Politics: Peter Bossman is elected the first black mayor in Slovenia…

Were making headway's folks, and as always, –there’s a Ghanaian involved. The following is more information about Ghanaian born doctor, Peter Bossman, known as the, 'Obama of Piran' who became the first ever black mayor in the whole of the Eastern Block on the 24 October 2010! Note, please remember Peter and all the other black pioneers -who dare to stand up –and be countered in countries like Russia, Poland etc in your prayers –because the aforementioned countries are not easy ooOO! Go Peter, Ghana Rising is very proud of you…

Peter Bossman becomes Eastern Europe's first black mayor

'Obama of Piran' elected in south-western Slovenia

By: Jo Adetunji / Dated: Monday 25 October 2010 /Paper: The Guardian

Peter Bossman and some of his supporters celebrate his victory in the Slovenian Adriatic town of Piran. (Credit: The Guardian)

A Ghana-born doctor nicknamed "the Obama of Piran" became the first black mayor in eastern Europe yesterday after he was elected in Piran, south-western Slovenia.

Peter Bossman, 54, said he was "happy and proud" to have been elected to the post after winning a second round runoff in the town with just over half the votes.

Bossman settled in Slovenia, then still part of Yugoslavia, in the 1970s after arriving in the country to study medicine. He decided to stay after marrying a fellow student from Croatia.

Speaking about his campaign, in which he said he would introduce electric cars to the town, Bossman said: "I based my campaign on a dialogue, and I think the dialogue has won."

But Bossman was criticised during the campaign for not speaking fluent Slovene, the country's official language, prompting him to say in an interview with Delo, one of Slovenia's leading newspapers, that a friend and professor of Slovenian had "offered to give me additional lessons".

However the new mayor, who runs his own private medical practice and is a member of Slovenia's governing centre-left Social Democrat party, said he had not suffered racial discrimination.

"In the first months after coming to Slovenia I felt that some people did not want to be with us [African immigrants]. But for the last 10 or 15 years … I have no problems at all and I think people no longer see the colour of my skin when they look at me," he said.

Slovenia has a population of around 2 million, the majority of whom are native Slovene, and immigration is more common from ex-Yugoslavian countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. There are very few black people living there. The town of Piran, which lies on the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea, has a population of around 17,000.

Vlado Miheljak, a political analyst, said the vote in Piran was a test of whether Slovenia was "mature enough to elect a non-white political representative." (Credit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/25/peter-bossman-first-black-major-eastern-europe-slovenia)

Politics: Adam Afriyie

As people like me, –try to come to terms our new government’s ‘Big Society –Little Government’ stance….I want to congratulate Adam Afriyie -on winning [and securing] Windsor with the biggest majority in the history of the seat -with 61% of the vote and the biggest combined swing from Labour and LibDems for an incumbent MP. And I believe it makes him –the first black Conservative cabinet minister! For more information about Adam Afriyie please visit: http://www.adamafriyie.org.uk/

Politics: Joe Frans

Joe Frans (born Kojo Frans ) is a Swedish politician, social activist and former member of parliament.


He is a member of the University of Stockholm board. He has also served as an Independent Expert for the United Nations Human Rights Council, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

Frans is the founder and CEO of Next Generation Africa and NGA Novum AB. He is the Chairperson of Forumsyd and a member of the Swedish National Police Board. He has served as Senior Political Advisor to the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm and as Press Secretary to the Mayor of Stockholm.

He has also served as a member of the Swedish Parliament 2002-2006. In the Parlament he served on Committee on Justice and European Union Committee. When the Social Democratic Party lost power in 2006, Frans lost his seat in Parlament.

Frans has a diploma in Communications and has been the producer of the TV-show Sweden Today. He has also been CEO of Sweden Now AB and Skandinavisk Video Teknik AB, companies trading TV-broadcast rights. Frans initiated the Swedish Martin Luther King award in 2005. [Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Frans_(Politician)]

Politics: the Rise of ...Conservative MPs and Voters of Ghanaian heritage in the UK...

