A video recording of former President Jerry John Rawlings’s attack on the personality of Mr Richmond Aggrey, a businessman who has sued Scancom Limited, operators of MTN, over a shareholding dispute, was on Wednesday played at the Commercial Court in Accra.

In the recording, former President Rawlings accused Dr Aggrey of going round the world cheating people and had committed similar offences in Nigeria and was being sought for by that country's authorities.

This revelation came up when Dr Aggrey, who was continuing with his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing case, presented a recorded videotape of the 1999 Emancipation Day Celebrations to support his claim that Former President Rawlings was interfering in the affairs of the company.

Dr Aggrey said he had several calls from Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Communications, and members of the Lebanese community urging him to step down for the company to proceed because of his problem with the then Government.

He said even though most members of the Board of the company knew of his harassment they did not do anything to help.

He said though the company was awarded a certificate to roll out its products, all of a sudden it received letters from the National Communication Authority (NCA) for them to cede some of their frequencies to the Authority.

Dr Aggrey said because the former President's plan to get him out of the company was succeeding, members of the Board of the company decided that they must find a way to indicate that he (Dr Aggrey) was resigning in order to stop the Former President from interfering.

He said he was asked by the other shareholders to write his resignation letter with copies sent to his Lawyers and some leaked to the press to create the impression that he was leaving the company.

Asked by his Counsel, Mr Yonny Kulendi why they had to leak his resignation to the media, Dr Aggrey said this was to stop Former President Rawlings from interfering in the company, buy time as well as find respectable Ghanaians to talk to him.

Mr Felix Ntrakwah, Counsel for Investcom Consortium Holding, raised objection to the videotapes on the grounds that the Plaintiff only indicated that he was going to tender them in evidence and not to play them but the Court rejected his claim.

Dr Aggrey also said he did not want to leave the company because it was going to impair the company's ability to raise further money for its expansion.

Dr Aggrey has sued Scancom Limited, operators of Areeba Mobile Phone Service, now MTN, and Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A. of Beirut, Labanon, majority shareholders in Areeba as well as Grandview Management of Texas, United States, to claim 20 per cent share of the company.

The PMG NetAnalyst certification is a program designed to help IT and networking professionals understand networking from the wire level on up through the application. This program started in 1995 and has more than 2,500 certified professionals currently among its ranks. This program was even profiled in the August 2001 issue of Certification Magazine in the article, “Pine Mountain Certification: Between the Cracks.” This title didn’t refer to the location or status of the certification itself, but rather it emphasized the ability of someone who completes this program to determine exactly where network behaviors, problems or issues originate by examining the kind of information that moves across the network. Because this often occurs in the gray areas between vendor platforms, services or other boundaries between products and platforms, this emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary to track things down properly.

PMG is an acronym for the Pine Mountain Group, a once-independent training and certification organization. Today, PMG and the NetAnalyst certification program are the property of Austin, Texas-based network management software company NetQos Inc.

Bill Alderson, well-known protocol analyst, instructor and consultant — and the primary force behind NetAnalyst — is still actively involved in its architecture and delivery as a senior consultant for the company. And while the content for the NetAnalyst certification continues to be improved and updated to reflect state-of-the-art networking technologies, tools, protocols and situations, it remains essentially the same vendor-neutral network analysis certification program it always has been.

At a fundamental level, the NetAnalyst program takes the topic of network forensics as its root subject matter. Network forensics should be understood to mean the informed capture, inspection and analysis of actual network traffic and behavior to produce information to be used for a variety of purposes. These can range from network characterization and base-lining to understand what typical behavior and usage looks like, to examination of specific pathologies related to intrusion attempts, security breaches, unauthorized access or usage, and so forth.

Unlike the kind of forensics that reconstructs crimes from evidence left at the scene at some point in the past, network forensics is as useful in examining real-time network behavior as it is at reconstructing and understanding historical network behavior. Understanding what has happened (and is happening) on a network at various levels of detail helps individuals and organizations better understand how to control and manage that network today, how to optimize the network to meet business goals, and how to plan for network growth and expanded use in the future.

