Sex Ring Uncovered – Ghanaian Women Lured to Russia

A collaborative investigation undertaken by Ghana’s mission in Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has uncovered a human trafficking and prostitution ring which recruits young Ghanaian women for commercial sex work in Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation.

A report on the findings of the investigation said Ghana’s mission in Moscow had established that at least 50 Ghanaian women had been lured into the Russian Federation by the syndicate operating in Ghana and the Russian Federation, to practice prostitution.

According to the report, the young women, usually enticed by the guise of further education in Russian universities, “are kept in confinement for the purpose of the said trade and their documents and other personal items seized. Those found to be unwilling or non-cooperative are maltreated”.
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Ghana High Commissioner to Canada Presents Credentials

NDC-Canada wishes to congratulate Dr. Richard Benjamin Turkson, on his appointment as Ghana’s new High Commissioner to Canada.

“On the occasion of the presentation of your Credentials to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on Monday, November 23, 2009, in the Ballroom, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, we would like to express our warmest congratulations to you”.

We are convinced that your vast experience as a Ghanaian diplomat and a distinguished lecturer among other positions held in the past, will go a long way in making a significant contribution towards building a better and a stronger Ghanaian community here in Canada. Your appointment to this prestigious position reflects the confidence that His Excellency, the President of Ghana Prof. John Evans Atta Mills has in your expertise to deliver for our Better Ghana Agenda.

Your appointment brings honour not only to your good self, but to the entire Ghanaian nation.

Once again, please accept our warmest congratulations and we welcome you to Canada, the True North strong and free!

Charles N. Nkansah
Source: NDC-Canada (info@ndccanada.com)

Ghanaian Newscaster On Italian Television

Dayana Akosua Adu, a Ghanaian, is the only African female newscaster on Italian Television.

Rete Brescia (R.T.B), a well established TV station housed in the Italian northern city Brescia, broadcasts its news and programs, apart from Italian language, in 5 other languages including English of which Akosua Adu is part of it.

Having worked as a Secretary to a Bank in Ghana, she joined her husband in Italy 20 years ago and her courageous acts, tenacity and determination has pushed her to the position she is today. But says she owes everything to the grace of God as she granted an interview to ghanaweb.com.

Coming from a family background that would not yield to hindrances and discouragements to achievements, Akosua looked back at the early years in Italy and what an Italian journalist told her at that time has now become a reality of which she is relishing every bit of it as a journalist. As a gospel artiste and an activist who likes to speak on behalf of the down trodden she could be seen at public rallies in Brescia speaking at the forefront against treatment of migrants in Italy. At one of such rallies, where she has been invited to perform with her gospel band she recalls how an Italian journalist interviewed her. She narrated that story this way: “It was at one of my concerts at a public square during a demonstration, an Italian journalist covering the event told me in response to her question, ‘you don’t look like a gospel artist, you look like a political activist’. I spoke against their continuous views and reports on Africa showing children with bare feet and pot bellies. I cannot keep silence over that. The lady journalist response was, ‘then you have to come and work with us and present Africa as you like it’”. According to her it was like a joke but a confrontation with the lady. Today she is a news anchor woman at R.T.B vividly remembering what the lady journalist told her at that rally.

Akosua Adu who hails from Akwapim Akropong, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, admitted she wasn’t a journalist and didn’t think of becoming one but one thing led to another which again she pointed out is the work of God. Looking at the family background in Ghana she mentioned that from a personal research she did it came out that the family can boast of some seasoned journalists in Ghana among them was her grandfather who composed the signature tune (a drumming tune called Ghana ‘muntie’, meaning, Ghana listen) for Ghana News on Radio/TV which is still being used today.

Life in Italy in those early years according to her wasn’t the best she had expected though her husband, Nana Biney, who was also a source of inspiration, made her aware of the situation that prevails for migrants before she arrived. She went through the mills doing some domestic jobs and working as a factory hand for 18 months but all along she knew she was going to change lane and was not discouraged or distracted by what some friends said when she started some courses provided by the City Council which included a computer course. “Two years after completing some of these courses I was called by one of the Trade Unions (CGIL) in the city of Brescia which said they are looking for a journalist to work at a TV Station. My initial response was, I’m not a journalist but a banker and also a political activist who likes speaking for people using my music to get the message across but they insisted and asked me to go for the opportunity being presented at Rete Brescia,” Akosua mentioned.

