members, health issues etc.). Discuss all the details about resignation or retirement from your present job if you intend to stay away for a long period, and make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that you return to your job if that is what you want to do. Allow each partner (fiancée or spouse) to talk and ask all the questions on his or her mind for you to agree on answers, clarifications, modifications, deletions, and solutions. 3) Explore all that it takes to live where you are going (especially immigration papers for both of you, laws regarding work and job applications, complete cost of education, financial aid, spiritual development, available opportunities, living expenses, housing, bad and good neighborhoods, prevailing culture etc. CAUTION: If you propose a plan that your partner sincerely (and insistently) disagrees with for genuine reasons (e.g. sharing accommodation in the absence of your part-
ner with an opposite sex or with a person of same sex who is immoral or has questionable character; or marrying someone without any marital commitment but with the intent to simply obtain your residential and working papers; or using someone’s name and documents to work or enroll in school), please pause to discuss all the details and implications together, and do not proceed in the spirit of defiance, selfishness, and disunity. Your partner could be thrown into fear, guilt, doubt, suspicion, frustration, and mistrust that will damage both of you and your relationship in the finality. He or she might also see your proposal as a deceitful or callous move, impersonation, unlawful act, criminal offense that you are drawing him or her into, sinful in God’s sight, damaging of one’s conscience for life, tainting of one’s image or testimony, opening of doors for immoral
practices and perpetual lifestyle of lies, and initiating processes for vulnerability to infidelity that can wreck your relationship or marriage. If you sincerely love your partner, then you must demonstrate that by having respect for his or her views and welfare, and prayerfully team up to ask God together what to do. Be very convinced that the Lord cares for you and wants you to have a successful future more than you wish for yourself. Therefore surrender your will and your plans to the Almighty God, and trust Him to answer your prayers, provide for you, keep you, and take very good care of you as you live in faith, humility, and obedience. In the end God will bless your efforts that were made in the spirit of the fear of God, and in agreement. God loves unity that is worked out in humility and wisdom. 4) Agree on what plans you need to actively and diligently pursue; which ones should be gradually embarked on without rush; and which plans should be put on hold. 5) Make very concrete financial, accommodation, education, work, and investment plans for your spouse (and children)
whom you are leaving behind. If you travel and create financial hardships for your spouse and children or fiancée, you should expect disaster down the road for your relationship. Exercise extra caution before you leave your wife or child in a family home or with a friend without exploring all the circumstances involved. Some have left children with friends and exposed them to sexual and physical abuse, and left their wives and children with some relatives on in the family house to make their lives very miserable. 6) Put on paper the most important Plan A regarding when you are returning or when your partner is going to join you, if everything falls into place. Making sure things are on paper will eliminate any future accusations of broken promises, lies, misinterpretations and arguments, because you can always go back to your notes.
Plan B or Plan C if plan A does not work, and ensure that you are not wishfully thinking that you can violate principles and discard values in order to “cut corners” to accomplish your purposes and expect God to bless your unlawful or unorthodox schemes. 9) Seek for expert as well as godly counseling for all aspects of your plans. 10) Agree on definite plans you are going to use to communicate effectively, cement and maintain the bond between the two of you, and jointly train the children (if married with children) plus other family members. 11) Jointly put everything before God in sincere and fervent prayers of faith, backed by obedience to God’s word, and dependence on God’s promises. BE SINCERELY COMMITTED
7) If it is courtship, agree on the time table for the marriage processes you need to go through, and time table for short-term and long-term family development plans if you are already married.