The NetAnalyst program consists of three levels of certification, as follows:

Level 1—Cross Technology: This credential indicates that its holders understand basic network forensics, including core theory and technologies, and know how to construct a big-picture view of a network. The term “cross technology” is an important key because truly understanding a network’s behavior and characteristics means knowing what kinds of hardware and software elements make up a network’s infrastructure, as well as what kinds of software (particularly applications) and activities best describe how it’s used and what it’s used for.
This requires individuals to use multiple tools and techniques to construct such an understanding and that they are able to move among the various vendor-specific platforms and technologies that comprise a network infrastructure as needed.

The Level 1 credential matches up with a five-day class on network theory and principles. This class covers TCP standards, performance, flow control and troubleshooting, along with IP subnetting, addressing and fragmentation.

It also includes coverage of ARP, ICMP and routing algorithms, as well as Ethernet-specific standards and characteristics, cabling and switches, VLANs, Qos and traffic-engineering topics and more. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 60 questions in a 90-minute period.

Level 2 — Architect: This credential indicates that its holders understand how networks are organized, how they operate, and how applications and services behave when they use them. Thus, qualified individuals know how to monitor, analyze and resolve complex networking issues.
The architect label in the credential’s name reflects the holder’s deep and thorough understanding of how basic principles that govern network design, implementation and maintenance come into play when dealing with specific networking situations and behaviors.

The Level 2 credential matches up with a five-day class on network troubleshooting essentials. It begins with an in-depth analysis of the OSI network reference model and proceeds through its individual layers to describe and show how each one operates and behaves.

Topics covered include Ethernet operation and analysis, wireless 802.11b/g Ethernet networks, switched-network analysis and VLANs, IP operation and analysis, TCP throughput and latency analysis and a look at various TCP application layer protocols. Students work with a protocol analyzer to complete numerous hands-on labs and exercises as they work through the topics for this class. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 30 questions in a 90-minute period.

Level 3 — Elite: This credential indicates that its holders can use a protocol analyzer, understand TCP/IP protocols in depth, and can dig into specific TCP/IP applications and services at the expert level to illustrate or characterize behavior, diagnose potential or actual pathologies, and to ferret out the networking factors that contribute to network performance and problems.
The Level 3 credential matches up with a five-day class on network performance forensics and includes in-depth coverage of some or all of the following topics, depending on student interests and inclinations: application layer protocols such as Voice over IP (VoIP), SMTP, FTP, DHCP/WINS/DNS and more.

Broadcast analysis, Qos validation, network design and IP multicast also can number among its topics. Students work with a protocol analyzer as their primary hands-on and lab activity in this class and spend significant time working through case studies and detailed scenarios. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 15 questions and five short essays in a 90-minute period.

All these classes cost $2,495 to $2,995, depending on topic and location (discounts are available to organizations that send multiple attendees) and include the exam at the end of each offering. Individuals who wish to challenge the exams without taking the classes are welcome to do so at a fee of $495 (including one free retake for those who don’t pass on their first try), but they must make themselves available at the teaching location for the linked class by 10 a.m. on the final day of training to sit for its exam. Information about class schedules and locations is available through www.NetPerformance.com.

Ultimately, the real value of the NetAnalyst program is the insight into networking it can help candidates develop, as well as the profound skills and knowledge to which its senior levels (2 and 3) attest. Protocol analysis remains a nonpareil area of network specialization and continues to score well on salary and job satisfaction surveys for networking professionals.

This program represents an excellent way to acquire and demonstrate such skills and knowledge and offers interesting opportunities for networking professionals to advance further in their field.

Ed Tittel is the technology editor for Certification Magazine. He is also the director of training at NetQoS Inc. and the editor in chief of NetPerformance.com, where he oversees all technical content for that site. He can be reached at etittel@certmag.com

Teferi-Bel Amakeletetch, representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said the West and Central African countries which provide the highest yam production in the world needed to use their comparative advantage to reduce poverty, achieve food security and earn foreign exchange.

... cocaine dealer would buy Ghana, If ...
... opinion polls were faked

A medical doctor and one of the NPP presidential hopefuls, Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy has assured footsoldiers of the party that he would never abandon them if he is elected flagbearer and subsequently, as President of Ghana.

He said when NPP was in opposition they promised to ensure unity and compassion for all foot soldiers and Ghanaians as a whole, but after winning power the party started practising what he termed as "power for those in power".

