Schools in Geneva, Switzerland, to move 9,000 PCs to Ubuntu GNU Linux only !

Below is an indication of how the FOSS is increasing making waves in the desktop market as well. This is translated summary of a story in the Geneva Tribune by Duvet-Dayz.com.

Geneva newspaper Tribune de Geneve reports today that from September 2008 all computers at schools that currently are dual-boot MS Windows and Linux will have MS Windows removed and become FOSS (Free Open Source Software) only. Besides lower costs for the administration, students will also profit from the use of Ubuntu, as they then will be able to use the same applications at home without additional cost. Manuel Grandjean, director for the schools (Ecoles-Médias) IT services pointed out that the use of FOSS “…encourages participation and the democratization of knowledge and provides product independent competences…“. He also sees the use of FOSS as a “reinforcement of equal opportunities” for students.

Ghana 0 - 1 Cameroon: The dream is over for Stars

Yesterday's semi final matches were interesting. They indeed taught everyone that football did not follow any pattern. That the Ivory Coast would lose by 4 goals to 1 was unthinkable and a Cameroonian side that lost by 4:2 in their first game against Egypt who may well become eventual Champions would beat the host nation, Ghana was not a thought Ghanaians entertained. That's what makes football an interesting game and that's why I am always passionate about the game.

I watched the game at my usual venue, the Accra Polo Club ground and I think if Ghana had won there would have been a stampede. The park was jammed packed with the usual noise and blowing of horns. The atmosphere was electrifying and you'd wonder what was going to happen if Ghana had won the game.

The first half ended and everyone was still hopeful Ghana would win but Cameroon were bent on making Ghana cry and it came to pass when they found the net in the 70th minute. The otherwise electrifying atmosphere became very quiet with occasional shouts from die-hard fans. It was so until the game ended and it was visible to see dejected faces and crying ones as well. But I think the Black Stars gave a really good account of themselves and I am so proud of them.

Better luck next time, it is still a young team and so much to look forward to in future...

As for the Ivory Coast, I was not too surprised except at the goal margin. I have always said they haven't been tested and the Egyptians proved me right. Cameroon really proved me wrong and I concede and wish them all the best in their final against Egypt but I think from the way the Egyptians are playing, it will be very difficult for any team to beat them in Africa.

Am out...

It's about time the Black Stars got some respect!

It's amazing how soccer pundits analysed the CAN 2008 tournament before it began some two weeks ago. I am not sure anyone gave the Ghanaian team any chance of making it this far but I still do not understand why this went that way. I thought that against the backdrop of what happened in the World Cup in Germany, people would have seen the Black Stars with a different eye but no. Before the tournament Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria and Cameroon were touted as clear favourites to win. I guess Ghana now occupies such a space.

Even after beating Nigeria 4-1 and Morocco 2-0 all in friendlies, people still thought that the Black Stars could not bite but chose to talk about the 5-0 defeat we got at the hands of Saudi Arabia. Then we beat Guinea in the opening game which i concede was scrappy but if you saw Guinea in subsequent matches, you probably would have thought twice about the boys. They dispatched Morocco and beat Nigeria with ten men and still people are talking of the Ivory Coast. I concede, the Ivory Coast are superb but the are beatable, they simply haven't gotten the kind of opposition that can beat them. I predicted they will be in the final but I wouldn't be surprised at all if Egypt beat them. The Egyptians are a disciplined team and would be a handful for them.

As for Cameroon, it's only a matter of time and they will be beaten by Ghana in the first semi final. I don't think they have been impressive enough to get to the finals. What may happen after today is that we may have Ghana-Ivory Coast final which is probably or Ghana-Egypt(?) which will not surprise me at all.

Check out for updates on the Ghana-Cameroon match. It's a done deal for Ghana. Ciao...

Ghana - Nigeria: It was like the final

I thought this match was going to be a tight affair but I didn't think it would end up in a such a dramatic manner. At one point you were tempted to think that Ghana would lose the match and at another, you would see an array of hope from the way the Ghana boys played.

There was a huge party with loads of musicians before the match at the same Accra Polo Club where I watched the Ghana - Morocco match. The atmosphere was simply fantastic and electrifying with over 10,000 fans!



The match itself lived up to expectation. When Nigeria scored the first goal, the park became extremely quiet. Before the goal, this was a place that was full of noise. You couldn't even try making a phone call because you wouldn't hear a thing.

But when the equaliser finally came on the stroke of half time, the people were ecstatic in their jubilation. It was like Ghana had already won the match. I will edit videos I took of the jubilations and post them later.

Then the red card to captain John Mensah demoralised everyone. At that point, I thought only a miracle could save the Stars and the miracle indeed happened and in a spectacular manner eight minutes before the end of the game. I have never seen Ghana like this before. The goal by Junior Agogo was enough to unite the nation. After jumping for what seemed like eternity for me, I looked quietly at the crowd and I saw people hugging and dancing to what tune? G-O-A-L. It felt really good to beat Nigeria - number one in Africa, and it felt even better be Ghanaian!!!

Cameroon, hear we come!!!

Ghana vrs Morocco: The party was wild in Accra!

I told a friend of mine we were going to see a different Ghanaian side against Morocco and even though he agreed with me he wasn't sure if Ghana had the prowess to outplay the Moroccans in such a manner to make them look a mediocre side. The Black Stars simply played like a Championship team. They announced their intension right from the blast of the whistle and it was only a matter of time that the goal game and when it final came in the 26th minute people couldn't hide their excitement than to run and jump around at the Accra Polo Club park where i watched the match.

My friend smiled at me with a lot of hope because he saw the Black Stars were playing incredible football which would even scare tournament favourites Ivory Coast. The second goal even brought more celebrations and at that point everybody knew the Black Stars were back. People have called the way the players celebrated the "belebele dance'' (belebele is the name of a bird in Ghana), the "duck dance", and "mede be wo wo" literally meaning I will punch you. Just check over four thousand people celebrate the goal at the CAN 2008 Fanpark;



After the game there was a huge party there with renowned artist Samini and the Mega Star Band. There was lots of food and drinks. In Accra itself, there was an electrifying atmosphere with people driving around and making a lot of noice with their horns.

Ghana played well and i think that if they should continue like this, every other team in this competition would bow in defeat. Kudos my Stars. Better luck to Morocco next time, I didn't think they will go out this early.

And Namibia played a determined game…

For most people in Ghana, the match between Ghana and Namibia was going to be a walk over for the Ghanaians but was not to be. You could easily tell from the way people went to the stadium. The Namibians came out and played a very tactical game to frustrate the Ghanaians from walloping them as Morocco did in their first game. Ghana had all the possession but lacked the ability to put the ball at the back of the Namibian net. Namibia deserves all the credit for holding their own against the hosts as they played a determined game. In the end it was Junior Agogo’s goal that separated the two sides.

After the match the street cleared quickly because nobody was in the mood to celebrate. People easily vented their anger on Asamoah Gyan for being so wasteful in front of goal. It was an average performance indeed from the Black Stars confirming the fact that the absence of Skipper Stephen Appiah is affecting the team. But Ghana can take consolation from the fact that she has six points from two games and a point from Morocco in the last game to top the group would be great.

There were interesting scenes before the match. Just check this out…And more later.

CAN 2008: Some pics

The Egyptian team that demolished Cameroon


The picture above shows some folks trying to cash in some money by painting people in their national colours



The Nations Cup fever catches up with the kids on Junior Graphic front page