Saturday, November 22, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 3)
By Rebecca Kwei
If the expression ‘what is in a name?’ is anything to go by, then the all-female group, Ggirls, have lived up to its name by becoming “glorious” in the just-ended TV3 Gang Starz reality show.
Ggirls in full is Glorious Girls and it was the only female group that made it to the finals, emerging winners in the end. It is made of three Liberians and a Ghanaian.
The show, which lasted for 14 weeks, had 12 groups participating and it was aimed at unearthing musical talents, as well as discovering the most promising vocal group. Week after week one group was evicted until it got to the final four groups.
Obviously elated at winning the show, the Ggirls, comprising Peggy Dickson, Carol Kaifunbah, Nadia Jennifer Hani and Leona Moore, could not hide their excitement in an interview with The Mirror.
“We are very proud of ourselves. I feel as if we have crossed a great river,” said Nadia.
For Leona, it was a stepping stone to something better in future, while Peggy saw herself now as a star, special and outstanding.
It’s mixed feelings for Carol as she was happy that the group won, but at the same time she was sad because she would miss all the friends she made during the competition.
On how they met, Peggy, the leader of the group, said they lived in the same neighbourhood but it was not until they had performed at a concert at the Budumburam camp in 2006 that they came together.
During the concert, they sang individually and after that they became friends and decided to come together because they realised that “in unity there is strength”.
They called themselves the Glorious Sisters and started performing at shows.
“When we saw the promotion on TV3 about Gang Starz, we decided to audition. We knew we had talent and wanted to show the world what we’ve got and by God’s grace we are winners,” Leona interjected.
The producer of the show, Iso Paeley, who wanted a more ‘funky’, name changed the name Glorious Sisters to Glorious Girls (Ggirls).
The girls described the competition variously as tough, cool, challenging and fun.
For them, winning the show is also a great challenge because they are the first female group to have won a reality show organised by TV3.
“We hope to stay together as a group and be the next Destiny Child of Ghana,” they said.
After winning Gang Starz, Ggirls say they will be working to come out with an R & B gospel album.
According to them, what kept them together was the love they shared and staying focused on their goals.
Where do they see themselves in the next five years?
“We see ourselves performing all over the world. Ghanaians should watch out for the best.”
They were grateful to their parents, sponsors and fans for their love and support. They also gave thumbs up to TV3 for creating the platform for them to exhibit their talent and to Onetouch, the main sponsor of the programme.
For emerging winners, they received GH¢10,000. They will also have free promotion of their music video and be special guests at TV3 programmes.
Blaze, made up of three males, came second and it took home GH¢6,000. The group also received the Best Stagecraft special award from Onetouch.
Da Soul, also comprising four males (all Liberians), came third and was rewarded with GH¢4,000, while Pipers came fourth and took home GH¢3,000.
Nadia Jennifer Hani
Nadia, the shy one among the group, is 18 and completed A-47 Christian School in Lagos, Nigeria. She aspires to be in the airline industry as a ticketing and reservation agent while pursuing music part-time.
Peggy (Margaret) Dickson
Peggy is the leader of Ggirls and wants to combine acting with her music career. She completed St Rose’s Senior High School, Akwatia. While in St Rose’s, she was the President of the Drama Club. She is 18.
Carol Kaifunbah
A lady with a lot of ambition under her sleeve. She wants to be a banker, own a TV station and be the head of the United Nations (UN). Carol is 18 and graduate of Saint Robert School, Grand Kru, Liberia.
Leona Moore
A graduate of the New Testament School, Monrovia, Liberia, Leona, 18, aspires to be a sound engineer in future.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Beautiful doctor in training
Saturday, November 22, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 54)
By Rebecca Kwei
When 20 year-old medical student, Tamara Aku Dzormeku, gave her speech on being a role model, she gave a good account of herself and many in the audience highly tipped her to take the coveted Miss Malaika crown.
Although, she had performed well throughout the competition, it was on the night that she ‘really shone’ and became a star. She took over from Laurie Lawson, also a medical student.
Tamara looked confident on stage beaming and also spoke eloquently. It was no wonder she also won the Miss Eloquence award.
For emerging Miss Malaika Ghana 2008, Tamara received a brand new KIA Cerato saloon car plus GH¢2,400 and sponsors products.
Christabel Ekeh came second and took home GH800 and sponsors products while Yvonne Eyram Kofigah came third and was rewarded with GH¢500 and sponsors products.
The show started with the delegates appearing in well coordinated steps wearing beautiful black dresses spruce up with accessories.
After this, the contestants each gave a speech on various subjects. The talent segment followed and Erika Thompson was adjudged the best.
