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30.12.2013 Feature Article

Year 2013 Review: Nelson Mandela, Super Eagles, Pope Francis and Black Stars all featured.

Pope FrancisPope Francis
30.12.2013 LISTEN

How time flies. Just yesterday the Super Eagles of Nigeria were being crowned the best team at AFCON 2013. Ghanaians similarly sat in anticipation of the Supreme Court's verdict on an election petition few months after the December 2012 elections.

Time really flies! The world has already witnessed the election of a new pope for the Roman Catholic Church and on the sporting front, Serena Williams stamped her feet harder on the women's tennis course being named as the number 1 ranked women's tennis player on February 18, 2013. The iconic Nelson Mandela who led the beautiful country of South Africa in their anti-apartheid battle passed away on December 06 aged 95.

Politics and Religion
Ghana: On August 29, 2013, the Supreme Court of Ghana finally gave its ruling on an election petition case filed by the opposition NPP. After several months of deliberation, Ghanaians sat glued to their radio and TV sets watching and listening to the ruling which was given by Justice Atuguba.

The Supreme Court on that day threw out the petition filed by the opposition New Patriotic Party paving way for President John Mahama to stay in power as the legally elected president of Ghana.

Justice Atuguba while reading the verdict gave the breakdown of the main issues as follows:

1) Over-voting: dismissed by 5 to 4.
2) Voting without biometric verification: dismissed 6 to 3.

3) Absence of signatures: dismissed 5 to 4.
4) Duplicate serial numbers: dismissed unanimously 9 to 0.

 5) Duplicate Polling Station Codes: dismissed unanimously 9 to 0.

6) Unknown polling stations: dismissed unanimously 9 to 0.

Justice Atuguba summing up the verdict that day said, “in the circumstances, the overall effect is that the first respondent (John Mahama) was validly elected and the petition is therefore dismissed.” President Mahama has hence being recognized as the President of Ghana.

See Video of the final verdict here:
The Ghanaian political terrain is seemingly never devoid of tension and cases of extreme wonder. A deputy minister in the person of Victoria Hammah was also in 2013 put to extreme shame when a recorded voice of allegedly of hers was made public.

On this tape, she was heard speaking on sensitive issues related to the NDC and taking a swipe at a colleague deputy minister for disrespecting her boss, Nana Oye Lithur. This embarrassing chat which ranged from political maneuvering to financial aspirations on her part had some famous quotes such as “I told Rachel that I really understand politics...I will not quit politics until I make one million dollars. If you have money then you can control people.”

The sexy looking deputy minister has since been relieved of her post by President John Mahama.

South Africa: The world lost an icon, an inspiration, a father and the man who stood against apartheid in South Africa. The world lost Nelson Mandela on the 6th of December.

The selfless Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison due his political activities. As relentless as he had always been, he fought for his life as he kept receiving intensive medical care at home for lung infection even after spending three months in hospital earlier in 2013.

(His quote in tweet)
Syria: Planet Earth almost witnessed another United States attack on another country as Syria came into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In an attempt to stop the mass killing of civilians and brutal activities of the Syrian government, US President, Barack Obama sought to use force to settle matters in the middle east.

For starters, the conflict in Syria grew out of the 2011 Arab Spring protests, when Syrians peacefully demonstrated in towns across the country against Mr. Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad, as president. Unlike some other countries facing democratic protests, the Syrian government responded with violence, killing many protesters and radicalizing the movement. Civilians began to take up arms, at first to defend their demonstrations and later to fight security forces in their cities and towns (New York Times)

The Obama led administration seemed to have seen enough of torture in the Far East and so prepared got armed men into the country, even without the backing of the United Kingdom especially to stop President Assad from the alleged usage of chemical weapons to fight its opponents.

Russian leader, Vladimir Putin kept pushing against the US usage of force against Syria especially when the UN had not given their approval to attacks.

Vladimir at a point stated that Russia themselves did not rule out supporting a UN Security Council resolution authorizing force, if it was proved "beyond doubt" that the Syrian government used chemical weapons.

Chemical inspection has subsequently being conducted in the country with the US having to lay down it's arms and forgetting about an attack on Syria. World leaders, including Pope Francis have been asking for the restoration of a more lasting peace in the country.

