People & Lifestyle
‘Why Not You?’- A speech By Shamima Muslim On The Occasion Of Kamala Harris’ Visit To Ghana At The Black Star Square
When I received the call to make a statement here today, I was initially stunned, and then excited, and then really anxious. I asked myself, why me? But then I asked myself, why not me?
I am a veil wearing muslim woman from one of the smallest regions in Ghana; the Upper West, among one of the smallest ethnic groups in country, the Wala. In many ways, I am a minority of minority of a minority. In many spaces I’ve been in, I am often the exception and hardly the norm.
But that has never held me back. The more down the ladder I appear to be, the higher up the ladder I have always aspired to reach. I became one of the first from my immediate family to attain a university education and one of the first, or perhaps, the only woman from my community to have had a primetime voice on radio and television. My exposure and impact helped inspire many young women, particularly, Muslim girls across the country to pursue a career in media and journalism.
I have worked on many development projects to empower marginalized and underrepresented communities and currently, a founding member of Alliance for Women in Media Africa, inspired by a similar organization in the US. Our young dynamic group of media women are working to advance the welfare and visibility of women in media and ensure that the voices, stories and images of African women and girls are equitably represented.
These examples are not sited to wallow in whatever modest successes I may have achieved, but to demonstrate how far I have come, from how far back I am coming from. I may have walked a few steps up to this platform today, but my journey, like the journey of several others, goes many steps back across multiple generations within many spaces, too numerous to mention.
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But let me at least mention my maternal grandmother Alima, an enterprising generous woman who did not have any formal education but encouraged in her daughter an appetite for learning and put her in school. Let me talk about my mother, Hajia Rahmat, who after numerous domestic chores at home had to go out to sell food before she could go to school. She was often late, but she kept going.
My mother says she often walked barefoot to school under the hot sun which will make the ground heat up and burn the soles of her feet. When it became too hot, she would find a patch of grass for a moment’s respite. But she kept going. She became the first woman within her immediate family to attain a higher education by progressing all the way to the training college and became a teacher and a headmistress. And dare I say she could have gone even further, but she sacrificed her dreams at some point to stay at home to raise her children.
It is because my mother walked for her dreams that today I am able to run for mine and tomorrow my two daughter will fly for their dreams. That is how progress is made; inch by inch, generation by generation. We keep hitting at it until we completely shatter our class ceilings. Daughters are the dreams-come-true of their mothers, and mothers are the greatest hopes for their daughters.
But this is not just a story about mothers and daughters and the power of education to transform, it is also a story about Ghana, about Africa. As a continent that ranks low in many development indices, as we make our way up the ladder for better representation of women, better healthcare, better education, better infrastructure, better employment, amongst others, the journey up can be daunting with many reasons to despair. Some young Africans may feel that their economic salvation lies elsewhere across the Sahara, beyond the Mediterranean. But no matter how hot the ground gets beneath our feet, the solution is not across but within. We just have to keep going. We have to keep putting in the work. And generation by generation, we will shatter the ceiling for Africa’s economic prosperity.
To attain the Africa We Want, we must embrace our diversity. One important lesson I learnt early on is the value of community and inclusion. My dear father Mr. Ismail Muslim, was one of the earliest young men to leave his hometown up in the North to set up a base in the capital down south. He found success early, established a home here and opened up his doors to his community. I grew up not only with my siblings but with aunties, uncles, cousins and with close and distant relatives. Our house was a gateway for a whole generation. I learnt the values of service, diversity and inclusion early. My father showed me that you indeed rise by lifting others. And that is a lesson my husband and I are teaching our two sons—and our daughters too.
Africa as the most diverse continent in the world, more than anywhere else, must uphold the value of inclusion. We are so fragmented in nations, ethnicities, gender, class and others that unless we work honestly together for the common good, we cannot lift ourselves and our continent up. And in lifting ourselves up, we cannot count our success by the very few who reach the top, but by the many who leave the bottom.
To make progress in Africa, we acknowledge that we have to forge meaningful partnerships. In 2010, I had the rare privilege of being amongst the very first cohort of President Obama’s YALI programme. At the Whitehouse, I was lucky enough to be spotted by him to ask a question. I asked whether it was possible to have a true partnership between a super-power like America and a developing country like Ghana. Obama believed that such a partnership was possible because we have many aligning interests.
