Conform to British values or stay away, Blair tells

Transcription

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Issue 1
January 2007
Conform to British values or
stay away, Blair tells immigrants
“No distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to be part of an integrated United Kingdom”
UK's Prime Minister Tony
Blair has told people entering the UK to be prepared to
be tolerant or not become
part of society. In a speech
at Downing Street in
December, the prime minister said that tolerance was
what makes Britain. "When
it comes to our essential
values - belief in democracy,
the rule of law, tolerance,
equal treatment for all,
respect for this country and
its shared heritage - then
that is where we come together, it is what we hold in
common; it is what gives us
the right to call ourselves
British. At that point no
distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to
be part of an integrated
United Kingdom."
Mr Blair also said: "The
right to be different, the duty
to integrate: that is what
being British means. And
neither racists nor extremists
should be allowed to destroy
it.”
IMMIGRATION
NEWS
Guide for
pregnant
women
EU-Africa to
jointly fight
illegal
immigration
P. 3
P. 2
New era begins in DR Congo
Kabila: "I see a Congo where the people are always able to work"
A new era has begun in
the Democratic Republic of
Congo that must bring wellbeing and development to
Congo's people, President
Joseph Kabila said during
his inauguration. Mr.
Kabila said "I see a Congo
where the people are always
able to work." He said he
would abide by "the trilogy
of good governance, democracy and respect for
human rights.” Mr. Kabila
Kenyan Govt
seeks aid of
Kenyans
living abroad
P. 17
is DR Congo's first freely
elected leader in 40 years
having won a tense run-off
presidential poll last
October.
“A new page is opening
up before us. I can see the
Congo of tomorrow carrying the hopes of a renascent Africa at the dawn of
this century with its great
challenges," he said.
AP
Vice President of
European Union Franco
Frattini has revealed that
the EU plans to attract
skilled labour from Africa
while boosting efforts to
fight illegal immigration
and trafficking. He said
the EU plans to provide
African countries with
information on job
opportunities in Europe
through the establishment
of a European Job
Mobility Portal.
P. 2
UK introduces
new rules for
people applying for
settlement
P. 3
UK's Prime Minister Tony Blair
Frattini: EU plans to attract
P. 6
P. 8
Benu Mabhena,
a Zimbabwean
actress thrives
in Hollywood
P. 21
The Big
Beat of West
Africa
Joyous
Sounds from
a Golden
Era
P. 20
2
January 2007
IMMIGRATION NEWS
Frattini: EU plans to attract
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PRINTING PRESS
POLIGRAFICA GAETA di
Agostino Gaeta, Via Zinnie 13
Nettuno, Italy
November, Mr. Frattini said the
EU plans to provide African
countries with information on
job opportunities in Europe
through the establishment of a
European Job Mobility Portal.
The EU will also support initiatives on labour matching, with
the aim of facilitating the link
between supply and demand.
He, however, observed that
in developing migration policies, the EU must take account
of the labour needs of all
Member States involved,
European and African. "We
must all remain aware of the
risks and consequences of the
brain drain. Policy must be
devised that takes full account
of the potential benefits to third
countries of the legal migration
of workers to Europe, in terms
of training and economic
opportunities."
Mr. Frattini urged Africans
and Europeans to work together to develop an "AfroEuropean Approach to migration." He said there is need of a
comprehensive approach to
migration. "We need to address
legal migration, combat illegal
migration and deal with subjects covered by the migration
and development agenda, such
as migrant remittances, brain
circulation and working with
migrant
communities
in
Europe.
"The EU will develop a
common European policy on
labour immigration to respond
to the needs of our labour markets and initiatives to facilitate
labour mobility will already be
taken in 2007." The EU Vice
president urged the EU countries to continue to address the
"We need to address legal
migration, combat illegal
migration and deal with subjects covered by the migration
and development agenda,
such as migrant remittances,
brain circulation and working
with migrant communities in
Europe. The EU will develop
a common European policy
on labour immigration to
respond to the needs of our
labour markets and initiatives
to facilitate labour mobility
will already be taken in
2007."
AP
The European Union plans
to attract skilled labour from
Africa while boosting efforts to
fight illegal immigration and
trafficking, Vice President of
EU and Justice Commissioner
Franco Frattini has said.
Addressing the EU-Africa
Ministerial Conference on
Migration and Development in
Libyan capital, Tripoli in late
Vice President of EU and
Justice Commissioner
Franco Frattini
needs of migrants once they
arrive in a country of destination. "The nexus between
migration and integration is a
further priority. The European
Commission will develop
instruments that make for
wider participation of the
various stakeholders, including
the migrants themselves, thus
contributing to the promotion
of an effective integration strategy."
Mr. Frattini said EU intends
to take more decisive action
ensure that migrants learn the
language and society's values
of their host country and to
urgently remove possible barriers to language training. "We
must break down the "barriers
of distrust" that hamper any
constructive and open dialogue
between the host societies and
newcomers," he said.
He
also
said
the
Commission would propose
new legislation that imposes
penalties against employers of
illegal immigrants. "Fighting
illegal migration and trafficking in human beings must
remain a priority for all of us,
not least to prevent the losses of
life and the horrible crime of
exploitation that is so often a
consequence."
The EU, he said, will continue to fund activities in Africa,
and to give support to refugees
and persons in need of international protection. Mr. Frattini
said EU's policy in the area of
return should focus on encouraging voluntary returns as far as
possible. "This could be aided
by the establishment of programmes designed to foster the
economic and social reintegration of irregular migrants in
their countries of origin."
EU-Africa to jointly fight illegal immigration
European and African leaders have committed themselves to seek ways of stemming
the rising tide of illegal migration. At the end of the EUAfrica Ministerial Conference
on Migration and Development
in Libyan capital, Tripoli in late
November, the leaders signed a
joint Africa-EU Declaration on
Migration and Development
committing themselves to a
partnership to better manage
migration in a comprehensive,
holistic and balanced manner,
in a spirit of shared responsibility and cooperation.
They agreed to consider
"mechanisms and channels that
facilitate circular migration as
well as recruitment policies
that take into account the specific needs of countries of origin
and destination." The leaders
agreed to address the root causes of migration and refugee
flows through efforts aimed at
eradicating poverty and reali-
sing
the
Millennium
Development
Goals
and
NEPAD objectives, focusing
especially on improving the
living conditions and livelihoods of the poorest, including
resolving and preventing conflict.
They also made a commitment to encourage and promote
Foreign Direct Investment in
order to generate employment
and reduce migration outflow.
Recognising the important
role of diasporas, the African
and European leaders agreed to
facilitate the role of diasporas
in contributing to the sustainable development of their countries of origin through, for
example, "supporting Diaspora
networks and building the
capacity of Diaspora organisations; enabling Africans in the
Diaspora, especially those in
highly technical fields and high
demand, to carry out some of
their professional activities in
their home countries as well in
the entire continent without
necessarily needing to give up
their employment abroad."
The leaders committed
themselves to promote equal
treatment and assistance in the
creation and registration of
associations by migrant communities in host countries.
They also resolved to work
together "towards mutual recognition of academic qualifications and professional certificates through the conclusion of
bilateral agreements or by other
means." The African and
European leaders resolved to
incorporate "into all policies
and programmes on migration
and development the increasing
feminisation of migration and
the vulnerability of female
migrants and children to
exploitation and abuse in the
migration process and the need
to reduce this vulnerability and
safeguard their human rights.
They will also create "measures to prevent abusive practices
and to promote decent and productive work for migrants,"
they said. Another way of helping fight illegal immigration,
the leaders said, is to "support
one another in capacity-building so as to better manage
migration and asylum."
They resolved to discuss
simplified entry procedures for
specific categories of people,
thus allowing smoother regular
migration flows and to support
existing initiatives that encourage regular migration and to
provide assistance to relevant
projects in countries of origin.
They said they will extend
"support for building institutional capacity and developing
projects in countries of origin
and transit to combat illegal
migration, migrant smuggling
and trafficking in human
beings."
IMMIGRATION NEWS
January 2007
3
continued from page 1
Immigrants to Britain must embrace
British values of equality, tolerance,
democracy and respect for rule of law,
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.
He defended the right of individuals
to their own identity and religion, to
practice their faith and to conform to
their culture saying that "this is what
multicultural, multi-faith Britain is
about. That is what is legitimately
distinctive. But when it comes to our
essential values - belief in democracy,
the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and
its shared heritage - then that is where
we come together, it is what we hold in
common; it is what gives us the right to
call ourselves British. At that point no
distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to be part of an integrated
United Kingdom."
Mr. Bliar observed that "integrating
people whilst preserving their distinctive cultures, is not impossible. It is the
norm. The failure of one part of one
community to do so, is not a function of
a flawed theory of a multicultural society. It is a function of a particular ideology that arises within one religion at this
one time."
The purpose of multicultural Britain
"was to allow people to live harmoniously together, despite their difference; not
to make their difference an encouragement to discord. The values that nurtured it were those of solidarity, of coming
together, of peaceful co-existence. The
right to be in a multicultural society was
always, always implicitly balanced by a
duty to integrate, to be part of Britain, to
be British and Asian, British and black,
British and white," he said.
He said the fundamental values that
define Britain today are "tolerance, solidarity across the racial and religious
divide, equality for all and between all."
Mr. Blair said there was need of continuing to celebrate multicultural Britain
and at the same time re-assert the duty
to integrate, define the common values
and make it clear that all citizens are
expected to conform to
them. "Obedience to the
rule of law, to democra"If you come here lawfully, we
tic
decision-making welcome you. If you are permitted
about who governs us, to
freedom from violence to stay here permanently, you becoand discrimination are me an equal member of our community and become one of us.
not optional for British
citizens. They are what Then you, and all of us, who want
being British is about.
to, can worship God in our own
Being British carries way, take pride in our different culrights. It also carries
tures after our own fashion,
duties. And those duties
respect
our distinctive histories
take clear precedence
according
to our own traditions;
over any cultural or relibut
do
so
within
a shared space of
gious practice."
The prime minister shared values in which we take no
said the UK needs to use less pride and show no less respect.
the grants given to com- The right to be different. The duty
munity racial and relito integrate. That is what being
gious groups to promote British means. And neither racists
integration as well as nor extremists should be allowed to
help distinctive cultural
destroy it."
identity. "In the future,
we will assess bids from
groups of any ethnicity UK's Prime Minister Tony Blair
or any religious denomination, also against a
they be conversant in that
test, where appropriate, of promoting common language. It is a
community cohesion and integration," matter both of cohesion
he said.
and of justice that we
Mr. Blair said the UK stands empha- should set the use of
tically at all times for equality of respect English as a condition of
and treatment for all citizens regardless citizenship. In addition, for those who
of sex. "We need very clear rules for wish to take up residence permanently
how we govern the public realm. A good in the UK, we will include a requireexample is forced marriage. There can ment to pass an English test before such
be no defence of forced marriage on cul- permanent residency is granted."
tural or any other grounds."
Mr. Blair affirmed that migration has
There was no question of Britain been good for Britain. "We acknowledallowing the introduction of religious ge the extraordinary contribution
law, Mr. Blair said. "We must demand migrants from all faiths and races have
allegiance to the rule of law. Nobody made. We are a nation comfortable with
can legitimately ask to stand outside the the open world of today. London is perlaw of the nation," he said.
haps the most popular capital city in the
On citizenship, Mr. Blair said the UK world today partly because it is hospitahas "a very established set of rights that ble to so many different nationalities,
constitute our citizenship" that the coun- mixing, working, conversing with each
try should not be shy to teach about.
other."
He also talked of the importance of
He said tolerance is part of what
sharing a common lnguage. "Equal makes Britain, Britain. "So conform to
opportunity for all groups requires that it; or don't come here. We don't want the
AP
Blair: Immigrants must conform
to British values or stay away
hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed."
Mr Blair also said: "If you come here
lawfully, we welcome you. If you are
permitted to stay here permanently, you
become an equal member of our community and become one of us. Then
you, and all of us, who want to, can worship God in our own way, take pride in
our different cultures after our own
fashion, respect our distinctive histories
according to our own traditions; but do
so within a shared space of shared
values in which we take no less pride
and show no less respect. The right to be
different. The duty to integrate. That is
what being British means. And neither
racists nor extremists should be allowed
to destroy it."
UK introduces new rules for people applying for settlement
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Foreigners who want to
settle in the UK will be tested
on their knowledge of British
history and customs from this
year, the Home Office has
said. From 2nd April, those
who would like to live permanently in the country will
have to pass the "Life in the
UK" test or successfully
complete the new English for
Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL) Skills for Life course. The government holds
that mandatory tests for
applicants wishing to settle in
Britain will bring them into
line with the requirements for
those seeking British nationality. It will help maximise
their contribution to the economy by increasing their job
prospects, assist their integration into local communities and generate a greater
understanding of the rights
and responsibilities that
come with living in Britain.
Immigration
Minister
Liam Byrne said "It is essential that migrants wishing to
live in the UK permanently
recognise that there are
responsibilities that go with
this. Having a good grasp of
English is essential in order
for them to play a full role in
society and properly integrate into our communities.
"It is a sign of our success
that the UK's work in this
area has attracted considerable interest in other countries. Australia, for example,
has recently launched a
public consultation to gather
views on the possible introduction of a similar system
there." Applicants will have
to prove they know some-
thing about life in the UK.
The questions will focus on
all areas of UK society - on a
range of topics - from UK
traditions to the laws that
govern the country.
Applicants aged 65 or
over or who have a physical
or mental impairment may
not have to meet with the language requirement or the
knowledge of Life in the UK
requirement. Those planning
to take the test on or after 2nd
April must study the second
edition of the "Life in the
United Kingdom: A Journey
to Citizenship" handbook.
The handbook is available
from The Stationery Office
and many bookshops and is
priced at £9.99. The test itself
will cost each applicant £34.
The results be known on the
same day.
4
January 2007
IMMIGRATION NEWS
NCADC
UK’s Harmondsworth
Immigration Centre getting worse
Harmondsworth Centre
Ms Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of
Prisons has described the report on
Harmondsworth as the poorest ever
issued on an immigration removal centre.
Harmondsworth is the largest immigration removal centre (IRC). Over
recent years, it has experienced a major
disturbance and an apparently selfinflicted death. The announced inspection of Harmondsworth took place from
17th to 21st July 2006. The centre holds
immigration detainees, including asylum seekers, whose applications are
being considered under fast-track procedures. Originally holding families as
well as single men and women, at the
time of inspection Harmondsworth held
single male adults only.
Ms Owers said: "This is undoubtedly
the poorest report we have issued on an
IRC. Harmondsworth is not an easy
place to run, and the serious disturbance
it had experienced had clearly affected
the confidence of managers and staff.
However, it had been allowed to slip
into a culture and approach which was
wholly at odds with its stated purpose,
and inimical to the proper care and treatment of detainees.
"This is not primarily the fault of
staff, some of whom were trying,
without adequate support, to do a good
job. It is essentially a problem of management, and it is of some concern that
this had not been fully identified and
resolved earlier by the contractor and
the Immigration and Nationality
Directorate."
Inspectors found out that the centre
was not performing satisfactorily
against any of the Inspectorate's tests of
a healthy custodial environment.
There were poor relationships between custody officers and detainees, worse
than had been seen at any other centre.
According to the report, over 60 per
cent of detainees said they had felt unsafe. The main fear was of bullying by
staff: 44 per cent of detainees, compared
to only 28 per cent in other IRCs, said
they had been victimised by staff; and
detainees described some custody officers as 'aggressive', 'intimidating' and
'unhelpful', especially to those who
don’t speak English: though senior officers were better and education staff
were praised.
Inspectors also found out that
systems to support detainees were
underdeveloped. The report states that
suicide and self-harm work was weak,
in spite of the
efforts of a committed coordinator; appropriate
action had not
been taken in
response to problems identified
by the inquiry
into a recent selfinflicted death;
reviews did not
involve healthcare, support plans
were poor and
night staff had
limited access to
ligature cutters;
and the complaints system
was distrusted
and ineffective; a
third of complaints
were
about staff, some
raising serious
allegations.
Some of the
good practices
observed at the centre include provision
of good healthcare though there was
insufficient nursing and mental health
support. Some staff, particularly senior
custody officers, interacted well with
detainees.
