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Tag: Ghana

  • Ghana Tourism hosts stakeholders in Lagos

    Ghana Tourism hosts stakeholders in Lagos

    In a bid to drive growth and attract more interest in its tourism sector among Nigerians, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted an engaging and interactive cocktail session in Lagos. The exclusive gathering held at the Iwalewa Gallery of Arts in Lekki Phase 1 brought together a distinguished assembly of influential Nigerian travel influencers, content creators,  journalists, travel agencies, and other travel stakeholders.

    Ghana Tourism Authority is tasked with promoting Ghana’s unparalleled tourism offerings across the world, highlighting the diverse and captivating experience for tourists and travellers. One such offering is  “December in Ghana 2023”, a festivity set to run from November through January with activities like Afrochella, AfroNation, Little Havanna, Akwaaba UK, African food festival, Taste of Ghana 4.0 and many other exciting activities for tourists who will be in Ghana at the end of the year.

     The evening provided a platform for insightful dialogue and exchange of ideas on promoting  tourism in Ghana through activities, festivals and events like #DecemberinGH. 

    Commenting on the essence of the event, Director of Marketing, Ghana Tourism Authority, Roberta Dawson-Amoah reiterated the importance of the engagement this way.

    Read Also: Ghana tourism signs Mou to host tourism fair

     “Tourism in Ghana is an experience that all should enjoy; it is time to showcase the totality of Ghana’s finest tourist attractions through amazing landscapes and wildlife, fashion, festivals and cuisines.”

    She expressed enthusiasm towards the upcoming December in Ghana activities. December in Ghana is a new way to promote African music, fashion, food and other enchanting indigenous activities post the year of the return.

    Some dignitaries and influencers present in attendance were  Ebenezer Otoo, Inbound Tour Manager, Adansi Travels Ltd;  Edna Yevu, Business Development Executive, Global Wings Travel & Tours Ltd,  Elijah Mukarram, DG & CEO, Invest Africa; Namibian Honorary Consul Chuma Anosike and Idris Aregbe, Founder of Culturati Academy. Others were travel agencies, Diamondandpearls, Elromholiday, Travel and lifestyle content creators and influencers such as Favour Onyeoziri, Latasha Ngwube, Nike Oresanya, Marycollete Unamka, Ifeoma A, Jumoke Munu, Lade Ibikunle,  Teminikan, Softmadeit, Tennie Oyewole.

    Adding colour and cultural essence, various delicious Ghanaian dishes were served, including the ever-popular Ghana Jollof rice, while guests had the opportunity to interact and network.

    The Ghana Tourism Authority’s Cocktail fostered connections while igniting the passion for  West Africa’s gem and beauty, boasting the cultural richness that Ghana’s tourism legacy has presented on the global stage.

  • Nigeria, Ghana partner on Anglophone Film Festival

    Nigeria and Ghana has partnered to strengthen its bilateral relations through arts and culture, by co-hosting the Anglophone film festival, beginning from next year (2020).

    The film festival to be held biennially will alternate between Nigeria and Ghana, at selected venues in both countries. This and other positive collaborative decisions were taken recently in Ghana, when Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation paid a visit to the Ghana Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture.

    Discussions which took place at the Ministry Headquarters in Accra, Ghana, had an elated Deputy Minister, Dr. Ziblim Iddi (MP) as head of Ghana team and host of the meeting.  Dr. Ziblim Iddi (MP) described NFC’s helmsman’s visit as a healthy development that will further engender both nation’s desire to create an enabling environment for African film makers to ply their businesses across international borders.

    The deputy minister averred that Nigeria and Ghana shared common and fundamental similarities especially in culture and arts, with people of both nations, very enterprising. The creative industry in both countries, he said had vast opportunities which are yet untapped, and which Nigeria and Ghana could immediately begin to explore.

    Speaking, Dr. Maduekwe, informed his host of the numerous efforts by the Nigerian Government, through the Nigerian Film Corporation to robustly engage domestic and foreign film stakeholders, including public and private agencies in the development of the creative industry. The fulcrum for the sustainable development of the film sector and promote a harmonious film art and business is the emplacement of beneficial partnerships and collaborations, he further said, while informing his host on the key mandate of the NFC.

    Dr. Maduekwe assured that all issues discussed and agreed, will be captured in the memorandum of understanding that would be signed soon. Some of the key collaborative and partnership issues which both nations agreed on include, a formalized co-production agreement between Nigeria and Ghana, provisions for students exchange programme between premiere film institute’s of both nations, (the National Film Institute, Jos, and the National Film & Television institute, Accra), co-hosting of Anglophone Biennial Film Festival, among others.

  • My tailoring exploits in UK, Ghana, Sierra Leone

    Chief Fatai Layiwola Olumegbon, MON, popularly known as Lai Tailor, pioneered indigenous industrial tailoring and garment manufacturing in Nigeria. He started as a street tailor on Lagos Island and rose to become a tailor for the high and mighty. He was once the tailor that sewed the uniforms worn by the Nigerian Army and had many political elites on his long list of clients. Olumegbon, who recently turned 90, spoke with OKORIE UGURU about his life, career and the industry that turned him into a celebrity.

    How you do feel at 90?               

    Well, I don’t feel like I felt when I was 20, 30, 40 or 50. But other than that, I feel very well.

    Are there dos and don’ts you observe in order to live long?

    Normally I used to drink, but not too much. Anywhere I went, I took a little. But that was a long time ago. When I realised that drink is not good for me and my religion, I stopped it.

