A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Ghana's 66th independence anniversary fashion, Ghana's 66th independence anniversary fashion, Menstrual leave, Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer, Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Ghana’s 66th independence anniversary fashion

It’s no news that Ghana my motherland celebrated its 66th independence anniversary, but the question is are we really independent? Anyways, this event calls for lots of patriotic activities in which fashion and pride parades are boldly displayed. The colors of the national flag (Red, yellow, green, and black star) intensely reflect everywhere during this March. The theme “Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, and Be Ghana” started about 10 years ago where we as citizens are required to promote our national heritage by patronizing intercultural relationships between and amongst the tribes in Ghana.

Let’s delve into some of the fashionable moments that took a major storm during the patriotic celebrations. A custom-made outfit which the Second Lady of the Republic Her Excellency Samira Bawumia wore to the ceremony.

We all know she never disappoints when it comes to being the lady of the hour.

Not forgetting the mother of the Republic, First Lady Her Excellency Rebecca Akuffo Addo who always proves to her people to be a caring mother also wore her custom-made beaded kente gown exhibiting the Volta heritage.

A custom-made kente gown by Afriken by Nana which speaks “I am Ghanaian, rich and proud to be Ghanaian”.

A lot of patrons also showed their love by creating and wearing their costumes.

Menstrual leave. On 15 December 2022, the Spanish parliament voted 190 for and 154 against granting periodic sick leave to women who regularly suffer severe menstrual problems. Now that's the lower parliament, there is also the higher parliament to vote and then the Senate, so real good news will take a bit more time. But the direction has been taken. Not only the sick leave direction but also the fact that these things are now discussed in public and thus some of the taboo status is being shredded off. Spain is part of the EU, so once they legalize it the rest of the EU will quickly follow. Our labour laws are much based on the UK model (the UK is not part of the EU again but is still very close), so things will happen here as well. But you may be talking about menopause before things really happen here, the taboo will mute and delay the discussion in Ghana. Remember the childish public comments when one of our Governments introduced free pads so girls would not have to miss classes?

Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer are the 2 leading cancer types for women in Ghana. The recommendation is that a pap smear test to check on cervical cancer is done every 3 years, breast cancer checking starts from about 40 onwards only, with 2 years intervals. Meanwhile you yourself can check your breasts regularly for hard points. Check it out on the net. And don’t immediately panic if you feel something, most of the time it is rather a hard chest muscle, under the breast.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Originally a Jazz song in Broadway production “Gentlemen prefer blondes” (1949) and performed by sex bomb Marilyn Monroe, the song definitely made the price of diamonds go up, and make diamonds a preferred gift to express love. Monroe died of a drug overdose at age 36, but speculations were rife that she had rather been murdered because of a supposed embarrassing relationship with American President John F Kennedy, who himself got shot a year later. So indeed, “diamonds are forever”, (from the 1971 James Bond Film of the same name) but the owners are not. But be careful, there are many different diamonds, and the same size and same cut diamond can be 10 times more expensive than what looks to a layman like the same thing. There are the 4 C's to look at, the cut, the clarity, the carat size, and the color. Inform yourself properly before you spend serious money. And diamonds are valuable. Last year at TEFAF Maastricht, the Netherlands, the world's top fine art fair also had some diamond jewelry on display, that is until a gang of well-dressed but armed robbers walked in, smashed the glass showcases with hammers and drove off with their booty on electric scooters. The masterpiece in their 10-piece haul was a necklace with a 114-carat vivid yellow diamond, reportedly valued at $ 29 million, and then some lesser stuff. Police think the Pink Panther gang is responsible. This is a 300-member robber group from Balkan Eastern European Countries with about 30 managers, specialized in day light diamond robberies. Sometimes they use cars to drive into jewelry shops. Their nickname Pink Panther comes from the 1975 Inspector Clouseau film The Return of the Pink Panther, starring Peter Sellers. Show business indeed. 10 years ago it was estimated they had stolen $422 Million in 341 thefts. And the show goes on. No arrests have been made so far.

The armed robbers who stole jewelry from TEFAF as captured in surveillance footage. Police have identified them as members of the infamous Pink Panther Gang. Photo courtesy of Dutch police

Despite last year’s crime, TEFAF will still welcome some 270 exhibitors this year, offering a wide range of art, antiquities, design, jewelry, and antiques—although Symbolic and Chase, the London jewelry dealer that was the victim of the 2022 heist, declined an invitation to return. A novelty this year will be brand new metal detectors, installed at the entrance…

Lydia...

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