Over the years, I have reflected on and refined my question even further. Would America, or the developed world, still be interested in Africa without its natural resources?
Much as this is an important question for our partners to reflect on, it is an even more important question for us in Africa to answer. How else can we maximize the benefits of our natural resources and what new value can we harness the energies and innovations of our young people to create to benefit our people and the world? We must begin to reflect on and act for An Africa Beyond Natural Resources.
And it is gratifying to note that there are many young Africans already working to create value across creative and digital spaces, and others. And in so doing, expanding opportunities as well as solving critical problems in their economies.
Examples abound like Miishe Addy, co-founder of startup logistics powerhouse Jetstream; Maya Famodou working in the venture capital space to inject resources into innovative African Startup; Ama Asantewaa of Black Girls Glow focusing on creating safe spaces for creatives go grow; Mahmoud Jajah of Zongo Innovation Hub training young people in predominantly underserved Muslim communities to become software developers and tech entrepreneurs. Young Africans are putting in the work.
It will be important to acknowledge some support they are already receiving. For instance, the US government is investing USD 350 million in the Digital Transformation with Africa programme to create a transformative ecosystem for technology entrepreneurship. In my part of the country, the USAID Sustainable Shea Initiative is empowering over 400,000 women across Northern Ghana for economic and social impact through the shea industry. We look forward to the sustainable impact of such programmes.
We call on African governments to commit to passing affirmative action policies to help bridge the gender and diversity divide. And to treat with utmost urgency the need to open up major opportunities for Africa’s ballooning youth population.
In 2011, I had the privilege of meeting Michelle Obama at a forum for young African women leaders in South Africa. She spoke about the need for women to step up and own the spaces they occupy. My life’s journey has been about owning the spaces I occupy. And where those spaces do not exist, to create them. Today I call on all women and youth of Africa to step up and own your space because why not you?
I feel honored today to share this stage, this space, with a phenomenal woman who has not only stepped up to own her space but is actually rocking it. The highest ranking female official of the United States who has had her fair share of “firsts” and broken several glass ceilings on her way to the top. It is a delight to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to Ghana, the Center of the World, the black star rising. Martin Luther King Jnr, Malcolm X and Maya Angelou were here. Clinton, Bush and Obama were all here. And now it is her turn. I believe we can all affectionately say… Abena Kamala, you made it.
Thank You
People & Lifestyle
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
Mrs Diana Hopeson ( Akiwumi ) the formal MUSIGA president and a renowned gospel musician who made her mark in the early 90s with hit songs winning many National and International awards admonishes young girls to try take their bath at least two times daily during their menstrual cycle.
Joining over 400 both young girls and boys at the Ashiaman Senior High School to mark this years World Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemoration, she stressed on the need for a complete healthier menstrual management by these teenage girls bearing in mind that bathing their body is an essential part of menstrual hygiene.
A collaborative effort from the Bonabear Foundation Ghana under the auspices of the Special Monitoring Missions of the International Human Rights Commission Ghana in partnership with the SHEP Department of the Ashaiman Municipal Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service and WO YE BRA Schools Project this year engaged the Pupils of the AshaiSec to mark the all important date on the UN calendar.
Mrs Hopeson on the theme of this years commemoration dubbed “ Making Menstruation a normal Fact of Life by 2030” also explained on the main need for every girl to know that “Menstruation leads to Procreation” therefore every growing girl must not be ashamed of her Menstruation and that it’s a normal thing. She lamented on how she felt during her “Menarche” at age 12 and the funny experiences she went through that time. Mrs Hopeson has been the project Ambassador two years running to the MENSTRUATE 2 PROCREATE initiative with a few of her friends mobilizing support for the project.
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
The Founder and the Project Lead of the Bonabear Foundation Ghana who doubles as the Commissioner for the Special Monitoring Missions of IHRC Ghana- Amb Dr Bernard Kofi Bonarparte in his speech added his voice to the call to totally scrap off all Taxes on Sanitary Materials and pleaded with the Government to consider implementing policies to make Sanitary materials in the Schools more accessible and free mostly in deprived communities a cross the country.