Beware of simply copying what others do — the consequences may shock you and become surprisingly different, to your own failure and chagrin! It is unfortunate (and even wicked in some instances) that some partners hide their real mo-
8) Discuss and agree on
cont'd on pg. 59
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)
The Ghanaian News
The challenge of long distance marriages and romantic relationships - Part II
November 2011
59
Ghanaian Congregation
St. John's Anglican Church
cont'd from pg. 58
tives for traveling away from their mates or why they want to remain behind when it is time for the travelled partners to go back home and plan to settle together. They open the door for the flesh, people, and the devil to infiltrate their minds and hearts, and then allow their selfish and narrowminded passions to override their love and commitment in the marriage or courtship. Once you have promised someone that you will marry him or her then you should be serious with your commitment, and put your marriage or courtship relationship first before every other relationship and everything else you wish to personally accomplish. If you are married, you are even in a sacred position of fulfilling your marriage vows, and should never allow anything, anyone, or any conditions to destroy your marriage. If you genuinely fear God, have the welfare of your family and society at heart, and you understand true love, essence of marriage, and importance of
family life, you will not find it hard to agree with me in these analyses and affirmations, in order to prevent heartaches and tragedies that will tremendously impact your fiancée or spouse, children, other family members, and loved ones, and even affect your community and nation by the time you are leaving this world. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added to you” (Mathew 6: 33). “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “ (Mark 8: 36). TO BE CONTINUED Obtain more detailed information on this topic from Dr. Kisseadoo’s Book “Challenges Of Modern Men And women In Relationships”. Tune in to JOY 99.7 FM in Accra, Ghana on Saturdays at 5:30 am – 6:00 am (Ghana Time) or US Eastern ST 12:30 am – 1:00 am November to March) and listen to Dr. Kisseadoo’s broadcast “Hope For Your Fam-
ily”. Access on the Internet using MYJOYONLINE.COM, and click on “Live Radio”. Obtain Dr. Kisseadoo’s books online from: RedLeadBooks.com or Amazon.com using his name. Contact him in the USA (1-757-7289330) for copies of all of his 14 books, free counseling and prayer. Visit his w e b s i t e : www.fruitfulministriesint.com for essentials that will enrich your relationships and ministry. Use DrSamuel Kisseadoo to access his Wall on Facebook. Copyright Nov. 2011 Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Kisseadoo (Professor of Biology, USA. International Evangelist. Ordained & Licensed Minister. Teacher, Conference Speaker). Founder and President, Fruitful Ministries International Inc. (Evangelistic & Teaching Ministry). 6 Red Robin Turn, Hampton, Virginia 23669, USA. Tel.17 5 7 - 7 2 8 9 3 3 0 E - m a i l : kisseadoo@msn.com
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)
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905-792-9761 416-748-8246 416-745-8148
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 Apostle Twumasi Ankrah Friday 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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
Welcome Home Evangelistic Ministries Affiliated with the Evangelical Church In Canada
Senior Pastor & Founder: Evangelist & 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 Information Tel: 647 210 7057 Fax: 905 495 4789 Website: www.whemtoday.ca Email: whem.info@gmail.com
New Year's Eve Service starts at 10:30 p.m. Our New Year's Eve Service will be held at a different location. Please go to our website or contact us for the location to our New Year's Eve Service. Come Just As You Are
60
The Ghanaian News November 2011
Around the Ghana Sports Scene Nigeria must admit Ghana is better - Ghana must go! Nigerians are finally admitting that the Black Stars are better than the Super Eagles SuperSport’s Nigerian editor Emeka Enyadike has written a soul-searching article in pidgin English finally admitting that the Super Eagles must learn from Ghana to avoid being whipped out from world football. Read his hilarious piece below: My people talk say we big pass Ghana, nobody dey drag! We say we get money pass dem, dat wan na true. We even say story story, say na we been dey give dem work, dat wan dey too. Me sef, na Ghana people follow teach me for skool. One thing wey Ghana people no go gree with us na about who sabi play ball pass and now wey we dey carry last, dem don dey Kampe. Dis wan wey Africa cup of Nation don reach so, na siddon look we go dey look yet some people go still dey talk say “ Ghana must go” Before we win de cup for 1980 wey Shagari come dash de green Eagles moto and house, Ghana been don win am 3 times, but as we dey jollification say we don win,na him dem come win am back wen we go Libya for 1982, dat time sef na Gadhafi pay dere transport After dat time, e come be like say naija come get power pass dem as we come dey win u-17 world cup like pure water.dem too come dey pursue us. Ghana come win Bronze medal for olumpics, we sef vex win Gold de next time. Naija come even win Africa cup of nations for Tunisia, even first Ghana reach world cup 3 times, 2 times, naija reach second round. All de naija players just brekete for obodo oyibo, for jand, for Paris, for Itali. E be like say Ghana dey carry kpondo that time. Dem come begin plan, dem come begin to organize, and dem come begin to find better player and better Oyinbo coach.
