The “Street Foodz Ghana” is a new docu-reality platform that seeks to appreciate and showcase the authentic Ghanaian street food and its vendors to boost tourism.

Maxima Media, the owners of FoodBay TV and the creators and curators of StreetFoodz Naija, arguably Africa’s largest food docu-reality series, have expanded their tentacles on the continent with the arrival of StreetFoodz Ghana. The show was officially launched on Thursday, October 21, 2021, during a press conference and was highlighted by the announcement of Gino brand as the headline sponsor.

The debut episode of the show, which will be aired via AdomTV – 5:30pm (Saturday), MaxTV – 6:30pm (Saturday), Joy Prime – 6:00pm (Saturday) and GHone- 6.30pm (Sunday) on 30th October 2021, will carry compelling and exciting content and celebrate (among others) a diverse range of street food vendors who are often overlooked by mainstream media.

Out of 100 and more entries made, 13 Ghana’s best food vendors who qualified to partake in the main hottest food contest ever will compete for the Grand prize worth GHc 50,000, GHc 20,000 and GHc 10, 000 including bragging rights, the crown and the grand title of “King of Street foods in Ghana” — putting a lively culinary culture, unique palates, and frequently strange civilizations to the test.

The show will also explore the street foods and its vendors from across the capital. Archival footage is combined with face-to-face interviews and follows street food chefs and their history, which is intertwined with the big picture of how influential street food is on their native country.

Speaking at the official press launch held at the Alisa Hotel, Ghana, Georgina Abbam- Baidoo Amfo, Project manager, Street Foodz Ghana said: “We used this opportunity to take a tour around the country to select 13 street food vendors who would be trained for 13 weeks. The winner will be coming out as the Street Food King in Ghana and will also get his/her aerial space renovated, an SMS tool kit (branding), and a promotional video for advertising.”

Akua Obiri-Yeboah, Marketing director, GB foods Ghana declared her entity’s unflinching support towards this move since contestants and to a large extent, Street Food Chefs rely on their brand to serve millions of consumers.

“We felt this was a very good platform because the people we are targeting rely on our products and brands to feed millions of consumers. And based on the idea and discussion we had, we felt it was a good way to reach out to the food service outlets out there. We wanted to be part of it to let them know we place high value on them for patronizing our brand. We are looking forward to having engaging and exciting experience with the team at street food and vendors.”

Olufemi Ogundoro, Managing Director of Maxima Media Group also said the move is in line with the vision of FoodBay TV to put African food on the world food map.

“Food Bay TV is a dedicated platform which focuses primarily of food and lifestyle and showcases the best of African foods to the rest of the world. Ghana has the best culture appreciation in Africa. Ghanaians are proud of their heritage and equally proud of their food. That is why we have this platform to able to showcase the best Ghanaian street food, elevating the standards and majorly boosting tourism.”

Launched in 2019, Street Foodz show is aimed at promoting local cuisine, as well as supporting entrepreneurs in the food sector and rebranding street foods. Just like the maiden edition, and the subsequent one, the 30 minutes televised and digitally transmitted docu-reality series will showcase the best of Africa’s street food delicacies.

The premiere of the latest Efia Odo series “My African Love with Efia Odo” will mark a Diaspora success in the fall of 2021 in the United States. This groundbreaking series is produced by Koby Maxwell, the multi award-winning producer of Epic Nollywood-Hollywood film “One Night in Vegas” and CEO of KM Productions. It is co-produced by Jojo Andoh of Jo Kanin Productions and Nana Danso a.k.a chairman of ND Productions. Directed by Robert Peters

“My African Love with Efia Odo” stars popular Ghanaian actress and entertainer, Efia Odo. Also featuring is Andromeda Peters (Miss United States 2018/2019) in her film making debut with this series and the award-winning media personality, Charlie Dior. Household name, Chris Attoh, is our amazing presenter along with a host of others given an ecstatic feature on the show.

“The show is highly entertaining and a must watch!” Ama K Abebrese British-Ghanaian actress, television presenter and producer of “QUOTE”

“This is the beginning of a fantastic start for the African community, there is no limit!”

