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From Nigeria to Ghana, my experience with ‘that type of hotel’ (I had to re-share this post from 2016)

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Through out the years as Ghana’s number 1 celebrity and lifestyle blogger (yes let me blow my own horn a bit), I have had the chance to experience some of the best hotels from around the world. From fairly rated hotels to 5 star hotels, each experience is often unique in its own right – from the comfort of the rooms to the delightful cuisines they serve.

However, my fond memories of hotels are not always about the luxury and comfort they offer. In fact there have been a few ‘that type of hotel’ experiences in between, and the memories from them are equally unforgettable in their own right.

My first experience with ‘that type of hotel’ was in Nigeria, and after that I continued to have more of such experiences – yes in Nigeria over and over again. It all started with my romance with the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), which is held in the State of Bayelsa annually. Due to the fact that film makers and stars from all over Africa and the Diaspora descend on Yenagoa (the State capital) for the awards, often the city runs out of hotels – and so some of us have to settle for ‘that type of hotel’.

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So what exactly is ‘that type of hotel’? It is the kind that you check-in not knowing whether it is a 1,2, or 3-star hotel. No matter the comfort it comes with, you will still have a feeling something is missing (and deepening on how long you stay there, it could matter or not matter). It promises complimentary English breakfast if you are lucky, and when it does serve breakfast it is often not what you expected (either the taste is off, or surprisingly good). In Nigeria, you will often find a bucket or pail in your bathroom, fret not for it is only to provide water for you in-case you love bathing from a bucket more than taking a hot or cold shower. If you go to meet the bucket already full, then you have no option, you have to bath from the bucket and most likely there is no running water available in the hotel. A stable internet connection is a luxury in ‘that type of hotel’.13508916 1818429858380252 649226975071712961 n

In my first experience with a ‘that type of hotel’ in Bayelsa, an actor’s room almost got burnt down due to a bad electrical wiring. Yes, the hotel owner had rushed to get some rooms ready so guests from AMAA could stay in. My second experience with ‘that type of hotel’ in Bayelsa I cannot even remember because perhaps by then I knew what to expect, or I had gone through so much hustling to get to Bayelsa, that nothing else could matter.

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There was one particular year that the AMAA was held in Lagos and so I went to cover it at my own expense. I asked a friend in Lagos to find me an affordable hotel to stay for a short while, that would also not be too far away from the airport (bearing in mind the nature of Lagos Traffic). When my friend told me the hotel was in Ojodu Berger, I felt some kind of relief because the area sounded rather posh in my ears. Well, I didn’t have to wait to see or check-in to my room to know that I was deceived by the fancy sound of ‘Berger’. The area was far from posh, in fact it was a noisy working district full of brisk business and heavy commuters. And well, my hotel was ‘that type of hotel’. Perhaps the worst kind – a dingy hotel in a noisy neighbourhood. The net in the windows were torn and so the louvre blades had to be closed at all times in order not let any mosquitoes in. I can’t remember whether there was an air conditioner in the room or if it just wasn’t working, but I remember the low blowing ceiling fan and all my tossing and turning in bed whenever the power went off (yes the chronic Nigerian electricity crisis didn’t make my stay any less unbearable). To make things even worse, that particular trip to Lagos ended with me missing my flight back home (but I will save myself from the painful experience and leave it here).13466264 1818430635046841 7384248365540356194 n

There was another time in Lagos when I had to attend the City People Entertainment Awards as a nominee. I got there with a fellow nominee from Ghana but due to the crazy schedule of organisers they seemed to have forgotten about our arrival time, and we had to find a hotel to stay for the night so we could move to our original hotel the following day. So we asked a driver at the airport to take us to an affordable hotel so we could stay for the night. Needless to say, he drove us straight to a ‘that type of hotel’. Well, this time it was a little different , it looked like ‘that type of hotel’ where taxi drivers take couple who meet at a nightclub and search for a place to spend a night of pleasure. Well, I was clearly not there for pleasure, and i wasn’t finding my stay pleasurable either. I don’t remember the name of the hotel but I vividly remember a notice pasted on the door which said “Smoking, but please only cigarette”. Well, I struggled to sleep throughout and couldn’t wait to leave. Clearly, there was no WiFi connection and I wasn’t roaming with my mobile internet so my entertainment options came very limited. The following day, as we waited to hear from the organisers of the awards, I found out that even dingy hotels have checkout times, and they like to stick to them. Yes, they wanted us out by 12 noon, and clearly I wasn’t going to pay for another night there. The hotel wasn’t willing give us a late checkout while we waited for the organisers to come for us. I left the hotel to look for a better alternative while we waited to hear from the organisers. I tried checking into a new hotel but my debit card wasn’t working with their POS system and while we tried sorting it out, thankfully we had a call from the organisers that someone was coming to get us. Phew!!! And by the way I ended up winning my nomination.

