All you need to know about Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Botanical Gardens is a beautiful site located in the town of Aburi, about 30km north of Accra in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The gardens, which were officially opened in March 1890, cover an impressive 160 acres, with 157 acres reserved for the preservation of plant life and the remaining 3 acres used for infrastructure. History of the Botanical Garden Prior to the establishment of the gardens, the Gold Coast Government had built a sanatorium in the area in 1875 for the purpose of providing a place for convalescing Government officials to rest and recuperate. In 1899, during the Governorship of Sir W. Brandford-Griffith K.G.M.G., the Botanic Department was established on a few hectares of land that had been cleared in the vicinity of the sanatorium. The clearing was done under the supervision of a German serving the Basel Mission. In 1890, Mr. William Crowther, a student from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was appointed as the first curator of the Botanic Garden. Over the years, the garden has undergone significant development, including the construction of a dam, a reservoir, and a network of walking trails. Today, Aburi Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ghana, attracting both locals and visitors from all over the world. The gardens are home to a stunning variety of plant life, including several rare and exotic species that are difficult to find anywhere else. Visiting the Aburi Gardens is a calming and rejuvenating experience that can take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. Because it is located just a 45-minute drive from Accra, it is easy to visit for a day trip or weekend getaway. The gardens are an ideal location for picnics, hiking, birdwatching, or simply relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature. The walking trails wind their way through the gardens, passing by beautiful streams, waterfalls, and ponds, and offering visitors the opportunity to see a wide variety of plants and wildlife up close. About the Botanical Garden One of the most popular features of the gardens is the Bamboo Grove, which is home to a stunning collection of bamboo plants that have been carefully cultivated over the years. The Grove is a peaceful and serene spot, and visitors often spend hours admiring the beauty of these majestic plants. In addition to its natural beauty, Aburi Botanical Gardens is also home to several historic buildings and structures that are worth exploring. The most notable of these is the former sanatorium, which has been preserved and converted into a museum that showcases the history of the garden and its development over the years. Another popular attraction is the Fernery, a beautiful glasshouse that is home to a stunning collection of ferns from all over the world. The glasshouse is a peaceful and serene spot, and visitors often spend hours admiring the beauty of these delicate plants. Aburi Botanical Gardens is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Ghana. Whether you are a nature lover, a history buff, or simply looking for a peaceful and relaxing place to spend some time, the gardens offer something for everyone. So the next time you are in Ghana, be sure to take a trip to Aburi and experience the beauty and tranquility of this amazing destination. READ NEXT ON: Larabanga Mosque, The Mecca of West Africa
Forbes names Dangote as Africa’s Richest Man for 11th Year
Africa’s billionaires are richer than they have been in years, despite the global pandemic. As a group, the continent’s 18 billionaires are worth an estimated $84.9 billion – a 15% increase from twelve months ago and the most since 2014, when a larger number of billionaires–28–were worth a combined $96.5 billion. On average, the continent’s billionaires are worth $4.7 billion now vs. $3.4 billion in 2014. Soaring stock prices from Nigeria to Zimbabwe lifted the fortunes of these tycoons, as demand for products from cement to luxury goods ticked up. For the 11th year in a row, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is the continent’s richest person, worth an estimated $13.9 billion, up from $12.1 billion last year following a 30% increase in the stock price of Dangote Cement, his most valuable asset. A surge in housing developments in Nigeria and growth in government infrastructure spending drove higher demand in the first nine months of 2021, analysts found. Jumping into the No. 2 spot–up from No. 4 last year–is luxury goods magnate Johann Rupert of South Africa. A more than 60% surge in the share price of his Compagnie Financiere Richemont–maker of Cartier watches and Montblanc pens–pushed his fortune to $11 billion, up from $7.2 billion a year ago, making him the biggest dollar gainer on the list. South African Nicky Oppenheimer, who formerly ran diamond mining firm DeBeers before selling it to mining firm Anglo American a decade ago, ranks No. 3, worth an estimated $8.7 billion. The biggest gainer in percentage terms–up 125%—is Strive Masiyiwa of Zimbabwe, worth $2.7 billion, up from $1.2 billion last year. Shares of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, which he founded, rose more than 750% in the past year, helping to drive up the size of his fortune. Another gainer: Nigerian cement tycoon Abdulsamad Rabiu, who is $1.5 billion richer after taking yet another of his companies public. In early January 2022, Rabiu listed his sugar and food firm BUA Foods on the Nigerian stock exchange. He and his