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”.

“Amid the general insecurity in the Russian Federation, the girls are being subjected to rape, torture, and assault. Within the past one year, two Nigerian prostitutes were thrown down to their death from apartment buildings,” the report said.

According to the Ghana Mission in Moscow, 10 of the women were in the custody of three Nigerians, Kingsley Chinedu (alias Boss), resident in Bratislavkaya Dom. 15; Tony Stephane and one Linda. The report said each of the 10 women had been requested to pay between $35,000 and $45,000, in order to obtain their freedom to live wherever they chose in Russia.

The report named Ebenezer Wiredu, Addo Nartey, alias “God’s Time”, Nana Yaw Amankwa, Comfort Akwasi Amoah, Auntie Bee and an individual indentified by the code name “Lava”, as the ring’s agents in Ghana.
Their alleged Ghanaian accomplices resident in Russia were named as De Graft Oppong Checheku, alias Samsung, of House No 60, Ryazanski Prospect, Moscow; Nana Akwasi Amoah, House No 1, Kalushkaya, Samiratu Hassan and Georgina Adoma Afriyie.

The report said the mission had identified some of the girls Nartey recruited and sent to Russia to engage in prostitution during the past four years as Samiratu Hassan, Rita Yeboah, Mariama Osumanu, Apau Emmanuela, Vida Annor, Fremah Cecilia Ama, and Adoma Georgina Afriyie.

Wiredu and Amankwah jointly recruited Gifty Asante, Salihu Zainab, Bremang Boateng and Comfort Aluah, the report said. The Ghana Mission said it was alleged during the investigations that Wiredu had been engaging in passport racketeering as well. “The Ghana Mission has learnt that on or about July, 2009, he sent 10 Ghanaian passports through a courier to one Peter Boamah in Moscow, which were then sold to Nigerian citizens in the Russian Federation.

The passports are being used for advance fee fraud and prostitution,” the report said. The report named a popular top-class hotel at Madina and two popular night clubs at Osu and Lapaz as centers for the recruitment of young women to work as prostitutes in Russia.

The investigators said they had established that the agent, known by the code name “Lava”, is a native of Wenchi, who recruits girls from the Brong Ahafo Region. “Lava” is said to have recruited from the region and sent to Russia Barbara Konadu Mavis, Getrude Frimpomaa and Rosemond Anima. The mission said it found that Comfort Amoah and Auntie Bee facilitated the trafficking of two girls, Susan Danso and Harriet Brago Abena, who were sent to Nana Akwasi Amoah in Russia on May 15, 2009.

According to the findings of the investigation, Akwasi and Joyce Ababio attempted to sell the two Ghanaian girls to a Nigerian woman identified as Linda, for $5000 each, but the girls escaped. Ghana mission facilitated their repatriation to Ghana with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration.

The report said it has been established that there were two groups of women who had been sent to Russia to work as prostitutes: those who were already in the sex trade in Ghana and who, therefore, knew what they were being recruited for in Russia and others who were sent to Russia on the pretext of finding them employment and admission into universities and other schools.

The investigators said they had identified some educational institutions in Russia which were being used to facilitate the trafficking of women from Ghana. Communication between Ghanaian agents of the ring and their Russian accomplices is mainly by e-mail, telephone and courier services. From Ghana, they send by mail nude pictures of Ghanaians girls for assessment. If found suitable, the girls’ particulars are submitted to universities in Russia for investigation/admission.

The mission said it had seen invitations sent to secure young Ghanaian women from the People’s Friendship University (Patrice Lumumba University) Kursk State University and Moscow State Technical University. The Ghana Mission made references to the high HIV and AIDS prevalence rate in the Russian Federation, stressing that the Ghanaian girls recruited to engage in commercial sex work in the country were at great risk as some of them were often forced to have unprotected sex in spite of the high risk of infection.

The mission estimated that there were over 500 Nigerian and Cameroonian girls engaged in prostitution in Russia and said the activities of the prostitutes were influencing the behaviour of some African students, especially at the People’s Friendship University. “If the trend is not curtailed, it may also extend to Ghanaian students,” the report added. The report said some Nigerian girls, especially those in Saint Petersburg, were using Ghanaian passports obtained through Ebenezer Wiredu in Ghana.

