FINAL AFCON NATIONAL TEAMS TO BE KNOWN TODAY as Arsenal Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fails to guide Gabon to the 2019 tournament.

By Saleh Najmundeen/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA

A 1-1 draw with Gabon secured Burundi the point they needed to reach the African Cup Of Nations for the first time in their history!

Burundi have qualified for their first ever in African Cup Of Nations, thanks goes to a 1-1 draw with Gabon, who will be missing in Egypt later this year.

Pierre—Emerick Abubameyang’s Gabon went into the match in Bujumbura needing to win only, but they were unable to clinch the victory which would have booked their place in the tournament.

The national teams that have already qualified to the 2019 African Cup Of Nations in Egypt are :

Group A
Senegal
Madagascar

Group B
Morocco
Cameroon

Group C
Mali
Burundi

Group F
Ghana
Kenya

Group J
Tunisia
Egypt

Group H
Cote d’ivoire
Guinea

Group I
Angola
Mauritania

Group K
Guinea—Bissau
Mozambique.

The CAF African Cup of Nations takes place from 21 June to 19 July 2019.

On 30 November, 2018, Cameroon was stripped of the right to host this year's AFCON due to infrastructural delays, the Book Harald Insurgency and the Anglophone Crisis and on 8 January, 2019, CAF awarded Egypt the rights to host it.

Hence a temporary change from the usual January to February calendar.

The CAF Executive Committee on 20 July 2017 decided to add eight teams to the usual 16 only, bringing the competing teams at the final to 24.

Africa has 54 countries, which means nearly every other African country now has an equal chance of qualifying.

Burundi's first time appearance is therefore to be expected.

Some of the teams in groups D, E and L playing on Sunday have qualified already but they need to honour their remaining fixtures to help determine the last eight places in groups A to K.

Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com to Salih through his Facebook page Najmeldin Salih.

      
                                                                                                        

Armed Robbery at Wisconsin International University, Accra

By Berryl Elisha/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA

A Mobile money vender at the entrance of Wisconsin University College located at Agbogba Junction was shot Saturday  afternoon  by some armed robbers.

The mobile agent, popularly known as Maxwell, was processing some money transfers as usual, when men broke into his office.

According to a by-stander, two men on a motorbike stood in front of Maxwell's office and one of them went into the vendor's office and feigned that he wanted to send some money, but pointed his gun at him, threatening to kill him if he refused to hand over his cash.

That was when the two men got into a fight.

The armed robber shot the mobile money agent in his  thigh, took the money and got back to his associate who also fired his gun. Both men went away on their motorbike, and left Maxwell bleeding as a result of the shooting.

He was later sent to the nearest health facility for treatment.

'Armed robbery in broad day light are we safe?, ' said a shocked lady student as she read the news on social media.

Paul Kodjo, an MBA student
claimed that it was the second time an armed robbery had occurred at the same place.

This is the time to call upon the local security authorities to find solutions and guarantee the safety of residents, students and staff of Wisconsin International University, Accra.

Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com or to the writer's Facebook page through Elisée Elisée de Hounto.

HEALTH SUPPORT FOUNDATION UNDERTAKES FREE MEDICAL SCREENING AT AWUTU PRISONS.

By Austin Beirut Quaye/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA

Wisconsin Accra – 13 March, 2019

The Health Support Foundation (HSF) celebrated the 62nd independence holiday with the inmates of Awutu prisons in Awutu, Central Region.

At least 65 members of the HSF led by James Mawuli Gawu, the  president, contributed monies and solicited donations in aid of their quarterly charity project.

‘When I was in prison did you visit me?,’ said James Gawu, paraphrasing the Teacher from Galilee.

The Awutu Prisons houses 250 male inmates and has 75 officers.

110 inmates benefited from free eye screening services.

Blood samples were taken from 150 inmates for  malaria tests; 98 proved positive.

Manicure and pedicure services were also provided for 130 inmates.

Buhuu, 35, convicted and sentenced for two years in 2017 for stealing  a smart phone was elated.

'I have never had a pedicure in my life,’ he said,  ‘It’s so refreshing and nice.’
He called for regular visits by HSF.

HSF, founded in 2014, has at least 500 members across Ghana.

At least 65 per cent of its members are health workers and the rest are mainly teachers, soldiers, journalists, engineers and non skilled volunteers.

They devote their time to quarterly charity projects of their choice.

Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com or to Austin through Facebook, Austin Quaye.

WHEN YOU ARE A BROKE STUDENT IN A TRENDY CLASS.

Matilda Teni Ayine/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA

Wisconsin Accra – 11 March, 2019

Being broke can be so frustrating, uncomfortable and stressful.

It is especially so when you are a student in the university and you find yourself in a class of well-to-do students.

Students are unique individuals.

Sir Ken Robinson, a leading education scholar, is very critical of the lack of this awareness.

He stated  that schools that do well “employ teachers that treat students as individuals that need nurturing, not widgets that get blindly assembled'.

It is expected that tertiary level educators will be aware of these sensitivities.

When you want to participate in school activities - even when advertised as free – it is difficult if you don’t have money.

