In a recent article (Africa - A continent on the Rise! - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/africa-continent-rise-dr-amos-mensah/), I quoted the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa who once said: ‘We stand at the dawn of an African century, a century where Africa will take its rightful place among the nations of the world’- how sweet these words of wisdom from a brave African Hero. Unfortunately, the firm grip on Africa and the determination of neocolonial powers as seen through both covert & overt recent events across the continent (notably the destruction of Libya) has prompted me to ask - Will Africa ever Take its Rightful Place among the Nations of the World? I have written a cursory about the internal weakness hindering the growth and the development process across the continent Africa (see: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/africa-missing-opportunity-reap-full-benefits-golden-age-mensah/ ) and so will not repeat it in this article. The focus of this article is to highlight the reality of external meddling and the continued colonization of the continent. I have no doubt these external meddling has played a huge role in the slowing down of Africa’s progress in development.

As a case study - let look at how the use of the CFA franc has been and still being used to control many African countries. Come to think of it - 14 African countries (i.e. Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon) still use the neocolonial currency – CFA (CFA stands for Coopération financière en Afrique centrale ("Financial Cooperation in Central Africa"). The CFA franc was introduced to the French colonies by France after the colonies gained their independence. Through the adoption and use of this currency, these former colonies still pay what is popularly believed to be a Colonial Tax (perpetual indebtedness to France). How? - Well, by the structure of the Terms & Conditions to use the CFA - these former colonies have to accept to deposit their currency reserves at the French National Bank in Paris. The terms and conditions also dictate that these colonies will have access to only 15% of their own currency deposited at the French National Bank in Paris. The remaining 85% of their own money has to be borrowed from the French Government at the going market rate if they want to access their own deposit. If this is not pure colonialism and the slowing down of progress - I don't know what to call it. Notice that - All finance ministers of these 14 countries must consult and seek directions from the French minister of finance anytime these countries have to meet with the IMF or WB for any financial negotiation. Unlike most real sovereign nations, these 14 countries can’t even print their own money when they need it because the CFA is tired to the EURO.

The fact is democracy in Africa is a facade - France (and all former colonial powers) never really completed the decolonization process; they have deliberately maintained systems and structures (i.e. Monitory/Economic, Political & Security Structures) that allows them to take full advantage of their former colonies. These colonial structures never allow their former colonies to freely decide on their developmental path. So these 14 CFA countries just like the rest of the countries on the continent are still under the firm grips of their colonial powers - mostly being controlled and manipulated through such proxy institutions as IMF & WB. The only time an African politician echoes the sentiments of his people is during elections, but notice how right afterwards, they turn their attention to fulfilling the austerity programs of these proxy institutions instead of the hopes and aspirations of the citizenry.

 For a brief period in the continent contemporary history, the only country which managed to resist the claws of these colonial powers for a while and somehow managed to champion its own development path was Libya. However, through a series of carefully orchestrated lies and deception of neocolonialists – (Championed by Nicolas Sarkozy of France, David Cameroun of UK, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama of USA) - all hiding behind the banner of Human Right and Democracy - We all know the end story of Libya today. Indeed, the destruction of Libya destabilized and shook the continent to the core. It led to the reintroduction of slave trade and a booming human organ trade in Libya, not forgetting the countless number of Africans perishing in the Mediterranean Sea daily.

So for Mandela’s dream (our dream) of Africa Taking its Rightful Place among the Nations of the World to become a reality, it is incumbent upon all Africans (citizens of the continent) to stand up and confront the ongoing covert & overt Destabilization/Destruction of the continent, while being vigilant of all the other subtle neocolonialist schemes hampering our developmental efforts, because I believe, the Place for African People is Africa - Not the Bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. 

As usual your comments, criticisms, questions and point(s) of correction etc. are welcome. Please kindly comment with positive suggestion(s) on how to develop our continent further, pushing the frontier beyond the current status-quo. Thanks.

Source: Dr. Amos Mensah Lecturer - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST)

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What one gets in far too many Afro shops in Hamburg isn’t just bad customer service; it’s customer disservice at its most shameful display.

President Magufuli says tests were found to be faulty after goat, sheep and pawpaw samples test positive for COVID-19.

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has dismissed imported coronavirus testing kits as faulty, saying they returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw. Magufuli made the remarks during an event in Chato in northwestern Tanzania on Sunday. He said there were "technical errors" with the tests.

The president, whose government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak and has previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits.

They had randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages.

These samples were then submitted to Tanzania's laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins.

Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when, in fact, they were not infected by the coronavirus.

"There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation," Magufuli said, adding the kits should be investigated. 

On Saturday, Magufuli announced that he had placed an order for a herbal treatment for the coronavirus touted by the president of Madagascar.

"I have already written to Madagascar's president and we will soon dispatch a plane to fetch the medicine so that Tanzania can also benefit from it," he said.

The herbal remedy, called "Covid Organics" and prepared by the Malagasy Institute for Applied Research, is made out of Artemisia, a plant cultivated on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar.

Despite a lack of scientific evidence, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar claimed that the remedy has already cured some Madagascans of COVID-19. Children returning to school have been required to take it.

