Pulse News

The broadcaster, who works for Angel Broadcasting Network’s Angel FM in Accra, will be in attendance at this year’s event.

The 14th Annual Juneteenth NY Celebration will be held under the theme “Kaleidoscope of Black Culture”.

New York City’s premier three-day celebration will showcase the abundant history and impact of African Americans from June 16 to June 18.

DJ Ohemaa Woyeje to attend this year’s Juneteenth event in USA

Participating partners for the Juneteenth NY Celebration include Airbnb, Atlantic Terminal Mall, Black Restaurant Coalition, Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn Navy Yard, The Drivers Cooperative, The Home Depot Foundation, Liberty Coca Cola Beverages, New York Liberty, NY State of Health, PacSun and Visa.

Official media broadcast partner is WABC-TV, the #1 Station in New York and the most watched local station in the country.

“I’m expecting African Americans to show more love and unity to each other,” Ohemaa Woyeje said of her expectation of the event.

“Want to hear black people appreciating equal rights and justice and not complaining about racial injustice. Freedom of all shades knowing Juneteenth marks the end of slavery.

“For me, it offers the opportunity to create awareness on the year of return Ghana hosted in 2019 and the free legal citizenship given to people of African Ancestry which will have positive impact on our tourism and the creative industry.”

Meanwhile, Emmy-nominated artist Julian King is set to headline the Juneteenth NY Celebration 2023 Concert.

The 14th Annual Juneteenth NY Celebration – one of New York City’s premier and largest annual events commemorating the federally-recognized holiday – is quickly approaching for an exciting and action-packed three-day celebration, kicking off virtually and in-person on Friday, June 16th through June 18th from the epicenter of Black culture and community in Brooklyn, NY.

The Juneteenth NY Celebration was created to empower the Black community, advance the economic and cultural arts in underserved areas as well as champion small, Black-owned businesses.

And this year’s sponsors are continuing to enhance the work being done in and around the Black communities in the area and throughout the country.

Attendees of the festive three-day celebration will experience the best in Black culture and community with live performances, exhibitions, authentic local cuisine, wellness and other family fun activities.

Over the past 14 years, Juneteenth NY has grown and expanded exponentially from a local gathering to a nationally recognized event, with this year’s attendees expected to reach over 37,000+.

Harey Adjoa Owusu Kusi, popularly referred to as DJ Ohemaa Woyeje, will represent Africa at the 2023 Annual Juneteenth NY Celebration.

More than 680 people have been injured in Turkey and Syria.

Turkey's disaster and emergency agency Afad said the tremor occurred at 20:04 local time (17:04 GMT), followed by dozens of aftershocks.

A 7.8-magnitude quake struck the same area on 6 February, killing more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

Those killed by Monday's tremor were found in Antakya, Defne, and Samandagi, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said, urging people not to enter potentially dangerous buildings.

Soylu said 213 people had been injured in Turkey.

Witnesses told the Reuters news agency there had been further damage to buildings in Antakya, while the mayor of Hatay, in southern Turkey, said people were trapped under rubble.

"I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet," Muna al-Omar, a local resident, told Reuters, crying as she held her seven-year-old son. She was in a tent in a park in central Antakya when the latest earthquake hit, she said.

Turkish authorities have recorded more than 6,000 aftershocks since the February 6 earthquake, but the BBC's team in the region said the latest tremor felt much stronger than previous ones.

Source: BBC

Three people have died after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday, weeks after a deadly quake devastated the region.

New Turkey earthquake leaves 3 dead, more trapped under rubble in Hatay

The Vodafone team, accompanied by an exquisite bouquet of fresh fruit, presented Madam Rosina with a brand-new smartphone loaded with airtime and data, to enable her to easily communicate with her great-grandchild who she’s yet to meet, and to stay connected with family and friends.

As the Vodafone team entered Madam Rosina's room to make their presentation, the room was instantly filled with warmth, laughter and the sound of a family connected by love and community.

Angela Mensah-Poku, Vodafone Ghana’s Director for Digital Transformation and Commercial Operations said, "Madam Rosina is an old student of Achimota School and has been a loyal customer of Vodafone’s for over 25 years – since the days of Ghana Telecom. From our conversations with her, we learned that she wanted to see her great-grandchild who had been born recently. Both mother and child live abroad, and Rosina was unable to see them because she did not have a way to connect. That’s why we wanted to gift her with a special Vodafone Package and help her connect with her family in a new way.”

A joyous Rosina said the gesture was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to appreciating its long-serving customers.

"She has been a loyal customer for so long, and it is an honour to have her as part of the Vodafone family," said Shirley Konadu Kyere, Vodafone’s Customer Loyalty Manager, who was present during the visit. "She always has a warm smile and kind words for us, and we’re glad we could do something special for her."

For close to 14 years, Vodafone Ghana has been present in the very fabric of Ghanaian culture and way of life; delivering innovative customer-centric solutions and empowering its 7.1 million customers. With unwavering commitment to the needs of customers, Vodafone continues to lead the way in providing unsurpassed customer experiences.