Addressing a handful of his party people in Bolgatanga, he promised to consult party executives in the appointment of DCEs and regional ministers when voted President. They would be the ones to present the list of the people they would like to be their DCEs and regional ministers for him to approve of, he stated.

Dr Kwabena Arthur Kennedy also cautioned NPP delegates who would be voting to elect their presidential candidate to be mindful of some of the aspirants who have been going round splashing money on them because the source of the money could be a questionable one.

He regretted that people are only interested in the money being displayed by these aspirants without bothering to find out the source the money was raised from. If we do not take our time, one cocaine dealer would just take his money and buy this country and put our lives in danger,he said. He therefore advised the delegates to vote according to their conscience to elect the right leader who would be capable of leading the country.

Arthur Kennedy said opinion polls that were putting some of the aspirants ahead of others were faked. He alleged that some of the aspirants had paid money for the polls to be conducted in their favour. According to him, he was approached by one of the conductors of the polls to pay money for him to be put ahead of others but he refused.

He said if he is elected as flagbearer, he would appoint 3 chiefs of staff and deputies to ensure that things were more decentralized. In other to be acquainted with the problems of the party and the national executives, he said he would visit the party's headquarters once in a week.

The aspirant regretted that too many people were dying in Ghana as a result of dirt, especially in the cities. He observed that, it was difficult for people in Accra and Kumasi to respond to nature call as a result of inadequate toilet facilities, thereby resulting in indiscriminate excreting of human waste. These were causing cholera, malaria and typhoid. Lunatics were also going about polluting the environment.

He promised to build these facilities in the universities and other tertiary institutions as well as all filling stations throughout the country. He would also launch a nationwide hand wash campaign. He also promised to invest in the education of the poor to reduce crime in the country.

Dr Kwabena Arthur Kennedy advised all politicians to stop trading insults on one another and focus on fighting corruption saying, insults have never healed the sick, neither built a bridge nor fed a hungry child. He said he would also use technology to create jobs and bring about development.

He also noted that with the right combination of technology, the three northern regions could feed the whole of Africa forever. Frustrated over the country's underdevelopment despite its rich natural resources, Dr Kennedy said, want to be President because if I have power, I can transform this country.

The medical doctor said he had a good relationship with all the aspirants and if he were made the flagbearer of the party, it would be easier to receive and work with them.

He dismissed assertions that he was too young to become President, citing Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and others who became rulers and leaders of their countries at a young and tender age.

…That the First Lady had packed out and was living with her 41 year old, Accountant son

Reports reaching your authoritative Ghana Palaver indicate that all is not well in the matrimonial home of Ghana’s first lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor.

The First Lady had parked out of the matrimonial home and was living with her 41 year-old Accountant son because, according to sources close to the President’s residence, she is not happy with the President’s amorous affairs.

Mama Theresa is back in the matrimonial home upon the advise of some well meaning Ghanaians but family sources say, she is not happy at all and that had it not being for the fact that the President has some few more months left of his term in office, the first lady would have asked for a divorce.

The source said for sometime now, Mama Theresa has been complaining about her husband’s respect for her as the mother of his children and she suspect she is not getting her husband’s respect because of the women who come in contact with him in the cause of his duties.

The news of the first lady’s temporary exit from her matrimonial home disturbed most concerned Ghanaians and set tongues waging as some think the situation would not be a good precedence for the up and coming young men and women trying to get into marriage.

The family source said this is not the first time the first lady has threatened to divorce the President, it happened before the 2001 elections when Mama Theresa sought the help of the then Catholic Bishop of Accra, Bishop Andoh to do away with her husband, but the old Catholic Father, rather advised her not to carry out her threat more especially at a time her husband had won elections, it would not speak well of her and the in-coming President.

The first lady took the advice of Bishop Andoh and went back to her husband and has since tried very hard to make the marriage work but her expectation that because of old age, the president would amend his amorous affairs, has not materialized.

According staffers working in the President’s residence, the first lady and the President have had a lot of troubles over female official staffers who accompany the President on his travels and non staffers who call on the President daily without any regard for the first lady.

Some observers said the President is behaving like his friend George W. Bush, the American President, whose wife, Auntie Laura, has also packed out of her matrimonial home.