Italy: The Catholic Church had to deal with the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict after seven years in office as the leader of the Roman Catholic church. He was succeeded by Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The long-time theologian has eventually retired to a monastery on a hill inside Vatican City with officials saying he will not be able to intervene publicly in the papacy of his successor, Pope Francis.

The 76 year old new pope, is the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to be pontiff. He has subsequently led the church to great admiration winning lot of admirers from homosexuals to atheists in his sermons and response to humanity. Pope Francis has in 2013 been named as TIME Magazine's person of the year for his selflessness, humility and heartwarming view of nature.

Kenya: In what was later revealed to be a retaliation on Kenya's government for the presence of its military operations in Somalia, Somali terrorist group, al-Shabab attacked a popular shopping centre in Nairobi on September 21 killing about 67 people and wounding almost 200 others.

For three days running, Kenyan armed forces were involved in frantic rescue activities hoping to save captives in the shopping mall. Casualties cut across nations with Ghana's own learned poet and writer, Professor Kofi Awoonor passing away from injuries sustained during the shooting spree. He was 78 years old.

Details related to the whereabout of the terrorists have been scanty and unreliable as Kenyan government insists the four terrorists who were in the building on the said day were killed by Kenyan forces though it is feared they fled the chaotic scene after their shooting spree.

Football
Nigeria: When the call was made for African football nations to gather for the 29th AFCON tourney, the Super Eagles of Nigeria emerged as the top team after a 1-0 final win over Burkina Faso at the National Stadium in Johannesburg. Sunday Mba got the only goal for the Green and White nation. Nigeria on the way to the final brushed aside the Ivory Coast and Mali before conquering the Stallions in the final.

Ghana: The Black Stars of Ghana attempted to win their fifth AFCON title but failed. Hopes of a third successive World Cup however was realized as the team made it to Brazil after series of games in the qualifiers. Countries such as Zambia and Egypt gave the Black Stars their toughest test in the journey to Brazil but at the end of the qualifying round, the Stars were soaring higher and heading straight to Brazil. 2014 hopefully will be a year for greater things for Ghana Black Stars.

Portugal: This should definitely be Cristiano Ronaldo's year as the best player in the World. Well that might be my humble opinion considering my bias for the Portuguese but even a neutral will watch Cristiano in 2013 and appreciate all the praise being showered on him. Scoring over 65 goals in a single year is no mean feat. (Though Lionel Messi got some 90 last time) Alongside Ronaldo's impressive display, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter got himself in a lot of trouble (if what was witnessed on social media is anything to go by) for making a somewhat harmless but derogatory remark about the player while comparing him to Lionel Messi at the Oxford University.(October)

"This video shows clearly the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, for my club and my country. Much is explained now. I wish Mr Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he will continue to witness, as he deserves, the successes of his favourite teams and players” Ronaldo posted on his Facebook page when Sepp Blatter's comments were made public.

Ghana: Kumasi Asante Kotoko defended their Ghana Premier League title and after the first round of the 2013-14 season, they look certain to make it three league titles on the trot. Perennial rivals, Hearts of Oak have still not stabilized the storm that seems to have hit them. 2013 was not so fruitful for the Phobians but with steps being taken, Hearts of Oak will surely bounce back sooner.

Social Media: A quick look at some key moments on twitter then this review will end. Former US first lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton finally joined social media website, twitter arriving with a biography adjudged to be the 'Best Bio Ever” on twitter. You can check it out here @HillaryClinton. She joined on April 9th 2013 and since then has some 1 million followers after 44 tweets. Interestingly, her husband, the 42nd president of the US, Bill Clinton joined the social media site 3 days before his wife did. He has since then had some 1,400,000 followers after 117 tweets.

Katy Perry is ending the year as the most followed person on twitter in the world with followers numbering over 48 million and very close to 49 million. Check her account out; @KatyPerry. Fellow US music icon, Justin Bieber is closely behind her with some 47 million followers.

2013 has come and gone. The world will, as always, expect greater things in the following year. May our humble and positive individual wishes come to pass then. Be great in the new year.

Follow the writer on Twitter @AngeloBenjy

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