Speaking at her home, and amidst her surprise, Madam Rosina expressed her joy and appreciation for the gesture shown by Vodafone. She further encouraged everyone to prioritize staying connected with their loved ones and thanked Vodafone for making it possible for her to do same.

Madam Rosina’s daughter, Sarah, spoke to the Vodafone Ghana team, saying, "She had a lovely day! She was so happy and had us in stitches with her stories. She showed off her presents to everyone who cared to see! Thank you so much for everything."

The Vodafone team set up Madam Rosina's new phone and helped her make her very first video call to see her granddaughter. The Vodafone Ghana team urged loyal customers to expect more rewards, visits, and engagements in the coming months.

In a heart-warming moment, Madam Rosina Attoh-Korkoi Konuah, a beloved Vodafone Ghana customer for over 25 years, was gifted with the power of connection on her 101st birthday.

Vodafone Ghana's 101-year-old customer receives wonderful package to connect with great-grandchild

The video was shared by Metropolitan television on its Twitter page, sparking so much hilarity, with many Ghanaians poking fun at it.

The President, according to the media house, was at an event organised by the Ghana Armed Forces alongside other dignitaries when the cameras captured him expressing amazement at the women’s dancing moves.

In the video, the women are seen wearing body-hugging leggings, with their beautiful figures well-defined, while dancing to entertain the gathering.

READ ALSO: <a href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/filla/farting-is-spiritual-weapon-against-satan-cures-stroke-rashes-ghanaian-herbalist/mmt7lej">Farting is spiritual weapon against satan, cures stroke, rashes – Ghanaian herbalist (video) </a>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday, Addo Dee see big buttocks for the military men demma ‘our day’ make he shout ‘Ei!’ — Same, Mr. President. Same😅 📹: <a href="https://twitter.com/metrotvgh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@metrotvgh</a> <a href="https://t.co/jUeJ2RbnG7">pic.twitter.com/jUeJ2RbnG7</a>&mdash; Ölele | DTS👨🏾‍🍳🇬🇭 (@OleleSalvador) <a href="https://twitter.com/OleleSalvador/status/1621389929782677510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</div>

The energetic dance moves by the women despite their chubbiness arrested the attention of Akufo-Addo who was seated among security guards and other dignitaries.

He was all smiles while watching the moves, but the part that overwhelmed him was when one of the dancers turned her backside to his table and shook her ‘goods’ with shocking ease. He then exclaimed "ei!".

Below are some Twitter reactions to the video:

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When Addo D gets home. First Lady: you are saying Eii 😂 <a href="https://t.co/eO5ab01o19">pic.twitter.com/eO5ab01o19</a>&mdash; Henri kwamz🇬🇭 (@amkwamz) <a href="https://twitter.com/amkwamz/status/1621411215795789825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</div>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Eno get problem, he take we cheap.&mdash; Obino (@KSKlef) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSKlef/status/1621390739811745797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</div>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">All what dey go on ebi ass dey worry am??? Ofui saa nu&mdash; Obino (@KSKlef) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSKlef/status/1621422354181066752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</div>

Akufo-Addo screams ‘Eii!’ as dancing woman shakes big buttocks vigorously

A short video of President Akufo-Addo screaming in surprise at the forceful manner in which a chubby woman was shaking her well-endowed backside has stirred reactions on social media.

Akufo-Addo screams ‘eii!’ as dancing woman shakes her big buttocks vigorously [Video]

She was able to get surgery and use her fingers again after that, thanks to Vodafone.

Precious could not grip objects or eat with her hands because she was born with a limb abnormality, which worried her family about her ability to thrive in school.

Six months after her operation, Precious smiled as she greeted the Vodafone Healthline team, demonstrating the tremendous transformation she has undergone. The operation has restored her ability to hold things and play with her friends, much to her family's delight.

Dr. Kwekuma Yalley, a member of the team that visited Precious and her family, underlined the importance of waiting a while before considering another operation for Precious, given her young age.

Precious' mother, Cecilia Acheamaa, thanked the Vodafone Healthline team for their assistance, admitting that it had been difficult to watch her daughter struggle with her condition. Precious' family is eager to enrol her in school now that she has recovered.

Drs. Aba Folson and Kwekuma Yalley debunked a myth about post-partum belly-flattening during the episode. According to Dr. Yalley, binding the belly after giving birth can momentarily give the appearance of a flat tummy when wearing a fitting dress, but it does not make the tummy flat in the long run. Dr. Folson stated that, while there is no scientific evidence to back the technique, tying the belly regularly can help maintain muscle tone, burn fat, and push the internal organs inward.

Consistent core and muscle strengthening exercises, according to the experts, are essential for maintaining a trim midsection after pregnancy.

Dr. Salamatu Nantogma, a family medicine expert who spoke about dementia and ageing, was also featured in the episode. She noted that muscle deterioration and cell loss characterise ageing beginning at the age of 35 and can cause several issues, including dementia, immobility, instability, and muscle wasting.

Dr. Nantogma emphasised the importance of healthy living, exercise, and healthy habits in avoiding issues such as ageing, loneliness, and sadness.

The Vodafone Healthline show aims to provide free medical education to the public through its broadcasts on selected media outlets and social media.

