Ghanaians, who tend to be very religious people, are fond of attributing most of their problems to mystical forces. This phrase “but deliver us from evil” is one common on the lips of many who bombard God with prayers concerning their existential challenges.

It is very sad to note that many of their problems have no relation to the God that they constantly pray to but rather are caused by the “men” they have empowered as their leaders who are supposed to serve them and eventually lead them to that promised land “flowing with milk and honey.” For years and years on, many have hoped and are still hoping for their liberation and deliverance but to no avail.

What is the hindrance to their liberation? The evil of “Corruption”. I do not want to be so academic with what in truth the concept and realities of corruption are in Ghana. But I would sum it all up in one quote I came across attributed to Mr. Ban Ki-moon (former UN Secretary General). He said, “Corruption has disastrous impacts on development when funds that should be devoted to schools, health clinics and other vital public services are instead diverted into the hands of criminals or dishonest officials. Corruption exacerbates violence and insecurity, and can lead to dissatisfaction with public institutions, disillusion with government in general and spirals of anger and unrest.”

Indeed, since the inception of Ghana’s political process through to the various military takeovers until the present age of democracy, one promise that has always been made to Ghanaians by leaders is to “clamp down and eradicate the canker of corruption.” I honestly cannot tell where we stand in that fight. Whether we have progressed or retrogressed, I would leave that to your wisdom and honest analysis.

One thing is sure though, corruption continues to rob Ghana of its abundant wealth, weakens the rule of law and public institutions and more dangerously erodes the public trust in the government and leadership of the State. Since Independence, there is the growing perception that Government related corruption is always on the rise in Ghana with Ghana consistently ranked by Transparency International as a highly prone corruption country.

In the midst of all these, the ordinary Ghanaian is still praying that “deliver us from evil.” I believe that God, who should to be allowed to concentrate on more important things, need not be robed into this simple issue. We have very competent human institutions who are capable of answering this prayer. I would just focus on the Office of the Special Prosecutor that was recently established in 2017 after the passage of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959).

The office of the Special Prosecutor, a specialized agency, was created following the President of Ghana’s promise to Ghanaians before the 2016 general election, to investigate cases of alleged and/or suspected corruption related offences involving public officers and politically expose persons in the performance of their functions as well as persons in the private sector involved in the commission of alleged or suspected corruption. And also, to prosecute all corruption related offenses on the authority of the Attorney General.

Commendable many would say. Yes, I guess so! But that is what is expected of a functioning state according to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which states in Article 35(8) that “the state shall take steps to eradicate corrupt practices and the abuse of power.”

My main focus, however is that the office of the Special Prosecutor carries the hopes of several ordinary Ghanaians who see it as the possible answer to their prayers. The Special Prosecutor has been entrusted with wide powers, within the confines of the law, to clamp down corruption to the barest minimum and eventually stop all forms of abuse of public office and power for parochial and private gains.

As it stands now, the people of Ghana do not seem convinced that enough is being done to eradicate corruption as mandated by the Constitution. This is not to downplay the efforts of the State which has tried to decentralize the fight against corruption as well as done quite well to introduce technology into the public services as a means of reducing the means to perpetuate corrupt acts. But more can be done especially by the Office of the Special Prosecutor to heighten the confidence of Ghanaians so that their prayers are answered.

An independent, proactive, non-partisan and committed institution is what Ghanaians are looking forward to see in action. More so, Ghanaians want to see an institution that is collaborating with several other anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations and the media who are independently working to address the issue of corruption.

In conclusion, it is important to note that only a free, protected and unrestrained civil society can expose wrongdoings in high places. Successful anti-corruption efforts are often led by “coalitions of concerned” politicians, senior government officials, the private sector, citizens and civil society organizations and to be successful in the fight would require a concerted effort.

The spirit of the Special Prosecutor must be a proactive and a collaborative one in order to be successful. It is now or never!

Until then, Ghanaians would still pray – “deliver us from evil!”

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He was warmly welcomed by Father Campbell, and a colourful bouquet of flower was presented to the Chief Imam before he was ushered into the Church.

