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Founded October 2003 Global African Newspaper Telephone: 973-419-0073 / 973-731-1339
December 15 , 2011
Mr. Samuel Mensah, leader of the Mfantsiman Association of New Jersey leads the inaugural dance
Mr. Roland Pepere Moleka, making a short statement at the event. On his left is Dr. Uchenna Ekwo of CMPI who collaborated in the effort. Also in the photo are some of the organizers
Amandla wishes our readers and the community Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy ew Year. We appreciate your sincere patronage.
Odumegwu Ojukwu
Igbo leaders to rise up without further delay in demanding for their fair share in the country. Also, the leader of the World Ndigbo Youth Council, (WNIC), Chief Ndubuisi Igwekala, said his group would mobilise all Igbo youths both at home and in Diaspora to be part of Ojukwu's burial on February 2, insisting that the late elder statesman fought to give Igbos true identity. Chairman of the South-east Governors' Forum and Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, announced the burial date, while addressing journalists, shortly after a meeting of the forum at the Enugu Government House, Sunday. The governor said all burial activities Continued on page 15
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Community News
Mfantsiman Association Inaugurated in New Jersey
Contd. from front page at home. He lamented that Fantes are not as forthcoming as other ethnic groups in contributing to the development of their hometowns and urged them to change that attitude. Among the invited guests were Nana Kweku Mensah, chief of the Fante community in Staten Island, Nana Otwuwaa, a queen mother from the Fante traditional area in Ghana and leaders of the various associations in the Ghanaian community. Fantes occupy most of the Central Region of Ghana with its capital at Cape Coast, an ancient town that used to be a trading post between the people of the Gold Coast and Europe. Cape Coast and nearby Elmina are known also for their castles that served as the repository of slaves that were carted from the interior of the Gold Coast. Fantes are Akans and share the same cultural practices and traditions like other Akan groups as Ashantis and Akyems. Historically, Fantes are believed to have migrated to the coast from the Techiman area in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Cape Coast is the home to Ghanas first university of education and such famous schools as Mfantsipim School, Adisadel, Wesley Girls High School and St. Augustines. Some of the schools were established in the 19th century. fects of war and pestilence, she added. A health and human rights activist, Medi Ssengooba, a Finberg fellow and lawyer spoke about his life as a disabled person in his native Uganda. He recalled the lack of interest showed by the school authorities, even though he was a brilliant student. Mr. Ssengooba bemoaned the total disregard for the care for the disabled even by the authorities. It is not rare to find schools among several public places in Africa where no provision is made for the disabled. Disability is considered a condemnation to a life of helplessness in Africa. In a short conversation with Amandla, the human rights lawyer admitted that even though such conditions as autism are a disability, most victims are confined to mental institutions, mostly because, autism is not wellunderstood. He agreed with Amandla that such medical specializations as psychiatry are rare in Africa because of the stigma attached to mental health. Families do not believe mental health is a medical requirement and so the practice of psychiatry is not beneficial. Other speakers included Wale Ajibade of African Views and Dr. Uchenna Ekwo of the Center for Media and Peace Initiative. Not even the grievousness of disability in children would dampen the spirits of the audience that night. Artistic performances enlivened the gathering with renditions from Isaac Kataly, a Congolese musician. Ms. Mari Claude Mukamabano, genocide survivor and an accomplished dancer in her own right performed a dance she calls the African mother. The final event of the day was a dance that attracted all the disabled persons in wheel chairs to the floor. pong, when the dean recently visited the US on a working visit to Fordham University. Speaking to AGLA members in an informal setting, Dean Sarpong commended AGLA for its efforts at linking back to the Ghanaian legal community, and to the country. Dean Sarpong encouraged AGLA to participate more actively in the development of legal education in Ghana. Among other issues, the group discussed how to inculcate practical legal skills into the curriculum of Ghana Law School through pro bono work. Such an innovation will enhance students practical skills by the time they graduate law school and also provide essential needed legal representation to indigents. Referring to discussions AGLA held with former Attorney General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, on her visit to the US last year regarding the backlog of cases involving remanded prisoners without the benefit of a trial or proceedings, AGLA president Kwaku Boafoh Agyeman, stated that with some supervision, law students can be a great resource for legal representation. Mr. Agyeman suggested that, in addition, law firms in Ghana could be prevailed upon to provide mandatory pro bono services to those who cannot afford legal representation. The group also discussed with Dean Sarpong ways in which AGLA can help to infuse technology into legal education in Ghana. Victor Essien, professor of law at Fordham Law School in New York, and a frequent visiting professor to Ghana, commended Dean Sarpong for his remarkable leadership at the Ghana Law School. We are particularly proud to hear of the new alumni association of Ghana Law School and, as AGLA members, we will assist your efforts to coalesce the resources of all alumni everywhere, said Professor Essien. AGLA members also suggested that, in the future, professors who teach the post-call program in Ghana may consider providing instruction to AGLA members in the United States toward licensure in Ghana. Dean Sarpong promised to take these issues back to the appropriate bodies for further discussion. He charged AGLA to improve its presence in the legal community in Ghana and thanked members for their involvement in Ghanas development in various ways. Dean Sarpong also visited with the newly-formed AGLA chapter in the Maryland, Virginia and DC metro area under the leadership of chapter president, Kwaku D. Ofori where similar pertinent collaborative legal issues were discussed.
