She is a young woman who hails from Kumbungu in the Northern Region of Ghana and currently resides in Tamale.

Juwairiah had her basic education in Accra and Tamale and holds a Diploma in Database from IPMC, Accra where she won the Personality of the Year award.

Her passion and zeal to solve wellness problems led her to start Fruit Fusion, a healthy food business that provides healthy drinks, snacks, and meals to help others achieve their healthy active lifestyle and goal.

She has been in this business for almost five years.

They produce guilt-free healthy snacks by using raw fruits and vegetables.

Some of their products include Greek yogurt, Granola, date syrup, cold-pressed juices, coconut flakes, detox packages, etc.

In an exclusive interview with the Ghanaian American Journal, Osman Juwairiah shared details on how she started her business of selling nutritious snacks in Tamale, in Ghana’s northern region.

“Fruit Fusion was born out of my own lifestyle. Personally, I was obese and was about size 20 and 22 and I had health challenges. So I started doing my own research to see how best I could lose weight naturally without any pills or any medication.”

“I started my weight loss journey by hitting the gym. And at the time, when I came to Tamale, I was living in Accra. When I came to Tamale, there was no one doing any healthy stuff here for me to purchase. I usually get those things from Accra and it was stressful.”

“I started doing my own research, learning about healthy stuff, and doing that at home to support my weight loss journey.

Within a short period, Juwairiah was able to shed a lot of weight by creating various healthy recipes she researched.

“I didn’t take it to be a business. It was just a lifestyle for me. I enjoyed doing it. I loved creating recipes in the kitchen” she said.

During the outbreak of COVID-19 Juwairiah saw it necessary to help other people maintain a healthy lifestyle so they could protect themselves from contracting the illness.

“I decided to take advantage of what I know how to do best to help people because you have to boost your immune system to prevent yourself from getting COVID-19. I didn’t have access to machinery to produce. I was doing it manually to be able to keep up. I was able to make some profits and whenever I generate profits, I use it to buy something I need.”

“I also used the phone as a medium to connect people from all the regions, Kumasi, Takoradi, etc. I do virtual workout sessions and they join and pay me” she added.

Juwairiah’s business has impacted a lot of women in the Northern Region and across the country. Women who go through postpartum and those who want to get back into shape and regain their self-confidence.

To learn more about how Fruit Fusion is impacting individuals, we spoke to one of her customers, Blessilla Na-afoe Kandoh.

Blessilla is a Health Interest Lead at Norsaac and a mother. She shared her experience of how the products have aided her in keeping a healthy lifestyle.

“Her products helped me to be able to maintain my weight because it’s something that I have been struggling with for some time, especially after having my kids. Most often I struggle with constipation, but now I hardly struggle with such things anymore. Undoubtedly she also has quality products as well. Any time that I purchase her products and I store them, I don’t have them going bad. She has been innovative because over time she has evolved with different kinds of products.”

“I would recommend her service. My reason is that I’m very particular whenever I’m engaging with a service provider. She has great Customer Service because sometimes people just focus on the product without focusing on the service that they provide” Blessilla added.

Blessilla has been a regular customer since the start of the business and is confident it will be helpful to others as well.

Osman Juwairiah’s goal is to become an expert in the field of Nutrition and push Fruit Fusion beyond Northern Ghana. She also hopes to own the first women’s gym in the North and for Fruit Fusion to become the best health shop in Ghana.

“I’m hoping to have a gym with a snack bar where people can come and work out and still get 100% healthy snacks, meal plan, advice on health and weight loss tips,” she said.

Osman Juwairiah is currently studying Software Engineering. She worked as a Marketing Assistant at Listening Bureau, a Real Estate Company in Accra, and is an actress for A19 Media in Tema.

She encouraged young people to never give up on their dreams no matter how hard situations get.

“Enterpreneurship is not smooth sailing because you will fall, and you rise. I have fallen many times but I am here today” she said.

Juwairiah loves to read, travel, and take up new adventures. She is a resilient young woman who is willing to take initiative, willing to learn, and easily adapts to new environments.

