2014: Let The Blogging Begin!

Dear Reader,

I hope this post reaches you in good health. I welcome you back to my blog – yes, hope your year has been good so far too, how are the resolution going already- any progress? Yours truly, has been quite busy- you are not forgotten though… I have starved you enough already, I will make up for the miss 🙂 Thanks for your support, especially last year. May we continue to engage to ensure our world is a better place!

My year has been good though- some amazing ups and few down moments, I will share all with you so do stick around and share your thoughts on my posts….. I appreciate you and will be rewarding you soon! What’s up for 2014? I will let my blog do the talking… Expect fresh frequent content from me here in Ghana and across the world! Once more, “Akwaaba” – welcome to my blog in 2014. I am Cecil Ato Kwamena Dadzie – let’s make Change happen! Wishing you the best for and of 2014…. Cheers! “Let’s make the best of life, grace, opportunities as well as the challenges life throws our way- brace yourself!”

 

#Blogcamp13 set for March 23

The 2013 social media event, the Blogcamp, designed to bring together for the second time bloggers and social media enthusiasts from across the country, will come off at the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT on Saturday, 23 March. Launching Blogcamp 2013 on Twitter, Chair of BloggingGhana Kajsa Hallberg-Adu said this year’s event is dubbed “Content is King” to reflect and demonstrate how local content is important to the development of Ghana. A Coordinator of the Blogcamp 2013, Edward Amartey-Tagoe, said BloggingGhana has observed the decrease in the upload of local content although more Ghanaians have migrated onto social media platforms. “We have however realized that, there is a shift towards the use of these tools more for communication than for the provision of content online”.

Amartey-Tagoe said this observation informed the BlogCamp team to choose the theme. “Ghana must be represented by Ghana and people who have direct interaction with the country. We want to reverse the trend where one googles Ghanaian terms only to land on a blog written by an individual, who perhaps has never lived in the country,” he adds. CEO of Hatua solutions, a software solutions company in Ghana, Nehemiah Attigah, agrees with him . “We don’t create anymore and there’s the need to change that trend. We must push our own stories.” Speaking about why BloggingGhana is organising a BlogCamp, Amartey-Tagoe indicated that “The organisation [BloggingGhana] through these workshops realised there was much interest in Blogging and social media”. There was a need to fill that gap to connect Ghanaians who shared the interest. According to Tagoe, the first Blogcamp, which was organised on 5 May 2012, had more than 450 attendees, filling up the auditorium beyond its capacity. He says the organisation has resolved to make it an annual event.

photo credit: http://kajsaha.com

The Blogcamp will witness for the first time a Blogging and Social Media Awards to recognise Ghana’s content creators and build more awareness about the positive uses and benefits of blogging. Nominations for the various categories include Best Technology Blog, Best Citizen Journalism and News Blog, Best Creative, Literary, Short Story and Poetry Blog, Best Activist Blog; Best Photo Blog, Best Organisational Blog, Best Original Content, Best Business & Commerce Blog; Personality with the Best Social Media Presence, Organisation with the Best Social Media Presence, and Best Showbiz and Entertainment Blog. Following from the Blog and Social Media Awards, the Blogcamp team has scheduled exciting campaigns and online engagements, which are expected to allow many Ghanaians online to participate in the lead up to the event day on 23rd March. Blogcamp 2013 is sponsored by Tigo Ghana, Google Ghana, US Embassy, Voltic Ghana, Born Again, A Thousand Words, Nii Odzenma Nfoningraphy, Ganyobi.com Africa.com, Dust Magazine, Citi FM, and the Be Bold Show. According to Mrs. Hallberg-Adu, “the first ever Blog Awards in Ghana are to inspire more folks to create local content.” She added that “online people in Ghana have a responsibility to create”. BloggingGhana is a membership based association for Ghanaian bloggers and social media enthusiasts, both in and outside of Ghana who write about the country.”

Source: JoyFM

 

Meet Dwain Lucktung- as Promised!

I had observed him with keen interest in the last days of the Mali Youth Summit as he updated the world on what was happening at Bamako. I couldn’t help but ask for some time with him to coach me on blogging. I interrupted his swim time with the rest of the team and I couldn’t believe he was sitting next to me, equipping me with tips to successful blogging, Dwain Lucktung is he.

Ghanabakwamena and Dwain Pose for a shot!

A close look at his blog bio will get you thinking- Really? But YEAH! Dwain is a 24/7 hustler- believe it or not…lols! He mentioned that was the truth- I admire his sincerity, makes me wanna admit I’m err mm …hahahahaha! Dwain stated a person must know what he/she stood for when blogging. I wasn’t surprised when he asked “What do you blog about?” I replied, “…mostly Issues from my world of advocacy & activism, Nokia and interesting stuff I come across…” he liked it and advised I remain focused, also “…give your readers a reason to keep coming back for more.” The truth is- Dwain attempted to give me a hands-on experience but the Link at Hotel Massaley, Bamako wouldn’t permit because it wasn’t functional- a piece of advice to the hotel: “PLEASE CHECK IT & FIX THE PROBLEM”, the link back at the main arena for the event was soooo sssssloooooow it took ages for many participants to connect with the rest of the world most of the time.

Dwain shared lots of Vital FREE Information with me, from; Starting and sustaining a Blog, types of blogs, Tittle and Content, How to share links and get your blog read, hyperlinking, pictures, through to- Design of your Blog esp. colours, comments, updating you blog as often as possible- at least two or three times a month etc. oh!, and Hashtags. Talk of tags- I have Dwain’s Summit Tag, he was outta Mali before I could return it- I’m keeping it- at least I have something that reminds me of one of my favourite bloggers and mentor! Whaaaaat? I couldn’t believe my ears when he mentioned he was still learning to be a better blogger.

He advised I read a lot- especially other blogs. I check his blog out whenever I get online- wanna know what Dwain just posted? Click here: D-W-A-I-N . Dwain got me falling in love with blogging all over again and stirred up some fire… so sad my laptop wasn’t around- you would have read this item long before 21^st May…hehehehehehe! Never mind- we’re glad all is well.  I have, within this short period of time- grown to appreciate the efforts of all bloggers around the world in their bid to inform their readers on happenings around the world! “…I’m ma Blog-blog-blog no matter what!”