It was the question and answer segment that really separated the ‘wheat from the chaff’ as some of the contestants messed up in answering the questions they picked themselves from the judges.
Those who made it to the final five were Tamara, Christine, Yvonne, Rachael and Christabel. These were further pruned to three made up of Tamara, Christabel and Yvonne who had to answer the same question on ‘what the most important ingredient needed for peaceful elections’ in order to determine the winner.
Okyeame Kwame, R2Bees, Adina, Tinny and Sidney spiced up the show with their performances.
Powered by Charterhouse, the Miss Malaika beauty pageant was sponsored by UT Financial Services, Travel Bureau, Lux, Vimto, Gino, Forever Easy, MTN, KIA, UB, Allure, Lux and Darling.
By Rebecca Kwei
When 20 year-old medical student, Tamara Aku Dzormeku, gave her speech on being a role model, she gave a good account of herself and many in the audience highly tipped her to take the coveted Miss Malaika crown.
Although, she had performed well throughout the competition, it was on the night that she ‘really shone’ and became a star. She took over from Laurie Lawson, also a medical student.
Tamara looked confident on stage beaming and also spoke eloquently. It was no wonder she also won the Miss Eloquence award.
For emerging Miss Malaika Ghana 2008, Tamara received a brand new KIA Cerato saloon car plus GH¢2,400 and sponsors products.
Christabel Ekeh came second and took home GH800 and sponsors products while Yvonne Eyram Kofigah came third and was rewarded with GH¢500 and sponsors products.
The show started with the delegates appearing in well coordinated steps wearing beautiful black dresses spruce up with accessories.
After this, the contestants each gave a speech on various subjects. The talent segment followed and Erika Thompson was adjudged the best.
It was the question and answer segment that really separated the ‘wheat from the chaff’ as some of the contestants messed up in answering the questions they picked themselves from the judges.
Those who made it to the final five were Tamara, Christine, Yvonne, Rachael and Christabel. These were further pruned to three made up of Tamara, Christabel and Yvonne who had to answer the same question on ‘what the most important ingredient needed for peaceful elections’ in order to determine the winner.
Okyeame Kwame, R2Bees, Adina, Tinny and Sidney spiced up the show with their performances.
Powered by Charterhouse, the Miss Malaika beauty pageant was sponsored by UT Financial Services, Travel Bureau, Lux, Vimto, Gino, Forever Easy, MTN, KIA, UB, Allure, Lux and Darling.
5 burnt to death
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 (Daily Graphic - front page)
Story: Naa Lamiley Bentil & Rebecca Kwei
FIVE persons, including a mother and her baby, were burnt beyond recognition on Monday evening when a huge explosion occurred in a warehouse located at Ablekuma NIC in the Ga West District.
Several others are suspected to have been trapped under the debris.
A sixth person was reported dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital yesterday after he had been rushed there along with six others on Monday evening.
Two others are said to be in critical condition.
Among the deceased are a woman and her baby, a driver and two others who were loading goods from the warehouse onto a KIA truck.
The woman, with her baby strapped at her back, was passing by the warehouse when the explosion occurred.
A man who was also caught under the debris allegedly declined rescue because he claimed that his wife and his child were also underneath the debris.
The warehouse is said to belong to a Nigerian business woman who dealt in children’s toys and fire crackers.
Some residents, however, suspect that there could have been explosives and other deadly weapons in the warehouse because of the magnitude of the explosion.
They also claim that goods are offloaded into the warehouse only at night.
The debris was still engulfed in flames as of 10:00 a.m. yesterday. Not even the smoke, flames and fireworks could deter onlookers and relatives from storming the site to witness the havoc caused by the devastating fire.
As of the time of filing this report, a team of rescuers from the police, the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), led by the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, was going through the rubble to salvage any trapped persons still alive.
It took fire personnel several hours to contain the fire.
According to the Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mr Ayarko Atobrah, the station received a distress call about 6:15 p.m. on Monday and personnel from the Weija Fire Station went to the scene within 20 minutes to contain the situation.
Unfortunately, he said, the absence of a functional hydrant hampered the attempt of the personnel to put out the fire.
Mr Atobrah said fire engines from the Kaneshie, Accra Central and Madina Fire Stations and the GNFS Headquarters were mobilised to support the exercise, adding, however, that “it was a real struggle for us to get access to water”.
“ Even as I speak to you, the fire has flared up again and personnel have been dispatched to the scene to manage it,” he said.
He said considering the contents of the warehouse, it was inappropriate to have sited it at a residential area, since it would be exposed to fire and other heat-generated activities.
Mr Atobrah gave the assurance that the GNFS would undertake a full-scale investigation into the cause of the explosion, vis-à-vis the contents of the warehouse.