    Is that your secret for long life?

    Not just drinking, the most important in life, from my experience, is to be closer to God. When you are closer to God, you get closer to your heart and your heart talks to you. If you are doing well, or anything you want to embark upon, whether you like it or not, it comes from the mind. And anything you want to lay hands on, you have to put it across to God. Ask God for assistance.

    The brand Lai was for many years synonymous with tailoring in Nigeria, particularly when it comes to industrial tailoring. Was moving from a single shop tailor to an industrial one a target you set for yourself from the beginning?

    Actually you are asking me about my beginning or the beginning of my profession.

    Yes.

    Well, I was going to school. I went to a Catholic school. I had everything and I was looked after from both sides of my family. But suddenly, I stopped my education.

    Why?

    I don’t know why. I didn’t know why. When I stopped it, they (family) were having meetings on my case. It took months before they allowed me to go for tailoring. The reason being that my paternal grandmother in Kakawa compound (in Lagos) had deposited so much money for my education, including a house. They wanted me to be a doctor, because at that time, people recognised doctors, lawyers and engineers. So, I don’t know why I just stopped going to school. But they asked one of our servants in the house and she told them I said I wanted to learn tailoring.

    Then, there was a young man that used to come to our house. He was usually impeccably dressed. His name was Iroko. He came from Badagry area. I saw the way he dressed when he would come to see my sister. I always admired him. They were two, but I didn’t admire the other one that wore ties. The one I admired was a very physical man. He came in white short and shirt all the time. It was later on that I realised what I was doing.

    They took me to one of our family members, Oni, on Akin Ajisomo Street, and that was where I stayed. It was God that put the career in my mind. That is why I cannot forget what God has done for me in life. When they (family members) decided to allow me to go and learn tailoring after one month, I started having money in pocket from mending clothes.

    Were you happy with what you were doing?

    Oh yes. I was to spend three years as a trainee, but I ended up spending seven years. My boss was John Ade Taiwo.

    Why did you have to spend seven years instead of three?

    No, I knew the job within three years, but I was managing the whole place for my boss. He felt comfortable with me being there. So, my boss was not even coming to work. I was the one to take clothes from customers, sew, collect money and go to my boss to deliver it.

    You were probably thinking of being a single shop tailor when you set out. How did the vision change to become so big?

    I became known as Lai the Tailor in 1946. I became very well known in the whole of Lagos Island. I was sewing clothes for justices, politicians, lawyers, and other big people at that time.

    You were the like the biggest fish around at that time. Why did you decide to travel out of the country?

    That is why I say God is the best in everybody’s life. If you are close to God, you get direction. At that time I decided to go abroad, I was planning it at all.

    What were you thinking about?

    I thought I was alright in the market. That was when one of my friends, who is very well known, even abroad, his name is Omooba (Prince) Subomi Balogun (the founder of First City Monument Bank), he has a lot of stories in my life.

    How?

    The first was when he came with many others from Ijebu Ode; children from well-known Ijebu Ode families; they came to me whenever there was a holiday or a festival, to sew their clothes. But on this particular occasion, they were all coming to me to make two, three or four pieces of suits. I asked them, ‘Why do you want to have two three or four suits?’ It was Subomi who told me why when I called and asked him why they were all sewing so many suits. He said that their families were sending them abroad for further education. Then I said to myself, if all my customers, they were more than 20 going abroad, by the time they would come back, they might not want to patronise me again. I therefore decided to also try and go abroad and learn more.

    I asked somebody how I could get myself to London. I had no knowledge. Then, one of my best customers was the late popular musician, Bobby Benson. I was designing all Bobby Benson’s clothes and he was very popular.

    Even at the height of his music career?

    Yes. So, I told him that with your fame, you know so many people, how could you secure a visa for me? I told him that I would love to travel out of the country. Bobby said, ‘Ah, you want to travel? To where?’ I said to the United Kingdom or the United States of America. He said he could not help me. I asked him why and he said, ‘You are the one sewing all my clothes. I will help you only if you agree to make 12 pieces of suits for me.’

    I said okay, I will do it. After I finished making the suits, he took me to one of the embassies at Herbert Macauley. So, they helped me to get Authority to Pass (lesse passé). The idea was that I would use the lesse passe to board the ship here as a stowaway. They would hide me in the engine room until we got to the middle of the sea and I could then come out. I said okay and started preparing for it.

    After that, I got my passport. Then another friend came. His name was Mikano. I told him that I was winding down my business, and he asked why. I told him I was travelling abroad. He asked how and I told him the secret; that I wanted to stow away. He said, ‘Ah, Lai, you want to do that and you didn’t tell me?’ He asked me to give him only one day and he would come back to me. He came back to me the second day and told me he knew somebody who could get me a visa, but I would have to go to Ghana.

    From here, I took a plane; they just started operation then, and I flew to Ghana. He was able to get me the visa. I worked there until everything was perfected. I had customers in Ghana. Then I used to have customers from all over the West Coast. So, knowing that I was in Ghana, they came.

    So, why did you decide to take this kind of risk, trading the known for the unknown?

    You know I started this interview by calling God. There is nothing you can do without God’s direction. If something is worrying you and then you talk to God, God will guide you on how to get out of that problem. So, it was God’s direction, because even after I left Ghana, I travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone. They invited me to Sierra Leone. I was there working. I opened a shop there and I was sewing for the top personalities there, including ministers.

    Your family members were not worried?