The next time is stayed in ‘that type of hotel’ in Nigeria was when I went to Lagos, after taking up a new job as the Managing Editor for Pulse.com.gh. As part of the launch process I visited Ringier Nigeria for a week to study how they run Pulse.NG in order to implement the same back home for Ringier Ghana. The company had a deal with one hotel, so that was where I stayed. It was a regular hotel but it felt neglected. I had to deal with the stress of struggling to sleep in heat because there was no generator when the main power supply went off. The excuse from the hotel was that there were not enough guests around for them to put on the generator…really?

My last stay in ‘that type of hotel’ in Nigeria was last year, 2015. I was in Lagos for the New Media Conference so a friend suggested a hotel in Surulere for me. This time there was no surprises, the name of the area couldn’t deceive me (unlike Ojodu Berger); and I guess by now I had enough experience to deal with ‘that type of hotel’. What I remember the most was that, it was during a time where Nigeria had been hit with a fuel shortage. So when the electricity went off, management turned on a small generator in the afternoon and told guests not to use the air conditioner. Then after 6pm (8pm to be precise), they turned on a bigger generator that allowed guests to turn on their AC at least for a comfortable night’s sleep. Needless to say, I attended the conference without being able to iron my shirt.

Now for those of you who think ‘that type of hotel’ only exist in Nigeria, let me bring you back home to Ghana. There are plenty of them in Ghana and I often book or suggest some for friends visiting from Nigeria – and no, not as payback!!!

My recent trip to the Volta Region for the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards nominees jam brought me in contact with a special kind of ‘that type of hotel’. And just as I didn’t mention the names of the Nigerian hotels (well mostly because I don’t even remember their names), I wont mention the name of this hotel in Ho.

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After checking- in, I and my colleague reporters went straight to to the restaurant because we were very hungry. I decided to try a local delicacy, ‘Wokple’ for the first time and I enjoyed it. Though I wish the chicken was organic fresh chicken rather than what looked like imported frozen chicken. After the heavy meal, now it was time to go back to my room and rest a bit ahead of the jams in the evening. The hotel had wifi (at least on and off) and this time I wasn’t roaming so I had internet on my phone as well (only in limited areas…isn’t it funny how most mobile networks lose stable connectivity as you move away from Accra?). So, there was some options for me for entertainment, plus the hotel had some satellite channels I could watch.13516445 1818430621713509 5858252797840623645 n

From the electronic door to a bathroom that at least had hot shower, the hotel surely was standard. But it was ‘that type of hotel’, the type that puts in too much effort to let you know you are not in your house. There were signs posted everywhere to remind you of that, just incase you didn’t know or have never stayed in a hotel before.

There were signs to show you how to turn on the hot or cold shower; how to turn on the air conditioning; and how to use the heater. In fact the only thing I missed out on was the guide on how to flush the toilet.
There was a notice next to the phone that boldly spelt out the charges that came with room service and yet when I called to order my dinner, the kitchen staff explained it again to me. I screamed in my head, ‘I bloody know that…the notice is boldly in my face as we speak’. It was a little irritating but thank goodness, when the meal arrived it was amazingly tasty.So there you have it, some of my experiences with ‘that type of hotel’ from Nigeria to Ghana. I am sure you do have your own such experiences. Do share them, after all a great stay away from home is the memories you take with you back home…good or bad!!!

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Gavi and UNICEF welcome approval of new oral cholera vaccine

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Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF welcome the news that a new oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-S, has now received WHO prequalification and can be made available to countries around the world. The prequalification of this new product will help EuBiologics, the manufacturer, produce more volumes of vaccine, faster, and at a lower cost – a key step to expanding supply amidst the ongoing acute global upsurge of cholera outbreaks.

