Intercontinental grocery shopping, a recently launched website offers a new way for Guineans

abroad to support family back home. As an alternative to traditional funds transfer companies,

Wontara.com gives Guinean migrants the opportunity to buy groceries online so recipients in

Guinea can immediately pick them up from their local grocer against a simple phone transaction, or

even have them delivered to their home.

Forty one year-old Guinean engineer, Aboubakar Kourouma-founder of the project, said this “e-

social transfer” is a new concept that aims to ensure food security and contribute to the local

economy. Kourouma came to France six years ago with no papers. The idea for Wontara came

to him while working illegally in a bakery. He said he wanted to change the money transfer

system used by many like him because traditional money transfer methods are expensive

and not available for those who live far from a big city.

For now, Wontara.com is only available for Guinea, but Kourouma said they are working on

expanding it further, starting in the West Africa area. Soon the website will provide ways to

pay for school supplies, medicines, or even electricity bills, he said. With this social business

concept, Kourouma won the “RE THINK” prize from the prestigious French business school

H.E.C (Haute Ecole de Commerce).

There is a very large population of Guineans outside, who send approximately 60

million United States dollars every year, and the dollars are very wrongly

allocated, with enormous commissions taken by the traditional money transfer firm.

A report by the African Development Bank and the World Bank last year estimated that about

30 million Africans live outside their home countries, but African governments have not realized

the full economic benefits of remittances, which accounted for 40 billion United States dollars

betweew 1990 and 2010.

A NURSING ASSISTANT ARRAIGNED FOR FONDLING PATIENT.

A former Wishard  Nursing assistant accused of fondling a patient, appeared in an

Indianapolis Court. The judge appointed a public defender and entered a “not

guilty” plea on his behalf. But the police said the evidence against Folajuwoni Ajayi pointed to

guilt. His immigration status, though, could help him avoid jail term, as he is likely to be

deported.

Ajayi is scheduled to face trial for one felony and two misdemeanor charges on April 2, 2012.

Court documents indicated while working at Wishard Memorial Hospital, the certified nursing

assistant fondled an unconscious inmate being treated in the hospital’s detention area and

videotaped it. According to the probable cause affidavit, Ajayi ‘s cell phone video showed “a

black male removing the clothing materials around the female patient” and fondled her

genital area.

Police said a fumbling Ajayi accidentally video-taped his Identity card that hung around his

neck. The court document said the video showed Ajayi’s name and the title. “It is always

disturbing when someone in a position of trust violate that trust,” said Eric Schmadeke, Marion

County Deputy Prosecutor.

Ajayi holds resident alien status. Police and prosecutors have alerted Immigration and Customs

Enforcement.

Olakunle O. Bolarinwa,

Is a Nightline Family Member Of The Voice Of America {VOA}.

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