By: Mawuli Viwotor

Ghana’s first paracyclist and Africa’s three-time C2 Paracycling Champion, Alem Mumuni, has successfully ended his ‘Ride Out Polio’ campaign after riding from Accra through Koforidua to Kumasi and back to Accra.

Cranking the gears of change - Alem Mumuni

Next time you go for a ride, imagine you are cycling down the middle of the M25 with gaping potholes, far from roadworthy semi-trailers zipping by and a pedal has broken off so you’re forced to pedal with one leg. You can even try it if you want, but avoid the M25!
Alem Mumuni is a paralympian crippled by Polio when he was 2 years old. A passionate one-legged cyclist, he takes on such harrowing conditions around Accra whilst training hard to qualify for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Why does he constantly endanger his personal well-being for Paralympic glory? Well love and passion for cycling for a start. He has been riding with one leg since he learnt how to walk with a stick at 8 years old. But more importantly, it’s the personal ambition to raise awareness and change perceptions for disabled and under-privileged children in his beloved nation,

Ghana is a progressive African nation. In the last decade it has accelerated its economic growth and has achieved its Millenium Development Goal goal of halving poverty. All well and good BUT the credibility of this data is brought into question when you focus on indicators of progress like education and equality. Although schooling is subsidised, enrolment rates for primary and pre-primary education are only 88% and 62% respectively. Attendance is heavily influenced by family income. Many kids are put to work by their parents instead of attending school. To exacerbate the issue, quality of education is inhibited by the fact that only 62% of teachers actually have formal training.
Equality for disabled people is even more unbalanced. Much infrastructure does not cater for the disabled. Research shows 60% of respondents are of the opinion that people with disabilities (PWD) are not treated fairly in society and 43% think PWDs are discriminated against. In reality, one boy Alem has sponsored via the Alem Foundation, Martin, could not attend school anymore as his class was moved upstairs with no disabled access arranged!
So how do the needy get protected? At the moment it is not going to be the government as it faces major challenges with currency depreciation, a deepening energy crisis, macroeconomic imbalance, rising interest rates and inflation. It needs to be the people!
Alem is one of many in Ghana standing up and making a difference. Whilst training relentlessly for the London games, he and coach Alexandra Main (Head Coach for Ghana Paralympic team in 2012) founded the Alem Foundation  in order to support the local community that reside in a village called Old Akrade. Since 2012, Alem Foundation has awarded 33 education scholarships to children in the village and surrounding area, funded life-saving surgery for a beautiful little girl called Venyunye, sent two blind boys to a specialist blind school and recently delivered 70 water filters to secure a clean water resource for all families in the village. This is just the beginning of a big vision from a grassroots foundation!

I have the privilege in working with Alem to help him achieve his dream. I have seen what small amounts of money can do in Ghana.  £35 can give a family clean drinking water! Travelling to Ghana to meet the sponsored children and the community recently, I was moved by how ambitious these kids are. Even though they have nothing: no money, little food, no clean water (until now) and little clothing - just big hearts! Alem Foundation is empowered to give these kids the tools to succeed and is a direct-to-source charity so you know the money is going to where it needs to be!
Alem is wearing the yellow jersey with pride in this race for equality and opportunity. Cyclist or not, you can break free of the peloton too and make a difference. If you want to get involved check out the fundraising campaigns on crowdf unding platform - KriticalMass.com - www.kriticalmass.com/p/alemfoundation OR check out Alem’s journey to Rio - www.kriticalmass.com/p/alem2rio2016.

Credit :Alistair Lamond

Experienced Sales Manager in Fintech

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Gloria Sarfo glows in wine

 

By Philip Otuo

Doesn’t she look so good? Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo just shared some good looking photos on social media. Her hair, wine coloured outfit, and pink hills combination is soo on fleek.

Underage African footballers 'trafficked' to Laos

 By Philip Otuo,

African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt.

Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found.
Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18.
The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing.
"Fifa is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors," a Fifa spokesperson told the BBC.
It has been claimed that Champasak United, a newly-formed club which plays in Laos's top league, intends to profit by selling the players in future.