The miraculous tale of Precious, a young girl who once had finger deformities, was revisited in the ninth episode of Vodafone Healthline's Spin-Off edition.

Young beneficiary regains the use of her fingers courtesy Healthline

Although in 2022, the digital asset industry saw several high-profile breaches of trust and was largely characterized by volatility, the adoption of cryptocurrencies within the continent continued to grow. There has also been a shift in reliance on traditional payment systems, creating a preference among young Africans for cutting-edge payment platforms over conventional ones.

Africa, the second-most populous continent in the world with over 1.5 billion inhabitants, boasts a truly diverse and developing economy. According to <a href="https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/2021-global-crypto-adoption-index/">Chainalysis</a>, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania had among the highest rates of cryptocurrency adoption worldwide, ranking in the top 20 of the global adoption index. As Web3 real use cases continue to grow, it is critical to comprehend the factors that have fueled this expansion.

Here are a few things to remember.

Remittance Payments

Remittances are a major driver of the global economy, with billions of dollars moving around the world each year. In Africa, remittances make up 1.3percent of GDP and are expected to grow at an annual rate of 5.2percent through 2025. The World Bank has estimated that there are about 400 million migrant workers in Africa, with about 50percent of these migrants living outside their home country.

African households receive US$100billion in remittances each year - more than they spend on education and healthcare combined!

However, it is well known that several African nations now set a cap on the amount that can be transferred as well as charge steep rates. As a result, the number of remittance payments made using cryptocurrencies have been consistently increasing because of lower restrictions and fees, hence causing an upward scale in the crypto adoption rate as shown by <a href="https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2021/crypto-based-remittances-on-the-rise-nigeria-leads-the-african-pack/">Analysis</a>.

A <a href="https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/africas-grassroots-cryptocurrency-adoption/">recent</a> study also shows that African cross-region transfers make up a more significant share of its cryptocurrency market than any other region globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa receiving over US$48 billion of estimated remittances in 2019.

Binance is aware of how increasingly people’s daily lives are being influenced by the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency as the Web3 market expands and so they continue to add new utilities and functionalities to enhance every aspect of their users’ Web3 experience.

For example, its recent product, <a href="https://pay.binance.com/en-NG">Binance Pay</a> - a contactless, borderless, and secure cryptocurrency payment technology, that ensures that users around the world can send and receive crypto across continents. Features such as this,&nbsp;provide increased accessibility of people's own money whenever they need it and further highlight the user-centric character of digital assets.

Fiat Devaluation

In recent times, there has been a continuous trend of the devaluation of multiple African currencies, and this has invariably increased the value of the African crypto market. This is because cryptocurrencies have given them the ability to preserve their savings without having to worry about inflation through stable digital currencies known as stablecoins.

Owing to this, Binance has continued to be one of the most popular and widely recognized platforms in the African crypto market, where Africans can trade bitcoins or exchange their currencies for other stablecoins.

International Trade

Cryptocurrencies have also grown to be a vital component of global trade as a result of their increasing acceptance in a variety of settings and nations. Before cryptocurrency, the cross-border payment bureaucracy was unquestionably a machine that prevented exchanges that could significantly benefit developing nations.

Additionally, there is the difficulty of concluding international agreements using various currencies, a problem that is particularly prevalent on the African continent. Cryptocurrencies make it easier to transfer and receive money internationally, which is a game-changing option for countries with underdeveloped banking infrastructure. Since crypto-based transactions reduce the risk associated with international trading, safety concerns are also improved in this situation.

The data speaks for itself and it is clear that Africans are beginning to adopt new technologies, albeit still early. Considerable progress is also being made in the area of regulation and a stable regulatory environment will drive further support for innovation and solidify budding trust in the industry, leading to long-term growth.

Youth interest and education

Young people account for about 60percent of the African population and by 2030, young Africans are expected to constitute 42percent of global youth, according to the World Economic Forum. African youth are eager to explore new opportunities to raise their level of living and generate income.

It is impossible to separate the growth of cryptocurrencies in Africa from this group's set of interests and needs considering that several Africans under the age of 25 are looking for the most cutting-edge and reputable industries to invest in. In addition, the rise of cryptocurrency usage across Africa is aided by regionalized crypto education programs such as the ones Binance offers have indeed helped fuel this interest and led to increased adoption.

The driving forces behind crypto adoption in Africa in 2022

The development and acceptance of digital currencies in Africa have been truly monumental.

On the 16th of January in 2007 came a life altering moment for the businessman whilst on a private family vacation to Whistler, Canada.

During the vacation, Ken survived a life threatening ski accident as a result of skiing off-piste without a helmet and hitting his head into a tree. He suffered from the possibility of permanent brain damage and memory loss. According to doctors, his chance of survival was only 2% and almost a 100% assurance ‘that’s IF’ he awoke from the coma, he would be a vegetable with no memory; the outcome looked bleak. After surgery and many prayers from friends and family, Ken miraculously woke up after five days in a coma; ironically on his daughter’s 11th birthday.

We had an opportunity to talk to Ken Sharpe and we asked him a few questions on how this event affected him on a personal and professional level, and also how it can inspire our generation.