The Chief Imam’s surprise visit was a reciprocal one to earlier engagements with former Archbishop of Accra, Gabriel Palmer Buckle, and other Christian leaders.

The National Chief Imam turns 100 on Tuesday April 23, and the surprise visit forms part of activities lined up to commemorate his centenary birthday anniversary.

Apart from the visit being a reciprocal gesture, it also forms part of the Sheikh Sharubutu’s life-long commitment to promoting inter-faith dialogue, and a peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians, the two dominant religions in Ghana.

On the morning of his birthday on Tuesday, United Nations General Secretary’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn. Chambas, will speak at a public lecture, which will be held in honour of the National Chief Imam.

The theme for the lecture, which will be held at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra, is: “Advancement of modern Ghanaian society through peace, tolerance and development.”

The Planning Committee of the centenary birthday commemoration have also announced the launch of a biography of the Chief Imam on May 3, 2019.

Credit: The Zongo Mail

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The Roman Catholic Arch Bishop of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair established by a Decree, the first ever Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish on December 6, 2018. In true Ghanaian fashion, the new parish with her new moniker, The Saint Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish celebrated the historic inauguration and installation of their new Ghanaian Pastor, Reverend Father Paul Baffuor Awuah, with a vibrant and cultural centered event on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The occasion was celebrated by the Most Reverend Juan Miguel Betancourt, the Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford and Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese. In attendance were several catholic Priests, Deacons, and leaders of Ghanaian Associations from the various states and Apostolates. Also present was State Senator Saud Anwar of Connecticut and the executives and members of the Laity Council which represents the various Ghanaian catholic fraternities in the United States.

The church, which began as a ministry Twenty-Two years ago by four visionaries, namely, Mr. Edward Adjei Kensah, now Deacon; Mr. Robert Bentil, Nana Yaw Bonnah, and the Late Mr. Mathias-Onyina-Assenso, who were inspired after a pastoral visit to New York by Bishop Kwasi Sarpong, now Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi.The town of East Hartford became the locus for the church, because it had about 90% of the Connecticut Ghanaian immigrants.Having laid a strong and a formidable foundation for the Ministry, and as the church began to grow, Rev. Nana Ampah, the first Priest of the new ministry consulted with Bishop Joseph Osei Bonsu of Konongo-Mampong Diocese in Ghana to inaugurate it. Consequently, on August 27, 2000, the Ministry was inaugurated by Bishop Bonsu.With the help of Brother Myles Hubbard, the then President of the Black Catholic Ministry and Msgr. Johnson, then Vicar for Priests for the Archdiocese of Hartford, there was a move to have a contractual agreement between the two Bishops of the Archdiocese of Hartford and the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong to send resident priests from Ghana to serve the Ministry for a four year term.

The first Resident Priest for the Ministry was Rev. Fr. Augustine Owusu-Sekyere. He was followed by Rev. Fr. Joseph Savino-Gyimah, Rev. John Kyere and now Rev Paul Baffuor-Awuah, who is the new Pastor of the new Quasi-Parish.  The church has had four successive leadership since its inception, The first elected Council was from 1997 to 2001, led by Mr. Edward Adjei Kensah and Nana Adansi Bonnah as Vice President; 2001 to 2007, led by Mr. Edward Adjei Kensah as President and Mr. Robert Bentil as the Vice President.From 2007 to 2010: Second Elected Council with Mr. William Pinamang as President and Mr. Larry Bempong as the Vice President.From 2010 to 2017: Third Elected Council with Mr. Larry Bempong as President and Mr. Emmanuel Ewusi as the Vice President. From 2017 till date, the Fourth Elected Council has been led by Mr. Thomas Andoh as President and Mr. Fred Kwadwo Kyeremeh as the Vice President. The church is now proud of about 400 members and is blessed with five Ministries, eight societies and seven Committees. They also have a Music Ministry, Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministry, the Youth and Sunday School.

