Fifteen Heads of State and Government have confirmed their participation in the funeral of President John Evans Atta Mills.

The US Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton and four Special envoys from the United Sates of America as well as the President of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma would also be attending.

The Leaders are President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Chairman of AU; Alassane Outtara, Cote d’Ivoire and chairman of the ECOWAS; Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea; Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso.

Others are President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia; President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo; Jakaya kikwete of Tanzania; Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia; Dr Goodluck Johnathan of Nigeria; Mahamadou Issoufou of NIger.

The rest are Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa; Yahya J. Jameh of the Gambia and Macky Sall of Senegal.

The Chairman of the Funeral Committee, Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi made this known in Accra Tuesday at a press briefing on the final funeral arrangements for President Mills.

He said heads of State and Governments as well as Vice Presidents would be met at the Kotoka International Airport, Jubilee Lounge when arriving by private aircraft.

Those arriving by commercial aircraft would be met at the VVIP Lounge and the various ministers of state would be assigned to welcome them.

There would be no official ceremony on arrival or departure of the dignitaries.

The body of the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills would be laid in State for viewing at the State House from Wednesday August 8, 2012 to Friday August 12, 2012.

The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, his Wife Lordina and the Vice President and His wife, the Second Lady would be the first to file past the body, thereafter the Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament and the public.

Mr Totobi Quarkye said most of the foreign dignitaries are expected to arrive on Friday so they will be given the opportunity to file past the body in the morning of Friday August 10, 2010 before the burial service and subsequent burial.

He said the outpouring of grief by Ghanaians following the death of the former President shows that we are one people and expressed optimism that the funeral ceremony would be organised to reflect the collective sense of loss that this Nation feels.

The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla said a very comprehensive security arrangement would be made to ensure a peaceful funeral.

He said the police will be assisted by the Military and other security agencies to provide security at all points during the movement of the body from the 37 military hospital till the burial.

DCOP Patrick Timbilla said in all other activities in connection with the funeral like the mounting of giant screens at vantage points, the security will be there to ensure sanity.

Source: Daily Graphic

Live Updates: Day 1 of Mills' last 3 days on earth; read, watch live video here

President Mills laid in state

1:38 Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and his entourage just filed past the body.

Ward Brew: Friends for over 42 years
Hoping public will come to appreciate what he did
Hopes posterity will always remember that he stood for a cause and it was not an easy one

Mensah Otabil: he was very sincere about his desire to know god and to serve him.

He had a desire to see God work in his personal life
Death is a great leveler and when you encounter it
Unfortunately we often forget about what has happened
Hopes we resolve to be courteous to one another

Nii Afotey Agbo: We’ve learnt how to be calm; to be tolerant
Under President Mills we dealt with our political opponents as friends not as enemies
Grassroots are appreciating what we are doing.

Kofi Capito: Mills was friendly; he cracked jokes even in difficult times. I have mixed feelings about him; he was peaceful but some people close always want to show power; to show that they are in charge but Mills himself was not like that. He is crying.

Dr Sipa-Yankey: Mills was very punctual; he loved Ghana; unfortunately, we didn’t show him the needed love. Every president must be respected and loved. If we continue vilify politicians, good people will not get involved in politics and we will have only mediocre people in politics.

Hassan Ayariga: Mills taught us how to be tolerant; he served Ghana with all his life; if he was alive to see what is happening today, he would be happy. Even before Mills died, he always preached politics of peace and politics of law and order so his death must remind all of us that we must make peace our watchword.

12:53 MP for Tafo Pankrono, Dr Osei Akoto: Mills was a good person; he respected us a Members of Parliament and we respected him as President. I remember this joke he told, that he expected to be heckled but he didn't expect the heckling to be so gargantuan. We can sustain the unity in the country.

12:25 Taxi drivers in Sokode in the Volta Region are providing services to passengers free of charge.