Not many people face death are able to escape it but after the accident you faced death, possibility of permanent brain damage and memory loss. According to doctors, your chance of survival was only 2%. You once said ‘the pause button was pressed and played when I woke up, like nothing has happened’, tell us about that immediate moment when you woke up, what were the first things you thought about and felt?

The miracle was the Doctor's not only saying that my chance of survival was 2%, but actually that i had a 0% chance of waking up and being normal that I would be a vegetable, that basically I'd have no memory, no faculties, will be functioning again. And you know, the moment that I died in the ambulance is that moment of death that comes is like a switch, just a switch. That flick you switch from life to death in a moment. It's almost not even a second, it's just a single moment that happens, and in that dying moment before the switch went off.

I felt that if I could just have my eyesight.

To just keep the eyesight, because that was the last thing that I had. My eyesight was dimming, it was going dark. If I could just hold on to my eyesight, that would be the most valuable thing to me and I asked if there's a God there, let me just keep my eyesight.

That was the last memory I had and then when I woke up feeling really different about myself, the first thought that came in my mind was, where's my wife? Where's my daughter? The ones that I really love that are on me?

Because when you die, the only things you take with you are your relationships of those who matter to you and the experiences that you've had on Earth nothing else.

You miraculously woke up after five days in a coma on your daughter’s 11th birthday, did you know it was her birthday when you woke up?

You know, my daughter said to the psychologist who'd come to prepare them for death, saying that you know your father's unlikely to make it. You must accept the fact that he might die. She refused to believe them and said, my father's never missed a birthday of mine and he'll wake up.

And I remember her birthdays on the 21st of January and I woke up on the on the end of the 20th of January, so the day before and of course I didn't immediately think about her birthday. And then later when I heard the story, of course I was, I was quite amused by it. But you know the thing is her faith, her blind faith as a young 10, almost 11 year old girl was believing that her father was not going to die when everyone around her was saying differently.

Recent picture of Ken Sharpe with his family.

How a death escape shaped Ken Sharpe’s future

So tell us Ken, you once described this incident as life altering, how did this change you? What are the distinct changes about you before and after the accident?&nbsp;

You know, I can't say that this event has changed me completely, because I'm the same person that I was before. I have the same character, I have the same qualities and attributes. The value system maybe has been improved because of my faith in God and becoming a Christian, I think it held me more accountable and made me more responsible to be true to the things that I believe are right.

But I think at the end of the day, the things that change about you is the appreciation of life because we think we're strong, we think we're invincible especially I was in a type personality, headstrong and you realize in that moment of death, how vulnerable you are, how fragile your life is. It's just a moment and that's the end of the life.

Then the realization that life and death is just a moment difference is significant and that changes the way you look at life, because you no longer just look at it as if you will live forever, and you no longer look at it as you, as if you only have one life. You take it in an eternal perspective that the life we have here on Earth is just a short moment in the time of eternity.

Tell us a bit about your first day at the office after your recovery? Was it a continuation or a restart?

Like always, my first day at the office was the first day I woke up i was like saying to them, give me my phone, give me my laptop, I need to get busy. I need to get working, people are waiting for me; they were like, what are you talking about? You need like six weeks recovery and therapy; and I was like, no, I need to leave the hospital, i need to get working. So, you know, I was on the go immediately after waking up from the coma.

I'm always been a very busy person, kept myself occupied. My Ukrainian partner often laughs and says they should have inserted the telephone into my brain. That way I wouldn't have to hold it on my head all day.

You went on to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Africa, this takes a lot to reach that level, what are they key things that shaped you from the ski accident to become who you are today as a businessman?

You know, there are many Nuggets of success that i often give, but this one is a new one, and I'd say the link between the ski accident and what's helped me as a businessman is the ability to be able to surrender. Exodus 14:14 says be still and let me fight for you, that's God talking to Moses and I think there's times in your life where you try and force things to happen, but after the accident I found many times where I myself was just waiting for them to happen and not forcing it and if it's not meant to be delivered, you know if the doors open, then go through it but if the doors are not going to open, you don't have to break it down.

Be graceful, be gentle, and accept that if it's meant for you, it will happen, if it's not, leave it.

Based on your life experience, and the lessons that you learnt after the accident, can you share some words of wisdom that can inspire the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs.

Wow, wow, wow. Words of wisdom. You know, these are things that I don't take lightly and I have some to give and I'd like to name a few. Firstly, everything in life I believe is a choice. You know, when I was a young man, at 20 i coined the saying every feeling leads to a thought that leads to a choice and then a resultant word or action.

Life is a set of choices and as long as we're willing to accept the consequences of our choices, then we're making the right ones. So if you want to change the resultant action; then you got to look behind it, what was the thought or the feeling that led to that word that led to an action? And when you look deeply within yourself, it's your thoughts, your feelings that actually make you, It was Marcus Aurelius that said that.

Umm, you know, my life story is the same as everyone's and inside of us, we have to make choices every day and the question is, do we allow the choices to be good or bad? And there's an old story that I relate to about a Cherokee Indian that his grandson asked him about the two wolves that inside of us fighting and his grandfather, said, my son, you know there is a battle of two wolves inside all of us; One is evil, It is anger, jealousy, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, ego, depression, anxiety.