Once upon a time, -all Ghanaians [like all immigrants] voted Labour in the UK; -and all of ‘middle England’ believed –all immigrants lived in council houses; were educated at the local comprehensive, eat fried food, existed on ‘state benefits' –and thus, were naturally, -Labour voters. Well times have changed and so has the Ghanaian community [globally]. In England as in the USA [and Canada, Germany; Belgium, Holland etc] where there's a growing Ghanaian middle-class, -many of these upwardly mobile ‘go-getters’ are no longer 'natural' Labour voters; -and the 'Liberals' and the Conservatives -have benefited greatly from this group...But I wonder, how do black/Ghanaian Conservative MPs/ Voters -justify the Conservative party’s 'laissez-faire' attitude towards helping those ‘less-well-off’, -when the majority of those ‘less-well-off’ are from your 'own' community?

As a ‘natural’ socialist and thus –a ‘natural’ Labour voter [my grandmother’s family are tomato sellers from Abanzi and Anomabo, –so I like to keep it real] – I’m fascinated by ‘Conservative' values and even more intrigued by ‘ethnic minorities’ –who vote for the Conservative/Republican party etc... It drives me crazy that some people in the States can’t quiet get their heads around President Obama’s ‘Welfare Reform’ etc –it totally shocks me. ....It appears prosperous black folks in the USA are under the illusion that all is well –and thus can’t fathom the growing numbers of 'post-Katrina homeless population', or folks living without water in Detroit [45,000 households are without], -never mind the obvious medical needs of many poor families in the States -and …..I kind …of feel -Ghanaians [and other minority] Conservative MPs/voters –hold similar views/values etc.. What's so wrong with ‘loving thy neighbour’? ....

I’ve found the vast majority of black Conservative MPs/voters –to be judgemental and fearful people. Fearful of being mugged, fearful of foreign accents, fearful of their own people, fearful of mass immigration etc,...-the very things ‘Middle England’ feared when their ‘own’ parents first migrated to the UK [oh how times have changed]... Anyway, let me not loose track, -and please note that if we lived in a ‘just’ world; –a world where all people started the ‘race-of-life’ at the front of the line...on an ‘even playing field’ –with all the privileges that a good education afforded, –I too would vote for the Conservative party! Please note, -I honestly respect all peoples, –and their democratic right to their own political views/persuasions etc etc..

I stumbled across the following piece on the ‘Booker Rising’ website about Adam Afriyie, Sam Gyimah and Kwasi Kwarteng, –and even though I soo don’t share their political ‘point-of-view’, found the following very interesting..[and I'm sure the afore mentioned Conservative MPs and candidates are lovely]....enjoy..x

Title: Britain: The Year Of The (Partially) Black Conservative "
By: Shay Riley Taken from: www.bookerrising.net

The Conservative Party continues to lead in British polls for the upcoming election - which can't occur any later than early June - to return to power after 13 years or so. Right now, there are two black folks in the British Parliament: Adam Afriyie in the House of Commons and Lord John Taylor in the House of Lords (whose body consists of appointed officials. However, that is likely to change this year. I knew that it would change, but about half of Conservative Party black candidates are new to my radar screen. The Daily Mail (UK) calls them and the Asian candidates as Conservative Party leader David Cameron's "Obama Army", 44 candidates who are ready to change the face of the Conservative Party. The newspaper discusses their electoral hopes and I've highlighted the (partially) black folks on the list:

Adam Afriyie, 43
Windsor, southern England | Tech entrepreneur & shadow minister for science & business innovation

Assuming that the Conservative Party wins the upcoming elections, Mr. Afriyie - a tech entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of US$156 million - is slated to become the country's first black Conservative cabinet minister.

Mr. Afriyie, whose father is Ghanaian and whose mother is white British, is no stranger to Booker Rising. This blog had Mr. Afriyie pegged as someone to watch back in 2004, before he joined the Parliament. It's good to see it coming to fruition.

Sam Gyimah, 33
East Surrey, southeastern England | Banker

Sam Gyimah is a new face to Booker Rising, but sounds pretty good. An ex-Oxford Union president whose parents come from Ghana, he was voted CBI's "Entrepreneur Of The Future". He writes on his website: "In 2003, I left my City Job at Goldman Sachs to start a small business which trained and placed low-skilled people into work. When I left three years later, we were turning over £10m [US$15.5 million], had a staff of 70, had trained 4,000 people and I was named CBI Entrepreneur of the Future for my efforts."

