My tribute to Rawlings

Pictures by Edmund Smith-Asante. All Rights Reserved (C)

When Thursday, November 12, 2020 dawned on us no one knew it was going to bring the whole of Ghana, Africa and the entire global community some sad news.

The first President and first John of Ghana's Fourth Republic, Flt Lt (retd) Jerry John Rawlings was larger than life itself and so no one expected a man still full of charisma, humour and a statesman to die just like that.

No wonder when news broke of the unsettling event many classified it as fake news and brushed it aside until the President and many media houses conformed it. 

With all the activities heralding the upcoming eighth general election since Ghana took to the democratic path in 1992, no one imagined death would lay its icy hands on the one who paved the way for Ghanaians to opt for the ballot box.

Well I had the chance to meet the late former President Rawlings when he joined the Jospong Group of Companies as a Special Guest during their annual end-of-year thanksgiving service in December 2018 at the headquarters of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-rawlings-asks-for-community-vigilantism-to-fight-insanitary-conditions.html).

Find below some images captured of him by Edmages while he spoke passionately about sanitation, using anecdotes most of the time that left the audience in stitches. May his soul rest in peace.

Graphic@70 Loyalty Promo on...4 cars for grabs

 Pictures by Edmund Smith-Asante. All Rights Reserved (C)

As part of activities marking the Graphic Communications Group Limited's (GCGL)70th anniversary a loyalty promo has been launched to afford readers the opportunity to win four KIA saloon cars provided by Rana Motors.

Staff of GCGL on Friday, October 30, 2020 wore their branded promo 'T' shirts to publicise the promo. Edmages was able to capture some images and shares them here.

#loyaltypromo #Graphic@70 #graphic #gcgl

Graphic@70...All the exclusives

By Edmund Smith-Asante. All Rights Reserved (C)

The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in commemoration of its 70th anniversary held several programmes. 

Posted below are some of the exclusive portraits captured by Edmages' lenses of some staff of GCGL.

#Graphic@70 #gcgl #truthandaccuracyeveryday

8th Ghana Garden and Flower Show opening held virtually

 Pictures by Edmund Smith-Asante. All Rights Reserved (C)

Imagine if the whole world were a big garden with flowers of all colours, leaves of all shapes and trees of all sizes and girth adorning it with streams and rivers running across.

That would not only be refreshing but it will make us want to live forever just beholding nature's beauty.

The 8th Ghana Garden and Flower Show opened today, November 4 on the theme "Live the Change" and will hold till November 8, but its opening had to be done virtually due to the presence of COVID-19.

The virtual opening done by former Electoral Commission Chair and currently the United Nations International Elections Commissioner, Mrs Charlotte Osei, however, took nothing from the event because it was held in a garden where nature's beauty and presence could be felt so strongly.

Joining in the event via zoom were a representative of Stanbic Bank, a sponsor of the show, people from Nigeria and Kenya, as well as the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ron Strikker. Gracing the occasion were the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Shani Cooper and the Dean of the School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Daniel Bruce Sarpong. There were also representatives from ABSA Bank, also a sponsor.

Birthed by Ms Esther Cobbah and her Stratcomm Africa organisation and given the fillip by the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement which has the show as its flagship activity each year, the event has been supported over the years by many organisations. 

They believe trees and flowers give humans the oxygen to live (and rightly so) and so every effort must be made to protect flora.

Well, it was my first time at the annual event, but I found myself at home because I love nature. Find below some of the images captured by Edmages.