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The 2011 MyGOAL Family Grant Award Program is a need-based grant for treatments (including vitamins and other nutritional needs) that may not otherwise be covered privately or by other third-party funding sources such as school districts, county programs, insurance, and/or other grant making entities. Although awarded to the primary care-giver, it is with the understanding that the grant will be used to benefit the individual(s) with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Visit www.mygoalautism.org and download "Family Grant Award" Application Form (PDF) Two (2) $1,000 Family Grants will be awarded for the following purpose(s): Medical Needs: To assist in paying non-reimbursable medical expenses, including first-time visit to a Defeat Autism Now (DAN) Doctor or other Autism-related specialist Nutritional Needs To purchase vitamins or other nutritional supplements that are specifically designed for children with ASD. Personal Needs To provide personal needs for the individual with ASD. Family grant guidelines: Applicants must be the primary care-giver of the individual on the Spectrum and provide the following: Proof of household Income Number of dependents Number of dependents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Information about what current funding the grantee is receiving (i.e., medical) The following must be received by MyGOAL in order to be considered for a Family Grant: Completed, signed and dated Grant Application Verification of diagnosis No more than 250 word description of current family situation (grant application over this word amount will not be considered) Copy of previous years tax return All completed FAMILY GRANT applications must be mailed to: MyGOAL Inc. Attn: GRANT Committee P.O. Box 531, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
A typical garbage dump in Ghanas capital, Accra The former KMA boss, who is also the Deputy Ranking Member for the Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, stated that three years after the Mills administration promised to get rid of filth in Accra, there was still stinking garbage all over the place. According to him, the sanitation situation was so appalling that the Supreme Court had to order Accra Metropolitan Assembly to put up more public toilets. Mr. Kofi Jumah entreated President Mills to declare a state of emergency on sanitation rather than chasing phantom enemies with vile threats. Instead of declaring red alerts to ghost enemies and instead of daring political opponents, His Excellency Prof. Mills, should declare a national emergency on sanitation in Ghana, he challenged president Mills. Touching on other issues in the 2012 budget, which he described as Dayie budget (Rest In Peace Budget), Mr. Kofi Jumah slammed President Mills for failing to honor promises he made two years ago, to support MPs to effectively perform their parliamentary duties. I believe my colleague MPs are still waiting for the implementation of the MPs Development Fund and the constituency offices promised us two years ago. Just like other promises, these announcements excited all of us only to disappear in thin air, the Asokwa MP said. gna
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Illegal miners actively searching for gold at the Elmina Beach peace and order within the period in their own interest and in the interest of all stakeholders. The Omanhen of the Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, gave the advice when he addressed a section of the operators who hit the streets of Elmina yesterday morning in protest against a directive from the Minerals Commission to bar them from engaging in illegal gold mining at the beach. Following the discovery of gold along the beach about a week ago, a large number of people have thronged the area to prospect for the precious mineral. The Minerals Commission, which visited the area and was said to have taken samples of the sand for tests to ascertain the claims of the gold find, was reported to have asked the operators to stop their activities while it carried out the tests. Nana Conduah said he was meeting with officials of the Minerals Commission and the Central Regional Police Command to discuss all the issues. He said it would be in the interest of all stakeholders to maintain the peace, law and order while discussions were held for the way forward. He expressed the hope that a favorable decision would be arrived at to calm the nerves of the operators for their sustained livelihoods. Nana Conduah said since the gold find was a resource that was vested in the state, there was the need to take the necessary steps to streamline the operations of the illegal miners to make them sustainable. He said the police would undertake snap patrols of the area to ensure compliance. A spokesman for the prospectors, Mr. Paul Richmond Hayford, promised, on behalf of his colleagues, to abide by the advice and expressed the hope that the meeting would arrive at a decision that would enable them to go about their activities and create wealth for themselves and the community. gna
CPP Chairperson Samia Yaaba Nkrumah The state-owned Ghanaian Times headline said CPP leadership furious with Dr. Kwesi Nduom. According to the story, the leadership of the CPP said it was elected to advance strategies that would make the party a credible political force and would therefore not be stampeded into taking actions that would not advance the interest of the party. Samia said calculated attempts were being made to discredit the new leadership of the party. Prominent among these is the call by one section of the party, led by Paa Kwesi Nduom, our former flag bearer, for us to hold congress to elect our presidential candidate before the end of the year, she said. But Samias younger brother, Sekou, has descended heavily on her with the pro-opposition Daily Guide carrying the story under the headline Sekou slams Samia. The story said Sekou Nkrumah, son of Ghanas first president, appears to have jumped to the defense of Dr. Nduom who faces expulsion from the CPC, blaming his sister, Samia