These are all the things that come from the evil one. The other one, the other wolf, is a good one. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, sincerity, truth, compassion, and faith.

And the grandson thought about this and then asked his grandfather which wolf wins Granddad? and the old Cherokee replied the one you feed son.

So make sure you feed good things and feed good choices and own your choices. Because at the end of the day, the Eternal Battle of good and evil is not won by mighty armies, but is won by one choice at a time.

Then the next piece of wisdom I'll give I coined it in Kuala Lumpur about 10/15 years ago, a respected man, he was Jewish, he's a sage, his name is Humi Schleifer. He lives in the US and he asked me why I was still living in Zimbabwe and I said, well, if not me, then who? And if not now, then when? And he replied, that seems like the Hillel, the Jewish philosopher who had a famous quote to say, if I'm not for myself, who's for me? And if I'm only for myself, what am I? If not now, then when? Well, you could say that the same thing in Zimbabwe and in Africa, we were all having to face daily challenges and we are still to enjoy the full blessing of having independence and freedom because economically we are tied in shackles and it’s really the difference that needs to be made in the economic realm of empowering people to self-actualise to realise their potential to earn more money to become middle and upper middle income society where we are no longer bound by the shackles of poverty.

The other word of wisdom, I would say it's the two 2A's that we have. One is called ATTITUDE, you see if you look at a mug or glass filled halfway, do you see it as half empty or half full? and what makes the difference on how you see it is your perception or rather your attitude towards that thing. It's exactly the same in life, you know. Do you see the your life as half full your glass and be grateful for what you have joyful, hopeful and positive and meet everyday with energy and zest for life and appreciate? Or do you always see your glasses half empty and complain it's not enough said you're full of dark negative about everything and who's in control of that, of seeing that loss? It's you at the end of the day it's only you, it's your agency and that's the next ‘A’, its agency, which is God's greatest gift to us.

You know, his perfect plan was to give us our agency to choose good or bad and it's up to us, how we see, the glass in life, in which direction we want to go and it can be compared to a downward spiral if you want to see it as a negative or an upward ladder leading to continual progress. It's our choice.

At the end of the day, we all start off at life at the bottom. We were born naked. We're born with nothing. We have nothing and we work our way up. And that's why I'm starting the Phoenix podcast, because it's a story about people that come from nothing, born from the ashes. You know, the Phoenix itself was born from the ashes out of fire, and many people's life stories are like that and it's all about having the right attitude. Being positive and focused is what is what leads to great things to happen.

Lastly, some business wisdom I would say, is really staying focused. You know, often referred to the lioness in Africa. When she hunts, she chooses her target. She doesn't allow eyes to slip off the target for one second. She's always focused, absolutely not looking at any temptation of distraction that may come to her closer. There may be other animals that run right in front of her, but she doesn't get side-tracked. She stays motivated with her eyes on that single target until either she takes it and kills it or loses it.

And that's the same in in business, in life, you know, if we stay focused, if we stay fixed on our goals, if we have written goals, they will more likely be achieved than if we don't have any goals or we don't stay focused on one goal. Being firm, you know, it's important.

Adding to that last wisdom, I would say in business you need to also develop the skill to which anyone can do of execution, because at the end of the day there are many good ideas but if you can't execute on your goals, so once you like the lion and you focused on that goal, it's about executing on that goal and you need the right skill set. I've learned recently in the last few years of a book called ‘Measure What Matters’, written by John Duer and developed that guy called Andy Groves at Intel and it's the system called objectives and key results which&nbsp;Google uses, they call it the Google Bible i recommended to everyone. It helps you to remain focused to set annual and quarterly goals. And I've adopted it myself to even come up with monthly, weekly and daily tasks that that lead to the quarterly and annual objective. And these are the things that help me and my team stay focused and executing excellence on our goals because our company culture is one of excellence and high performance.

Ken Sharpe is a serial entrepreneur, real estate guru and a visionary for business in Africa to bring economic emancipation to the poor with investment and job creation.

Organized by the Van Calebs Empire, the competition which is scheduled for March 3, 2023 will draw the crème-de-la-crème of powerlifters in the country to compete for honors and cash prizes.&nbsp;

The competitors will battle in the areas of squat, bench press, and deadlifting with seasonal umpires and officials overseeing the event.&nbsp;

In an interview with GhanaWeb, Van Calebs who is the Chief Executive Officer of Van Calebs noted that preparations are already in place to deliver a spectacular tournament.&nbsp;

Van Calebs expressed that 2023 will be a great year for powerlifting and bodybuilding and that the upcoming event is the first of a series of competitions aimed at growing the sport in the country.&nbsp;

He disclosed that there will be an entertainment component of the event with some Ghanaian artistes and movie stars making appearances at the event.&nbsp;

“In 2023 we want to send powerlifting and bodybuilding to the next level. I believe that the sport has a great to offer the country and that the responsibility lies on people like me to take the initiative and introduce programs that will develop.&nbsp;

“This is our first major event of the year and I promise you that it will be epic. At Van Calebs Empire, we believe in the marriage between sports and entertainment and that is what we will be delivering on the day. I will use this opportunity to appeal to corporate agencies to come on board and help grow the sport,” he said.&nbsp;

He announced further that there will be awesome cash and product prizes for the winners of the event.