son retained a 96% stake in the company, which recently had a market capitalization of nearly $2.8 billion. (Forbes discounts the values of stakes when the public float is less than 5%.) BUA Cement, in which he and his son have a 96% stake, was listed in January 2020. Only two of the 18 billionaires are worth less than last year: Koos Bekker of South Africa, who dropped to $2.7 billion from $2.8 billion as the share prices of consumer Internet firms Naspers and Prosus fell more than 20% each, and Mohammed Dewji of Tanzania, whose fortune declined to an estimated $1.5 billion from $1.6 billion a year ago due to lower multiples for publicly traded competitors. The 18 billionaires from Africa, none of whom are new to the ranks, hail from seven different countries. South Africa and Egypt each have five billionaires, followed by Nigeria with three and Morocco with two. All of the continent’s billionaires are men; the last woman to appear in the ranks, Isabel dos Santos of Angola, fell off the Forbes list in January 2021. About Forbes Forbes is an American business magazine that was founded in 1917 by Bertie Charles Forbes. Today, Forbes is one of the most well-known and respected business publications in the world, providing news and analysis on a wide range of topics including finance, investing, entrepreneurship, technology, and more. In addition to its print publication, Forbes has a strong online presence with its website, which features articles, opinion pieces, and video content from a diverse group of contributors including journalists, academics, and industry experts. Forbes also regularly releases rankings and lists, such as the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America and the World’s Billionaires list. Forbes has a reputation for high-quality journalism and is known for its rigorous fact-checking and editorial standards. The magazine has won numerous awards over the years for its reporting and has been cited as a source by many other media outlets. In addition to its editorial content, Forbes also offers a variety of products and services for businesses and individuals. These include conferences, online courses, and a platform for entrepreneurs and business owners to connect with investors and other industry professionals. Source: The Ghana Report READ NEXT ON: Avance Media releases list of top 30 Female Diplomats in Ghana
Deborah Osei-Tutu: First to graduate KNUST’s Physics department as Best Student
Deborah Osei-Tutu is the first to have graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as the Best Student in the Department of Physics with a CWA of 80.06% ever since the establishment of the department. Deborah write; I am Deborah Osei-Tutu, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Osei-Tutu. I attended New World International School, in Atonsu- Kumasi where I studied for my Basic Education Certificate Examination, and later Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast, for my West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations. In 2021, I graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as the Best Student in the Department of Physics with a CWA of 80.06% (the highest CWA since the establishment of the department). I am currently working as a Research and Teaching assistant in the Department of Physics, KNUST. Over the years, I have desired to become a very influential educationist. Time and again, I share with friends that I want to be a teacher that would help transform both the mind and hearts of men. It was never a problem to me even if it meant becoming a teacher in kindergarten to achieve this dream. Nevertheless, my dream took a detour after completion of SHS; the youth become my target group, the natural environment my concern, and Physics of the earth my interest. Having obtained 8A’s in my WASSCE exams, my father wanted me to read Human Biology and become a medical doctor in the future and that would have been his greatest pride. Honestly, it was a challenging one for Daddy to accept my choice. I was part of the selected students to read Human biology in KNUST in 2017 but had to reject that, without Daddy’s knowledge. In a mop-up interview organized for the enlisted candidates, I confidently voiced out my passion and preference for Physics over Medicine and that was the beginning of my journey. Now Daddy is proud I did what I loved and I am excelling in it. Not only were my parents not in support, but also friends and teachers. Everyone around me made me feel I have made a great mistake of choosing Physics over Medicine. With grace and determination, I was able to cross over the sea of despondency. The vision is still in place and I am poised for the bright future ahead. I want to be in academia and become a geophysicist and research scientist that would help advance the understanding of the world around us. “Possessions, fame, status, and power can never be substituted for a personal sense of purpose and significance. Until purpose is discovered, existence has no meaning, for purpose is the source of fulfillment” Dr. Myles Munroe “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein My advice to my brothers and sisters is this: Discover your purpose, appreciate the things you love make rightful choices based on that and be resilient to fulfill that purpose. To those who love Physics like me, don’t be discouraged by what others say about the course. Physics is an amazing course with so many career opportunities. READ NEXT ON: Dr. Grace Karikari’s KENKAN Books: Promoting Ghanaian Languages globally