The roofing sheets, louvre blades and fence walls of some properties were also damaged.
Mr Theophilus Bansah, whose house is adjacent the warehouse, had his roofing sheets, louvre blades, among others, destroyed.
Another resident, Mr Richmond Hammond, described the explosion as thunderous. He said the people around retrieved eight people from the debris but four of them were already dead before their bodies were retrieved.
The Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Accident Centre at Korle-Bu, Mrs Ernestina Yankson, said the four others were, however, in stable condition and responding to treatment.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Bot
wey, who visited the area, expressed concern over the banned fire crackers which were in the warehouse.
She said that called for thorough investigation by the police to find out how the owner was able to outwit customs and immigration to bring banned products into the country.
Story: Naa Lamiley Bentil & Rebecca Kwei
FIVE persons, including a mother and her baby, were burnt beyond recognition on Monday evening when a huge explosion occurred in a warehouse located at Ablekuma NIC in the Ga West District.
Several others are suspected to have been trapped under the debris.
A sixth person was reported dead at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital yesterday after he had been rushed there along with six others on Monday evening.
Two others are said to be in critical condition.
Among the deceased are a woman and her baby, a driver and two others who were loading goods from the warehouse onto a KIA truck.
The woman, with her baby strapped at her back, was passing by the warehouse when the explosion occurred.
A man who was also caught under the debris allegedly declined rescue because he claimed that his wife and his child were also underneath the debris.
The warehouse is said to belong to a Nigerian business woman who dealt in children’s toys and fire crackers.
Some residents, however, suspect that there could have been explosives and other deadly weapons in the warehouse because of the magnitude of the explosion.
They also claim that goods are offloaded into the warehouse only at night.
The debris was still engulfed in flames as of 10:00 a.m. yesterday. Not even the smoke, flames and fireworks could deter onlookers and relatives from storming the site to witness the havoc caused by the devastating fire.
As of the time of filing this report, a team of rescuers from the police, the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), led by the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, was going through the rubble to salvage any trapped persons still alive.
It took fire personnel several hours to contain the fire.
According to the Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mr Ayarko Atobrah, the station received a distress call about 6:15 p.m. on Monday and personnel from the Weija Fire Station went to the scene within 20 minutes to contain the situation.
Unfortunately, he said, the absence of a functional hydrant hampered the attempt of the personnel to put out the fire.
Mr Atobrah said fire engines from the Kaneshie, Accra Central and Madina Fire Stations and the GNFS Headquarters were mobilised to support the exercise, adding, however, that “it was a real struggle for us to get access to water”.
“ Even as I speak to you, the fire has flared up again and personnel have been dispatched to the scene to manage it,” he said.
He said considering the contents of the warehouse, it was inappropriate to have sited it at a residential area, since it would be exposed to fire and other heat-generated activities.
Mr Atobrah gave the assurance that the GNFS would undertake a full-scale investigation into the cause of the explosion, vis-à-vis the contents of the warehouse.
The roofing sheets, louvre blades and fence walls of some properties were also damaged.
Mr Theophilus Bansah, whose house is adjacent the warehouse, had his roofing sheets, louvre blades, among others, destroyed.
Another resident, Mr Richmond Hammond, described the explosion as thunderous. He said the people around retrieved eight people from the debris but four of them were already dead before their bodies were retrieved.
The Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Accident Centre at Korle-Bu, Mrs Ernestina Yankson, said the four others were, however, in stable condition and responding to treatment.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Bot
wey, who visited the area, expressed concern over the banned fire crackers which were in the warehouse.
She said that called for thorough investigation by the police to find out how the owner was able to outwit customs and immigration to bring banned products into the country.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Bishop Tackie-Yarboi turns 50
Saturday, November 15, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 3)
By Rebecca Kwei
At Awoshie Baah Yard, a suburb of Accra, is a beautiful building painted in a warm shade of purple. But for the activities of big tipper trucks in the vicinity it would have served as a major landmark in the area. It is the Victory Bible Church International, Dominion Centre, which is headed by Bishop Nii Nabi Apiakai Tackie-Yarboi.
Guess what! Yesterday, November 14, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi celebrated his 50th birthday. For the pastors and congregation, 50 years was very significant and a good way to celebrate it was to sponsor a surprise publication on a man, who would naturally shy away from the media.
“I give thanks to God Almighty for His abundant favour and grace over me. I am also grateful to God for His call over my life,” Bishop Tackie-Yarboi says of his birthday in an interview with the Mirror.
Although Bishop Tackie-Yarboi is celebrating his 50th birthday, he is not oblivious of the forthcoming elections in December and therefore stressed the need for politicians to conduct their campaign devoid of insults and acrimony.