Source: Aljazeera
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Those affected could stay until June 30, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the mobility of holders of the Schengen Visa, which allows tourists and business travelers to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. However, the numerous national
lockdowns and flight cancelations will inevitably cause many to remain in the Schengen area after their visas had expired.

To prevent that, the German Ministry of Interior has extended the residence permit of all Schengen visa holders who entered the country on March 17, 2020, or later. The temporary protection also implies that those affected may have a  possible means to work until June 30 ("Verordnung zur vorübergehenden Befreiung von Inhabern ablaufender Schengen-Visa vom Erfordernis eines Aufenthaltstitels auf Grund der COVID-19-Pandemie"). However, we do advise holders of the Schengen Visa to contact the Ministy of Interior for further information.

This prevents them from falling into illegal status and allows them to access vital services that are inaccessible to those without legal status.

The extension is from April 16 to June 30, 2020.

Source:https://www.hamburg.de/innenbehoerde/allgemein/13564362/visaverlaengerung-coronavirus/

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Does Africa have the need to continuously borrow Money for her today’s survival while creating debt-burden the next generations? The simplest answer that can be given is “it depends”, -but on what?

In conventional economic theories, we are told that when a government prints money, it exposes itself to inflation because there will be more money in the system to chase fewer goods, causing the money to lose its value.
However, if we can think beyond these theories, and accept the fact that these theories were developed by humans; individuals with brain capacities same as ours and we also have the capacity to device alternative models to solve our own problems, then, we can start to ask questions like: How can there be fewer goods in the system if the money printed is used as an incentive for innovation and production rather than serving as an object for demanding goods and services?; what is the central duty of a sovereign government when it prints paper and calls it money? What are the fundamental differences between monies printed into an economy and those borrowed into the same economy?

Questions of these kinds can help us probe deeper to understand the system that controls us better.

To a very large extent, when a government borrows money, it shows the lack of ability and understanding of that government to an effective management of the economy. Unfortunately, the idea of going to another sovereign country to borrow paper (fiat money) instead of using our sovereign status to print money and manage this printed money to support our developmental projects and programs has become the normal and easy way for almost all African countries since attaining independence status.
Why should someone print paper and hand it over to you as money and let you pay back not with the same paper (paper as used here means what one has the right to print, in this case, if America prints dollar for us to support our economy, we should be able to print our own currencies to pay back after our economy has become stronger and not to pay back with dollar which we do not have the right to print and as such, it becomes a value for us), instead, we are required to pay back these paper loans  in values, resources, and efforts? I know it is not as simple as I am putting it in this piece, but the truth it is that, it is also not as impossible as they make it looks to us.

Before going further, it is important to point out that in an extreme distressed circumstance, a country may borrow money in a 1 or 2 cases (this happened to continental Europe, wherein, after the Second World War when America has to print and loan out money to Europe under the Marshall Plan to help them recover from the total breakdown). However, it is so not normal for a sovereign nation to resort to borrowing of paper money as a way of life. In fact, no one has borrowed her way into freedom or development.

At this stage, I want to point out, first and foremost that every sovereign state, no matter how small it may be, has the right and authority to print and manage its own money.

Second, I want to state categorically that the act of printing money does NOT result in inflation (that concept is a hoax at least). Rather, it is the mode of management of the printed money that causes inflation or deflation.

For example, if the government of Ghana (inset here the name of any African country of your choice) realises that a region/state needs a road and it estimates the cost of constructing the road to be 50 Billion Ghana Cedis (inset here the currency of your selected African country). If the government goes on to print 50 Billion Ghana Cedis for the purpose of this project, and then calls on a Chinese or an European construction agency to construct this road on a condition that 20% of the capital cost is giving to the government or the political party in power as a kick-back, the following is what will happen:

1. The Chinese or the European company will demand that the payment is made in Chinese Yuan or European Euro. This means, the government of Ghana has to place the local currency it has printed on the international financial market to demand for Yuan or Euro. When this happens, there will be more Cedi (than it should be) on the market and if there are not equally more customers on the market demanding for Cedi, then this automatically reduce the value or relevance of Cedi, hence drastic or continuous exchange rate depreciation of the Cedi.

2. Once, the company pays the 20% of the capital cost to the government or party in power, it immunes itself of any system of control that is meant to regulate and manage the economy of the said African countries. In this case, the foreign construction company will construct a road with a quality far below what the money it has received should normally construct, it will under-pay local labour if it ever employs one, and it will invade taxes and all other statutory payments. The compositions of these negative actions will weaken the economic management regime of the said country.

Additionally, it is important to consider that the 20% (paid in kickback) which has gone in the hands of the ruling gangs as a mere paper because they have received that without working, or exchanging any value for it. The effect from this is no different from the damage the economy will suffer when a criminal sits in his or her room and print counterfeit and release them in the economy. Yet this money will be cheerful release in our economy through unproductive and abusive channels such as paying for sex of, and rent for ‘slay queens’ and ‘fuck boys’; sponsoring of political hooliganism to destroy lives and properties in our countries; and embarking on expensive holiday trips abroad and showing  offs at public gathering and events.