If your colleague students decide to organize an event that requires contributions or fundraising from students, you will certainly be left out because you do not have the “Doh”, our Ghanaian term  for Dollar or cash.

When lecturers in the universities do not give notes, but choose to sell their so-called “handouts” (pamphlets) or their own textbooks to students, it makes life harder.

Ditto for when each time they give an assignment andthey expect it to be typed and printed out.

All these examples cost money, I mean cash you have to give out instantly; this is Ghana.

So imagine what will happen to you academically if you have no money to purchase these books or even print out your assignments for submission?

Many education experts agree that the experiences of students improve only if lecturers and authorities take a personalized approach.

A university is one of the most interesting but difficult environments one can be in 
There are a large number of students with different characters and attitudes from different backgrounds.

Competition persists in different areas of student life- especially fashion trends.
Fashion among students  puts undue pressure on students who do not have money but want to look good.

They are therefore sometimes compelled to engage themselves in negative acts in order to make money. For example,  some end up becoming prostitutes and internet scammers just to make money in order to afford  things  on the same level as their colleagues.

Even academic competition has its downfalls if it leads to high stress and anxiety, especially in younger students who aren't equipped enough to handle the pressure.

Students must learn to live within their budget.

Also, students must try not to give in to peer pressure and should always stay within their means.

Fellow students, no matter what you may be going through on campus, always remember this saying “no condition is permanent “. Your situation will not remain like that forever – it will surely change someday.

God’s time is certainly the best.

Feedback; Wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com or to Tilly through Matilda Ayine Diamond (Instagram); Matilda Ayine Diamond (Twitter).

NAKED FACES (INDEPENDENCE DAY POEM )

       

By Dennis Okpoti

La Boni, Accra - 10 March, 2019

NAKED FACES (INDEPENDENCE DAY POEM )

They turned all our rivers to Gutters 

And made all our leaders martyrs 

They reduced us to three square meals a day

So we will love our chains ....

 Intoxicating us with the mirage of freedom

Whiles colonizing our minds....

They led us to believe

That the more a culture modernizes they westernize....

So westernization is the bench mark for success...

They say Africa is a shit hole(Lakoo) 

But they have forgotten who dug the pit 100 years ago...

When they came in with their empty merchant ships

And went with dozens of men packed like sardines....

We are a  people lost to time.....

A culture gone extinct....

Go and tell the Okaikois

And the Otumfuos

That we bought freedom

With  the currency of the neo-colonialists

                               
Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@blogspot.com or to Okpoti on Facebook via #Nii writes or WhatsApp on (+233) 0503261622.

LAST WEEKEND’S FOOTBALL GAMES IN PERSPECTIVE.

                                                    

By Edward Brenya/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA
Wisconsin Accra – 10 March, 2019

Last weekend was one of mixed feelings for football loving fans.

There were heartbreaks for Liverpool fans, more injury worries for Manchester united, Atletico’s Alvaro Morata proving why it may be too early to write him off, Barcelona won yet another classico and most importantly Kumasi Asante Kotoko made amends for last week’s disappointing display in Zambia.

In England, Pep Guadiola’s Manchester City beat Bournemouth by a lone goal to regain top spot as Liverpool settled for a stalemate against Everton in the derby, dropping to the second position in the EPL after a frustrating week of draws.

In Spain, Barcelona maintained their impressive form by defeating fierce rivals Real Madrid yet again at the Bernabau further increasing their hopes of retaining the La-Liga while Atletico Madrid kept the pace by beating Real Sociedad via a brace by Alvaro Morata.

Bayern Munich kept the pressure on league leaders Borussia Dortmund with an impressive 5-1 demolishing of Borrussia Monchenglachbach away.

The Italia-Seria A proved to be a one-sided league, however, as Juventus beat Napoli to widen the gap further by 16 points though the game ended with both teams having a man sent off, more notably Miralem Pjanic in the 47th minute as he handle the ball.

In France Kylian Mbappe’s injury time winner won the game for Paris Saint-Germain after a below average showing from the league leaders against 18th placed Caen.

Finally in the group stages of the CAF-Confederations Cup Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat their Zambian opponents, Nkana FC by an impressive 3-0 score line to move a place up to the second position on the table to keep their hopes of qualifying to the next round alive.

Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com or via Facebook to Edward Brenya.

WHY PEDESTRIANS IN GHANA RUN ON ZEBRA CROSSINGS.

By Abdul Rasheed Adamu/School of Communication Studies, WIUC-GHANA

Wisconsin Accra - 10 March, 2019

Pedestrians are always seen especially in the major cities of Ghana running for dear life where pedestrian crossing marks are clearly marked.

Do some drivers not know the meaning or are they plain stupid?

Vehicles must give right of way where the pedestrian crossing marks are clearly demarcated.

But in Ghana it is vice versa.

The aged and children find it difficult to cross the road due to speeding vehicles.

Even the energetic ones have to run while crossing the roads to avoid being knocked down.

Do you have any pictures to share of pedestrians runnig for dear life?

Feedback; wizzbuzzblog@gmail.com to Abdul Rasheed via WhatsApp on (+233) 024 407 6208.