See now, like play like play, Ghana don become Ogbonge team and we dey wonder how e happen? We go dey wonder! We just dey look like Lukman. Na him we say make we go play dem friendly match for London. Ghana no hold joke oh, nothing friendly about that match, dem knack us 4 kpondo. Na Ghana wey don komot naija for de lats two Africa cup of nations .Dem win us wen dem be landlord for Ghana 2008, come win us again for Angola 2010 wen dem even play with dem small boys. Chei! Next year wey be for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, na Ghana wey everybody dey look becos of de way wey dem dey play and dem no dey fear anybody again. Make we no dey talk say “Ghana must go” again oh! Ghana don come back and dem done balance. Dem dey Kampe! No shaking! Nothing do dem. See de kain money wey dem dey pay for dere players for Obodo oyibo.Now sef,see those Alhaji dem for Dubai don come pay Assamoah Gyan money yanfu yanfu sake of say make him for come dance for dem. Naija ! Make we wake up for sleep.Ghana don leave us .everytime we go dey say “Ghana must go.” Maybe e go good if We fit go look wetin Ghana dey do well well and see wetin dem fit teach us.wetin wey we fit photocopy. Shame no dey inside oh! Shame no dey inside, afterall dem be our brodas
and our neigbours. Na we don dey teach dem business and so many other things but if na ball. Like play,like play,dem even win the Fifa Junior world cup wey dem been call Egypt 2009. Ghana don standby. Ghana don overtake us.even if we still dey talk say “Ghana must go” When Ghana first reach worldi cup for Germany 2006, naija no show! Dem don sabi play sotaydem show us say no be who first call police dey win case. Dem reach world cup,dem reach second round. When we dey carry kpondo for South Africa 2010,Ghana nearly reach semi-finals. Una say,we no go there go find out wetin dem dey do.If not oh Luiz suarez for Uruguay wey turn second Goal keeper, na wetin we for dey talk? Maybe dem for kuku win de world cup! So I dey ask una, my people , wetin wey Ghana dey do ,wey we no fit do.No be say dem tall pass us or maybe say dem run pass us. How come wey dem dey fit change coach but dem still dey win. We own na to change coach like wrappa sotay now , we no fit reach nations cup. De wan wey tire me na say only Abedi Pele don supply three children to dem team.Wey our players dem children.Abi no wan sabi play ball.Haba! As we dey always talk say “Ghana must go.” Ghana don go, leave us for loco. Ghana don dey go for de cup. Ghana , make una carry go.