One young African player at the academy described his time at the club as 'like slave work'

 

"It's hard to live in a place with no windows", one young player told the BBC

In a clear breach of the world football governing body's rules, the club has fielded overseas players as young as 14 and 15 in league games this season.
One 14-year-old player, Liberia's Kesselly Kamara, who scored in a full league game, says he was forced into signing a six-year deal before playing for the senior team.
His contract promised him a salary and accommodation, but Kamara says he was never paid and had to sleep on the floor of the club's stadium - as did the rest of the travelling party.

Kamara's contract promised him a salary of $200 a month

"It was very bad because you can't have 30 people sleeping in one room," Kamara, who is now playing for a club back home in Liberia's top league, told the BBC.
All those who travelled to join the "IDSEA Champasak Asia African Football Academy" did so after being invited by former Liberia international Alex Karmo, who captained the club at the time.
Young players gratefully accepted the invitation, since Liberia lacks a football academy of its own, despite being the only African country to have produced a Fifa World Footballer of the Year - George Weah in 1995.

Alex Karmo calls himself "a manager for players from Africa" at the Laos side

"It's a fictitious academy, which was never legally established," said Liberian journalist and sports promoter Wleh Bedell, who led the group to Laos in February but who has since returned.
"It's an 'academy' that has no coach nor doctor. Karmo was the coach, the business manager, everything. It was completely absurd."

Players say they are rarely allowed to leave the stadium compound, where they live and train

Following initial pressure from both Fifa and global players' body FIFPro, Champasak released 17 teenagers from the original party, with Kamara among them, three months ago.
But six minors chose to remain.
FIFPro says that all have since signed contracts presented to them by Karmo, who describes himself as a "manager for players from Africa in Champasak", and club president Phonesavanh Khieulavong.

Kesselly Kamara signed the contract despite being just 14 years old

These appear to allow Champasak to pay the boys nothing at all, while also demanding that unrealistic conditions be met should the teenagers want to leave.
Karmo says the players are fed three times a day and paid every month.
"We don't give the [minors] professional contracts, just a contract that gives them bonuses," Khieulavong told the BBC.
Neither Khieulavong nor Karmo denied the presence of minors at the academies, although Karmo claimed there was just one - a 16-year-old from Guinea.
The BBC understands there are five more minors from Liberia at the club.
Along with eight senior players (six Liberians, a Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean), all are living in conditions described as "deplorable and disturbing" by Bedell.
For five months, they have been sleeping on meagre mattresses in a vast room that lacks any glass on its windows and a lock on the door.
"It's hard to live in a place with no windows. It made sleeping very difficult, because you are thinking about your life," said Kamara.
"Players are in this wild place that is reminiscent of the civil crisis in Liberia when people left their homes and were displaced, [taking shelter] in a makeshift building or auditorium," Bedell, who experienced his country's civil wars of 1989-96 and 1999-2003, told the BBC.
The minors' freedom of movement is restricted by the fact that they became illegal immigrants in March after their visas ran out.

Many of the young academy players have contracts, but no work visas

They are hoping to receive work permits but these are unlikely to arrive since all are underage.
Karmo, who insists that he did pay Kamara, admits nine of the 14 Africans do not have work permits but asserts that they have the right documentation to stay in Laos.
"Nobody is illegal. Everybody is legal," he told the BBC.
With the club having held their passports since their arrival, the boys rarely leave the stadium where they both live and train twice a day.
Despite the situation, not everyone wants the minors to leave Laos.
"I don't want him to come back to Liberia until he succeeds in his dream," said Bella Tapeh, the mother of one 17-year-old still in Pakse.
Some of those who have returned to Liberia have told the BBC they were poorly fed, rarely paid and received no medical assistance from the club despite contracting malaria and typhoid because of the conditions.
One also described their existence at Champasak United as akin to "slave work".
"This is a very serious situation," Stephane Burchkalter, a FIFPro official, told the BBC.
"It is shocking to FIFPro that a club from Laos, which - with all due respect - is a very small football country, can lure minor players from Liberia without Fifa noticing."
In a statement, FIFPro said it suspected this case was "probably the tip of the iceberg".
One NGO, Culture Foot Solidaire, estimates that 15,000 teenage footballers are moved out of West Africa every year - many of them illegally.
FIFPro has also called on Fifa to take action against the Laos Football Federation, which has so far failed to discipline Champasak for its alleged breach of the rules.
Evidence of clubs breaking regulations on signing international players under 18 is rare but European champions Barcelona are currently serving a transfer ban for this very offence.
Meanwhile, the parents of 12 boys found themselves in financial difficulty after taking loans to pay $550 towards the cost of the trip to Laos, with one case currently in the hands of Liberian police.
There are three exceptions to Fifa's rules on the movement of players under the age of 18, but none of them apply in this case.