Paa Kwesi Nduom, immediate past CPP flagbearer Galamsey (illegal mining) at Elmina, was the headline of the stateowned Graphic. It said illegal mining activities had now moved from the forest belt, where mining operations had been carried out for years, to the coast. The Graphic said for the past few weeks, most of the youth at Elmina had been washing the sand at the beach looking for gold. The residents said they had been making good money and would resist attempts to stop them, especially as environmentalists are complaining that their activities were creating problems such as land degradation and poisoning of the sea through the use of mercury and other chemicals. Fishermen have also abandoned fishing to join the illegal mining business which they say gives them more money than fishing. School children have not been left out as some have also joined the rush for gold on the beach in their school uniform, the Graphic said. The Geological Survey Department has said the area is not known to have
Nkrumahs immaturity for her recent confrontation with Dr. Nduom. According to Sekou, some people in the CPP were capitalizing on Samias political immaturity to promote their selfish agenda, saying that her criticism of Nduom was too harsh. He said his sister hit below the belt when she described Dr. Nduoms behavior as 'nonsense'. Ill sympathize with Dr. Nduom because he has made his intent to run for president. It looks like the party chair is taking sides. Her position to single out Dr. Nduom as somebody who is trying to create problem is most unfortunate, he added. The party eventually held a Central Committee meeting to announce a timetable for election of the presidential candidates from 4-27 January, 2012. Nduom then called for ceasefire in the CPP, saying time will tell whether there will be a ceasefire. The sudden discovery of gold on the beaches of Elmina in the Central Region attracted huge media coverage.
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Africa Defies world economic crisis says MDG Report. Doing better than expected
This years annual report, Assessing Progress in Africa towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), shows that Africa continues to forge ahead on the MDGs, despite world economic crisis. Africa has increased its primary school enrollment rates from 65 percent in 1999 to 83 percent in 2008; eighty percent of the 36 African countries that have data for 1990 to 2010 increased the number of woman in parliament over that period; and HIV/AIDS prevalence rates have decreased from 5.9 percent in 2001 to five percent in 2009. However, many goals are a cause for concern. The food, fuel, and financial crises, coupled with the recent instability in North Africa in 2011, are adding to the challenges. For instance, Africa faces a formidable challenge in reducing maternal mortality. While all regions made progress on this indicator, the rate remains exceedingly high and tops 1,000 deaths per 100,000 in several countries. More than half the pregnant women deliver without skilled assistance. Sanitation is still a struggle in most countries, especially for the rural population; only one-third of this segment has access to improved sanitation. Youth unemployment is another area of concern. More that 20 percent of youths in North Africa remained unemployed in 2008, while 75.8 percent of the labor force in Sub-Saharan Africa had vulnerable jobs in 2009. Social Protection and the MDGs According to the report, African countries should target the poor through social policies aimed at offsetting the effects of the global economic crisis, conflict and natural disasters. Social protection mechanisms in Africa have assumed various forms, including free provision of tax-funded national health services, voucher instruments; cash transfer schemes, and contribution- based systems such as social health insurance. These interventions can help to correct market failure; even out consumption; build productive assets and human capital; and advance social justice and cohesion. Country Studies Well-targeted and efficiently-managed social protection in several African countries has generally had a positive impact on the MDGs. Algerias social protection scheme has contributed to reducing unemployment from 30% in 2000, to 15.3% and 10.2% in 2005 and 2009 respectively. In Ethiopia, between 2005 and 2008, public works project led to the construction of 4,494 classrooms in rural communities, 2.1 million kilometers of stone embankments to prevent soil erosion and improved food security for 7.8 million citizens. Ghanas National Health Insurance Scheme, covering 67% of the population has reduced out-of-pocket expenditure for health by 50% and enhanced access to health services, improving infant and maternal health. In Malawi, agricultural subsidies and extension services have resulted n a substantial increase in the number of food secure households, from 67 percent in 2005 to 99 percent in 2009 but it has also increased school enrollment by 5 percentage points among children aged 6-17. The implementation of a universal social pension in Mauritius is contributing to the low poverty rate in the country. For instance, the poverty rate for older people living with more than one younger person was 30 percent lower than it would have been without the universal pension. Namibias old age pension and cash transfer schemes have contributed to reducing the poverty incidence by 4.3 percent, in addition to increasing primary school enrollment, empowering women and preventing diseases. Over the past decade, Africa has experienced rapid economic growth which began to generate social dividends. Yet the continent is still prone to shocks, requiring urgent social responses. Social