Mr. Gyimah is running in the 6th safest Tory seat in the country - even though he does not yet live in the district, Tory activists in the district recently chose him in a straw poll among six candidates - so he is extremely likely to join Parliament this year as well.



Kwasi Kwarteng, 34
Spelthorne, southeastern England | Journalist & historian

Mr. Kwarteng, whose parents are from Ghana, is another new face to Booker Rising. He writes on his website: "I was very fortunate to win a scholarship to Eton College, when I was 13. I enjoyed History in particular, which I then proceeded to read at Trinity College, Cambridge. I earned a Bachelor's degree and a PhD in British History and was also on the series-winning team on University Challenge in Jeremy Paxman's first year as the host. I have worked as a company analyst in the City for seven years, and as a journalist."

His book, Ghosts of Empire, about the British Empire's global legacy, will be published soon.


[Credit: http://www.bookerrising.net/]

The New York State Senate [led by Senator Bill Perkins] Honors Dr Kwame Nkrumah with a Legislative Resolution celebrating Nkrumah''s 100th Birthday

Wonderful.......x

Politics: Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi’s "Meet the Press," ...giving journalists easier access.....

Title: Minister For Information-Designate Rolls Out Blue Print

The Minister for Information-designate, Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi yesterday rolled out an information transformation blue print to enhance communication between the government and the people.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra the Minister-designate noted that her priority, when she is given the mandate by Parliament, will be to create a conducive information dissemination environment among stakeholders to ensure responsive governance to augment the President's call for accountability.
"I will immediately institute Editors', Public Relations Officers' and Ministers' forums which would serve as a platform for dialoguing, sharing of ideas and the bridge for constructive criticisms," she said.

"It would also be used to reduce the incidence of mis-information. I believe that journalists in their quest for information should not be hindered and endangered," Mrs Okaikoi explained.

Mrs Okaikoi who is a legal practitioner, said the "Meet the Press" series will be maintained but decentralised from the national through the regional to the district levels for greater accountability.

Together with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development we will ensure that each district organises bi-annual "Meet the Press," at the District capitals which may be attended by some ministers of state.

The Minister for Information-designate acknowledged the role of the Information Services Department noting that it will be empowered to perform their statutory duties effectively to liaise between the government and the people.

"I will initiate moves to revamp and build the capacity of state media houses - Ghana News Agency (GNA); Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC); Ghanaian Times and the Daily Graphic to international standard," she said. [Credit: www.mofep.gov]

Politics: Filipp Kondratyev -Where is this electoral candidate now and what of his political aspirations?

I was wondering, –does anyone know the outcome of the ‘Srednyaya Akhtuba District Elections’ in southern Russia? Via google I now know that Joaquim Crima came third but what of Filipp Kondratyev? I just thought I would post the following to give you some background on Filipp Kondratyev and his political aspirations....

Title Russia: Seeking to Lead a District, by Way of Africa [Published: August 24, 2009]
A second candidate of African descent, Filipp Kondratyev, said he would run for head of a rural district in southern Russia, election officials said Monday, making for an unusual slate in a country that is deeply suspicious of immigrants. The campaign for head of the Srednyaya Akhtuba district, in the Volgograd region, has attracted widespread news media attention because of the candidacy of Joaquim Crima, a Guinea-Bissau native who has become known as the Barack Obama of Russia. But now he faces a challenger with racial credentials even more like Mr. Obama’s — Mr. Kondratyev is the son of a Ghanaian father and a Russian mother. Mr. Obama is the son of a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya. [Credit: By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

Politics: Barack and Michelle Obama in Ghana

"We think that Ghana can be an extraordinary model for success throughout the continent" President Barack Obama

"Part of the reason that we're travelling to Ghana is because you've got a functioning democracy, a president who's serious about reducing corruption and you've seen significant economic growth," President Barack Obama