Credit:

By Piers Edwards BBC Africa sport

Stowaway falls to death from British Airways plane onto London shop roof

By Philip Otuo,

A stowaway has fallen to his death after clinging to the bottom of a British Airways jet as it flew over London.

The man is believed to have plunged from the aircraft and onto the offices of a clothes business in Richmond, south-west London.

Another man is in hospital after surviving the fall.

The pair are said to have held onto the plane as it flew more than 8,000 miles from Johannesburg in South Africa to Heathrow.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told ITV News that it was investigating the incident.

On Thursday June 18 at about 8.30am, police received reports of suspect stowaway on a flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow.

A man between aged between 25- 30, is currently in a west London hospital and enquires are ongoing. The man is in a serious but stable condition.

At 9.35am, officers received a call to reports of of a body discovered on top of a building in Kew, West London.

The death is described as unexplained.

A post mortem will be held in due course, and investigations are ongoing as to whether the deceased was a possible stowaway.

– SCOTLAND YARD SPOKESMAN

A British Airways spokesperson said: "We are working with the Metropolitan Police and the authorities in Johannesburg to establish the facts surrounding this very rare case."

Last updated Fri 19 Jun 2015

Some Where in Ghana: Man arrested for wielding camera in ladies washroom

By Philip Otuo,

A 42 year old man is in the grips of the Tema Harbour police for attempting to film the nakedness of females of a company in the industrial city.

Victor Owusu Gyasi, crime officer of Marring Railways Police station told Adom News that the man was arrested by the police after a female that works at Army Shipping reported of suspicious movements.

Ghana Tennis Wheelchair Organize National Wheelchair championship

By Philip Otuo,

Over 70 children aged between 12 to 18 years with physical disability and other types of disability are expected to take part in exercise under the theme, “Breaking Barriers through Wheelchair Tennis.” at the Kumasi Sports stadium Tennis Court on Saturday, 30th May.

It will be the second edition of the National Wheelchair championship after the first edition was held in 2013 participants will be drawn from disability Training Centre’s across the nation.

The Ghana Wheelchair Tennis Association, Ghana Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Federation, with support from the Johan Cruyff Foundation in the Netherlands and the Ashanti Regional Tennis Association, aims to use the program to change perceptions about people with disability.

According to the National Coordinator of Ghana Wheelchair Tennis, Henry Larbi, one of the main aims of the program is to use sports as a means of changing mindsets and perceptions about people with disability in Ghana and also to select 2 prospective junior players to represent Ghana at the Johan Cruyff Africa Regional Juniors Camp in South Africa from 28th September to 5th October 2015.

Theodosia Okoh goes home today

Philip Otuo,

The funeral of Mrs Theodosia Salome Abena Kumea Okoh , a former hockey star, who died on April 19 at the age of 92, begins this morning at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.

It will be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, members of the clergy, members of parliament and high-ranking politicians, all of whom are to deliver their tributes to Mrs Okoh after the service.

Swiss police arrests Fifa officials in Zurich

By Philip Otuo,

Six football officials have been arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, to face corruption charges in the US, Swiss justice officials say.

The suspects - said to include members of football governing body Fifa - were arrested at a hotel early on Wednesday.