Today’s approval will help increase the overall supply of OCV available in 2024, with approximately 50 million doses now forecasted to be available to the global stockpile this year, compared to 38 million in 2023. Euvichol-S is an important product innovation: a simplified formulation of Euvichol-Plus that reduces the number of vaccine components – delivering a vaccine that studies have shown remains equally effective against key cholera serogroups while lowering production cost and complexity – thus allowing for larger volumes to be produced faster.

Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with high case fatality rates despite availability of simple, effective and affordable treatment. The large number of outbreaks has led to unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries. While global OCV supply has increased eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the large and sustained spike in demand has put a strain on the global stockpile of OCV. Partners and countries are working urgently on cholera response, prevention and control measures in the face of this crisis, and have called on countries, manufacturers and others to support. Most recently, Gavi, UNICEF and partners announced the largest ever global deployment of cholera diagnostics to support surveillance and response.

“Prequalification of Euvichol-S represents a lifeline for vulnerable communities around the world,” said Dr Derrick Sim, Managing Director of Vaccine Markets & Health Security at Gavi. “Every vaccine dose delivered through Gavi programmes today represents years of planning and investment to shape the market so supply matches countries’ needs. The approval of this new product could not have come at a more important time given the acute upsurge of cholera outbreaks we are seeing worldwide. We commend EuBiologics for their role in ensuring countries around the world have access to cholera vaccine as part of their response toolkit.”

EuBiologics is currently the only supplier of OCV to the global stockpile, although other manufacturers are expected to have products available in the coming years. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance works to shape the OCV market, and funds the global stockpile of OCV doses, along with transport and vaccination activities in lower-income countries. UNICEF leads on procurement and delivery of doses to countries. Use of the stockpile for emergency response is overseen by the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Provision (ICG), led by WHO.

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“Despite cholera being preventable and easily treatable, children continue to suffer from this potentially fatal disease. UNICEF has already secured access to all the available doses of the just-approved vaccine and will deliver these to the countries at the highest possible speed,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “The approval means that UNICEF can increase the procurement and delivery of cholera vaccines by more than 25%, pushing back harder on deadly cholera outbreaks.”

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Isap Music Drops ‘Naomi’ As First Single of The Year

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Ghanaian Hip-Life/Hip-Hop artiste, Isap Music has today officially released his premiere single of the year, “Naomi” on all digital streaming platforms.

The new single is an Afrobeats record that boarders on the thin line between love and obsession.

Isap Music opens with a reassurance for that special someone as he plans to put a ring on her finger soon. His sweet-singing voice together with the charming lyrics not only wins the heart of “Naomi,” but the listener as well.

On the DCM Records produced track, Isap Music brings a different energy to his first single of 2024, building a strong anticipation for subsequent releases as the year progresses.

However, until then, “Naomi” is simply one of the best Ghanaian Afrobeats songs released so far this year.

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Isap Music’s spectacular performance on the two minutes 27 seconds track has everything; vocals, lyrics, storytelling and ad-libs, all on point.

It’s hard to believe such a good song was produced from another person’s experience but that is exactly how the song came to life.

In an online interview with Amplify Ghana, Isap Music disclosed that “Naomi” was inspired by a friend.

“The love song was actually inspired by a friend who was so much into his girl that he couldn’t stay a day without hearing her voice,” he said.

The latest single comes after his collaboration with 2022 VGMA Best Rap Performance award winner Lyrical Joe, Suuparstar TZ and Siicie on “Yesu Frɛwo” released last year.

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Isap Music is one of the exciting new voices in the music scene. This new release, “Naomi” continues his streak of superb releases. Gaining recognition as one of the few street preachers, Isap Music’s versatility as an artist is of no doubt. He continues to share different messages and produce bangers in many genres.

“Naomi” by Isap Music is currently available on all digital streaming platforms.

Listen to “Naomi”

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Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

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Within the ever-changing financial environment, it’s an issue of immense importance that an investor remains at the forefront. Immediate Nexus is a beacon that avails the indispensable resources and insight to navigate an investor through manning the complexities in investment come 2024 and thereafter. Let’s delve into why immediate-nexus-ai.com is your ultimate gateway to free investment education in 2024.