In response to the report on the
Harmondsworth
centre,
Anna
Reisenberger, acting Chief Executive of
the Refugee Council said: "We are shocked to read this damning report about
Harmondsworth, particularly as we,
along with many other bodies, have
been telling the Home Office for some
time that it is the worst of the detention
centres." She said it was "worrying to
say the least that 60% of clients feel
unsafe in Harmondsworth and frankly
horrifying that nearly half feel they are
victimised by the staff. The praise given
to officers in the education department
shows that clients give credit where it's
due - so there's an urgent need to ensure
that other staff in the centre learn from
their colleagues and treat people better
than they do at present. Asylum seekers
are not criminals; they are people who
are vulnerable and scared. Their treatment should reflect that."
"Anne Owers states that there is too
much emphasis on security, control and
punishment in Harmondsworth. This
points to a wider problem with detaining
asylum seekers. To all intents and purposes, these detention centres are prisons. Whatever is done to improve these
places doesn't alter that fact. We should
question whether there is any need to
lock up people who've committed no
crime and who cause no harm to the
wider community."
Liam Byrne, Home Office minister,
said he welcomed the report and took its
recommendations "very seriously",
BBC reported. "Detention is an essential
part of an effective immigration system,
but it is critical that it is done with
humanity and dignity." He said the
Home Office was drawing up an action
plan.
Key findings include
* Over 60 per cent of detainees
said they had felt unsafe
* Bullying by staff: 44 per cent
of detainees said they had been
victimised by staff
* Detainees described some
custody officers as 'aggressive',
'intimidating' and 'unhelpful'
* Over-emphasis on physical
security and control
* Use of force was high, as was
the use of temporary confinement in segregated conditions
* The incentive scheme operated
as a punishment system
* Complaints system was distrusted and ineffective - some complaints raised serious allegations
* Some healthcare provision
was good but insufficient nursing and mental health support.
Developed countries must do more to integrate immigrant workers, says OECD
Developed countries have been advised to do more to ensure there is effective integration of immigrants into the
societies. A new report from the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) titled
"From Immigration to Integration:
Local Solutions to a Global Challenge"
says that integration of immigrants is
crucial and requires commitment and
action at national and local level.
The report also notes that well-managed immigration flows offer benefits
both for host countries and for migrants
and their families. It analyses case studies in five countries: Canada, Italy,
Spain, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom. Examples discussed in the
report include initiatives like the
Toronto
Region
Immigration
Employment Council in Canada, set up
in 2003 to link potential employers with
skilled immigrants seeking employment. They also include programmes
such as one launched by a farmers' association in Catalonia, Spain, which forges links with emigration countries to
ensure a sustainable supply of migrant
workers under acceptable employment,
accommodation and training conditions.
Migration is a major area of focus for
the OECD's work, reflecting the urgency for developed countries of the issues
raised by immigration. Almost three
million long-term migrants enter OECD
countries legally every year in search of
employment and greater economic
security. Their skills and energy bring
benefits to their host countries, but difficulties over integration also give rise to
tensions. Numbers of immigrants are
likely to go on rising as OECD countries
grapple with falling birth rates and
ageing populations.
Paradoxically, there are signs in some
countries that integration is actually proving less successful than in the past. In
many countries, immigrants tend to be
more exposed than citizens of the host
countries to long-term unemployment
and social exclusion. They often face
poorer working conditions and the prospect of temporary employment without
job security. In many counties, secondand third-generation offspring of immigrants still face barriers to employment.
The OECD argues that lessons from
successful integration initiatives can be
successfully applied elsewhere if administrations are willing to put necessary
policy frameworks in place, including
anti-discrimination legislation. At a
national level, it calls on host countries
to ensure that immigration systems meet
local labour market needs. It also
recommends flexible education policies
that provide opportunities for training
and recognition of prior competences
and qualifications.
At a local level, the OECD urges
policy makers to ensure strong co-ordination between institutions and the
involvement of employers in local partnerships.
IMMIGRATION NEWS
January 2007
The Government of UK has
launched a consultation on a
pioneering panel to provide
advice on where limits on
migration make sense for
Britain and what standards
migrants must reach to go to
the country to work.
The consultation invites
views on the role and functions
of the Migration Advisory
Committee (MAC) such as;
providing the most up-to-date
information on labour market
trends, skills shortages and the
wider impacts of migration helping to ensure that migration
into the UK is balanced alongside the needs of both the economy and society.
It will also seek views on the
composition of the committee
including business representatives, local authorities, trade
union groups and community
leaders.
Immigration Minister Liam
Byrne said: "In 2008 we will
introduce a points system for
immigration and we want the
MAC to help set the bar in the
right place. The MAC will
generate a more open debate
about the level of immigration
that is good for Britain. For
some kinds of migration, such
as low skilled labour, the debate is about the right limit, but
for others we
think the question is about
"Migrant workers make
how high the
a positive contribution to
standards need
Britain's economy and
to be for people
society. An independent
to come and
body giving impartial adviwork here."
The launce to Ministers would
ching of the improve decision-making,
Migration
A d v i s o r y such as on the provision of
public services, and help
Committee
C o n s u l t a t i o n dispel anti-migrant myths.”
was welcomed
by the Trade
The Trades Union
Unions. The
Confederation Congress (TUC) General
Secretary Brendan
of
British
Industry (CBI)
Barber
D e p u t y
DirectorCBI looks
General, John Cridland said: The
forward
to wor"Migrant workers have brought king with
huge benefits to the UK econo- Home Office the
in
my and employers support the defining the role
Government's managed migra- and shape of the
tion policy. It is important that new Committee."
business and the general public
The Trades Union Congress
are confident that the migration (TUC)
General Secretary
system is controlled - yet open Brendan Barber
said: "Migrant
and flexible.
workers
make
a
positive
contri"The Government is right to
to Britain's economy
listen to the views of business bution
society. An independent
and others on the skills needed and
body
giving impartial advice to
by the economy - but obviously Ministers
would improve decifinal decisions will always be sion-making,
as on the
the responsibility of Ministers. provision of such
public services,
TUC
UK Gov. consults over Migration
and help dispel anti-migrant
myths. The best way to make
the case for the positive role of
migrant workers and prevent
undercutting is to ensure they
get the same rights and respect
that all workers deserve. A new
committee needs to focus on
preventing migrant workers
facing
exploitation
from
employers evading their legal
5
and moral responsibilities."
The government said that
although it will make final
decisions, it would look to the
MAC to give clear and authoritative advice.
MAC would also advise the
government on issues such as
the points required by applicants to the Government's
Points Based System for managing migration due to be phased in from April 2008.
The consultation will also
invite views on: whether UK
needs a new independent body
to advise Government on
migration; if the MAC should
take into account the economic,
fiscal and wider impacts when
giving advice on where
migrants might fill gaps; and
whether the MAC should provide advice on regional as well
as national skills shortages.
The consultation period
which ends on 31st January,
will be vital in establishing the
remit of the MAC, its make-up
and the information it will draw
from, as well as its ability to
instigate its own research.
Following the conclusion of the
consultation members would
be appointed and begin work in
April this year, with the MAC
fully operational by April 2008.
Netherlands extends knowledge
migrants scheme to researchers and doctors
The
Immigration
and
Naturalisation
of
the
Netherlands has decided to
include the scientific researchers and doctors who are training to become specialists in
the knowledge migrants scheme. The knowledge migrants
scheme offers a fast-track procedure for foreign nationals
who enter the service of employers who have applied to the
Immigration and Naturalisation
Service to participate in the
scheme. Under this scheme, no
work permit is required, and
the application for a residence
permit is processed within two
weeks by a single department
of the Immigration and
Naturalisation Service in
Rijswijk.
A minimum earnings requirement applies in the case of
knowledge migrants, although,
in some cases, residence can be
granted to a knowledge migrant
who does not meet the minimum earnings requirement.
The knowledge migrants
category was initially applied
to PhD students, postdocs and
university lecturers up to thirty
years of age. It has now been
replaced with a single category
for all foreign nationals who
are
employed
in
the
Netherlands to carry out scientific research.
Doctors who are in training
to become specialists have now
been admitted to the category
of knowledge migrants who do
not have to meet the minimum
wage requirement, a move that
has significantly widened the
possibilities for scientific researchers to go to the
Netherlands. In this way, the
scheme addresses the practical
need that exists among Dutch
universities and research institutions to expand their ability
to attract highly qualified workers from outside the European
Economic Area.
Since the introduction of the
knowledge migrants scheme in
October 2004, 4700 foreign
nationals have been admitted to
the Netherlands as knowledge
migrants, and more than 2000
employers and institutions have
issued declarations within the
context of this procedure. The
top three labour market sectors
where knowledge migrants find
employment are the IT sector,
the industrial sector in general,
and scientific education and
research. The top three countries of origin of knowledge
migrants are India, the United
States of America, and Japan.
Foriegners in Netherlands to apply for Provisional
residence permit at IND, not at municipality
The
Immigration
and
Naturalisation
Service
(Immigratieen
Naturalisatiedienst, IND) of the
Netherlands has dopted a more
stringent approach with regard
to the ordinary admission procedure.
From now onwards, foreign
nationals who are required to
obtain a Provisional residence
permit must submit their application
directly
to
the
Service, rather than to the
municipality.
The establishment of these Immigration
and Naturalisation Service offices also concludes the first part
of the phased takeover by the
Service of front office tasks
from the municipalities.
A statement issued by the
Ministy of Justice said that
every year, there are about ten
thousand applications from
foreign nationals who submit
an admission application in the
Netherlands without having
applied for a mandatory
Provisional residence permit
(Machtiging tot Voorlopig
Verblijf, MVV). They then
request exemption from the
requirement to obtain a
requirement, even though at
least 60 % of them currently do
not have good reason to do so.
If it transpires at the
Service office that somebody
has submitted an unjustified
application for exemption from
the Provisional resident permit
requirement, a negative decision will be issued forthwith.
In such instances, it will be
possible for an individual to be
handed over to the Aliens'
Police immediately. The Aliens'
Police can subsequently place
the individual in question in
detention, in order to prepare
for repatriation to the country
of origin.
Children under the age of
twelve who were born in the
Netherlands will be given resi-
dence permits more quickly
than
before
at
these
Service offices. A child that is
younger than twelve years of
age and has at least one parent
who is in the Netherlands legally will automatically become
eligible for exemption from the
requirement, which means that
the application can be granted
immediately.
6
THE GUIDE
January 2007
Parents in UK
You may be offered a scan at:
Rubella and HIV
- about eight to 14 weeks
- about 18 to 20 weeks
Rubella and HIV can be transferred
between mother and baby during pregnancy, so it's important to be tested if
you think you have either rubella or
HIV.
Screening tests
These tests are used to check for
conditions such as spina bifida and
Down's syndrome. If you are offered
a screening test, check with your
midwife why you are being offered
the test. All women regardless of age
can be tested for spina bifida and
Down's syndrome, however, older
mothers are at greater risk of having
a baby with Down's syndrome.
Regular check-ups during
pregnancy
Healthy eating for pregnancy
Including the right things in your
diet when you are pregnant or thinking
about becoming pregnant is extremely
important. Knowing what to eat and
drink and what to avoid goes a long
way to ensuring the health of both you
and your baby.
Folic acid
Whether you are pregnant or planning to have a baby, it is recommended
that you start taking 400 micrograms
(mcg), of folic acid every day, as early
possible. You should continue to do so
until you are 12 weeks pregnant. This
vitamin is known to reduce the risk of
spina bifida.
What to eat
When pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, your diet should include plenty
of protein, fibre, calcium, iron and
other minerals and vitamins. These can
all be found in the following foods:
- fruit and vegetables (aim for at
least five portions of a variety of fruits
and vegetables a day)
- starchy foods such as bread, pasta,
rice and potatoes
- dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt
- lean meat and chicken
- wholegrain bread and pulses
- fish (two servings a week, including oily fish like sardines and mackerel - ensure fresh tuna consumption
does not exceed two servings per
week)
Pregnant women can become deficient in iron so it is important to eat
plenty of iron-rich foods. A good intake of vitamin C through fruit, vegetables and juice helps your body to
absorb iron. If your iron level is low,
your GP or midwife will advise you to
take iron supplements. The following
foods will help you to keep your iron
level normal:
- red meat
- pulses
- bread
- green vegetables
- fortified breakfast cereals
Foods to avoid include:
- peanuts and foods containing peanut products if you, the baby's father or
siblings have certain allergic conditions such as hay fever, asthma or eczema
- pâté
- mould-ripened soft cheese (Brie,
Camembert, goat's cheese, etc)
- unpasteurised milk
- liver or liver products
- shark, swordfish and marlin (all
contain high levels of mercury)
- too much caffeine and alcohol
- raw eggs and food containing raw
or partially cooked eggs
Although liver is a good source of
iron, pregnant women should avoid
eating it because it is high in vitamin A.
It is also a good idea to take supplements containing 10mcg of vitamin D
each day.
Scans and screening tests
Throughout your pregnancy you
will be offered scans and tests to see
how your baby is developing.
Ultrasound scans
An ultrasound scan involves having
a hand-held scanning device rolled
over your stomach. This allows images
from inside your womb to be shown on
a screen. These may be used to:
- determine the size and age of your
baby
- check the position of the baby and
placenta
- check for physical problems in the
baby or placenta
- determine whether you are expecting more than one baby
When you get pregnant you
should make an appointment to see
your doctor immediately. You'll be
offered regular check-ups throughout your pregnancy. How often
they are varies according to a number of issues such as whether this is
your first baby and whether you
have any particular health needs.
However, you can always contact
your midwife or doctor if you are
concerned or would like to discuss
something.
Regular check-ups
These check-ups will probably
include:
- taking your blood pressure
- weighing you
- feeling your stomach (to check
your baby's size and position)
- listening to your baby's heartbeat
- checking your urine for infections
and blood sugar problems
- checking your general well-being
Blood tests
During pregnancy, you will be offered a number of blood tests which provide information that helps you deliver
a healthy baby. Don't be afraid to ask
questions about the tests you are offered, what they will and will not tell you
and what further decisions you may
have to take depending on the results.
Discuss any concerns you have with
your midwife or doctor and feel free to
take time to consider your options.
Tests may include:
Rubella
Rubella (German measles) can
seriously harm your baby if you catch
it during the first four months of pregnancy. Most children are immunised
against rubella but if you think you are
pregnant and have rubella, or have
been in contact with someone who has
German measles, tell your doctor at
once.
HIV
If you know you are HIV positive,
you can take action to minimise the
risk of passing HIV to your baby. This
includes:
- taking antiretroviral drugs after the
first three to four months of pregnancy
- taking antiretroviral drugs during
labour
- choosing a caesarean section
- giving the baby a short course of
antiretroviral therapy after birth
- not breastfeeding
With all interventions, the rate of
transmission from mother to child can
be as low as two per cent. With no
interventions, it can be between 25 to
40 per cent.
If you think you may have HIV, the
best step is to get tested. HIV tests are
available free of charge on a confidential basis from genitourinary medicine
(GUM) or sexual health clinics. There
are many organisations offering advice
and help in this situation. Support ranges from offering education, training
and volunteering opportunities to people living with HIV to advice, support
and information on employment and
personal development.
- National AIDS helpline: 08000
567 123
- Terrence Higgins Trust: 0207 242
1010 - the Terence Higgins Trust helps
support people in the UK who are
living with AIDS
- Positively Women: 0207 713 0222
- a national charity which provids support for women living with HIV by
women living with HIV
To be continued in the next issue
of Africa News
By Direct.gov
- identifying your blood group and
type
- HBV testing
Are you working with immigrants in
(HBV causes hepatiany part of Europe?
tis B)
Please share with us your activities and help
- testing for conditions such as syphilis, us keep our readers informed of the most releanaemia or the sickle vant immigration news in Europe. Feel free to
cell trait
share with us ideas on how immigrants in
- testing for immunity
to
rubella Europe can overcome the difficulties they face
in their daily lives. Address your reports to:
(German measles)
- HIV testing (for The Editor, Africa News, Via Maroso, 50, CAP
more
information
00142 Rome, Italy.
visit the link below)
E-mail:
- Down's syndroTel
+39-06-87410531.
me
Fax +39-06-87410528.
IN AFRICA THIS MONTH
January 2007
7
Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2006
Governments don’t do
enough to fight corruption
Transparency International.
"Legislatures are elected with a
precious mission: to place the
interests of their citizens above their own.
