Heritage Month is organised every year in March to celebrate Ghana’s culture, heritage and to promote tourism. The celebration is marked with a seven-day road trip of Ghana, on-air series on the history and dynamic cultures of Ghana and an indigenous Ghanaian music festival dubbed Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO).

This year’s Heritage Month also includes radio drama series.

Currently present at the launch of the Heritage Month are the Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, satirist Kwaku Sintim-Misa, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries, Robert Ahomka Lindsay and other dignitaries.

Another introduction to activities for this year, ‘Kaleidoscope,’ which features master keyboardist Isaac Aryee is currently underway.

Isaac and his team of bandsmen are performing some great neo-traditional music.

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Launch of Citi FM’s Heritage Month underway [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She beat nine other contestants in the quiz competition to win the ultimate prize of GHc10, 000.

The quiz, moderated by educationist Madam Yaba Haffar, covered three main areas, namely literature, social studies or current affairs; general knowledge or applied knowledge.

Manasseh Sampana Nam-Mahime from the Ringway Estate Basic School and Patience Thompson from the Unique Child School both in Accra emerged second and third respectively.

The first and second runners-up received GHc5,000 and GHc3,000 respectively; while all the winners received medals and gifts from official sponsors of the competition.

The Literacy Challenge seeks to promote and to reward the versatility and intelligence of Ghana’s Junior High School (JHS) students.

The challenge is also aimed at celebrating the various talents and skills of Ghana’s JHS students, while encouraging Ghanaians to do even more for Literacy in Ghana.

The 2017 edition was a three-month long, fun-packed, and education-driven set of activities, aiming to propel young Ghanaians to develop literacy skills beyond just reading and writing.

The Literacy Challenge 2017 was sponsored by BIC Pen, Milky Magic Biscuit, Cowbell and Slydepay.

The journey so far

The journey began some four months ago where JHS students in Ghana, who were tasked to write a letter and suggest to the president how to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

Over 2000 entries were received and the number shortlisted to 50.

The 50 took part in the aptitude test and the number further sieved to 10 who were brought to Accra for a two-day literacy camp ahead of the grand finale which came off today, Saturday, at the Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Alisa in Accra.

Camping activities

The contestants had been camped at the Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Alisa in Accra, in preparation for today’s grand finale, and had been taken through series of fun-packed and educational events in and outside the hotel.

On Day One of the camping on Thursday, they were treated to an amazing experience at the Silver Bird Cinema in Accra, and aside having the opportunity to interact with owners of the facility, they had a feel of the cinema after watching the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.

Mrs. Funmi Onuma, Country Manager, Silverbird Group, also took them through the importance and power of reading.

Day one of the camping started with a tour of Citi FM, where the finalists interacted with staff and management of the station, and were afforded the opportunity to understand the workings of the station.

The second activity was the coaching and mentoring session, where the Director of News Programming at Citi FM, who doubles as the Host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, took them through some soft skills for life, which they are not taught in school.

Michael Ohene-Effah, founder of the Leadership Farm, prepared them for the quiz on Saturday, and taught them how to become great leaders in future by building self-confidence.

Madam Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director of the Young Educators Foundation, the organization that organizes the National Spelling Bee competition, also took the kids through series of exercises that will improve their vocabulary and grammar.

The activities also included an industry tour of Olam, producers of Milky Magic biscuits and various milk products.

The Literacy Challenge is sponsored by BIC Pen, Milky Magic Biscuit, Cowbell and Slydepay.

Below is the full ranking after the quiz competition in the grand finale:

1. Krystyn Naa Adoley Bruce, Christ the King Int. School, Greater Accra
2. Manasseh Sampana Nam-Mahime, Ringway Estate Basic School, Greater Accra
3. Patience Thompson, Unique Child School, Greater Accra
4. Nyameye A.A. Obeng-Akuamoah, Kay-Billie-Klaer Int. School, Greater Accra
5. Lloyd Akresi, Acropolis Maranatha Academy, Greater Accra
6. Nicole Chinery, Sap’s School, Greater Accra
7. Konlan Isaac, Don-Ibu Int. School, Wa, Upper West Region
8. Maame Safoa Quashie, Yahweh Int. School, Greater Accra
9. Hawa Haruna Attah, Unique Child School, Greater Accra &  Aaron Armah Ashitey, Sap’s School, Greater Accra

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The students are being camped at the plush Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Alisa in Accra, till Saturday, when the final event, a Live Quiz competition, will be held at the same venue to crown the winner.

