GHANA'S NEW FESTIVAL-DAPPERFEST

Some say dress to impress, others say first impression is everything, clad in different patterns, colours and textures of suits, tailored to  fit their  personality and style, a flash mob of well and sharply dressed gentlemen  besieged the Black star square in Accra, a league of extraordinary men who looked like a perfectly composed symphony of musical notes

came together for the maiden edition of DapperFest.

Dapperfest is a novel fashion festival exclusive to those who are fascinated with suits and understand the need to dress appropriately. Though there exist several fashion shows in the country, DAPPERFEST brings a new twist to it.

The organiser of the festival, Mr. Samuel Aggrey-Fynn says DAPPERFEST is more than a festival. “this is a gathering of well dressed gentlemen promoting the culture of dressing well as an art, this event also provides a platform for networking, exclusive photo-shoots and an opportunity to showcase your creative self and style.

Going forward, DAPPERFEST will bring together stakeholders in the men’s fashion industry to make quality men’s clothing and accessories accessible.  

The festival, beside advocating for men's grooming will each year donate to selected charities as part of it social responsibility. Let's support a good cause while having fun" he concluded.

 

View more photo and videos here

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CONTEMPORARY TALENT(S)

Contemporary gospel music in Ghana has changed if not gone through a significant revolution. Years ago, it was easy for anyone to sing along any localized gospel music as opposed to a contemporary gospel music. Many thought it was foreign and therefore had no slot on their play-list.

 

Today, the same cannot be said about contemporary gospel music as Ghanaians have embraced it. The 2017 VGMA saw a gospel artiste (Joe Mettle) of this kind winning the most coveted “Artiste of the Year” award which further drew the attention of many to contemporary gospel music making the likes of Akese Brempong, Isaiah Fosu Kwakye Jnr, Pastor Edwin Dadson, MOG and a lot more popular among gospel music lovers in the country.

 

However, there are many emerging musicians equally of good repute in the category of artistes

mentioned above. One such artiste is FredRich Nkyi, a talented lead singer at the Liberty Temple of ICGC -(International Central gospel Church) Ashongman Estate. The sensational gospel musician is passionate about what he does as it tells on the world-class ministration during service.

FredRich, as his name suggest is a rich and phenomenal performer of chorale music. He has released two singles from his yet to be released album which includes “You First Loved Me” featuring Julia McMillan.

 

 

BEAUTY QUEENS VISIT ATEWA FOREST

Contestants of Miss Tourism Ghana 2021 have embarked on a tour of parts of the Atewa forest. The contestants, who represent all sixteen regions in the country are battling it out for the ultimate recognition as Miss Tourism Ghana.

 

Project lead and CEO of Touch Effects, Mr. Delali Kotoka said, the essence and the choice of the Atewa forest was to promote sustainable eco-tourism, community empowerment and education as well as understand first hand the importance the forest plays in the lives of Ghanaians.

 

The Atewa forest covers an area of about 17,400 hectares of land with more than
seven hundred different species of plants whose dense canopy is home to rare species of butterflies and animals most of which are considered to be almost extinct.

 

Mr. Theophilus Boachie- Yiadom is the head of projects at Arocha Ghana, Kyebi, the organization leading the campaign for the conservation of the Atewa forest. According to him, should the forest be mined for its bauxite deposits, the country stands to lose greatly as the source of drinking water in Accra and parts of the Eastern region can be traced to the forest.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KILLERS ON WHEELS

In Asia where they are made, they are used predominantly to cart goods from one point to the other in a closed area or at most close circuited towns. However, in Ghana the case differs. They are on our by passes, community streets, lanes and grudgingly our high ways.Threferred to as “Aboboyaa”.

 

All around, in towns and cities-big and small or sprawling, you will not miss its 99cc peculiar engine sound often under such weight its three tubeless tyres could manage. Neither can the dull green or bright red colours be missed.

 

In recent times, there have been many calls on government to either re-classify the Accra- Tema motorway or have it refurbished and expanded. Often ladened with all manner of items(food items, wooden planks and garbage), they are in constant competition for space with other road users without regards to their fast or intimidating presence, thereby putting everyone at risk of getting involved in an accident. I am obviously not against anyone trying to fend for themselves but not at the detriment of other people’s lives and properties. Perhaps a law could be passed to preclude them from using  the motorway especially. 

34, SINGLE & BROKE

 

Sometime this week, I bumped into an old friend. He looked frail and haggard. This was not how he looked when I last saw him. Something was wrong. We had a long chat and at the peak of our conversation  was the fact that he had lost his job. He was a poultry farm manager and was incensed at what had happened to him. A role he managed for just three months after more than a year of searching for a job. 

He told me  his boss couldn't keep up with the rising cost of chicken feed, particularly maize, not to mention other equally expensive ingredient against the declining demand for eggs. To rub salt into his wound, his girlfriend had jilted him. I couldn't but empathize with him.  Poor chap. That reminded me of a line in one of Sarkodie's rap" sika nni wo bɔtɔ mu a, wo ti tesɛ oguan ti". To wit, if you have no money, your head looks like that of a sheep. 

The level of unemployment has become alarming. Young girls are giving themselves to men their

grandfather's age to survive on the daily. Young men are living on hand outs from friends who are struggling themselves and yet each day, we see, hear and read reports of reckless spending by the elite. Why?  This isn't what we bargained for. One strike action by workers here or there, Crime rates are high and all "someone" could say is that "it is only in heaven there is no crime". I fear for my unborn children and  those after. I wonder what country we shall bequeath to them. 