The Barometer shows
that this trust is being
"It is in the interest of nations violated, at great cost
and of leaders with vision who to the legitimacy of
officials in
care about making a difference, elected
many countries. The
to take seriously the estimated US democratic process is
$1 trillion paid in bribes worldwi- at stake if this warning is not heeded."
de and start putting an end to
This opinion sursystems that allow arbitrary
vey
should not just
discretion and abuse of power in rap the
knuckles of
both the public and private sec- public sector institutors. A world of people cheated, tions; it points to
needed
countries looted and futures sto- urgently
action. Through the
len, is waiting for your goverUnited
Nations
nment's decisions"
Convention against
Corruption and results
from other corruption
Huguette Labelle, Chair of
surveys, governments
Transparency International
now have a clear
direction and concrete
areas for improvevicious corruption cycle," adds ment to address the concerns
that citizens have expressed so
Labelle.
in
the
Global
Ordinary citizens perceived clearly
political parties, on average, to Corruption Barometer.
This "report on the
be the institution most affected
by corruption, followed by par- Barometer is a wake-up call for
liaments and legislatures and governments that have yet to
then by the business sector. make fighting corruption a top
Police top the chart in respon- priority," said Labelle. "The
dents' own experience of bri- people have spoken unequivobing, though the police are per- cally, and governments must
ceived as the fourth most cor- act now to stop corruption in all
forms, curb money laundering,
rupt institution.
"Corruption has infiltrated protect whistleblowers, and
public life and burrowed in," ensure the return of looted
said Robin Hodess, Policy and assets."
Research
Director
at
reach of many of the continent's desperately poor citizens.
"The public is the victim in this
AP
Corruption keeps on affecting daily lives of millions of
people around the world who
urgently want their government
to take action to stop it. This is
the conclusion of Transparency
International's
Global
Corruption Barometer 2006.
The 2006 Barometer, a
public opinion survey conducted
for
Transparency
International
by
Gallup
International, looks at the
extent of corruption through
the eyes of ordinary citizens
around the world. It explores
the issue of petty bribery in
greater depth than ever before,
highlighting people's personal
experience of bribery, and identifying the sectors most affected by corruption, its frequency, and how much people must
pay.
"This worldwide poll shows
that corruption has a dramatic
effect on the lives of individuals. Its power is enormous,"
said Huguette Labelle, Chair of
Transparency International.
"When basic services like electricity are denied to the poor
because they cannot afford a
small bribe, there is no light in
the home, no warmth for the
children and no escape for the
government from its responsibility to take action."
The survey revealed that
most respondents have a poor
opinion of their government's
anti-corruption efforts. Sixty
nine percent say their government is not effective in
fighting corruption, or that it
makes no effort to fight it, or
that it actually encourages corruption. Only 22 percent labelled their government's actions
"effective" or "very effective".
Bribes, according to the survey, are most commonly paid
around the world to police.
"Citizens rely on the police to
protect them, and on judges and
the judiciary to punish the criminals. When these guardians
are for sale, some people sim-
ply lose faith; others take the
law into their own hands," said
Labelle.
Bribery for access to services is most common in Africa.
Registrations and permits command the biggest bribes - on
average, more than €50. Bribes
to utility companies average a
much smaller €6, still large
enough to place electricity and
other vital services out of the
Mbeki and Bush: It is time for action in Darfur
The President of South
Africa Thabo Mbeki and the
US President George Bush
have stressed the importance of
urgently sending a peacekeeping force to Darfur in Sudan to
facilitate aid and save lives.
During a recent visit to
Washington D.C, President
Bush and President Mbeki
discussed about the urgent need
for South Africa and the US
and other nations to work with
the Sudanese government to
enable a peacekeeping force
into the country. Mr. Bush said
Mr. Mbeki "shares my concerns that the situation is dire.
And now is the time for
action." They also discussed
the US Government's willingness to provide over $600 million to help in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
Mr. Bush described relations
between the US and South
Africa as "strong and good and
necessary."
President Mbeki thanked the
US for its support in solving
African conflicts and said there
was a keen interest in increasing the troops deployed in
Darfur. He expressed hope that
the Security Council would
move quickly to deploy troops
to Dafur. "It's very urgent, very
necessary, and we will absolutely do everything to make sure
that, from the African side, we
remove any obstacle there
might be to such bigger deployment in Darfur. It's very necessary."
Mr. Mbeki also appealed for
support for Somali's transitional government. "This was a
failed state. It's necessary to
support the transitional government,” he said. He said it is
important to restore the government and to reunify the country. “It's an important thing
because the problem, one of the
big problems is that as it is, it
provides a base for terrorists.”
He said terrorists find safe
haven there and then can spread out to the rest of the continent.
Blair calls for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur
UK's Prime Minister Tony
Blair has termed the situation
in Darfur "totally unacceptable". He said the terrible suffering of the Darfur people has
gone on for far too long. "Two
million people remain in camps
and as many as four million are
in need of food aid. Continued
attacks
from
both
the
Government of Sudan and the
rebel movements are prolonging this terrible crisis."
He said there was a strong
feeling across the world that
the violence must come to an
immediate end. "Appalling
human rights violations have
been committed and continue
in Darfur. Women and young
girls have been amongst the
worst affected, suffering rape
and sexual violence on a regular basis."
Mr. Blair appealed to the
Government of Sudan and the
rebel movements to "move forward quickly to implement an
immediate and strengthened
ceasefire, commit to a political
process, and agree an effective
peacekeeping force for Darfur."
"Both the Government and
the rebel movements should be
clear that they will be judged
on the basis of actions, not just
words," he said.
He affirmed that Sudan will
remain at the top of his agenda.
"The international community
will be watching closely. The
UK will continue to support the
process agreed in Addis Ababa
and Abuja. But if rapid progress is not made, we will need
to consider alternative approaches, with international partners. The Government of
Sudan must prove it is taking
its responsibilities seriously."
8
January 2007
New era begins in DR Congo
A new era has begun in the ge within the framework of
Democratic Republic of Congo, a strong opposition," he
President Joseph Kabila told an audien- said on his radio and telece in Kinshasa shortly after his inaugu- vision stations.
The Supreme Court
ration in early December.
Mr. Kabila, 35, said he would abide ruling endorsed the results
by "the trilogy of good governance, of the 29 October poll rundemocracy and respect for human off that gave Kabila 58
rights". He is DR Congo's first freely percent of the valid votes
elected leader in
40 years having
won a tense runoff presidential
Congolese President Joseph Kabila
poll in October.
takes the oath of office during the
He took power inaugural ceremony at the Presidential
in 2001 after his
Palace in Kinshasa, Congo,
father was assassiWednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. Kabila took
nated.
"A new page is his oath after a series of prayers from
opening up before
different faiths including Muslim,
us. I can see the
Christian and the indigenous
Congo of tomorKimbanguist Church. "This moment
row carrying the
hopes of a rena- marks the beginning of a new era that
scent Africa at the
must bring well-being and developdawn of this cen- ment to Congo's people," Kabila said.
tury with its great
"I see a Congo where the people are
challenges," Mr
Kabila told the always able to work." "The Congo of
audience.
tomorrow, I see it as a bringer of order
He called for
to all of Africa," he said.
peace and solidarity among the
people of Congo and said his gover- cast and Bemba 42 pernment would strive to bring develop- cent. Bemba had filed an
ment by providing the people with electoral fraud petition
health and educational services, impro- with the Supreme Court
ving the infrastructure and uphold the and asked it to nullify the
rule of law. He also vowed to fight cor- vote. After reviewing the
petition, the court rejected
ruption.
President Kabila saluted the "remar- Bemba's objections, on
kable solidarity" of the international grounds of insufficient evicommunity during the country's politi- dence, IRIN reported.
Meanwhile
the
cal transition, which has seen 17,000
United Nations peacekeepers imple- European Commission has
doubling
menting a 2002 peace deal following a proposed
European aid to support democratic
five-year war, BBC reported.
The ceremony was attended by seve- government in the DR Congo. The
ral African leaders including South Commissioner for development and
Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, humanitarian aid, Louis Michel propoTanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete sed the doubling of European developand the Angolan leader, Jose Eduardo ment aid to support the reconstruction of
dos Santos. Defeated presidential candi- the Congolese State. An initial package
date and ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre of €33 million will be used to strengthen
Bemba missed the ceremony. He said governance and the institutions serving
that while he disagreed with the the country's citizens.
The European Commission has been
Supreme Court's endorsement of rival
Joseph Kabila as winner, he would lead the main donor providing funding for
the opposition. "In the greater national the electoral process since 2001. The
interest and to preserve peace and to total cost of the electoral process during
save the country from chaos and violen- the transition phase in the DRC has been
ce, today I, before God, the nation and €397 million, including logistical costs,
history, in permanent communion with of which the European Commission has
you all, vow to lead this fight for chan- contributed €165 million. This is the lar-
AP
Kabila: "I see a Congo where the people are always able to work"
gest contribution ever made by the
European Commission to an electoral
process in a third country.
Commissioner Michel has stressed
the "ongoing commitment of the
European Commission to providing
resolute support for the transition process". Ever since its support for the opening of the inter-Congolese dialogue in
Sun City in 2001, the Commission had,
he said, unceasingly encouraged the
various protagonists in the Congo to
hold free and transparent elections and
had been among the first in the international community to believe in such a
possibility. It was now time to invest
heavily in reconstructing the State, its
capabilities and its basic services, so
that the Congolese people could reap the
benefits of reconciliation and democracy.
The European Commission also played a part in ensuring the safety of the
electoral process by supporting the integrated police unit and by its financial
contribution to the multi-donor demobilisation and reintegration programme
and the reform of the security sector,
alongside the EUSEC and EUPOL missions. "Security is and will remain an
essential factor in the stabilisation and
sustainable development of the country.
The European Union is mobilised to
continue to support the government's
efforts in this key sector", said Louis
Michel.
IFAD improves financial services for Gambia's rural areas
Some 180,000 poor people
in rural areas of the Gambia are
to have better access to savings
plans, credit, insurance services
and business advice, thanks to a
new development project working with the country's key
microfinance institutions.
The International Fund for
Agricultural
Development
(IFAD) will largely finance the
US$8.73 million Rural Finance
Project with a loan of US$6.12
million and a grant of
US$400,000. The agreement
for the loan and grant were
signed on 8th December by Ms
Ada Gaye, Deputy Permanent
Secretary of the Department of
State
for
Finance
and
Economic Affairs for the
Republic of The Gambia, and
IFAD President Lennart Båge
at IFAD's headquarters in
Rome.
IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty
and hunger in rural areas of
developing countries. Through
low-interest loans and grants, it
develops and finances projects
that enable rural poor people to
overcome poverty themselves.
A statement issued by IFAD
said that the project will provide skills and technical training
to local microfinance institutions in six rural divisions in
the Gambia. The training will
help project participants identify and develop new financial
products, such as business
development services for rural
clients, as well as improve their
information
management
systems and expand the reach
of their services.
Rural finance institutions
will plan, carry out and evaluate the project and its impact on
clients. There will also be an
annual evaluation by village
men and women to generate
recommendations for further
activities. By the end of the sixyear project, participating
finance institutions are expected to reach over 70,000 new
rural customers.
The Gambia is one of the
most densely populated countries in Africa. Agricultural production is decreasing due to
erratic weather, land degradation and inefficient markets and
storage. Almost half the population now lives in urban areas.
Rural families are forced to
rely on livelihoods that require
little or no land but few poor
rural people can access credit
to finance other activities.
Since starting operations in
1978, IFAD has provided loans
totalling more than US$45.57
million for eight programmes
and projects in the Gambia.
January 2007
9
WEST AFRICA
Improving the rights of women can
boost child survival, especially in West
and Central Africa, which have the
highest rates of child mortality in the
world, the United Nations children's
agency (UNICEF) has said.
"Gender equality and the well-being
of children go hand in hand," Esther
Guluma, UNICEF's regional director for
West Africa, told reporters as the agency released it's State of the World's
Children 2007 report. "Healthy, educated and empowered women have healthy, educated and confident daughters
and sons."
The report recommends maximising
gender equality by boosting education,
financing, legislation, legislative quotas,
women's organisations, research and
data, and engaging men and boys in dialogue.
Improving the status of women can
especially have an impact in West and
Central Africa, Guluma said. Out of
every 1,000 live births in the region, 190
children will die, compared to the average rate for developing countries of 83
deaths per 1,000 live births, she said.
Child mortality has improved in
some West African countries, such as
Benin and Ghana, and declined in
others, such as Niger.
Healthy empowerment
Malnutrition is an underlying cause
in half of all cases of child mortality in
West and Central Africa, the report said.
About one quarter of all deaths in the
region are due to neo-natal causes, closely followed by malaria, respiratory
infections and diarrhoeal diseases.
By establishing gender equality, the
incidence of underweight children
under three years old would fall in subSaharan Africa by three percent and an
additional 1.7 million children would be
adequately nourished, Guluma said,
citing a study by the International Food
Policy Research Institute.
"Evidence, principally from West and
Central Africa, suggests that when
resources are scarce, women prioritise
nutrition of their children above other
household and personal issues," the
report said. "In Cameroon, for example,
women typically spend 74 percent of
their funds on food while men spend an
estimated 22 percent to supplement the
family food supply."
Sexual discrimination remains rife in
the region, the report said. It found that
in Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso men
are the sole decision makers regarding
all health issues in almost 75 percent of
all families. That figure is comparable to
the percentage of men who are the sole
decision makers on daily household
expenditure in many countries in the
region, the report said.
Building on success
Guluma said, however, that in some
countries women are empowered at the
community level. "In countries like
Ghana, women take decisions at the
family level in terms of how income
will be spent," she said. "Our success in
Ghana with child mortality may be connected with that."
Child mortality rates have declined in
Ghana, Benin, Mali and Senegal, which
are the four countries where UNICEF
IRIN
Gender equality and
child survival linked
piloted
an
approach
of
integrated,
communitybased maternal
and child health
interventions.
Under the programme, UNICEF provides
mosquito nets,
immunisations,
water and sanitation and nutritional supplements.
"This combined intervention at a very
low cost has
effectively
reduced infant
m o r t a l i t y, "
Guluma told
IRIN. "In certain regions in
Ghana infant
mortality went
down by 20
UNICEF says boosting the status of women will
percent.
In
Benin over the
help improve child mortality.
past five years
infant mortality went down by 15 per- tion will bear fruit in terms of application of the strategy in as many countries
cent."
She said UNICEF and its partners as possible," Guluma said. UNICEF has
met recently in Dakar and decided to also been talking with the African Union
apply the same approach to other coun- about a plan to reduce child mortality
tries in the region. "We are working now rates, which the agency hopes the AU
in very close collaboration with the will adopt in 2007.
World Bank and [World Health
By IRIN
Organisation] on the same approach to
expand it so we hope that this collabora-
World Vision: US not preventing import of "Blood Diamonds"
Diamond companies are still
not doing enough to prevent
diamond from being used to
purchase weapons, fuel wars
and create havoc in countries
where most people live on less
than $1 a day, the World Vision
has said.
"Diamonds are a $60 billion
a year business, and even if
only one percent of the retail
market includes gems that fuel
conflicts in African nations,
that's $600 million worth of
cheap assault rifles and rocket
launchers killing thousands of
people every year," says Rory
E. Anderson, an expert on the
illegal diamond trade with the
Christian aid agency World
Vision. "It's unconscionable."
A new film titled "Blood
Diamond," starring Leonardo
DiCaprio has just been released. It will again bring the illegal, unethical and immoral diamond trade to the public's
attention.
"In Sierra Leone, where
'Blood Diamond' is set, the
According
to
World Vision, the
solution to the problem is not a diamond boycott, but
rather
consumer
pressure where the
industry will feel it
most: at the jewellery store and in
Congress.
"The legitimate
diamond industry in
countries like South
Africa, Botswana
Rory E. Anderson, an
and Namibia proviexpert on the illegal diamond de livelihood and
trade with the Christian aid vital public services," said Anderson.
agency World Vision
"We don't want to
hurt their efforts in
conflict ended years ago, and the process of stopping the illidiamonds are coming under cit trade elsewhere."
legitimate control," says
Before buying diamonds,
Anderson. "But there are still Anderson says, consumers
countries, like the Democratic should ask retailers about their
Republic of Congo, where dia- policies on "blood diamonds"
monds and other resources are and whether they can certify
being sold illegally, and dia- their diamonds are not funding
mond warlords use proceeds to conflict. If such certification
fund rebel conflicts."