Agbeko Ben Coffie reports the drivers as saying the gesture is just to pay their last respect to the late Ghanaian leader who they say has undertaken a lot of development project in the region.

12:20 From Cape Coast, 8 giant screens have been mounted and people are watching the filing procession. Richard Kojo Nyarko reports the entire capital is deserted. Vehicles have been parked and passengers who want to travel are stranded.

12:18 Mr and Mrs Rawlings filing past the body of Mills. Rawlings bows.

12:18 Alfred Woyome just file past the body.

12:14 There is tension as people are pushing to get their way into the Banquet Hall. They say they don’t understand why political party leaders who come after they have been there for hours are given the right to file past the body. Military officers have been called in to save the situation.
Former President Jerry Rawlings’ convoy is still parked and waiting for clearance.


12:11 Kufuor files past the body. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kwadwo Mpiani, Osafo-Marfo and other former government officials also just file past the body.

12:09 Mr Kufuor greets family of the late president, but he did not get the chance to greet former first lady Naadu Mills because she has left the place.

12:08 NPP party officials, led by chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey are also entering the house

12:07 He just entered the house.

12:03 Former President JA Kufuor has just arrived at the State House. Mr Kufuor and his wife Mrs Theresa Kufuor has just arrived with his former vice Aliu Mahama.

11:25 Attorney-General Benjamin Kunbuor and members of the clergy filing past the body.

11:22 Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State just took his turn. Followed by Ato Ahwoi, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Arnold Quainoo.

11:21 Naadu Mills is sitting with the family and receiving greetings.

11:20 Mrs Mary-Grant, Chief Justice Wood, Sheikh IC Quaye have just filed past the body.

11:19 House Speaker Bamford-Addo and Deputy Speaker have just filed past the body.

11:17 President Mahama and his vice are leaving the grounds.

11:15 Vice President Amissah-arthur has just filed past the body. He is shaking hands with family members of the late president.

11:13 Naadu Mills is standing at the foot of the body of her late husband.

11:13 President Mahama has just finished filing past the body of his late boss. He is shaking hands with family members.

11:12 President filing past the body.

11:12 Former First Lady, Naadu Mills following the president.

11:11 President John Mahama preparing to start the filing past the body. He is making his way into the Banquet Hall.

Family relations have gone in to perform some rituals.

Rev. Fred Degbe: It really is a sad day. Condolences to all Ghanaians. When we look beyond politics, we see a man with great qualities. He left us unprepared. He didn't belong in politics but he showed us that we can be gentle even as politicians.

It has suddenly dawned on us that this is real. The man is gone. Ministers are crying; everybody is crying.

Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah: The clergy committed the body in the hands of God before the filing past.

9:52 Religious leaders praying with hands on the casket. Prayers over.
Security personnel placing the casket properly for filing past.

9:48 Sammy Darko reports there is weeping all over the State House. Ministers of state are shedding tears, to crown the sadness morning in the nation.

9:40 Door to Banquet Hall has been opened and the casket draped in a huge Ghana flag is being carried inside. Casket appears too heavy for military officers who struggled to carry it.

9:38 Casket has been removed from the hearse whilst traditional leaders perform rituals. Traditional leaders from his family leading the procession.

9:35 Hearse just arrived at the main door to the Banquet Hall at the State House. Security officers open door of the hearse to take out the body. Religious leaders ready to take possession of the body from security officers. Minister weeping as fontonfrom displays.

9:29 Communications Director at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho, and other loyalists of the late president are walking by the hearse.

9:25 Cortege is moving slowly as crowd eagerly wait. Hearse pulling up in front of the State House.

9:24 Cortege has just arrived at the State House.

9:21 Police have stopped people from moving. A very old lady who fell to the ground in tears has been carried out of the venue.

9:19 Cortege arriving at the State House. Nobody will be allowed to touch the hearse as it arrives.

9:17 IGP just arrived as well as lots of other senior security chiefs.

