In March 2008 Kofi Annan succeeded in assisting with the resolution of the 2007 Kenyan political conflict (read report here). Two years later, Thabo Mbeki is embarking on the same road, this time far West, Ivory Coast, to calm the waters (read the Beep's report here).
Beats me that after the 1999 and 2001 coups and civil war, nothing has been learned by this West African nation, contributing to stereotypical views that Africa knows nothing other than conflict. It's not even worth analyzing anything anymore; not even worth writing about. And hearts continue to bleed, while once again, avaricious leaders devour the vulnerable.
Waiting to see what Mbeki's visit will produce. *Sigh*
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
You Can't Miss This!! OBAASEMA-OLIBERTE Giveaway Contest!
I know, I know...I've been away for too long but i come bearing gifts!!!....well, that is, if you're selected! Don't miss this amazing chance to win one of the coolest sneakers today! The fabulous footwear company, Oliberté, has partnered with Obaasema to offer you this great holiday contest. Send your entries for a chance to win a FREE, classic sneaker!! Enter Contest Page or simply click on the image below. Good luck! :-)
Monday, September 20, 2010
New York Fashion Week Recap
Obaasema Magazine's recap of New York Fashion Week with designs by Edwing D'Angelo, Zizi Cardow and more!Click HERE for more!
Continue to view more images from New York Fashion Week Continue to view more from New York Fashion Week
Continue to view more images from New York Fashion Week Continue to view more from New York Fashion Week
Come on, Guinea, Come on!
Mamadou Bah Baadikko, spokesman for the Alliance Cellou for President, a group for the leading presidential candidate, took the words out of my mouth when, according to the Associated Press, he said: "Is there such a thing as a place that is more secure than Camp Samory, which houses the chief of staff of the army? And you tell me that in this highly secure site, it is only the voting materials that caught fire? And you want me to believe that this is an accident? That's especially hard to do given that they have done everything in their power to once again push back the vote."
Hmmm.
Cellou Dalein Diallo, the leading presidential candidate supported by the quoted man above, has accused the government of attempting to derail the elections after several postponements since June. Who can blame his followers from viewing this as another attempt by the government to sabotage his bid for the presidency?
What other derailment attempts are they talking about? On thursday, Ceydou Bayo, head of communications of the National Independent Electoral Commission announced that voting set for Sunday (9/19/10) had to be postponed because - listen to this - voter ID cards ordered from a printer in South Africa had not yet arrived.
What?!?
And there's the other interesting announcement that followed: that the vote will be delayed for another two to three weeks.
Thanks Guinea for, once again, putting Africa on the "progressive" train. Watch how I placed progressive in parenthesis.
So we're led to believe that an entire functioning government couldn't ensure the timely delivery of some of the most important materials needed for an election?
Pure shame.
Just remember political leaders, we are an intelligent group of people. Make an effort to help the world see that!
Hmmm.
Cellou Dalein Diallo, the leading presidential candidate supported by the quoted man above, has accused the government of attempting to derail the elections after several postponements since June. Who can blame his followers from viewing this as another attempt by the government to sabotage his bid for the presidency?
What other derailment attempts are they talking about? On thursday, Ceydou Bayo, head of communications of the National Independent Electoral Commission announced that voting set for Sunday (9/19/10) had to be postponed because - listen to this - voter ID cards ordered from a printer in South Africa had not yet arrived.
What?!?
And there's the other interesting announcement that followed: that the vote will be delayed for another two to three weeks.
Thanks Guinea for, once again, putting Africa on the "progressive" train. Watch how I placed progressive in parenthesis.
So we're led to believe that an entire functioning government couldn't ensure the timely delivery of some of the most important materials needed for an election?
Pure shame.
Just remember political leaders, we are an intelligent group of people. Make an effort to help the world see that!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Obaasema Magazine to Cover This Week's New York Fashion Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, September 11, 2010 – In mid-July Obaasema brought you an exciting live coverage of the first-ever Africa Fashion Week, NY. Well, this week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week begins and we will be bringing you similar coverage of this thrilling event!
Designers participating in New York City’s biggest week-long fashion event include Donna Karen New York, BCBG Max Azria, Michael Kors, Vera Wang and many more! Spend the rest of your week with us at www.obaasema.com for a recap of the runway shows!