    I had left my family and didn’t think so much about them. I just took the risk because I wanted to make progress in my life and in my business. I knew that if I became successful, my family would also become successful. I just kept thanking God for every situation, because as at the time I left, I had four children with a wife. I promised my wife that I would be away for two years, but I ended up spending seven years. This was because I didn’t pass through any formal tailoring and garment school here in Nigeria.

    There in the United Kingdom, I finished my tailoring course at the Tailors Academy and then went for a holiday job. Where they took me, Elen Clothiers, at Old Street, London, they gave me a job as a machinist. But as I was doing the machinist job, it just occurred to me that if I could get the knowledge to establish something like this in Lagos, I would be on top of the business since not many then had the opportunity to get the kind of exposure that I was getting. So, I approached a technical college that was off Oxford Street then. When I got there, the college said they could not take me unless I had three subjects: English Language, Mathematics and Anatomy.

    Anatomy? When you are not studying medicine?

    Yes, if some people see me do certain things while sewing, they think maybe I’m using juju. It is the study. You go through everything. So, I had to enrol myself into another college, Pitman’s College at Osborne Street. It was a private school for those who could afford it. They take one-on-one tuition. I was able to go through that within a year.

    How were you able to finance the tuition in the school?

    I had to work. I went to work in the day, came back and went to school. I was attending school for three or four days in a week.

    When you came back, did this knowledge give you the edge you anticipated?

    Of course, it did.

    What was the level of tailoring in Nigeria when you left and when you came back?

    You know there were some things that happened. I had to join the association of tailors in the United Kingdom. Our boss then was one Mr. Botha. Whenever we wanted a job, we would consult our association, and they would send us out to whoever wanted our services. So, on this particular day, they sent me to a company on 11 Savon Road, W1, just behind Oxford Street. The area the company was located was where you find the leading tailors in the United Kingdom. They sewed for American shipping magnates, politicians, presidents and so on.

    So, they called me to go there for an interview. They asked me to come to the fitting room. They came and interviewed me and realised that I was good for them. But their problem was my colour as an African. So, the man who was interviewing me left to go and consult with his superiors. While there, customers came and he forgot about me at the fitting room. They closed and locked up the place, and I was still sitting. But when I saw that the light was being switched off, I shouted and drew their attention. The cleaner then had to call the police. The head of the place also came and he apologised.

    Did they give you the job?

    No, they didn’t complete the interview. So, when I left, about a week or two after that, they wrote to me to apologise again and asked me to come. This time, they didn’t interview me at the fitting room. They took me to the top floor where their more experienced workers were. Those workers, when they saw me work, they advised their management not to lose me, that I was an asset. I was there until it was time to come back home. Before coming back, I had started sewing for top Nigerians in the United Kingdom.

    I said I didn’t want to come home and stay without a job. I decided that I would come and get a job that I would be doing until I established my own place. I brought two machines and everything that I would need. I didn’t come with cash, but I came with a lot of materials.

    So, the money you were making, you were also investing them in equipment?

    Yes. I bought the equipment and sent them home. Finding job was also difficult because the place they asked me to work when I was given my first letter of employment was Apapa, but Apapa was not ready while Ibadan was ready. They asked me to go to Ibadan and I didn’t know anybody there. I had never travelled to Ibadan. I was waiting for the place in Ibadan to be ready when one day, the personnel manager called. He told me, ‘Lai, we have found out about you that you were the best before you travelled and now you are even more qualified. So, why are you waiting for our job? You see, we know that most of the tailors who studied abroad established their business along Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. Why can’t you go there and find a place and establish your business? We are sure it will be better than anything we would offer you.’

    Prince Adekunle Ojora was with the company at that time. I went to Herbert Macaulay Way. The first place I got was where I met the Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka. He was a tenant in that property.

    Who gave you the name Lai the Tailor?

    It was given by my late friend, Mr. Wilki. He was a sign writer and he had a shop also at Herbert Macaulay.

    How did you start sewing for the Nigerian Army?

    It was Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle who found me. When the Biafran Army got to Ore, Ondo State, the top officers of the army had a meeting. After the meeting, at around 5 pm, Adekunle drove to my shop to collect his safari. When he asked of me, he was told I was not around, that I had gone to the factory. He said, ‘Eh! He has a factory? Take me there.’ They drove to the factory. My factory was at Sabo, Yaba. It was given to me by the Lagos State agency in charge of SMEs. I had one unit. But when I started having jobs from the army, it increased from one to four units. At four, they couldn’t give me any more. I had to go and build my factory at Ilupeju.

    So people would ask, what do I need to do to be 90 years, what would you say?

    First you have to know the direction of God for your life. For that, you need to be closer to God.

  • AFCON 2019: Ghana hold Cameroon, risks early AFCON exit

    Defending champions Cameroon played out to a barren draw with Ghana in a hotly contested West African clash of the titans in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F clash in Ismailia on Saturday.

    Substitute Kwabena Owusu should have won all three for the Black Stars barely a minute after coming on for Andre Ayew but his cracking shot from the edge of the box came off the crossbar. Andrew Yiadom had a chance five yards from goal a minute later, but saw it saved by Andre Onana.

    On the balance of chances, Cameroon should have gone to the break at least one up. A massive save by Richard Ofori four minutes from time and a timely tackle from Jonathan Mensah earlier on ensured the scores were 0-0 after the opening 45 minutes.

    Ofori made a brilliant full stretched-save to punch out a shot from Christian Bassogog from inside the box. Ghana were caught in possession with Baba Rahman losing the ball on the left. Karl Toko Ekambi picked up and cut back a cross for Bassogog which was well saved.

