Category: Africa

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

“The history of the NPP tells us that no President can foist a candidate on the Party against its wishes. The NPP is not that kind of Party. We have never subscribed to a cult of personality. Indeed, our highly-respected former President, the 1st NPP President, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, in the aftermath of my election as NPP Presidential Candidate, by the 2007 National Congress, told the Congress that ‘the Party has its spirit’, a spirit that cannot be ignored.”

These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when he met with communicators of the New Patriotic Party, who called on him at Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s presidency, on Wednesday, 2nd August 2023.

In a response to an appeal by the NPP Director of Communications, Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, in relation to the Party’s conduct in next year’s election, President Akufo-Addo stated that the Party cannot afford to allow what happened to it in 2008 to reoccur in 2024.

“We are all witnesses to the derailing of the achievements chalked by President John Agyekum Kufuor by the successor NDC Government, from 2009 to 2017, in which John Dramani Mahama featured so prominently,” the President noted.

According to him “under 8-years of the successor NDC Government, we became famous for all the wrong reasons. Four successive years of dumsor, the mismanagement of the economy, wrong and dangerous energy contracts, and wanton corruption dissipated any hope the Ghanaian had for sustained economic development. Never again should we allow this to happen.”

With the start of the final leg of internal contests of the NPP, President Akufo-Addo noted that some actions by a few members of the party are making the front pages for the wrong reasons.

“We are expending some of our energies hurling invectives at each other, instead of at our opponents, and, in the process, taking digs at our own Government. It has been an anxious time for all who love our party, and who see us as the party that can bring progress and prosperity to our nation,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “It is for this reason that, as President of the Republic and de-facto leader of the Party, I want to ensure that certain actions of yesteryear, which contributed to our loss in 2008, are not repeated. We cannot afford an internal campaign based on ethnic or religious considerations.”

Describing the NPP as “the Party of Ghana’s unity”, the President rejected forcefully the assertions “being made by a few in our party who, because of internal party politicking, are accusing my government of allegedly “intimidating” and “coercing” party faithful to throw their support behind one of the presidential aspirants, that is the Vice President. It is a false and malicious narrative.”
He told the Communicators of the Party that he beat my chest and say, without any fear of contradiction, that there is no one in the Party who can say that he, President Akufo-Addo, has asked him or her to support this or that aspirant.

“I have not set out to dismiss any MMDCE or political appointee from office for supporting any particular aspirant; no Minister or Deputy Minister has lost their job or been threatened for openly campaigning for their preferred presidential aspirant; neither has any caveat emanated from Jubilee House to the Party across the length and breadth of the country demanding that Candidate A be supported over Candidate B. I, better than anyone in the Party, know that this is not the way to go,” he stated.

Whoever becomes Presidential Candidate, according to the President, “will be chosen freely and transparently by an Electoral College of some two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) people, and not by President Akufo-Addo. I have just one vote, the same as any polling station executive anywhere in the country.”

He indicated, however, that he would “cast that vote for an aspirant who, I believe, can best unite the Party, and, above all, who can win the presidential election of 7th December 2024, and inflict a third successive defeat on the perennial NDC Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama.”

President Akufo-Addo reassured the gathering that victory for the NPP in election 2024, and handing over to an NPP Presidential Candidate so elected as President by the Ghanaian people, are what he is working for, and he expects all members of the NPP to share the same goals.

“I assume that we all want our party to win the 2024 elections decisively, our parliamentary candidates to win, again, the majority of seats in Parliament, and our flagbearer to become the President of the Republic. I expect and accept arguments on how we prosecute this agenda. But I do not expect and do not accept that party members would do anything to jeopardise the goal we have set ourselves of winning the 2024 elections, and I will work with all who seek this objective,” he added.

Touching on the economy, President Akufo-Addo stressed that, but for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ghana would have witnessed an economic boom, following three (3) successive years when the country was one of the fastest growing economies in the world, recording an annual GDP growth rate of seven percent (7%), up from three-point four percent (3.4%), the lowest in a generation, the NPP inherited from the Mahama-led NDC Government at a time when there was no global turbulence.

“By the Grace of Almighty God, together with appropriate policy and hard work, we are seeing a turnaround in our fortunes, and this turnaround will be sustained. We are not about to throw this away, and no machinations are going to weaken us. We will work hard the next sixteen (16) months to finish strongly our current mandate, and merit again the trust and confidence of the Ghanaian people, Break the Eight, and make history together,” he added.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 2nd August 2023, commissioned the ultra-modern Simplified Sewerage Facility and Treatment Plant at Ashaiman, and the rehabilitated and expanded Bankuman Simplified Sewerage Plant. 