“Politicians must conduct peaceful campaigns and even as they preach peace they must be seen to be backing their words with actions.”
Recalling events that led him into the pastorate, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi said although he had a strict Presbyterian upbringing, he made personal life choices which were leading him to destruction. He therefore made a decision to join the Scripture Union to reform while he was a student at the Ebenezer Secondary School at Mamprobi, Accra.
Between 1975 and 1976, he was led to accept Jesus by one Peter Dzandza.
“He taught me what it meant to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and I can vividly recall how sinful and spiritually naked I was then,” he narrated.
That day marked a turnaround in his life.
“I had a simple divine encounter of knowing that I was going to do God’s work but never knew how.
“After praying the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and invited Jesus into my heart, I saw the room brighten as if an extra light had shone but I did not understand it then. But now I can testify that it is God’s way of commissioning me into His work.”
Following this encounter, he had a new motivation to read and seek to understand the Bible.
He said God brought various people into his life that greatly influenced his spiritual growth.
After his ‘O’ Level in the 1978/79 academic year, he continued at the Accra Polytechnic for a year and then to the Workers College for his ‘A’ Level.
He had his primary education at Osu Darley 2 and middle education at Osu Presbyterian Middle Boys and Apenkwa Shiayenno.
Realising God’s call early in his life, he entered full-time ministry in 1983.
Prior to that he fellowshipped with the Ghana Evangelical Society and also joined a student/area fellowship (Jesus People Fellowship) at Kokomlemle.
With time, he started fellowshipping with Christian Evangelical Fellowship under the leadership of Rev John Alex Cofie on Sundays at the Oxford Cinema Hall at Accra New Town and with Jesus People Fellowship on other days.
On May 26, 1985, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi was prayed over and released from the Christian Evangelical Ministry (CEM) and he started Jesus People Outreach Centre. He later changed the name to Victory Christian Centre and now Victory Bible Church International.
“My commission in ministry is to raise the foundations of many generations,” he said.
Presently the church has more than 100 branches all over Ghana and 15 in the USA, UK, The Netherlands and Germany.
Bishop Tackie-Yarboi expressed the hope that he would be able to plant more churches, build more educational institutions and create more opportunities for the youth.
What the church is embarking on at the moment is a church-community initiative where the church develops a closer relationship with the community in which it operates.
Consequently, the church puts up a school in the communities in they operate.
It has also adopted a village, Avesive, in the Volta Region where it has built a school and takes care of the teachers’ salaries. There is also a scholarship fund for needy, brilliant students and a revolving fund for widows of the church.
“We believe in missionary work as well as meeting the needs of the people,” he emphasised.
He said he had no regrets for being a pastor and that “if there was anything like another lifetime, I would want to be a pastor but maybe do things differently such as raising more leaders.”
BishopTackie-Yarboi called on Christians to make time to discover from the Bible what they have been taught to affirm that it is Biblical and to know God for themselves.
Additionally, he said Christians should “endeavour to be one in essentials and the non-essentials and be accommodating of each other.”
Born to Nii Amugie Sorse Tackie-Yarboi and Vivian Atswei Sowah, both deceased, BishopTackie-Yarboi is married to Rev Mrs Dora Tackie-Yarboi, who is the President of the Women’s Fellowship of the church.
They have three children, Nii Sorse, who is studying medicine in Ukraine, Nii Dromo and Naa Asharday.
He has authored six books namely The Believers Mind, Dreams of the Night, Overcoming Depression, Fulfilling Your Destiny, Financial Empowerment and Making the Most of What You Have.
“Jehovah is the one and the reason for my being. He made me and because He did, I am not my own. I am His and the sheep of his pasture” were his final words.
By Rebecca Kwei
At Awoshie Baah Yard, a suburb of Accra, is a beautiful building painted in a warm shade of purple. But for the activities of big tipper trucks in the vicinity it would have served as a major landmark in the area. It is the Victory Bible Church International, Dominion Centre, which is headed by Bishop Nii Nabi Apiakai Tackie-Yarboi.
Guess what! Yesterday, November 14, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi celebrated his 50th birthday. For the pastors and congregation, 50 years was very significant and a good way to celebrate it was to sponsor a surprise publication on a man, who would naturally shy away from the media.
“I give thanks to God Almighty for His abundant favour and grace over me. I am also grateful to God for His call over my life,” Bishop Tackie-Yarboi says of his birthday in an interview with the Mirror.
Although Bishop Tackie-Yarboi is celebrating his 50th birthday, he is not oblivious of the forthcoming elections in December and therefore stressed the need for politicians to conduct their campaign devoid of insults and acrimony.