Religious leaders will receive the cortege when it arrives at the State House. It will be sent to the main chamber for final traditional rites before it will be brought to the Banquet Hall for the dignitaries to file past it.

9:04 Hearse is leaving the Castle to the State House for the filing past to begin. Castle Security escort hearse to pay their last respects.

9:03 Son of president Mills just touched the casket, crying.

9:01 They are mounting the guard of honour.

9:00 They are singing a hymn (Till we meet again) amidst sobs.

8:59 Prayers over.

8:58 They recite the Lord's Prayer.

8:57 All are gathered around the Hearse. Chief of Staff praying.
Totobi Kwakye, Chairman of the funeral planning committee has also arrived. More people trooping in.

His son just arrived. The Chief of Staff and other dignitaries are there to see the body. Bebako Mensah, Secretary to the late president, crying.
“It’s a very sad moment here”. Castle staff are weeping uncontrollably.
His bodyguard is leading the ambulance carrying the body.

8:49 The body is entering the Castle. A lady is sobbing. Security officials have lowered their flags.

On the plate of the vehicle carrying the body of the late president is written, "His Excellency."

Seth Kwame Boateng reports there are signals the body is arriving at the Osu Castle.

Sammy Darko reports the procession is extremely beautiful.

Body just bypasses the State House and driving towards the Osu Castle.
Live Updates: Day 1 of Mills' last 3 days on earth; read, watch live video here

Acting Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Cephas Arthur told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah that no permanent road blocks would be mounted today and Thursday. However, he said there would be elaborate roads blocks on Friday.

Joy FM’s Seth Kwame Boateng, who is at the Castle, reported the place is virtually empty and that everybody there is moving to the State House. He said though it is raining, those working on the late president’s grave are busy, trying to finish the work as scheduled.

The body is currently being moved to the Osu Castle.

He said no photographing of the body nor dramatic wailing near the body with the potential to delay the procession will be tolerated.

No speeches or tributes will be read today, the Deputy Minister added.

From 1pm, the general public will also file past the body and pay their last respects. The public does not need any invitation to file past the body, he said.

He said the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, MPs, judges, local and international dignitaries are all expected to file past the body between 11am and 1pm.

Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy FM's Super Morning Show that President John Mahama will be the first person to file past the body of the late leader, to be followed by his vice, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

From there, the body is expected to be taken to the Banquet Hall at the State House for the filing past by dignitaries.

The family of the late president is expected to perform some customary rituals there after which the body will be conveyed to the Osu Castle.

The body of the late President Mills has been taken out of the 37 Military Hospital to his private residence at the Regimanuel Estates.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Victor Smith apologises to President over Veep comments

The Eastern Regional Minister Victor Smith has rendered an unqualified apology to the President, John Dramani Mahama, for his comments following the nomination of Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as the Vice President.

There were dissenting voices in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the choice of the former Governor of Bank of Ghana, triggered by fears that the nominee does not have what it takes to help the party win the December elections.

Meanwhile, Eastern Regional Minister, Victor Smith who was the first leading figure within the party to publicly question Amissah-Arthur’s electoral credentials, says his stance was misunderstood.

In a statement issued by Mr Smith on Friday, the Minister remarked: “I wish to render unqualified apology to the President, HE John Dramani Mahama, Vice-President Nominee Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and all others who have been aggrieved by my comments.”

Earlier in his statement, Mr Smith noted: “On the issue of the Vice Presidential nominee; I granted a number of interviews intending to clarify that the president’s nominee was not necessarily his Running Mate for the 2012 election. The import of my comment has been misconstrued.“

The Vice President-designate, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has rebuffed the criticisms on his nomination, saying those who doubt his loyalty to the governing National Democratic Congress have not really known him.

Victor Smith concurred with him: “I don’t have any ill feeling against Mr Amissah-Arthur. He is a loyal member of the NDC and I have no question about his credentials to occupy the office for which the President has nominated him.”