"Diamonds are a $60 billion
a year business, and even if
only one percent of the retail
market includes gems that fuel
conflicts in African nations,
that's $600 million worth of
cheap assault rifles and rocket
launchers killing thousands of
people every year"
cannot be presented, inquire
about other retailers who can.
"We want to remind the
public, especially during the
holiday season, to ask their
jeweller about the '4 C's' in diamond buying - carat, cut, clarity and conflict," she says. "We
also urge people to contact their
members of Congress and ask
why more is not being done to
prevent the import of 'blood
diamonds.'"
Americans buy two-thirds of
the diamonds on the global
market, and according to a
2004 study by Amnesty
International and Global
Witness, 58 percent of diamond
retailers in the U.S. and U.K.
had no policy on conflict diamonds.
Beginning in 2000, World
Vision and more than 150 organizations urged the diamond
industry to develop a system to
ensure that all diamonds in the
global market were no longer
funding conflict and human
rights abuses. That effort inclu-
ded a 2001 television spot
airing during the season finale
of "The West Wing," with actor
Martin Sheen urging consumers to ask jewellers about
"conflict-free"
diamonds.
Negotiations with the diamond
industry lobbyists culminated
two forms of regulation: the
international
Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme
and the U.S. Clean Diamonds
Trade Act.
The Kimberley Process is an
international system that certifies unpolished or "rough" diamonds that come from sources
not fuelling conflict. However,
the Process only covers stones
that have not yet been cut. This
"mine-to-factory" coverage
allows rebels and other groups
to make minor changes to the
stones that easily exempt them
from the Kimberley Process.
Civil society organizations are
asking for certification of the
entire process, tracing diamonds "from mine to finger."
10
January 2007
Health, justice lacking for
abused Liberian women
Abuse is normal
Her brutal experience is not
an anomaly in post-conflict
Liberia: it is the norm.
Government officials, aid workers and community leaders
said attacks like this happen
every day, most without even
raising comment let alone
making the newspapers. But as
Liberia rebuilds its infrastructure and society after a war in
which armed rebels and child
soldiers murdered, raped and
Monrovia has a unit
dedicated to treating
rape
victims.
The
Doctors
Without
Borders (MSF Spain)run Benson hospital in
the eastern suburbs of
Monrovia is where victims from as far away as
central Bong County,
150 km north, and
Margibi County, some
45 km north, normally
go to seek free medical
treatment.
Medical staff told
IRIN that between 10
and 15 rape victims are
treated on a monthly
basis. "There is always a
high influx of girls,
mostly teenagers who
come to this hospital
complaining that they
Sex pests, pedophiles and wife beaters go free in Liberia were raped. We offer
them free medical treatment. They come from
looted their way round the seen a huge increase in the
country with impunity, women reporting of sexual and gender- all over, Monrovia, Margibi,
are starting to step forward to based violence cases earlier in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and
talk about attacks, and report the beginning of 2006, some- Bong Counties," a doctor told
their attackers to the authori- where around six to 10 cases a IRIN, asking that his name not
ties. According to the results of month, including rape, dome- be used. He said most of the
a government survey in 10 of stic violence, sexual exploita- rape victims reporting at
Liberia's 15 counties for the tion and physical assaults," she Benson from other counties do
period 2005-2006, 92 percent said In the past three months, not trust the health clinics in
of the 1,600 women intervie- 164 cases of gender-based vio- rural areas. "Rape is now the
wed said they had experienced lence have been reported to the new war in Liberia, because
some form of sexual violence, IRC in Lofa County, Harvey our girls are being destroyed by
including rape.
said, adding that many of the older men who should be proAnnie
Jones
Demen, reports come from women tecting them. It is now a serious
Liberia's deputy Gender Affairs returning from refugee camps issue," he said. Benson hospital
minister and coordinator of a in Guinea, Ghana and beyond, and Redemption Hospital in the
gender-based violence taskfor- recounting their experiences western outskirts of Monrovia
are the two recognised hospice, told IRIN. "We now have during the war.
tals where certificates are
more reports on sexual and
issued to rape victims.
gender-based
violence. The new war
Survivors of sexual violence
As the true scale of Liberia's Still no justice
now feel safe to come out to
say they were raped." Corynne sex-crime problem reveals
While women might be
Harvey, a sexual and gender- itself, the country's almost nonbased violence officer at the existent health infrastructure is more willing to talk to their
American
relief
NGO overstretched, medical workers doctors, families and the police
International
Rescue say. Despite the boom in rape about their ghastly experiences,
Committee, agreed. "IRC has cases, only one hospital in few still get the chance to hold
Eric Kanalstein/UNMIL
"It was a shock for me when
I was raped," the lithe 15-yearold girl said with tears running
down her face. "The man called
and asked me to help him wash
his clothes. After doing the
washing, he told me to clean up
his bedroom and while doing
that he jumped on me, tore off
my clothes and began raping
me."
Explaining her ordeal to
IRIN, the girl, who did not
want to be named or identified
in any way, said the man raped
her four months ago. The case
was reported to the local court,
but has yet to be heard. The girl
said she bled for three weeks
after the incident and still feels
pain. She has a medical certificate confirming that she was
raped. But the man has fled the
community since her parents
took the case to court, and the
girl said she has little hope of
seeing him face justice.
"I have not seen him around
since he raped me and we have
not heard anything from the
police as to what efforts they
are making to arrest him," she
said. "I need justice," she said,
tears flowing again, as her 60year-old grandmother took her
hand. The girl was eight when
her father was killed in
Liberia's 13-year civil war.
their accused attackers to
account in a court of law. In
what prosecutors say is an all
too common case, a 13-yearold rape victim told IRIN that
her step-mother had reached
her own compromise with the
30-year-old paedophile who
attacked her rather than bothering with the courts.
"Everybody knew in my neighbourhood that I was raped,
they heard me crying while the
act was taking place. He raped
me near the graveyard at
night," the girl said. Held up by
local men, the accused man
opened his wallet and paid up,
after which the family agreed
not to press charges. A law passed in December made rape
illegal for the first time in
Liberia - previously only gang
rape was considered a crime.
The new law forbids bail and
carries a maximum sentence of
life imprisonment. But the UN
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in
a human rights report released
last month said Liberia's courts
and police have failed to fully
prosecute perpetrators of
sexual violence since the new
rape law came into effect.
Lois Bruthus, head of the
Female Lawyers Association of
Liberia (AFELL), an NGO that
pushed for the law, said: "We
need more lawyers to take on
the task of seeing to it that
rapists are fully prosecuted.
Our girls, women and children
are being abused regularly."
Rosetta Stephens, a young,
community-based anti-rape
campaigner, told IRIN: "This is
a major challenge to the
Liberian justice system to see
to it that those committing
these acts do not go scout-free.
Let the law takes it course
against them."
By IRIN
South Africa's scenery the best in the world
The locals have long known it, and
now UK visitors agree: South Africa is
the most beautiful country on earth. In
the 2006 Reader's Travel Awards by UK
magazine Condé Nast Traveller, South
Africa's scenery scored 97.8% - the
highest in the world - with the country
being voted the world's fifth-best tourist
destination.
Now in their ninth year, the awards
come out of a comprehensive survey of
readers' favourite hotels, spas, cities,
countries and more, based on a range of
criteria that are then compiled into a
score out of 100. In the country category, South Africa's overall score was
94.2% - putting it ahead of other destinations such as Thailand, France, the
US, Greece and Malaysia.
This is the sixth year in a row that
South Africa has been ranked as one of
the world's top 20 destinations. In 2005
the country came in at ninth place, up
from 13th place in 2004. The top country in 2006 was Italy, with a score of
95.57%, followed by New Zealand
(94.81%), Australia (94.44%) and India
(94.42%).
South Africa's hotels and spas were
also rated among the best in the world,
with six establishments making it onto
the top 20 list of leisure hotels in the
Middle East, Africa and the Indian
Ocean islands. Clinching second position in this category was the multiaward-winning Singita Private Game
Reserve, with an overall score of 95.6%
and a top score of 97.95% for service
and staff.
"Singita provides the ultimate sophisticated safari experience," Condé Nast
says of the reserve. "Three ultra-luxurious safari lodges (colonial Ebony,
Afro-chic Boulders and converted farmhouse Castleton) are situated on an 18
500-hectare concession in Sabi Sand
Reserve, bordering the Kruger National
Park. Sophisticated, pan-African cuisine
and a 35 000-bottle wine cellar bring
civility to the bush. The goal-orientated
game-viewing with knowledgeable,
likeable rangers is excellent."
The other top South African hotels in
this category, according to position and
score, were: 5 (94.2%) - Londolozi
Private Game Reserve, Mpumalanga; 9
(92.02%) - The Twelve Apostles Hotel
& Spa, Cape Town; 13 (86.36%) - The
Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town; 18
(82.89%) - Ulusaba Private Game
Reserve, Mpumalanga
20 (81.45%) - Pezula Resort Hotel &
Spa, Knysna
Three South African establishments
also made it onto the list of the world's
top 15 hotel spas outside the UK. These
were the Sanctuary Spa at the Twelve
Apostles Hotel in Cape Town, in sixth
position with a score of 88.67%, the
Altiraspa at the Arabella Sheraton
Grand Hotel in Cape Town (eighth position, 87.25%), and the Pezula Resort
Hotel and Spa in Knysna (13th position,
83.67%). The Altiraspa was also singled
out for its amenities and products
(97.5%), and service and staff (95%).
In the Top 100 category of the
Readers' Travel Awards, Condé Nast
ranks the overall winners in all categories by their scores. Again, South Africa
and its hospitality industry did well,
with Singita Private Game Reserve in
fourth position. The country's other winners, according to position and score,
were: 21 (94.2%) - South Africa (country); 22 (94.2%) - Londolozi Private
Game Reserve, South Africa (hotel); 48
(92.02%) - The Twelve Apostles Hotel
& Spa, Cape Town (hotel).
By Mary Alexander,
SouthAfrica.info
IN GHANA THIS MONTH
January 2007
African leaders have been
urged to show a stronger commitment to resolve conflicts in
the continent.
"It is imperative that conflicts and instability in our
region become things of the
past to enable us to commit our
energies to economic advancement,"
President
John
Agyekum Kufuor said.
He said the way to achieve
this was through the promotion
of good governance, respect for
individual freedom and the
administration of justice, GNA
reported.
President Kufour who was
on a three-day state visit to
Mali in December, recalled the
relentless struggle waged by
late
President
Kwame
Nkrumah and his peers like former Malian President Modibo
Keita for the emancipation of
the continent and their vision of
a free, united, strong and pro-
sperous Africa and said he was
happy that their efforts had not
been in vain.
"Despite the challenges confronting our continent, we can
state with some certainty that
Africa is indeed on the right
path towards re-positioning of
its countries' economies for
growth and sustainable development." He praised the
government and people of Mali
for the rule of law, human
rights and good governance as
well as the country's role in
efforts towards conflict resolution and crisis management in
the continent.
Mr. Kufour said Ghana
would continue to collaborate
and work with it within the
Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), the
African Union (AU) and other
forums to help to restore peace
and security to the region.
Speaking on Ghana/Mali
AP
Kufuor: Conflicts
and instability in
Africa must end
11
relations,
President Kufuor
said there was an
urgent need to
reactivate their
Permanent Joint
Commission to
constitute
the
requisite framework for their
enhanced co-operation in trade,
tourism and investment promotion
to improve the
living standards of
"It is imperative that conflicts and instability in our region
their peoples.
M a l i a n become things of the past to enable us to commit our energies
President Amadou
to economic advancement"
Toumani Toure
said the visit had
President John Agyekum Kufuor
revitalized
the
relations between
the two countries that dated at its independence in 1963. He fy for substantial United States
back to the 1960s. Ghana was also commended Ghana for its development assistance under
the first country to establish sound macro-economic mana- the Millennium Challenge
diplomatic relations with Mali gement that enabled it to quali- Account (MCA).
Encourage use of
condoms, Minister
tells Catholic Bishops
of
the
Tamale
Ecclesiastical Province
of the Catholic Church at
Jirapa, Mr Dery said
"Changing your position
and preaching the use of
condom would be more
in line with the saying
that Christ came and died
for the sinner and not the
righteous. "Help me
attain a reduction rate of
2.0 per cent by December
2007 by encouraging the
use of condoms in your
preaching
against
HIV/AIDS," The Times
reported.
rate of spread of
"Help me attain a reduction rate of 2.0 theThe
disease in the Upper
per cent by December 2007 by encouraging West Region decreased
from 3.2 per cent in 2003
the use of condoms in your preaching
to 2.6 per cent in 2005.
against HIV/AIDS"
The
celebration,
which also marked 77
Upper West Regional Minister,
years of the establiAmbrose Dery
shment of the Catholic
Church in the region at
Jirapa, attracted bishops
Ghana's
Catholic
Bishops'
Conference has been asked to soften its from other parts of the country, priests
stance against the use of condoms. The and fellows of the church from the
Upper West Regional Minister, Northern and Upper East Regions. Mr
Ambrose Dery said "condom is the wea- Dery, a Catholic himself, quoted verses
pon to fight HIV/AIDS." Addressing the from the Holy Bible to support his posiclergy at the zonal centenary celebration tion.
He said: "Abstinence and faithfulness
are about perfection but in view of the
fact that the human being is fallible, the
church should rethink its position and
preach the use of condom to its followers to help bring the spread of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic to the barest minimum." Reacting to Mr. Dery's appeal,
the Catholic Bishop of Damongo in the
Northern Region, the Most Reverend
Philip Naame said: "For the church to
approve condom use is tantamount to or
a recipe for wrong-doing."He said the
church had very good reasons for prea-
ching against condom use because "we
are to train people to live morally
upright lives." "Preaching condom use
means authorization of sexuality for all
including JSS pupils. Is that what we
want?" Bishop Naame asked. A survey
conducted about three years ago, the
bishop said, showed that 98 per cent of
people who were not faithful before
marriage are never faithful after marriage."If you really believe in the Holy
Spirit then you should be able to abstain
from sex until you are married and be
faithful to your partner after marriage".
EC to re-open Voters' Register this year
Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC)
would re-open the Voters' Register in
the last quarter of 2007. Considering
the amount of work EC has to do to prepare the grounds for a free and fair election, it said that funds allocated for its
work in the 2007 fiscal year was woefully inadequate, GNA reported.
This is contained in the report of the
Special Budget Committee on the 2007
budget estimates of the EC presented to
Parliament in December. Mr Felix
Owusu-Adjapong,
Minister
for
Parliamentary Affairs moved a motion
for the approval of 41.7 billion cedis for
the services of the EC. "In addition to
the general election, the EC would also
conduct a bye-election early next year
in the Fomena Adansi Constituency and
it is important to be prepared for it," the
report said.
The report said the EC informed the
Special Budget Committee that its 2007
personnel emoluments budget allocation was less than requested and the
Commissioner expressed apprehension
about the consequences of the situation
considering the amount of work to be
undertaken before December 2008.
"For personnel emoluments the EC
requested 30.67 billion cedis but has
been allocated only 22.08 billion
cedis," it said.
12
January 2007
IN NIGERIA THIS MONTH
The World Bank has approved a US$
180 million interest-free credit for
Nigeria to boost the fight against malaria. Nigeria suffers some of the most
severe human and economic costs from
malaria worldwide. The new project
will support Nigeria's National Malaria
Control Program in its efforts to halve
the country's malaria deaths by 2010.
Nigeria is the eleventh African country
so far to receive help from the World
Bank's Malaria Control Booster
Program, set up just 15 months ago, to
help African countries reduce the
deaths, illness, and economic losses
caused by malaria on the continent each
year.
"Today's approval of this anti-malaria
project effectively doubles the size of
our Malaria Booster Program which is
ambitious, but essential," said Paul
Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank
Group. "Perhaps even more important
than the size of the commitment is the
coordination of all anti-malaria efforts
and the tracking of results in the field
that sets this program apart. We must all
work to coordinate our efforts and measure results so that we can rid this plague which is killing a million people a
year worldwide, most of them children."
A statement issued by the World
Bank said that the Bank's project will
assist the Nigerian National Malaria
Control Program to carry out a massive
scaling up of proven interventions
against malaria such as ensuring that
people who are vulnerable to the
mosquito-borne disease sleep under
insecticide treated bed nets, together
with more effective prevention, diagnosis and case management. It will focus
World Bank
Nigeria receives $180 Million
to fight against Malaria
Eyitayo Lambo, Nigeria's Minister of Health and Chair of the
Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board meets with World Bank
President Paul Wolfowitz
on increasing malaria protection for vulnerable groups, such as children and
pregnant women.