ABOUT OBAASEMA MAGAZINE: Obaasema magazine, a subsidiary of Obaasema, Inc., is an empowerment and lifestyle publication for the modern African woman. Established in 2006 in Philadelphia, PA, Obaasema is dedicated to celebrating, empowering and inspiring the African woman through constructive channels of health, financial literacy, fashion, entertainment, spirituality and more. The crux of the magazine lies in its mission to encourage every woman to reach deep inside of herself to connect with the ideal woman within her.
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PHILADELPHIA, September 11, 2010 – In mid-July Obaasema brought you an exciting live coverage of the first-ever Africa Fashion Week, NY. Well, this week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week begins and we will be bringing you similar coverage of this thrilling event!
Designers participating in New York City’s biggest week-long fashion event include Donna Karen New York, BCBG Max Azria, Michael Kors, Vera Wang and many more! Spend the rest of your week with us at www.obaasema.com for a recap of the runway shows!
ABOUT OBAASEMA MAGAZINE: Obaasema magazine, a subsidiary of Obaasema, Inc., is an empowerment and lifestyle publication for the modern African woman. Established in 2006 in Philadelphia, PA, Obaasema is dedicated to celebrating, empowering and inspiring the African woman through constructive channels of health, financial literacy, fashion, entertainment, spirituality and more. The crux of the magazine lies in its mission to encourage every woman to reach deep inside of herself to connect with the ideal woman within her.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fall 2010 Print Issue of Obaasema Magazine Now Available!
So our fall 2010 print issue is available and you don't want to miss all of the juicy contents in it!
There's the exclusive coverage of the first-ever Africa Fashion Week, NY hosted in July, and then our wellness and nutrition pieces for the health-conscious African woman. And how could we leave out decor for the creatively-inclined woman?!? And then there's culture, community and....oh go get your copy! :-)
Click HERE to find out how.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Will President John Kufuor Become Ghana’s Bill Clinton?
It has been almost a year and half since President John Kufuor respectfully handed over power to President Atta Mills in what was touted a peaceful and remarkable election in African politics. His post-presidential months were not the most pleasant – from accusations of ludicrous ex gratia demands to those of corruption, the former president was hammered, hard, from all corners. Will it be fair, though, to suggest that his activities may be shadowing that of one of the world’s most respected leaders, Bill Clinton?
On July 15, 2009, the former Ghanaian president announced this on his Facebook Page:
His Ever Excellency John Agyekum kufuor has been appointed an Ambassador Against Hunger for the World Food Programme. He will work for The Hunger Project and will be an Ambassador Against Hunger and Disaster.
This announcement received 96 thumbs up from his 11, 730 fans on Facebook.
Erasmus 'Pobosky' Oware commented:
Congratulations K4. The world will always recognize your good works and will reward you accordingly. You are the best that ever happened to us. Congrats once again Daddy.
Arthur Chester said:
U hav done a lot for Ghanaian children when u were president and some of us still believe dat u will put dat experience into play once again. We say congrats for the elevating to dat level. Stay there and bring good name to yourself and mother Ghana.
On October 9, 2009, it was announced on his Facebook page that he had finally assumed office as Chairman of the Governing Council of Interpeace, a non-governmental organization dedicated to international peace building in societies that have experienced division and conflict. Today, his face is one of the few that grace the organization's homepage.
It appears that President Kufuor is the only past president thus far to still connect with the people of Ghana through social media platforms. And perhaps the first to take his socio-political agenda, in this case poverty and hunger, onto an international platform.
Could it be suggested that John Kufuor’s post-presidential activities closely mirror that of President Bill Clinton’s? With his Clinton Global Initiative and other humanitarian deeds, the former U.S. president has earned much global respect. It was no surprise that he was one of the leaders called upon by President Barack Obama, in the wake of Haiti's disastrous earth quake, to head fundraising efforts toward the relief of the Caribbean nation.
President John Kufuor, though he was not appointed to lead any relief efforts did urge his fans on Facebook to pray for Haitians and “help for they are all our brothers and sisters.” Although his were just words, this modern age continues to reveal to us the power of spoken words by political figures to their followers.