Aside having the opportunity to interact with owners of the facility, the ten finalists also had the opportunity to have a feel of the cinema where they watched the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.

Mrs. Funmi Onuma, Country Manager, Silverbird Group, at whose outfit the contestants watched the movie at the Accra Mall, also took them through the importance and power of reading.

The Ten who started camping at the Swiss Spirit Hotel on Thursday were taken through series of activities to prepare them towards Saturday’s finale.

Day one of the camping started with a tour of Citi FM. The finalists interacted with staff and management of the station. They were afforded the opportunity to understand the workings of the station.

The second activity was the coaching and mentoring session. The Director of News Programming, at Citi FM, who doubles as the Host the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, took them through some soft skills for life, which they are not taught in school.

Michael Ohene-Effah, founder of the Leadership Farm, prepared them for the quiz on Saturday. He taught them how to become great leaders in future by building self-confidence.

Madam Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director of the Young Educators Foundation, the organization that organizes the National Spelling Bee competition, also took the kids through series of exercises that will improve their vocabulary and grammar.

The students will participate in various fun activities in and outside the hotel, during the period. The activities will also include an industry tour of Olam, producers of Milky Magic biscuits and various milk products.

The ten contestants are expected to battle it out on Saturday for the ultimate prize of GHc10,000.

About the Literacy Challenge

The Literacy Challenge was launched on July 19, 2017, for JHS students in Ghana, who were tasked to write and suggest to the president how to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

After over 2,000 entries were submitted, external examiners marked the scripts and selected the top 50 who went to the British Council to write the aptitude test.

The current ten contestants were shortlisted from the 50 participants who went through the aptitude test stage.

Below is the list of the 10 finalists:

1. Krystyn Naa Adoley Bruce, Christ the King Int. School, Greater Accra
2. Lloyd Akresi, Acropolis Maranatha Academy, Greater Accra
3. Nyameye A.A. Obeng-Akuamoah, Kay-Billie-Klaer Int. School, Greater Accra
4. Maame Safoa Quashie, Yahweh Int. School, Greater Accra
5. Nicole Chinery, Sap’s School, Greater Accra
6. Hawa Haruna Attah, Unique Child School, Greater Accra
7. Patience Thompson, Unique Child School, Greater Accra
8. Manasseh Sampana Nam-Mahime, Ringway Estate Basic School, Greater Accra
9. Aaron Armah Ashitey, Sap’s School,Greater Accra
10. Konlan Isaac, Don-Ibu Int. School, Wa, Upper West Region

The Literacy Challenge is sponsored by BIC Pen, Milky Magic Biscuit, Cowbell and Slydepay.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Literacy Challenge: Finalists mentored, watch movie at Silver Bird [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In the Badminton Women’s singles round of 64,  Stella Amasah lost to Yeldy Louison of Mauritius in two sets of 21-14 each.

Her team-mate, Evelyn Botwe, lost by 2 games to zero of 21-15,21-19 to Gayle Lloyd of Guernsey

The men’s singles round of 64 gave Ghana more smiles as  Daniel Sam beat Aatsi Lubah of Mauritius by two games to one of 16-21, 21-17, 21-17  and Emmanuel Donkor beat Ross Stewart of Falkland Islands  in two games of 21-5 each.

Ghana beat the Norfolk Islands by two matches to zero. Ghana was represented by Stella Amasah and Daniel Sam and they beat Douglas Darko and Anna Luxton 21-16, 21-12.

In the men’s singles event, Abraham Ayittey will go against Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka later on Tuesday

 BOXING

Abdul Omar beat Anurudha Rathnayake of Sri Lanka over three rounds in the Men’s Flyweight Quarter final 2.

However, Haurna Osumanu lost to Mike Sekabembe in three rounds of the men’s Super Heavyweight quarter final

Jesse Lartey faces  Colin Flynn of Scotland in the Lightweight Quarter final later ion Tuesday.

TABLE TENNIS

Cynthia Kwabi beat Magdeline Rebatenne by four games to one in the women’s singles and Bernice Borquaye beat Sherrice Felix of Barbados by the sane result. She plays against Chelsea Edghill of Guyana in her next match.