    Ghana had dodged another bullet on the half hour mark when Mensah, coming in for the suspended John Boye, made a timely tackle to poke the ball off Ekambi’s feet after he was sent through with a delightful backheel flick by Zambo Anguissa.

    Read Also: UPDATED: AFCON 2019: Algeria beat Senegal to qualify for Round of 16

    Ghana were forced to an early sub after 14 minutes when Christian Atsu limped off injured with a hamstring problem after taking an aim at goal off a counter with a low shot from the edge of the area. He was replaced by Samuel Owusu.

    Atsu had Ghana’s second chance just after Nuhu Kassim’s shot from a Thomas Partey cut back went over in the eighth minute. In the 28th minute, Mubarak Wakaso swung in a brilliant cross from the left, but Jordan Ayew could not get a vital touch from the edge of the six yard box as he came flying in.

    With the result, Cameroon have moved to four points while Ghana are on two points after back to back draws. The Ghanaians have to beat Guinea Bissau on Tuesday to be certain of a place at the next round.

     

    Cafonline

  • ECOWAS Court upholds sack of three Supreme Court justices

    The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has upheld the sack of three Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

    The Justices – Paul Uuter Dery, Mustapha Habib Logoh and Gilbert Ayisi Addo – were among over 30 judges secretly filmed while allegedly accepting bribes in an undercover investigation carried in 2015 by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas,

    In a judgment on Monday, a three-man panel of the ECOWAS Court dismissed the suit, marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/42/16 filed by the Justices and held that it was unmeritorious.

    In the judgment read by Justice Dupe Atoki, the court held that the applicants failed to prove that their rights were violated in process leading to the disciplinary actions taken against them by the Ghana Judicial Council.

    It held that, although the secret filming of the Justices in their offices, done without their consent, amounted to interference with their privacy, the interference was justifiable as it was meant to expose unlawful conduct by public officers.

    READ ALSO: ECOWAS to tackle illegal migration through job creation

    The court upheld the argument by the state of Ghana, to the effect that the secret filming of the Justices was supported by Article 1(1)(b) of the Whistle Blower Act of Ghana and  Section 61 of the Data Protection Act of Ghana.

    It found that the applicants’ privacy was interfered with by the secret filming of their activities by Anas, but went further to hold that the interference, being premised on national legislation, is in compliance with the law.

    The court agreed with the state of Ghana that, in engaging in the alleged act of accepting bribe, the applicants ought to know that they would be opened to secret investigation.

    The court held that the interference with the applicants’ privacy, aimed at exposing the commission of a crime, was justified and necessary in a democratic society.

    It said the applicants, by their position as judges, are public officers, who receive public funds and are, in that capacity, accountable to the public and could be subjected to investigation, where there is reasonable suspicion of their involvement in the commission of a crime.

    “The secret recording of the applicants is necessary in a democratic society. The claim to violation of the right to privacy fails,” the court said.

    The court also held that the applicants failed to prove their claim that the respondent violated their rights to fair hearing, non-discrimination/equality before the law and right to work.

    The court noted that, while two of the applicants failed to respond to the query handed them by the Chief Justice, they challenged their suspension and investigation up to the Supreme Court and lost in all the six cases they filed.

    It said, having rightly exercised their right to access the court up to the highest court in Ghana, the applicants cannot claimed to have been denied fair hearing.

    The Justices were suspended in 2016 by the Ghana Judicial Council while a committee set up by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo investigated a petition written against them by Anas and his company, Tiger Eye PI Limited.

    While on suspension, they were placed on half salaries, and at the conclusion of its investigation, the committee recommended their removal, which the Ghanaian President approved in December 2018.

    In the suit they filed at the ECOWAS Court in 2016, through their lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, the applicants alleged the violation of their fundamental human rights by the government of Ghana following the suspension of some of their allowances and the payment of half of their salary, because of an ongoing disciplinary procedure against them initiated by the country’s Judicial Council.

    The applicants stated that the state of Ghana violated their rights to fair hearing and administrative justice, equality before the law and freedom from discrimination, privacy and work, including the action of the council, in paying them half of their monthly salaries, the suspension of their allowances and the constitution of a panel to investigate them.

    They argued that these actions constituted an attempt by the state of Ghana to unlawfully and unfairly deprive them of their employment and right to work.

  • Inside story of Ghana’s boxing factory in Bukom

    Ghana is renowned for producing some of Africa’s finest boxers of all time. However, what boxing fans outside the former Gold Coast don’t know is that most of these famous boxers emerged from an impoverished fishing community – Bukom – which lies in the heart of the country’s capital city, Accra. OLALEKAN OKUSAN, who was in Accra recently, took a trip to Bukom to find out why the area has consistently churned out the best of boxers in Ghana.

    Walking through the streets of Bukom can be very exciting as the fishing community is always buzzing.

    It is a suburb in the capital city of Accra, which is the heart of Ghana. But apart from being a fishing community, Bukom is known for producing the best boxers for the country, many of whom have won international acclaim.

    Besides fishing-related goings-on, Bukom is also a hive of sporting activities as the youth scattered across the community get involved in one sports or the other. What you can’t miss in Bukom are its make-shift boxing gyms dotting the community with boxers as young as seven honing their skills with various boxing clubs.