The first family of America landed in the motherland yesterday. President Barack Obama, first lady-Michelle, and their two beautiful daughters landed in Ghana on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office [at 9 p.m. local time] and met a group of dignitaries, -led by President John Atta Mills. Ghana Rising (Paulina Opoku-Gyimah) thanks God for this historic visit [an indicator to the rest of the world that Ghana is moving in the right direction]. And even though I am forever -wanting our government to; move/progress/improve etc -I am pleased that 'our' Ghana is a beacon of light/Hope in Africa. As I was researching and searching for materials and pictures to accompany this story, -I came across http://allafrica.com/stories/200905180910.html -a reflective piece about why The Obamas chose Ghana -and it is an eye opener. The following is an extract from the aforementioned website:

Africa: Why Obama Chose Ghana
The question of why Barack Obama has chosen Ghana rather than Kenya, his father's homeland, or Nigeria, Africa's giant, for his first trip to Africa as President of the United States, is exercising newspapers from Nairobi to New York. Nairobi's Daily Nation said Monday that "in skipping Kenya, the first African American president is signalling that he puts political values over ancestral allegiances." Although the Nation quoted Kenyan foreign minister Moses Wetang'ula as denying that Obama had snubbed the country, it also referred to recent U.S. criticism of the country's struggling coalition government." Mr Johnnie Carson, President Obama's top Africa official, recently made a stop in Nairobi where he delivered a stern warning to President [Mwai] Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to get the reform process on track or face unspecified sanctions," the Nation reported.

In Lagos, This Day carried a harshly-worded opinion piece from 'Jibola Asolo, a Nigerian lawyer based in Britain, saying that the failure of the first black U.S. president to stop over in the world's most populous black country "should really serve as a moment of reflection for us as a nation. It should shame us as a people." But, wrote Asolo, Obama's decision should not be a surprise. "The reality is: on the world stage Nigeria is not ready to play ball. We, as a nation, are still stuck on stupid while other countries are buckling down and taking the issue of good governance seriously. This considered, the President of America would be hard-pressed to grace our land with his presence in light of the joke that is Project Nigeria."

In the U.S., the New York Times reinforced the African commentary. In a report based on unnamed White House sources, it said that "A year after Kenya exploded in political violence, it remains a tense and unsettled place. Ghana, by contrast, is an outpost of democracy and civil society in a volatile region." The Times quoted a senior official as saying that ideally Obama would have preferred a longer trip to Africa. But time constraints meant that such a trip would have to wait until later in his tenure." So his advisers agreed to tack the quick Ghana stop onto the end of his Russia-G-8 trip to at least get a marker down before too much time passed," said the paper. And, in a reflection of how difficult it is to get yourself onto the agenda of an American president, the Times quoted the official as saying Ghana offered an opportunity to promote important values even on a one-night visit: "We have limited time and we tried to figure out where we could get the most out of limited time," the official said. *Credit: John Allen (18 May 2009) to read the rest please visit: http://allafrica.com/stories/200905180910.html

I have to confess that the commentaries made [above] by our fellow African brothers were a, 'breath of fresh air'. Their commentaries were based on their truths and not hate for Ghana. I have found over the years that when it comes to us Ghanaians, -some of our fellow African brothers -are very harsh indeed. I have [often] come across -what I can only describe as pure an adulterated jealousy -where we Ghanaians are concerned. Like the Jews -it would seem that we too are a 'thorn in the side' of some [Africans]. Because there are some [and I use the word -some, please note) fellow Africans that can not get their heads around the fact that God (and only God oO) chose Ghana to become the first sub-Saharan African country to gain Independence. And this jealousy manifests its self -in so many ways. For me, -it's the, 'you can not be a Ghanaian because; -you are too beautiful/not dark/speak good English/ you dress well etc -and I know that many of you will have experienced this.