Speaking about the audition she again recalled: “We were a group of people from different nationalities, some accredited journalists, being auditioned for a job to be taken on as a newscaster when R.T.B decided to go multi-lingual in 2001. My performance was terribly bad on that day when put on set with the lighting systems and all the Italian camera crew standing and watching. I thought I miserably failed but was surprised the man in charge picked me among all the rest. He said my voice is good for the job and have good command over the English language believing I can be worked upon,” She indicated it was not only about English but realised they needed also someone with command over the two languages, English and Italian, the latter which she has because of the courses she did earlier. “I was employed immediately,” she said.

Since then the Ghanaian has been enjoying her job and interacting freely with the staff. Have been trained to use the camera for covering events and been sent alone several times on locations. When I asked her about the difficult part of the job she took a deep breath and burst into laughter before responding. “Sometimes when I go out on location for news they look at me up and down and ask me, ‘did you miss your address?”, she told me still laughing.

Programs on R.T.B has won several awards internationally, they give a positive side of the foreign migrants in Italy and Akosua Adu, who also works with the City Council Office of Brescia as a social service mediator between the Council and the Ghanaians and Nigerians community, said:“We have a hard working Director whose editorial lines is to portray the positive side of the immigrant in Italy, give information about the migrants and to give out necessary information that will ease their stay in the country.”

In the concluding part of the interview she was quick to point out she desires to be a politician in Italy appearing to take inspiration from her father who was a Politician, a Magistrate and a District Commissioner in Ghana”.

What would you want to change in Italy if you have a position of authority in Italy?, I finally asked her. She replied: “Working as a newscaster here in Italy, for that matter African immigrant, is in its self a change. Some gave me a short time thinking it will all be over for me but it has not turned out to be the case. I believe I’m at R.T.B as a pioneer to pave way for other Africans here and right now it is stirring up the youth. There are opportunities in the land of Italy, what people don’t like are challenges and hindrances. If you leave Italy and go elsewhere, you will still have challenges. It is only that, it comes in a different form,” and she added: “Life is full of challenges and for one to break through you must be somebody who believes so much in what is in you to be able to cross the barrier and that is what I am”.

The President of R.T.B, Virgilio Baresi, praised the working ability of the Ghanaian describing her as a selfless individual who has learned more about the job with time and added the station broadcasts to 5 continents across the world. “We want to help all immigrants who want to put their problems across. Those who come to Italy must be helped not only to make money for us. In Brescia every 100 people you meet in the street 38 may be foreigners, we have 156 ethnic groups in the city. We need to educate them on the laws of the land because if they misbehave Italians pay for the cost,” Baresi said.

R.T.B. website: www.retebrescia.com -

source: Dayana Akosua Adu, a Ghanaian, is the only African female newscaster on Italian Television.

Rete Brescia (R.T.B), a well established TV station housed in the Italian northern city Brescia, broadcasts its news and programs, apart from Italian language, in 5 other languages including English of which Akosua Adu is part of it.

Having worked as a Secretary to a Bank in Ghana, she joined her husband in Italy 20 years ago and her courageous acts, tenacity and determination has pushed her to the position she is today. But says she owes everything to the grace of God as she granted an interview to ghanaweb.com.

Coming from a family background that would not yield to hindrances and discouragements to achievements, Akosua looked back at the early years in Italy and what an Italian journalist told her at that time has now become a reality of which she is relishing every bit of it as a journalist. As a gospel artiste and an activist who likes to speak on behalf of the down trodden she could be seen at public rallies in Brescia speaking at the forefront against treatment of migrants in Italy. At one of such rallies, where she has been invited to perform with her gospel band she recalls how an Italian journalist interviewed her. She narrated that story this way: “It was at one of my concerts at a public square during a demonstration, an Italian journalist covering the event told me in response to her question, ‘you don’t look like a gospel artist, you look like a political activist’. I spoke against their continuous views and reports on Africa showing children with bare feet and pot bellies. I cannot keep silence over that. The lady journalist response was, ‘then you have to come and work with us and present Africa as you like it’”. According to her it was like a joke but a confrontation with the lady. Today she is a news anchor woman at R.T.B vividly remembering what the lady journalist told her at that rally.

Akosua Adu who hails from Akwapim Akropong, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, admitted she wasn’t a journalist and didn’t think of becoming one but one thing led to another which again she pointed out is the work of God. Looking at the family background in Ghana she mentioned that from a personal research she did it came out that the family can boast of some seasoned journalists in Ghana among them was her grandfather who composed the signature tune (a drumming tune called Ghana ‘muntie’, meaning, Ghana listen) for Ghana News on Radio/TV which is still being used today.