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Chinese dig 9 graves at Flagstaff House

Construction of a number of graves has begun at the Flagstaff House, the presidential palace located along the Independence Avenue in Accra, for the burial of President John Evans Atta Mills who passed away a little over a week ago.

Wednesday, a number of Ghanaian workers and their Chinese supervisors were seen busily working on the graves at the forecourt of the facility, with a bulldozer excavator and a tipper truck on site.

The graves are nine in number, raising questions about the other bodies to be interred in them apart from that of President Atta Mills.

The graves are about 50 metres away from the main gate of the presidential palace.

There was heavy police presence at the place, making it absolutely impossible for our roving reporters to have access to the place, considering the fact that it is already a high security zone.

But Daily Guide sources have hinted that as many as nine graves are being constructed at the Flagstaff House in defiance of suggestions by a number of Ghanaians including the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle.

Others have also condemned the decision of virtually turning the presidential palace, which President Mills declined to use when alive, into a cemetery.

The family of the departed president stated that it wanted the former president to be buried in his hometown, Ekumfi Otuam.

However, a statement issued in Accra yesterday evening by the Funeral Planning Committee (FPC), chaired by Kofi Totobi Kwakye, a former National Security Minister, and signed by Deputy Information Minister James Agyenim-Boateng, spokesperson of the committee, said, “After a series of consultations, the proposed burial sites have been narrowed down to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and a location within the old Flagstaff House.”

However, attempts to speak to Mr. Agyenim-Boateng to ascertain why a number of graves were being dug at the Flagstaff House, when the committee was yet to take a final decision on the burial place, proved unsuccessful since he did not answer several calls to his mobile phone.

What is also not clear is whether some other bodies would be buried alongside that of the late President Mills in view of the number of graves being dug.

Confusion
A member of the committee and former Chief of Staff under the Rawlings regime, Nana Ato Dadzie, who spoke on the issue earlier in the day, said the place was an ideal location for the burial of the late president.

That, he said, was because there was enough space at the presidential palace to serve as a burial ground for the late president, insisting that it would not affect the sensitivity of any president who intended to operate from the premises.

Nana Ato Dadzie, who spoke on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, said, “A portion of that land has President Nkrumah’s residence, there is a portion which used to have a whole zoo and President [John] Kufuor rightly thought that we needed an edifice so he put up a house, popularly known as Jubilee House, and it’s only one facility on a portion of that land so there is a lot of space out there where it could be developed.”

The committee was reported to have visited and held discussions with the leadership of Parliament, the National Chief Imam, the Chief Justice and the Council of State as part of ongoing consultations to build a national consensus on the funeral and burial arrangements for the late president.

“The FPC briefed them on the proposed funeral arrangements and used the discussions to seek their opinions on an appropriate resting place for President Atta Mills,” the statement said.

But Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle appealed to the Mills funeral committee to consider the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum for the burial of the late President John Mills.

That, according to him, was because the mausoleum held such an important historical significance that it could only be the best burial grounds for the late president.

“We were there and there is enough space and the place is historical for the dear country Ghana because that is where Kwame Nkrumah declared independence for the country and so if it becomes a place where all our future heads of state would be buried that would be great,” he told Joy FM yesterday.

He even suggested exhuming the bodies of all former heads of state to be buried there.

Former Chief of Staff under the erstwhile Kufuor administration that constructed the facility, Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, has equally spoken against any attempt to convert the presidential palace into burial grounds for former heads of state.

He said the committee ought to build a consensus among Ghanaians before finally settling on the venue since another president could decide not to allow the place to be turned into a cemetery.

Source: Daily Guide

P-Sqaure spends N50m on mother’s burial

Sources close to Nigerian music duo, P-Square, has disclosed that their family have spent almost 50 million Naira (more than 600,000 Ghana cedis) on the burial rites for their late mother, Mrs Josephine Okoye.