Contact Fruit Fusion on 0550476397 or reach out to them on social media Facebook/Ig:fruit.fusion

Written by Abigail Bodo. Email; abigailbodo80@gmail.com

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The award, according to the president of the association, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, was conferred on President Akufo-Addo because he is “a pan-Africanist, anti-corruption crusader, a rare democratic leader in the field of good governance, a true African statesman whose legacies present African leaders must emulate, and we are minded to say will stand the test of time.”

Thanking the African Bar Association for the award, Akufo-Addo said that the legal profession has a rarefied position in African societies, and lawyers are assured of special status.

“In all our countries, it must be a source of pride for us that lawyers were at the forefront of the fight for liberation from colonialism. Indeed, since independence, lawyers have moved seamlessly between politics and the legal profession,” he stated.

With Africa having been unable to translate all her abundant natural advantages into building successful states, the President told the gathering that the time is long overdue for Africa and Africans to define her own narrative.

“We must be defined by what we see in ourselves, and not what others choose to say about us. However, this cannot happen if we do not trade amongst ourselves. Africa accounts for only three percent (3%) of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally,” he said.

“This is largely due to the “colonial” economic model characterised by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities, which have been in existence for the last century,” Akufo-Addo said.

AfCFTA

The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in which trading began on 1st January 2021, and whose Secretariat Ghana is privileged to host, President Akufo-Addo noted, represents a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen, immeasurably, intra-African trade as a powerful avenue for developing Africa’s vast economic and material potential

“As the adage goes, there is strength in unity, and, for all fifty-four (54) Member States of the African Union, our strength lies with our numbers. Cumulatively, we have a population of 1.3 billion, the majority of whom are young people, and we are in possession of a collective GDP of three trillion United States dollars (US$ 3 trillion), making us, collectively, the eight (8th) largest economy in the world,” he stressed.

This, he explained, positions Africa as, potentially, an attractive investment destination, adding that “with the relevant investment, we will be able to sustain economic growth, and create the job opportunities that the youth of our continent so desperately need.”

Describing the AfCFTA as a major gamechanger, the President indicated that “once fully realised, we can increase intra-Africa trade by thirty-five billion United States dollars (US$ 35 billion), and reduce external imports by ten billion United States dollars (US$ 10 billion) yearly.”

This, he explained, “will mean more opportunities for growth for our small businesses, and the potential to lift some thirty million (30 million) people out of extreme poverty. Additionally, a successful AfCFTA will mean that Africa’s industrial exports will be diversified, thus moving away from undue reliance on extractive commodities and foreign imports.”

These benefits to be sought from the AfCFTA, he said, can, however, not be reaped in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.

“We, in West Africa, are currently preoccupied with the need to free the Region from the terrorist insurgency that has engulfed Mali, Burkina Faso, parts of Niger and Nigeria, and is threatening the peace and stability of the coastal nations,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “It is incumbent that, in our generation, we all stand together to defeat this menace and guarantee the peace and stability, which are essential to the rapid economic development not only of West Africa, but also of the entire continent, the surest way to banish poverty in our time. In the same vein, we must reiterate our commitment to democratic governance, and reject all unconstitutional changes of government.”

He told the gathering that “the vision of our forebears who fought the liberation of our continent from colonialism and imperialism, the AfCFTA has set the stage for Africa’s industrialisation and transformation. What is required now is for our respective Governments and businesses to show bold leadership.”

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Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the country’s national assembly, was attacked as he left the event in the capital, Quito, on Wednesday.

A state of emergency has been declared following the assassination.

Witnesses said Mr. Villavicencio, a serving congressman, and former journalist, was shot three times.

A member of his campaign team told local media the 59-year-old was getting into a car when a man stepped forward and shot him in the head.

Video from inside the building shows panicked supporters diving for cover and campaign leaflets littered across a blood-stained floor.

The suspect was also shot in an exchange of bullets with security and later died from his injuries, the country’s attorney general said on social media.

In the chaos, nine other people were injured, including a candidate for the country’s assembly and two police officers, prosecutors said.

Six people have been detained by police in connection with the assassination after raids in Quito, they added.

The first round of the presidential election is scheduled to take place on 20 August.

Mr. Villavicencio, who was married and had five children, was one of eight candidates in the first round of the election – although he was not the frontrunner and was polling around the middle of the pack.