The charges include money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud.

Fifa members are gathering in Zurich for their annual meeting on Friday, where incumbent President Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term.

However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of them.

The New York Times says plain-clothed police officers took the room keys from the reception of Baur au Lac hotel, where the officials were staying, and headed to their rooms. It said the operation was carried out peacefully.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of paying millions of dollars worth of bribes over the years.

It says the individuals are being investigated "on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day".

Ghana gets representation at TEDWomen Conference 2015, as Yawa Hansen-Quao lifts the nation’s flag high

By Philip Otuo,

 Yawa Hansen-Quao, the woman who made history in Ghana by becoming the first ever female student government (Ashesi SRC) president against all odds, serving on the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Foundation Board and on the Board of Directors of Ashesi University has lifted the flag of Ghana high once more, by earning a place on one of the world’s most exclusive platforms this year.

Governor Adams Oshiomole's Wedding Photos

By Philip Otuo,

Edo state governor and former Nigerian labour congress (NLC) leader Adams Oshiomole today married his Ethopinan model 30 something year old Lara Fortes. The event was attended by President elect Muhhamadu Buhari, VP elect Yemi Osibanjo and other top APC members. See the exclusive photos below courtesy of Bayo Omoriowo's Instagram, Bayo Omoriowo is the official photographer of General Muhhamadu Buhari.

SAD NEWS ;Woman dies during sex romp with boyfriend after parked car rolls into river

By Philip Otuo,

Tragic: The man was able to kick in glass and escape, but the woman drowned

A woman drowned while having sex with her boyfriend in a car which rolled into a river.

The couple had been having a picnic and drinking by the River Kuban in Russia.

They then began making love in a Vaz-2115, the Russian car brand now known as Lada, and didn't notice the handbrake wasn't in place.

The vehicle then rolled back and into the river, LifeNews.ru reports.

The man was able to escape by kicking in a window, but the 35-year-old woman sadly drowned.

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Scene: The Kuban River in Russia where the accident happened

A police officer Natalia Smyatskoy told the news channel: "It's possible the man could not help the woman in time because of alcohol.

"A large number of bottles were found at the scene."

The car has now been pulled from the water as investigations continue.

Ghana’s female blind team stranded in Accra

By Philip Otuo,

The nation’s female Goal Ball Team, the blind football group, are stranded in Accra over government’s failure to secure their tickets for their IBSA World Games in South Korea, with a day to go for the start of the event.

The team, scheduled to leave Ghana on Wednesday, are hoping there would be a miracle to save them from missing out on this year’s event that is beginning from Friday, 8th to Monday, 18th May in Seoul, the South Korean capital.

Faure Gnassingbe declared winner of Togo elections

By Philip Otuo,

Faure Gnassingbe has won the Togo elections held on Saturday, according to the electoral commission.

Gnassingbe garnered about 59% of the vote to be re-elected for a third term. He has been in power since 2005 after taking over from his father Gnassingbe Eyadema.

His late father took power in a coup in 1967.

Blind footballer scores incredible solo goal

BY Philip Otuo,

This is extraordinary.

During a game of blind football between France and Germany last week, Yvan Wouandji scored an astonishing solo goal. The Frenchman has represented his country in the Paralympics but it is hard to imagine he has ever scored a better goal.

Two kids burnt to death in tanker explosion

Philip Otuo,

Two children have been burnt to death in a tanker explosion at Kokode a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region.

The explosion occurred Sunday evening while the tanker was discharging fuel at a filling station.

Ghana closes border to Togo ahead of elections Apr 24, 2015 at 8:10am

By Philip Otuo,

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The Ghana border with Togo will be closed by midnight ahead of Saturday’s Presidential elections in the West African country.

Ghanaian officials have already set up a joint border patrol team to secure the border and nearby communities.

Sad News : Toafom thrown into mourning after 3-year-old girl is killed by speeding car

By Philip Otuo,

The death of a three-year-old girl, after she was knocked down by a vehicle at Toafom in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti Region, has sparked anger among residents.

