Good News From Ghana

Six of the 20 projected fastest-growing countries this year are in Africa. Among them are Ghana, at 13.7 percent;

2011-05-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

This story is really good news in sub-saharan africa but it is so nice to see a story in the western press that presents a more balanced picture of life and opportunity on this amazing continent we live on that I thought I would share it. And a perfect reason to revive this blog... enjoy!

Twenty-four miles northwest of Accra in Ghana, Anthony Botchway rips a pineapple plant from the ground with his bare hands. Wearing dirty boots, a short-sleeved shirt and jeans, he looks like any other farmworker, in a region where the daily minimum wage is less than $2.

The difference is that Botchway owns 7.2 million of the pulpy, yellow fruits. He rose from poverty to become managing director of Bomarts Farms Ltd., which owns and cultivates 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of land, partly because he got financial help, Bloomberg Markets magazine reports in its June issue.

Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), which operates in more African countries than any other bank, provided an initial loan of $50,000 in 2002. Since then, Botchway has gone from peddling goods on village streets to exporting his extra-sweet pineapples to Europe and the Middle East. Read More...

Celebrating the Inspiring Music of Ghana

2009-08-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Raphael inspired this blog post when he posted a link to Samini's new video on the blog's facebook group wall. He got me thinking about how inspiring music from Ghana is - from gospel music to love songs, traditional rhythms and patriotic songs. They make us laugh and cry, fall in love and want to love our country more or dance and forget all our problems in their electrifying rhythms.

Press the play button to enjoy a few songs from Ghana that I find inspiring - the songs are great but some of the music videos could do with some help :)

Music has the power to change the atmosphere in an entire country. I am convinced that the Ghana Peace song composed by the United Artists for Peace was one of the major contributing factors to Ghana's peaceful elections last year. And every time I hear Ephraim Amu's "Yen Ara Asase Ni" sang, I get goosebumps and feel a deep sense of commitment to seeing our country grow and develop.

So this week to celebrate the inspiring music and musicians of Ghana, we are going to do something different and I will need the help of all my readers.

Help Choose The Most Inspiring Ghanaian Song of All Times.

Post up to five Ghanaian songs that you find inspiring in the "comments" section below. (you can post 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 songs) and you can also post anonymously.
Invite your friends to also post songs by sharing a link to this blog post on facebook, twitter or by email - use the share buttons at the beginning and end of the post.
On Friday 7th August, I will compile a list of all the submissions and create a poll.
When the poll is out vote for which song you think best embodies good news and inspiration from Ghana.
The top three songs will win the title "Most Inspiring Ghanaian Songs of all Time" at least according to Good News Ghana blog readers :)

... Let the Fun Begin.

Below is my list of inspiring songs. I have to admit it changes often but at this point in time my top five in no particular order are.

"Yen ara asase ni" by Ephraim Amu (I personally think this should have been Ghana's National Anthem)
"Ghana First, We Love Peace", by the United Ghanaian Artistes for Peace - (This song proved that music can soothe the charged political situation in any country)
"Ye dze biako ye" by Amandzeba Nat Brew (Danceable and inspiring message)
"Telephone Nkomo" by Sloopy Mike Gyamfi (I think its just because I've missed home and many special people and I'm really terrible at staying in touch)
"Ye di nkunim" by Tagoe Sisters (Classic gospel song of hope. I think the deep faith of the people of Ghana is one of the things that helps us to continue to have hope in a better future)

Ghanaian Student Develops Technology That Could Save Your Life

2009-07-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Problem
Have you ever had malaria or another disease and taken a full course of medicine but still remained sick? The problem of counterfeit drugs in developing countries like Ghana is one that could kill you. The WHO estimates that up to 30% of drugs in developing countries are counterfeit and a recent study by the International Policy Network estimated that over 700,000 deaths from malaria and tuberculosis are attributable to fake drugs. In a place like Ghana where many families have to sacrifice other needs to purchase medicine, counterfeit drugs reduce the confidence that ordinary people have in the health care system and make them more vulnerable to fake spiritualists and healers.

The Solution
One person who is not simply complaining about this problem but has created a breakthrough solution is Ashifi Gogo, a Ghanaian Ph.D. Innovation Program candidate at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. His company Sproxil provides technology which allows any consumer to confirm a drug's authenticity with a simple text message. To check if a drug is counterfeit, a consumer simply scratches-off a code on the medication, sends a text message and obtains an instant response which says "Ok genuine medicine" or "No fake". The benefits to pharmaceutical companies for using this technology according to Sproxil, include reclaiming market share lost to counterfeiters, sending real-time offers at the point of purchase through text messaging to customers and locking down their supply chain to prevent product diversion. Sproxil provides a win-win for everyone, consumers as well as pharmaceutical companies.

The company which recently changed its name from mPedigree Logistics to Sproxil has won various awards including first place in the Nokia Innovators Competition, second place in the 2009 Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC), and a World Summit award for e-health and environment technology solution

Ashifi also co-founded nonprofit mPedigree based in Ghana whose mission is to protect patients and consumers in the developing world from fake medicines through advocacy, public education, research, and support for innovative technologies. mPedigree and its partners have developed an advocacy video "if symptoms persist. Below is a short trailer for the "if symptoms persist video and a video on the Nokia award.

What Do You Think of This Story
Have you had an experience with drugs that did not work? Do you have any other ideas that could deal with the problem of counterfeit drugs or have you been inspired by this story? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you.

Young Ghanaian wins third place at the World Bank 2009 International Essay Competition

2009-07-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

Young people from Ghana continue to impact our world with award winning ideas. Kwasi Gyeabour won third place at the World Bank 2009 International Essay Competition for his essay "Greening the Ghanaian Youth". The competition was held as part of the ABCDE Conference in Seoul, Korea on June 22-24, 2009. The ABCDE Conference is one of the world's best known series of conferences on development for many of the world's development thinkers to present their ideas.

In his essay Kwasi proposes many brilliant solutions to dealing with environmental problems in Ghana including igniting a citizen-led Green Revolution with a Green Scout Movement, a Community Recycling Initiative and Online Green Social Networking as some of the drivers of this revolution. Other private sector led initiatives he proposes include the setting up a Green Mutual Sector Fund and The Climatic Change and Relief Center (CSRC). Other ideas he shares include an Inter-School Climate Change Solutions Fair and programs to be implemented by the Government of Ghana and by International Organizations. Change always begins with great ideas and I am confident that Kwasi and others who will be inspired by his ideas will . To read his essay visit http://www.essaycompetition.org/

Jefferson Agbai also from Ghana came second in 2006 with topic Empowering the Ghanaian Youth Towards Financial Independence.

About the Competition
The 2009 Essay Competition attracted 2,469 submissions from over 150 countries with 56 submissions coming from Ghana. Essay contestants were asked to answer two questions: 1) How does climate change affect you? And 2) How can you tackle climate change through youth-led solutions?

Share Your Thoughts on Kwasi's Ideas
I would love to hear what you think about Kwasi's ideas? Do you know other Ghanaians who are working hard on environmental issues? What are your thoughts on "Greening Ghana"? Click on comments below to join the discussion.