This leader, often referred to by his admirers as JAK, seems determined about his other global interests. On June 20, 2010, Myjoyonline.com reported:
Former President John Kufuor says he is committed to advancing the interest of Ghana internationally despite vilification by the present government.
Mr. Kufuor left Accra Friday night for two international engagements at New York, the United States and Sunningale, in the United Kingdom.
At the invitation of the British Government through the Department of International Development (DFID), former President Kufuor will be Guest Speaker at a DFID major conference. The former President will speak on: "An African Statesman's view on the importance of understanding politics for delivering better outcomes.
On April 3, 2010, Sudan Watch posted a report entitled: "Ghana's Kufuor leads a 51-member AU team to monitor Sudan’s elections," a title very suggestive of the role and image the ex-president is designing for himself and his legacy.
It would be interesting to see where he will be come five or ten years, whether the mirror will provide identical images, of him and President Clinton, or otherwise.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Real African Women (R.A.W.) May 13th Forum Session Finally Here!!
It's finally here!
OBAASEMA MAGAZINE and the Gye Nyame EMPOWERMENT PROJECT have partnered to bring you Real African Women (R.A.W.), a series of discussions between African Women....and other African Women!
Save the date and come out and support the first open forum in New York City on *Thursday, May 13, 2010*.
We look forward to learning from you!
*SO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT*??
SELF-AWARENESS
*WHEN*: Thursday, May 13, 2010
*TIME*: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
*WHERE*: CHELSEA STUDIOS
151 West 26th Street (Room 603)
(between 6th and 7th Avenue)
New York, NY 10001
*COST*: $5.00 (tickets MUST be purchased in advance).
Click below to purchase now!
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=859GJ9PHAKMJA
*(Refreshments will be served*)
*Learn more on* :
Facebook (Keyword: Real African Women)
Twitter (Keyword: RealAfrikWomen)
GNEP: http://www.empowermegnep.org/
OBAASEMA: http://www.obaasema.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmMREw5k-Bw
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Real African Women (R.A.W.) May 13th Event Invitation
Hello, hello!! So this is what I've been up to lately...planning the launch of this super cool initiative with Gye Nyame Empowerment Project. We just posted our welcome/invitation video...check it out and make plans to attend...just follow our updates for more information!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmMREw5k-Bw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmMREw5k-Bw
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, Going Under?
My latest submission to Global Voices Online. Savor on this in the interim!
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Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, has recently taken great heat for remarks he made during a speech to supporters of the ruling party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 6th.
According to Ghana’s Ato-Kwamena Dadzie, Opoku-Manu “urged party supporters to resort to violence to resolve their differences.”
Dadzie reports in his article, “Opoku-Manu Must Go” with a direct quote from the Regional Minister:
"If you can slap him, do so."
Dadzie states:
"Comments like these are reckless and irresponsible. You don’t expect a man in Mr. Opoku-Manu’s position to utter them. But he did.
Two days later, he had no recollection of what he had said until a recording was played back to him. That was when he came to his senses, acknowledged his momentous folly and offered an apology, which only came after some big wigs within the government instructed to clear the mess he has created." Read more....
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Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, has recently taken great heat for remarks he made during a speech to supporters of the ruling party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 6th.
According to Ghana’s Ato-Kwamena Dadzie, Opoku-Manu “urged party supporters to resort to violence to resolve their differences.”
Dadzie reports in his article, “Opoku-Manu Must Go” with a direct quote from the Regional Minister:
"If you can slap him, do so."
Dadzie states:
"Comments like these are reckless and irresponsible. You don’t expect a man in Mr. Opoku-Manu’s position to utter them. But he did.
Two days later, he had no recollection of what he had said until a recording was played back to him. That was when he came to his senses, acknowledged his momentous folly and offered an apology, which only came after some big wigs within the government instructed to clear the mess he has created." Read more....
What's New?? Happy New Year!
I've been cooking up some stuff for you and I haven't forgotten about my article regarding the anti-corruption initiative by the UN and World Bank. I'll be posting that very soon.
So here's to my followers and readers...I haven't forgotten about you, I'm coming back very soon!
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