Powerlifters to do battle at 2023 Powerlifting Competition

Fans of powerlifting in the country will enjoy their first major treat of the year as the best powerlifters in the country are expected to do battle at the 2023 edition of the Powerlifting Competition.&nbsp;

The storyline will pick up from where it left off where breaking the news of her pregnancy to Dr. Mohammed leads to Nurse Efe’s possible death. Also, Elorm and Akua’s ship takes a different turn when she moves on to a new guy. And more twists and turns are coming up to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Accra Medic is an evocative medical drama series that explores the health inequity and disparity in the Ghanaian Medical system produced in Ghana, shot on&nbsp;the&nbsp;prestigious premises of UGMC.

It follows the lives of the staff at an Accra hospital, as they navigate the challenges of their lives while saving patients - while in a hospital that’s suffering from mismanagement in a country with an ailing healthcare system.

The cast also includes Edward&nbsp;Agyekum&nbsp;Kufuor, Desiree&nbsp;Crentsil, Kweku&nbsp;Elliott,&nbsp;Aaron&nbsp;Adatsi,&nbsp;Osei&nbsp;Kwame&nbsp;Bentil,&nbsp;Ninette&nbsp;Orleans-Thompson, Elizabeth&nbsp;Allotey-Annan,&nbsp;Nubuke&nbsp;Gadzekpo-Amoah, Elaine&nbsp;Attoh,&nbsp;Collins&nbsp;Amegbor&nbsp;and Emmanuel&nbsp;Ato&nbsp;Ghartey.

The performances and enthusiastic approach of all the lead characters will make you feel the passion they have for the jobs they do and the challenges and struggles they have out of work.

Accra Medic&nbsp;is produced by Revele Productions, creators&nbsp;of hit shows such as&nbsp;Home Sweet Home&nbsp;and Run Baby Run&nbsp;and promises&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep viewers glued to their seats every Wednesday at 8:30 pm from the 18th&nbsp;of January 2023.

<a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Ffeed%2Fhashtag%2F%3Fkeywords%3Daccramedic%26highlightedUpdateUrns%3Durn%253Ali%253Aactivity%253A7018546066908196864&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEfua.Ankuma%40gh.multichoice.com%7C1688822264d949b022c808daf882081e%7C01ea1ee80c1541609922f383f39a19be%7C0%7C0%7C638095534618999956%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GozuCAQcKEmUgs0X3PSDzx4vwTLEM1roQsO%2FZhr1K34%3D&amp;reserved=0">#AccraMedic</a>&nbsp;season 2 premiered on Wednesday, 18th January 2023, almost exactly a year after it premiered, at 8:30pm on&nbsp;<a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Ffeed%2Fhashtag%2F%3Fkeywords%3Dakwaabamagic%26highlightedUpdateUrns%3Durn%253Ali%253Aactivity%253A7018546066908196864&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEfua.Ankuma%40gh.multichoice.com%7C1688822264d949b022c808daf882081e%7C01ea1ee80c1541609922f383f39a19be%7C0%7C0%7C638095534618999956%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jJMIzU5HV0K71KMPgiob%2BtimbpqyMZnLtDHsRmC0hKA%3D&amp;reserved=0">#AkwaabaMagic</a>&nbsp;DStv ch 150 and GOtv Supa ch 101.

The popular Ghanaian medics series "Accra Medic" has returned for its second season with more drama, romance and suspense.

Season 2 of Accra Medic returns on Akwaaba Magic

Over $2.2 million in BUSD was donated during 2022 with projects spanning France, Senegal, Nigeria, Australia, Germany, Cyprus, Ukraine, South Africa, and Brazil, offering students the opportunity to study Web3-related courses free of charge.

So far our donations have funded 259,180 hours of training and education in the classroom, in boot camps, and in community workshops. In total Binance Charity will be offering 67,155 scholarship places but many of these are yet to even open to applications.

Binance Charity is partnering with Binance Academy and several top academic and vocational institutions to deliver these projects including the University of Western Australia, the University of Nicosia, Frankfurt School of Finance &amp; Management - Blockchain Center, Simplon, Utiva and Women in Tech, Kyiv IT Cluster and Ministry of Digital Transformation in Ukraine.

“The response to our Web3 education projects has been unprecedented, showing the keen appetite of so many people to learn about blockchain, De-Fi, NFTs, coding, and much more. And, we’re seeing interest from a diverse range of people, including a great ratio of women, which is something I feel particularly passionate about. With so many more education initiatives and amazing pipeline partners, we’ve never been more excited to build a more inclusive Web3 world,” Said Helen Hai, Head of Binance Charity.

IT Generation kick-started the global Binance Charity Scholar Program in June, an initiative designed to help Eastern Ukrainians, who have lost their jobs due to the war, to re-train and re-enter the job market in Western Ukraine, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Other projects include vocational training for 10,000 people, including a specific course for 2000 women reducing the gender gap in the ecosystem and increasing the diversity of talent supply with the Frankfurt School of Blockchain, Germany. In France, we’ve partnered with Simplon to enable 10,000 people from disadvantaged communities in France - where unemployment is rapidly rising - to learn, study and enter the growing Blockchain industry.