He reiterated that , it is about time Menstruation is considered as a Human Rights issue and as such the need to put in measures to ensure every girl is not denied of this Right. The need to easy access to water in the various Schools is also a contributing factor for ensuring a clean , safe and healthier society.
HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS
The Amb , also called on various corporate bodies to partner organizations and civil societies that have embarked on this journey to ensure that Ghana does not fail to achieve the agenda 2030 of the UNSDG.
All participants received free Disposable and Reusable Pads and were trained on the management of those with live demonstration from the male students of the School by the help of the School Nurse and the Lead Facilitator for the WO YE BRA SCHOOL Project-Ms Jennifer Moffat as The head Mistress of the School Madam Jemimah Quarshie and her staff received the team warmly.
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People & Lifestyle
Yahu Blackwell The Ghanaian From the Diaspora, To be enstooled as Osu Noryaa ManTse
In August of 2023 nearing the Annual Homowo Festival; The Ghanaian boxing champion who resides in Baltimore, Maryland and serial entrepreneur will be returning back to his homeland (Ghana). Yahu Blackwell is a Ghanaian whose family lineage is among those that was taken as slaves at the “Cape Coast Castle” and the “Elmina Castle” in Ghana. (Trans Atlantic Slave Trade). (more…)
People & Lifestyle
Zeepay MD crowned Africa Fintech Leader of the Year two times running at Ghana CEO Summit 2023
Andrew Takyi-Appiah, the Managing Director (MD) of Zeepay, a leading mobile financial services company, has emerged Africa’s Fintech Leader of the Year for the second year in a row at the recently held 2023 edition of the CEO Summit.
The prestigious award was presented to him before a gathering of more than 500 of his peers, was an acknowledgement of his instrumental role in the growth and advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic landscape.
Mr. Takyi-Appiah emerged victorious amidst stiff competition from prominent figures in the fintech industry, and the award reflects the high satisfaction of users with Zeepay’s platforms and services.
Expressing his gratitude at the event which had as its theme: ‘Economic Sovereignty, Sustainable Corporate Governance, Digital Industrial Transformation: New Paths for Growth and Prosperity. A Private-Public Sector CEO Dialogue & Learning’, Mr. Takyi-Appiah stated, “Winning this award is a testament to all that African youth are Capable of and have what it takes to build global business. It means that we the youth in Ghana must be taken seriously as we have indeed taken our destiny into our hands to contribute to build a better Ghana.”
Prior to co-founding Zeepay in 2016, Mr. Takyi-Appiah held key positions at renowned organizations such as UT Bank Ghana, PwC Ghana, PwC UK, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, and GTBank.
With an annual turnover of approximately US$900 million as of 2021, Zeepay has established itself as the largest cross-border remittance aggregator in Africa. Mr. Takyi-Appiah emphasized that this accolade is a testament to the strength of Ghana’s fintech regulations and legal systems, which have contributed to the rise of companies like Zeepay.
“Our customers should expect an improved business, an increase in our distribution network and availability. Going forward our customers should expect affordability in terms of reduced cash-out fees and more product innovation. I would like to dedicate the award to all our customers and staff for believing in the dream and driving it to this growth. I feel great and excited about the additional new markets we have added to the mobile money business,” Mr. Takyi-Appiah added.
This comes as Zeepay also emerged as the number-one company in Ghana at the 19th Club 100 awards. The recognition underscores Zeepay’s exceptional performance and its significant contribution to the nation’s economic growth.
The feat was attributed to the ingenuity of CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah and as Zeepay’s vision is to expand its presence in the fintech and mobile money space beyond Ghana.
With its innovative mobile financial services, Zeepay has been revolutionizing the remittance and mobile money sectors. The company’s impressive growth and strategic approach have propelled it to the forefront of Ghana’s business landscape. By clinching the top position in the Ghana Club 100 rankings, Zeepay has solidified its status as a key player in the country’s corporate sphere.
As Zeepay looks toward the future, it aims to leverage its success to further establish itself as a dominant force in fintech and mobile money across Africa. With CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah at the helm, the company is poised to unlock new opportunities and drive financial inclusion on the continent.
People & Lifestyle
From Lemonade Finance to LemFi: International Payments for Everyone
In a bold move to further its commitment to providing international payments for everyone and better serve its expanding community, Lemonade Finance announces its rebranding to LemFi. The decision to change the name was driven by a desire to simplify and capture the essence of the company’s vision and to differentiate itself in the evolving financial services landscape.
