Written by U.S Immigration News Monday, 05 March 2012 01:12
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}.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it