Joseph Van Vicker Ghanaian Actor, Movie Director and Humanitarian

The series is unlike any popular Hollywood love story. It dabbles in a rather unconventional twist in a lady’s quest to find love amidst betrayals and heartbreaks. She ignores the red flags and warnings from her friends and family of the absurdity of finding love on a reality show. Though they are vehemently against this, she goes ahead to personally host an auditioning for a selection of 15 men to contest in what she terms ‘an in-house competition’ in the hope of finding her one true love. The eviction process involves a true test of the competitors’ personalities in the most engaging ways possible. She is provided in-house support by her trusted friends, and the twists and turns bring an all-round overwhelming reality TV series experience.

The reality TV series will be officially premiered as a red-carpet event on 19th December 2021 in Accra, Ghana at the SNAP Cinemas (Accra City Hall). It will show for 7 days from the 19th of December, 2021 to the 25th of December 2021. The show will be released in 2022 across the world on major platforms and TV networks. Tickets are available for sale in all major shopping malls in Accra and at theatre box offices on November 1st. Momo payment and ticket delivery are available at these locations. Tickets are also available online.

For a list of theatres and platforms the series will be available on, and to purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com or www.myafricanlove.tv . Watch the trailer of the show via our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Moviegoers who purchase a ticket to see “My African Love with Efia Odo” at any listed participating theatre will receive a free T-shirt and poster signed by Efia Odo. This limited offer is only available till November 30th.

Facebook and Comic Republic have announced the launch of #NoFalseNewsZone online comic book, an exciting and educational comic series designed to help people think critically about the messages they see and read online. The series helps readers to identify false news and what they can do to help minimise its spread.

The online comic book, which comes in a three-part series will feature the stories of an experienced nurse, an intern reporter and a university student who are on their personal journey to educate people on how to curb false news, and also join the fight against misinformation to help create a #NoFalseNewsZone online.

“Facebook is excited to launch its #NoFalseNewsZone online comic book in collaboration with Comic Republic. We’ve come up with relatable and exciting stories to keep people entertained as we educate them on how to minimise its spread,” Oluwasola Obagbemi, Facebook’s Corporate Communications Manager for Anglophone West Africa said, while commenting on the launch. “As a pioneer of innovation for human connection through social presence, Facebook has given people the power to build communities and bring the world closer together in new and profound ways. Our hope is that with this online comic book, people will make informed decisions by thinking critically about what they read, trust and share,” Obagbemi added.

Speaking on the collaboration, Comic Republic CEO, Jide Martin said: “In a world where we are online for everything essential, it is now critical that we protect our new reality. More than ever, with just one tap online, you can either make or mar a life. As such, we must all be accountable for the information we share on social media. Comic Republic’s mission is rooted in storytelling for a cause, so the #NoFalseNewsZone campaign is right up our alley and such a thrill to work on. I urge people to read and pass it on but most of all, really think before you share unverified messages with their contacts. We don’t need superpowers to do good.”

To download the #NoFalseNewsZone comic series, visit:

https://www.thecomicrepublic.com/site/web/NoFalseNewsZoneviewer.html?file=NoFalseNewsZone_facebook_October_2021_Comic_Republic_Web.pdf

Guests at hotels appreciate how they are treated and how their experience was at a particular place. When dealing with a resort, you need to employ these tactics to attract and maintain your clients. A resort is a place people go for a vacation to relax and have fun. Most resorts provide an all-inclusive for visitors that is food, lodging, and some other expenses. But how do you attract more people to your resort amid all the competition? 

Well, in this post, we focus on helping you to know ways of getting more guests to your fancy resort; buckle up. 

Go All in With the Architecture

Yes, the most significant way to lure those travellers is by building your resort with appealing architecture. Who doesn’t want to be in an impressive building for their holiday? Invest in good architectural companies that will blow your prospects’ minds making them unable to resist it. Tourists like taking photos of the places they visit, especially for social media influencers. If your resort is appealing enough to be part of their content, they will choose your resort over others. 

The design of the building should also include spacious ensuite rooms for your guest’s comfort. 