protection that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable and protects them from relapsing into poverty can make a strong impact on several MDGs. The report urges policymakers to re-calibrate their social protection programs, so that they are perceived not as hand-outs but as measures to strengthen productive assets. These perspectives are timely in light of the impact of the food, fuel, and financial crises. The role of the state in designing innovative and fiscally sustainable social protection programs is more vital than ever before. About the Report Assessing Progress in Africa Toward the Millennium development Goals continues the tradition of collaboration among the Pan African institutions the African Union Commission (AUC), the UnitedNations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and theUnited Nation Development Programme (UNDP). It provides the latest update on Africas progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and examines the issues that are key to achieving the goals. For more information, please visit: www.undp.org/africa/mdg. About the MDGs The MDGs are eight internationallyagreed targets to reduce poverty, hunger, maternal and child deaths, disease, gender inequality and environmental degradation by 2015. They include: Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education; Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women; Goal 4: Reduce child mortality; Goal 5: Improve maternal health; Goal 6: Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability; Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development. --IPI
Nigeria: The Country Imports Fuel From Cote d'Ivoire - - NNPC GMD
Juliet Alohan And Uchenna Awom The group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Austin Oniwon, has revealed that Nigeria imports refined petroleum products from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire as well as from Holland and England. Oniwon disclosed this yesterday when he and the executive secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Reginald Elijah, appeared before the public hearing of the Senate joint committee probing the N1.3trillion fuel subsidy. Oniwon told the stunned Senate committee that out of the 445, 000 barrels allocated to the NNPC daily, the corporation could only refine 170, 000 barrels per day at the two functional refineries in Port Harcourt and Kaduna, while 60, 000 bpd is sent to SIR Company in Cote d'Ivoire which has an installed capacity of 80, 000bpd. He further informed the lawmakers that another 90, 000 bpd is swapped for refining by Duke Refinery, an overseas subsidiary that is wholly owned by the NNPC, and another 60, 000 bpd is refined at the United Kingdom-based refinery, Travigora Refinery. Elijah also confirmed that refined petroleum products were imported from Cote d'Ivoire and Holland at N140 per liter as against locally refined products at N128.13 per liter. The PPPRA added that the federal government paid N75 as subsidy per liter of fuel imported into the country, saying imports came from Cote d'Ivoire and Holland. He added that the PPPRA did not provide security at private tank farms years over how to deal with Zimbabwe, which came under pressure to fall in line with the minimum standards of the industry. But despite these standards still not being met, the KP has since appeared to bow to pressure from Zim supporters by allowing trade to resume. It is for this reason that international rights group Global Witness, last week pulled out of the civil society wing of the KP. The group said last Monday that the KP's "refusal to evolve and address the clear links between diamonds, violence and tyranny has rendered it increasingly outdated." SW Radio Africa./(allAfrica.com where imported petroleum products for which the government has paid subsidy are stored. But the NNPC yesterday failed to account for 65,000 barrels out of the 448,000 barrels allocated to it daily to be refined for domestic consumption. Oninwon was, however, unable to account or give vivid details for the balance of 65, 000 bpd out of the total barrels of crude oil allocated to the corporation. Nonetheless, he denied allegations that unnamed private companies benefit from the allocation to the corporation. According to him, between 2006 and August 2011, the NNPC received N2.157 trillion as subsidy on petroleum products with N220 billion outstanding payment for subsidy on kerosene. "Subsidy by implication is very easy to abuse because you're carrying the risk ing the program to help several thousand Liberian youth living in the poorest communities. The youth empowerment initiatives are expected to target densely populated communities in Montserrado including West Point, New Kru Town, Red-light, Clara Town, Gardnerville, as well as communities in Grand Bassa, Bong County and Lofa counties. Beneficiaries of the program will benefit from a wide range or projects including various vocational training initiatives, workshops on small business development, employment, and small business loans. Dr. Weeks hinted that this was the first stage of a multi-staged initiative that will ultimately target at least 10,000 young people in the first year. In phase two of the program, several hundred of young Liberians will receive microloans to help them start new businesses or expand existing ones. Weeks say that his organization will invest at least US$500,000 in a major micro-loan initiative for young people across the country. He noted: "While our heavy concentration and dedication of resources will remain in Montserrado because of its high density of young people, we also intend to invest resources in empowering youths across the country. Youth Action International is a US based organization, started by Kimmie Weeks in 2005. The organization has worked in five African countries including Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Uganda. Youth Action