    Bukom is popular for consistently producing some of the greatest boxers in the Africa. But then most of the suburb’s boxing gyms are not standard equipment. Essentially, they are little shacks serving the small neighbourhood as boxing gyms. Many young people in the community spend their days training in these makeshift boxing gyms in their bid to make it big in boxing.

    Bukom is made up of the Ga people who had a traditional combat sport called Asafo atwele before colonization brought them in contact with boxing. Since then, boxing has been a way of life for them. Bukom is considered as one of the poorest areas in Ghana. The catalyst driving young people’s interest in boxing across the impoverished community therefore is the hope of escaping poverty by making it big in the sport.

    Despite its material lack, Bukom is credited with putting Ghana on the world map through famous boxers like David Kotei, Ike Quartey, Emmanuel Clottey and Joshua Clottey, among others. Azumah ‘Zoom Zoom’ Nelson, who is considered one of Africa’s greats in boxing because he won three world titles, also grew up in Bukom.

    It is a common sight to see young residents of Bukom sparring with themselves on the street, throwing jabs as they jog or slugging it out in the ring, testing their boxing skills against each other.

    One of the colourful local stars in Bukom is Braimah Issah Kamoko who is known as Bukom Banku. He has a rock star following in the community due to his efforts in unearthing young boxers. His last fight against another local hero, Bastie Samir, attracted a record crowd to the Bukom Boxing Arena.

    Bukom Banku is fond of sparing with four boxers at once but he suffered his first defeat in his 29-fight career against Samir.

    “After my last fight, I had not fought because I had an eye injury which the doctor told me to rest for five years. I hope to return to ring with the hope of hanging my glove when I am 41 because I am 39 now. I have not yet quit but I am also helping to discover young boxers in the area,” he said.

    Bukom Banku added: “If you go to most of the gyms, they may not have the quality facilities, but one thing for sure is that when you come to Bukom, it is always about fighting. We might respect people but we don’t fear them. We are not scared of nothing because, at the end of the day, we know it is all about fighting for survival as we believe that through boxing we can better our lives.”

    The tall and hefty boxer has a larger-than-life image in the community and whenever he goes on the streets, he is always cheered by the people.

    The prowess of the Bukom boxers has something to do too with the community’s fishing occupation. Bukom Banku explained: “Boxing for us in Bukom is our life because as fishermen, we build our muscle with the kind of work we do and this gives us the inner strength to be able to box.

    “Most of us don’t go to school and we love fishing and boxing is what we do apart from fishing. We put our mind into boxing because of the exploits of Azumah Nelson.

    “Everybody in this area involves in boxing as our physical attributes cut us out for boxing. From DK Poison exploits boxing became popular generally. Personally, I was attracted to boxing by Muhammed Ali. I started boxing at nine.”

    Bukom Banku also said most young people in Bukom believe that boxing was their fastest ticket out of poverty: “Most of us believe that with the kind of money boxing generates, we can make it big out of it and that is why the interest in boxing continues to grow in Bukom.”

    Speaking on the area’s fame for boxing, Ghana’s national boxing coach, Ofori Asare, said: “In the olden days, a traditional combat sport known as Asafo atwele was very common among the Ga people in Bukom. They were fond of engaging in this and that was what ignited their interest in boxing.

    “Boxing is very common in Bukom because people in the community see boxing in real life. Unlike other areas in Ghana where young people only watch boxing on television, in Bukom most young people see boxing live and they develop interest in the sport.

    “Virtually everybody in Bukom knows something about boxing and that is why even boxers from other regions in Ghana prefer to go to Bukom to train because they will get the opportunity to spar with other boxers.

    “So boxing permeates every nooks and cranny of Bukom. Whenever we organize national boxing tournaments, majority of the boxers come from Bukom,” the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) instructor said.

    He added: “It is a common sight to see young people using boxing gloves in Bukom because they are used to it and it is what they have grown up to know. The exploits of top boxers like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Emmanuel Clottey and a host of others have also ignited more interest in the sport. I think boxing in Bukom has become a tradition for the people.”

    Secretary General, Ghana Boxing Authority, Patrick Johnson, confirmed that some of the top boxers who made Ghana proud came from Bukom. This, he added, has made the sport a common feature in the lives of Bukom residents.

    Johnson said: “Ga people who make up Bukom community like boxing and it has become their way of life. Their vocation, which is fishing, has prepared them for the sport. They are very energetic people who are very strong in nature and this most times makes them to challenge themselves to fights and they do this through boxing.

    “Unconsciously, through fishing they build their muscle through their work and this gives them the needed energy to engage in boxing. They are naturally gifted for boxing and this has been a long time tradition for the Bukom people.”

    Johnson also disclosed that the popularity of boxing in Bukom prompted the government to build the ultra-modern Bukom Boxing Arena, which now hosts most of the major boxing tournaments in Ghana.

    “The building of the Bukom Boxing Arena by the government two years ago was necessitated through the popularity of boxing in Bukom. The Arena seats 3,000 people but with additional 1,000 improvised seat during a major tournament,” he said.

    Visiting the Sonia Boxing Academy, two pupils – Proper Lucas and Francis Mensah – were seen taking off their school uniforms to train under the chief coach of the club. They train from Monday through Friday after school hours.

    Lucas, a seven-year-old pupil of St Mary Primary School Bukom, said: “I love boxing because a lot of people engage in it in Bukom and I also want to become a world champion and make money from it for my family. My parents also encourage me to go to training and I have been training for one year. I know that I can make it in the sport,” the youngster said.