Meanwhile, a criminal gang called Los Lobos (The Wolves) is reported to have claimed responsibility.

Los Lobos is the second-largest gang in Ecuador with some 8,000 members, many of whom are behind bars.

The gang has been involved in several recent deadly prison fights, in which scores of inmates have been brutally killed.

A break-away faction from the Los Choneros gang, Los Lobos is believed to have links to the Mexico-based Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), for which it traffics cocaine.

Suspicion for the killing had first fallen on Los Choneros, which had threatened Mr. Villavicencio last week, but Los Lobos claimed responsibility in a video in which gang members wearing balaclavas flashed gang signs and waved their weapons.

Ecuador has historically been a relatively safe and stable country in Latin America, but crime has shot up in recent years, fuelled by the growing presence of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels, which have infiltrated local criminal gangs.

The killing comes less than a fortnight before the presidential elections, in which the issue of insecurity features as the top concern.

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 As a Mechanic Engineer on a mission to understand the mechanics of automobiles over various terrains and climates, Nana Afua was the only female to join the adventure.

She joined the Wanderlust Geng on a 5650-kilometer journey from Ghana to Morocco to allowed her to experience how cars perform in different weather conditions, pushing the boundaries of her expertise.

With this new experience, she can now help her clients make informed decisions when buying their dream cars.

In the field of vocational and creative skills education, she is a visionary and a pioneering advocate.

She is the founder and inspiration behind the Shecanic movement, and it is her unwavering goal to inspire young girls to shun gender stereotypes and embrace their love of cars and mechanics.

Nana Afua aspires to break the glass ceiling, especially in male-dominated industries like STEM, with a firm view that vocational education is not just for school dropouts. She is devoted to fostering a love of STEM in young girls and challenging social norms.

Through coaching and advocacy, Nana Afua aims to enable many women to launch their own businesses in the auto industry where her influence is most apparent.

Nana Afua serves as an inspiration and a symbol of empowerment for her visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of equality.

She serves as a reminder that real success comes from helping people overcome obstacles and move toward a future that is more inclusive and diverse as well as breaking barriers.

Wanderlust Ghana is a group of philanthropists and tourism enthusiasts. They started the expedition of driving from one continent to the other from Accra on Sunday, July 23, 2023, through Aburi, Nsawam, Kumasi, and Sunyani to Dormaa and then entered Cote d’Ivoire via Gonokrom.

They were 12 people when they started the journey but one person dropped off in Senegal because of work-related reasons and two others also dropped off in Morocco.

By Friday, August 4, 2023, they were on the outskirts of Monaco in Europe and were about to enter France, having moved through five African countries, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco and entered Europe by ferry on the Mediterranean to Algeciras in Spain, before driving to Barcelona via Valencia. They spent three days in the country in Morocco.

They reached their destination of London on Sunday, August 6.

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Starting from Accra, the capital of Ghana, their expedition took them through numerous African countries and European destinations, culminating in a journey from one continent to another, according to reports.

The travellers, known as Wanderlust Ghana, are a diverse group of philanthropists and tourism enthusiasts. The team initially consisted of 12 members, including individuals such as Richard Anim, Kwadwo Saka, Kwame Peprah, Kofi Peprah, and others. One member dropped out due to work commitments in Senegal, and two others left the expedition in Morocco.

Their route began in Accra, weaving through various Ghanaian cities including Aburi, Nsawam, Kumasi, and Sunyani, before crossing into neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire. From there, they ventured through Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, finally entering Europe through Spain via a Mediterranean ferry. Their journey showcased the diverse terrains and climates of Africa and Europe.

The expedition involved an array of vehicles, including a Mercedez Benz G-Wagon, a Toyota Landcruiser (V8), a Lexus RX 350, and a Ford F150 Raptor. The team covered an average of 800 to 900 kilometers per day, consuming around 250 liters of fuel daily. Their progress was documented through videos shared on social media, revealing the challenges faced, including brake pad changes and interactions with local authorities.

A unique addition to the team was Nana Afua Serwaa, nicknamed “Shecanic,” an auto repair technician aiming to master automobile mechanics across various landscapes and climates.