Derek Abrefa beat Maizar Zahir of Maldives by 4 matches to zero in the Men’s singles, Emmanuel Commey will face Brian Chan Yook of Mauritius, Celia Baah-Danso will play against Anthonette Riley of Barbados in her first match and Betty Guo of Canda in her second match, Bernice Borquaye lost by 4 matches to 2 to Shenique Clare of Jamaica and Felix Lartey will come up against Choy Freddy of Kiribati.

The post Commonwealth Games update: Mixed results in badminton, boxing and table tennis for Team Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He  now has 5256 points from the eight events done so far with the latest being the 110m hurdles.

Nyamadi came fifth in the event with a time of 15.40 while the winner Stephen Cain of Australia recorded a time of 14.85.

Nyamadi is scheduled to take part in the discuss throw and the pole vault to complete the decathlon.

In the women’s T54 1500m heats, Ajara Mohammed made it to the final of the event after finishing fourth in her heats. She recorded a personal best time of 4:05.04  to qualify as the fastest loser.

That heat was won by England’s Shelly Woods.

Her team-mates Anita Fordjour and Bernice Frimpong were not successful in their bid though. They finished 5th and 6th in the same heat but they managed to make new personal record times.

Fordjour’s time of 4:21.24 was her new season’s best time while Frimpong’s time of 4:21.58 was her new personal best.

Their heat was won by Canada’s Diane Roy in a time of 3:52.82.

In the men’s event, Emmanuel Boateng finished 6th with a time of 3:44.44 which was a new personal best.

Felix Acheampong qualified to the final after finishing fourth with a time of 3:33.40 and that was his season’s best but it was heartbreak for Patrick Obeng who fell over in the final bend as he tried sneaking in through the innermost lane.

That cost him a possible qualifying place and he finished 6th with a time of 3:48.11.

That heat was won by Canada’s Alex Dupont.

The top three from the each of the male and female heats in addition to the fastest fourth place will make it to the final.

The women’s 400m heats also had a Ghanaian, Rashida Abubakar and she placed 8th in the second heat.

That heat was topped by Jamaica’s Janieve Russel in a time of 56.18 seconds

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Abugri, who picked up the medal after defeating Mozambique’s Neuso Sigauque, in the 60kg bronze-medal match, said in interview with the Ghana Olympic Committee’s Media outfit that he could have gone for gold if the requisite experience has been there when he went into the quarter finals.

“Winning the medal was not easy because I had to use all that I knew based on the game plan and the preparations. However, in my second fight, I lost because of a lack of experience.

I have not been going to enough tournaments to build me up so I could not do much against my opponent (Daniel Le Grange from South Africa).”

The judoka, who is an electrician by profession, is looking at the forward and he has plans of making to the Olympics in 2016 but he has called on the state to provide the needed funds so that there could better means of getting ready for major tournaments.

“I am looking forward to the Olympics but the country must sponsor me to do that. The chairman of the Ghana Judo Association, Emmanuel Tetteh, has worked hard and he is always eager to put in a lot of effort for me to do well.

What I want is funding to purchase plane tickets and other things so I can participate in the various qualification tournaments and make it to the Olympics.”

Meanwhile, one of Abugri’s team-mates, Emmanuel Nortey has been expelled from the team after gross indiscipline towards the Deputy Sports Minister Vincent Oppong Asamoah  and other team officials on Sunday after receiving his allowances.

He claimed he was due a reimbursement of expenses he had incurred but the officials also stated that he did not present evidence or receipts of the said expenses.

He was said to have verbally abused the Deputy Sports Minister and the officials but he refused to apologise despite being prompted by his team-mates thus the expulsion from the camp.

His accreditation for the Games has since been withdrawn.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games : Inexperience hampered me- Abugri appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Kwadwo Acheampong could not go far in the Men’s 400m as he finished 5th in Heat 2 with a time of 47.72 seconds and the same fate befell Daniel Gyasi who ran in the 7th heat of the event.

He also came in 5th and he recorded a time of 47.07 seconds. His team-mate John Obrien did not fare better in his heat after injuring himself and thus, could not finish.

In yesterday’s initial round, Solomon Afful finished 5th in the Men’s 100m heat and he made a time of 10.66 seconds while Shawkia Iddrisu was 5th in her 400m heat with a time of 55.74 seconds.

In the men’s decathlon, Atsu Nyamadi came fifth in the second heat of the men’s 100m in a time of 11.27 seconds.

He also took part in the long jump Group A and leaped a distance of 7.36m and threw 10.38m in the shot put to place 10th in that event.