It said the Ghana Mission was finding it difficult to break the illicit trade in Ghanaian passports because of the ‘unhelpful attitude of the Russian Law enforcement agents”. The Ghana Mission recommended that the authorities in Ghana solicit the assistance of the media to educate the Ghanaian public on the dangers of embarking on adventurous trips to Russia.

Source: Daily Graphic

“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)

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)

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.”

Adu is among an estimated 20 tribal queens and chiefs from Ghana who have made Greater Toronto home, but travel back and forth regularly to deal with village matters, said Kwasi Akuamoah-Boateng, an organizer of the 20,000-strong community in the GTA.

“A queen is an adviser to the chief and the chief is the head of the village,” explained Akuamoah-Boateng, also known as Nana Doggo.

“The system has been in place since the Portuguese came in 1471. The queen and the chief are treated like royalty. Everyone looks up to them.”

Adu was tapped to be queen two years ago when she returned home for the funeral of her maternal grandmother, her predecessor. The majestic titles of queens and chiefs are only passed down on the female side of the family.

“I said no to them,” recalled Adu, who grew up in nearby Kumasi and was sponsored by an aunt to come to Canada in 1983. “We have a school, but there’s no books or stationery. What am I going to do? They have all these needs and I’m still paying my mortgage.”

But at the funeral, the title was forced upon her by her uncle. Still grieving, and wearing black attire, she was carried by seven men in a parade around town as the village’s new queen.

“I had no choice but accept it,” said Adu, who spent six weeks there to learn about the village and will return for four weeks in November.

Addi Amponsah, who came to Canada in 1987, became the chief of the Akusu tribe in 2000 and spends as many as six months a year there for his 1,000 tribesmen, offering marriage counselling, resolving disputes and addressing whatever needs his people have.

Over the years, he helped pay for a new school and to lobby the Ghanaian government to bring electricity to the community.

“I really enjoy my job. Now I only travel to Canada for a visit,” laughed the 53-year-old Brampton man, who travels between the two countries often for the import-export company he owns.

In their absence, Adu and Amponsah say their deputies run the villages in Ghana, but they make all major decisions.

Other than the compound they inherit from their predecessors where they stay during their tenures, chiefs and queens aren’t paid for their services.

“Wherever you go, people respect you and greet you and treat you like a celebrity. You are not even supposed to sweep the floor,” noted Amponsah. “People there do your cleaning, cooking and do everything for you. They bring me food and wash my clothes.”

Here, the chiefs and queens live normal lives, but are like Ghana’s informal ambassadors, reaching out to the Canadian community and creating awareness of the challenges their countrymen face.

Recently, Adu and Amponsah were invited to a fundraiser in Toronto organized by University of Western Ontario business graduate Arpit Bansal, for the Hope for the African Child Foundation.

“It is an honour to have them attend the fundraiser,” said Bansal, who volunteered to build schools and houses in Ghana last summer. “Having worked there really helped me realize and appreciate the hardships their people face.”

Adu is happy the $3,000 raised will give 30 children an opportunity to go to school. “People there don’t go far because if you can’t get an education, you are done,” she said.

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.

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.

Held annually during the opening week of the United Nations General Assembly, distinguished U.S. and African leaders and top diplomats will gather for the most high profile Africa-focused event in New York City. The annual Awards Gala brings together hundreds of business, government, political and civil society leaders from across the African continent and the United States.

Other major gala honorees are Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, receiving the *AAI Award for Leadership in Higher Education Philanthropy  in recognition of his steadfast commitment to strengthening tertiary education in Africa; and Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of De Beers, receiving the AAI Award for Championing Corporate Social Responsibility in recognition of his role in redefining corporate social responsibility as sound business strategies that “translate natural resources to shared national wealth.”

*Femi Oke*, Senior Editor and Anchor of  The TakeAway, a national public radio morning news program, will serve as the Masters of Ceremony. The Reverend Calvin O. Butts III, pastor of Harlem’s historic and nationally renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church, will offer the opening invocation. The evening’s festivities will feature a silent auction of fine African art, hosted by Amaridian Gallery.

