May 16, 2023

China Matters’ Features: Reviving Chinese Legend for Middle East Readers

Renowned as a chivalrous legend in Chinese classics, Sun Wukong, or Monkey King, embodies the ideals of justice and bravery. He is an icon among teenagers.

Based on the story of Journey to the West, one of China’s four great classical novels, 34 artists have worked together to create the Monkey King book series. This series has been translated into over a dozen languages and published around the world over the past 40 years.

In 2023, the series was published in Arabic by Blossom Press, bringing the beloved character Sun Wukong from Asia to the Middle East.

‘The Monkey King is not just a superhero for Chinese kids,’ said Wang Tao, President of Blossom Press. ‘His wit, bravery and tenacity embody the values shared by all humans.’

Historically, Jordan was once an important trade post on the Silk Road. And today, aside from just doing business, Chinese companies have forged new friendships with Jordanian locals through cultural exchange.

‘We want to work with people from all walks of life to bring this wonderful Chinese story to our Jordanian friends. We also look forward to bringing more of Jordan’s stories to China in the future,’remarked Zhong Guodong, Vice President of SDIC.

SDIC is working on industrial investment in the Middle East and other regions around the globe, as well as promoting cultural exchange with the local residents.

The documentary Monkey King: Journey to the Middle East, co-produced by SDIC and China Matters, features the story of translating and publishing the Arabic version of Monkey King, as well as producing an animated video of the character.

Jordanian Ambassador to China Hussam A.G. Al Husseini said: ‘I believe that the Arab people will love and value this story. I think that teenagers and young people will like it best.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 16, 2023

I will break one term myth in Ledzokuku – Ben Ayiku

Mr. Benjamin Nartey Ayiku, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Candidate-elect for the Ledzokuku constituency says he will break the one-term myth of the voting area.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Ayiku, who was retained as the Parliamentary candidate for the swing constituency in the just-ended NDC primaries said ‘I have been ordained to end this myth that has existed since 1996.’

According to him, with the exception of the parliamentary votes that had been swinging between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Ledzokuku constituency can be considered a stronghold of the opposition NDC.

He said available records show that the NDC had since the beginning of the Fourth Republic won the presidential votes in the constituency.

The last time the NDC retained its Parliamentary candidate, the party lost the seat to the ruling NPP in the 2016 general election.

However, Mr Ayiku who is the first MP to win the Ledzokuku seat with his party in opposition believes otherwise.

The MP who polled 2289 of the 2915 valid votes cast in the just-ended primaries gave assurances that he would appear victorious in the 2024 general election and retain the seat for the NDC.

‘I have made history as the first MP whose party is in opposition, and I will make history again by winning it a second time,’ he said.

He said the circumstances surrounding his election as the MP for the constituency and his endorsement to contest the seat again were evidence that he had been ordained to ‘break the four.’

‘We have identified the reason behind this myth and have taken measures to correct same,’ he said.

‘I have been on the grounds. I have touched base with the grassroots and constituents, and my works will speak for me,’ the incumbent MP concluded.

Until becoming a Member of Parliament, he was the NDC chairman for the Ledzokuku constituency, having previously served as Vice Chairman from 2005 – 2013. He is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Maxxon Filling Station chain.

Ledzokuku seat

The Ledzokuku parliamentary seat, described at best as a swing seat since the inception of the Fourth Republic, has always had a new face to represent the constituency.

It remains one of the most interesting constituencies, whose constituents have been firm with their political decisions.

Politically, they do not forgive easily and do not change their minds when they say, ‘They are done with you.’

With the exception of Nii Adjei Boye Sekan who won the seat in 1992 and in 1996, no legislator has served beyond one term.

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 16, 2023

Ghana signs Joint Commission for Cooperation agreement with Guinea-Bissau

Ghana has signed an agreement establishing a Joint Commission for Cooperation with Guinea-Bissau.

The pact is to serve as the legal framework for addressing the trade and investment ambitions of the two countries.

The agreement was reached on Monday, May 15, following President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s visit to Guinea-Bissau.

It aims at strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

‘On Monday, 15th May 2023, I held bilateral discussions with the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, His Excellency Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as part of my three-day State Visit to Guinea-Bissau,’ the President wrote on his Facebook page.

‘The discussions, in the areas of education, trade and industry, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, environment, science and technology, petroleum and hydrocarbon activities, and tourism, were held in an atmosphere of fruitful cordiality,’ he noted.

The development comes in the wake of the recent visit to Ghana by the Guinea-Bissau President, who was invited as the Guest of Honour to grace the commemoration of Ghana’s 66th independence anniversary.

Whilst in Guinea-Bissau, President Nana Akufo-Addo will receive the Amilcar Cabral Medal, the highest national honour of the country.

He will also deliver a lecture at the Law Faculty of the University of Amilcar Cabral and interact with the Ghanaian contingent of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission stationed in Bissau.

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 16, 2023

WATER to eradicate Yaws, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy in two municipalities

The Water in Africa Through Everyday Responsiveness (WATER) has introduced a Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) project to eradicate or minimize cases of Yaws, Buruli Ulcer (BU) and Leprosy from the Akuapem North and South Municipalities.

The three neglected tropical diseases recorded in the municipalities were said to be the result of poor sanitation and water conditions available to the citizens as revealed in an investigative assessment conducted by WATER.

Mr Frank B Kumah, the Field Technical Officer for WATER said in a stakeholders engagement meeting at Aburi that a total of 48 communities, 13 from the Akuapem North and 35 from the Akuapem South municipalities were assessed.

He observed that from 2018 to 2022, the communities assessed in Akuapem North Municipality recorded 71 cases of Yaws, three cases of BU and two cases of leprosy.

Within the same period, Mr Kumah, said the communities studied in Akuapem South Municipality also recorded 73 cases of Yaws, 19 cases of BU and nine cases of Leprosy.

As a result, he said WATER in collaboration with Anesvadselected 16 communities from both municipalities, six from the Akuapem North and10 from the Akuapem South municipalities to benefit from the WASH project.

Mr Kumah said the project , would drill four boreholes; one mechanized borehole and three hand pumps, repair five broken boreholes and supply 140 ceramic water filters to households, schools and communities.

He added that to promote good sanitation and preventindiscriminate defecation, two public latrines would be built in the two municipalities, one in each municipality as captured in the project plan.

He said hand-washing facilities would be made available in schools within the selected communities to promote and educate learners on the need to wash their hands.

Mr Kumah, the provisions made in the project were to promote safe drinking water and ensure good sanitation and healthy living either to eradicate or minimize Yaws, BU and Leprosy cases in the selected communities.

To also ensure proper maintenance of the project, he said Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Committees would be established to oversee the projects implemented in the various communities.

Mr Michael Anyekase, the Project Manager of WATER, however, observed that some additions were made to the project to be implemented due to the needs of the communities.

He said one extra mechanized borehole, 10 additional broken boreholes to be repaired and a number of ceramic water filters have been proposed to be added to the project plan.

He appealed to Anesvad to provide more funds for the extra provisions made in the project to be implemented.

Water in Africa Through Everybody Responsiveness (WATER) is an organization which has been undertaking water, sanitation, disease control and climate change projects in Africa.

Source: Ghana News Agency