The Bank's project will also help the
National Program mobilize the private
sector,
Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs), and communitybased organizations, to expand access to
sustainable malaria services for local
communities.
"Malaria is the single leading cause
of illness and death in Nigeria; it is both
a cause and a consequence of poverty",
said Eyitayo Lambo, Nigeria's Minister
of Health and Chair of the Roll Back
Malaria Partnership Board. "This
scourge which is destroying the future
generations of Nigeria can be defeated
by the collective efforts of Nigerians
and their development partners. I am
happy that through this project, the
World Bank has swiftly responded to
government's call for assistance on
behalf of the Nigerian people", he
added.
The World Bank's Malaria Control
Booster Program helps African countries in their efforts to control and reduce deaths from malaria and also supports strengthening of the broader health
system. The Booster Program puts
emphasis on measurable results, while
enabling pursuit of flexible approaches
and partnerships with civil society organizations and other groups.
"Since the launch of the Booster
Program about 15 months ago, the
Bank's Board of Directors has approved
11 projects supporting malaria control
in Africa for a total of over US$350 million, a clear sign of our renewed commitment to support African countries in
their fight against this disease", said
Yaw Ansu, Director of Human
Development in the Africa Region of
the World Bank.
"The Nigeria Malaria Control
Booster Project represents an important
step in the already close collaboration
between the World Bank and Global
Fund in the fight against malaria," said
Mabingue Ngom, West and Central
Africa Cluster Leader for the Global
Fund. "It also demonstrates the ability
of development agencies to mobilize
their respective strengths to support the
efforts of African countries to reduce
deaths and suffering from malaria."
"Nigeria must get more serious
about the fight against HIV/AIDS"
Nigerian Government has been advised to urgently review the nation's
health policies. Ms. Hajia Sherifah
Yusuf-Ajibade, National Co-ordinator
of the outreach organ of Al-Muminaat
(the Believing Women) Organisation,
the Al-Mu'minaat Social Advocacy
Project (SAP), said "without mincing
words, Nigeria government will need to get
more serious about the
fight against HIV/AIDS
and our general health service delivery," This Day
reported.
She went on to say that
"there is indeed a serious
need for massive awareness campaign about
HIV/AIDS at the grassroots. There is need for
improved access to drugs
and treatment. There is
equally the need for legislation to protect the rights
of people living with Aids
(PLWA). Before now,
several statistics have indicated that the Nigerian
youths are increasingly
being infected with the deadly disease.
While the growth of AIDS is declining
in some advanced countries, it is growing in Africa, particularly in South
Africa and Nigeria".
"Moreover, there is an urgent need
for the review of our health policies.
Primary health service must essentially
be deplored free to reduce mortality rate
among Nigerians. The health of the old
and the young must be the responsibility of the government," she said.
She also advised the government to
outlaw prostitution but at the same time
provide employment opportunities as
most ladies who engage in the trade
were forced into the immoral act by the
need to make both ends meet.
Ms Yusuf-Ajibade said schools, religious institutions and the parents must
all work together to inculcate moral rectitude in Nigerian children. Nigeria cannot afford to lose its promising youths to
HIV/AIDS, she said.
She appealed to the Government to
explore herbal medicine saying it could
provide a cheaper cure for the people.
"While we condemn undue claims by
some traditional and orthodox doctors,
we nonetheless believe that there are
some doctors that are sincere and are
already working on the cure of AIDS.
Government needs to find out all these
and support them as their findings could
be another source of foreign exchange
for the nation", she added.
Referring to a survey they carried out
in 2004 on the level of HIV/AIDS awa-
reness and prevalence among the
Muslim women in Ibadan and Lagos,
Ms. Yusuf-Ajibade said the results showed that the level of HIV/AIDS awareness among Muslim women was low.
"Less than 35 per cent of sampled
women were aware of the deadly disease. Among those who were aware of the
disease, the cause is put down to sex
with prostitutes and unknown persons.
Thus men and women within the same
environment still engaged in promiscuity and patronages of herbalists.
Administration of incision was then prevalent in local areas or suburbs in particular.
"Among old Muslim women (from
50 and above), more than 80 per cent of
the sampled population did not know
the symptoms of HIV/AIDS and about
90 per cent did not know government
activities aimed at curtailing the deadly
diseases. Ignorant treatment of
HIV/AIDS with wrong medicine is evident among these people. But this is not
too surprising as those women are largely illiterate market-women. There is
essentially paucity of information about
HIV/AIDS among them", she said.
THE WESTERN UNION
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service, it only takes a few minutes* to
make the money you send available for
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SPEED
14
IN NIGERIA THIS MONTH
January 2007
Tracking bird flu in Nigeria
In the small, dusty village of Birnin
Yero all of Ibrahim Alkeri's eight chickens have died in the past month.
Some of his neighbours have also
lost their fowl. It could be a seasonal flu
that often affects birds during the cool,
dry months, some villagers say. Others
fear the return of the deadly H5N1 avian
flu virus that decimated their poultry
stock 11 months ago.
"The chickens were all I had," said an
old woman who gave her name as
Amina. "Because I'm too old to go to the
farm, I usually sold the fowl to buy
some grain for myself and my grandchildren. But I lost all," she said, referring to the last January outbreak.
Birnin Yero is next to Sambawa
Farms in northern Kaduna State where
Africa's first case of bird flu was discovered early last year. Across Africa, bird
flu has hit Nigeria, the continent's most
populous country, hardest. It has also
been found in several other African
countries, including Niger, Cameroon,
Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Egypt,
Sudan and Djibouti.
With the potential for new outbreaks,
the Nigerian Agriculture Ministry, backed by the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) and the European
Union, has set up a new surveillance
scheme to help track avian flu across the
country.
Some 600 Nigerian animal health
officers have been trained and equipped
with protective clothing to carry out
tests in poultry farms and villages across
the country in the coming weeks, according to Junaid Maina, Nigeria's director
of livestock and pest control.
Poultry go unchecked
Delegates to an international conference on avian flu held in Mali in
December warned that poor surveillance in developing countries could lead to
large-scale outbreaks of the virus that
could destroy poultry and livelihoods.
cial requirements reporting and culling
by government veterinary teams. But
even the compensation process has run
into problems, with payments stopped
in July after the government department
in charge ran out of funds, Maina said.
Poverty inspires fear
Sambawa Farms, where Nigeria's first cases of bird flu were
detected earlier last year
Health experts also want to stem the
spread of avian flu to prevent the virus
from mutating to a form that can easily
pass between humans and possibly kill
millions of people worldwide.
After the first cases of bird flu were
discovered at Sambawa Farms last
January, the virus appeared to have
spread quickly through Birnin Yero and
to other regions of Nigeria. In the next
eight months H5N1 was reported in 14
of Nigeria's 36 states.
"While in some states the virus disappeared, in some others, like Kaduna and
Lagos, there were renewed outbreaks,"
said Timothy Obi, who heads the FAO's
bird flu team in Nigeria. "We don't
know if it is re-infection or continuation
of previous outbreaks."
The last officially confirmed cases of
avian flu were reported near Nigeria's
biggest city, Lagos, in September. But
veterinary officials are unwilling to give
Nigeria a clean bill of health because
many vulnerable places across the country, such as Birnin Yero, have yet to be
carefully checked for the virus.
Nigeria responded to the initial outbreaks with massive culling. Nearly one
million birds have been slaughtered
across the country by government veterinary teams, mostly on big commercial
farms. The government has so far rejected the use of vaccines, although largescale poultry farmers are privately
buying them.
Compensation after the outbreaks
earlier last year was paid mainly to the
big commercial farms because they
were the ones that complied with offi-
How to effectively provide compensation to poultry farmers was high on
the agenda at the Mali conference.
International agencies were trying to
raise up to US $1 billion to help fund the
fight against bird flu and were pledged
US $475 million in December. Much of
that is expected to go to Africa.
Animal health workers see compensation as key to encouraging reporting
of poultry deaths, and fear its shortcomings may be causing under-reporting
of avian flu in many parts of Nigeria.
"We have heard of people choosing
to sell off their sick birds for fear they
may not be paid compensation if they
report," one veterinary official, who did
not want to be named, told IRIN.
Small-scale poultry farmers are the
most vulnerable. The FAO estimates
that they oversee more than 60 percent
of Nigeria's 140 million poultry.
Several Birnin Yero residents said
they usually made a meal of their birds
to cut their losses once they showed
signs of terminal sickness. And they
have not reported the recent poultry
deaths because they were not included
in previous compensation payments
and, therefore, said they fail to see how
they will benefit from reporting to
government officials they perceive as
uncaring.
"At some point some officials came
here to take blood samples from the
birds and some of us, and this raised our
hope we'll be paid," said Usman Yahaya
of Birnin Yero. "But we never saw them
again."
By IRIN
Kalu: Nigerian Governors fear Obasanjo more than creator
"It is high time
for all of us to show
patriotism no matter
our position in the
society. There are a
lot of things that are
wrong with this
country and we
should be courageous enough to point
them out so that
Nigeria can move
forward"
Governor Orji Uzor
Kalu
Many
Nigerian
Governors fear President
Olusegun Obasanjo and
cannot face him to tell
him the truth about the
problem of his administration, Governor Orji
Uzor Kalu of Abia State
has said. According to
Vanguard reports, some
of the governors are more
fearful of the president
than their creator. Mr.
Kalu said the nation
could not move forward
unless people had courage to tell the truth. "It is
high time for all of us to
show patriotism no matter our position
in the society. There are a lot of things
that are wrong with this country and we
should be courageous enough to point
them out so that Nigeria can move forward," he said.
Mr. Kalu said he was not afraid of
being impeached. He, however, warned
that nobody can use illegal means to
remove him as had been done in some
states noting that the recent gale of
impeachments were done with no regard
for democratic norms.
The undemocratic impeachments, he
said, were making mockery of the country in the comity of nations citing what
happened in Plateau State where a handful of legislators impeached Governor
Dariye. He urged Nigerians to wait on
the Lord over happenings in the country
to salvage the situation as he did in the
past.
"What President Obasanjo is doing
today, Nebuchadnezzar did it, God punished him; Pharaoh who did the same got
punished. Even king Abacha also tried
the same and was punished. So it is only
people of little faith that will not wait
for what the Lord can do" he said.
Mr. Kalu who plans to vie for presidency on the platform of the Progressive
Peoples Alliance (PPA) warned those
planning to rig this year's election that
Nigerians were ready to protect their
votes with the last drop of their blood.
Nigeria amongst the worst in settling commercial disputes
Nigeria is one of the worst countries
in the world in contract enforcement, a
study by the World Bank and DFID of
UK has revealed. The report classifies
Nigeria as one of the worst countries in
the world when it comes to settling of
commercial dispute.
Settling a basic contractual dispute
through the court system takes 730
days, the report reveals. "With a huge
backlog of cases in the formal judicial
system, only large firms can afford to
use the system. The costs including the
time needed to settle, vastly outweigh
the potential benefits for the majority of
plaintiffs.
"This is compounded by outdated
legislation that inhibits modern business
activity and practices. Legal and court
reform as well as improvements to ADR
are at a relatively early stage. Going forward, scaling up successful ADR pilot
programmes would be important and
easily realisable. Reviews aimed at revi-
sing or repealing key business legislation would be useful as well. The introduction of effective case management
including through computerisation, is
critical. Building the capacity of key
legal and paralegal staff will be an
important factor over time in strengthening contract enforcement."
AFRICANS IN EUROPE
January 2007
A cross section of the Kenyans at the Investment Forum
Kenyan Government will
tap remittances from Kenyans
living abroad to fill the five per
cent budget deficit from this
year.
Addressing the conference
dubbed "Kenyans4kenya Kenya Diaspora Investment
Forum 2006" in London on 9th
December, Finance minister
Amos Kimunya revealed that
the Government is currently
funding more than 95 per cent
of all public sector expenditures from internal resources.
Kenyans living abroad, he said,
would contribute the deficit of
five per cent from this year,
hinting that donor funding
would not be factored at all.
More than 1,000 Kenyans
attended the conference at the
Congress Centre in London.
Making a presentation on
the various reforms and successes achieved through the
Economic Recovery Strategy
(ERS), Mr Kimunya said "We
have sealed loopholes through
which people previously evaded tax, and have instituted
reforms and legal measures that
broaden the tax dragnet, so that
financing for public expenditure is largely drawn from internal resources."
"The Diaspora is a significant constituency that we want
to tap into to bridge the deficit,"
he said.
It is estimated that the
Kenyan Diaspora remits close
to $600 million every year to
their
families
and
for
Investment purposes. There are
about 60,000 Kenyans studying, living and working in
the UK.The Chairman of the
Kenya Private Sector Alliance
(KEPSA), Mr Lee Karuri, said
the association was in the process of establishing chapters in
the UK, United States, South
Africa and Asia for a more
structured contribution by
Diaspora Kenyans.
Nairobi Stock Exchange
Chairman, Mr Jimnah Mbaru,
said the volume of business at
the NSE had increased tenfold
over the last three years.
"Several investors have become millionaires during a
period where returns plus
divided peaked at just
over 38 per cent," he said.
The Government was,
however, challenged by
Mr Gabriel Rwamba and
Mr Sam Ochieng' to first
understand the immigrant
community's challenges
in order to successfully
tap their resources.
The conference was
aimed at mobilizing the
Kenyans in the Diaspora
for greater investment in
their mother country,
gathering and disseminating relevant information
to the Diaspora groups
and individuals, educating them on the key sectors that they could
increase their investments, showcasing suc-
cess stories, and
providing an in
depth understanding of the ongoing
investments, challenges, opportunities from the perspective of the
Diaspora. It was
organised by the
Commonwealth
Secretariat
and
AfricaRecruit-an
initiative of the
New Partnership
for
African
Development.
According a survey by the UK's
Department
for
International
Development
(DFID) early last
year, African countries are becoming
more
heavily
reliant on the stable
foreign direct investment and the increasing
remittances from its indigenous
population abroad as a source
of finance.
Remittances from abroad
form the second largest flow of
resources to developing countries after Foreign Direct
Investments (FDIs). In the UK
in particular, four out of 10
remitting households are
African, with the continent
accounting for 38 percent of all
outbound UK remittances.
"Several experiences elsewhere, including in Sierra
Leone, have demonstrated that
the Diaspora people can make a
difference to their home country as an investment destination
if they are well informed of the
existing opportunities and
underlying investment policies
and frameworks," said Dr Titi
Banjoko,
the
Executive
Director of AfricaRecruit.
The conference was attended by Investment Secretary,
Ms Esther Koimett, Kenyan's
High Commissioner to the UK,
Mr Joseph Muchemi, Attorney
General, Mr Amos Wako,
Shadow Finance Minister, Mr
Billow Kerrow and other highranking Government, opposition and civil society figures.
MISTERSEED
MISTERSEED
Kenyan Govt seeks aid
of Kenyans living abroad
15
Kenya's Finance minister Amos Kimunya
AFRUCA launches new film on child trafficking
SEND US YOUR STORIES
Do you have a story to share with our readers?
Are you planning for a community function
(wedding, naming ceremony, graduation, cultural festival, independence celebration, etc)?
Please send us reports of these activities and we
will publish them in Africa News. Address your
reports to: The Editor, Africa News, Via
Maroso, 50, CAP 00142 Rome, Italy. E-mail:
Tel +39-06-87410531. Fax +39-06-87410528.
A new short
film has been
launched to raise
awareness of the
rise in the trafficking of African
children to the
UK. The film
which was produced by AFRUCA
(Africans Unite
Against
Child
Abuse),
kickstarts the campaign
against
Child-trafficking
into the UK, an
exercise that has
been carried out
by the charity
since 2001.
Several European based African TV
networks are expected to show the film
in the coming weeks.
AFRUCA is an organisation concerned about cruelty against the African
Child. They are the premier organisation
promoting the welfare of African children in the UK. They also work in partnership with other organisations in
Africa and across Europe.
The Executive Director of AFRUCA
Ms Modupe Debbie Ariyo is a Nigerian
living in the UK. She has dedicated her
life to actively campaigning against the
abuse of African children. "Child abuse
takes many forms although I am particularly bothered about the prevalence of
the sexual abuse of girls. Most of the
abuse our children face are embedded
within our social constructs. Often, it is
a taboo to talk about never mind chal-
lenging such issues. This means that the
work that I do goes against the status
quo, but for me, this is necessary if
changes are to happen. This is the key
role of AFRUCA."