The times he recorded in the 100m and the long jump are his new personal best times for the current season.

Overall, Nyamadi lies 9th with 2397 points while the leader, Damian Warner of Canada leads the line with 2691 points.

Nyamadi will compete in the high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, Discuss throw and the pole vault on the 28th and the 29th of July at the Hampden Park in Glasgow.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games Day 5 update: Ghana struggles in athletics appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Razak Abugri beat Neuso Sigauque of Mozambique to win the bronze medal in the men’s 60kg at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Abugri was defeated by South Africa’s Daniel Le Grange in the quarter final but he got a chance to contest for a medal when he won against Brandon George of Wales in the repachage contest.

The repachage was to allow losers in the previous round to have a chance of qualifying.

The gold medal was won by England’s Ashley McKenzie after he defeated Navjot Chana of India in the final.

In the other weight classes, Ghana’s Alex Amoako lost his Round of 32 66kg preliminary round to Cyprus’ Andreas Krassas.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games: Abugri wins bronze in Judo for Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two were in lanes 3 and 5 and they topped the field that had seven athletes.

However, both athletes will not make it to the semi-finals because of the times they recorded in the heats.

Abeiku Jackson finished with a time of 27.21 seconds while Kweku Addo had a time of 27.80 seconds and the times place Jackson 33^rd while Addo is 39^th on the overall ranking after the 8 heats.

The top 16 athletes recorded times of between 23.17 seconds (recorded by Benjamin Proud of England) and 25.16 seconds (recorded by Miles Munro of Guernsey)

Another member of the swimming team, Ophelia Swayne, will take part in Heat 3 of the women’s 50m butterfly that will be held on the 26^th of July at the Tollcross Swimming Centre.

Abbiw Jackson and Nana Kwabena Antwi will be participating in the third heat of the men’s 50m freestyle on the 28^th of July.

Abbiw will also swim in Heat 4 of the men’s 100m freestyle on the 26^th of July.

In cycling, Ghana’s Jedidiah Amoako-Ackah failed to qualify for the next stage of the men’s sprint qualifying.

He came 26^th with a time of 12.676. The event was won by Matthew Glaetzer of Australia with a time of 9.779.

He will have another opportunity to compete for medals when he goes for the Men’s 1000m time trial and the Keirin events scheduled for the 26^th and 27^th of July respectively.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Commonwealth Games update: Early slips for Ghana in swimming and cycling appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Amoako-Ackah , who has been staying in Scotland for 14 years, took up the sport less than a year ago but he has managed to make the grade for the Games and he believes he can match the best riders in the event.

“I have been doing the track cycling event for ten months now nut I know it is not enough of a preparatory period for anyone to really expect so much from me. The Indian team from the last Commonwealth Games (in Delhi) has had four years to get ready but they did not do well then.

I started out recording a time of 19.57 seconds from flight to hundred but now, I can do the track in a time of 11.70 seconds and that is better than the times that two of India’s track cyclists from the last Games did,” he said in an interview with the Ghana Olympic Committee.

Amoako wants the sport of track cycling to grow in Ghana and he is confident enough to believe that a good showing from him will make that possible.

“All the preparation I have done puts Ghana in a good stead and it speaks well of us. It shows that we are serious about this sport and we surely do want it to grow.”

ABOUT JEDIDIAH AMOAKO-ACKAH

He took up the sport through a local businessman in Glasgow and he began training in September 2013 at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow for the Games.

He describes the experience of learning the rudiments of the event as “a steep learning curve” but he says it has been exciting as well.

Jedidiah has always been interested in sports; before taking up cycling, he practised football, basketball, judo, boxing and basketball. His love for sport has even transcended into academics as he is taking a course in Sports Therapy at the University of Chichester, West Sussex, England.

One of his friends from his boxing days will be competing for Scotland.

He sees the opportunity for Ghana as a “great privilege” and he is very pleased to represent Ghana though he has lived in Scotland since 2001. He hopes to get the support of the Scottish people as gets his cycle on the velodrome.

He has been pleased with the level of training he has had so far with the Ghana team in Ayrshire, Scotland.

His daily training involves doing road trips to develop his sprinting efforts or doing laps at the velodrome.

His dream is to develop the sport of track cycling in Ghana and he has already set up the Accra Velodrome Project and the Gift A Bike Foundation to spread the word on the sport of track cycling.

Fans can check him out at www.iamjeddie.com

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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