The Fareed Report 🎙️

🇷🇺🇬🇭 Russian Ambassador Calls on Speaker of Parliament, Invites Ghana to Russian-African Summit 🪝A pivotal visit elevates bilateral relations, promising new opportunities for Ghana-Russia cooperation. 🇷🇺 The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Andrei Eduardovich Ordash, paid a courtesy call on to the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, emphasising strengthening bilateral ties. During the meeting, the ambassador extended an invitation for Ghanaian Parliamentarians to attend the upcoming 3rd Russian-African Summit, highlighting opportunities for trade, development, and technology sharing. Also, he stressed that Parliament’s participation would enrich the summit’s discussions. Discussions also covered the 2026 inter-governmental military-technical cooperation agreement, which requires parliamentary ratification to become effective [highlighting Parliament's critical role] in implementing bilateral commitments. The renewed friendship association between Ghana and Russia was also discussed, with optimism about deepening inter-parliamentary ties. 🟠 The Speaker shared his past visits to Russia and his role in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, reflecting Ghana’s commitment to global peace. Furthermore, he called for enhanced collaboration between Ghanaian Parliament and the Russian Embassy to foster mutual prosperity. The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🔥SUPER SUNDAY: Trekking to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius; the Spiritual Center of Russian Orthodox Church ⛪️🤝 Once again, a yet another exploratory and interesting event took place today. This time, it’s in relation to one of the most important spiritual and historical centers in Russia. I joined colleague bloggers amongst the Russian-African fraternity and other like-minded individuals to trek to the premier and the most important historical lavra, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius located in Sergiev Posad, roughly 70 kilometres northeast of Moscow. The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius serves as the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church and the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow. The tour is organised by Orthodox Friends — one of the educational project to bridging the gap between Russia and Africa. We began the tour by having a master class on how to make a candle, doll (Matryoshka) and other ceramics from scratch as well as listening to some interesting Russian Fairy tales. We learned about the genesis of the Russian Orthodox Church and its contribution which include, but are not limited to the battle of Kulikovo and of course the Great Patriotic War. As spirituality is paramount, participant had the opportunity to enter churches, lit their candles, made wish (s), pray for themselves and individuals who contributed immensely to the development of the country. On the stroke of the tour, we climbed up to the longest church, to learn about the monastery’s bells, their operation, design, and history. Overall, this event speaks volume relative to the historical antecedent of Russia’s spiritual growth and development — a journey that I recommend to everyone to at least take part once in their lifetime. Thank you Daria for the invitation, and the rest of the colleagues who made this event a success!!! The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🇷🇺🇬🇭 Russia’s Sputnik Establishes Partnership With Ghana News Agency 🪝A significant partnership aims to boost news exchange and collaborative projects. 🇷🇺 Sputnik International News Agency and Radio has signed a cooperation memorandum with Ghana News Agency (GNA), marking a significant step in media collaboration. Vasily Pushkov, Sputnik’s Director of International Cooperation, and GNA’s General Manager Albert Kofi Owusu, signed the agreement in a ceremony supported by the Russian Embassy in Ghana with Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ghana Andrei Ordash as the witness to the agreement. Vasily Pushkov expressed delightfulness and indicated the country’s intention across the Sub-Saharan Africa. “Today is a truly historic moment, as we sign a memorandum of cooperation with a Ghanaian media company. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa remain our top priority, and we are fully committed to strengthening our partnerships across the region”. Albert Kofi Owusu optimistic of the agreement and hopes for greater outcome. “We believe that strong partnerships open doors to greater understanding, innovation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable growth. This agreement reflects our confidence in what we can achieve together and our dedication to fostering meaningful cooperation”. Andrei Ordash believes the agreement will enhance more diverse understanding between the two countries. “This media partnership is yet another step towards helping our peoples get to know one another better. So that a Ghanaian citizen knows that Russia is not just about the cold, but also about warm hearts. So that a Russian knows that Ghana is not just about cocoa and gold, but also a great culture, wise traditions and youthful ambition”. The memorandum establishes a framework for exchanging news content, joint projects, and professional development between the two state-owned agencies. This alliance is vital for fostering media cooperation, sharing diverse perspectives, and strengthening bilateral relations. The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🇷🇺🇬🇭 Russian-Ghanaian Women’s Football Tournament in the Works; Strengthening Ties Through Sport and Business 🪝A historic collaboration is underway — Russia and Ghana are set to unite through football and business, fostering friendship and opportunity across continents. 🇷🇺 Elvira Lesnichaya, President of International platform “Football Moms”, Vladimir Vishnevsky, Head of the Commission for Cooperation with African Countries for small and medium-sized enterprises “Novaya Formatsiya” and Ghanaian Journalist Fareed Mohammed Awal had a working visit with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to Moscow His Excellency Dr. Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah. The working visit focused on exploring new avenues for business cooperation, while also organizing a women’s football tournament in Moscow and Ghana, promoting womanhood, active lifestyle and cultural exchange. Head of Commission for Cooperation with African countries pointed out their intention to the ambassador. We don’t have any business cooperation in Ghana yet that’s why we want to start. We want Russian-Ghanaian football match to be one of the sideline events during the Russian-African Summit in Moscow and the next game to be held in Ghana during our business mission in Ghana. Ghana’s ambassador expressed his massive support and made good remarks for their efforts. That’s good. We will work together. I think through football we can do a lot of things. One of my aims is to promote business between Russia and Ghana. So through me you can be a good business man. I want to link you up to good business men in Ghana and I’ll give you a recommendation. The project aims to foster mutual understanding and strengthen diplomatic and business ties between Russia and Ghana, opening doors for future collaborations in sports and trade. The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🇷🇺🇬🇭 Breakdown of the Ghanaian Community in Russia Summer ‘Kakalika’ Picnic 2026 Grand Celebration, highlights & sideline activities of the Kakalika Summer picnic. Exclusive Interview with the President of the Ghanaian Community in Russia HE Mr Ebenezer Wepari. African-American Business Mogul Mr Funkwa Lakake’s opinion about the Kakalika Summer Picnic. Morale ‘Jamma Session’ at the Kakalika Summer Picnic The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🌍🇨🇻 World Cup 2026: Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral Wins Goal of the Tournament Award. 🪝History was made on the world stage as Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral stunned fans with an unforgettable strike against Argentina, earning the Goal of the Tournament! 🇷🇺 In a thrilling round of 32 clash, with Argentina leading the score by 2-1, Cape Verde’s resilient defender unleashed a powerful shot in the 103rd minute that left everyone in awe. His rocket shot leveled the game at 2-2 and kept Cape Verde’s hopes alive. Although Argentina scored later to win 3-2 after extra time, Cabral’s remarkable strike captivated global audiences and earned him the prestigious honor. "It's an enormous honour and the kind of recognition every player dreams of. I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who voted my goal as the best of the tournament. Now the challenge is to keep working to score more goals like that and, above all, to help both my club and country to win matches. Receiving this award is a very special honour for me”, Cabral tells FIFA. 🟠 Cabral’s goal symbolizes Cape Verde’s rising football prowess and the player’s extraordinary talent. It’s a historic moment for the nation and a reminder that passion and perseverance can deliver moments that inspire fans around the world. The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🇷🇺🇬🇭 Ghanaian Community in Russia Celebrates Annual Picnic in Moscow 🪝A vibrant celebration of unity and pride brought together Ghanaians and diplomats alike — find out how this annual event continues to strengthen bonds abroad! 🇷🇺 The Ghanaian community in Russia hosted its fourth consecutive Summer Picnic in Moscow with this year’s edition dubbed as “KAKALIKA SUMMER PICNIC 2026”, drawing members from far and wide to enjoy a day of camaraderie and cultural pride. The event, organized by the leadership of the Ghanaian community, provided a joyous platform for Ghanaians to connect, share, and celebrate their heritage in a foreign land. Notably, Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia His Excellency Dr. Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah and his family, along with other diplomatic officials, participated actively, emphasising the event’s significance as a unifying force. This [has been] a wonderful thing and as president of the Ghanaian community, I appreciate them very much from the bottom of my heart. We appreciate them coming, but they should go an extra mile in supporting us financially whenever the need arises. I also wants to thank all the ladies who spent their time, some of them had not gone to work yesterday [Friday], some of them had to go to the shop to buy all the necessary things that will [be needed] for the kitchen. And today you’ve seen the beautiful work that they’ve produced. The food and everything they stayed all night to do this, thankful to them, we cannot pay them with money, but we just want to say thank you to all of them, may God bless them - President of the Ghanaian Community in Russia His Excellency Mr Ebenezer Wepari tells The Fareed Report. 🟠 This picnic is a vital occasion that fosters community spirit, cultural identity, and solidarity among Ghanaians abroad. The “KAKALIKA SUMMER PICNIC” exemplifies how unity and cultural pride can flourish beyond borders, inspiring others to uphold their heritage far from home. The Fareed Report | Subscribe