International has a mission to provide education, health care and ecoon behalf of others and as a policy, it's not good for the economy," he said while justifying the removal of subsidy on fuel. Cote d'Ivoire refinery is situated in the commercial capital, Abidjan, and has the capacity to process about 80,000 barrels of crude a day. The plant is currently operating at a rate of 25,000 to 30,000 barrels and is fast depleting its stockpiled crude. Cote d'Ivoire has a 28 per cent stake in the refinery, while Burkina Faso's government holds 5 percent. Total SA owns another 25 per cent and Sonangol SA, Angola's state-owned oil company, has 20 per cent. Meanwhile, for the second time in less than a month, residents of the Federal Capital Territory are faced with the discomfort of waiting hours on queues to purchase fuel. The long fuel queues, which re-surnomic empowerment for children and young people. Since its establishment, YAI has invested close to US$2 million in programs that have benefited over 150,000 young people in West and East Africa. allAfrica.com faced yesterday, has already forced the price of the product above the official selling price of N65 a liter in some filling stations across Abuja. As would also be expected, illegal vendors popularly referred to as black marketers have taken over most filling stations and other strategic places in Abuja to make brisk business. At the Total and Conoil filling stations opposite the NNPC Towers in Central Area, Abuja, long fuel queues were noticed, even as the black marketers seized the opportunity to make quick money. As at the time of filling this report, the immediate cause of the queues could not be ascertained. However, the NNPC spokesman, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, has repeatedly assured of ample supply of the product, noting that the scarcity was artificially induced.--Leadership/allAfrica.com ployed to lower costs of health care, while opening up new modalities for patient treatment and welfare. We will need to deploy ICT to increase accessibility to health care especially for those that are vulnerable or in the remote areas that are mostly in need of health care. "Equally paramount is to ensure that we deploy ICT to improve the quality of health care delivery. The time is very much ripe to have Electronic Medical Record system in all Federal Health institutions," he added Areas where ICT could be of help in the health sector to include leadership and governance, health service delivery, human resources for health, financing for health, national health management information system, community participation and ownership, partnerships for health and research for health. In the view of Country Director, WHO, David Okello, "The role of ICT is integral to achieve the national need as functional health information systems depend on harmonised and interoperable data elements and appropriate use of ICTs." -- Vanguard
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of supporters whod anxiously waited for almost an hour to hear him. There appears to be a collective impression among observers at the event, as well as those among the television audience across the country who watched it on their sets at home, that Mr. Cain and his handlers had cleverly in the days leading up to the event, hyped it to milk as much media attention from it for prime time ratings that would substantially benefit the Herman Cain brand name. Hours before Herman Cain went back home to see his wife Gloria face-toface on Friday and have some family discussion over the swirling allegations of sexual improprieties that would eventually derail the Herman Cain Train for president, Mr. Cain made a statement during a press conference, which suggested that his Saturday major announcement would
include an effort to jump-start his badly flailing campaign and put it back on track with the opening of a new campaign office in the Atlanta area. Part of the lengthy interlude filled with remarks evoking the sentiments of a concession speech when Mr. Cain finally took to the podium, was the difficulty he seemed to be having telling the audience the truth about his candidacy, which many of his critics had suspected all along was not a real run for the presidency. The American public has now come to know that theres more than one Herman Cain. Theres the Herman Cain who has a problem with Washington, D.C. spending money on fellow Americans down on their luck or helping them by spending to get jobs created in order to get the American economy moving again, and the Herman Cain who has no problem spending money on a friend who
needed his help to pay rent on her house and, of course, theres the Herman Cain who says President Barack Obama has failed in providing national leadership, and the Herman Cain who has apparently failed to provide family leadership where leadership matters most in the life of a nation. The eagerly awaited speech reached emotional climax, when Mr. Cain, an associate pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, declared: I am at peace with myself and my wife is at peace with me; I am at peace with my family and I am at peace with my God. A note with a moving spiritual undertone and a ring of penitence to it, he hoped perhaps would heal the wounds inflicted by the grubby details of the damaging allegations that have hurt his family, derailed his campaign and disappointed his supporters.
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Amandla is a monthly publication of the Amandla Company. It is an associate member of the New Jersey Press Association The publishers of Amandla do not necessarily share the opinions and viewpoints expressed in articles that appear in the publication.
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Photo Report
The Mfantsiman Association of New Jersey was inaugurated on Saturday, November 26. Amandla was there to bring you scenes recorded at the scene.