In the end of all the above scenarios, what will happen is that Ghana has used it sovereign status to print 50 billion in cash/paper but that 50 billion paper has not been properly managed to translate into /create actual wealth in equivalence of 50 billion. This, among many other negative economic consequences will result in inflation (more money in the system chasing fewer goods) because the focus of the money printed was to serve as object for demand rather than being an incentive to induce production and innovation. It will also result in exchange rate depreciation and damaging of the country’s economic sovereign worth because no one can trust a system managing by ineffective heads.

On the other hand, if the government prints 50 billion of the local currency for the purpose of constructing a road and this government ensures that the capacity of local construction companies are strengthened to execute the project, it will have no need to put such huge amount of the local currency on the global financial market for foreign exchange (because local companies are paid in local currency) to damage the exchange rate value of the local currency. Ethiopia has been able to developed strong local Construction, Banking, and Telecommunication system to champion the country’s development internally. Other African countries can learn from the Ethiopian system.

In the event that 50 Billion is printed to embark on road construction, all that the governments has to do to avoid inflation is to internally manage this printed money to ensure that:

1. It is fairly and widely distributed
2. It translates into multiples of actual values and wealth in the economy

Why is Fair and Widely Distribution of Printed Money Important?

First of all, every member of a society has some potential(s) or value in them which when is encouraged and tapped, will contribute to national development. However, this value cannot just be tapped unless regimes of rewards and recognition are instituted as a modality of exchange for these inherent values in the citizens.

After printing money, the government has a management duty to ensure that the money does not get concentrated in the hands of a few people; rather it must be wisely and widely distributed with an objective to use it as a bait to attract and uncover hidden potentials in citizens for national development.

How can this be done?

Whereas the main objectives of businesses owners will be to maximize profit, the government who has a duty to provide social good must at all times aim at maximizing quality and ensure that standards are strictly adhered to. When this is done, contractors are expected to spend the money received fairly on ‘all’ sectors of the economy to ensure widely and fairly distribution of the money.

For example, by insisting on quality and adherence to standards, the construction of a single road can lead to: increase demand for general logistics; available capital for trading and operations of the banking sector; higher employment and welfare for citizens; and capital returns for government to embark on other project generated through efficient and transparent tax system and many other benefits to the economy.

When the printed money is efficiently managed to inject the above benefits in the economy, the beneficiaries, will subsequently use and reuse the money/the benefits to create multiples of values (far higher than the original value of 50 billion) in the economy, thereby, promoting steady and long-term development of the country.

Will Printing of Money rather than Borrowing be an Easy thing to do by any African Country?

Certainly not, no single African country will find it easy to adopt this strategy; it even seems impossible because, lending to keeping Africa and her future in debt is a big business that helps those who want to keep Africans in an unending slavery use in controlling both the labour and human capital, and natural resources on the continent. By this any country/leader that makes such an attempt will face strong sabotage, sanction, and likely power instability from the controllers of the system.

Nonetheless, Africa will certainly win, when all or most African countries come together in unity and make this a continental policy. Without, doing this in unity, we must consider it that we are ready to bring our next generation into a new mode of slavery.

My name is Kwadwo Agyei Yeboah and I love Africa. You can always connect with me on Facebook to talk about Africa.

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Paris: Secret documents leaked on the fiasco in Burkina Faso expose troubling information on the undercover activities of the American Multi-Billionaire Bill Gates in the small African nation and across the region. Intelicor veterans in Paris express unease as the Burkinabe government led by Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba resigned  

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46930537

A leading Intelicor veteran thinks that the reason why President Roch Marc Christian Kabore demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister is related to the matter of the proposed release of genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes in Burkina Faso under the sponsorship of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The story began in January 2018, when Bill Gates pledged USD $45 million to the health initiative in Burkina Faso. Some felt that the funds were a decoy to cover bribery to top government officials for allowing the program to release the GMO mosquitoes in Burkina Faso. The GMO mosquitoes were programmed at Imperial College London under a grant from Bill Gates to sterilize natural mosquitoes and humans across the African continent over time

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/researchers-to-release-genetically-engineered-mosquitoes-in-africa-for-first-time/

The terrifying news of the secret project for Human Sterilization of Africans with GMO mosquitoes alarmed African leaders, who quickly came down hard on President Kabore forcing him to act. Similar teams are working in Mali and Uganda. The homing endonuclease gene (HEG) that sterilizes the female mosquitoes also could be passed through saliva to humans during bites and the human in turn could pass it on through sexual intercourse to another human, in a cascade that could have the entire Black Continent exterminated before anything could be done about it.  This is why 170 Global Groups called for Moratorium on the release of these new genetic extinction technology at the UN Convention

http://www.etcgroup.org/content/160-global-groups-call-moratorium-new-genetic-extinction-technology-un-convention

The GMO mosquitoes were moved into Burkina Faso from UK illegally under EU regulations

http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/GM_mosquitoes_in_Burkina_Faso_final.pdf

Ànd fresh evidence from trials in Cayman Islands, Panama and Brazil show that the Oxitec’s GM mosquitoes failed to reduce the female mosquitoes  population

https://gmwatch.org/en/news/latest-news/18275-new-evidence-of-failure-of-oxitec-s-gm-mosquito-trials

It goes to reinforce what critics have always said, that it is not about the mosquitoes but about making people sterile.