Little Tiffany Antwiwaa died at the Pramso Saint Michael Catholic Hospital after she was hit by a bus in a convoy of district co-ordinating directors attending a colleague's funeral at Worakese.

The bus, which belongs to the Jachie Pramso Senior High School is said to have hit little Tifafany as she tried to cross the road.

Bees Kill Boy, 7

By Philip Otuo,

A quest to taste rat meat has resulted in the shocking death of a seven-year-old boy. Ali was reportedly stung to death by a horde of angry bees on Sunday morning whilst hunting for rats in a bush at Nebehi Apuoyem.

Evans 9, and Kwabena, 8, who accompanied Ali for the hunting expedition sustained injuries after the wild bees' attack.

The deceased, who was a Muslim, was buried Sunday afternoon by his family in accordance with his religion.

Evans and Kwabena, whose conditions were critical, were said to be responding to treatment at Afari Community Hospital.

Nana Kwasi Kyere, an eye witness, said the three boys left their homes to hunt for rats that fateful morning.

International Blind Sport Federation announce venue change for women's goalball at World Games

By Philip Otuo,
A switch of venues for the women’s goalball at the World Games has been announced by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), with events to be switched to the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium at the Olympic Park in Seoul.

The tournament was due to be held in the Jamsil Sports Complex but has been moved following a request from the Organising Committee; however no official reason has been given for the change.

The IBSA have confirmed that there will be no alterations to the women’s goalball schedule, which was released at the start of this month.

AIBA and Turkey sign hosting agreement for European Rio 2016 qualification event in Istanbul

By Philip Otuo,

C K Wu, President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), has signed a host nation agreement with Turkey for the European Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying event, set to take place in Istanbul next year.

AIPS Web Site - Korea Agency and Special Olympics sign Agreement

AIPS Web Site - Korea Agency and Special Olympics sign Agreement

Usain Bolt runs as guide for blind Paralympic champion Guilhermina in Rio

By Philip Otuo,
Six-time Olympic champion from Jamaica trains with Brazil’s three-time Paralympic champion ahead of 'Mano a Mano' event.

Brazilian Paralympian Terezinha Guilhermina runs with Usain Bolt of Jamaica as her guide during an exhibition in preparation for the Mano a Mano Athletics Challenge at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. © • Getty Images

Brazil’s three-time Paralympic sprinting champion Terezinha Guilhermina unveiled her new guide on Saturday (18 April) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, none other than Jamaica’s six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt!

Xenophobic attacks: Ghanaians to be evacuated if necessary - Hannah Tetteh

By Philip Otuo,

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hannah Tetteh says Ghanaians who are at risk of xenophobic attacks in South Africa would be evacuated if necessary.

According to her, a decision would be taken after today's meeting at the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs with African ambassadors to discuss the attacks which started in the coastal city of Durban.

Xenophobic attacks: Sue South Africa gov’t over deaths - Faibille

By Philip Otuo,

SA president Zuma has condemned the attacks

African countries whose nationals have lost their lives as a result of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa can sue the Rainbow Nation, a Ghanaian lawyer Egbert Faibille Jnr has argued.

Sulley Muntari's wife Menaye Donkor is pregnant

By Philip Otuo,

Sulley Muntari and Menaye Donkor are expecting their first child.

The couple have been married since December 2010.

ECOWAS condemns xenophobic attacks in South Africa

By Philip Otuo,

The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has condemned the barbaric, criminal and xenophobic murder of innocent African foreigners in South Africa, urging the South African Government to act quickly to stop the increasing wave of attacks across its country.

Akufo-Addo condemns “sickening” xenophobic attacks in SA

By Philip Otuo,

Nana Akufo-Addo

The ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa where a Ghanaian is reported to have lost his life is “sickening and despicable”, according to the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

12 Ghanaian, Nigerian migrants drowned in the Mediterranean Sea

By Philip Otuo,

About 12 Ghanaian and Nigerian migrants have been confirmed dead after they were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea.

The twelve were drowned after a fight broke out between Christians and Muslims who were migrating from Libya to Italy.