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Created on Wednesday, 16 September 2009 00:00

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Nelson Mandela

By Bridget Johnson

Who is he?: He first joined the African National Congress as a student in 1942, working toward the goal of emancipation from apartheid.

He spent 27 years behind bars before emerging in 1990 and becoming president of the ANC. In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as president of South Africa from 1994-99.

Birthdate:

July 18, 1918, in the district of Umtata. His family homestead remains at rural Qunu today. Born Rolihlahla Mandela into a branch of the Thembu dynasty, he was given the name Nelson by a teacher at age 7.

Personal life:

Married three times: First, to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. They divorced after 13 years together. Second, to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, with whom he had two daughters. They divorced in 1996. Third, to Graca Machel, widow of Mozambique president Samora Machel, in 1998. The two are still married.

Political affiliation:

African National Congress, a Democratic Socialist party founded in 1912.

Career:

Intent on becoming a lawyer, he became involved in the resistance movement against apartheid while studying at University College of Fort Hare, where he was suspended for participating in a protest boycott. (He would later study for and receive a bachelor's degree in law during his decades behind bars.) Imprisoned on charges including sabotage, Mandela spent 27 years behind bars until released by pPresident F.W. de Klerk, who had just replaced apartheid supporter P.W. Botha. Upon his election as president, Mandela made de Klerk his first deputy in a Government of National Unity. 

Future:

Mandela retired from political life in 1999, at which point he was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki in the South African presidency. He continues to reap awards, honors, and accolades from around the globe for his leadership and lifetime achievements. On his 90th birthday, he appealed for the rich to give greater assistance to the poor. "There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," he said. Unemployment at the time of this statement stood at about 40 percent in South Africa. 

Quote:

"I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself. I dream of the realization of unity of Africa whereby its leaders, some of whom are highly competent and experienced, can unite in their efforts to improve and to solve the problems of Africa." -- in a 2000 interview with National Geographic 

Source: About.com

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Private Parts Washer Busted

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Created on Tuesday, 25 August 2009 00:00

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Private Parts Washer Busted

By Rocklyn Antonio

A 49-year-old self-styled spiritualist-cum-herbalist is in the custody of the Adenta District Police Command for fingering two women who sought help from him and stirring their private parts with his fingers.

Odartey Lamptey, who lives at Ashaley Botwe near Madina, also claimed he had been operating for the past 15 years and was well known in the area for solving spiritual problems and healing all sorts of ailments.However, the visit of two ladies to his outfit to seek solutions to their problems uncovered Lamptey's tricks which he used to extort money from his clients.

The Adenta Police Commander, Superintendent Stephen Ahiatafu, told DAILY GUIDE that on Monday August 17, 2009, two women from the same vicinity, aged 29 and 19, visited the home of Lamptey, where he operated as a herbalist, to respectively seek solutions to their problems.The 29-year-old lady had gone to the herbalist accompanied by her husband to seek help for her childlessness; the woman had been diagnosed as having fibroid- a situation she believed was the cause of her bareness.

She was made to pay a consultation fee of GH¢50 and stripped naked in the full glare of her husband and herbalist.The herbalist then ordered her to lie on a mat he laid on the floor of the consulting room, while her husband sat on her stomach facing her.The herbalist then squatted at the rear end and at the blind side of the husband, inserted two fingers into the woman's vagina under the guise of dousing her womb with some concoctions. According to the victim, the herbalist fingered her as though he was stirring porridge for about two minutes after which he showed them a solid substance as the fibroid which he claimed he had removed from her womb.Later in the day, the 19-year-old girl was brought to the herbalist by her mother who said she suffered very severe menstrual disorders.

She was also stripped naked and asked to lie on the mat after paying GH¢50 as consultation fee.Her mother was asked to sit on her and fondle her breast so as to allow whatsoever was in her tummy and causing the pain to come out easily, which she complied.While her mother sat on the girl, facing her, the herbalist squatted behind the woman and inserted his two fingers into the vagina of the girl and began the stirring process after which a solid substance among other things were shown to them as the cause of the girl's ordeal.The delighted woman thanked the herbalist but requested to take the substance home to show to her husband.However, hell broke loose when an inspection conducted by the father of the girl revealed that the substance was a mixture of fresh mutton (meat) and glue.