The two (2) new simplified sewerage networks, comprising some fifty-one kilometres (51kms) of sewer lines, and a new wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of some one thousand, eight hundred metre-cubed per day (1,800m3/day) in Ashaiman, is to serve some four thousand, eight hundred and five (4,805) households in the community. 

The plant in Bankuman, with a capacity of one thousand, six hundred metre-cubed per day (1,600m3/day), is to serve some three thousand, one hundred (3,100) households. 

Speaking at the ceremony, held at Ashaiman, President Akufo-Addo noted that the two (2) projects were constructed at a cost of $6.6 million, and reinforces Government’s commitment to offer solutions to the infrastructural gap identified as one of the major challenges plaguing the sanitation and water resources sector. 

The President stated that “the projects being commissioned today are examples of the many sanitation projects that have been provided across the country. This magnificent simplified sewerage system, as well as the rehabilitated Bankuman project, will inure to the benefit of the people living within the catchment areas of Ashaiman and Bankuman communities of Greater Accra.” 

Under the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project, conceived as one of the pro-poor interventions to ensure the policy of “One-House-One-Toilet” is delivered across the Metropolitan Area, he stated that the Project has delivered some 48,641 improved household toilets, which have benefitted some 389,128 people as at December 2020.

In addition to this, 406 improved and modern disability-friendly, gender sensitive institutional toilet facilities, benefiting some 251,872 schoolchildren has been completed, as at December 2020. 

“The GAMA Project has been so successfully executed that additional financing was sought and obtained from the World Bank to extend the intervention to the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. Under the additional financing, a total of one hundred and twenty-nine (129) improved and modern disability-friendly, gender sensitive institutional toilet facilities, as well as thirty thousand (30,000) household toilet facilities are under construction for beneficiary schools and individual households, respectively, in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area,” he said.  

The Kumasi Project, President Akufo-Addo said, will also expand and rehabilitate the 29-year-old Asafo sewerage system in Kumasi, provide an additional 12,000 household toilets and 30 institutional toilets in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. 

Component One of the Greater Kumasi Project, he added, will extend potable water, by laying some 120 kilometres of pipelines, and provide 5,000 new service connections; establish a telemetry, and also retool the Ghana Water Company’s metre shop to reduce non-revenue water.

“Ghana has made significant strides towards the attainment of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on water and sanitation. Currently, access to basic drinking water services has increased from 79% of the population in 2017 to 87.7% in 2021” he said. 

The President continued, “Access to improved toilet facilities, including public toilets, has also increased from 66% to eighty-point-eight percent 80.8% within the same period. The Akufo-Addo Government is investing an amount of some US$ 1.4 billion in several water and sanitation projects nationwide. Some of these projects have been completed, and others are still ongoing. It is expected that some 5.3 million people will benefit from these interventions when completed.”

Recognising the huge resources required to provide, maintain and sustain sanitation and water infrastructure across the country, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that Government is in partnership with other key stakeholders and the private sector for support in providing these vital services. 

“I urge all of us to help sustain and improve the gains made so far by maintaining healthy environmental sanitation, protecting our water bodies and supporting the Clean Ghana Campaign,” he added.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

Third set of ministers and their deputies has subscribed to the oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony before His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and dedicated all appointments to the young people of Sierra Leone in fulfilment of the provisions of the 1991 Constitution.

Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, spoke on behalf of his colleagues and thanked God for His grace for their appointment, pointing out that many in the public were qualified to be in their respective positions, but acknowledged that “we are all well aware that it is only by the grace of God and the generosity of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio that we are in these roles at this moment.

“I have spoken to all of my colleagues, and we are ready, determined, and committed to this call to serve. We are because we believe in your vision and leadership. After all, we know that no matter how educated or wealthy we are, nothing compares to public service and delivery for our people.

“We are committed to the ideals on which our great party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), was formed. ideals of human capital development and education, unity, inclusion, and economic prosperity, and ideals of nationalism and patriotism.”

“It is these ideals, which are embedded in the People’s Manifesto and the New Direction Vision, that are evident in our proud and glorious faces today. My colleagues have already started working, Your Excellency. They are collaborating with each other and are eager to demonstrate that it is possible to transform our nation. This work has been ongoing. In fact, over the last five years, we have reformed policies, laws, regulations, treaties, and more than had been touched since independence,” he revealed.