Another said even though former American President Bill Clinton had problems with his marriage because of the Lewinsky affair, Hilary Clinton never left her husband’s side, adding that “birds of the same feathers flock together, no wonder Mama Theresa has been in and out of the matrimonial home”.

A female member of parliament had this to say when she heard what was happening to the first lady, “Nineteen years of the Rawlings’ never gave Ghanaians any anxious moment to worry about the first couple but we have a lot to worry about hearing what is happening with Kufuor household”.

Most Ghanaians, who have heard the news, seem worried and are seriously praying that the first lady, Mama Theresa at least wait till her husband is out of power before she carries out her threat of divorce.

Some concerned citizens are also worried and are seeking the intervention of the Almighty Lord to soften the heart of the President and give him the wisdom for him to be able to combine his official duties with his family matters.

Many are also looking for ways they can appeal to the President to do all in his power to make peace prevail in the matrimonial home because the young are looking up to the first couple and other older citizens to give them good examples to go by.

Committee to Prepare Cabinet Memo on Nuclear Power
Kwabenya, May 21, GNA - The Minister of Education, Science and Sports said on Monday that the government had set up a Committee to prepare a cabinet memorandum with recommendations for introducing nuclear power in the country's energy mix.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the move had become necessary in view of the country's current problem of inadequate supply of electricity to meet industrial and domestic purposes.

The Minister was delivering the keynote address at a three-day Training Course on the International Legal Framework Governing Nuclear safety, Security, Safeguards and Liability for Nuclear Damage organised by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in collaboration with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Kwabenya, near Accra.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah noted that, for many years, the IAEA had assisted member-states at their request in developing their domestic legal arrangements for regulating the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and ionising radiation as mandated by the IAEA's statute.

"In Ghana, there has been the expansion of the uses of nuclear techniques in a variety of fields such as health and medicine, agriculture, industry and environment since the establishment of the GAEC by an Act of Parliament..".

He said among the issues to be discussed by the Committee is the legal, regulatory and legislative instruments.

"This training course is therefore not only timely but also of paramount importance in assisting us to prepare ourselves to ensure that we do not breach any international legal instrument in our quest to solve our problems, particularly by incorporating internal guidance documents of foreign law provisions into our national legislation."

Eighty-four participants comprising personnel from the National Security Council, University of Ghana, Legon, GAEC, Ghana National Fire Service, the media and students of School of Nuclear and Allied Science (SNAS) of the GAEC are attending the workshop.

On May 2- 4, 2007, Ghana’s Electoral Commission hosted a conference in Accra to learn from the experiences of other countries in implementing overseas voting. Representatives from electoral management bodies in Mexico and Mali were in attendance. The conference was sponsored by the Stockholm based - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The theme was not whether ROPAA should be implemented now or later but how to ensure that the majority of qualified Ghanaians Living Abroad (GLAs) exercise their constitutional franchise when the ballot box goes to them and avoid the bad experiences of other countries. I offer below the experiences of three countries in overseas voting: Mexico, Senegal and Cape Verde.

MEXICO

At the IDEA meeting in Accra, a representative from Mexico, Carlos Navarro, is reported to have cautioned Ghana to implement its new law only slowly. The Ghana law came into being after a parliamentary vote; and signed by the President on February 24, 2006 as the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA). It accords its citizens living abroad, who are 18years or older and of sound mind, the right to vote in Ghana’s national elections. Previous to the February 2006 amendment, only Ghanaians serving in military missions abroad, foreign service personnel and government–sponsored scholarship recipients could vote in Ghana’s elections from abroad. The new ROPAA extends this constitutional right to the bigger group of GLAs. Mr. Navarro added that it took Mexico nine years from the passage of its bill to its implementation and then the results were dismal. Let us remove the veil from the Mexican story and identify where things actually went wrong for Mexico so Ghana does not repeat them. I do not know whether Mr. Navarro was misquoted but Mexico passed its law to extend the voting franchise to its estimated 10 million living outside the country in February 2005 and the actual voting was done in July 2006. Perhaps Mr. Navarro meant to say that the issue was debated for nine years; similar to Ghana’s that was started during the NDC administration. Mexico’s historic law restricted voting by Mexicans Living Abroad (MLAs) to only Presidential elections. (Though Ghana’s law in contrast is inclusive of all national elections an initial implementation phase could concentrate on the Presidential only to minimize mishaps). It was expected that some 4 million MLAs would vote either in person at the embassies and consulates or by mail-in absentee ballots. The actual result was that the absentee ballots only yielded 57,000 according to a later study by the Pew Hispanic Center. Certainly, the first-ever attempt by Mexico to allow absentee ballots from its MLAs was anything but a success-why?