The couple rushed to the house of the 29-year-old lady whose husband joined forces with them to confront Lamptey.He pleaded with them not to report him to the authorities and offered to compensate them with GH¢150 each but the victims refused.They then lodged a complaint with the District Police Headquarters at Adenta and on Friday August 21, 2009, the fake herbalist was arrested.He had since been kept in police custody and would be arraigned after investigations.

Odartey Lamptey, according to the police, had since confessed to the crime in his caution statement. He also indicated that he normally charged his clients according to their economic status and mostly requested provisions in addition to the consultation fee.Clients were also required to re-visit once they realized their problems were solved to show a special appreciation to him in whatever manner they wished.However, they normally did not return because, most often, the problems resurfaced, according to sources.

Source:  Daily Guide/Ghana

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Ashanti Region Needs A Regional Hospital

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Created on Tuesday, 08 September 2009 00:00

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Ashanti Region Needs A Regional Hospital

Mrs. Theresa Otuo-Acheampong, Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Health has appealed to the Ministry of Health, to speed up work on the proposed regional hospital, to ease pressure and congestion at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Currently KATH is serving as the major referral centre in the region for enhanced healthcare delivery.

Mrs. Otuo-Acheampong made the call in Kumasi at a day's workshop on Strengthening Advocacy efforts on Reproductive Health supplies in the National Health Insurance Scheme budget line. It was organised by the Environmental Protection Association of Ghana (EPAG) in collaboration with the Plant Parenthood Association of Ghana.

The Deputy Director said the construction of a regional hospital was also crucial in the training of house officers and nurses on the job for the benefit of patients, stressing that it was high time the Ministry moved into action to begin work at the Sewua site, which had been allocated for the project.

Mr. Haruna Yoda, Programmes Co-ordinator of EPAG underscored the need for non-governmental and civil society organisations to intensify the education of the youth on reproductive health issues. This, he said, would enable them to make informed decisions about their sexual health for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Mr. Yoda called on government to create a national budget line for Reproductive Health Supplies such as birth control pills, condoms to help in family planning for population control.

Credit GNA

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Asogli Traditional Council Reacts to Togbe Afede Bashing

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Created on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 00:00

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Asogli Traditional Council Reacts to Togbe Afede Bashing

The Asogli Traditional Council on Monday said tribal undertones put on statements made by Togbe Afede XIV, at a durbar in honour of President John Evans Atta Mills on April 18 were in bad-taste and must be rejected.

A statement signed by Togbe Osei Tutu IV, Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV and Togbe Dadzawa III, Paramount Chiefs of the Matse, Ziavi and Shia Traditional areas said the council did not think Togbe Afede said anything untoward to warrant the attacks on his person in the media especially the FM stations.

It said attempts to give tribal connotations to Togbe Afede's cry over long years of neglect of the Volta Region in terms of development were misplaced and meant to create disaffection for him. The Asogli Traditional Council Statement said Volta Region was multi-ethnic and that chiefs representing the Ewes, Guans, Akans, Dangbes, Konkombas among others were there when Togbe Afede spoke and were unanimous that his views were a true reflection of their views.

It said any avid follower of events in the region, and perhaps Ghana could not fail to recognize that Togbe Afede, since his installation had been a vehement critic of ineptitude, injustice and championed the fight against poverty and ignorance in society and was therefore only being himself at the durbar.

The statement alleged that Volta Region as an administrative unit had suffered deprivations in the form of projects being re-assigned out of the region for no sustainable reasons and its chiefs refused protocols made available to chiefs from other areas.

It concluded therefore that Togbe Afede had a point to make, which he made on the day the chiefs hosted President Mills.

Criticisms of Togbe Afede's statement had earlier sparked demonstrations and a flurry of statements from chiefs of the Asogli State, which he reigns over as the Agbogbogbome Fia. Togbe Afede is also the President of the Asogli Traditional Council and President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.

Credit GNA

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