Life in Italy in those early years according to her wasn’t the best she had expected though her husband, Nana Biney, who was also a source of inspiration, made her aware of the situation that prevails for migrants before she arrived. She went through the mills doing some domestic jobs and working as a factory hand for 18 months but all along she knew she was going to change lane and was not discouraged or distracted by what some friends said when she started some courses provided by the City Council which included a computer course. “Two years after completing some of these courses I was called by one of the Trade Unions (CGIL) in the city of Brescia which said they are looking for a journalist to work at a TV Station. My initial response was, I’m not a journalist but a banker and also a political activist who likes speaking for people using my music to get the message across but they insisted and asked me to go for the opportunity being presented at Rete Brescia,” Akosua mentioned.

Speaking about the audition she again recalled: “We were a group of people from different nationalities, some accredited journalists, being auditioned for a job to be taken on as a newscaster when R.T.B decided to go multi-lingual in 2001. My performance was terribly bad on that day when put on set with the lighting systems and all the Italian camera crew standing and watching. I thought I miserably failed but was surprised the man in charge picked me among all the rest. He said my voice is good for the job and have good command over the English language believing I can be worked upon,” She indicated it was not only about English but realised they needed also someone with command over the two languages, English and Italian, the latter which she has because of the courses she did earlier. “I was employed immediately,” she said.

Since then the Ghanaian has been enjoying her job and interacting freely with the staff. Have been trained to use the camera for covering events and been sent alone several times on locations. When I asked her about the difficult part of the job she took a deep breath and burst into laughter before responding. “Sometimes when I go out on location for news they look at me up and down and ask me, ‘did you miss your address?”, she told me still laughing.

Programs on R.T.B has won several awards internationally, they give a positive side of the foreign migrants in Italy and Akosua Adu, who also works with the City Council Office of Brescia as a social service mediator between the Council and the Ghanaians and Nigerians community, said:“We have a hard working Director whose editorial lines is to portray the positive side of the immigrant in Italy, give information about the migrants and to give out necessary information that will ease their stay in the country.”

In the concluding part of the interview she was quick to point out she desires to be a politician in Italy appearing to take inspiration from her father who was a Politician, a Magistrate and a District Commissioner in Ghana”.

What would you want to change in Italy if you have a position of authority in Italy?, I finally asked her. She replied: “Working as a newscaster here in Italy, for that matter African immigrant, is in its self a change. Some gave me a short time thinking it will all be over for me but it has not turned out to be the case. I believe I’m at R.T.B as a pioneer to pave way for other Africans here and right now it is stirring up the youth. There are opportunities in the land of Italy, what people don’t like are challenges and hindrances. If you leave Italy and go elsewhere, you will still have challenges. It is only that, it comes in a different form,” and she added: “Life is full of challenges and for one to break through you must be somebody who believes so much in what is in you to be able to cross the barrier and that is what I am”.

The President of R.T.B, Virgilio Baresi, praised the working ability of the Ghanaian describing her as a selfless individual who has learned more about the job with time and added the station broadcasts to 5 continents across the world. “We want to help all immigrants who want to put their problems across. Those who come to Italy must be helped not only to make money for us. In Brescia every 100 people you meet in the street 38 may be foreigners, we have 156 ethnic groups in the city. We need to educate them on the laws of the land because if they misbehave Italians pay for the cost,” Baresi said.

R.T.B. website: www.retebrescia.com -

Source: Reggie Tagoe in Brescia (Ghanaweb)

Ghanaian Queen’s Quandary

To her friends and neighbours in Brampton, Margaret Adu is an ordinary citizen, a hard-working and loving mother.

But to the people in Adanse-Praso in Ghana, the Brampton woman is the anointed Queen Nana Serwaaprah, in charge of the well-being of the 2,000 tribesmen in the remote rural community that has no running water or electricity.

It is stressful and costly to be a tribal queen, especially when you have to govern a village in West Africa, 8,707 kilometres away, from your comfortable suburban home in Canada.

The 18-hour flight to Ghana for the unpaid job can cost $2,000 – paid out of pocket and taken out of vacation time at work.

“It is a lot of responsibility and I’m a working mother,” said Adu, 44, a chef with Corrections Canada.

“I don’t sleep – always thinking what I can do to help these kids in the village. They have nothing and it’s hard.”

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Miss Ghana Canada supports Osu Children’s Home

Miss Ghana Canada, Bianca Bempong, has donated assorted clothing and some other items valued at Canadian $6,000 to the Osu Children’s Home at a ceremony in Accra on Monday.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, Miss Bianca Bempong disclosed that the donation forms part of her humanitarian activities as Miss Ghana Canada. She said as part of her numerous projects as Miss Ghana Canada, she chose to show care for women and children which explains why she has come to Ghana.