In the Pew study they found that about half of the Mexicans interviewed said that they did not receive enough information to know how to register for the absentee vote or that the procedures were too difficult and complicated. Only 7% of those polled correctly stated the deadline for voting; that they could vote by registered mail; and knew the credentials required to register. The lesson that should be learned from the Mexican experience is that early voter education is a MUST. Clarity of communication of the requirements for eligibility is PARAMOUNT and simplicity of instructions is VALUABLE. Mr. Carlos Navarro told his audience in Ghana that Mexico with greater resources than Ghana could not succeed. What he failed to add is that the Mexican Federal Election Institute budgeted some $140 million to implement its first overseas voting but received only $17.5 million (12.5%) - The lesson is that you get what you pay for and don’t be too proud to ask others for help. I don’t think Ghana has a problem in this department since over 40% of its elections’ costs are currently underwritten by international bodies. A persistent refrain of opponents of Ghana’s ROPAA is that the ruling government will use it to steal elections. Of course whichever party is out of power will accuse the other of such ill-will - such is the nature of politics so let us move beyond that. The 2006 Mexican election was the closest in its history; 35.9% (15 million) voted for the winning candidate versus 35.3% (14.8 million) for the closest second. In the predictable ensuing protests no one ascribed blame to malfeasance in the administration of the overseas votes.

SENEGAL

Senegal has had two elections in which Senegalese Living Abroad (SLAs) have voted- first in 2001 and then most recently in 2007. There are an estimated 60,000 Senegalese living in the United States but only 4,755 registered to vote for the 2007 election. SLAs have been limited in these initial overseas elections to Presidential only with plans to include them in legislative elections as the system matures. According to the Columbia Journalist, voters for the 2007 Presidential elections complained of the delay in receiving their new electronic voter identification cards. All Senegalese voters, both at home and abroad, had to apply for the card, which includes their picture and digitized information (similar to Ghana’s National ID card exercise).The cards destined for the U.S never arrived in time for the election, and duplicates were made, delaying the process. Several Bronx, New York, voters arrived on the election day with their receipt to prove they had registered, and picked up their card in the polling station right before voting.

Despite the problems, voters were not deterred. People made their way to exercise their right to vote, and to maintain their deep-seated connection to life back home. "Politics represents a person's priorities in life, if you don't participate, they will make the decisions without you." said Youssouphe Ba. "It is my duty as a citizen to vote," said Mariama Massaly, a first-time voter. "If I did not vote and something bad was to happen, I would feel responsible that my vote could have made the difference." Once again the lesson is clear- early preparation; communication of expectations and well-managed logistics are imperative for success and participation. Yes, the desire to participate is there and translates into numbers with clear and advance communication.

CAPE VERDE

On the African continent Cape Verde has the longest history of participation in its elections by Capeverdians Living Abroad (CVLAs), going back at least sixteen years. Cape Verde has progressed beyond Presidential-only elections for CVLAs to include them in the National Assembly Elections. In the 2001 Presidential Elections 32.7% of the registered CVLAs voted compared to 59% of the total votes; and in 2006, the percentage of registered CVLAs who voted was 22% compared to 53% of the total voters. In the 2006 elections, CVLAs living in Africa recorded the highest number of participation (43%), followed by those in the USA (24%); and 16% in Europe. It is no accident that well over 25% of Cape Verde’s Gross Domestic Product of $3billion comes from the remittances of its CVLAs. The 2007 Cape Verde Presidential election was the closest in its history with the winner, Pedro Pires, getting 86,583 (50.98%) of the votes against his opponent, Carlos Veiga getting 83,241 (49.02%). The results were accepted and no one indicted the CVLAs’ votes as fraudulent.