“What we saw was interesting–I knew a little bit about the world of cryptocurrency before, but this time I got to learn about blockchain technology. It was clear– I had no idea you could do so much with it. I can’t wait to learn more,” comments Terry Genly, student Simplon.

In Brazil and South Africa, we’re working with Women in Tech to provide vocational training for 2,800 women in rural communities, creating future entrepreneurs and job creation. And, UTIVA in Nigeria educates 50,000 young people in Blockchain/Web3 and provides scholarships for 1,000 Africans in a 1-year intensive skill training program, supporting them to move into employment.

Courses are available both online and offline, varying in length from short intro classes to a 12-month commitment. Topics include blockchain application, coding, cryptocurrency, decentralization, NFT, Metaverse, Fan token, and Trading. This is just the beginning of Binance Charity’s education initiative, more projects are set to be announced early this year.

Binance Charity is a non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking Web3 as a powerful tool for social change. Its mission is to enable Web3 as a driver of social transformation by making its education and research accessible to all and advancing global solutions for local humanitarian impact. Binance Charity uses its 100% transparent donation platform to build a future where technology is used as a force for good. To date, Binance Charity has supported over 2 million end beneficiaries through various projects. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.binance.charity/">https://www.binance.charity/</a>.

Binance Charity, the philanthropic arm of Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure provider, reveals applications to study Web3 education have reached ~ 82,200 in just six months.

Applications to study Web3 surpass 80,000 worldwide, reveals Binance Charity

His signature policy since taking office, the digitalisation agenda, is one that has raised many eyebrows as it is out of the box. Recently, his gold-for-oil policy is another unconventional idea he pulled out of a box to deal with a persistent problem.

This unconventional nature appears to be paying dividends in more ways than one for Bawumia. At a point where the country is facing numerous challenges and politicians remain unpopular, Bawumia appears to buck this trend.

Over the weekend, the Vice President managed to unwittingly turn a funeral into a rally ground as he was mobbed unendingly by attendees at the funeral of the late mother of Dr Dominic Eduah.

The Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation held the final funeral rites for his late mother at Ajumako in the Central Region.

The Veep appeared at the funeral with some other NPP members, but the crowd visibly went wild when his presence was announced.

He was unendingly mobbed by excited funeral attendees as the program was temporarily turned into a rally ground.

Samira Bawumia, who was in the company of her husband, also received tons of cheers.

The cheering throng signalled approval of Dr Bawumia’s expected Presidential bid.

Dr Bawumia has become accustomed to cheering crowds of late.

A few weeks ago, Bawumia was similarly hailed by the cheering masses in Tamale after single-handedlyfunding the renovation of Tamale’s Central Mosque.

Bawumia handed over the completed project to the leadership of the mosque including the Regional Chief Imam, Shaykh Abdul Salam.

During the ceremony, the leadership of the mosque expressed gratitude to the Veep over his selfless act whilst the gathered masses hailed him as a hero.

Bawumia is expected to run for the NPP flagbearer position although he is yet to formally announce his intentions.

He is expected to face stiff competition from former Trade Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong and others.

However, whilst Bawumia has yet to formally announce his bid, many political observers place him as the&nbsp;firm frontrunner for the position&nbsp;and videos such as this prove how he evokes completely different reactions in the electorate than most of his other competitors.

Bawumia turns funeral to rally grounds as fans enthusiastically mob him

Vice President&nbsp;Dr Mahamudu Bawumia&nbsp;is a convention-defying politician in more ways than one.

A man who pays minute attention to detail, Bawumia leaves nothing out when making his lists, no matter how mundane.

The Vice President would mention every little thing he believes the NPP has been able to improve upon in Ghanaian society, and critics would jump on him for being too literal and listing things they consider unimportant.

One such&nbsp;achievement&nbsp;critics often downplay is the practical eradication of cholera. Multiple times on the stump, especially when speaking about water and sanitation, the Veep would point out that since taking office, the NPP has all but eliminated the hitherto deadly disease that is cholera.

Whilst many were tempted to laugh it off as Bawumia once more being too arcane and literal in his definition of achievement, a deadly cholera outbreak that has swept through continental neighbours Malawi highlights exactly how crucial keeping that disease in check is and why Bawumia is more than right to celebrate Ghana never having to deal with the menace again.

The East African country of Malawi is currently in the midst of its&nbsp;worst cholera outbreak&nbsp;in two decades, a disaster that has so far claimed 750 lives (and counting).

The outbreak started in March 2022 but became worse over the holiday period.

Earlier this month, authorities in the country suspended primary and secondary schools opening in two major cities – the capital, Lilongwe, and the commercial hub, Blantyre – for two more weeks after the Christmas holidays.

On Thursday, January 12th 2023, Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda ordered the closure of many businesses that lack safe water, toilets and hygienic refuse disposal facilities, and announced restrictions on the sale of pre-cooked food.