President Julius Maada Bio, while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, congratulated the appointees, stating that “It is a difficult and national task that must be accomplished with no excuses. We represent the people, and we have to make sure we deliver for them. Congratulations on a very difficult job.

“It is extremely difficult to take on the task that we have ahead of us. Our State may be independent but not properly formed because the structures have a lot of capacity gaps. We expect you to fill those gaps. You must fill them in whichever way you can, and that is where your work becomes extremely difficult. In the last five years, we have done extremely well by laying a solid foundation for which we have been recognised both locally and internationally. Our human capital development programme started well, and we must take it further.

“I am going to challenge all of you, no excuses. You must perform and take your ministry to the next level. We are far behind, but we have our way with us, and that is what I want to inspire you all to do. We can do it. We can feed Sierra Leone. By 2028, we should not be importing rice into this country. Whichever way we can, let’s take the route to get there,” the President urged.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

President Cyril Ramaphosa wishes Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi a speedy recovery.

Prince Buthelezi has been unwell and is hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

President Ramaphosa has communicated with the Buthelezi family, who have briefed him about Prince Buthelezi’s health condition.

The President has expressed his well wishes and conveyed that his heartfelt prayers are with Prince Buthelezi and the family. 

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, received a phone call, on August 02, 2023, from the UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and United Nations, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon.

Mr. Ahmad of Wimbledon, who described as “constructive” the telephone conversation he had with Mr. Bourita, tweeted that the exchange focused on the “situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Niger, and Libya, in addition to broader bilateral and regional issues.”

On this occasion, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon conveyed his “warm wishes to His Majesty King Mohammed VI following Throne Day.”

Relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom are constantly being strengthened, thanks to a shared political will to make a century-old partnership a lasting one.

In May, the two Kingdoms held the 4th session of their strategic dialogue in Rabat, an opportunity for London to emphasize that this eight-century-old partnership can only grow stronger, especially as it extends to several key sectors such as education, trade, and climate change.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Minister of Social Solidarity, Ms. Nivine El-Kabbag.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Ahmed Fahmy, stated that the meeting followed-up on the State’s efforts to promote traditional crafts and handmade products across Egypt. President El-Sisi gave directives to continue supporting owners of traditional crafts to maintain and develop them, as part of the State’s strategy to support owners of small and micro projects as they play an effective role in the social and economic growth. This is in addition to the important contribution of traditional crafts in reserving Egypt’s national identity, culture and heritage. The President also directed the application of the highest standards of quality for craft industries, in accordance with national and international measurements, while ensuring innovation and the combination of authenticity and contemporaneity, taking into account the operation of capital in effective ways for the preservation of the national heritage, and the promotion of human and sustainable development.

The meeting also discussed the experience of community leaders in the field of enhancing awareness of women, families and society through the development efforts carried out by the mechanism of community leaders on several axes related to services and awareness, in addition to coordination with civil societies and local leaders. The President gave directives to continue efforts to monitor and solve common societal problems on the ground and to develop the best ways to implement appropriate solutions.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

Dar es Salaam Declaration. Sub-Saharan Africa scores the lowest of all the world’s regions on the World Bank’s Human Capital Index (HCI) yet faces a youth bulge that could be leveraged to supercharge African economies if the right policies and investments are implemented today.

The leaders met for two days at the inaugural Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit convened jointly by the Tanzanian government and the World Bank. The summit was a call to action at the highest level to the importance of investing in Africa’s people as a core driver of innovation, productivity, resilience, and growth on the continent. It also underscored the urgency of addressing Africa’s young and rapidly growing population, and the need to create productive employment and functioning markets that can make the most of these changing demographics.

Africa’s Human Capital Index (HCI) score of 0.40 means the region is only reaching 40% of its productivity potential. Many children and young people in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant barriers to realizing their potential due to insufficient access to and poor quality of critical services such as health and education. Today, about 89% of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple text. These challenges have been further exacerbated by various crises including pandemics such as COVID-19, conflict, and climate change-induced droughts and floods.

The Dar es Salaam Declaration constitutes tangible financial and policy commitments made by African leaders to prioritize investing in people with a focus on reaping a demographic dividend. The declaration recognizes that Africa’s most important asset is its people and there is no time to waste.