Investigations revealed that, of the $45 million dollars pledged by Bill Gates, $10 million dollars were earmarked for family planning

https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-pledges-45-million-for-health-initiatives-in-burkina-faso

In the secret deal, the Minister of Health of Burkina Faso Professor Nicolas Meda  appointed the wife of the Prime Minister Anne Thieba as ambassador for family planning

https://www.advancefamilyplanning.org/burkina-faso-appoints-her-excellency-anne-thieba-ambassador-family-planning

And so she has authority over the funds. However, some say that “it is to keep it within the family”, that raised the smoking gun prompting in-depth investigation by President Kabore and could have exposed the comprising evidence against Prime Minister Thieba. The Intelicor veteran said “in all cases, we see a pattern, that Bill Gates uses monetary bribes disguised as philanthropic donations to compromise African leaders, to take actions with devastating consequences for their nations”.  

The HIDDEN AGENDA is usually not fully understood by the African leaders the source continues. According to a business consultant who has been involved in tracking Bill Gates’ investments in biotechnology, the main focus for Bill Gates is to have the controlling shares in the biotechnology companies for food production sold in Africa as GMO crops. With partners such as Monsanto (now under the German company Bayer with a troubled Nazi past

https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/bayer-monsanto-merger-cant-erase-nazi-chemists-past/

Bill Gates will control the food security and polity of Africa and could at any moment exterminate the Black Africans in the Continent as his partners did in Vietnam and Auschwitz with agent Orange and Chlorine Gas. Bill Gates used pseudo-names Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabab (formaerly unknown local Islamic groups with tens of followers) in Kenya to bring Black Africa’s fastest growing populations to a standstill. Boko Haram, Al-Shabab and ISIS are all funded by Bill Gates and were trained by Blackwater

http://www.pravdareport.com/business/companies/14-10-2010/115363-machines_of_war_blackwater_monsanto_billgates-0/

The Western governments are culprits in the crime, until the coming of Donald Trump the U.S. was the main sponsor in partnership with Bill Gates! Bill Gates owns the majority shares in Monsanto/Bayer

http://naturalsociety.com/big-owner-monsanto-shares-bill-gates-depopulation-agenda-exposed/

For example, Bill Gates’ acquisition of Ginkgo a $1 billion USD biotech company in Boston MA that prints DNA for GMO crops https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/bill-gates-backed-start-up-ginkgo-bioworks-prints-synthetic-dna.html will give him control over the food security in Africa, should the continent go GMO. Africans would not out of free-will give up their natural crops for GMOs except if they are forced to do so. An agronomist Anaïs Étienne says Africans would be left without choice because all the fields are being cleared by Boko Harma fighters and their farmers driven out to displaced people camps and would be given GMO crops to plant during rehabilitation through NGOs and UN organisations supported by the Gates Foundations.

Ismail Kadir, a real estate agent in Maiduguri, Nigeria says “all my foreign clients operating NGOs are taking rents for 5 to 10 years and I ask them what would they be doing here in ten years, if they do not think that the insurgency would last that long”. Bill Gates is operating a special type of business philanthropy, whereby the aim is to create the problem of insurgency and offer the solution with GMO crops which will guarantee him as the main supplier of seeds and hence food, then grow it into a business worth $1 trillion USD by 2030

https://howwemadeitinafrica.com/seizing-africas-rapidly-growing-food-market-worth-1tn-2030/59729/

On the other hand, Claudia McAnthony a reproductive health expert on sabbatical in an elite laboratory in Paris says “making Africans sterile would mean their women would go for invitro-fertilization (IVF) to seek for help to conceive, but their ovarian eggs would be poached for embryonic stem cell research as young Africans are killed for experiments in European and American laboratories of companies seeking to clone human organs for sale, a business worth over $30 trillion USD by 2030”.

Nigeria and Kenya supply most of the ovarian eggs used in embryonic stem cell research in Europe and America, only to leave the donors die slowing in Africa from kidney failure, liver failure, cancers and infections. It is convenient for Bill Gates to hire for the crimes against humanity, people posing as Islamists paid in US dollars through proxies and blame it on Islamic fundamentalists. Bill Gates shows up frequently for photo-ops on Polio with African leaders and leaves donations to feed the corrupt practices in the continent. The Polio program has been a very big cover for Bill Gates as the good man from America, while he uses it to facilitate clandestine operations including administering sterilizing agents

https://www.lifesitenews.com/new/unicef-nigeria-polio-vaccine-contaminated-withsterilizing-agents-scientis

And using the vehicles marked as vaccination team to convey Boko Haram fighters beyond military checkpoints. The process began since 2009 in the food growing region of Northeast Nigeria.