“We continue to record rising number of cases across the country, despite signs of reduced transmission and deaths in a few areas,”&nbsp;Chiponda said in a statement and urged adherence to sanitation and hygiene measures.

The Minister had earlier announced that 17 people had died from 589 new cases of the waterborne disease&nbsp;“in the past 24 hours.”&nbsp;Malawi has recorded 22,759 cases since the onset of the outbreak in March last year.

Currently, about 15 people are dying every day in Malawi from the outbreak whilst nearly 1,000 remain hospitalised.

At this moment, 14 African countries are battling a cholera outbreak. Africa CDC director Ahmed Ogwell Ouma said 393 deaths from slightly more than 4,000 new cases were reported during the past week on the continent.

Epidemiologist Adamson Muula told the Associated Press (AP) that the outbreak is affecting&nbsp;“the very poor”&nbsp;who lack access to safe water and sanitation.

“People who have functioning water closets, potable water from taps in homes and those who fortify themselves by not eating from questionable places are basically not at risk,”&nbsp;said Muula, a lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Blantyre. He blamed ruling elites for failing to invest in infrastructure.

“People who are not served by the municipal water supply system. People who defecate in bushes and other open spaces, drink from open water sources and those who live in communities where the different water companies can fail to provide tap water for days on end are the ones affected,”&nbsp;said Muula.&nbsp;“Such a disease becomes difficult to control as the bourgeois feel unconcerned.”

As the picture of what other African countries are going through becomes clear, it highlights the importance of Bawumia’s insistence on the importance of Ghana eradicating the deadly disease.

Annual outbreaks of cholera used to be the norm in Ghana until significant investments in water and sanitation by the ruling NPP brought it to a halt.

The Vice President&nbsp;pointed this out during a recent speech&nbsp;at the “All System Go Africa”&nbsp;Symposium on Wednesday, October 19th 2022.

Dr Bawumia was a guest of honour at the symposium, which brought together African Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) experts to brainstorm on the best way to make the WASH Sector on the Continent more responsive to the needs of the populace.

Bawumia revealed the numerous projects undertaken by the ruling NPP government to improve water and sanitation in the country since taking office.

He named projects including the Upper East Water Supply Project, the Yendi Water Supply project. the Tamale Water Supply Project, the Damongo Water Supply Project, the Wenchi Water Supply Project, the Sunyani Water Supply Project, Keta Water Supply Project, Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Project, and the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA)/ Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Water and Sanitation Project.

Bawumia said all these projects are expected to lead to an additional 4.3 million people having access to portable water in Ghana.

“The interventions in the water sub-sector are expected to result in additional 4.3 million beneficiaries having access to potable water. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census of Ghana on water and sanitation coordinated by the Ghana Statistical Service, the number of households that currently have access to toilet facilities has increased from 33 % to 59.3%. With respect to water, the percentage of households with access to basic drinking water has seen a significant improvement from 79 % in 2018 to 87.7 % in 2021.”&nbsp;Bawumia continued.

“These improvements have resulted in significant gains, with&nbsp;not a single case of cholera recorded over the past 5 years….Ghana’s achievement has been possible, for instance in the sanitation space, because of the Government’s decision to continue to encourage the Public-Private Partnership option in the execution of socio-economic infrastructure,”&nbsp;he added.

As amply demonstrated by the issues in Malawi and elsewhere on the continent, the lack of access to clean and portable drinking water has been a major factor in the ongoing cholera outbreak.

The work done by the NPP government in those sectors has met many of those challenges which used to be commonplace in Ghana, with the additional benefit of all but eradicating the canker of cholera.

The lesson here is that no achievement relating to health can easily be downplayed. As we are seeing in Malawi, there is a very dark alternative to Ghana’s current situation.

Pulse News

Articles written by the author

DJ Ohemaa Woyeje to attend this year’s Juneteenth event in USA

New Turkey earthquake leaves 3 dead, more trapped under rubble in Hatay

Vodafone Ghana's 101-year-old customer receives wonderful package to connect with great-grandchild

Akufo-Addo screams ‘eii!’ as dancing woman shakes her big buttocks vigorously [Video]

Young beneficiary regains the use of her fingers courtesy Healthline

The driving forces behind crypto adoption in Africa in 2022

How a death escape shaped Ken Sharpe’s future

Powerlifters to do battle at 2023 Powerlifting Competition

Season 2 of Accra Medic returns on Akwaaba Magic

Applications to study Web3 surpass 80,000 worldwide, reveals Binance Charity

Bawumia turns funeral to rally grounds as fans enthusiastically mob him

Malawi’s deadly outbreak vindicates Bawumia on importance of Ghana all but eradicating Cholera

Bawumia’s ‘transcendent’ personality puts him in control of presidential primary – Professor Adu Gyamfi

Twitter partners with Afrochella 2021 - New Hashmoji and #AfrochellaSpaces launched

Treepz Ghana to pilot app-based mass transit in Accra

GWCL embarks on nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise; goes after defaulters

GB Foods excites consumers with ‘Twa w’anum na k)’ Spain Promotion’

Akufo-Addo to go on 7-day leave from Saturday – Eugene Arhin

10 African currencies with strongest exchange rates against the dollar in 2021; Cedi is number 3