Understanding Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

It is nothing less than a whole ecosystem to be built with the idea of allowing investors at different levels of experience to obtain the knowledge and tools needed to gain a foothold in this business. Whether you are a seasoned investor or one learning the ropes of how to dabble in the finance world, the Immediate Nexus has got your back.

The Evolution of Investment Education

Traditional teachings of investment have a very short shelf life due to the fast pace with which technology and the trend of the global markets move. Immediate Nexus fills that need by providing modern investors with current, readily accessible, practical information.

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Free Resources for All

But what really strikes the most is the kind of free education toward all people without having any expense of seminars or the elite high-cost memberships. Truly, Immediate Nexus advocates that financial literacy should be made available to all, no matter where you come from or belong in terms of background or current financial status.

Expert Insights and Analysis

Investment can be cumbersome to wade through, especially for beginners. Immediate Nexus makes it easier with an expert insight and analysis curated from none but the best sources. Be it market trends or effective investment strategies, everything is there to make your decision wise.

Harnessing the Power of Community

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It doesn’t need to be a lonely journey. Immediate Nexus is a dynamic, live community where investors network, share ideas, and draw wisdom from one another. That interactive approach makes it conducive to learning at the same time, availing valuable networking opportunities.

Why Choose Immediate Nexus?

While Immediate Nexus may be a new kind of educational platform, in many ways, it is poised to soon become the go-to solution for those seeking to grow and succeed in the world of investing. Here are ten great reasons why you need to make it your go-to resource this year.

  • Holistic Content: From the guidelines of a beginner investor to the strategies which are to be followed at an advanced level, Immediate Nexus encompasses and provides information relevant to every single stage an investor might be in.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform friendliness comes with ease of navigating through the site, intuitive design, and a friendly interface.
  • Timely Updates:** Actual happenings in the capital and financial markets, economic development, and investment opportunities.
  • Interactive Learning: Engjson Quizzes, Interactive Tutorials, and Live Webinars assist learners in polishing skills and strengthening their learning.
  • Community of Trust: Be a part of an elite community of like-minded investors, share knowledge and support each other in growth.

Conclusion

Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024 is not a platform—it’s a revolution, an immediate nexus revolutionizing ways people think about investment education. Equip your financial future with all the expert insights and resources that you would have needed, including a lively community. Join the movement today and take your first steps toward financial freedom.

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Mastering Bitcoin Trading: The BitLQ Matrix Advantage: A Path to Financial Freedom

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The financial opportunities, though, in mastering the trading Bitcoin are huge in this dynamic world of cryptocurrency. BitLQ Matrix strategy stands like a beacon of assurance and profitability among the myriad strategies available. This paper, therefore, seeks to detail the encapsulated greater benefits within the bitlq.app Matrix and illustrate how one could optimize his trading to achieve financial freedom.

Understanding Bitcoin Trading

Bitcoins are the first and leading cryptocurrency ever to evolve, and it altered the thinking of how the world used to look at finances. Bitcoin trading is a process through which one can speculate on the price movements of them and, in turn, takes home profits by analyzing the markets and makes a deciding move. Trading in bitcoins is very demanding in nature since it is very unpredictable. Good knowledge and strategic acumen are expected to surge through the market fluctuations victoriously.

Embracing the BitLQ Matrix Advantage

Mastering Bitcoin Trading: The BitLQ Matrix Advantage

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The BitLQ Matrix is not some trading strategy but a whole, complete framework aiming to trade optimal results while controlling risks most efficiently. This revolutionarily uses LQ to guide traders through informed considerations in making decisions for the best possible profits with the least possible vulnerability to market volatility.

Liquidity: The Backbone of Trading Success

Liquidity is the base that underlies any trading pursuit to support transactional ease and participation in the market. Priority to the BitLQ Matrix trade is given, executed seamlessly without slippage, or at least at the most minimal level, for the efficient trade execution at the best entry and exit levels.