The journey not only showcased the team’s adventurous spirit but also aimed to raise funds for rural primary schools in Ghana. The adventurers were inspired by stories of people travelling from Europe to African nations by road and decided to reverse the journey, to generate media attention and support for their philanthropic cause.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Monaco, Kwabena Peprah emphasized their motivation for the expedition, citing their passion for exploration and their desire to contribute to underserved communities through their philanthropic organization, EduSpots.

Despite encountering challenges, such as an extended delay due to an encounter with authorities in Mauritania, the team expressed admiration for certain countries along the route, particularly Senegal and Morocco, for their beauty, cleanliness, infrastructure, and friendly locals.

As their journey neared its end, the team anticipated a warm reception in London, where they planned to engage with the Ghanaian community and the Ghana High Commission to further their philanthropic endeavors.

With this epic journey serving as a testament to human determination and a drive to make a positive impact, Wanderlust Ghana’s road trip from Accra to London stands as an inspiring example of adventure, philanthropy, and cross-cultural exchange.

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Anastatia Mayers and her mum Keisha Schahaff will be the first mother and daughter to go to space.

They will also be the first people from the Caribbean to make the journey.

The pair will take off from New Mexico on Thursday.

Keisha was travelling to the UK to sort out her daughter’s visa when she entered the competition.

She was on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Antigua to London when suddenly an advert popped up.

“I filled out this sweepstake and then suddenly months later I’m getting correspondences saying that you’re a top 20 finalist, then a top five finalist, to becoming a winner,” she says.

“Suddenly, who’s walking into my yard? Richard Branson. The whole team just swarmed into my house saying ‘You’re the winner, you’re going to space’.”
Anastatia says it was her decision to travel from the Caribbean to study in Scotland that led to the opportunity to go to space.

“Had I not randomly chosen Aberdeen University and had we not had to take a massive detour to get my visa – we wouldn’t be going to space,” she says.

“I feel like a lot of things had to happen at very specific moments for us to end up here.”

The second-year philosophy and physics student says coming to study in Scotland was one of the biggest decisions of her life but it has “led to magnificent things happening”.
The mission, named Galactic 02 is the second commercial spaceflight conducted by the American space company, and the first with paying customers onboard.

The advertised price for a ride on the rocket plane has been as high as $450,000 (£350,000).

The Galactic 01 mission took place in June. It reached an altitude of 279,000ft (85km). It is thought the second mission will attempt the same path.
‘Over the moon’
Anastatia, who will be the second youngest person to go to space, says she hopes she can use the experience to inspire others.

“That would be very important to me, both in Scotland and Antigua and anywhere else I have any ties,” she says.

“I do hope that people are watching and supporting.

“My intention is to just break any barriers that we set for ourselves or that the world sets for us.

“I want people to know that it doesn’t matter where you come from, who you are – anything – your dream is your dream and you can make that happen, despite what anyone else says.”

Keisha adds: “For me and my daughter together, it’s more than a dream come true.

“This is my kid, I love her with all my heart, and to know that we both share the same goal, the same dream, that is super over the moon.”

The pair will be joined by former Team GB Olympian Jon Goodwin from Newcastle. He will become the second person with Parkinson’s to go to space as well as the first Olympian.

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It will be recalled that the Parliament of Ghana on Tuesday (25 July) passed the Criminal and Other Offenses (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to substitute life imprisonment for the death penalty.

These amendments which have been described globally by Human Rights watchers as historic were proposed by a private member who is a Human Rights and Public Interest Lawyer and Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu.

Prior to the amendments, the proposal had received widespread support from key stakeholders including the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, The Ghana Armed Forces, the Police and Prison Services, Religious Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Diplomatic Community.

During a visit to Parliament, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Project UK, Saul Lehrfreund, said “As a Project, we will like to thank the Parliament of Ghana and especially Rt. Hon. Speaker for his historic leadership and guidance without which Parliament may not have been able to take these bold steps.”

The passage of the Bills forms part of efforts by the 8th Parliament to ensure the realization of a free, open, prosperous, inclusive, and secure society, where individual rights and freedoms and the dignity of All persons are truly respected and guaranteed as enshrined in Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution.

Following the passage of the Bills, Ghana has now become the 29th African country to abolish the death Penalty from its statute books for ordinary offenses following neighbours including Sierra Leone, Zambia, Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea, among others.