The mercenaries hired first from Liberia

https://www.counterpunch.org/2009/04/06/blackwater-in-liberia/

Sierra-Leone, and later from Libya, Chad, Niger, by Blackwater/Academie/Xe owned by Bill Gates and Monsanto/Bayer

https://www.voltairenet.org/article179691.html

Fighters are paired $10,000 a month as Boko Haram fighters in Nigeria (https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-03-06-voa39-68678567/408730.html ) by Bill Gates. The Boko Haram attacks will intensify as the elections in Nigeria draws near as it is now clear Bill Gates is supporting the opposition leader Atiku Abubakar who he could convince to allow GMO crops in Nigeria. In a recent visit to the U.S facilitated by Bill Gates, at a time there is a government shutdown it is clear Atiku Abubakar was not welcome anywhere within the US government and US Congress, but for a publicity stunt, and an opportunity to seal up the deal with Bill Gates in person.  Atiku Abubakar has been barred from the U.S. pending US Congressional investigation on corrupt practices by him and his family in the United States from Nigeria

https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/download/report-psi-staff-report-keeping-foreign-corruption-out-of-the-united-states-four-case-histories

Many experts expect Bill Gates to sponsor dramatic Boko Haram attacks aimed at embarrassing the government of President Buhari of Nigeria and to help the opposition

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/274825/us-warns-of-plan-by-boko-haram-to-carry-out-terrorist-attack.html

Some think that Bill Gates using his Boko Haram mercenaries have planned attacks with aim of assassinations of top officials to demonstrate to Nigerians that their government is weak on security. The government of Burkina Faso has been in partnership with the US government under the Obama administration and Bill Gates, and provided its territory for U.S. military bases for training of the top mercenaries for Boko Haram to fight in Nigeria.

Some have suggested that, Bill Gates and George Soros financed the coup in Burkina Faso in 2015 to maintain these military bases for sponsorship of the insurgency in Nigeria and for destabilization of the entire West African region

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/09/21/did-africom-engineer-military-coup-in-burkina-faso.html

The Bill Gates sponsored Jihadists have now turned against the Burkinabe government as relations soured because of pressure from African leaders  (https://m.news24.com/Africa/News/13-dead-in-burkina-faso-after-suspected-jihadist-attack-20190102 ). There is growing dissatisfaction among African leaders with actions of Bill Gates on the African Continent. Even more distressful is the connivance with leaders of Western Countries like France, Germany and Britain, who have collaborated in the destabilization of Africa.

The growing popularity of China is a direct reflection of the feeling of unease in African capitals that the entire Western countries have gone rouge. According to Laurent Kosic, a political analyst in Paris, who has lived for over a decade in Africa, said “ this is typical of Africa, they would rather avoid you than pick a fight, but what they need now is a total ban of genetically modified organisms across the continent”. “The effort by Bill Gates to sterilize the entire black people of Africa with GMO foods and GMO mosquitoes all fits well with UNFPA targets to depopulate the continent and provide a means for perpetual colonialism” – he added.

The watch is on as President Kabore names Christophe Dabire as the new prime minister, but the last is yet to be heard from the events unravelling in Burkina Faso.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46930537

Source: Sussy Vozniak, reporter for Intelicor Press, Vienna

CEO of Livenat SAS, Dr. France Aimée Gaïl, in an interview on Radio TopAfric’s health show, encouraged the use of natural-based cosmetic products because it has proven to be a much healthier option.

Dr. France Aimée Gaïl graduated from the University of Orléans with a PH.D. in Organic Chemistry and has expertise in the Pharmaceutical field as well as product development. Her experience as a chemist has driven her to develop healthy products for all hair types.

The company’s brand, DEVANCE COSMETIQUES based in France, has since 2013 produced the best natural based cosmetic products, she says.

DEVANCE COSMETIQUES has products for all hair types, namely; shampoos, conditioners, hair oil, to mention a few.

 In response to a question from a listener, Dr. France Aimée reiterated that people experiencing alopecia, a common autoimmune disorder that often results in unpredictable hair loss, can use DEVANCE COSMESTIQUES natural based oil to restore hair mostly if the condition is not genetically transmitted.

WHAT ARE NATURAL BASED COSMETICS?

Natural based cosmetics are cosmetics made from raw materials sourced from nature, such as plants and minerals, and a renewable natural source.

People who live in Hamburg can access the hair products at the Modern Hair Creation Salon, Lübecker Straße 82, 22087 Hamburg.

Alternatively, one can visit www.devance-cosmetiques.com or place your order on Amazon.de.

A new discovery could explain why obese people are more likely to develop cancer, scientists say. A type of cell the body uses to destroy cancerous tissue gets clogged by fat and stops working, the team, from Trinity College Dublin, found.

Obesity is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK after smoking, Cancer Research UK says.  And more than one in 20 cancer cases - about 22,800 cases each year in the UK - are caused by excess body weight.  Experts already suspected fat sent signals to the body that could both damage cells, leading to cancer, and increase the number of them.

Now, the Trinity scientists have been able to show, in Nature Immunology journal, how the body's cancer-fighting cells get clogged by fat. And they hope to be able to find drug treatments that could restore these "natural killer" cells' fighting abilities.

'Lose some weight'

Prof Lydia Lynch said: "A compound that can block the fat uptake by natural killer cells might help.  "We tried it in the lab and found it allowed them to kill again.

"But arguably a better way would be to lose some weight - because that is healthier for you anyway." Dr Leo Carlin, from the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, said: "Although we know that obesity increases the risk of 13 different types of cancer, we still don't fully understand the mechanisms underlying the link.

"This study reveals how fat molecules prevent immune cells from properly positioning their tumour-killing machinery, and provides new avenues to investigate treatments. "A lot of research focuses on how tumours grow in order to find metabolic targets to stop them, so this is a reminder that we should consider the metabolism of immune cells too."

