Ugandan girls win Kwibuka Cricket for Peace T20 Tourney

Uganda won 4 out of the 5 games at the 2014 Kwibuka Cricket for Peace Women’s T20 Tournament at Kicukiro oval. Rwanda's star batter Veronique Iriho in action during the final game.

The 3-day event to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi saw Rwanda and Uganda play five games between themselves. Rwanda’s coach Eric Ndangamyambi attributed the poor performance on the girls’ inability to do well with the bat.

This was evident as the girls failed to build long batting partnerships and poor communication. Rwanda’s longest batting partnership had 34 runs between Veronique Iriho and Mary Maina in the 2nd game.

However, Ndangamyambi commended the girls for doing well in fielding.

“We dropped very few catches and got six run-outs. The opening bowlers did extremely well to contain Ugandan batters in the power play,” he noted. Mary Maina, the Rwanda captain said her team played against a much stronger team, “We have learnt a lot from them and we are going to work hard especially in our batting.”

The best performances from Rwandan team were Iriho with 54 runs, Better Mukunzi, who took 6 wickets and Maina, who had 8 dismissals. Rwanda Cricket Association General Manager Joshua Mwanja said they hope to make the tournament an annual event and will invite other East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania to participate.

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Cesar Azpilicueta: Cesc Fabregas a ‘special’ player

The Premier League giants are believed to be close to buying Fabregas from Barcelona, with the 27-yearold's Spain team-mate Gerard Pique letting slip the deal was all-but done.

Speaking to reporters, Azpilicueta, who will play alongside Fabregas at the FIFA World Cup, praised the former Arsenal midfielder.

"At the moment there's nothing official and he's a Barca player," he said.

"All I can say is what I already know about him. He's a great central midfielder with plenty of experience in the Premier League. The best players are always welcome at the best clubs.

"In my personal opinion, he's a special player. Few teams have this kind of player in their team, a central midfielder who gets forward really well and has great vision of the game, whilst there's also his statistics, which speak for themselves.

"He can adapt to various positions. Right now, we don"t have a player like Cesc at Chelsea."

On his own form, right-back Azpilicueta said he was happy to play wherever required by his club or the national team.

"I've played in various positions, that's true," he said.

"My natural position is right-back, although this year I've played on the other side. Whatever I can do to help the team, is best for me. I'm happy with how I've progressed."

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Ghanaian gospel musician embark on Prisons Ministry

Precious Hannah Ewoo is a Ghanaian Gospel based in the USA who is embarking on a project to share the gospel through her music with convicts in respective prisons in her native Ghana and also create awareness to the plight of these prisoners.

In 2013, she released her album 'Onyame Adom' which is a contemporary Ghanaian Gospel music CD.

It has gained popularity in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia areas in the USA and back home in Ghana.

Based on this success, Precious Hannah and her band are embarking on a prisons ministry campaign named the Ghana Prisons Ministry Project (GPMP) to bring the awareness about the lack of proper hygiene, basic medical care and spiritual needs of prisoners in Ghana and Africa in general.

The musician says 'I felt touched by God to help meet the needs of inmates after visiting and worshiping with some prisoners a few months ago at the Nsawam Prisons in Ghana'. For this reason, she is holding a free Charity Concert on June 14, 2014 in Severn Maryland, USA with the theme "In His Footsteps'.

'We are hoping to raise funds to provide basic personal hygiene supplies (toothpaste, toothbrush, slippers, shoes, towels, soaps etc) to the inmates in prisons across Ghana starting with the Nsawam Prison' explained Hannah.

Precious Hannah continued to say that the project also plans to 'provide Christian literature like Bibles and possibly musical instruments too for prison authorities to help inmates experience a much fuller atmosphere of the presence of God in their prison church services'.

As part of reasons for her GPMP project, Precious Hannah quotes a section of Matthew 25: 34 - 36 which says 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...'

The desire to reach out and show kindness to these prisoners is very strong for the gospel musician who hopes to use her actions as an example for others to emulate and to above all make society more aware of the fact that prisoners are also God's children.

'I am very glad there are others pursing a similar purpose as mine in Ghana and I pray we will all be able to improve upon the state of deplore in which some of the country's prisons are today' she hoped.

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Gasmilla joins Airtel rising stars

Azonto King Gasmilla with stage Africa host, Kwame Ayensu, at the launch of the 4th edition. Hiplife star and Ghana's King of Azonto has been contracted to teach the proper way to dance Azonto at all Airtel Rising Stars events around the country.

Gasmilla, often described as the inventor of Ghana's famous Azonto dance would engage fans during break time for Airtel Rising Stars.

Gasmilla said, 'I will be teaching fans the right way to dance Azonto and Azonto plus which include moves like Alkaeeda and Kobay also known as Amanda.

'On the first day of the event, I will teach everybody and then on the second day people will dance for me to judge them. I am looking forward to a lot of fun on the road. My target is to teach at least 10,000 people how to do the Azonto. We will also post all the videos on Airtel's social media platforms for people to enjoy. I am really excited.'

Gasmilla, also known as the International Fisherman, is enjoying heavy rotation on the Ghanaian music scene with his song 'Three Points' and is threatening the charts with another hit song 'Letter to the President.'

The ever-smiling Gasmilla said that he decided to support the Airtel Rising Stars because the competition identifies people who need opportunity to blow up.

'I used to sell at the Agblobloshie market with my mum. Everybody knew I could dance and rap but where was the help. With a lot of struggle and God's grace my first single blew up and things started happening. For most of the players on Airtel Rising Stars, all they need is the right help and things will change in their lives. That is why I am on Airtel Rising Stars,' Gasmilla said.