    For Mensah, a 10-year-old pupil of Bishop Mixed School in Bukom, boxing is life. “I love boxing because it is a way of life in Bukom. Everybody in the community loves boxing and I want to be a good fighter like Azumah Nelson. I come to training every day in the week and my parents have been very supportive. I want to make a living out of boxing,” Mensah said.

     

    Notable Ghanaian boxers of Bukom origin

     

    ROY ANKRAH

    Roy “The Black Flash” Ankrah was a Ghanaian boxer in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s who won the Gold Coast flyweight title, Gold Coast bantamweight title, Gold Coast featherweight title, Gold Coast lightweight title, Gold Coast welterweight title, and British Empire super featherweight title. Ankrah turned professional in the Gold Coast in 1941 recording 110 undefeated wins. He then made his début in Great Britain in 1950 on the recommendation of Freddie Mills. He recorded 10 further wins before losing to Jimmy Murray on a foul. He later helped to train Ghanaian contingents to the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

     

    DAVID KOTEI ‘DK POISON’

    David Kotei was popularly called “D.K. Poison was a world featherweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1976 and was also the first Ghanaian to win a world title. DK Poison started his amateur career in Accra and he is one of many boxers spawned by Bukom.

    He turned professional under trainer Attuquaye Clottey and his first professional bout was on February 5 1966 in Accra when he outpointed his opponent over six rounds. He became the national featherweight champion that year. In 1972, he fought as much as seven times in Australia, winning five and losing two. He won the African featherweight title on February 2, 1974 when he knocked out Tahar Ben Hassen in the first round of a scheduled 15 round fight in Tunis, Tunisia. Later on December 7, 1974, he also won the Commonwealth featherweight title with a technical knockout over Evans Armstrong, a British boxer in round 10 of a scheduled 15 rounds bout. This victory gave him an opportunity to go for the World Boxing Council version of the world title. On September 20, 1975, in The Forum, Inglewood, California, United States, he beat Rubén Olivares by split point decision after 15 rounds to become the first Ghanaian world boxing champion. He relinquished the African and Commonwealth titles following this victory.

     

    AZUMAH NELSON

    He is widely considered as the greatest African boxer of all time. He remains the 17th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time in Boxer’s ranking; he held the WBC featherweight title once and the WBC super featherweight title twice. Nelson had a stellar amateur career, competing at the 1978 All-Africa Games and 1978 Commonwealth Games where he won gold medals in the Featherweight class, and compiling an Amateur Record of 50–2.

     

    JOSHUA CLOTTEY

    Joshua Clottey competed from 1995 to 2019, and held the IBF welterweight title from 2008 to 2009. He is renowned for his defensive prowess in the ring and this was displayed in a 2010 loss to Manny Pacquiao. He never lost a bout via knockout.

     

    BRAIMAH KAMOKO (BUKOM BANKU)

    The local hero rose to prominence by winning a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 1999 All African Games. He won the WBO Africa Light Heavyweight title in 2011 and the WBO Africa Cruiserweight title in 2012. His 28-fight unbeaten record came to an end in 2017 when he was knocked out by fellow Bukom boy Bastie Samir

  • Benin to replace Ghana for Super Eagles

    Super Eagles are now set to take on fellow 2019 AFCON qualifiers Benin in a warm-up game in June after a proposed friendly with Ghana was called off.

    It was first reported that a proposed with the Black Stars was never going to come off because Ghana have already arranged a training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the AFCON around the same time.

    Officials have now informed SCORENIGERIA that efforts are now geared for the Eagles to face Benin Republic in Asaba in the first week of June before they head out to Egypt for the AFCON.

    The Eagles will also battle Senegal in Egypt as part of their build-up for the 2019 AFCON.

    Last month they beat AFCON hosts Egypt 1-0 in a friendly in Asaba.

  • Abia oil communities flaunt cultural feast

    Over 200,000 persons, some from neighbouring countries, attended a carnival in Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State conceived to tap the rich cultural endowments of the communities rather than depend on their crude oil deposits. SUNNY NNWANKWO reports

    Guests came from far and wide: Ghana, Cameroon, and Cote D’Ivoire, among other countries. Apart from the surging crowd of locals, other visitors streamed in from virtually every part of the Nigeria. In all, there were over 200,000 persons at the Ukwa carnival initiated to draw attention to the rich cultural endowments of the Ukwa people in Abia State.

    It was a delight for tourists. There were enough peculiar costumes to enthrall the onlooker, as were cultural ensembles, including dance groups.

    Ukwa area is blessed with huge crude oil and gas deposits, but the people are much aware that oil is finite, while their culture is inexhaustible. They want to celebrate the infinite above the finite, a theme that resonates with the Buhari administration which preaches diversification away from oil.

    Ukwa Land is made up of two local government areas in Abia State; Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

    The Ukwa people, according to researchers, are generally said to have migrated from the riverine parts of the Niger Delta.

    Ukwa East is said to be occupied by the Ndoki clan while Ukwa West is inhabited by the Asa Clan. History has it that the two brothers also have their kith and kin in Obigbo (Oyigbo) in Rivers State which were together with them before the Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary adjustment in 1976 carved out part of Ukwa Division and placed it in present Rivers State.

    One of the unique features of the Ukwa and Oyigbo indigenes is that they speak the same language and have the same cultural ties despite being in different states as a result the 1976 boundary adjustment.

    Ukwa people are agrarian in nature. They have oil palms in large quantity which many have opined to be the largest in the entire Southern Nigeria.