Four years ago a publication was made Ghanaians living in Hamburg, Germany demanding answers from authorities about the rampant death of their countrymen. Years have passed but the toll of such deaths has neither ceased nor decreased. It is clear that death is inevitable but the frequency and circumstance is what is worrying.

It is upon this back drop that a discussion on that topic was held on the health show hosted by Effya on TopAfric radio and was covered by the NDR Das. This could be a huge step to drawing the attention of the right authorities to come to the aid of the Ghanaian community.

Within the public sphere the theory such as doctors intentionally killing their victims is purported to be one of the causes of such deaths.

During the radio discussion the following factors were enumerated to be possibly contributing to such premature death; Irresponsible self medication, unhealthy and sedentary life styles, physical inactivity, under utilisation of the health care system, religious and cultural beliefs and practices, ignorance and lack of information, double and quadruple jobs to cater for families and acquisitions of properties back home, genetics, environment etc. 

Recommendations to counteracting the problem will be to negate the above enumerated possible causes.

 As public Health scientists we see the issue as public health emergency which threatens the human security within the Ghanaian community in Hamburg. An anecdotal evidence of the issue at stake could be true but not enough deal with the problem.

To a achieve the desired result, a holistic approach is needed hence an urgent need for scientific research that encompasses needs assessments , data collection, analysis  and findings to draw and implement a comprehensive public health intervention which is participatory and culturally tailored to mitigate the problem.

The negative impacts of the continuous premature death of Ghanaians cannot be overemphasised. It affects the families and society at large as well as the economy here in Germany and Ghana. For this reason we would like to call on stakeholders to support the worthy course by funding such project. We are looking up to the Ghana Embassy, German Health ministry and other such interested institutions to heed to this call so as to ensure that such premature deaths would be a thing of the past through the implementation of public health interventions.
Ghanaians dying premature in Hamburg!!!

Aileen Ashe (Public Health scientist and language and culture mediator)
Ursula D’Almeida (pharmacist and  Public Health Scientist)

Obesity is a growing problem within the African/Black community in Germany and Europe at Large.
With foods such as Fufu, Rice, Yam, Plantains as the staple unit, it makes it easy for Africans to gain weight so easily.

Akoto Degross was an obese individual who lived in Hamburg, Germany for a while where he was attending University and it was during this period that he decided to make a drastic change in his obese life by loosing half his body weight.

He had tried numerous times to loose weight but not until he lost his mother did he buckle up and strictly jump into loosing weight and living a healthier lifestyle.

In the video below, he discusses different reasons why Africans in the diaspora are over weight. He explained what they are doing wrong and how they can change and live better and healthier lives.

Prof. Dr. Marylyn Addo is the special guest of honor for the 11th African Youth Education Awards (AYEA) scheduled to take place on Saturday, the 4th of November 2023. The event will be held at the Chambers of Commerce in Hamburg.

Prof. Addo holds the position of Professor of Medicine at the University of Hamburg and serves as the Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).

She was recently honored with the "Bundesverdienstkreuz," the Cross of Merit on Ribbon, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field of medical and scientific research in infectious diseases, including HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19. Additionally, she has been acknowledged for her remarkable social commitment.

The AYE Awards is an initiative of TopAfric e.V. This prestigious event has been held annually since 2011, with the primary objective of recognizing and honoring African trainees and students for their exceptional academic achievements.

During the event, Professor Dr. Marylyn Addo will be available to answer questions from both students and the general public.

The updated nomination criteria for AYEA are as follows:
• Completion of vocational training.
• Attainment of a Bachelor's degree.
• Attainment of a Master's degree.
• Attainment of a doctoral degree.

For further information, please visit: https://www.ayeawards.de

Desmond John Beddy

What is Racism and Tribalism? Racism and tribalism are two harmful ideologies that fuel discrimination and division among people. These ideologies are based on the belief that one race or tribe is superior to others, leading to unfair treatment and prejudices against those who are considered different.

How Dangerous Are Racism and Tribalism? These ideologies are extremely dangerous as they sow the seeds of hatred and conflict. When people are judged solely based on their race or tribe, it can lead to violence, oppression, and a society divided by prejudice. History has shown us the devastating consequences of these ideologies, from slavery and colonization to genocides and hate crimes.

How to Fight Racism and Tribalism? Fighting racism and tribalism is a collective responsibility that requires both individual and societal efforts.

1. Education: Learn about different cultures, races, and tribes. Knowledge is a powerful tool in breaking down stereotypes and prejudices.
2. Open Dialogue: Engage in open and honest conversations about race and ethnicity. Encourage discussions that promote understanding and empathy.
3. Challenge Prejudices: Don't stay silent when you encounter racism or tribalism. Speak up against discriminatory actions and words, even if it's uncomfortable.
4. Promote Inclusivity: Encourage diversity in all aspects of life, including workplaces, schools, and communities. Embrace and celebrate differences.
5. Legislation: Advocate for strong anti-discrimination laws and policies that protect the rights of all individuals regardless of their race or tribe.

Punishment and Shame for Culprits To effectively combat racism and tribalism, it's essential to hold those who propagate these ideologies accountable for their actions. Culprits should face legal consequences for their discriminatory behavior. Additionally, society should collectively condemn and shame those who promote racism and tribalism, making it clear that such beliefs have no place in a just and inclusive world.