Nana Kweku Mensah (2nd from right) represented Staten Island Fante Community
Mr. Beautiful launches the fundraising. With him is Kwaku Manu, a comedian
Nana Ahor Kakabaah (center) takes the floor with a Queen mother
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would be held in Enugu on the same day, while his remains would be taken to his country home, Nnewi in Anambra State, solely for interment. According to him, a committee would soon be set to discuss further on the burial arrangements of the former Biafran leader. Obi said all the states of the defunct East Central State, where the late Ojukwu held sway as the military governor as well the presidency would participate in the ceremonies which would take place in Enugu State. "On February 2, 2012, the burial ceremony of Ojukwu will take place in Enugu, after which his corpse will be taken to his country home Nnewi for internment," he said. He explained that the decision to commence the interment ceremonies for the late APGA leader in Enugu was informed by the fact that Enugu was the capital of the former Eastern Region. Apart from the Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, who was represented at the meeting, the other governors of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi State were all present. In another development, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Chukwuma, said while briefing newsmen in Enugu that the death of Ojukwu would not mark an end to be Igbo struggle for justice, equity and fair-play.Chukwuma also described the statement credited to former president Olusegun Obasanjo to the effect that he advised Ojukwu to apologise for the civil war as unfortunate, stressing that should there be any form of apology, it should come from Obasanjo for enthroning a culture of corruption on Nigeria during his eight years "misrule". The Anglican cleric who said Obasanjo was "talking rubbish', noted
that there was no reason for the apology as according to him, Ojukwu stood for a just cause. He said there was no dispute to the fact that Ojukwu was governor of the former east central state, insisting that should the federal government refuse to give him a national burial, the governors of the south east and their south-south counterparts should come together and give him a state burial. Speaking further on how Ojukwu can be immortalised, Chukwuma asked for the naming of the Nnewi Teaching Hospital, as well as the Anambra State University after the late Biafran leader. "As far as we are concerned, Ojukwu made national influence and left no one in doubt as to his contribution to the growth and development of the nation. Although he may have his handicaps, but he was a courageous Nigerian and his type is not easy to come by. Nigeria should immortalize him", Chukwuma said. Similarly, the Leader of the World Ndigbo Youth Council, Chief Igwekala said in Enugu yesterday that his group was prepared to mobilise all Igbos to ensure that Ojukwu received a befitting burial on the stipulated date. Igwekala, who was formerly the Director of Youth and Sports of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) noted that there was no level of contributions to the burial of Ojukwu that would be too much noting that "Ojukwu fought to the extent of putting his life on the line in a bid to give the Igbo man an identity. "We have lost a great father, a motivator, our symbol of struggle physically but spiritually Ojukwu is not dead. We have several thousands of Ikembas and we are determined to actualise his dreams before long. We will be part and parcel of the burial programme," he noted.
selfless services while he was alive. He disclosed that Ojukwu' s family and other stakeholders had commenced plans to give him a befitting burial, adding that his children had arrived Nigeria from London.
Poire identified the ringleader as Cynthia Ann Vanier, a Canadian with direct links to Saadi Gaddafi She was captured in Mexico City on November 10. A day later authorities arrested Gabriela Davila Huert, the plots primary Mexico contact, and document forger Jose Luis Kennedy Prieto, both Mexican, and Denmarks Pierre Christian Flensborg in charge of the plans logistics. Gaddafi, officials said, was to be given the false name of Daniel Bejar Hanan. Saadi Kaddafi 38, fled Libya across its southern frontier to Niger in early September during the fall of Tripoli amid the protests against his authoritarian fathers 42-year regime. On September 14, eight days after Mexico uncovered the smuggling plot, Niger officials announced he was under guard in the capital Niamey after being put on an air force plane from the northwestern town of Agadez. Last month Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou announced his government had granted Saadi asylum for humanitarian reasons. Mexico has been under a harsh spotlight in recent years as President Felipe Calderons war on drug traffickers has failed to stem the tide of violence that has left some 45,000 people dead and terrorized communities across the nation. But Poire insisted that the success in foiling the Gaddafi plot demonstrated the ability of Mexican authorities to contribute to regional security. Muammar Gaddafi and another of his sons were killed in October after their capture in Libya by forces loyal to the National Transitional Council. Libyas new leadership wants Saadi Gaddafi to stand trial for crimes allegedly committed while heading the countrys football federation. Another Gaddafi son, Seif al-Islam, has been captured and the International Criminal Court has called on Libyas new rulers to inform them if and when they intend to hand him over to face charges for crimes against humanity.