It was also disclosed that the brothers have spent so much in giving their mother a well-befitting and world class burial whom they refer to as the only pillar of support behind the P-Square success.

The Okoye brothers, according to reports, have also contracted the services of M.I.C, a top class funeral house, for casket provision as well as interment celebrations.

It was also gathered that Peter and Paul have promised to spare no cost in ensuring that their late mother is well laid to rest.

They are reported to have spent a hefty amount on preparations and items including transporting her remains back to Nigeria from India, building a mausoleum, ordering for a very expensive casket; engaging the services of burial team and event managers as well as catering for invited guests and colleagues.

Source: NigeriaFilms

Daniel Twum at Sacrifies of Praise 2010

DANIEL TWUM AT LIVING DOVE CHAPEL PART 2

Daniel Twum - A Call to Worship 2010 (If i live)

A CRY OF WORSHIP TO YOU BABA GOD.... I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH DADY

SONNIE BADU in RCCG EFA, Leeds

Sonnie Badu x Midnight Crew Praise & Worship 1

Sonnie Badu Rehearsal Africa Worships

Kobi Rana - Atta Mills (Tribute Song) (BiGx TV)

GH All Stars Yedi Awereho Tribute To Late Prez Atta Mills Official Video

R.I.P

PRESS STATEMENT


It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the President of the Republic of Ghana - His Excellency Professor John Evan Attah Mills.

The Death Occurred at the 37 Military Hospital this Afternoon while receiving medical attention after beign taken ill a few hours earlier.

The Vice President will broadcast to the Nation in due course.

Signed
JOHN HENRY MARTEY NEWMAN
CHIEF OF STAFF

Breaking News: Prez John Mills Is Dead

Prof John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana is dead according to reliable information reaching Peacefmonline.com.
The President died on Tuesday afternoon after suffering from a long battle with sickness.

His death occurred at the 37 Military hospital in Accrca.

Prof John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills was born on 21st July 1944 and was Sixty Eight-years-old (68-years-old).

He was the third and current President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and was inaugurated on the 7th of January 2009, having defeated the ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election.

He was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry John Rawlings, and stood unsuccessfully in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He recently returned from a nine day medical check-up in the United States.

Prior to his trip to the U.S of A on June 16th, questions had been asked about the whereabouts of the president after he had not been seen in public for close to two weeks whilst communal violence ravaged parts of the country.

After a successful routine medical checkup in New York, H.E the President of the Republic of Ghana arrived home at about 12:45pm on Monday 25th June, 2012 to a rousing welcome.

Before his departure to the USA, President Mills quashed rumours of his death when he addressed the media. He also stated that he is going for a “routine check-up” and will be “away for a few days.”

In a formal notice to Parliament, President Mills said he will be away in the US until June 25, 2012.

Details of the Presidential notice were read to MP’s during Tuesday's sitting of the House by the first Deputy Speaker, Hon Edward Doe Adzaho, who presided over proceedings.

The President’s letter read: “In accordance with Article 59 of the Constitution of Ghana, I write to inform you that I shall be away in the US from Saturday, 16 June to Monday 25 June, 2012 for a routine medical check-up.

“During my absence the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama, shall in accordance with Article 60 (8) of the Constitution act in my stead. Kindly accept, Right Honourable the assurances of my highest consideration.

Signed

Prof. John Evans Atta Mills,

President of the Republic of Ghana.

This was his last letter to parliament prior to his “routine check-up” in the United States of America.

Condolences to all Ghanaians and his family from Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw and Peacefmonline.com.

Source: Peacefmonline.com

OPRAH WINFREY

Born to an unwed teenage mother, Oprah Winfrey spent her first years on her grandmother's farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi, while her mother looked for work in the North. Life on the farm was primitive, but her grandmother taught her to read at an early age, and at age three Oprah was reciting poems and Bible verses in local churches. Despite the hardships of her physical environment, she enjoyed the loving support of her grandmother and the church community, who cherished her as a gifted child.