The new Pastor and church council wishes to express their sincere appreciation to all well-wishers and Parishioners of the newly formed St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Quasi –Parish for their fervent prayers, support and sacrifices over the past 22 years; and for the opportunity to practice their Catholic faith in their language and culture. They pray that the good lord continues to bless the new Parish from strength to strength.

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His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo on February 8, 2019, at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, called for support to construct the National Cathedral of Ghana.

Prior to this launch of fundraising of the National Cathedral of Ghana, on December 28, 2018, the President in a similar event made a personal donation of GHC100,000, a demonstration of his commitment towards the building of the Cathedral.

 The National Cathedral of Ghana when constructed will have a seating capacity of 5,000 auditorium with its chapels and baptistery. There will be a house of music, museum of the Bible and an art gallery. According to Mr. David Adjaye, the Architect of the Cathedral, the design will be a genuine reflection of the art and culture of the good people of Ghana. He describes the high pitched and staggered roof as similar to the Akan’s architecture and the frontage will be concave and decorated with timber with semblance of Ashanti royal stools.

The launch was welcomed by The Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana. On behalf of the Trustees and the appointed members, the Archbishop expressed gratitude to the President for his faith in their experience and expertise. He concluded his welcoming remarks charmingly in various Ghanaian dialects.

Mr. Steven Green, the Founder and Chairman of the Museum of the Bible gave a rendition of how his rich experience and knowledge were solicited during the initial planning of the building of the Cathedral and couldn’t be more grateful. He stressed on the importance of such an edifice and the need for a rallying support of the President’s vision.

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency, Dr Baffour Adjei-Bawuah, described the President as an honorable man, a man who has an intensity of intent for his vision in his introductory address. The Ambassador assured the enthusiastic guests about the President’s dream and said, “The dream he is handling is not personal but national.” He further reminded that “the Cathedral will not be anybody’s parish or church but the nation’s church, a place to go to make a submission on behalf of oneself and the nation, its everybody’s home.” Ambassador Dr. Adjei-Bawuah again said the yet to be constructed National Cathedral of Ghana ought to stand as a monument of God’s graciousness to Ghana.

 The President begun his remarks at the launch with a deep appreciation to the Board of Trustees, Steven Green and the high number of people who graced the occasion as a sign of immense support for the construction of the Cathedral.

He shared the three pillars on which he believes are good reasons enough to humbly and passionately push for the nation to have a National Cathedral.

He argued that the mere fact that Ghana has been spared civil wars and famine, which is prevalent all over Africa, it is proper to thank God by building him a House of Worship.

 Secondly, the fact that 71 percent of the people of Ghana are Christians, though diverse in their persuasions, the President was positive, the National Cathedral will serve as a unifier. The Supreme Court’s ruling on January 28, 2019 supported this assertion, the President added.

The president stated that he made a pledge to God, that, if he was elected President after two unsuccessful attempts, he will build a Cathedral to the glory of God. This President said is the third reason for his passionate appeal to raise resources for the Cathedral.

 He was clear that, the National Cathedral of Ghana will not be a monument to beautify the city of Accra but a place of convergence for the Christian community to worship, pray and promote deep national discourse on the role of the faithful in nation building.

The President was positive that just as Nehemiah motivated the people of Israel to build the wall of Jerusalem, God will touch the hearts of people both home and abroad to build the National Cathedral of Ghana to his glory.

The Chairman of the fundraising committee and a member of the Board of Trustees, Archbishop Duncan Williams appealed for great support and funds for the construction of the Cathedral. He drew the attention of all gathered to Genesis 22 of the Bible and convinced them to give to this project to receive the blessings of Abraham from God.

 The event was attended by The Speaker of Parliament of Ghana Rt. Honorable Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Dr. Adjei-Bawuah, Her Excellency Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, Right Rev. Offei Akrofi, Prophet Kusi Boateng, Kofi Dzamesi, Minister of Chieftancy and Religious Affairs, Professor Emeritus Samuel Amoako, Consular General New York and other government appointees and dignitaries.

Source:

Frederick Ameyaw, Head of Information.

Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

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Kaduna, Nigeria – Denouncing God can be a dangerous thing in Nigeria, where religion is the rhythm of life.