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A bad habit that lasts more than a year may turn into a customAn Igbo proverb
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that I was down with illness. Even when I left Akure for Abuja, the calls kept coming from worried concerned friends and associates who wanted to know what had happened to me." In the story, which Obey read out to LIFE&BEAT, he was said to have been rushed home during a show, in which he was billed to perform. Written by Ademola Olonilua The publication also indicated that members of his family contemplated Evangelist Ebenezer Obey on flying him abroad for medical treatWednesday denied rumors that he ment. was sick. A Lagos-based Yoruba Obey said, "They said I shouldnt magazine had insinuated that Obey have been driven there, since it was was suffering from ill health as a renot far from my house. They even sult of the death of his wife, which added that I at arrived the place in my Escalade car and held by more than four persons. "I dont mind people writing about me, but I get disturbed when people just sit down and write anything that comes to their imagination and publish. They said the death of my wife had taken a toll on my health which was all speculation. "I am a friend of the media, no doubt; but I have consulted with my lawyers for necessary action. I have done that because that is not the first time that something like this has been Ebenezer Obey: I am not dead written about me and I kept quiet. I guess people occurred few months ago. have taken my silence for granted. The former Juju music maestro told "By the special grace of God, I am LIFE&BEAT that he wondered why okay; I am not sick and I just arrived the magazine would go to town with from Abuja by flight on Saturday. As such a story without bothering to hear a friend of the media, I so much befrom him. lieve in the ethics of journalism by He said the write-up had got his close cross-checking every piece of inforfriends and relations worried, as they mation before publishing." had been calling him on the telephone to ask after his wellbeing. He said, I was in Akure for a social function and people started calling me to find out whether it was true
far as possible, enjoying its lighted trail of sight and sound. That was our fireworks. We would retire home late and exhausted to wait eagerly for another Christmas. For the initiated, the night before Christmas was a time for binge drinking. Christmas has always been a time of excesses. The Akans of Ghana used to celebrate their own kind of Christmas long time ago. In the Tekyiman area of modern Ghana, that festival is called Fertile Monday (bo me tuo). The Romans were the first known Europeans to have celebrated such a holiday - Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival of drinking, gambling, cross dressing and free for all debauching. It was a time when the cold weather helped to preserve meat and other produce. Because the winter solstice was characterized by dark, cold long nights, Saturnalia was a weeklong holiday. It was also a time when masters would serve servants. It was indeed a free time celebrated after harvesting of farm produce. Excess grains would be processed into alcoholic drinks for the festivities. Merrymakers would go from house to house in inebriated mood demanding to be invited for whatsoever is available to be had. The Roman Saturnalia was to some extent akin to the Emancipation Day celebrated in the Caribbean - a time to celebrate freedom from slavery. Commercialization of the winter solstice has dimmed the essence of the once celebrated and glorified holidays. The once spirited occasion of giving and sharing willingly is being replaced by stressful and obligatory giving, compounding our indebtedness. Not surprisingly Merry Christmas is gradually being replaced with Happy Holidays. Despite the growing tribulations of the season, the essence of the times still holds true. Tis the reason of the Season Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, Happy Kwanzaa; and most of all Happy Holidays to all.
History Corner
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Afe Nhyia Pa
The Volta River has been called a sovereign river. It is a thousand miles long from its main tributary, the Black Volta in Burkina Faso before it swells the Gulf of Guinea. The Black Volta enters Ghana in the northwest and forms a natural boundary with the Ivory Coast and then swerves east into the country. The White and Red Volta also rise beyond Ghanas upper borders, curve west as one river and meet the Black Volta. At the point of confluence about 40 miles north of Yeji and 230 miles from the coast, the Volta proper is born. Rivers Oti and Afram merge with Volta before it meanders into the Accra plains and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Ada. The Volta River, it is said, provided the route by which the people of the ancient kingdom of Ghana fled south from the Islamic invaders in 1076. The early Portuguese who discovered (as if they were no indigenes before they came) the river gave it the name Volta which means to meander. It was the route of the Volta River by which the French trader J.T. Bonnat and the African merchant Robert Bannerman reached the then famous Salaga market in 1876 in attempt to trade with caravans from Timbuktu, the Niger, Senegal etc. Steamboat services were introduced on the lower portions of the river while canoes continued to be used in the higher areas where steam boats could not be used. In 1915 a survey by A.E. Kitson was carried out in the Gold Coast. He pointed out among others that, a dam on the Volta River could produce power for the production of aluminum from local bauxite deposits at Mpraeso and Yenahin. Kitson suggested Akosombo as the point to dam the meandering river. Akosombo, a village near Akwamufie founded circa 1733 was originally a village called Nkonson-konson-bo or chain of rock. In March 1959 following President Nkrumahs visit to the U.S. and dialogue between President Eisenhower and himself, the consulting engineering firm Henry J. Kaiser was contracted for further feasibility studies on the Volta River. Kaiser reaffirmed that the gorge pinpointed by Kitson at Akosombo was the ideal place to dam the Volta River, where the valley of the Volta forms one of the narrowest sections of the entire river gorge. The lake would have an area of 3275 square miles, a length of 250 miles and a storage capacity of 120 million acre feet of water. Kaiser also recommended future smaller hydro-electric projects at Kpong and Bui should the need arise. It also suggested Tema