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.

 

www.obaasema.com

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.

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

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

Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, Going Under?

My latest submission to Global Voices Online. Savor on this in the interim!
                                                   ---

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 6^th.
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 know that I've been absent for some time but I'm coming back very soon!! There's been so much happening...great things! From the launch of the ALL NEW Obaasema.com to our latest print release to building new projects! I know this blog is supposed to be devoted to political, economic and social issues in Africa but I can't help sharing what I've been up to! And oh, did I forget to wish you all a Happy New Year?! I know, we're half-way through January!

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!

Introducing...Real African Women (R.A.W.)

Today, Dec. 21, 2009 (I started writing this before the clock turned 12 a.m.!), Obaasema Magazine in a partnership with Gye Nyame Empowerment Project (GNEP) launched Real African Women (R.A.W.) on Facebook! My partner, Akua Soadwa and I have been so psyched about this initiative that we felt like kids in the hours leading to the launch.

Here's a note I posted on Facebook saying why R.A.W. is important to me:

"R.A.W was birthed when Akua and I met this summer at a special gathering. After about 10 minutes into REAL conversations, we realized that we both possessed very similar traits and most surprisingly, carried around similar challenges! Why would I engage in a conversation about one of my biggest struggles - vulnerability - with someone I had just met? Why did we both nod at almost every personal challenge that surfaced during our conversation? We laughed at each revelation – the only thing that may have ruined any thoughts of us being twins was the fact that I was born in Ghana and she was born in the U.S. We knew after this exchange, though, that we had to act and we were both quick to admit that we couldn’t do it alone.

My desire to grow and to use my personal growth process to inspire others is one of the things that drives me – whether it is pouring my heart into empowering women through Obaasema Magazine or engaging in initiatives such as R.A.W, I seek to see a different woman in me.

You see, R.A.W was not only created for “them,” as in the “other African women,” but also for Akua and me. We are both women who deeply appreciate the beauty of personal growth and choose to seek the support of our fellow sisters. It should be obvious by now why we have decided to create an open forum discussion to invite other African women to join the movement of helping each other grow by sharing our experiences.

R.A.W intrigues me and is important to me because it hinges on personal growth; it’s about inspiration, it’s about empowerment. All I hope R.A.W can do for you are these 3 things: inspire you, empower you and challenge you to grow! Embrace the movement, baby!"

I'm extremely excited to have begun this beautiful journey with a woman who is as passionate about inspiring others and contributing positively to the world. The first R.A.W. forum session will be held in May 2010 and we're equally as excited about that! You'll be hearing more from me soon on this subject.

Support this initiative by becoming a Fan of our Facebook page! ... and...ahem...tell your friends, girlfriends, wives, sisters, aunties...ummm everyone about it! :-)