Monday, September 21, 2009

6:00PM – Cocktail Reception

7:00 PM – Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Venue: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Battery Park. (Two West Street, New York City)

*NOTE: Due to space constraints, the AAI gala will not be open to the media. A press release and event photos will be available following the gala.*

ABOUT AAI:  The Africa-America Institute is a New York-based international education and policy organization with offices in South Africa and Mozambique and an alumni presence throughout the African continent. Since 1953, AAI has worked to educate and train African leaders and professionals and foster greater understanding between Africa and the United States. Today, AAI counts more than 23,000 alumni, including Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula, and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) CEO Firmino Mucavele.

Source:
GHP

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.

The group will all serve a total minimum of 96 years in jail, before being considered for parole.

During the trial, Shaquille’s mum, Sandra Maitland, 44, was forced to watch as his killers strutted into the dock, sticking two fingers up at the justice system.

They showed no remorse as they made crude gestures towards the public gallery with their fingers, as if they were firing a gun or slitting throats with a knife.

They were therefore sentenced one after the other to avoid violence in the dock, which was the fear of prison officials, and after the verdicts, jurors wept as Sandra’s moving victim impact statement was read.

Shaquille was stabbed to death by the gang mob, which had been roving around Hackney, East London on bikes, last August looking for trouble.

A CCTV picture shown at court, and on national television stations, portrayed the boys, most of them in hoods, riding carelessly and haughtily in front of cars and through red lights and on pavements, in a 10-strong relay on the day of the night of the incident.

The Old Bailey court in London heard that Shaquille was chatting with two friends in a park opposite his home, when they were spotted by the gang, nicknamed “London Fields Boys.”

The court also heard that on getting close to where the victim stood with his friends, they abandoned their bikes and climbed over a fence into the park in St Thomas’s Place, where the knife-wielding teenagers went aggressively to the three friends, and one of them knifed Shaquille in the stomach.

The court was told that Shaquille’s mother was coming out to call him inside for some house chores, when he was attacked together with his two friends.

A Sixteen-year-old girl with him was reported to have been slashed across the face and neck as she tried to fight them off.

The other friend, Tyrell Goather, 18, who had been walking his dog, was lucky to escape the unprovoked but life-damaging fans.

When Shaquille’s mother looked out of a window and saw him lying but smiling, she believed he was safe. Upon getting closer that she realised she was losing her dear son to horrific knife crimes that had hit London for the past three years.

Shaquille was rushed to hospital, and at first it appeared he would survive. But his main artery had been severed, and after three heart attacks in an operating theatre, he passed away.

He became the 25th, as well as the youngest, to be knifed to death in London last year.

In total, 28 teenagers were killed with knife by fellow teenagers in 2008 – four of the victims were reported to be Ghanaians.

At the time of his death, Shaquille was preparing to return to Sir John Cass’s Foundation School after the summer holiday, to begin his GCSEs. He had also been accepted into the army cadets.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mehta, who led the murder investigations, told reporters: “the boys were acting like wild dogs that day, hunting the area for an innocent victim.”

According to him, “Shaquille was in a place where he should have felt safe. He was entirely blameless.”

Judge David Paget, who presided, said they had attacked Shaquille, who had done nothing to provoke them. “He was truly innocent, and what is more, he was yards from his own front door,” said the judge.

Judge Paget added: “The most shocking aspect is that it was completely unprovoked and completely unnecessary. It was truly mindless violence, resulting in the death of a totally innocent 14-year-old boy, sitting yards from his front door.”

Efforts to reach the parents of the jailed Ghanaian teenagers have so far proved unsuccessful.

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”.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

University Scholarships

1. Entry Level Scholarship: awarded to one Ghanaian male or female high-school student accepted into an OUAC recognized university within a year of receiving their O.S.S.D. Applicants must have an average of over 80% in their top six university level courses to be reviewed.

2. Undergraduate Scholarship: awarded to one full time undergraduate student (student currently completing bachelor’s degree) with a GPA of at least 3.00.