Spare No Expenses With Decor

The decor is an essential element in your resort. You can only entertain high-end guests if your decor is on point, which means, hire the best interior designers in the game to make your resort outshine its competitors. Also, design is not limited to the interior only; partner with renowned landscapers to transform your outdoors. Since it is a vacation destination, the outdoors play a vital role in maintaining your clients. 

Include a custom made pool that fits the overall design of the premises. The pool doesn’t have to be regular; ensure you add some eccentric shape, a hot tub, music, lighting, unique furniture to match, an infinity edge, among others. When installing electrical components, ensure you keep them safely in waterproof metal enclosures to void any accidents. 

Strategic Marketing 

Marketing is a crucial part of any business; hence, experts who understand the industry and the market well should be led by experts. Tourism is a global industry bringing in revenue to various countries. Although there might be good seasons and bad ones, it will never go out of business. For this reason, investing in your marketing team will propel your resort ahead of your competitors. 

Advertise the resort on television and radio, to reach more local people. You can also use travelling-based magazines and LED displays. Lastly, use social media. Social media has made marketing a bit easy since you only require to hire the right influencers to market your resort. You can pay them for the advert or offer them an all-inclusive free vacation on the condition they market for you. 

Recreational Areas and Activities

Make your resort stand out from the rest by offering additional recreational areas and activities. Resorts are meant for relaxation and fun, and if you add more fun to them, they will be the most preferred. Have a spa area that includes saunas, tanning areas, massages, pedicures and manicures, yoga, etc. These additional elements will be a plus for you, and you will attract more tourists. 

Activities like kayaking, zip-lining, surfing, snorkelling, diving, and so on will keep your visitors engaged while staying at your resort. Incorporate a dock system to create a seamless transition from the water to land. Plastic floating docks are the best.

Offer the Best Services in the Market

You might be wondering why some outstanding hotels do not have as many guests as expected; well, worry no more. It all comes down to the service. How you treat your guest will either make or break your business regardless of its size. Incorporate good values into your staff and ensure they follow the letter. People will never forget how you made them feel more than how the place looked. 

Good services include respect for guests, listening to their grievances, responding quickly and accordingly, and offering what you agreed on during reservations. Some of these may seem minor, but they will contribute to how your guests perceive the resort. 

Create an Online Presence

In this day and age, having a stable online presence will work best for your business. Build a website for your resort and include all the services offered to your guest. Optimize the website well to create seamless navigation whenever prospects are browsing. Remember to include pricing, rooms, advantages and setbacks, recreations available, and other crucial information guests might need. 

Be transparent to help you build trust in the market. Do not display a product or service that is not available as this will create doubt in your guest, and they will fail to book in the future. 

Conclusion 

It is not an easy job to please people, especially now that many have been exposed to various outstanding features worldwide. Guests want a comfortable place to stay while having their vacation. Be a provider who meets all the needs of what the market demands. Integrate the above guidelines into your resort and stay on top of the game. Your rivals will be nowhere near you since you will get all the high-end guests. 

If you’ve been paying attention to the real estate market recently, you’ll know that the seller’s market, which was strong before the pandemic began, has only increased since the start of COVID-19.

This means home prices are high and buyer competition is fierce. If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, you may want to consider putting your home on the market sooner rather than later because, while no one expects these conditions to disappear overnight, the coming months may invite more inventory to the market, as well as lower home prices.

Buyers are still highly incentivized

If you’re a seller, there’s certainly no need to rush. As the economy reopens and strengthens, buyers know the days of low mortgage rates — a factor that drove them to the market in waves — may be ending.

Many buyers are relying on these low mortgage rates to afford a home, despite prices being rather high.

Buyers will be locking in these rates and rushing to the market to take advantage before it’s too late. Sellers, you’ll want to take advantage while buyers are still highly incentivized to enter the market and competition is still high, as it may not last much longer.

Home prices are still high, but bidding wars are on the decline

In HomeLight’s Summer / Fall Report, real estate agents across the country noted that prices are still high, however buyers may be at their breaking point. In fact, realtors across the country have noticed buyers dropping out of deals at the last moment.