From our pioneers (Kofi Annan-7th UN Secretary-General, Awe Kludze-Nasa, David Adjaye-Architect, Freddy Adu-Soccer, Freema Agyeman-Actress, Ama Ata Aidoo-writer, Kwame Anthony Appiah-philosopher and novelist, Ayi Kwei Armah-writer and social critic, Yaa Asantewaa-Anti-colonial resistance leader, Kofi Awoonor-writer, Reynold Bediako-Entrepreneur, Ozwald Boateng-Fashion Designer, Paul Boateng-Politician, Marcel Desailly-footballer, Edward Enninful-Fashion Stylist, Michael Essien-footballer, Nana Gbewonyo-actor, Jeanette Kwakye-sprinter, Nazr Mohammed-basketball player, Azumah Nelson-world champion boxer, Kwame Nkrumah-founder of Pan-Africanism, Lawrence Henry Yaw Ofosu-Appiah-author, scholar (John) Atukwei Okai-poet and President of Pan African Writers' Association, John Paintsil-football player, Francis Ernest Kobina Parkes-poet, Nii Ayikwei Parkes-author and social commentator, Hugh Quarshie-Actor, Danny Sapani-Actor, June Sarpong-TV presenter, Cynthia Torto-Writer, Nana Ama Serwah Nyarko-British Entrepreneur, Adelaide Damoah-Artist, Marilyn Heward Mills-novelist, Jacqui Agyepong-Athlete, Johnnie Sarpong-world renown Hair-Stylist, Adjoa Andoh-actress, Lisa I'Anson-TV and Radio, Shirley Selase Anku-model, Dizzee Rascal-Musican, Julius Amedume-Filmmaker, Adam Afriyie-Politcs, Amma Asante-Actress and Director, Claire-Hope Ashitey-Actress, Ekow Eshun-social critic,writer and TV Presenter, Idris Elba-Actor, Neutrino of Oxide & Neutrino-Music and Rugby, Belinda Owusu-Actress, Arthur Wharton-footballer, Tinchy Stryder-Musician, Joey Ansah-Actor, Joe Casley Hayford -Fashion Designer, Bridgette Amofah-music, Karen Cummings-Palmer-Entrepreneur, Ben Addo-Furniture Designer, Adwoa Aboah-Model, Vicky Boateng-Model, Belinda Baidoo-Model, Doreen Adusei MBE-Fashion, Didi Danso –fashion writer, Reggie Yates-TV Presenter, Samata Angel-fashion designer and socialite, Lethal Bizzle-Music, Akwesi Duodu-Finance/ Columnist, Kojo-Comedian, Michael Blackson-Comedian, The Mitchell Brothers-Music, Priscilla Kwateng-Fashion (The Guardian), Kanya King-MOBOs, Charles Thompson-Screen Nation Awards, Boris Kodjoe-Actor, Patrick Awuah-cofounded Ashesi University, V.I.C-Music, Sheriff Ghale-Music, Anna Reynolds-Music, Betsie Dsane-Model, Okomfo Kwadee-Music, Salimi Akill-Fashion Designer, Selasi Kwanu-Beauty, Arabella Kiesbauer-TV Presenter, Angela Asare-Beauty, Elsie Owusu-Architect, Dorothy Koomson-Novelist, Freddie Opoku-Addaire-Dance, Yvette Nsiah-Beauty, Andrew Mensah-Fashion/Entrepreneur, David Mensah-Musician, Zandile Blay-fashion/Blogger, Teiko Dornor-Beauty/Entrepreneur, Pearl Amoah-Beauty, Adowah Hagan & Lloyd Mensah -Food (founders of the Jollof Pot), King Ayisoba-Music, Koranteng Ofosu-Amaah-Blogger, Atongo Zimba-Musician, Margaret Busby CBE-Publisher, Faustina Agolloy-TV Presenter...-to name but a few) -it seems that even though Ghana is not the richest African country, nor the most populous or the largest -whenever there is an African making headway's [be it: Art, TV, News, Innovation, Fashion etc] -they are always Ghanaian.

And still; -we continue to fear God [Amen], are laid-back, never boastful -and respected by the world -to God be the glory. Haters of Ghana must marvel at just what makes us great. They must wonder why a nation, with [just over] 23 Million inhabitants -have made such an impact-globally. And that's why, -like Jewish people -they do not want us to be [also] beautiful, well dressed, or speak well, or prosper etc. But thank God, -because, whom God Blesses, no man can curse [Amen]. So while I plead the 'Blood of Jesus' on all Ghanaians -around the world (now that the Obamas have paid us a visit -ooOO -we need God more....hehehe) -we must all continue to fear God and put him first, -and stay humble. Bye for now...................................xx