with Jonathan Annobil
African rivals reach for London tickets Half of the field at the upcoming African qualifying tournament for the 2012 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament have a chance to compete in London, meaning there will be tense action from the start of the tournament in Morocco. The top three finishers in the eight-team, two-week event are guaranteed automatic entry to the games while the fourth-place nation will take on an Asian qualifier in a one-off play-off match in Coventry, England next April. Play gets underway on Saturday with a doubleheader kicking off the Group A action in Tangiers while the other venue is Marrakech where Group B starts on Sunday. The two top finishers in each group go through to the semi-finals on 6 December, and the winners of those games are ensured places in London. The semi-final victors will be in the first-ever CAF U-23 Championship final, but there is likely to be just as much focus on the third-place play-off game in Marrakech on 10 December. The winner of that encounter also goes to the finals while the loser gets another opportunity in the cross-continental play-off. The match Morocco-Nigeria Despite taking over hosting duties from Egypt relatively recently, Morocco showed their serious intent last year by hiring Dutch coach Pim Verbeek to oversee their Olympic dreams. Verbeek actually took the position before leading Australia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, and the Lionceaux have been preparing resolutely in Rabat for these matches. Their key contest could be this weekend’s Group A opener against Nigeria, who have had the most Olympic success of any African nation. Known to Nigerians as The Dream Team, their Olympic side made history by winning a gold medal at Atlanta 96 and followed that up with silver at Beijing 2008. Whichever team seizes the impetus in the first match will undoubtedly have the momentum going up against Algeria and Senegal in the next two matches. Other attractions It is never easy in age group competition to draw any form from history, but Nigeria’s pedigree in previous qualifiers dictates they will command respect from their opponents. Although he will be missing many big name stars - including Joel Obi, Lukman Haruna and Ahmed Musa - coach Austin Eguavoen says six weeks
together in preparation has built up a potential winning team spirit. “I have confidence in the squad we are taking to Morocco, and there is a growing confidence in the team that we can secure a ticket to London,” said the former Super Eagles defender. In total, Nigeria’s men’s team has been at six separate Olympic finals, the same with Morocco, who will also be counting on a massive boost from the home atmosphere. South Africa were runners-up at September’s All-Africa Games in Mozambique, where Senegal also competed and won bronze. Both therefore have some form and extra practice to take to the tournament in Morocco. South Africa’s top league clubs are allowing one player per club to travel to North Africa with the squad while Senegal have managed to obtain eight players from French clubs despite the qualifiers not being played on dates on the co-ordinated international calendar. All-Africa Games gold medallists Ghana went out early in the Olympic qualifiers to Sudan. Egypt have played in ten Men’s Olympic Football Tournaments dating as far back at 1920, so they figure to be in the mix, while Algeria (1980), Côte d’Ivoire (2008) and South Africa (2000) have each gone to one previous tournament. Only Gabon and Senegal have no prior Olympic experience. Hani Ramzy, who played for Egypt at the 1990 FIFA World Cup™, leads the Egyptian side while Algeria have put in some quality preparation under Azzedine Ait Djoudi. Players to watch Levy Madinda of Celta Vigo in Spain played for Gabon’s senior side in midfield against Brazil earlier this month and is one of four foreign-based players in his country’s unheralded squad. Algeria’s captain Mohamed Chalali scored twice in friendlies last week against South Africa and comes from Scottish club Aberdeen. Imad Najah is Dutch born and the captain of the PSV Eindhoven side, and he will be among Morocco’s star attractions. The stat 2 - The number of times Egypt have reached the Olympic tournament finals in the last 11 events going back to 1968. What they said “All the teams are contenders to qualify. There is little that is unknown between any of them,” says Senegal coach Abdoulaye Sarr. African Football Media
B.Chelsea striker Mohammed scores league’s 100th goal Musah Mohammed scored this season’s 100th goal Striker Musa Mohammed scored this season’s Ghana Premier League 100th goal on Sunday. The Niger international struck after only 47 seconds to hand the Blues a 1-0 win over New Edubiase United in Bekwai. His solitary strike lifted the club to second place and one point behind the leaders Asante Kotoko.
“Right now, I don’t want to say much because I just came and this is my first match so I will let my work on the field to the talking,” Musa said. “I will continue to work hard and do my possible best to help the club defend the title.” Mohammed’s four goals helped Chelsea to lift the maiden pre-season GHALCA Glo G8 Cup.
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
61
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62
The Ghanaian News November 2011
The Ghanaian News
November 2011
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64
The Ghanaian News November 2011
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