Atheism, considered blasphemy by many, is a largely underground movement that’s hard to quantify but increasingly reported among millennials.

Atheists come together in private on WhatsApp groups and use pseudonyms on social media sites to share ideas.

The Nigerian population of nearly 200 million is split almost evenly between Muslims and Christians with sizeable followers of traditional spirituality.

“As a clergyman, this makes me sad that today we have people in Nigeria going in for atheism,” Gideon Obasogie, a Roman Catholic cleric tells A Jazeera. “The effect of this will be terrible. For one who says there is no God, he can do all kinds of horrible things … I feel this will lead to anarchy and chaos.  The rise of atheism in Nigeria is not wonderful news.”

In recent months, Nigerian atheists have registered three pro-secular organisations: Atheist Society of Nigeria, the Northern Nigerian Humanist Association and the Nigerian Secular Society.

“We need these organisations as a space for people to come out,” says Mubarak Bala, who helped to register the groups. 

Bala attracted media attention in 2014 after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Kano by his parents when they found out he was atheist. 

He says his father and uncles held him down for 30 minutes and forced him to take medications given by the psychiatrist, who told him “everyone needs God”.

“People began secretly contacting me, telling me that they too, don’t believe in Allah. Even Christians told me they don’t think Jesus is God and they just have questions about the whole religion thing,” Bala said.

Most keep their beliefs secret.

Bala is the only atheist who allowed Al Jazeera to use his real name.

Al Jazeera travelled to three cities – Kano, Kaduna and Abuja – to meet some “undercover” atheists in their twenties and thirties.

Kenneth: ‘My family told me I am possessed’

“I grew up a rebel. I grew up a black sheep in the family. If I go to church, I go because I am forced to go to church.

I’ve never believed anything, so at a point, the pastor of the church I was attending with my family told me that I am possessed with an evil spirit because I was always questioning God and the Bible.

As an atheist in Nigeria, you will be ostracised. 

Up to today, I have many people who keep their distance from me simply because I ask a lot of critical questions about religion. Many of them don’t even know I’m now an atheist.”

Jiddah: ‘I realised Islam didn’t have my interest as a woman’

“I’ve always had questions, unanswered questions right from childhood. 

It’s not like I was the ideal Muslim girl, because I did a lot of things that Islam did not permit me to do such as wearing men’s clothing – meaning trousers – going clubbing, having premarital sex.

Basically, I realised Islam didn’t really have my interest as a woman. As a child at the Islamic school, I would always ask, ‘Where is God? Why can’t we see him or her?‘

What I got was a beating, serious flogging because you shouldn’t ask such questions. 

The breakthrough came I guess when I met Mubarak [Bala]. I found him on Facebook and I sent him a friend request.

(Note: Before receiving death threats, Jiddah said she would use the site to criticise Islam and had 8,000 followers. She has now closed her account.)

Then, we began to talk about religion. Mubarak would say, ‘It’s just like me telling you there’s a cat right here and you can’t see it. Why would you believe anything like that?’ 

So gradually, I just rid myself of that belief in God and it’s been liberating. 

But it’s heartbreaking because you really want to talk to your friends about these things and explain to them because you want them to feel what you feel. But you just can’t.”

Shehu: ‘A scholar can declare you an apostate’

“In Islam, I used to see stuff that didn’t correspond with reality. I tried to study Islam but I kept seeing more and more things that I just couldn’t believe I was reading.

I went to school in Malaysia and learned about intellectualism and what I learned blew my mind. I was learning about science that broke down the myths of religion. Things just became clear.

I came out and told my father, thinking he would understand. It backfired.

We come from an Islamic royal family in northern Nigeria.

My dad, he went to the NGO I was working at. He was a board member and told them to fire me. So they did. 

Then he brought a woman for me to marry so I could just conform and be normal. 

My dad prevents me from telling anyone about my beliefs. Here in Nigeria, a Mallam – a respected Islamic scholar – can declare you an apostate as an atheist and order you to be killed, just like that. So I’m undercover.”