In the mean time, since there are no crimes in heaven, let's drink all the beer to wash down our pains here on earth. Cheers.🍺

Mi Smile Foundation, a not for profit organization based in Accra has donated packs of sanitary items to pupils at Akuffokrom, a small community on the fringes of Nsawam in the Eastern region. The move was in commemoration of “World Menstrual Hygiene day” observed on 28^th May each year. however, the foundation will carry out similar activities through out the year into the ensuing year.

 

The Menstrual hygiene day is to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management.

 
Speaking at the ceremony, an executive of My Smile Foundation, Pearl Amo-Adu said, “ it is an utter misfortune for any woman regardless of their age not to be able to take good care of themselves at that time of the month. It is in this regard that, MiSmile foundation gave several packs of sanitary pads and other related items to girls of Akuffokrom M/A school to make their stay in school comfortable whilst educating the young girls on proper menstrual hygiene.

Receiving the items, the assembly member of the town, Hon. Christian K.K. Asare was grateful for the kind gesture stating that, it will go a long way to promote the interest of the girls in school as they will not have any more excuses not to attain classes. 

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

At a point in our lives, we shall pass on. However, how it happens will either leave those we leave behind in a sorry state than sad. How we got here as a country still beats my mind. The sheer lawlessness  scares me to the bone. We are not safe. 

Last week, a friend of mine and her colleagues were attacked by an armed young man in her car after work. But for the bravery of my friend, her colleague seated at the front would have sustained severe injuries. I cannot put my thoughts together well because it is getting frustrating each day. If there is anything to be done to nib it, it should be done now!!! that is, if it hasn't got out of hand. At a point I believe people will take things into their own hands. I cannot imagine all of us going about our daily activities  with one deadly weapon or the other in the name of self- defense. It will spiral into something else

There have been dozens of such cases but a few have been reported. The killing of the young police officer leave a lot of questions on my mind. If the people paid and equipped from the public purse to sustain what is left of the peace and security of the citizens are being slaughtered in broad day light, then your guess is as good as mine as to what may happen to the ordinary citizens. 

Just a few hours ago, there was a video of some young lads brandishing side arms and other sophisticated arms on social media. The question is "how the f**k did we get here"?

To those in whose hands the safety of the country lies, don't wait until it gets out of hand. There are many young people walking the streets hungry. A weapon in the hands of such might spell doom. Crime does not discriminate. This is a call to all to put our shoulders to the wheel. 😞😞

NOTES AND CONCRETE BLOCKS

It is said that the making a great person is usually unknown and the road to the top could be lonely and fraught with many challenges. In spite of these, many have achieved greatness in their respective chosen field. The story of Nana Quophy is no different.

 

The building engineer, born Godfred Cobbah is riding on the waves of music to hit the spot light though he says he has plans for the engineer in him. In 2017, he cut his teeth in music with two singles titled “ADIEPENA and “LOVI”, a collaboration with B2S studios until he had to start all over on his own. “ Its a lonely and uncomfortable road but I had to take it” he said.

 

His latest single is “ I LOVE YOU” which features Black Ashante is gaining grounds and becoming popular on the play list of music lovers. Nana Quophy is in line to be in the league of musicians from Ashaiman like Stonebwoy, Galaxy and a host of other. His latest project “APOLOGY” will soon be on all digital music platforms.

THIRTEEN YEAR OLD INNOVATES PUBLIC WASH ROOM

Getting access to a decent public wash room in Accra is very rare. The few available are scattered and mostly not hygienic. In view of this, a thirteen year old student has modelled an innovative wash room to serve this purpose.

Livingstone Ohene, who is the brain behind the model said her innovation is an improvement on the existing form of public wash room, introducing more privacy under hygienic conditions . “ its very disgusting using public wash rooms as you are most likely to chance on someone or their waste”. she said, adding that, her model will help stop the indiscriminate urination in low income areas.

Miss Ohene, a student of Mercy’s School in Bubuashie in Accra had the idea during a creative arts lesson where they were asked to identify a common problem in their community and design a solution to it.  

 

 

 

A CASE AGAINST COVID-19

I’m not an expert in this field but I surely do understand and know what it feels like to be “depressed” at a time like this. Without being told, I recognize many persons are going through diverse range of stress. A handful are managing it well and many are not. Businesses which hitherto were standing tall have been brought down to their knee, laying off workers leaving only a few who are either slashing salaries into halves or crawling just to stay afloat, leaving only a couple operating at full capacity.

Like a wrecking ball, it came uninvited, sneaking up on us smashing and sniffing out life from everything in its way. This guess cared not about who was rich, poor, young or old. Neither was it thoughtful of the strong nor weak, noble or dishonorable.

It covered the world in its unwanted warmth like a blanket, darkening the path of those who were brave to wrestle it but to no avail. Like a inglorious judge, Covid-19 judged the world without first hearing its case.

In spite of the above, it is important that we marshal efforts to fight it like an insurgent gaining

grounds on our turf. We certainly do not lack the know how but we have become complacent, cross examining ourselves rather than the pandemic. We have to be a little more kinder to ourselves and selfish in protecting others by observing all safety measures, otherwise, it is long lonely path.