SUPER SUNDAY: from the Bus 🚌 to the Theatres 🎭 and finally at the Restaurant 🤝 I joined colleagues from the Red Museum for the Singing Bus Tour dubbed “Vertinsky and Moscow”; an exciting journey to the iconic places where Alexander Vertinsky lived, created and conquered the audience. The Excursion was led by Timur Khidirov, alongside Anton the bus driver. We visited locations related to different stages of the artist's life. Also visited theatres and streets that became witnesses of his triumphs, learned about the people who influenced his path, and about how the unique image of Vertinsky was created. Along the way, the guide gave us some fragments of letters, memoirs, and, of course, the sound of Vertinsky's famous songs that reincarnated the story of the artist. After the tour, we zoomed to a neighbouring restaurant in the center to relax, surprisingly, Peter, organiser of Ancient games from different countries — Interactive project dedicated to board games and toys from the past, introduced a new game to us where we played, enjoyed and had fun. Great day it was. Amazing event we witnessed and a deservedly deserved weekend, especially coming from a long week of no rest. Lest I forget, weekend is not over and Monday can still wait!!! 😁 The Fareed Report | Subscribe

🇧🇫🇲🇱🇳🇪 Burkina Faso, Mali & Niger Aim to Host 2032 Africa Cup of Nations 🪝Could the Alliance of the Sahel Sates bring the Africa Cup of Nations to West Africa once more? 🇷🇺 Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, collectively known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have officially expressed their interest in hosting the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has acknowledged and accepted their proposal for consideration. A key step in this process was a recent high-level meeting in New York, where CAF President Patrice Motsepe met with the presidents of the football federation from the AES countries to discuss the bid. “FENIFOOT informs the national public and the football community that CAF has officially confirmed receipt of the expression of interest from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to host AFCON 2032. This step allows the expression of interest to enter the official process for awarding the rights to host AFCON,” the statement from the Nigerien Football Federation reads. 🟠Hosting AFCON has the propensity of boosting regional development, sports infrastructure, and unity across the Sahel. Furthermore, this is a significant move that highlights regional ambition and could mark a yet another historic moment for West Africa on the continental stage. The Fareed Report | Subscribe