In conclusion, racism and tribalism are crimes against humanity that have caused immense suffering throughout history. To combat these dangerous ideologies, we must educate ourselves, engage in open dialogue, challenge prejudices, promote inclusivity, and advocate for strong anti-discrimination measures. By punishing culprits and collectively shaming those who promote racism and tribalism, we can work towards a more equitable and harmonious world where every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

Desmond John Beddy

The causes of coups in Africa are multi-faceted and can vary from country to country. However, some common underlying factors can be identified:

Political Instability: Many African countries experience chronic political instability, characterized by weak democratic institutions, an absence of checks and balances, and a history of authoritarian rule. This creates an environment where power struggles and coups become more likely.

Corruption and Mismanagement: Widespread corruption, economic mismanagement, and unequal distribution of resources contribute to public frustration and dissatisfaction. When governments fail to address these issues, it can lead to protests, social unrest, and potential coups.

Ethnic and Tribal Tensions: Africa is a diverse continent with various ethnic and tribal groups. When these divisions are exploited by political leaders or result in discriminatory policies, it can heighten tensions and create conditions for coups.

Socioeconomic Factors: High levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality can contribute to social unrest and dissatisfaction with the government. These grievances can be exploited by military personnel or other groups seeking to seize power.

Addressing coup d'états in Africa requires a combination of short-term and long-term measures:

Strengthen Democratic Institutions: Building strong democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary, free press, and accountable governance, is crucial. This can be achieved through constitutional reforms, electoral reforms, and capacity building for civil society organizations.

Promote Good Governance and Fight Corruption: Tackling corruption and ensuring accountability are vital in preventing coups. African governments should prioritize anti-corruption measures, enforce existing laws, and promote transparency in public institutions.

Economic Development: Creating inclusive economic growth and reducing income inequalities can address socioeconomic grievances. Governments should implement effective policies to reduce poverty, create jobs, and provide opportunities for all citizens.

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: Addressing ethnic and tribal tensions through dialogue, mediation, and inclusive governance can help mitigate the conditions that fuel coups. Regional organizations, such as the African Union, should play an active role in conflict prevention and resolution.

International Support: The international community can support African countries by providing financial assistance, technical expertise, and training to strengthen democratic institutions, promote good governance, and encourage economic development.

It is important to note that every country's situation is unique, and tailor-made solutions should be designed to address specific challenges.

Compiled by Desmond John Beddy

The negative impacts of illegal mining, known as Galamsey in Ghana are indeed concerning. One of the main consequences is the destruction of water bodies. Illegal mining often involves the use of chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which contaminate the water and make it unsafe for human consumption and agriculture. This not only affects the local communities who rely on these water sources but also has long-term ecological effects on the aquatic ecosystems.

Health-related sicknesses are also prevalent in areas where Galamsey is rampant. Miners and local residents are exposed to toxic substances, leading to various health problems such as respiratory diseases, skin ailments, and even neurological disorders. The lack of proper safety measures and protective equipment in illegal mining operations exacerbates these health risks.

Moreover, Galamsey contributes to environmental pollution on a large scale. The use of heavy machinery, chemicals, and indiscriminate deforestation leads to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and erosion. The affected land becomes infertile, making it harder for farmers to cultivate crops and sustain their livelihoods. Regrettably, these activities also contribute to climate change, as deforestation increases greenhouse gas emissions and disrupts local ecosystems.

The role of politicians and chiefs in permitting and facilitating illegal mining is a significant concern. Corruption and a lack of accountability often allow illegal miners to obtain permits and access to land meant for legal and regulated mining. This collusion undermines efforts to control and manage Galamsey, perpetuating its negative impacts on the environment and society.

It is also disheartening to note that some chiefs misuse the funds gained from these permits. Instead of investing in community development or environmental rehabilitation, the money is often spent on personal luxuries like expensive clothes and sandals for funerals and durbars. This further exacerbates the negative consequences of Galamsey, as the funds intended for positive change are misused.

To address these issues, several policies and actions can be undertaken. Strengthening governance and enforcing regulations on mining activities is crucial. Politicians involved in illegal mining should be held accountable and face severe punishments. Additionally, chiefs must be educated about the long-term consequences of Galamsey and the importance of sustainable development. Efforts should also be made to ensure transparency and community participation in decision-making processes regarding mining permits.

The establishment of monitoring systems and the enforcement of stricter penalties for illegal miners are essential. Collaborating with international partners and organizations can provide technical assistance, advanced technologies, and funds to aid in monitoring and controlling illegal mining activities. Lastly, investing in alternative livelihood opportunities and promoting sustainable mining practices will help alleviate the pressure on illegal mining and provide viable alternatives for individuals seeking better economic prospects.

Furthermore, it is important to involve traditional leaders, chiefs, and community leaders in the fight against illegal mining. They should be actively engaged in the decision-making process and encouraged to support sustainable mining practices. This can be done through training and capacity building programs that emphasize the importance of preserving the environment and promoting responsible mining.