Her world changed for the worse at age six, when she was sent to Milwaukee to live with her mother, who had found work as a housemaid. In the long days when her mother was absent from their inner city apartment, young Oprah was repeatedly molested by male relatives and another visitor. The abuse, which lasted from the ages of nine to 13, was emotionally devastating. When she tried to run away, she was sent to a juvenile detention home, only to be denied admission because all the beds were filled. At 14, she was out of the house and on her own. By her own account, she was sexually promiscuous as a teenager. After giving birth to a baby boy who died in infancy, she went to Nashville, Tennessee to live with her father.

Vernon Winfrey was a strict disciplinarian, but he gave his daughter the secure home life she needed. He saw to it that she met a curfew, and he required her to read a book and write a book report each week. "As strict as he was," says Oprah, "he had some concerns about me making the best of my life, and would not accept anything less than what he thought was my best." In this structured environment, Oprah flourished, and became an honor student, winning prizes for oratory and dramatic recitation.

At age 17, Oprah Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant and was offered an on-air job at WVOL, a radio station serving the African American community in Nashville. She also won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she majored in Speech Communications and Performing Arts. Oprah continued to work at WVOL in her first years of college, but her broadcasting career was already taking off. She left school and signed on with a local television station as a reporter and anchor.

In 1976, she moved to Baltimore to join WJZ-TV News as a co-anchor. There, she co-hosted her first talk show, People Are Talking, while continuing to serve as anchor and news reporter. She had found a niche that perfectly suited her outgoing, empathetic personality, and word soon spread to other cities. In January 1984, she was invited to Chicago to host a faltering half-hour morning program on WLS-TV. In less than a year, she turned AM Chicago into the hottest show in town. The format was soon expanded to an hour, and in September 1985 it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show.

A year later, The Oprah Winfrey Show was broadcast nationally, and quickly became the number one talk show in national syndication. In 1987, its first year of eligibility, the show received three Daytime Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Host, Outstanding Talk/Service Program and Outstanding Direction. The following year, the show received its second consecutive Emmy as Outstanding Talk/Service Program, and Oprah herself received the International Radio and Television Society's "Broadcaster of the Year" Award. She was the youngest person ever to receive the honor.

By the time America fell in love with Oprah Winfrey the talk show host, she had already captured the nation's attention with her poignant portrayal of Sofia in Steven Spielberg's 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, The Color Purple. Winfrey's performance earned her nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actress. Critics again lauded her performance in Native Son, a movie adaptation of Richard Wright's classic 1940 novel.

Her love of acting and her desire to bring quality entertainment projects into production prompted her to form her own production company, Harpo Productions, Inc., in 1986. Today, Harpo is a formidable force in film and television production, as well as magazine publishing and the Internet. In 1988, Harpo Productions, Inc. acquired ownership and all production responsibilities for The Oprah Winfrey Show from Capitol Cities/ABC, making Oprah Winfrey the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show. The following year, Harpo produced its first television miniseries, The Women of Brewster Place, with Oprah Winfrey as star and Executive Producer. It was quickly followed by the TV movies There Are No Children Here (1993), and Before Women Had Wings(1997), which she both produced and appeared in.

Initially, The Oprah Winfrey Show followed a model established by other daytime talk shows, employing sensational stories and outrageous guests to attract viewers, but since the 1990s, Oprah began to emphasize spiritual values, healthy living and self-help, and her program became more popular than ever. Motivated in part by her own memories of childhood abuse, she initiated a campaign to establish a national database of convicted child abusers, and testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of a National Child Protection Act. President Clinton signed the "Oprah Bill" into law in 1993, establishing the national database she had sought, which is now available to law enforcement agencies and concerned parties across the country.