“Politicians must conduct peaceful campaigns and even as they preach peace they must be seen to be backing their words with actions.”
Recalling events that led him into the pastorate, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi said although he had a strict Presbyterian upbringing, he made personal life choices which were leading him to destruction. He therefore made a decision to join the Scripture Union to reform while he was a student at the Ebenezer Secondary School at Mamprobi, Accra.
Between 1975 and 1976, he was led to accept Jesus by one Peter Dzandza.
“He taught me what it meant to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and I can vividly recall how sinful and spiritually naked I was then,” he narrated.
That day marked a turnaround in his life.
“I had a simple divine encounter of knowing that I was going to do God’s work but never knew how.
“After praying the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and invited Jesus into my heart, I saw the room brighten as if an extra light had shone but I did not understand it then. But now I can testify that it is God’s way of commissioning me into His work.”
Following this encounter, he had a new motivation to read and seek to understand the Bible.
He said God brought various people into his life that greatly influenced his spiritual growth.
After his ‘O’ Level in the 1978/79 academic year, he continued at the Accra Polytechnic for a year and then to the Workers College for his ‘A’ Level.
He had his primary education at Osu Darley 2 and middle education at Osu Presbyterian Middle Boys and Apenkwa Shiayenno.
Realising God’s call early in his life, he entered full-time ministry in 1983.
Prior to that he fellowshipped with the Ghana Evangelical Society and also joined a student/area fellowship (Jesus People Fellowship) at Kokomlemle.
With time, he started fellowshipping with Christian Evangelical Fellowship under the leadership of Rev John Alex Cofie on Sundays at the Oxford Cinema Hall at Accra New Town and with Jesus People Fellowship on other days.
On May 26, 1985, Bishop Tackie-Yarboi was prayed over and released from the Christian Evangelical Ministry (CEM) and he started Jesus People Outreach Centre. He later changed the name to Victory Christian Centre and now Victory Bible Church International.
“My commission in ministry is to raise the foundations of many generations,” he said.
Presently the church has more than 100 branches all over Ghana and 15 in the USA, UK, The Netherlands and Germany.
Bishop Tackie-Yarboi expressed the hope that he would be able to plant more churches, build more educational institutions and create more opportunities for the youth.
What the church is embarking on at the moment is a church-community initiative where the church develops a closer relationship with the community in which it operates.
Consequently, the church puts up a school in the communities in they operate.
It has also adopted a village, Avesive, in the Volta Region where it has built a school and takes care of the teachers’ salaries. There is also a scholarship fund for needy, brilliant students and a revolving fund for widows of the church.
“We believe in missionary work as well as meeting the needs of the people,” he emphasised.
He said he had no regrets for being a pastor and that “if there was anything like another lifetime, I would want to be a pastor but maybe do things differently such as raising more leaders.”
BishopTackie-Yarboi called on Christians to make time to discover from the Bible what they have been taught to affirm that it is Biblical and to know God for themselves.
Additionally, he said Christians should “endeavour to be one in essentials and the non-essentials and be accommodating of each other.”
Born to Nii Amugie Sorse Tackie-Yarboi and Vivian Atswei Sowah, both deceased, BishopTackie-Yarboi is married to Rev Mrs Dora Tackie-Yarboi, who is the President of the Women’s Fellowship of the church.
They have three children, Nii Sorse, who is studying medicine in Ukraine, Nii Dromo and Naa Asharday.
He has authored six books namely The Believers Mind, Dreams of the Night, Overcoming Depression, Fulfilling Your Destiny, Financial Empowerment and Making the Most of What You Have.
“Jehovah is the one and the reason for my being. He made me and because He did, I am not my own. I am His and the sheep of his pasture” were his final words.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Obama 'dances with the stars'
Saturday, November 8, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
Barack Obama made history last Tuesday by becoming the first African American President-elect and it is no secret that celebrities, particularly those from the entertainment industry, played a big role in his victory over John McCain.
He attracted high-profile endorsement from the likes of talk-show host, Oprah Winfrey. According to Oprah, Obama was the first candidate she had endorsed in her 25-year career.
She campaigned for him, with him and threw a celebrity fund-raiser at her California home that raised an estimated $3 million.
Oprah was among the tens of thousands of people gathered in Chicago to hear Obama give his victory speech and she could not help but shed tears. On her own show, Oprah said Obama's win had 'unleashed' her. Waving an American flag and wearing a Hope Won shirt, she shouted: 'Oh my God, Oh my God. Today is a new day for America.'
"It feels like America did the right thing, It feels like there's a shift in consciousness. It feels like something really big and bold has happened here, like nothing ever in our lifetimes did we expect this to happen,” she told CNN.