Lemonade Finance was founded in 2020 with a simple vision,to empower immigrants seeking to achieve more in their lives. The company delivers its services through an app that enables users to send money to 10+ countries.
LemFi is licensed as an Electronic Money Institution with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, under the name RightCard Payment Services. It is also registered as a Money Service Business by the Financial Transactions and Report Analysis Centre in Canada.
“The name we started with was Lemonade Finance. And as our app gained popularity, our reach expanded across multiple countries, and we became the vital link between families and loved ones separated by distance,” explains Ridwan Olalere, the CEO and Co-Founder.
However, the company’s growth and evolution demanded a name that would resonate even more deeply with its purpose while embracing the uniqueness of its community. Through extensive collaboration with the team and community, the decision to rebrand was made to better encapsulate the vision of providing a more inclusive and efficient means for people to send money home.
Introducing LemFi, a name that embodies the spirit of No Borders, No Barriers and no BS. The new name reflects the company’s dedication to simplicity, agility, and accessibility while retaining its commitment to facilitating seamless financial transactions for its users.
“Our new name, ‘LEMFI,’ represents our unwavering dedication to breaking down barriers and transcending borders,” says Ridwan. “It symbolises the strength and resilience of our community and allows us to carve our own unique meaning within it.”
The rebrand also comes with an expansion of vision. Hitherto, the goal was to power “International Payments for immigrants globally”; now LemFi aims to deliver “International Payments for Everyone”.This commitment will be demonstrated by unveiling an exciting lineup of product updates in the coming weeks and months.
The LemFi team thanks its valued users for their continued support and invites them to embark on this new chapter together. As LemFi, the company will continue building a product and expand to more countries in the coming weeks, empowering individuals to confidently pursue their dreams.
The company’s new website and social media channels will now be:
Website:www.lemfi.com
Facebook: UseLemfi
Instagram: @UseLemfi
Twitter: @UseLemfi
Email:support@lemfi.com
People & Lifestyle
YouTube’s Alex Okosi Highlights The Need For A Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy For Africa
YouTube’s Managing Director, Emerging Markets, EMEA, Alex Okosi, was among the key speakers at the Africa Debate 2023, which took place on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Guildhall in London.
Okosi’s session, titled “Building a Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy for Africa,” highlighted the challenges facing Africa in terms of digital infrastructure despite advancements in digital trade and e-commerce. He debated the best path forward for a digital trade strategy, with a focus on the 7th protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on e-commerce.
Joining Okosi on the panel were Michelle Chivunga, a Digital Trade Expert for AfCFTA and Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Global Policy House, who moderated the session, as well as Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Chief Executive Officer, 4G Capital; Peter Njonjo, Chief Executive Officer, Twiga Foods; Toulay Oueslati, Head of Trade Finance & Commodity Trade Finance, Bank of Africa United Kingdom and Hardy Pemhiwa, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Cassava Technologies.
Organized by Invest Africa, a leading business and investment platform with over sixty years of experience on the continent, and in partnership with Africa Finance Corporation, the event was in its 9th year and focused on Africa’s trade profile through a comprehensive programme of talks, discussions, and networking opportunities.
“I believe that digital trade has the potential to transform Africa’s economy and improve trade relations with the rest of the world. However, to achieve this goal, we need to address the challenges of infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and digital skills training,” Okosi said.
The panel discussion explored the future of African trade and how the private sector can best support and prepare for a more integrated and competitive African trade environment.
“Collaboration between governments, businesses, and financial institutions is crucial in creating an enabling environment for digital trade. This includes developing regulatory frameworks, financing solutions, and digital infrastructure,” Okosi added.
Okosi is a highly experienced television, content, and tech executive with over 25 years of experience building successful businesses and brands globally. He has a track record of identifying and scaling new business opportunities, generating multi-million-dollar revenue streams, and delivering profitable growth.
Currently serving as Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Okosi has been instrumental in driving the platform’s growth across key verticals, including music, gaming, TV/film, kids & family, news, and sports. In 2022, Okosi was named one of the UK Powerlist’s 100 most influential people of black heritage for the second year in a row.
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