College Scholarships

1. Entry Level: awarded to one Ghanaian male or female high school student accepted into an OCAS recognized college within a year of receiving their O.S.S.D. Applicants must have an average of over 80% in their top six college/mix level courses to be reviewed.

2. Undergraduate Scholarship: awarded to one full time undergraduate student with a GPA of at least 3.00.

Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship

One Ghanaian male or female who has completed a bachelor’s degree in an OUAC recognized university. The applicant must be accepted and will be attending/currently attending a Canadian university in order to complete a postgraduate or doctoral degree during the present year.

Kofi Annan Scholarship

One Ghanaian male or female accepted to an OUAC recognized university or OCAS recognized college with MATURE STUDENT STATUS (over 21 years of age). Applicants for this award must demonstrate their financial need, the reason for pursuing post-secondary education and any obstacles they may have overcome (ex. Teen pregnancy, criminal involvement, immigration etc.

APPLICATION & DOCUMENTATION IS DUE BY FRIDAY, JULY 17TH, 2009 AT 9:00PM AND CAN BE SUBMITTED VIA:  EMAIL TO: GHANALINX@GMAIL.COM

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.

On March 13th to April 13th, please donate your used clothing to a good cause.

These are the types of things you can donate:
1. CLOTHES!!! please keep in mind that the clothes don’t necessarily have to be BRAND new or in mint condition.. but it has to be wear-able and preferably pre washed..
2. if you have children’s books or school supplies or recreational supplies (jump ropes, chalk, soccer balls etc) your welcomed to drop them off as well
3. Infant supplies *** this section we are looking for items that are brand new, or unused please, for infection control purposes the only exception will be washed blankets, clothing and socks etc.

Locations to Drop off Clothing
LOCATION LIST

Mississauga
Nappy’s Hair Shoppe
23 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, ON L5A 1V9
Telephone : 905-949-6787

Brampton
Afrocan Heritage
70 Devon Road, Brampton, ON L6T 5K7
Telephone : 905-458-5004

Dr. Sterling’s Dental Office
10059 Bramalea, Brampton, ON L6R 1A1
Telephone : 905-792-2221
Toronto

Ratina’s Textiles
(Jane & Lawrence)
1716 Jane Street, York, ON M9N 2S4
Telephone : 416-241-0998

Ryerson University
Pitman Hall: 160 Mutual St. (Drop off boxes will be In the Cafeteria)
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing: 350 Victoria St. (Drop-off boxes will be Outside of POD 474C)

York University
(Keele Campus) Drop off boxes will be located In Student Centre Rm 421
4700 Keele St

George Brown College
(St. James Campus) Drop-off boxes will be located Outside of Student Centre Rm 147
200 King Street East.

Humber College
(Humber North Campus) Drop-off boxes will be located outside of the HSF Office and across from Java Jazz near the HSF Promotions Booth
203 Humber College Blvd.

Centennial College
(Progress Campus) Drop-off boxes will be located right outside CCSAI office
941 Progress Ave.

PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE AS WELL, Please contact BIANCA at 647 966 5530 or email bbempong2@gmail.com

For more information, please visit
United 08

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62996110888&ref=ts

Or Contact Bianca Bempong
647 966 5530
Bbempong2@gmail.com

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.

If convicted, Mr. Akromah faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

Mr. Akromah, under the name Anderson Owusu, was arrested in Orangeville in 1998 and charged with 23 counts of possession of stolen property and two counts of firearms offences.

He was released by the courts by way of a bail hearing and has not returned since. The Orangeville Police Service has an outstanding warrant for his arrest should he return to the area. It is not currently seeking his extradition.

According to American authorities, Mr. Akromah submitted a form I-485 application to obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States.

In that questionnaire, he responded in the negative to questions asking whether he had been arrested or charged with breaking a law, and whether he had ever participated in the killing of any person because of race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, or political opinion.

However, investigation established that he had previously submitted an application for refugee status in Canada under the name Anderson Owusu, where he stated that he had been employed by the Ghana Bureau of National Investigation and had been involved in arrests of individuals politically opposed to the Ghanian government, who in some cases had been arrested and killed without benefit of a trial.