Lessons from the Cape Verde experience are encouraging. Certainly most voting overseas do not yield huge turnouts in the beginning (which belies all the fears and calls to wait beyond 2008 for Ghana). However when overseas voting is implemented consistently and with clear and early communication of all requirements and logistics, it fosters improved participation; citizenry is inclusive and this eventually translates into economic gains for the country far outweighing the financial cost of conducting the overseas elections.

So forward march, Ghana and 2008 is just the time to implement ROPAA but don’t wait until November 2008! We must expect to learn and improve as we go along and no learning will occur if the activity is forever postponed. No one makes light of the energy crisis currently facing Ghana. That is one of several developmental issues the country must deal with and when this is overcome something else will crop up- such is life. Could one method of solving our myriad and continual flow of problems be a more active and organized engagement with GLAs in ways that encompass money, skills, ideas and even taxes through treaties with their countries of domicile? Don’t read me wrong- I am not making the payment of taxes a criterion to vote since that is not part of Ghana’s constitutional requirements to register. I am speaking about going beyond the first toll gate and let the goodness and mercies of GLAs follow always into our country- register them and draw them in via the voting exercise.

By the way, it may be fun for an opposition party to walk out on meetings and parliamentary votes on issues not to their liking such as ROPAA but it is interesting that Ghana’s current Constitution of 1992 was approved by a parliament that did not include the current ruling group yet they respect it as the law of the land and are working with it. Why then, can’t we come together to make the same constitution work for all? The law has been passed. The democratic process sweeping Africa and the growing globalization cannot be stopped. Candles must be lit rather than curse the darkness (no pun). All the major political parties will do well to come out of their shells and develop strategies for voter education of GLAs. This will mean cooperating with the Electoral Commission and not shunning or boycotting their invitations. That will only hurt one’s cause as advantage is yielded to the opponent simply based on unfounded and unscientific fear. GLAs should on their part flock to Ghana Missions to file for their dual citizenship papers and get themselves ready to be part of history. Change is not easy but embracing it has boldness and opportunity embedded in it. May Ghana be the first country to score the highest percentage of first time overseas voter participation in the world’s history come December 2008. The record is there to be claimed but we must all cheer the same team just as we did for the Black Stars at the 2006 World Cup. We may wear different political colors but there is only one team- Ghana- and one goal- progress that includes all at all times.

How can the West help Africa? A global Q&A

The Monitor decided to find out what some Western concertgoers really know about Africa, and where there is - and isn't - common ground with Africans.

Our correspondents spoke with eight ticket-holders for concerts in Philadelphia, London, and Rome. They also interviewed eight people in Senegal and Nigeria, two indebted African nations.

As it turns out, the two groups have different priorities. Nearly every Westerner mentioned HIV/AIDS as a top African problem. Only one African did. Every African cited poverty as a major worry. And most wanted investment - not aid.

We also asked some lighter questions. Could the Westerners name even one African leader? (Only half could.) Did the Africans know what U2 is? (Most didn't).

The Africans universally agreed that their continent is culturally richer than many Westerners can imagine, but that their leaders are fundamentally corrupt. That's why this group all advocated that "strings" be tied to aid to prevent it from going astray.

What Africans, Westerners know about each other

George David Malik, a bartender from Dakar, Senegal.

What is the biggest problem facing Africa? Poverty. In Senegal, the capital [Dakar] looks nice, but in small towns people sometimes have only one meal per day. Prostitution is growing in Dakar because people need money. Girls who are 14 or 15 years old leave school and go to nightclubs to meet men and get money to support their families. Then come health problems, and there are no services for them. Finding work is difficult.

Will debt relief, one of the G-8 proposals, help Africa? Because of the debt, the population pays the price. The cost of sugar and food increases because the state cannot pay [interest on loans from rich nations]. Each time the regime changes, the new one has to pay the old one's debt, but really it's the people who pay.

What should people know about Africa that they probably don't? Family comes first.... We respect our parents and do what they tell us to. Also, we are not like Europeans - you have one or two children. Me, I am one of six children - three boys and three girls. I live at home with all of them.

Name the heads of state for the following countries (where the five main Live 8 concerts are being held):

United States: George Bush

Britain: The guy there, Bush's friend. Is it Tony Blair?

Italy: They have a queen, don't they? No, I only know the pope.