Ms Modupe Debbie Ariyo, Executive
Director of AFRUCA
16
AFRICANS IN EUROPE
January 2007
The African Community Conference
in Dessau, Germany is hosting a
Conference to call to an end to what the
organisers term the "racist Police
Killings and Criminalisation of Africans
and Blacks in Germany."
The Conference which takes place on
6th January 2007 is coordinated by The
African Community ConferenceDessau with the participation of
African-Black Community.
A statement issued by the organisers
of the conference states that "Within the
last few years, the African community
in Germany has been on the streets to let
their voices heard in relation to the laxity of the German executive, judiciary
and legislative bodies to speedily bring
to justice "hate crimes" like racism committed against a black man. An example
is the case of Oury Jallow who was killed in the police cell in Dessau."
According
to
The
African
Community Conference-Dessau, two
years ago, Oury Jallow was locked up
after severe beatings from the Dessau
police officers in the cell and the cell
later went into flames. Though the police officers were present, none rescued
Oury Jallow. On the contrary, the sound
of the alarm was reduced and Oury
Jallow burnt to death, they say.
The African community is convinced
that the police of Dessau killed Oury
Jallow. “We are calling for a speedy
action against the police perpetrator of
this act in front of justice and not to use
Marco del Pra'/Umbruch-Bildarchiv
African Community Conference
in Dessau demands justice
the old strategy of "shying away". This
old strategy of shying away from racist
crimes committed against Africans and
other black people living in Germany
has promoted and escalated police brutality against Africans and other blacks
in Germany," says The African
Community Conference-Dessau.
The organisation holds that "it is of
the interest of the German government
to downplay the existence of Africans
and other black people in Germany and
to hide the long standing relationship of
exploitation like slavery and colonialism Germany has had in Africa that has
robbed Africa and its people from their
riches and forced them to migrate."
The African Community ConferenceDessau, however, warns that the African
community will continue to pressurise
the German authorities to pay attention
to the hate crimes committed against
Africans and other blacks living in
Germany. "The police in Dessau and the
judiciary do not provide effective
protection to Africans and blacks
in their jurisdiction. The duties of
institutions like the police and the
judiciary entail a wide range of
duties: speedy investigation and
handling of complaints of racist
discrimination,
counselling
public and private authorities and
the creation of awareness in the
public of the existence of
Africans and blacks in this society."
The organisation holds that the
police and the courts are not functioning as expected. "They
indulge in very slow procedure
when it is against an African or a
black. They play the role of portraying Africans and blacks as
criminals of their society that
should be excluded and discriminated upon."
The conference will commemorate the brutal death of Oury
Jalloh and other African victims
of racism.
The African Community ConferenceDessau demands a speedy court procedure of the death of Oury Jallow, calls
for the stop of police brutality and appeals for the protection of Africans like
any other individual living in Dessau. It
also calls for the right of residence to
those Africans who have been refused
their rights.
Ugandan gay rights activist struggles to stay in UK
AGAVE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCCIATION
www.agavedev.org
Annual Fundraising Event
in aid of
Primary Health Care Development
in the
Agave District (South Tongu – Volta Region)
@
BRIXTON TOWN HALL
Tickets
£ 20.00
pp
ACRE LANE SW2
Tickets
Saturday 24th February 2007
8:00 pm – 2:00 am
£ 20.00
pp
Come and help us achieve this goal!
Let’s see you there! You can’t afford to miss this event!!
Side attractions!!!
Good music, good and
tasty traditional
dishes from Agave
Traditional Area,
Raffles, plus lots of
fun
RSVP
Frank 079 7111 1780
Gladys 0208 531 4764
Anthony 079 5152 5713
How to get there!
Nearest Tube: Victoria Line to Brixton Station
Buses: 2, 35, 37, 40, 133, 156, 159, 333
After enduring torture and
imprisonment in Uganda and
hardship in detention at
Harmondsworth removal centre, a gay rights activist is still
struggling to stay in the UK.
AFTER enduring the loss of
family members and extreme
persecution in his native country,
mistreatment, detention and
abuse in the UK, as well as a previous attempt to have him deported, Kizza Musinguzi, a gay
rights activist from Uganda is
once again struggling for his
right not to be sent back to a
country that has openly stated
that he 'will be crushed' if he
returns.
Although persecuted for being
a prominent gay-rights activist,
his family has also been targeted
for
supporting
democratic
reforms in the country. His
father, after seeking to contest a
parliamentary seat in a constituency that was held by a government minister, was murdered in
1997. His mother and sister, who
were working with the opposition movement, the Reform
Agenda, were arrested in
September 2001 and haven't been
heard of since. Then Kizza himself was arrested in 2004 and
endured four months of imprisonment during which he was
tortured and raped.
After arriving in London,
Kizza was detained in the
Harmondsworth removal centre
from May to November 2005,
during which time he alleges that
staff racially and homophobically abused him as a 'n*****' and
'batty boy'. He alleges that he was
denied medical treatment for the
effects of rape and torture, he had
to go through the asylum system
without legal representation, he
says he his asylum papers and
asthma inhaler were confiscated
and was subject to an unwarranted internal anal examination,
and an attempt was made to
deport him without his being served with a removal order.
Having no solicitor and no
knowledge of the UK legal
system, and being detained and
unable to gather evidence to support his asylum claim, he failed
at every hearing. He was forced
to represent himself in an appeal
against refusal of asylum and to
write his own application for a
statutory review of his case.
On 21 September 2005, the
Home Office attempted to deport
Kizza, despite him having made
a fresh claim for asylum based on
new evidence and despite the fact
that he alleges he was never served with a removal order. Kizza
was narrowly saved through the
intervention of Labour MP, John
McDonnell, who got the deportation stopped just as he was about
to be put on a plane at Heathrow
airport.
Now with legal representation, Kizza has applied for judicial review and is out of detention. Neither entitled to any state
benefit, nor allowed to work, he
is dependent on the solidarity of
the social network he has developed since being in the country.
'Despite of all I have been
through I am hoping to make
something of my life and become
an engineer,' Kizza said. 'I am
determined to make my life better. I thank God every day for a
new day and the lovely people
around me who have helped me
through tough life threatening
situations'. He continues his
work promoting awareness of the
human rights abuses and persecution of sexual minorities in
Uganda.
Kizza's ambiguous status puts
him in a very precarious position,
both financially and in terms of
his safety. If deported, he could
meet a horrific fate on his return
to Uganda. A government minister in Uganda wrote in a national
newspaper in May 2006 that if he
returned he 'will be crushed'.
By Kevin Smith
www.irr.org.uk/
AFRICANS IN EUROPE
January 2007
17
Ambassador Baah-Duodu: Invest correctly to reap bumper harvest tomorrow
Ghanaians abroad advised
to invest back home
The power of micro capital
investment should be fully harnessed in Africa to serve as an
accelerator to expand the landscape of the continent's economic development, says
Ghana's new Ambassador to
Switzerland, Mr. Kwabena
Baah-Duodu.
Without making any particular reference to India's success
story on micro credits, the
Ambassador emphasized the
need for greater individual initiative and participation in the
micro economic sector, especially in Ghana, which he
explained, required but little
investment.
Mr. Baah-Duodu, also accredited to Austria, and serving at
the same time as, Ghana's
Permanent Representative to
United Nations in Geneva, was
speaking at a ceremony here,
organized in his honour by the
Ghanaian
community
in
Switzerland, at the Ecumenical
Centre of the World Council of
Churches in Geneva.
The ceremony attended by
Ghanaian residents from allwalks- of- life, was organized
on behalf of the community by
a
group
of
Ghanaian
Evangelists and Technocrats,
belonging to the newly formed
planning committee, charged
with organizing the forthcoming thanksgiving service
and celebration of Ghana's golden jubilee (Ghana's 50-year
anniversary next year.
The Ambassador urged the
Ghanaian community not to
shy away from engaging acti-
Ghana's Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Kwabena
Baah-Duodu
vely in existing Ghana's laudable investment opportunities,
adding, "It is better to invest
correctly to enable you to reap
bumper harvest on your investment tomorrow, as one would
one day retire from service."
Mr. Baah-Duodu hinted that
Ghana's stock exchange is booming with attractive results and
urged them to exploit its benefits adding "the DATA bank is
also there, providing investors
with proper management of
their funds and they can better
serve the interest of Ghanaians
living abroad."
He repeated that the government, headed by Mr. J.A.
Kufour, has already initiated
flexible investment programs
to attract investors and urged
Ghanaians in the Diaspora to
also explore the field to participate actively in the sector.
Concerning the running of
the mission, Mr. Baah-Duodu
assured Ghanaian residents of
his office's maximum cooperation in finding redress to their
problems.
Meanwhile, Five committees-exhibition, concert, food and
drinks, promotion and publicity, finance and fundraising-have been set up by the
Planning committee charged
with organizing the Ghana golden jubilee, to plan and work
towards the celebration.
In its interim report, the
committee says, it is highly
considering the idea of getting
the out-going United Nations
Secretary General, Mr. Kofi
Annan, to open the first day of
the exhibition. It was also
discussed to get Michael
Essien, ace Ghanaian football
player in England in to do some
autographs on one of the exhibition days.
The committee says, it has
also been informed by the
Trade Section of the Ghana
Mission in Switzerland that
they would not be interested in
holding a parallel exhibition in
Zurich if we were planning one
here in Geneva, and "that they
would support whatever we
came up with".
The entertainment committee in its report hinted that, contact has been made with the
well-known Ghanaian musician Kojo Antwi to perform in
Geneva. In its report, it also
indicated that contact has been
made with Meiway, a popular
French language musician to
play, adding "negotiations are
still ongoing with both artistes
and Kojo Antwi has confirmed
that his band could support
Sidney if we negotiated a fee
with him (Sidney)".
In the finance and fund raising committee report, it says
concerns about lack of cash
flow for the program was raised and in view of this the planning committee members have
agreed that it was important to
show commitment by way of
voluntary
contributions.
Participants pledged CHF 1000
each, adding "this money will
be refunded after the celebrations."
"As a follow-up, an account
in the name of Golden Ghana
has been opened with Post
Finance and the Promotions
and Publicity Committee were
able to set up a website:
www.goldenghana.ch
Earlier, the Ambassador
urged all Ghanaian residents
and friends, to contribute wholesomely to the fund, to help
make the celebration a success.
By Kwaku Boatin,
Geneva
Zimbabwean asylum seekers call for “true
democracy and non discriminatory justice”
Zimbabwean asylum seekers in the
UK in December presented a petition to
the Chief Immigration Officer at Dallas
Court calling for parliamentary debates
on immigration rules/regulations not to
be motivated by the politics of the
government but to reflect "true democracy and non discriminatory justice."
A statement issued by the organisers
of
the
demonstration
said
"Zimbabweans who have had nasty
experiences in the country have escaped
to other countries of which the United
Kingdom is one. They have come to the
UK from various backgrounds, but the
majority of Zimbabweans have fled
from this kind of persecution in one way
or another.
"Some may not have sought asylum
when they came because they didn't
know how to, some may have been too
afraid to trust authority especially given
the nasty experiences back home.
Others may not have been very active in
Zimbabwe because they could have
been too afraid to do so but once in UK
they have helped the Zimbabwean cause
tremendously by engaging the government of Zimbabwe through the protest
that have taken part in this country,
through participation at Zimbabwe
Virgil that takes place every Saturday
outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in
London."
Many asylum seekers across Greater
Manchester are obliged to report periodically at Dallas Court not knowing if
they will ever see their friends, family
and children there again. “If they will be
one of those detained and taken away
for deportation with nothing other than
the clothes they stand up in. Some destitute so-called "failed" asylum seekers
who are unable to leave the UK immediately receive food vouchers but no
cash support, so they have no money for
travel to Dallas Court to report. Some
are old and infirm, or sick, yet are
expected to walk up to a 25-mile radius
to get to Dallas Court.”
The HM Inspector of Prisons (HMIP)
described the detainee holding room at
Dallas Court as "unfit for purpose: a cramped and shabby room
was used to hold men, women
and children", that there is "No
child protection policy in place,
and staff likely to be in contact
with children had not undergone
enhanced Criminal Records
Bureau (CRB) checks" and that
"knowledge of evacuation procedures, for detainees and staff,
was insufficient".
"A young woman was held in
the holding room who had
miscarried a few days previously. She had been collected from a
hospital following psychiatric referral,
had not eaten for three days and had to
be helped to and from the van. She was
subject to a live F2052SH self-harm
monitoring form because she kept
asking for her baby and said she wanted
to die. Having been delivered to the holding room in the morning, she was not
due to be collected by another vehicle
until more than six hours later. Apart
from staff who had received first aid
training, there was no on-site healthcare".
HM Inspector of Prisons report on
Dallas Court, 'Short Term Holding
Centres' Detainees may be taken from
Dallas Court to a detention facility at
Manchester Airport where according to
the HMIP, there are inadequate fire safety procedures and detainees can be held
up to seven days in windowless, poorly
ventilated accommodation.
18
January 2007
AFRICANS IN EUROPE
Youth Day in Italy puts
Ghana's culture on show
Ghanaians in Reggio Emilia,
Italy, organised one of the biggest youth events ever seen in
the city titled 'THE FIRST
YOUTH DAY FIESTA'.
The occasion was expected
to revolve around speeches,
counselling, music and some
sort of refreshments but it went
further than that. Gospel music,
speeches, counselling, talents
shows, a traditional durbar of
the chief and people in Ghana,
modelling in Ghanaian cultural
clothes, story telling and jokes,
refreshment, all rolled into one
the event which characterised it
as the greatest youth event by
foreign nationals in the city.
Organised under the auspices of the Ghana Association in
Reggio Emilia, an estimated
number of 250 Ghanaian youth
and parents, foreign nationals,
the Italian local press were in
the main Hall of Don Bosco,
few kilometres from the city
centre, to witness the event.
Special guest of honour was
Ghana's new Ambassador to
Italy, His Excellency Charles
Agyei-Amoama. He did not
stay for long at the function as
he has to attend another engagement being organised by the
Ghanaian
community
in
Brescia, 100 km away.
But
the
Honourable
Statesman and his entourage
may regret not seeing the
events that followed their
departure. He had on earlier
called on the Ghanaian youth to
retain and maintain the
Ghanaian culture saying culture gives people their identity.
"Your country must not be forced on anyone abroad rather
should come naturally with
pride. You must be good
Ambassadors of Ghana and be
prepared to trade Ghanaian culture with loyalty, dedication
and zeal, this way you will
grow and take the rightful place
in the society," he told them.
He also urged the youth to
integrate into the Italian society
putting it that they can do that
by adopting the Italian culture
but he asked them to observe
the good and the bad side of
their culture and take the good
ones. The President of the
Association, Hastings Osei
Anokye, in his opening
remarks extended a warm welcome to the Ambassador,
Presidents of the various
Associations, Pastors, elders of
the various churches and to all
the participants.
He pointed out that the new
Executive Board of the Reggio
Emilia Association was sworn
in barely a year ago and among
the aims they lined up was to
bring many Ghanaians as possible like a big family, to use
every communication tool to
educate and inform all
Ghanaians of the legal and current affairs both in the city and
from Ghana and to
create a website. He
also indicated the
intention of the
Executives was to
lead the Ghanaian
community to respect
the moral and civil
values of the society
they live in.
He said there was
a plan to form a cultural heritage group
which will expose
Ghana's culture.
Hastings
Osei
Anokye noted there
was the idea to organise programs like
talent shows and
English lessons for
the youth. Most of
these
objectives
according to him
have been achieved
and the Association
can now boast of a
website, www.gnaweb.it where all its'
information could be
obtained.
The
President stated that
the youth of today
have many fears in
the society they live
in and need help and
guidance
through
these rough times.
Some of these
fears he noted is the
worry to make it in
life financially, how
to get a good education, worry over
parents' divorce and
inability to find time
to do everything.
He said: "One of the key
reasons youth are so busy is
that they have so many choices.
They have more choices in
sports, more choices in recreation, more choices in schools
and even more choices in
church but they show little
discernment in making these
choices often refusing to say
'no' to any option. The result is
frustration and sometimes they
are burnt out."