Peter: ‘Why is it that Christianity had to come through conquest?’

“My mother was quite religious. Every Sunday, we’d go to a Catholic church. 

The religion, Christianity itself, came in through several tools. Slavery, colonialism and of course, the subtle colonialism, which is missionary style.

So my question has always been, why is it that something that I need had to come through in such an inhumane way? Why is it that it had to come through conquest?

Some people were put to the sword and they had to take it whether they liked it or not. 

For my safety … if folks find out I’m an atheist, I could lose out on work opportunities (Peter is an IT professional). If people here in Nigeria find out I’m atheist, I think that would be the death of my reputation. Religion is a scam.”

Freeman: ‘The killings here over religion do not help’

“The killings that happen so much here in Nigeria over religion do not help. 

I came back home one day from school and I learned that a lot of houses had been brought down by our people, Muslims, just thinking that they did that for God. 

I watched somebody being burned to death on the road. I was coming back from school. I actually had friends, my Muslim friends, who went out to kill Christians and they asked me to join them and they actually believe they were doing it for God.

They said it’s God’s wish. They said that’s what God wants them to do and that it’s also what the Quran says. It really makes me upset.”

Nasir: ‘My father said I should leave or he’ll kill me’

“I am against Islam entirely. Not just the way it’s practised, but against it fully. 

My parents, they know I don’t believe in God.

My father is an Islamic scholar and one day he called me and my mum, and he asked if it was true, [if] what he was hearing about me being an atheist is true. I said yes.

So, he brought out a knife. He wanted to kill me. I was telling him, ‘Wait let me explain to you.’ 

He said, ‘How can you explain to me?’

I was scared actually and we were struggling, me and him. Then my mother seized the knife. My father said I should leave the house or he’ll kill me at night. So I left the house and started living at my workplace.

My father sent me away and then a relative talked to him and told him I changed my mind and told him that I’m no longer an atheist. But my father knows that’s not true.

Some of my relatives keep me away from their children because they say I will corrupt them.”

Ayuba: ‘It would break my mother’s heart if she knew’

“My mother will call me and say, ‘Have you been giving your tithes to the church?’ 

Like, if you don’t pay, then you’re stealing from God and God will punish you for that. So, it’s like a way of indoctrinating people, trying to put fear in people.

Ayuba said he always felt different from other people. His mother is an avid church-goer [Chika Oduah/Al Jazeera]

I grew up in ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All, formerly known as Evangelical Church of West Africa).

The whole story of the Bible and creation, I don’t know. My mother, it would break her heart if she knew I am atheist.”

Abdul: ‘My father started preaching against me’

“I told my father that I don’t believe in prayers any more. He was grooming me to become a mallam, an Islamic scholar, like him. 

He never encouraged me to go to Western schools. Even when I went to university, I just did it on my own.

He started preaching against me a few years ago. 

He’s an Islamic scholar so people listen to him. Him preaching against me, you know, someone could take action to harm me.

Abdul says his life is at risk. His father, a Muslim scholar in northern Nigeria, condemns him in his sermons because he is an atheist [Chika Oduah/Al Jazeera]

In his sermons, he would say, ‘Just imagine, my son went to Western school so now he believes there is no creator. He thinks he is smarter than all of us and he gets his notions from a computer,’ because he used to see me on the computer. 

I see my father and other religious people as victims of their beliefs. I had to stop going to my family house.”

These interviews were edited for clarity and length.

All of the interviewees’ names, aside from those in the introduction, have been changed to protect their safety. They also requested their ages were not published, out of fear of being identified.

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Across Africa, from the north of the Sahara to the West African coast sit many relics of the continent’s early interactions with Europe.

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Ghana’s Nabdam District, which is bordered on the north by Burkina Faso, and on the east by the Republic of Togo, is the least urbanized region in Ghana. Less than 16 percent of the population resides in urban areas, and about 28.5 percent of adults in the region are classified as illiterate. Additionally, 84.9 percent of the employed population is engaged in skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery occupations, and 50.3 percent of the population is self-employed.