For R&B singer Usher, "Barack Obama doesn't represent a colour. He represents change."
Black music producer and singer Sean Diddy Combs said, "I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office ... And that may not be true but that's how much power it felt like I had."
Poet Maya Angelou, 80, author of the influential book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", said she could barely talk without weeping as she remembered all the African-Americans who had struggled for civil rights in the past.
"We are growing up. My God, I'm so grateful," Angelou told "The Early Show" on CBS.
Other celebrities who campaigned and raised funds for Obama were George Clooney, Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Niro, Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Brat Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Jay Z , Beyonce Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of others.
Not much is known about Obama’s entertainment life. So what made all these celebrities hit the campaign trail for him? Perhaps the words of actor, Samuel L. Jackson, sums it up — “We need somebody the world relates to in a very real kind of way.”
By Rebecca Kwei
Barack Obama made history last Tuesday by becoming the first African American President-elect and it is no secret that celebrities, particularly those from the entertainment industry, played a big role in his victory over John McCain.
He attracted high-profile endorsement from the likes of talk-show host, Oprah Winfrey. According to Oprah, Obama was the first candidate she had endorsed in her 25-year career.
She campaigned for him, with him and threw a celebrity fund-raiser at her California home that raised an estimated $3 million.
Oprah was among the tens of thousands of people gathered in Chicago to hear Obama give his victory speech and she could not help but shed tears. On her own show, Oprah said Obama's win had 'unleashed' her. Waving an American flag and wearing a Hope Won shirt, she shouted: 'Oh my God, Oh my God. Today is a new day for America.'
"It feels like America did the right thing, It feels like there's a shift in consciousness. It feels like something really big and bold has happened here, like nothing ever in our lifetimes did we expect this to happen,” she told CNN.
For R&B singer Usher, "Barack Obama doesn't represent a colour. He represents change."
Black music producer and singer Sean Diddy Combs said, "I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office ... And that may not be true but that's how much power it felt like I had."
Poet Maya Angelou, 80, author of the influential book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", said she could barely talk without weeping as she remembered all the African-Americans who had struggled for civil rights in the past.
"We are growing up. My God, I'm so grateful," Angelou told "The Early Show" on CBS.
Other celebrities who campaigned and raised funds for Obama were George Clooney, Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Niro, Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Brat Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Jay Z , Beyonce Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of others.
Not much is known about Obama’s entertainment life. So what made all these celebrities hit the campaign trail for him? Perhaps the words of actor, Samuel L. Jackson, sums it up — “We need somebody the world relates to in a very real kind of way.”
Monday, November 3, 2008
Advocate more on gender mainstreaming
Saturday, November 1, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 42)
By Rebecca Kwei
A Gender and Development Consultant, Mrs Joana Opare,has said it is important for more advocacy on gender mainstreaming in order to get more women to participate in decision-making process.
She noted that women in Ghana were still under represented in institutions at the local and national level.
She expressed concern about the low number of aspiring women parliamentarians in this year's elections, saying as of September only 66 females had been selected.
Mrs Opare said in 2004, 100 female contested for parliament and 25 got elected to parliament and that there was the need for more support for women aspirants so that the numbers do not reduce further in this year's elections.
She was making a presentation at a two-day workshop for selected journalists on increasing women’s participation in politics.
The workshop, which brought together journalists from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Western regions, was aimed, among other things, at building the capacity of the participants to be more gender sensitive in their reportage before, during and after the elections.
It was also to sensitise the journalists to give adequate coverage to all the female candidates vying for various parliamentary seats, as well as also use the media as an effective tool to solicit votes for them.
The workshop was organised by Women Media and Change (WOMEC) in colloraboration with ABANTU for Development, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Women's Manifesto Coalition.
Giving a 2007 statistics of appointments to key positions in Ghana, she said out of the 19 cabinet ministers, four were women.
Three women are ministers of state as against seven men while there are six female chief directors of ministries as compared to 29 males.
There is also no female regional minister in the country, while there are only three deputy ministers.
For the Council of State, there are 22 males and three females and 44 male ambassadors/high commissioners to four females. There are also 12 female district chief executives to 126 males.
Enumerating barriers to women's participation in governance, Mrs Opare said women were generally less interested in politics and that both women and men often saw politics as a man’s affair; women lack political capacities; lack confidence in their own political capabilities and have lower level of education, professional experience, income and available time as compared to men; and often lack support from their husbands or family.
Therefore, she said, "in order to actualise the principles of good governance that takes all humankind into account, with the objective of eradicating gender inequalities, the process of governance will have to secure the inclusion of those who are now marginalised."
However, she noted institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women have improved since 1994.