Hastings Osei Anokye told
the parents they cannot leave
the youth to be taught only academically at school or be
taught some good manners in
the church but they have to
train and instruct them since
charity begins at home. He concluded his address saying: "The
time has come for us to join
hands as a big family even
though we come from different
backgrounds. I urge you all
Ghanaian groups in and around
the country to get into the ARK
in organising our youth for the
better."
Other speakers were Pastor
Charles Owusu Afram of the
Latter
Glory
Ministries
International and Pastor Noble
Asante, Assemblies of God
Church in Reggio Emilia.
Rev. Curtis Redmond based
in New York, a close associate
of Pastor Owusu Afram who
accompanied him to the function said people can have
unity through diversity and that
it is good to encourage the
youth to know their history.
"It's important the young people know about their history
and recite it. The church is also
an important place where the
culture of Ghana can be exercised," he said.
He caused laughter and
applause revealing that his
favourite Ghanaian dish is the
local 'banku' (cooked corn
dough) and stew.
With speeches, counselling,
questions and answers over the
stage was set for other remarkable events. Samuel Offei, an
IT expert, gave an account of
the life history of Ghana's first
President,
Dr.
Osagyefo
Kwame Nkrumah. Clad in
Ghana traditional 'kente' cloth
and white top the young man
choice of words, voice and
action was a complete carbon
copy of the late Ghanaian
President. Had he hidden himself behind a screen, he could
have been taken for Dr.
Nkrumah for real. When he
imitated the former Ghanaian
leader on the day of
Independence with these
words, "the independence of
Ghana is meaningless unless it
is linked with the total liberation of the African continent"
participants could only watch
in amazement of his creative
performance.
Then came Wendy Walker,
cutely dressed, spotless and
beautiful. She provided the
audience with the geography
and history of Ghana - position,
population, tribes, minerals,
official language, costume,
food, flag colours, the currency
and the current state of the economy.
The events were proceeded
by drumming and dancing as a
mock durbar of the chiefs and
people in the Ashanti Region of
Ghana were ushered in.
The Chief, Nana Owusu
Sekyere, sat in state and took
some of the moments to dance
with 'kete' and 'adowa' dancers
- two of Ghana traditional dances. The local press didn't want
to miss any of the entertaining
moments flashing their cameras to capture every scene of
the occasion. It was awesome
and as I sat taking keen interest
and soaking myself in the excitements one of the organisers
quipped in my ears, "this is
Reggio Emilia." I understood
him but didn't have the faintest
idea as many as 2,500
Ghanaians live in the city -the
fourth
most
populated
Ghanaian community in Italian
cities after Brescia, Vicenza
and Modena - and it's also a
city noted for the world's most
famous kindergarten.
On gospel music, Florence
Eshun exhibited a kind of performance that could melt any
hardened heart. Her two songs
ecstatically took people off
their seats in dancing and joy.
Another event that added
colour to the occasion was the
fashion show by the youth
displaying various designs and
cuts of Ghana traditional wear.
The Ghanaian community in
Reggio Emilia marketed Ghana
and for the foreign nationals
present it was an occasion to
know something about the
country. For the Ghanaian
youth who were nowhere in the
world when Ghana obtained
independence, it was like going
back to the roots and they experienced the cultural values of
their country.
By Reggie Tagoe in Reggio
Emilia
READERS’ PAGE
Africa, a gold mine for
the developed countries
Africa has always been referred to as ders are still slaves to the Western
the Dark Continent. A place inhabited powers. They become obedient servants
by savages, a continent ravaged by and never question their foreign policies
wars, hunger and Aids, where people even when they are harsh for the fear of
live in caves and treetops. A continent being victimized or not enjoying their
occupied by ferocious animals. For the support. It is a dark continent because
ordinary Westerners the mere mention we have not learnt to make use of our
of the name Africa calls to mind the God given brain, abundant capacities
image of helpless, incapacitated and and natural resources to develop the
unthinking black men and women potentials of our people and our society
without food and houses and who thereby asserting our independence and
depend heavily on the generosity of the freeing ourselves from the shackles of
perpetual slavery and exploitation from
developed countries.
The Western media have played a the Western countries.
It is a high time we Africans got to
key role in promoting this negative
know that the so-called first world is not
image of Africa.
While Africa in a literary sense is a sincere in their dealings with Africa.
dark continent for an ordinary There is always a discrepancy with what
Westerner who relies on the information they say and do. When military rule was
from the media, it becomes a goldmine the order of the day in Nigeria, many
and a virgin land for African and countries in the world unanimously conWestern leaders who collaboratively demned it and pledged a return to demofeed directly from the blood of Africans cracy but the funniest thing is that those
thereby bringing Africa closer to the countries that were outstanding in the
exaggerated picture or image the deve- fight against military rule were the
countries that kept the stolen wealth for
loped countries paint about it.
the military presiIt is a dark contidents and governors.
nent for the feebleYet they publicly
minded ordinary
condemned
them
Westerner but a fatand reaffirmed their
tening ground for
to
many countries of We have to re-examine our commitment
restore democracy.
the world. The convalues
and
face
the
chalThey admit their
cept of darkness as
lenges of making Africa
sons, daughters and
it is attributed to
African continent what it should be. We have relatives in their unihas a positive con- to wake up from our mental versities, manufactuthe most comfornotation for the
slumber, make use of our re
table and expensive
Western countries'
God given rationality and cars and air jets for
base on their undergrant them
ground activities in
talents, and make use of them,
entrances for mediAfrica. It is a dark
our human and natural
cal check ups and
continent because
resources to improve the holidays and finally
they sneak in and
give many of them
get whatever they
lives of our people.
the go ahead to
want in collaborainvest in the diffetion with our learent sectors of their
ders without being
economy
thereby
noticed or questioned. The massive scrambling for encouraging them to exploit their subAfrican territories and massive expatria- jects all the more.
Where is the money for such invetion of African resources by the West in
the 19th century also bears witness to stments and spending in the foreign
the fact of Africa being a sleeping or lands coming from? Isn't it from Africa?
While they ply into businesses the huge
inert continent.
It is a dark continent because our lea- sums of money deposited in their
SOLUTIONS
various banks by our corrupt leaders
and experience economic progress, the
situation in Africa continues to degenerate. Isn't Africa a goldmine for them?
Knowing fully well that those African
leaders are corrupt and grossly enrich
themselves from the public fund, what
efforts do the Western leaders who parade themselves as custodians of democracy make to discourage them?
The economic situation in Africa
today has made the continent unsuitable
for many professionals and as a result,
the Western countries have seen this as
an opportunity to rid the continent of its
human resources. Reports have shown
that they carefully recruit competent
health personnel from Africa each year.
The International Organization for
Migration lamenting on this massive
drift maintains that about 23,000
African professional health workers
migrate to developed countries each
year, leaving their own stretched health
service in dire straits. This brain drain
according to Ethiopia's Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi, has a two-fold negative
impact, "we lose the expertise that we
need to spur and manage development,
and we also lose the return of the investment we have made in education and
training."
These professionals leave Africa as
vibrant young men and women and
never go back.
The war declared on Africa by the
developed countries at the dawn of slave
trade has taken a different shape. The
only difference is that they have avoided
direct physical assaults and use of coercion but continually feed from the abundance of Africa's natural and human
resources with the help of African leaders. They do this without considering
the disastrous impacts such actions
inflict on Africa as a continent. Africa
has in this way become a deep well filled with human resources where they
can always draw our trained men and
women with ease to strengthen their
economy, taking advantage of the problems in the continent.
Another important point is that
Africa is now synonymous with war.
Revolutionary groups emerge in many
African countries everyday making
January 2007
19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We welcome letters on topical issues,
your experiences, and or comments on
any article you have read in the Africa
News. We will only consider letters sent
to us for publication if they carry the writer's name and address, not necessarily for
publication, but as a sign of good faith.
Address your letters to: The Editor, Africa
News, Via Maroso, 50, CAP 00142 Rome,
Italy, email: africanews@etnomedia.org
or fax +39-06-87410528.
wars inevitable. Have we ever taken
time to ask why and how those revolutionary movements gain access to such
heavy weapons since no country in
Africa produces such weapons? When
the war begins and the people begin to
die, the same people who supplied them
with the guns will be the first to raise
alarm on the level of deaths and abuses
and at the same time advocate for humanitarian services.
Where lies our sincerity in dealing
with others? Must we prioritize and
superimpose our selfish gains over
every other interest while at the same
time paying lip service to the good and
progress of others? It will not be out of
place to note that some countries in the
world directly or indirectly benefit greatly from the wars and social disorders,
which have become the order of the day
in Africa.
Considering, however, the collaborative efforts between our heartless leaders and the developed countries, one
can rightly affirm that the individualistic
and capitalistic colonial rulers work
night and day to render Africa a desolate waste with the aid of our African leaders who have sacrificed the fate of their
subjects to the altar of unbridled quest
for materialism.
While Africa has become a goldmine
for others, it has become a hell for its
inhabitants. Who is to be blamed? The
people who are only interested in what
to get out of it or our leaders who grossly enrich themselves and collaborate
with them to achieve their aims? How
many gadflies do we need to sting us to
consciousness and for how long?
We have to re-examine our values
and face the challenges of making
Africa what it should be.
We have to wake up from our mental
slumber, make use of our God given
rationality and talents, and make use of
our human and natural resources to
improve the lives of our people.
CROSSWORD PUZZLES
Crossword puzzles provided by Bestcrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.
By Ezendu Luke
20
January 2007
ENTERTAINMENT
The Rough Guide To West African Gold
The Big Beat of West Africa
Joyous Sounds from a Golden Era
Artists
Featured:
E.T.
Mensah, Geraldo Pino & The
Heartbeats, Bembeya Jazz,
Dexter Johnson & The
International Band feat. Laba
Sosseh, Celestine Ukwu, Balla
Et Ses Balladins, No. 1 De
Dakar feat. Doudou Sow,
Horoya Band, Super Sweet
Talks, Sir Victor Uwaifo & His
Melody
Maestroes,
Eric
Agyeman, Orchestre Rail Band
De Bamako feat. Salif Keita and
Orchestre Baobab.
The Rough Guide To West African
Gold features music produced in subSaharan West Africa from the late 1950s
up to the early 1980s - a golden era in
African music. With highlife guitars and
horns, Guinean big-band music, early
Senegalese mbalax with its tasty Latin
influences and the funky Afro-beat
sound that shakes the hippest dancefloors across the globe, this is the big beat
of West Africa!
The latest instalment of the Rough
Guide series brings together some choice examples from sub-Saharan Africa's
musical golden age. Between the late
1950s and the early 1980s, political
independence for the countries of the
region coincided with an explosion of
musical creativity encouraged by a spi-
rit of liberation and
exploration.
The
influence of Latin beats,
soul, funk and jazz can
be strongly felt throughout the album, mixed
with traditional styles
and combined to encourage and celebrate a
modern African identity.
The phenomenon of
state-sponsored orchestras demonstrates the
connection
between
political optimism and
musical adventure. Far
from being sterile
government mouthpieces, bands such as
Bembeya Jazz (from
Guinea) and Orchestre
Rail Band de Bamako
(from Mali) retained
their irreverent humour
while projecting the
optimism and pride of
the period. A young
Salif Keita was recruited, along with the rest
of Orchestre Rail Band
De Bamako, to play at the Hotel and
Buffet Bar of Bamako Railway Station.
Salif's vocals combine with echoic guitar and undulating saxophone on 'Mali
Cèbalenw', a track taken from one of six
seminal band albums released by Mali 's
Ministry Of Information.
The Latin influence was of huge
importance during this period and this is
reflected in a number of tracks including
'Manicero' (The Peanut Vendor) by
Dexter Johnson & The International
Band feat. Laba Sosseh and the opening
track, 'Ghana-Guinee-Mali' sees E.T
Mensah embracing the calypso
form for his celebration of those
three countries union following
their independence in the 1960s.
Geraldo Pino's 'Let Them Talk' is
another notable inclusion on the
album. Pino began his career as
Gerald Pine before adopting a
more Latin name along with a
Latin-influenced sound. This
track is a classic example of the
politically conscious lyrics and
heavy Afro funk beat which
influenced Fela Kuti when Pino
first appeared in Nigeria.
Orchestre Baobab are the best
known pioneers of the 1970s1980s Senegalese sound. The
version of their 'Boulmamine'
included here is the original from
1980 with its beautiful layered
guitar sound from Barthelemy
Attisso.
This album contains a data
track that includes an interview
with the compiler Martin
Sinnock, a freelance writer and
broadcaster who specializes in
music from the Congo and West
Africa, and travel information
from 'The Rough Guide To West Africa
book'. He has a column in The Beat
Magazine and his features and photographs can be seen at www.africasounds.com. He presents the monthly
Rough Guide Radio Shows on
www.worldmusic.net/radio.
Queen Mothers condemn use of vulgar language in music
Queenmothers from several parts of
Ghana have expressed indignation at
Ghanaian artistes for the manner in
which they present themselves to the
public, as well as their use of profane
language in almost all their songs,
saying it undermines the cultural heritage of the country.
The use of vulgar language in musical circles lately, and the indecent dressing by certain artistes, whom most
youth emulate as role-models, have
become commonplace in Ghana, seriously tearing apart the dignity of the country's culture.
The queen mothers, led by Nana Ama
Serwaa Bonsu, Queen mother of Kayera
in Brong-Ahafo, converged at Next
TOP CHARTS
Door Beach Resort at Teshie, near
Accra, to officially launch the "Queen
Support Association".
They described clothes and hairstyles
by artistes as a complete deviation from
the decent culture inherited by
Ghanaians. Clad in rich kente and spotting gold ornaments, the queen mothers
said, such dressing by artistes were
foreign and as such, could not be assimilated into Ghana's culture.
They therefore, appealed to the
Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture,
Hon S.K. Boafo, who was the special
guest of honour, to team up with traditional authorities, to fight such waywardness among the youth. The queen
mothers further called on women in the
country not to unnecessarily invest their
incomes in the sewing of funeral costumes, but rather, spend such resources on
the education of their wards.
They additionally called for the
resurrection of certain female puberty
rites as, the "bragro" and "dipo", to help
in the fight against teenage pregnancy.
They promised to support poor
women, especially those who could not
honour their hospital bills, after delivery.
Mr Boafo told queen mothers that
custodians of traditional values, they
were expected to play a meaningful role
in the development of the nation.
He said as a traditionalist, he did not
feel comfortable when the roots of “our
culture is being contaminated with all
sorts of imported cultures, with half-clothed women and profane songs on our
airwaves and TV sets".
Mr Boafo said: “We are gradually
losing our cherished culture and if care
is not taken to preserve it, we, as a
nation will get lost in the crowd.”
He lamented on the use of 'patoa', a
language of Jamaican origin, saying it
was not ideal for the youth. He talked
bitterly about the touching of genitals by
male hip-life artistes on stage and also,
how some female stage dancers presented themselves almost naked.
By Daily Guide, Courtesy of
Ghanamusic.com
ENTERTAINMENT
January 2007
newzimbabwe.com
Zimbabwean
actress thrives
in Hollywood
Zimbabwean actress Benu Mabhena
SHE is barely known in her
home country Zimbabwe, but
Benu Mabhena's acting career has exploded in Hollywood.
Mabhena stars in a new
movie, Blood Diamond, alongside Hollywood royalty,
Leonardo DiCaprio who plays
a calculating, unaffiliated
Zimbabwe-born soldier of fortune named Danny.
The movie began showing in
American cinemas on 8th
December. Powerfully acted
and vividly shot, director
Edward Zwick takes an unflin-
ching look at the brutality of
the African diamond trade.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon
Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly
star as three disparate figures in
1990s Sierra Leone who start
out using each other and end up
wanting to help each other.
But Zimbabweans who have
never heard of Benu would be
wondering just under which
rock she came from. Indeed,
there is nothing to go on -except the fact that this is her
big screen debut. On one website, Benu appears to suggest
that
she
fled
Zimbabwe "for her
life" with her father
four years ago -possibly for political
reasons.
In the public
domain, that's all
there seems to be on
her private life -- at
least for now.
In
Blood
Diamond, Mabhena
plays
Jassie,
Hounsou's
wife
whose children are
in a refugee camp
except one (Causo
Kaypers) who has
been kidnapped and
brainwashed
by
rebels.
She said in an
interview: "I wanted
to do my character
justice, and portray
exactly what happened and how women
felt back then about
their situation also."