    Apart from the abundance of food, the Ukwa people who also share boundaries with some parts of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states is immensely blessed with natural resources, which the state is enjoying today. This is because the Ukwa people like their neighbouring Niger Delta communities also have crude oil deposits, which is why Abia State is as an oil-producing state.

    The large oil and gas deposits in Owaza-Asa, Ukwa West LGA, the largest centre of operation of SPDC on land in the entire OML 11 with over 158 oil wells, accounts for the presence of various oil companies in the area.

    Apart from Abia Palm at Ohambele in Ukwa East, where major cooking oil consumed within and outside the state is produced, the Industrial sand at Asa-Ugbo Bekee is also another economic generating deposit in the area. The Akwaette weaving which has surpass generations remains one of the trades bequeathed to the people by their fore-fathers that still thrive.

    There is also the Rubber Research Institute located in the Ukwa region because of the quantity of rubber deposit in the area.

    Research has also shown that Ukwa area has the potential of erasing the status of land-locked region away from the Southeast because the confluence town of Obeaku-Ndoki where Imo River joins the Blue River is only about 40 nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean.

    The two cities recently attracted the interest of the federal government with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state governments for the establishment of an Economic City in the area comprising Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Ugwunagbo LGAs respectively.

    No wonder the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari seeing the economic importance of the area approved the Enyimba Economic City when it was brought to his tables for approval.

    Just as the Buhari government is preaching diversification of the economy from dependency on crude oil, a group of like-minds from the oil-rich region of the state are already planning ahead for the two agrarian communities.

    These Ukwa West and East entrepreneurs, worried about the untapped natural and economic resources lying waste, have embraced cultural festival to tap the tourist potentials of the people.  The plan is to change the narrative from being oil-dependent communities to cultural oriented communities.

    They want to replicate and domesticate what many Nigerians including their sons and daughters travel as far as Brazil and Calabar to watch.

    They said that they intend to use the cultural fiesta to boost the economy of the state and to also showcase the rich cultural value of the people which the visitors may not have had the opportunity to come across. This is even as the event would create opportunities for the locals and others to meet and discuss with potential investors on how they can take their businesses further, and make Abia State a tourist hub.

    In an interview, the organisers who stated that the last edition of the carnival with the theme; Destination Uncommon, featured among other things: Royal Procession which was undertaken by the traditional rulers of Ukwa as well as their Niger-Delta counterparts, Community Cultural Procession, Carnival Band Procession, Display from various Cultural Groups from neighbouring states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi including Reggae, Jazz, Hip-hop, R&B, Comedy, Talent shows and pageantry.

    The organizers added that the concert was used in the unveiling of ‘Eres Hermosa’ one of the biggest Spanish costumes that have never been seen in Africa.

    The carnival director, Mr. Emeka Don Alasoro said in as much they are not in any way trying to compare the Ukwa Carnival with any other one pre-existing it, they have already created an identity which they will like to sustain.

    “Ukwa Carnival is a worthwhile initiative borne out of the passion to promote our culture and tourism and at the same time, uplift the economic status of our people. It is expected that the event will create an enabling environment for prospective investors, both indigenous and international to visit Abia State and Ukwa land in particular to explore business opportunities and other investments.

    “This will help to facilitate our economic well-being and ignite speedy development of Ukwa land and Abia State in general.

    “In this connection, we are therefore optimistic that we are going to make Ukwa

    land an envy of Igbo land before a decade. Hence, our mantra remains; Connect, Celebrate, Relate and Showcase.

    “We are not in any way trying to compare Ukwa Carnival with the likes of Calabar Carnival. That’s never the motive. Our vision is different and likewise the aims. Cross River State is far older than Abia and Calabar Carnival is far older than Ukwa Carnival as well. If you have seen what we did in our maiden edition last year, you will agree with me that this year’s own will be more glamorous.

    Mr. Obum Mao Azunna, the Chairman of Grand Council of Niger Delta Youths Leaders who doubles as the Public Relations Officer of Ukwa Royal Heritage, while speaking on the choice of Obehie said it was due to the town’s equidistance to both Aba in Abia state and Port Harcourt in Rivers state, stressing that the town is also at the centre of the whole Ukwa area.

    Azunna who opined that the maiden edition last year recorded over 60, 000 participants expressed happiness that well over 200,000 persons attended the just concluded edition.

    On the opportunities and business potentials the carnival can bring to Abia State, Azunna said, “The carnival can open a huge channel for investors to see the potentials in Ukwa Land and Abia in general. The Obeaku Confluence which is just forty-nautical miles to the Atlantic Ocean is there waiting to be seen and developed, the Azumini Blue River is yearning for investors and tourists. The Asa-Ugbo Bekee which is the largest centre for industrial sand is here and need to be put into better use. Our oil palm produce and methods of production can be

    improved upon. A lot of people with several business interests will come here and they shall visit a lot of places and explanations will be made. We are hoping to shift attention away from the oil in Ukwa to other things that put youths out of the streets and gainfully keep them busy.

    “The carnival will promote what Ukwa is all about. Our land does not just produce oil and gas alone. We are not looking at that anymore. Ukwa people are agrarian people. This is why today; the robber research institute of the federal government is here and very fruitful. There in Ohambele where we have the Abia Palm Plantation.

    “Our Akwete clothes which the Igbo race has been known for back in the early days are still been produced here in Akwete. It is among the paramount things we are going to showcase.