These include the formulation of legislation and policies that are relevant to women’s empowerment and gender equality; quotas are now used in local government, education and services to promote women’s participation and women’s policy and development issues have been brought more to the fore.
She appealed to senior management of institutions to ensure that gender was included as a substantive area in all policies and programmes.
Mrs Opare said women could not be left out of decision-making and implementation of development interventions, and that every effort must, therefore, be made to bring on board their valuable contributions towards sustainable development at all levels.
The Executive Director of WOMEC, Mrs Charity Binka, said it was important for a media strategy to be adopted to ensure that all women standing for election as members of parliament got elected to improve the female representation.
To achieve this, she said, it was necessary for a critical mass of media professionals to be created and cultivated to promote and give greater visibility to all female parliamentary candidates, irrespective of the political party they represented.
By Rebecca Kwei
A Gender and Development Consultant, Mrs Joana Opare,has said it is important for more advocacy on gender mainstreaming in order to get more women to participate in decision-making process.
She noted that women in Ghana were still under represented in institutions at the local and national level.
She expressed concern about the low number of aspiring women parliamentarians in this year's elections, saying as of September only 66 females had been selected.
Mrs Opare said in 2004, 100 female contested for parliament and 25 got elected to parliament and that there was the need for more support for women aspirants so that the numbers do not reduce further in this year's elections.
She was making a presentation at a two-day workshop for selected journalists on increasing women’s participation in politics.
The workshop, which brought together journalists from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Western regions, was aimed, among other things, at building the capacity of the participants to be more gender sensitive in their reportage before, during and after the elections.
It was also to sensitise the journalists to give adequate coverage to all the female candidates vying for various parliamentary seats, as well as also use the media as an effective tool to solicit votes for them.
The workshop was organised by Women Media and Change (WOMEC) in colloraboration with ABANTU for Development, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Women's Manifesto Coalition.
Giving a 2007 statistics of appointments to key positions in Ghana, she said out of the 19 cabinet ministers, four were women.
Three women are ministers of state as against seven men while there are six female chief directors of ministries as compared to 29 males.
There is also no female regional minister in the country, while there are only three deputy ministers.
For the Council of State, there are 22 males and three females and 44 male ambassadors/high commissioners to four females. There are also 12 female district chief executives to 126 males.
Enumerating barriers to women's participation in governance, Mrs Opare said women were generally less interested in politics and that both women and men often saw politics as a man’s affair; women lack political capacities; lack confidence in their own political capabilities and have lower level of education, professional experience, income and available time as compared to men; and often lack support from their husbands or family.
Therefore, she said, "in order to actualise the principles of good governance that takes all humankind into account, with the objective of eradicating gender inequalities, the process of governance will have to secure the inclusion of those who are now marginalised."
However, she noted institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women have improved since 1994.
These include the formulation of legislation and policies that are relevant to women’s empowerment and gender equality; quotas are now used in local government, education and services to promote women’s participation and women’s policy and development issues have been brought more to the fore.
She appealed to senior management of institutions to ensure that gender was included as a substantive area in all policies and programmes.
Mrs Opare said women could not be left out of decision-making and implementation of development interventions, and that every effort must, therefore, be made to bring on board their valuable contributions towards sustainable development at all levels.
The Executive Director of WOMEC, Mrs Charity Binka, said it was important for a media strategy to be adopted to ensure that all women standing for election as members of parliament got elected to improve the female representation.
To achieve this, she said, it was necessary for a critical mass of media professionals to be created and cultivated to promote and give greater visibility to all female parliamentary candidates, irrespective of the political party they represented.
Naa Ashorkor — makes a splashing presence on TV Africa
Saturday, November 1, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 3)
By Rebecca Kwei
For viewers of TV Africa, Nisirine Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku is the familiar sweet- faced presenter on their screens on Fridays and Saturdays.
Since she joined the network last year as a stand-in presenter for New Generation, a youth and entertainment programme, her hard work has earned her new and exciting tasks at the station.
Presently, she is the hostess of Daybreak Entertainment News on Friday, the entertainment segment of the morning show and also the co-host of Soundz Splash, a one- and-half hour live entertainment programme.
Naa Ashorkor said she had always admired people on TV when she was growing up, and fantasised about herself on TV.
“In my mind’s eye I had always seen myself on TV but it has happened so fast for me,” she said in an interview with The Mirror.
Recounting how she got into working with a television station, she said she was invited twice as a guest on TV Africa’s youth programme, New Generation, and one day she was asked to sit in for the presenter.
“That felt really cool,” she said, beaming, and added that “the production crew at TV Africa are so friendly and they make you feel special”.
She said although she was a bit nervous, she put in her best and later when she saw the programme, she was proud of herself.