Oprah's show also continued to attract the top names in the entertainment industry; a 1993 interview with the reclusive entertainer Michael Jackson drew a hundred million viewers, making it the most watched interview in television history. Oprah Winfrey was named one of the "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century" by Time magazine, and in 1998 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Despite her complete dominance of the daytime talk show field, Oprah Winfrey had not given up her acting ambitions. In 1998, she produced and starred in the feature film Beloved, adapted from the book by the Nobel Prize-winning American author Toni Morrison. Winfrey has long used her television program to champion the works of authors she admires, including Morrison, and her longtime friend Maya Angelou. Her influence over the publishing industry exploded when she began her on-air book club in 1996. "Oprah Book Club" selections became instant bestsellers, and in 1999 Winfrey received the National Book Foundation's 50th anniversary gold medal for her service to books and authors. She herself has authored five books. A proposed book on weight loss, to be co-written with her personal trainer, has received a publisher's advance fee reported to be the highest in history.

Oprah Winfrey's business interests have extended well beyond her own production company. She is one of the partners in Oxygen Media, Inc., a cable channel and interactive network presenting programming designed primarily for women. With her success, she has also become one of the world's most generous philanthropists. In 2000, Oprah's Angel Network began presenting a $100,000 "Use Your Life Award" to people who are using their own lives to improve the lives of others. She now publishes two magazines, O, The Oprah Magazine, and O at Home. The launch of her first magazine was the most successful start-up in the history of the industry. When Forbes published its list of America's billionaires for the year 2003, it disclosed that Oprah Winfrey was the first African-American woman to become a billionaire.

The Oprah Winfrey Show remained as popular as ever, airing in 140 countries around the world. Many of her regular guests, including Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz, have gone on to shows of their own, produced by Oprah's Harpo Productions. Over the years, she has also used her program to promote the many philanthropic ventures she supports. After filming a Christmas program in South Africa, she established the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, near Johannesburg. Her legendary generosity has extended not only to her favorite charities, but to her loyal viewers. She celebrated the beginning of her 20th season on national television by giving every member of the studio audience a brand new Pontiac automobile.

Two decades after she first established herself as a national presence, Oprah Winfrey was still devoting much of her prodigious energy to film and television production. In 2005, she produced a film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, with a screenplay by Suzan-Lori Parks. The same year, she produced a successful Broadway musical version of The Color Purple. As an actress, she has been heard in a number of successful animated films, including Charlotte's Web, Bee Movie and The Princess and the Frog.

In the 2008 presidential election, Winfrey publicly endorsed a political candidate for the first time, hosting a fundraiser for Senator Barack Obama and appearing with him at campaign events. It is widely believed that her support was crucial to his winning the Democratic nomination -- and the Presidency itself. In that election year, she also announced plans for a new broadcasting venture with the Discovery Health Channel, to be renamed Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In a 2010 interview on the Larry King program at the end of that year, she announced her decision to end her run on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The final broadcast took place on May 25, 2011, after 24 seasons and over 5,000 broadcasts. The end of the syndicated program was not the end of Oprah Winfrey's broadcasting career. She now hosts a nightly program, Oprah's Lifeclass, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Oprah Winfrey makes her principal home on a 42-acre ocean-view estate in Montecito, California, just south of Santa Barbara, but also owns homes in another six states and the island of Antigua. The business press measures her wealth in numerous superlatives: the highest-paid performer on television, the richest self-made woman in America, and the richest African-American of the 20th century. More difficult to calculate is her profound influence over the way people around the world read, eat, exercise, feel and think about themselves and the world around them. She appears on every list of the world's leading opinion-makers, and has been rightly called "the most powerful woman in the world." Her wide-ranging philanthropic efforts were recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2011 with a special Oscar statuette, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Source: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1/

4X4 - Moko Ni (Official Video)

BET AWARDS 2012 - Sarkodie Shows Appreciation To WorldWide Fans [GhCampu...

Sarkodie wins Best International Act at BET Awards

Ghana's king of the mic, Sarkodie has won the Best International Act (Africa) at this year's Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards which came off at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday night.