    On insecurity, one of the organisers, Precious Ogbuji said, “Yes, it is true this is Niger Delta region, but it is the most peaceful and secure oil producing area in Nigeria. There has never been any reported case of security lapse in Ukwa Land for so many years notwithstanding that our people have been neglected over the years despite the weight of wealth in the land. We have great synergy with the military and the police. Here in Ukwa Land, Asa to be precise, we have one of Nigeria’s military bases, the 144 battalion which is just a stone’s throw from Obehie”.

    He re-emphasised that the event is nonpolitical, stating, “As you can see, the organisation that is championing this event is non-political and non-dependent on any company or organisation. The whole idea behind the Ukwa carnival was borne out of the passion to promote our cultural heritage. We made it that way because we want to sustain it and wouldn’t want a situation where one or group of individuals and even one company will see this event as theirs.

    “Major oil companies in Ukwa may have their social responsibilities to the communities, the state government may be there, but we don’t use our carnival as a prior mandate for anyone of them. The carnival has come to stay and Ukwa Royal Heritage will ensure that. We are not leaving the burden on anyone, but whoever identifies with us is welcomed”, he said.

    The Founder and Chairman of Ukwa Royal Heritage Limited, Mr. Ezinwanne O. Adiele who could not hide his joy over the attendance of the just concluded edition disclosed that they have started making plans for another edition that would be holding later this year, December to be precise.

    Adiele called on the state government, corporate organisations, agencies, manufacturers, industrialists, business people and investors to identify with this all important annual event to facilitate a speedy development of Abia State through Culture and Tourism.

    A situation he said, will ignite a laudable economic growth and balance, foster bilateral relationships and enhance local and international business connections.

    Adiele reiterated that a country like Brazil, which is today a known emerging economy in the world had leveraged immensely from her yearly Carnival to attract tourists from various parts of the world and as such boosting the economy of Brazil.

    He also named Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, among others, who rely on their cultural and tourist potentials as an alternative means of boosting its economy.

    The Ukwa Cultural Carnival founder while stating that Abia State could achieve lofty goals within her socio-cultural and economic index if proper attention would be given to this passionate and fascinating project said that the ‘Ukwa Carnival Expo’ has all it takes to attract both national and international attention to Abia State tourism industry.

  • Youths must see climate change as an opportunity, says director

    Director of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment Dr Pete Tarfa has urged youths to see climate change as an opportunity for  growth and national economic advancement.

    Tarfa made the call at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana, when he met some Nigerian youths’ delegates attending the ongoing International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) in commemoration of the Africa Climate Week. The theme was:  ‘Africa climate week is a race we can win’.

    Six youth delegates from Nigeria attended the event. They are: Babatunde Enitan, Abiodun Adekoya, Rukayat Odebiyi, Moses Eboigbe, Prosper Egeonu and ‘Seyifunmi Adebote.

    “One thing I want Nigerian youths working in the area of climate change to do is to open their eyes to the many opportunities that surround climate change,” Tarfa began.

    He continued, “Before now, we used to see climate change as a tragedy, a woe, and something to be scared about. Today, there are a lot of opportunities that climate change has brought.

    “As young people, you should begin to see how you can create jobs from climate change – in the area of renewable energy, solid waste management, writing, advocacy, creative expressions like literature, poem or music, just to push out the message of climate change.

    “One major problem we have in Nigeria is deforestation, most women in the local communities cook with firewood and some of them are dying because of the effects of smoke on their health. Young people can partner private companies, creating innovative clean cook stove solution. Those products can be sold to the huge market in Nigeria. That way, you make money and impact lives. I want to see Nigerian youths who have understood climate change to look out for opportunities in the areas renewable sources of energy to provide power for the millions of people off-grid. Waste management is another big issue in Nigeria, single-use plastic recycling, architecture and many other aspects.”

  • Nigeria, others begin battle for WJC slots in Ghana

    Nigeria will be aiming to have a glorious return to the global stage at junior level as the battle for the African slots at the ITTF World Junior Championships (WJC) begins on April 7 at the 2019 African Junior and Cadet Championships in Ghana.

    Already, a record entry has been confirmed for the continental showpiece holding at the Sports Emporium in Bukom, Accra as Nigeria contends with the likes of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroun, Congo DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritius, Eritrea, Burundi, Benin Republic, Togo, South Africa, Angola, Libya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire and host – Ghana.

    The African tournament also serves as the platform to select the African Cadet team for the World Cadet Challenge holding in October in Poland, while the WJC will be hosted by Thailand in December.

    Defending champion – Egypt will be aiming to hold on to their titles in all the events but the return of another continent’s superpower – Nigeria may pose a threat to the North African ambition.

    For the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, this is indeed a record entry. “It seems we are going to have historical event with the highest level of entries since 2001, with 180 players representing about 20 countries listed for the 2019 African Junior and Cadet Championships. We look forward to an exciting tournament in a cordial and friendly atmosphere in the beautiful country of Ghana,” El-Salhy said.

    To affirm its readiness for the competition, Nigeria has showed its class at the ITTF World Junior Circuit after dominating the event to emerge as the best team of the tournament last week.

    Ghana will also be relying on the skills of 11-year-old Ibrahim Gado Nuhu who claimed the sole gold medal won by Ghana at the ITTF World Junior Circuit.

    Already, all the teams are in Accra for the one-week battle as players and teams compete in events like team, singles and doubles in the junior and cadet categories.

    The top three teams in the junior team event will qualify for the World Junior Championship holding later in the year in Thailand while the best five players in the boys and girls cadet singles will form the African Cadet Team to the World Cadet Challenge in Poland later in the year.