Maame Biney, a Ghana-born, D.C.-raised 18-year-old, became the first African-American woman ever to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speed skating team.
Originally winning the 500-meter finals at team trials in December with a personal-best time of 43.161 seconds, Maame is already one of the biggest U.S. names at the Winter Olympics. With speed and the power of a sprinter, Maame’s start are reportedly what make her such a component in the 500-meter race.
“When I get on that line, I’ll be like, ‘Holy moly! I’m actually here! This is the Olympics! Wow!’” Maame said, NPR reported. “That means I get to inspire other kids in the United States, maybe all over the world, to just go out there and do what you love, because you never know! You just might accomplish your goal.”
St. Croix Launches Educational Program in Ghana on Slave Trade
The U.S. Virgins Island-based St. Croix Landmark Society is in Ghana to for its “Breaking the Silence” exhibition, as reported by ghanaweb.com.
The exhibition takes on the slave trade from a child’s perspective and gives students from St. Croix the opportunity to have sessions with selected schools in Ghana on the slave trade.
The project is working to get students from Ghana, St. Croix and Denmark to collaborate and work on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
The society’s junior preservationist group has a mission to advance the understanding and appreciation of the unique historical and cultural legacy of St. Croix through preservation, research and education. As part of the visit, the group has donated items including; educational materials, beauty items, baby wipes and tools to improve a child’s motor skills to Ghana’s Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation program on cerebral palsy.
South Africa President Jacob Zuma Officially Out
The ever-present question in South Africa — “Will Zuma Fall?” — regarding President Jacob Zuma was answered last week, as the embattled leader agreed Feb. 14 to step down.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) formally asked Zuma to resign, a senior party official confirmed. The decision to “recall” him “urgently” followed marathon talks of the ANC’s top leadership body.
Zuma, who had been in power since 2009, has been plagued with corruption allegations and resisted increasing pressure to quit since December, when Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him as leader of the ANC.
In 2016, South Africa’s highest court ruled that Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home.
Last year the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he must face 18 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering relating to a 1999 arms deal.
Zuma, 75, agreed to step down, but only in the next three to six months, the official added.