So for four weeks, she sat in for the presenter of New Generation till she returned and Naa Ashorkor was given a new task to present entertainment news on Fridays on the morning show.
In June this year, she started co-hosting Soundz Splash with Okyeame Quophi, who she described as nice and fun to work with.
She said the first day she co-hosted Soundz Splash, she had butterflies in her stomach such that all that she had rehearsed to say vanished from her memory the moment she got on stage.
“But I am getting better by the day. Hosting a live programme has challenges and I’m doing my best to make the programme more exciting.”
Naa Ashorkor, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) says it is not easy combining school and work so the least time she has she uses it to study in order to make good grades.
She will turn 20 on November 24, this year, and says she hardly goes out; for her , working is fun and she loves her job.
She said being on TV has helped to build her confidence, enabled her to comport herself, and she is hardly intimidated by anyone.
Naa Ashorkor believes that “all that we are is a result of what we have thought of. What you imagine more often than not, you get it”.
Born to Mr Paul Mensah-Doku and Sarah Mensah-Doku, Naa Ashorkor has three other sisters, Sharon, Stephanie and Paula.
She said her parents and siblings had been very supportive of her and that was what kept her going.
She aspires to be one of the best presenters in the country and move it a step further by going international.
Naa Ashorkor said she would love to try radio after completing school and she also intends to pursue law.
Aside TV, she also appeared in HFC Bank TV commercial, Unique Trust Financial Services calendar and Arton Drugs TV commercial.
She has played a few minor roles in movies and also starred in the latest movie “Scorned”.
When not working, Naa Ashorkor loves watching movies, playing word games and spending time with her family.
She is grateful to TV Africa and production crew for all the love and support given her.
So there you have it; make a date tonight with Naa Ashorkor as she co-hosts Soundz Splash on TV Africa at 7.30 p.m.
By Rebecca Kwei
For viewers of TV Africa, Nisirine Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku is the familiar sweet- faced presenter on their screens on Fridays and Saturdays.
Since she joined the network last year as a stand-in presenter for New Generation, a youth and entertainment programme, her hard work has earned her new and exciting tasks at the station.
Presently, she is the hostess of Daybreak Entertainment News on Friday, the entertainment segment of the morning show and also the co-host of Soundz Splash, a one- and-half hour live entertainment programme.
Naa Ashorkor said she had always admired people on TV when she was growing up, and fantasised about herself on TV.
“In my mind’s eye I had always seen myself on TV but it has happened so fast for me,” she said in an interview with The Mirror.
Recounting how she got into working with a television station, she said she was invited twice as a guest on TV Africa’s youth programme, New Generation, and one day she was asked to sit in for the presenter.
“That felt really cool,” she said, beaming, and added that “the production crew at TV Africa are so friendly and they make you feel special”.
She said although she was a bit nervous, she put in her best and later when she saw the programme, she was proud of herself.
So for four weeks, she sat in for the presenter of New Generation till she returned and Naa Ashorkor was given a new task to present entertainment news on Fridays on the morning show.
In June this year, she started co-hosting Soundz Splash with Okyeame Quophi, who she described as nice and fun to work with.
She said the first day she co-hosted Soundz Splash, she had butterflies in her stomach such that all that she had rehearsed to say vanished from her memory the moment she got on stage.
“But I am getting better by the day. Hosting a live programme has challenges and I’m doing my best to make the programme more exciting.”
Naa Ashorkor, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) says it is not easy combining school and work so the least time she has she uses it to study in order to make good grades.
She will turn 20 on November 24, this year, and says she hardly goes out; for her , working is fun and she loves her job.
She said being on TV has helped to build her confidence, enabled her to comport herself, and she is hardly intimidated by anyone.
Naa Ashorkor believes that “all that we are is a result of what we have thought of. What you imagine more often than not, you get it”.
Born to Mr Paul Mensah-Doku and Sarah Mensah-Doku, Naa Ashorkor has three other sisters, Sharon, Stephanie and Paula.
She said her parents and siblings had been very supportive of her and that was what kept her going.
She aspires to be one of the best presenters in the country and move it a step further by going international.
Naa Ashorkor said she would love to try radio after completing school and she also intends to pursue law.
Aside TV, she also appeared in HFC Bank TV commercial, Unique Trust Financial Services calendar and Arton Drugs TV commercial.
She has played a few minor roles in movies and also starred in the latest movie “Scorned”.
When not working, Naa Ashorkor loves watching movies, playing word games and spending time with her family.
She is grateful to TV Africa and production crew for all the love and support given her.
So there you have it; make a date tonight with Naa Ashorkor as she co-hosts Soundz Splash on TV Africa at 7.30 p.m.
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