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Mr. Bédié took over as the country’s second head of state after the death of Felix Houphouet-Boigny in 1993.

But allegations of widespread corruption and an economic slump led to him being ousted in a military coup in 1999.

Despite being born into a relatively poor family, he excelled at school and was picked to study in France where he gained a doctorate in economics.

He attempted to return to power three years ago but was defeated by his long-time political rival President Alassane Ouattara.

The cause of Mr. Bédié‘a death is unknown.

His death will be felt as a big loss for the whole country.

Despite his rivalry with President Ouattara, he was mostly seen as a wise man who always cherished peace and an advocate for national unity.

Many Ivorians are paying tribute to him on social media.

Source: BBC

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“At the time that I went to Nurses Training, I do so well but I still feel like I’m underutilizing myself. That is what pushed me if there is something more I could do. I have always been that person who is busy, who always wants to come out with something.”

Edith Shika Bumegbe is a professional nurse and CEO of Yianna Events And More and Yianna Events Beyond Academy.

She had her secondary education at Anlo Senior High School and went ahead to attend Nurses Training College Ho, where she become a certified nurse.

Edith after staying home for three years without getting a job placement to work as a nurse decided to explore her natural skills.

A situation she described as a blessing in disguise because she finally found something that she is more passionate about, which is event planning.

“We were not posted as expected and it has to take me three years in the house. So I decided to do something and I went into events”.

She enrolled in Sonayerh Events Progressive Academy to gain practical knowledge in event planning.

Edith subsequently launched her own company, Yianna Events And More, which specializes in event planning, decoration, and coordination, providing services for corporate, social, and special events, as well as workshops and seminars among others.

Edith later founded a school, Yianna Events Beyond Academy where individuals receive intensive training in event planning and coordination.

The training is provided for six weeks with three months of mentorship.

The school has so far trained 32 students equipping them with excellent skills and an opportunity and guidance to be self-employed.

“Training 32 people means we are creating avenues for employment and we try to help them realize that it is not so difficult creating your own business. I always tell them if I’m able to do it, they can”.

“In the next 5 to 6 years, I want to see my students doing better and possibly impacting others”.

Yianna Events Beyond Academy Admission forms are available online.

Any individual who is willing and passionate to learn and acquire a skill in events planning can apply.

( Ability to read and write is an advantage)

You can reach out to Yianna Events And More on their Socal media handles

Instagram: Yianna Events And Moreesb.

Yianna Events Beyond Academy

Facebook: Yianna Events And More

Yianna Events Beyond Academy

Email: yiannaevents21@gmail.com

Contact: 0599060673

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The commemoration of the Throne Day is a celebration of the longstanding tradition of the ‘act of allegiance البيعة and a unique tribute to the millennial attachment between the King and the people; representing the unity of the nation and the state as well as the belief of the people in a bright future in dignity, prosperity, peace and security.

The ceremony held at the Residence of Morocco in Accra was attended, by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahiru Hammond, representing President Akufo-Addo; the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Yussif; and the Deputy Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar.

The Dean and members of the Diplomatic community, business representatives civil society, religious and traditional leaders, and the Moroccan community in Ghana were also present at the successful event.

Morocco had a Gross Domestic Product of roughly $42 billion when King Mohammed VI ascended the throne in 1999, but he anticipated a bright future for the country.

In 2022, Morocco’s GDP reached more than threefold to $132 billion; a figure that is poised to be bolstered as Morocco adopted a new development model aiming to double its GDP per capita in 15 years.

According to Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana Imane Ouaadil, The Kingdom of Morocco has also strengthened its position as a key player in food security in the world, particularly in Africa through the development of the fertilizer industry, providing farmers with reasonably priced, high-quality products taking into account soil and crop needs in each region.

The Ambassador said that the Moroccan investments in Ghana have also grown considerably during the last decade, in the finance sector with the presence of Bank of Africa, in construction and real estate with CIMAF and its sister company Addoha and in retail with Tractafric and Kitea who joined in March 2023.

“To pave the way for greater collaboration and exchange Ghana and Morocco have consolidated their legal framework of cooperation by ratifying in October 2022 the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion” she emphasised.

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