Notably, nearly one-third of the local residents live approximately 15 miles from the closest hospital, and the students at the Girls Model School travel a minimum of 9.3 miles each day, on foot, to and from school. Also notable is the fact that, in Nabdam, the proportion of males who have attended schools is consistently higher than that, for females, at all levels.

A UNICEF report on the impact that bicycles have for school-aged Ghanaian girls, found that 95 percent of rural girls attend school more regularly after having gained access to a bicycle, and 70 percent of those who received bicycles demonstrated higher academic performances, in their subsequent school work.

Commenting on the Nabdam District event, the Foundation’s executive director, Patricia Marshall Harris, stressed the important role GBBI CEO Bernice Dapaah, and her leadership of her Ghana-based company, with a predominately Ghanaian female workforce, can play in inspiring young women at the Girls Model School to achieve Ghana’s national aspirations for academic, economic and social advancement for women across the country.

“While Ghana continues to make impressive strides towards building a globally respected democracy and a strong sub-Saharan African economic profile,” said Ms. Marshall Harris, “we at ABCF and GBBI join Ghana’s government and economic leaders in recognizing  that the full realization of the country’s potential can only be achieved when Ghana’s young girls and women are provided improved access to educational opportunity, and are challenged to join as partners and leaders in all that the country wants to achieve.”

At the event, which was held at Kongo, in the Nabdam District, remarks were presented by Mr. Timothy Naasal Yuornuo, district director of education; by Kongo-Sapaat-Nab Namaalteng, chief of Kongo; by Mrs. Meiri Seidu, director, Health Directorate; and by Mr. Amos Agyapong, production manager, GBBI. The event, which also included a Girls Model School Cultural Display, was moderated by Mr. Francis Sapaat and the opening and closing prayers were offered by Rev. Martin, a Roman Catholic priest.

In his remarks, Mr. Sapaat, budget/NGO officer, Girls Model School, said, “The distribution of bicycles was timely considering the daily distance they cover to and from school. It is a high relief to pupils and parents, since students will now be early to school and back home.”

Who is ABCF?

The African Bicycle Contribution Foundation (ABCF) is a 501©3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to generate funding to underwrite the distribution of bicycles to under-resourced students, teachers, and transport-dependent small farmers and healthcare workers, in Ghana. The Corporation has made a commitment to finance the free distribution of 2500 bicycles in Ghana, over its first five years of operation.

ABCF works in partnership with the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, which produces the iconic Eco-Ride bamboo bicycle; the Bright Generation Community Foundation, the Respect Alliance, and the U.S.-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. Included among the foundation’s corporate and charitable non-profit sponsors are Independence Blue Cross, the Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Dr. and Mrs. Colon A. Romero.

For further information about ABCF, please contact the ABCF offices: info@africanbike.org.

Contact: A. Bruce Crawley
African Bicycle Contribution Foundation
www.africanbike.org
Tel: 215-751-0140
Email: abcrawley@africanbike.org

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The Asanteman Association of Massachusetts, held a Kente Dinner Dance on Sat July 21, 2018. The event was held at the Armenian Cultural Center in Worcester.

The dress code as you can imagine was Ghana’s rich Kente cloth, as the event sort to exhibit the true richness of Ghana’s most famous fabric. Sitting in state, was Nana Brobbey Amankwatia Asotia, Asantehene of Worcester. He was flanked by Nana Akosua Dufie, the Asantefuohemaa of Worcester, and Nana Owusu Ntim, Akwamuhene of Worcester. Also in attendance was Nana Adu Opoku Onyame-Akoa, Asantefuohene of Cincinnati and Nana Addai Baffour, Asantefuohene of Chicago.

Ghana’s Highlife music legend, Nana Amakye Dede who is on tour in the USA, was the guest performer for the evening. The Chairman of the event was Dr. Anthony Kwasi Adade. The Co-Chair was Nana Akwasi Prempeh of New York. Nana Atta Yeboah of California, Nana Amponsah and Nana Sisire Nyantakyi of New York were all Special Guests for the event.