Lastly, the government should focus on providing alternative livelihood opportunities for those involved in illegal mining. Many individuals engage in Galamsey due to lack of economic opportunities. By providing alternative sources of income, such as vocational training, access to credit, and support for small businesses, individuals can be incentivized to pursue legal and sustainable livelihoods.

In conclusion, addressing the negative impacts of Galamsey requires comprehensive actions ranging from regulatory enforcement to community involvement. By tackling corruption, implementing stringent regulations, raising awareness, and promoting sustainable mining practices, Ghana can protect its water bodies, environment, and public health from the destructive effects of illegal mining.

Desmond John Beddy

The impact of diaspora in developing vulnerable communities cannot be understated. These individuals have often migrated to other countries in search of better economic opportunities and a higher standard of living. While they may be physically distant from their home countries, they maintain strong ties and a sense of responsibility towards their communities of origin.

One of the most significant ways in which diaspora impacts vulnerable communities is through remittances. Remittances are the transfer of money by individuals working abroad to their families and communities back home. According to data from the World Bank, remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached a record high of $540 billion in 2020. This influx of funds has proven to be a lifeline for many vulnerable communities, providing them with financial stability and enabling them to

 meet their basic needs.

With the financial resources obtained from remittances, diaspora members often invest in community development projects. They understand the challenges faced by their communities and use their funds to address these issues. For example, they may support the construction of schools and educational infrastructure, ensuring that children have access to quality education. This not only improves the standard of living for individuals in the community but also contributes to long-term development by equipping future generations with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Similarly, diaspora members invest in healthcare facilities and initiatives. Many vulnerable communities lack access to adequate healthcare, leading to high mortality rates and a lower quality of life. Diaspora members actively contribute towards establishing healthcare centers, training medical personnel, and providing resources such as medicines and medical equipment. Through these investments, they ensure that their communities have access to vital healthcare services, ultimately improving the overall health and well-being of the population.

Furthermore, diasporas also play a pivotal role in promoting entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities in vulnerable communities. Many diaspora members have gained valuable skills and knowledge while living abroad, which they can share with their communities. They may initiate small businesses, provide training and mentorship, and even invest in local startups. By doing so, they stimulate economic growth, reduce unemployment rates, and empower individuals to have a sustainable source of income.

In addition to financial contributions, diaspora members often act as advocates for their communities. They raise awareness about the challenges and needs faced by vulnerable communities in their host countries and on global platforms. Through their voices, they draw attention to important issues such as inequality, poverty, and lack of access to basic services. This advocacy helps bring about policy changes and mobilizes further support from international organizations and governments.

In conclusion, the impact of diaspora in developing vulnerable communities is undeniable. Through remittances, investment in community development projects, support for healthcare facilities, entrepreneurship, and advocacy, diaspora members contribute to improving the standard of living and overall well-being of their communities of origin. Their efforts not only provide immediate relief but also lay the foundation for long-term sustainable development. It is crucial to recognize and support the invaluable contributions of diasporas to create a brighter future for vulnerable communities.

Neo-colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism is a seminal work by Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and a leading figure in the African independence movement. Published in 1965, the book offers a critical analysis of the re-emerging form of imperialism known as neo-colonialism, which perpetuates the dominance of former colonial powers over newly independent African nations through indirect means.

Nkrumah begins by tracing the historical development of imperialism, highlighting how colonial powers exploited and subjugated Africa during the era of direct rule. He then identifies the transition from formal colonialism to neo-colonialism, arguing that the colonizers, unable to maintain direct control over the colonies, devised new strategies to maintain their economic and political influence in Africa.

According to Nkrumah, neo-colonialism involves the establishment of puppet regimes in newly independent states that appear to exercise sovereignty, while in reality, they continue to adhere to the interests of former colonial powers. He argues that these puppet leaders are selected and supported by the colonial powers, enabling them to maintain control over key resources and perpetuate economic exploitation in Africa.

Nkrumah explores the various tactics employed by neo-colonial powers to continue their influence. One of the main strategies is economic manipulation, in which multinational corporations from the former colonial powers use their economic power to exploit African resources and maintain control over local industries. Additionally, he discusses the role of foreign aid, arguing that it often serves as a tool for perpetuating dependency, rather than facilitating meaningful development.

Furthermore, Nkrumah highlights the importance of ideological control in neocolonialism. He argues that former colonial powers maintain their influence by promoting ideologies and cultural norms that serve their interests and suppress indigenous African values. This is achieved through the dissemination of educational materials, media control, and the propagation of Western cultural values.

Nkrumah also emphasizes the need for African nations to unite in order to combat neo-colonialism effectively. He argues for the creation of a continental union, emphasizing the importance of pan-Africanism and the necessity of African nations working together to resist foreign dominance. Furthermore, he advocates for the establishment of self-reliant economies and the implementation of socialist policies to drive national development.

In summary, Kwame Nkrumah's book provides a comprehensive analysis of neo-colonialism, outlining the tactics and strategies employed by former colonial powers to maintain control and exploit Africa even after achieving formal independence. He calls for unity among African nations, resistance against foreign influence, and the pursuit of self-reliant development to break free from the constraints of neo-colonialism. Nkrumah's work remains a significant contribution to understanding the ongoing struggles faced by African nations in the post-colonial era.

Compiled by Desmond John Beddy