Airtel Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Quist, agreed with Gasmilla, saying, 'The 2014 Airtel Rising Stars is all about the power of potential. I settled on running while I was in school after doing many things. If somebody had discovered me then, maybe I will be running for my country and not running a company. Airtel believes in the power of your potential. If you have the talent, Airtel Rising Stars will find you and when we do, we will put you on the right path to success in your career for you to live the dream.'

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Pan Africa Christian Varsity holds first ever beauty contest

The Pan-Africa Christian University College (PACUC) has held it maiden beauty pageant to crown its queen. The event was organized by the Student Representative Council with the purpose of promoting decency among modern Africa ladies.

Apart from beauty and grace on the catwalk, the models were also supposed to show that they had brains, too. It was the first ever event of its kind in the school, and it was quite a success.

Despite the biting cold that defines the area at night, the models and organizers pulled out all stops to make the event a hit.

It was all colour and glamour when more than 10 students who had been scouted from the school took part. They showcased traditional, formal and casual wear as music boomed at the assembly hall.

At the end of the event that went past 11p.m., 19-year-old Maureen Chinyere Ikechukwu emerged the winner. She was outstanding in her stage style and dressing, and she gave a talk on theme 'Promoting Decency in the Modern African Lady.' impressed the judges and the audience.

Chinyere Ikechukwu, who is a Human Resource student, could not hide her excitement. 'It is a surprise that I have managed to shine among others. And to be honest, this was too far from my expectations,' she said.

In her speech, the Women Commissioner Ms. Bernice Stephanie Baku congratulated all the contestants, especially winners, advising them to take part in similar competitions beyond the school.

'I am grateful to parents who give their children a chance to take part in these competitions and to you (students), it's your turn to prove that you can build on what you have,' she said.

The crown holder's aims to use her position to organize events aimed promoting decency among females. She would also like to organize community service initiatives both in the campus and the neighbouring community. On a lighter side, Maureen Chinyere Ikechukwu would like to crusade against skin bleaching which has for long been associated with some females.

Her hobbies include reading novels, playing basketball and singing. She has had to make a few adjustments to her lifestyle now that she is Miss PACUC. She is conscious on where to hang out and with whom. Her parting shot? 'Never give up and believe in yourself as an Africa woman'.

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Broadband company grabs $10m for wireless data

TLG Capital, a frontier market investment company, has led a $10 million financing into Ghana's first and largest indigenous broadband provider, Broadband Home Limited (BBH).

The deal, which is among several fundraising efforts which BBH had put together, is to enable it cover the entire country with its broadband services.

Zain Latif, Founder and Principal of TLG Capital, said: 'Investing into a dynamic company in a growing s ub- S a h a r an African economy by working with the best class of local banks has enabled us to create financing structures that are scalable throughout the region with the aim of enabling indigenous companies to grow where they otherwise would not be able to.'

Osei Owusu-Korkor, Founder and Chairman of BBH, commented: 'TLG's ability to do this deal is very welcoming. In our bid to build a very modern Quad-play network from various sources, TLG has proven to be a partner we can confidently rely on.'

The team at TLG was led by Abbai Belai, who worked with Dominic Clive. Legal advisors include MJ Hudson in the UK and Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah in Ghana, while Blue Nile Investments LLP was the lead financial advisor.

Formed in 2009, TLG Capital's investment holding company structure allows it to efficiently deploy capital to its portfolio companies while maximizing returns to investors.

TLG invests profitably with the caveat that its investments should have a socially beneficial impact. To date, TLG has made 12 investments and three exits, all above the target return.

BBH, Ghana's premier data/ internet service provider, has become not only the most reputable quality broadband provider in Ghana, but a leading provider of highly sophisticated and intelligent IP services.

The company, which currently plans to deploy 4G TD-LTE technology and expand its consumer network countrywide, is one of four licensed 4G operators in Ghana.

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Zipnet wins 4 Telcos Awards

Zipnet has won two corporate and two personality awards at the 2014 Ghana Telecom Awards held at the Movenpick Hotel few days ago. Zipnet won the ISP of the Year Award in recognition of its quality and reliable fixed wireless broadband Internet services to both the Enterprise and Residential Markets.

Zipnet established itself as the leading player in distribution and retailing Internet capacity using its own end-to-end IP network, pursuing its vision of making Internet Access available to all.

The Telecom Awards themed 'Celebrating Excellence in the ICT Industry' saw Zipnet taking three other ICT related awards.

Zipnet against strong competition from other telecom and IT companies won ICT Company of the Year Award for offering a complete portfolio of Internet, Data Communication and IT Applications/Services to both Enterprise and Residential Customers.

Zipnet Founder and Executive Chairman, Mr. Osei Owusu Korkor was awarded ICT Entrepreneur of the Year for his investment, vision and drive in getting ZIPNET to where it is today as the largest indigenous Internet Service and Data Communication Company in Ghana.

Zipnet Executive Director Mr. Ernest Brown was awarded ICT Personality of the Year for his contribution to ICT development in Ghana. He is currently the President of the Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA).

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony the Zipnet Executive Director for Strategy, Marketing and Consumer Market, Emmanuel Mensah-Baah said 'It's been a great night for us and we appreciate this well-deserved recognition of our contribution to ICT sector in Ghana. We will however not rest on our laurels as we continue to work to serve our loyal customers'.

Mensah-Baah further added 'We are currently at the final stages of developing new entertainment, communication and security applications for our consumer customers and business applications and cloud solutions for our Enterprise Customers. He attributed Zipnet success to the leadership of management and the dedicated staff. He concluded 'We dedicate this award to our customers and business partners.”

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