Due to the competitive nature of the market, buyers are having to bid over asking price in order to win the home of their dreams. Once they’ve made a deal, they’re left to ponder their decision and rethink whether such a lofty investment is truly worth it.

This often leads to sellers lowering their home price, as now there’s a stigma that something is wrong with the property. Realtors are encouraging their sellers not to get too greedy. If the bid on your home is too astronomical, you may find buyers drop out at the last minute.

Moreover, bidding wars are starting to diminish. While realtors were reporting about 20-plus bids per listing earlier in the year, the average listing now only receives about 5 bids.

While prices are still high compared to normal market conditions, these trends may indicate that buyers may see home prices drop in the coming months.

Inventory may soon return to the market

The main reason for such high home prices? Low inventory. Since most sellers were wary of entering the market during the pandemic, there simply was not enough inventory to match buyer demand. Thus, home prices skyrocketed.

Now that the vaccine is available to all who want it, sellers feel more secure and are beginning to enter back into the market. If you want to sell for the best price, contact your real estate agent in order to take advantage of the favorable market conditions.

Huawei has announced the winners of the 2021 edition of the Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP), with four African Apps being recognised and celebrated. Coresthetics walked away with one of the Best App Awards in the Middle East and Africa region, along with $15,000 in prize money.

UniAPS bagged an Excellent Student Award, with $5,000 prize money, while Droppa and Secura received Honourable Mention Awards, which each come with $3,000 prize money.

“The Apps UP contest is a great initiative from Huawei, and I hope that we continue to encourage App developers to make Apps that are beneficial to society.  One piece of advice that I have for developers would be to think more about your onboarding experience, and let users test it out to see what the App does and understand the problems they may face,” said Ahmad Abugosh,an Apps UP MEA judge and Director of Marketing & Learning Programs, AstroLabs Middle East & Africa.

Other award winners include Real Car Race Game 3D: Fun New Car Games 2020, LittleAstro, and Scary Teacher 3D, each winning a Best Game Award, while Blind Assistant, Limit, and Emergency Buddy conquered the Best Social Impact App Award category. These winners will each be rewarded with $15,000.

The 2021 edition of Apps UP witnessed over 2,100 individuals and teams from over 170 countries entering the contest. All submissions were carefully evaluated based on their innovation, social value, business value, and User Experience (UX) by a jury consisting of leading regional industry experts. The competition concluded on October 10 with the public voting stage; public votes accounted for 10% of the final results. App submissions were seamless, intelligent, innovative, and they contributed to the robustness of HUAWEI AppGallery.

The winners of the eight categories were:

• Best App Award ($15,000 each): WashyWash, Handyman Calculation, and Coresthetics.
• Best Game Award ($15,000 each): Real Car Race Game 3D: Fun New Car Games 2020, LittleAstro, and Scary Teacher 3D.
• Best Social Impact App Award ($15,000 each): Blind Assistant, Limit, and Emergency Buddy.
• Excellent Student Award ($5,000 each): Handyman Calculator, UniAPS, and The Muslim Diary
• Honourable Mention Award ($3,000 each): Quran University an Educational Online Learning, STEPPI, Droppa, Secura, and MyTV+.
• Tech Women’s Award ($5,000 each):
• Best HMS Core Innovation Award ($5,000 each): Blind Assistant, Limit, and Mobile Gamepad.
• All-Scenario Coverage Award ($5,000 each):

Adam Xiao, Managing Director, HMS and Consumer Cloud Service for HUAWEI Consumer Business Group MEA, said, “Creating functional, smooth, and intelligent applications is not an easy task, and through Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP), we aim to reward the developer industry for their outstanding contribution. This year’s competition was extraordinary due to the quality of apps submitted, and the new categories added garnered tremendous interest, particularly the Women’s Tech Award that saw over 600 submissions. We want to congratulate all the winners for their impressive submissions that aim to benefit our societies in different areas.”

The 2021 edition of the Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP) was launched in June and lasted more than 100 days. Submissions came in from all regions including China, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The competition’s total prize pool amounted to US$1 million, with a reward of US$200,000 in cash prizes for each participating region.

To learn more, and to stay tuned to latest competition and developer updates, please visit https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/