instead of Kpong as the site of an aluminum smelter factory. The new town of Tema and its harbor were fast rising at this point in time. It was realized that the Volta River Project would supply electric power to the whole of southern Ghana and enhance the agrarian industry. Besides, the project had the potential of developing a navigational and transportation system and would promote inland fisheries on the largest man-made lake in the world. This was indubitably an industrial revolution for the small and nascent country of Ghana. It was estimated that availability of hydro-electric power would greatly reduce Ghanas foreign exchange expenditure on imported fuel oil. The Volta River Project brought about several developments in Ghana. Included was the Volta Aluminum Company Limited (VALCO) at Tema with majority ownership at the time (90%) Kaiser Corporation and the rest Reynolds Metals Company both of the U.S., Tema Oil Refinery etc. Began in January 1962 and completed February 1965 under Ghanas First President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Volta Project had several Herculean tasks to overcome in its formative and constructive years. It resettled about 80,000 people scattered from about 700 villages at 52 resettlement towns such as Nkwakubew, Mpakadan, and Todome. One year after its completion, Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown by a joint police-military coup detat. Culled from The story of Ghanas Volta River Project by Keith Jopp
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Al Ain coach Cosmin Olaroiu is confident Asamoah Gyan will see out his loan deal with the club, as he has developed an affinity for the club. Ghana star Gyan signed for Al Ain on a season-long loan deal from English Premier League side Sunderland in September, having fallen out with then-Black Cats boss Steve Bruce. Gyan has gone on to score seven goals in nine games for his new club including six in six in the league and was on target again on Friday night as his penalty set up a 2-0 win over Al Wasl at the Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Stadium. Olaroiu hailed that performance as the best since the striker arrived in the UAE, and he is confident the club can hang on to their prized asset despite new Sunderland manager Martin ONeill admitting he was keen to explore the possibility of bringing Gyan back to the Stadium of Light. Asamoah played one of the best games since he came here, the Romanian said. What I have received from him, always he plays with the team and for the team. Hes a player whos learning. With Ghana when he plays really well hes always alone up front, with support from the back. What is happening now in this way, he feels more comfortable. I think he feels good here, I think we supported him to come back into shape
Sport Al Ain warn Sunderland over Asamoah Gyan Nigeria: Arsenal Okays Abuja Stadium, Transcorp Hilton for Tour
The Green Eagles of Nigeria Olawale Ajimotokan Patrick Ekeji. Amadu told the Arsenal delegation that football is an intense passion in Nigeria which some commentators even elevate to a religion at times. Kinnear said their choice of Nigeria was informed by the large fan base of Arsenal in Nigeria which he described as "overwhelming and probably the largest in the world outside the United Kingdom". "There is a large fan base for Arsenal in Nigeria. We are also happy with the reception we got at the airport, hotel and everywhere. The reception is unbelievable," Kinnear said. He promised that all the big actors in Arsenal including Richard Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosisky, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song and others will be keen to visit the homeland of Nwankwo Kanu, one of Arsenal's living legends. Kinnear said that the key consideration behind the decision to come to Nigeria was to engage their fans rather than to make financial benefits. According to him, the team's itinerary of Nigeria is still a work in session as they were in the country to see the facilities on ground. "The benefit for us is really about engaging our supporters. We want to meet them. We had a very successful tour of the Far East last year. And we know that will exactly be the same in Nigeria if not more so. Arsenal fans are global," Kinnear said. Two English Premier League sides, Man United and Portsmouth visited Nigeria in 2007. allAfrica.com In the meantime, I need to access myself again, in terms of the fight, he said. He said he would rest for a while before returning to training. Source: Michael Quaye - Daily Graphic
Asamoah Gyan: He just scored his first goal for Ain and to do good things for the national team in the African Nations Cup. It is also my opinion that he feels something for this team and for the people who work with him, and he will remain here. Youth & Sports, IQRA Ltd, National Sports Authority, Miklin Hotel, Aristocrat Hotel, Ghana Police Service (MTTU), Disability Options-Ghana, National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) and Promasidor Ghana Ltd for sponsoring the international event. From The Sports Desk
Advance team of Arsenal Monday gave Abuja the nod to host the English side's preseason tour coming up next summer. Marketing Director of Arsenal, Angus Kinnear and the First team Travel and Equipment Manager, Paul Johnson expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the Abuja National Stadium and Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where the English Premier League side are expected to put up during their stay in Nigeria. Kinnear and Johnson were accompanied on the tour by a mix of Nigerian consultants, including Hon Razak Bello- Osagie of the House of Representatives, David Omigie, John Okosi, Ibrahim Danbatta and Shehu Dikko. The Abuja Stadium Manager, Victor Osunsanmi took them on the guided tour of the National Stadium, shortly upon their arrival to the nation's capital via Lagos. They were satisfied with the state of the 60,000 capacity stadium after inspecting the VIP stand, state box, changing rooms and the main pitch. The Arsenal officials also gave Transcorp Hilton Hotel a wink of approval after they were taken to the meeting rooms, gym, restaurant and guest rooms. They later paid separate courtesy visits to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) where they were received by the Secretary General, Musa Amadu and the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief "I think what they need is guidance and somebody to believe in them and they will excel, if they work hard."
Joseph Agbeko
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