Quantity: Balancing Risk and Reward

In this respect, good risk management becomes highly imperative while trading in Bitcoins, and with the BitLQ Matrix, there is a good balance since traders can put in the emphasis on the importance of trade quantity. By doing so, the traders will accurately calibrate the position sizes to market conditions and the risk-taker’s risk-bearing ability to ensure they make a better risk-reward ratio and protect the capital from likely losses.

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Quality: Elevating Trading Standards

Quality, in this case, regards the level of trades executed within BitLQ Matrix. This gives traders the opportunity to spike up their trading standards further, promoting the desired consistency and profitability from their undertakings.

Unveiling the Benefits

The BitLQ Matrix offers a plethora of benefits to traders seeking to master Bitcoin trading:

  • Increased Precision: With these details of liquidity, quantity, and quality at disposal, traders can be able to execute their trades with pinpoint accuracy, zero error tolerance, and hence reap all the profitability possible in their trades.
  • Risk Mitigation: The strategy of risk management integrated into BitLQ Matrix enables traders to be in a position where they could avert their possible losses and preserve capital in times of market downturn.
  • Consistent Profjson: The BitLQ Matrix principles will assure that you profit on a consistent basis, fostering sustainability for long-time success in trade.

Conclusion

This exciting journey into Bitcoin trading within the BitLQ Matrix soon turns into an adventure of financial independence and prosperity in one of the most lively and fast-changing cryptocurrency markets. You apply liquidity, quantity, and quality principles toward revealing limitless opportunities for profit multiplication and growth sustainability. Seize the advantage today and embark on your path to financial freedom with the BitLQ Matrix.

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Nana Quasi-Wusu Celebrates 10 Years In Broadcasting

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Renowned multiple Award winning Ghanaian media personality and a Humanitarian, Nana Quasi-Wusu, popularly known as PM, commemorates a decade in media as a broadcast journalist filled with exceptional stories and excellence. (more…)

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BLISS GVS PHARMA GHANA DONATES MEDICINES AGAIN TO CAPE COAST TEACHING HOSPITAL

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Spearheading the initiative for the fourth consecutive year, Bliss GVS Pharma’s campaign, “Act for Africa: A Malaria-Free Continent,” aims to provide crucial medical support to combat malaria, particularly in vulnerable communities.

In a significant stride towards eradicating malaria from the African continent, Bliss GVS Pharma Ghana reaffirms its commitment to corporate social responsibility by donating over GHC 250,000 worth of medicines to Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Winneba Trauma Hospital to commemorate approaching World Malaria Day 2024.

The gesture underscores Bliss GVS Pharma’s dedication to ensuring that every individual gets access to high-quality medicines, particularly in regions heavily burdened by malaria. The donation encompasses anti-malarial and other essential medicines like LONART, GSUNATE, Fricks, Gacet and many more.

The driving force behind this noble vision is the Managing Director of Bliss GVS Pharma, Mr. Gagan Sharma. His unwavering belief in the fundamental right to healthcare motivates the company’s endeavours to make a tangible difference in the fight against malaria.

Pharm Rosemary, the representative of Bliss GVS Pharma, underscored the company’s steadfast commitment to malaria eradication, she said it is our social duty to contribute towards ensuring that no one is deprived of essential healthcare, especially in the battle against diseases like malaria. Through our ‘Act for Africa’ campaign, we aim to play our part in making Africa a malaria-free continent.”
Dr. Eric Kofi Nyedu, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, who lead a delegation to receive the items expressed profound gratitude for Bliss GVS Pharma’s benevolent gesture, stating, ” We’re grateful for Bliss GVS Pharma’s generous antimalarial and other essential medicines donation, which strengthens our ability to treat patients, especially during peak malaria season and health outreaches in villages around the Cape Coast enclave. We have identified that Bliss GVS is dedication to improving community health through our partnership and we will always recommend them”
The donation of GHC 276,000 worth of medicine symbolizes Bliss GVS Pharma’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its belief in the transformative power of collective action. By partnering with healthcare institutions such as the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Winneba Trauma Hospital, the company endeavours to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to malaria treatments.

In addition, the students of the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery College were engaged in a health talk where resource persons equipped them with topics on personal and vaginal hygiene, malaria prevention, and spread.
On World Malaria Day 2024, as the global community unites to amplify efforts against malaria, Bliss GVS Pharma Ghana stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a healthier, malaria-free future for Africa.

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