The Ghanaian, who was recently crowned the Artiste of the Year at the 2012 Ghana Music Awards, together with the Nigerian artiste Wizkid, were announced joint winners of the award.

The two beat off competition from Iceprince (Nigeria), Camp Mulla (Kenya), Mokobe (Mali) and Lira (South Africa) to win the award which was jointly won by Nigerian artistes, D'banj and 2face Idibia last year.

The award makes the Dangerous rapper, Sarkodie the first Ghanaian to win a BET Award after failed attempts by Kojo Antwi and D-Black.

An elated Sarkodie tweeted after winning the award that "From da streets of TMA str8 2 @BET_Intl .... God has been too good 2 me.. Love ma fans promise we ll go higher just save some love 4 me..."

The BET Awards, the biggest black music awards event, also saw Ghanaian-born-UK-based artiste Sway loose out to Wretch 32, who won the Best International Act (UK). The Unorthodox star also beat Estelle, Labrinth and Emeli Sande to the award.

Other winners on the night included Kanye West and Jay Z, Chris Brown, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Big Sean.

Chris Brown took home Best R&B Artiste beating Bruno Mars, Miguel, Trey Songz and Usher to the award. The Don't Wake Me Up hit maker also won the Fandamonium Award for the third consecutive time.

Beyonce won Best Female R&B Artiste and Video Director of the Year alongside Alan Ferguson. She however lost out on the Video of the Year to her husband, Jay Z, and Kanye West.

In her acceptance speech, Beyonce said she "fell in love with music by listening to R&B and it's the core of who I am."

Memorable moments

There were two memorable moments of this year's awards. The first was an impressive tribute to the late Whitney Houston who died in February this year.

Monica and Brandy put up splendid performance to honour the late singer who graced the world with her powerful voice. Monica performed I Love the Lord, while Brandy came on stage with a set of backup dancers and performed I'm Your Baby Tonight and I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

Whitney Houston's brother, Gary Houston also took to the stage to give off a performance after which he introduced their mother, Cissy Houston, who sang Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Songstress Mariah Carey in a tribute recounted that "The first time I heard Whitney's voice, I was mesmerized like the rest of the world. Just an unknown, budding singer myself, I was captivated by the power in her range, the richness of her tone and her unique ability to wrap a lyric in emotion."

The second interesting moment at the awards was Jay Z interrupting Kanye West during an acceptance speech for the Video of the Year.

In 2009, Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech after she won the award for Best Female Video for her song You Belong With Me at the MTV Music Video Awards.

After Kanye and Jay Z were declared winners of the Video of the Year for their The Throne - Otis which also won them Best Group, Jay Z gave his acceptance speech and just as Kanye took over the mic and uttered the words "I wanna thank BET...", Jay Z jokingly interrupted and said "Excuse me Kanye I'mma let you continue but..." This got everyone laughing at the venue.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly received the Lifetime Achievement Award while Reverend Al Sharpton received the 2012 BET Humanitarian Award.

The 2012 BET Awards which was hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson also witnessed exciting performances from Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Melani Fiona, Usher, Tyga and the Maybach Music Group (MMG) which included Rick Ross.


Detailed list of winners:

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyonce

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown

Best Group
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best Collaboration
Wale featuring Miguel - Lotus Flower Bomb

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Drake

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj

Video of the Year
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) featuring Otis Redding - Otis

Video Director of the Year
Beyonce & Alan Ferguson

Best New Artist
Big Sean

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams

Best Actress
Viola Davis

Best Actor
Kevin Hart

Young Stars Award
Diggy

Best Movie
The Help

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Serena Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year
Kevin Durant

Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award
Mindless Behavior - Hello

Centric Award
Common

Best International Act (Africa)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best International Act (U.K.)
Wretch 32

Fandemonium Award
Chris Brown

Humanitarian Award
Reverend Al Sharpton

Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze ft Frankie Beverly

Source: Myjoyonline.com