Germany: No idea.

France: Wait, why can't I remember? Wait a sec. No, I forget.

	Ousmane Kane

Ousmane Kane of Saint Louis, Senegal, a student at the University of Dakar.

What is Africa's biggest problem? Civil wars. People are fighting over money and wealth - or to become a president so they can get rich.

Do you think the G-8's plans will help? To help us, they should not give money. That will only make us less happy. The people who need it most don't get it. Only the big politicians get to keep it for themselves.

Charles Okolie, a student at the University of Lagos, in Nigeria.

	Charles Okolie

On what should Africa's leaders spend money they save from debt relief? Education.

What do you think they'll spend it on? They'll embezzle the money - take it to the US and open an account for their families.

How can the West best help Africa? Invest in us, especially in us students. [And] encourage us by ... awarding scholarships.

Mustzapha Diop of Kaola, Senegal, a student at the University of Dakar.

Which helps more, trade or aid? Even if we are given billions of dollars, it's like all the other billions of dollars that disappeared. The West must invest in Africa and help us develop our agriculture sector and our factories. Look at India. It is poor, overpopulated, and underdeveloped, but it produces enough to support itself.

Genevieve Faye of Joal, Senegal, who is studying human rights at the University of Dakar.

What should people know about Africa that they probably don't? Our warmth, and that our family is the most important thing. That is our wealth - always helping each other out.

Christina Leto, a lawyer from New York who's working in London and will be attending the concert there.

	Christina Leto

Why are you going to Live 8? To be honest, because it'll be a lot of fun to see all those bands.

What impact will this concert have on Africa? In the long run, not much. Initially people will think about Africa's problems, but then, like everything else, people forget.

Dave Slimings, a graphic designer from Brighton, England.

What should wealthy nations do to help Africa? Countries like [England] and America have a big voice in the world, and it's down to [us] to bring these problems out in the open. Especially America, with its huge food mountains can help. The question is what do we give them - financial aid, food, or clothes?

Has hearing about Live 8 raised your awareness about Africa? The downside of this concert is that Live Aid [the 1985 concerts to help Ethiopia famine victims] was organized to raise money, and this is just raising awareness. I think it should have been treated in the same way as Live Aid. We could have exceeded the money from Live Aid.

Name the current leader of any African country: Pass.

What is the G-8? The G-8 is all the world's leaders, where they all get together and have a cup of tea and decide things.

	Francesco Colangelo

Francesco Colangelo, film director in Rome.

Name the current leader of any African country. I can't. I lack the knowledge. But I am also a victim of a lack of information. Africa is talked about only as a marginal place. A place that does not matter. It is not important in dominant culture. Its leaders do not often make the news here.

Luana Salvatore, editor of a Duran Duran fanzine from Foggia in southern Italy.

Why are you going to the concert? We really appreciate what Bob Geldof is doing and we want to support him. But also I wouldn't miss the chance to see Duran Duran.

How has your awareness been raised by hearing about this concert? I was shocked by a documentary I saw on Sky TV here in Italy about the original Live Aid project.... There was a woman Bob Geldof helped back then, and she is really better now. It gives you hope. It makes you think it's possible to do something to improve people's lives.... Organizing a new concert now makes people think about it again, people who perhaps had forgotten.

Claire Teschendorf, a PR assistant from Australia, who's living in London.

	Claire Teschendorf

Why should the West help Africa? Because they have, in a lot of situations, gone in and tried to conquer them and settle there. And they left the place in a worse state than they found [it].

Should the West attach strings to aid? It's quite rude to be telling other countries how to spend money. But maybe something where, like Australia with its tsunami appeal for Indonesia, they had interest-free bonds and loans [and] there was a board in place to see how money would be spent.

Kevin McGeehan of West Chester, Penn.

Why should the West help Africa? The ease of travel around the world means that [Africa's] problems will end up in the West.

Gianluca Nicastro, TV producer from Rome.

Why should the West help Africa? It's a moral duty. People who are fine should help people who are dying. Not to mention our colonial history. It is almost our duty to help because of the past.

How has your awareness been raised by this concert? It makes me think there is hope in the world. There are people - perhaps braver than me - who are able to do something. It makes you think about these problems. And talk about them.