In his speech, the Chairman, Dr. Anthony Adade told the crowd that they were there not only to celebrate Kente, but to celebrate who they are as a people. He reminded them that while they celebrate, they should keep their cultural and economic wellbeing in mind. He told them that in order to safeguard their future and that of the next generation, he would appeal to Nananom and the leadership of Asanteman Association to reach out to all the other cultural groups and form alliances with the goal of promoting the African culture and improve the economic situation of all members.  He mentioned that, since Ghanaians have established their own churches, he wants to see them establish their own banks and credit unions and other businesses. He also wants to see Ghanaians involved in joint ventures that align with the economic revitalization of the city of Worcester currently going on. 

He told the crowd that there is strength in numbers and challenged them to begin to put their minds together and come up with ideas they can use to help each other and even those they have left back home in Ghana.

Nana Amakye Dede, the Iron Boy, entertained the crowed to some of his classics that Ghanaians have come to appreciate over the years.

Source: Ghanaian American Journal

AMAKYE DEDE @ ASANTEMAN ASSOCIATION

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(GAJ) At a time when the nation is grappling with incessant allegations of corruption at most of her public institutions, there is indeed one bright light, indeed, a true test of brain power. As the nation failed to make it to the 2018 World Cup, many have turned to the NSMQ as it is referred to, to get a jolt of National Pride.

Unlike the Spelling Bee in the US, which some may argue is not a true representation of academic excellence, Ghana’s Science and Math quiz is rigorous, comprehensive and brings out the best in Ghanaian High School academic performance, as most of its participants go on to the top of their fields in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields (STEM).

The quiz competition, formally referred to as the Brilliant Science and Math Quiz “Brilla” is by far the most highly rated academic event that brings all of Ghana’s secondary schools together to show the best among the lot. To date, the National Science and Math’s Quiz is the longest running educational program on Ghanaian television, as it celebrates 25 years, and garners the attention of the entire nation.

In fact, most old students from some of the top schools in Ghana, use this occasion to renew their bragging rights, as they boast of their schools as being the best in the nation.
The NSMQ as the name denotes, is no easy contest, it is actually a test of true academic excellence, as students have to compete over some difficult Science and Mathematics problems with speed and accuracy.

When the quiz began in 1993, it involved only 32 schools across the country, and these were divided into the Northern Sector and Southern Sector, with 16 schools per sector. Winners in both sectors were then brought to Ghana’s capital, Accra for the national championship. In 1997, the geographical sector system was abandoned and interestingly, two northern sector schools, Opoku Ware School and Prempeh College, two of the fiercest rivalries in secondary school history made it to the finals, the storied AV batch of 1997, from Opoku Ware School won the competition for the very first time against Prempeh College. 

In 1998, the tournament became known as the National Science & Maths Quiz, when it lost its sponsorship from the company which initially sponsored it, the makers of Brilliant soap. From 2000, the number of participating schools was increased to 40, and in 2013, the number of participating schools went up to 81, although 66 turned up for the competition. Thus, the participation format was changed to three schools competing per contest, instead of two, as had been the case since the program’s inception.

To give the competition a truly national character, the quiz has since 2014 involved 135 schools from all parts of Ghana. This gives virtually any good secondary school in Ghana the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with the historically “Great” schools.

If this year’s competition is any measure, the so called second-tier schools have done amazingly well by kicking out the top schools.