Receiving the items, Mrs Sharon Abbey, who stood in for the entire management of the Osu Children’s Home expressed her profound gratitude for the kind humanitarian gesture embarked upon by Miss Bempong.

She urged other organizations, individuals, philanthropists and corporate institutions to emulate the gesture to help the needy at the orphanage.

Africa-America Institute to Honor Ghana with African National Achievement Award

GHANAIAN PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT AFRICAN NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF GHANA

The Africa-America Institute (AAI) to honor Ghana for nurturing democracy and peaceful transfers of power since ending military rule

The Africa-America Institute (AAI), a leading New York-based international education and policy organization, will honor Ghana with the (AAI) Award for African National Achievement at its 25th Annual Awards Gala on September 21, 2009 in New York City. His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana, will accept the award on behalf of the People of Ghana.

AAI will recognize Ghana’s steadfast commitment to good governance and building a sustainable, democratic nation since ending military rule. With two successive peaceful transfers of power after closely contested presidential elections, Ghana will be honored as an exemplar for other countries on the African continent. Ghana has also achieved considerable progress in its work towards creating a more prosperous future through smart investments in the Ghanaian people to elevate the country’s potential.

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Ghanaian teens jailed for life in London for murder

Two Ghanaian teenage brothers, residing in the United Kingdom with their parents, have been jailed for life by a court in London, after finding them guilty of murder of another teenager.
They were part of a gang of six who murdered an innocent army cadet and a model pupil Shaquille Smith, 14.

George Amponsah, 19, and his brother Freddie Amponsah, 17, will be in jail for a minimum of 18 years each.

The Ghanaians were key members of a knife-wielding gang in Hackney in the Eastern part of London, the court was told.

Other members of the gang, who were sentenced together with the brothers, include ‘Savaloy’ Dufeal, 20, Amisi ‘Hidz’ Khama, 18, Kadean ‘Littlz’ Dias and Leon ‘Kids’ Atwell, both 17, were all found guilty of murder last month, and jailed last Thursday.
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Ghanalinx Education Endowment (Dream Big Scholarship)

EQUAL EDUCATION FOR ALL: EDUCATION IS A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE

Ghanalinx is passionately dedicated to motivating the Ghanaian youth in pursuing post-secondary education. The high-school drop-out rates amongst the Ghanaian community in the greater Toronto area are rising and research demonstrates that the main causes are: poor socioeconomic status amongst the Ghanaian community and financial instability. In essence, there is a severe lack of funding, knowledge and encouragement to pursue post-secondary education. Education is a right; financial or socioeconomic status should NOT be considered as a factor in determining which person can receive higher education.

As a result, we felt it was necessary to provide an education endowment to students who are entering post-secondary education, students that have already entered, and students that are completing a postgraduate degree. This scholarship is to reward those who excel in their programs and inspire others to achieve excellent academic status. We passionately believe this will promote the fact that education is a key to a successful career and life. Most importantly, it will inspire other youth to pursue post secondary education and “dream big”.

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OSU CHILDREN’S HOME CLOTHING DRIVE

March 13th to April 14th

The Osu Children’s Home is an orphanage located in the downtown Osu area of Accra Ghana. This orphanage is home, school and life to approximately 280 children ranging from ages 0 to 23. There are approximately 200 boys and 80 girls residing in the compound consisting of 5 units. Unfortunately, the children residing here are victims of abuse and abandonment. The facility strives to provide primary education, shelter, food and recreational activities, however funding for the organization is scarce and does not support the ever growing population. To give you a little summary, the Ghanaian government provides funding and space for only 150 children but almost DOUBLE live off of the funding and use the space!! Please keep this in mind when you go through your closet!! Imagine, living off  half a shirt, half a book, half a meal and half a bed. We here in Canada are so fortunate to have government support and an abundance of opportunities when living below or at poverty line.

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Ghanaian fugitive arrested in Boston

A Ghanaian man wanted by the Orangeville (Ontario, Canada) Police on weapons charges and allegations of possessing stolen property has been arrested at his Massachusetts residence and charged with making false statements on U.S. immigration documents.

Andy Akromah, a.k.a. Anderson Owusu, 38, was arrested in Boston Feb. 26 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is currently being detained in Boston, awaiting transfer to face trial in New York State, where the alleged making of false statements took place in February, 2005.

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