Talking about the
moment she met
DiCaprio, a chuckling Benu revealed: "He came
and introduced himself to me
and he is like 'I am Leo' and I
was like 'I know'. And then he
said we hadn't been properly
introduced, and I was like 'I am
Benu'."
DiCaprio, as Zimbabwean
smuggler and ex-mercenary
Daniel Archer, is constantly on
the hunt for the biggest stone
out there. (Speaking impressively in several regional dialects
and accents, DiCaprio is a formidable force of nature. It feels
like the first time he's played a
real man, a dangerous man
who's lived a life and done
destructive things, and for once
his boyish good looks don't get
in the way.)
Hounsou, as fisherman
Solomon Vandy, has been ripped from his home by militaristic rebels and forced to work
in the diamond fields. He happens to have found an exceptional gem -- a pink diamond the
size of a large ice cube -- and
buried it in the ground. (He
always has tremendous presence just standing there silently,
but here Hounsou gets the showiest role of the three as a
husband and father who has no
idea what happened to his
family, and his fear and frustration are overwhelming.)
And Connelly, as American
journalist Maddy Bowen, is
investigating the widespread
violence and corruption that
pervade the diamond industry.
(Connelly can be sly and sexy,
fierce and feisty, but the concocted romance between her
character and DiCaprio's feels
forced.)
Each of these people needs
something from the others at
various times: Daniel needs
Solomon's diamond; Solomon
needs Daniel to help him sell
the diamond to get his family
out of a camp in Guinea; and
Maddy needs them both for a
story she's writing, one she
hopes will stand out from the
rest and open people's eyes
back home to the atrocities she
sees every day.
One such phenomenon is
especially chilling: the methodology of taking young boys
from their homes, putting auto-
21
matic rifles in their tiny hands
and turning them into remorseless killers. This is the fate that
has befallen Solomon's oldest
child, Dia (Kagiso Kuypers),
who's kidnapped and brainwashed to become the same kind
of young, zealous fighter that
tore into his own village and
destroyed his family.
The story of what happens to
boys like Dia would have provided the material for a seriously compelling film of its own.
Difficult as it is to watch, you'd
like to see the subject explored
further. Instead, trying to
rescue him is just one component of the trio's long and
arduous journey.
Daniel and Solomon struggle to survive a tremendously
violent siege on the red-dirt
roads of Freetown, where skinny kids blow up already dilapidated building using shouldermounted rocket launchers. And
as they get closer to the hidden
stone they seek, they also work
together to endure thunderous
air strikes on the diamond
fields where Solomon once
worked.
Whether or not these characters become better people
because of their sacrifices is
irrelevant -- the ultimate point
of "Blood Diamond" is to make
you think twice about where
you buy that engagement ring
or anniversary present.
"Blood Diamond," a Warner
Bros. Pictures release, runs
134 minutes. Three stars out of
four (AP rating)
By newzimbabwe.com
Angola's Príncipe releases new CD
Angolan mucisian Príncipe Venâncio
Filipe Lucungo "Príncipe" has launched
a new CD titled "Nzinga Mbandi".
The 13-track album has songs in
Umbundo (vernacular language),
NEW RELEASES
Portuguese, English and Criolo (Cape
Verdean language), in the music styles
of semba, zouk and sungura.
It was recorded in Luanda and edited
in Lisbon (Portugal). The album featu-
res both Angolan and Cape Verdean singers.
Príncipe told Angola News Agency
that part of the revenues from the sale of
the CD will be donated to Beiral Home
of the elderly. Born in Luanda 31 years
ago, "Príncipe" began his artistic career
whilst 14 years old through the "Rádio
Pio" children's music contest of the
National Radio of Angola.
SPORTS
January 2007
Martins getting used
to the Premiership
AP
22
“I'm trying my best in training, and I'm happy to
be scoring goals. I'm getting used to the
Premiership. I never gave up earlier in the season;
I was just trying to play for the team. I knew if I
did that, the goals would come. We've been playing
well in the last two or three games. Antoine
Sibierski's scored a lot of goals, and now I'm scoring too. I want to play in more games, and I'm
sure I will score more goals. I want to make the
fans happy."
Obafemi Martins
Newcastle's player Obafemi
Martins has promised that the
best of him is yet to come after
scoring from the penalty spot in
a 3-2 victory over Reading in
early December.
After the match, Vanguard
quoted Obafemi to have said
"I'm trying my best in training,
and I'm happy to be scoring
goals.
"I'm getting used to the
Premiership. I never gave up
earlier in the season; I was just
trying to play for the team. I
knew if I did that, the goals
would come.
"We've been playing well in
the last two or three games.
Antoine Sibierski's scored a lot
of goals, and now I'm scoring
too. I want to play in more
games, and I'm sure I will score
more goals. I want to make the
fans happy."
The Nigeria international is
happy to have scored the two
goals for the supporters. "The
manager said to me to try and
attack them, and I was trying
my best to try and do that. And
I need to thank Antoine
Sibierski - he gave me the first
goal.
"Fortunately their goalkeeper was up for the corner kick
for the second goal. Charles
N'Zogbia gave me the ball, and
I took it past their player and
tried my best to score a goal. It
was a good goal, and I was very
happy to score it.
"I thought we played very
well, though when they scored
we were a little bit nervous."
The Newcastle boss Glenn
Roeder is convinced the
Nigeria international will have
proved the snipers wrong by
the end of the season, BBC
Sport reported.
"Before I signed him I'd
obviously seen as much of him
as I could, and from day one in
training he's been scoring spectacular goals," said Roeder.
"The lads took to him
straight away, and that's because he is a very good man to
work with. Since he returned
from injury against Arsenal,
when he frightened (Kolo)
Toure and (William) Gallas the best defensive partnership
in this league - with his pace,
he has become better and better.
"He is like lightning, and in
those first 10 to 12 yards, he
will leave most defenders
behind.
"When we get a break from
playing two games a week although that is not going to be
for a while - it will good to get
him on the training ground and
help him get the best out of that
pace.
"He's also not been able to
strike up a partnership with
anybody because of injuries, so
when that happens, and he gets
used to the environment and
high tempo of the Premiership,
watch out.
"I've warned people who
have not been too complimentary about him to be careful
because when he comes good
he will score goals.
"I feel come the end of the
season we will have seen plenty more goals from him."
Diouf: "Sometimes I need to dive to have a penalty"
Zimbabwe plans to cash in on the
2010 soccer World Cup in South
Africa by constructing two new stadiums, including one in the tourist
resort town of Victoria Falls, to be
offered to visiting teams for practice
sessions. The Zimbabweans will also
be making proposals to the South
Africans to host some of the World
Cup matches if an opportunity is offered -- although this is highly unlikely.
Education, Sport and Culture
Minister Aeneas Chigwedere revealed the plans to Parliament in mid
December. He said: "Apart from
renovating a few stadiums, we are
toying with the idea of constructing
one or two new ones altogether, including one in Victoria Falls."
South Africa is expecting up of 55
000 fans for the 2010 football showpiece, but authorities say the country
can only accommodate19 000 which
has alerted their northern neighbours.
Said Chigwedere: "The rest have to
be accommodated in the neighbouring countries, including us."
The minister added that the government has set up a committee combining his ministry and that of
Environment and Tourism. The committee is set to meet with South
African organisers before Christmas
to discuss how the country can take
advantage of the World Cup. In
September, the European Union (EU)
parliament passed a number of resolutions against Zimbabwe, one of
which said the country must not derive any benefits from the World Cup.
"The Mugabe regime must derive
absolutely no financial benefit or propaganda value from either the run-up
to the 2010 World Cup or the tournament itself," said the resolution.
By Lebo Nkatazo
newzimbabwe.com
Diving to con referees is
common in football and
Bolton's El-Hadji Diouf has
admitted to doing it.
Diouf told the BBC
Sport that he is just being
"very clever" when he
dives in the area in a bid to
win a penalty.
Diouf said: "It's not just
me who dives. If you see
Wayne Rooney, how often
does he dive to get a penalty?
"Sometimes I need to
dive to have a penalty. It's
just football. The best footballer is very clever like
that." Diouf claims his "bad
boy" reputation means his
actions draw more attention
and vitriol that his
Premiership peers.
"Sometimes I dive
because I move my foot
before the guy comes in to
break my leg. Sometimes I
get a free-kick, sometimes I
don't," he added.
"The problem is sometimes the referees are not
very good with me, I've had
penalties and not been
given them.
"I've won some penalties
like that, but how many
penalties has Rooney won
and nothing is ever said
about him? But it is when
it's me. Everybody thinks I
am a bad boy. I have a bad
reputation everywhere in
the world. I know that, but
what is important for me is
that the people I am working with - Sam Allardyce,
the staff and the other players - know I am a nice lad.
"It is just that I have a
bad reputation. I like being
booed, though, and I usually do something early in the
game to get people booing
me."
"It's not just
me who dives.
If you see
Wayne
Rooney, how
often does he
dive to get a
penalty?
Sometimes I
need to dive
to have a
penalty. It's
just football.
The best footballer is very
clever like
that."
AP
Zimbabwe plans to
cash in on World Cup
El-Hadji
Diouf
Sonko signs new contract with Reading
Senegalese
defender
Ibrahima Sonko has signed an
extension to his contract with
Reading, keeping him at the
Madejski Stadium until the
summer of 2010. The 25year-old centre-half's previous deal was due to expire
in June 2008 but he has agreed an extension.
"Ibrahima is a vital player
for us and I am delighted,"
BBC Sport quoted Royals
chairman John Madejski to
have said. "He is an exceptionally good defender and an
equally important presence
off the pitch."
Madejski added: "He will
play a central role in our continued development in the
next few years. He has fantastic loyalty and commitment
to the club, as demonstrated
last season when he turned
down the opportunity of playing in the African Cup of
Nations to help our push for
promotion, and that kind of
attitude is the foundation of
the success we've enjoyed in
recent years."
Sonko joined Reading
from Brentford on a Bosman
transfer in 2004. He has also
previously played for AS
Saint-Étienne and Grenoble
Foot 38 in France.
He was born in Senegal,
but moved to France when he
was six months old. Despite
this, Sonko elected to play for
the Senegal national team. He
has represented Senegal at
U23 level but declined his
call-up to their African Cup of
Nations squad of 2006, opting
instead to help Reading's ultimately successful bid for promotion to the English Premier
League.
Sonko has become a fanfavourite, being nicknamed
Superman for his prodigious
leaps into the air to powerfully head the ball away.
SPORTS
January 2007
23
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Africa secures six places
ment and it would remain this
way until 1982, when they were
given an extra place. In both the
1970 and 1974 tournaments,
Morocco and Zaire (now
Democratic Republic of Congo)
respectively, finished bottom of
their groups.
In 1982, Cameroon and
Algeria qualified for the FIFA
World Cup in Spain. After the
group stages, Cameroon tied in
second place with Italy on
points. Italy advanced due to
goal difference and the Azzurri
eventually became world champions.
Four years later, Morocco
were actually the first African
team to advance through the
group stages, topping their group
and securing a place in the
Round of 16. This would start a
pattern for African teams who
have not managed to advance
past the first round of the tournament.
African football, however, is
technically good, and played
with a flair that is as vibrant as
the continent itself. The 1990
FIFA World Cu saw Cameroon,
dance to the top of their group,
inspired by the great Roger
Milla. However, the Indomitable
Lions lost out in a dramatic quarter-final game to England.
Nigeria would also lose out in
the Round of 16 in 1994 and
1998. By 1998, Africa had secured five finals places in the FIFA
World Cup.
Five teams made their debut
at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the new teams were from
Africa, indicating that new football powers on the African continent were emerging. Cote
d'Ivoire, Angola, Ghana, and
Togo all played in their first
FIFA World Cup. Despite being
in the so-called 'nightmare
group', the Ivorians emerged
with a lot of credit, despite not
making it past the group stages.
Ghana was the most impressive,
making it through to the Round
of 16.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup
South Africa offers African
teams a fresh start. As football in
Africa has improved, it has been
reflected in the level and quality
of players that the continent are
developing. Didier Drogba,
Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo
Touré
Michael Essien and
Samuel Eto'o have all been
making big waves in the international football scene. This may
be an indication of good things to
come for the African continent,
and with six slots, 2010 will offer
the perfect opportunity to test
this.
By FIFA.com
New boss plans changes to Cosafa Cup
The new president of Southern African football's governing body, Suketu Patel plans to
change the way the Cosafa Cup is run. Patel was
elected Cosafa boss in early December. He is
also president of the Seychelles Football
Federation and a Caf executive committee member.
"I'm bitterly against the current format and I
don't think the developmental aspect of the game
is being fulfilled because we're playing two matches in two days with amateur players basically,"
he told BBC Sport. "So, we have to work closely with all our members and to formulate plans
that are acceptable to all of us and then move forward that way."
According to BBC Sport reports, for the last
two years the Cosafa Cup has been played in a
series of four-nation mini tournaments. The winners of each tournament, which are played over
a single weekend, progress to the semi-finals
where they are joined by the reigning champions.
The new Cosafa boss admitted that the orga-
nisation has finan"I'm bitterly against cial problems and
he planed to
the current format said
discuss the matter
and I don't think the with the various
developmental
sponsors to find the
aspect of the game best solutions to the
problems.
is being fulfilled
He said also he
because we're pla- plans
to discuss the
ying two matches in future of the orgatwo days with ama- nization with the
teur players basical- two people he beat
in last election,
ly"
Zambia's Kalusha
Bwalya
and
Suketu Patel
Namibia's Petrus
Damaseb.
"I think at the end of the day success will
depend on the best blend of all the different people we have," he said. "They are both personal
friends, who have extremely good qualities as
people and it's really for us as a region to make
sure we make use of our best talents."
The Cosafa region comprises Angola,
Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles,
South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Patel garnered seven of the 13 votes at last
general meeting in Gaborone. His vote tally
reflected a more than 50 percent majority.
Cosafa vice president Petrus Damaseb received four votes and there were two for Zambian
Football Association vice president Kalusha
Bwalya. Damaseb is a former president of the
Namibia Football Association while Bwalya a
renowned coach and player. Patel will serve a
four year term and replaces Ismail Bhamjee as
president. Botswana based Bhamjee resigned on
October 31.
FIFA
The
FIFA
Executive
Committee has announced that
the 2010 FIFA World Cup South
Africa™ will be played from 11
June to 11 July 2010, with the
Preliminary draw taking place in
Durban on 23 November 2007.
The FIFA Confederations Cup
South Africa 2009 will be held in
Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein,
Johannesburg (Ellis Park),
Pretoria and Rustenburg between
the 14 and 27 June.
This FIFA World Cup will not
only be the first staged in Africa,
but also the first time six African
teams will be competing for the
ultimate prize in football. While
the Executive Committee did not
change the quotas, the fact that
Europe had an extra slot as they
hosted the 2006 FIFA World
Cup, the turn is now Africa's
with South Africa. The number
of African teams has gradually
increased from one to five teams
over the history of the event.
Africa and the FIFA World
Cup
The first African team to play
in the FIFA World Cup were
Egypt in 1934. They lost 2-4 to
Hungary in a first round knockout game and it would be 36
years before the next African
team would play in a FIFA World
Cup. By 1970, Africa had secured a solitary place in the tourna-
Osaze rebuts Blatter
Nigerian striker Osaze
Odemwingie doesn't share in
Fifa President Sepp Blatter's
idea that that Europe's big
clubs are reducing the level of
competition in football by hogging the sport's talent.
The Fifa boss told the
Soccerex football finance
seminar in Dubai in November
that there is a traffic jam of players in Europe which is affecting the development of the
game in other continents.
Many African players have
moved to play in Europe but
Odemwingie, who plays for the
French side Lille, insists
Europe provides the platform
for players to achieve their dreams.
"The facilities here in
Europe provide the platform
for a good career so that is the
reason everyone wants to be
here," Odemwingie told BBC
Sport.
"The leagues in Europe are
organised and remains the best
in the world at the moment.
"Any attempt to prevent
African players from going to
Europe will not succeed."
Odemwingie, who began his
European career in Russia with
CSKA Moscow, added that his
voyage to Europe has
not only furthered his
footballing ambitions
but his personal life as
well.
"When I was growing
up in Nigeria I was able
to see the world on television. I only saw Italian
and English leagues, so
from that age I was looking forward to playing
there. So when finally I
made it by playing for a
club in Europe, it is a
dream come true.
"The leagues in
Africa
and
South
America are getting better but it will be impossible to stop players
from chasing their dreams of playing in
Europe."
I’M SENDING
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