For example, Tamale Secondary School took out Achimota School; Mfantsipim School took out Presbyterian Secondary School and Mawuli Secondary took out Opoku Ware; and West African Secondary School took out Prempeh College.
The first quiz mistress was the late Prof. Marian Ewurama Addy, professor of Biochemistry at the University of Ghana, Legon. She was quiz-mistress from 1993-2000. Dr. Eureka Emefa Adomako, a botanist at the University of Ghana, Legon, took over as quiz-mistress from 2001 to 2005, having been recommended by Prof. Addy. Dr. Adomako was a fantastic quiz mistress who took charge of the program until she had to leave for postgraduate studies. Just as Prof. Addy had recommended her as quiz mistress, Dr. Adomako also recommended that Dr. Kaufmann take over as quiz mistress. In 2006, Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, the Head of the Biomedical Engineering department, University of Ghana, Legon, took over as quiz mistress. Over the past ten years, she has succeeded in bringing her own style to the program, occasionally injecting some humor into an otherwise tense contest. As the chairperson of the moderation team, Dr. Kaufmann is supported by a team of consultants made up of Prof. W.A. Asomaning, Dr. Ebenezer Owusu, Dr. Amos Kuditcher and Dr. Douglas Adu-Gyamfi, all from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon has been to the finals 7 times and won the trophy 5 times. Another 7-time finalist, Opoku Ware School, has won the trophy two times. Prempeh College is a four-time winner. Achimota School is the only unisex school to have won the competition. It may surprise you that no all-female school has ever won the competition although, Ghana boasts of at least three top rated all-girl schools. Only 11 schools out of the hundreds of Senior High Schools in Ghana have won the competition since its inception.
From 2012, the Ghana Education Service (GES), through the Conference of Heads of Assisted Schools, CHASS, took up the sponsorship of the program. Thus, the competition was opened up to many more schools to participate. In 2013, 66 out of the 81 invited schools participated. From 2014, 108 schools were selected from regional competitions to join 27 seeded schools (quarter-finalists from the previous year’s competition) at the National Championships.

This year’s competition finals would be quite a unique one to witness as Adisadel College, considered a top-ranked school, tries to beat less known St. Peters Senior High School and West African Secondary School. If this year’s World cup gives us any clues, then being from a famous or big named country or school does not guarantee victory.

Source: www.gajreport.com

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GAJ Media Group, Publishers of the Ghanaian American Journal, an online news magazine in Connecticut, launched its premier professional and business networking mixer, dubbed the “Afro-New Englander” Networking Mixer. The event attracted several professionals and business startups across New England and New York. Among the notable guests at the event, were the Mayor of the City of Hartford, Mayor Luke Bronin and wife, Sara. The Mayor shared some words of encouragement with the attendees. He asked them to not only connect with the Ghanaian American community, but to the wider African diaspora as well, to build stronger communities. Also in attendance was the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Ms. Megan Clark Torrey. In her opening remarks, she underscored the importance of global connections and what her organization WAC-CT, is doing to educate the public about the importance of being globally minded and building diverse communities.

The CEO of GAJ Media Group, Mr. Fred Kojo Kyeremeh, on his part encouraged the attendees to embrace their identities as Africans living in the United States and use their knowledge and influences to support each other. He assured them that they are very much a part of America’s success story and should be proud in sharing their stories. He reiterated the notion that Africans can be found in all sectors of American society, and are making significant contributions to the economy, culture, education and healthcare needs of the country and should therefore not shy away or feel disregarded, irrespective of the current administration’s anti-immigration policies.

The special guest of honor at the event was the 2018 Ghanaian Olympian, Akwasi Frimpong. Akwasi Frimpong had earlier in the day, received a proclamation from the Mayor of Harford, Luke Bronin.

GAJ Media with the help of Mayor Bronin presented Akwasi with a special crystal plaque for his Olympic achievements. 

The event featured a special presentation on financial and investment management, which was led by Dr. Hans Boateng of the Investment Tutor, LLC and Mr. Kofi Koranteng of Highlife Management, LLC.

GAJ Media Group plans to host the networking mixer quarterly, and the event would always feature a special topic of interest and a guest presenter, an expert on that particular topic.

The attendees later had the opportunity to network and share ideas, as they enjoyed some Afrobeat tunes and a special musical performance by Worcester artist, Jay Hover. The MC of the evening, Obaa Yaa Adjeiwaa, ensured that attendees did not go home empty-handed, as a side attraction, she hosted a special raffle that was a major buzz of the evening. KTA Mobile, a Ghanaian-owned mobile phone company based in New York, and Franklin Osei- Assibey of Allstate Insurance Agency, the major sponsors of the event, provided items to be raffled off.

Source: www.gajreport.com

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