Biden wants African Union to be added to Group of 20 nations

Dec132022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Biden wants African Union to be added to Group of 20 nations

President Joe Biden plans to announce at next week’s US-Africa summit that his administration supports adding the African Union as a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations, according to the White House. The African Union represents the continent’s 54 countries. The G-20 is composed of the world’s major industrial and emerging economies and represents more than 80% of the world’s gross domestic product. South Africa is currently the only African member of the G-20. “It’s past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives,” the senior director for African affairs on the National Security Council, Judd Devermont, said in a statement Friday. “We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy...

Nov12022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Youth urged to protect, promote, preserve culture at NAFAC 2022

Africa News, Ghana News

The Director of the Volta Regional Centre for National Culture, Bernice Ann Deh-Kumah has called on the Volta Regional Minister to complete the Volta Regional Theatre for the people of the region as a vehicle to preserve and promote culture. She made this remark at the 60th anniversary celebration of this year’s Regional Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) dubbed; “Reviving Patriotism, Peace and Unity through Cultural Diversity for Sustainable Development” at Agogoe Lume, a farming community in the Ho Central Constituency of the Volta Region. According to Mrs. Deh-Kumah, the festival is a courtesy call to revive lost culture, as indicated by this year’s theme. ”It is no doubt that our culture lays emphasis on communal values such as family, respect for the elderly, honouring ...

Oct282022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

South Africa’s first black engineer honoured

Africa News, International

South Africa has honoured the country’s first black student to graduate with a degree in engineering. Dr Solomon Boyce Isaac Lefakane studied civil engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and was awarded a degree in 1961 – when the racist apartheid system was in operation. Now, as part of the university’s centenary, Dr Lefakane, now 84, has been inducted into a brand new hall of fame at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment. Dr Lefakane was the son of a domestic worker and gained a scholarship to pursue his studies. “I knew I was facing very heavy odds at the time and I worked as hard as I could,” he told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme. Reflecting on his time there Dr Lefakane said he did not socialise with the white students...

Oct252022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

UAE bans nationals of Ghana, 19 others from visiting Dubai

Africa News, International

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a visa ban on nationalities from 20 African countries seeking to visit Dubai, according to DW Africa. The ban takes immediate effect. Affected countries are Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros and Uganda. According to the Germany-based news outlet, one of the reasons given for the ban is that many who arrive on visit visas end up overstaying in the country illegally while working, without legalising their stay. This comes merely a month after Nigeria’s foreign ministry announced that Nigerians under the age of 40 will no longer be issued tourist visas to the ...

Oct182022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

South Africa president scraps free electricity, water for ministers

Africa News, International

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has withdrawn controversial perks for cabinet ministers and their deputies that saw their homes supplied with free electricity and water. The benefits caused a public outcry as they were considered insensitive at a time South Africans are struggling with daily power cuts and rising cost of living. In a press briefing on Monday evening, a spokesman said the president “acknowledges and appreciates the public sentiments on the matter”. The ministerial handbook, which outlines ministerial benefits, will be “aligned to the realities that many South Africans face”, presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said. He said the intention behind the perks was “not a nefarious one”. “The intention was to try and find some form of balance between wh...

Oct172022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

2022 BECE commences today; 552,276 candidates to sit for examinations

Africa News, Ghana News

The 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) commences today, Monday, October 17. The examinations will take place at 2,038 centres across the country. A total of 552,276 candidates from 18,501 schools will be sitting for the examinations. This is 3.48 percent less than the 2021 entry figure of 572,167. The number comprises 276,988 males and 275,288 females. For this year, both schools and private candidates are sitting for examinations at the same time. In a statement issued ahead of the exams, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) said it decided to organise the exams for both private and school candidates this year as a result of the consistently low entries for the private candidates over the years. “This year’s BECE will, therefore, see a total ...

Oct132022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

More than 500 dead in Nigeria floods – Authorities

Africa News

The authorities in Nigeria say the number of people killed by floods ravaging the country in recent weeks has risen to more than 500. More than 1,500 others have been wounded while 1.4 million are displaced. Since the end of July, the West African country has been grappling with a wave of flooding affecting 31 of its 36 states including the capital Abuja. The floods are caused by heavy rains and release of excess waters from dams within Nigeria and a major dam in neighbouring Cameroon by the authorities. Experts also partly blame the flooding on the impact of climate change. The country is hit by floods every year. But this year’s disaster is the worst in more than a decade. Giving an update on the situation at a press conference on Tuesday, the permanent secretary of the...

Oct112022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

“We will do everything to create opportunities for you” – Education Minister to students

Africa News, Ghana News

The Minister of Education has reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s educational system with policies and the provision of infrastructure. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum said everything is being done to create opportunities for Ghanaian students who are required to be serious with their studies for a brighter future. Speaking to students at the 6th University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) festival in Sunyani on Friday, Dr. Adutwum said, “There is no other aspect of education that is more relevant than STEAM. These are areas the President wants to strengthen to produce the requisite manpower in the transformation of Ghana”. He emphasized that education in a developing country like Ghana shoul...

Oct52022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

World Bank classifies Ghana as high debt distressed country; debt to GDP to hit 104%

Africa News, Ghana News, International

The World Bank has classified Ghana as a high debt distress country as it projects the nation’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 104.6% by the end of 2022. According to its October 2022 Africa Pulse Report, debt is expected to jump significantly, from 76.6% a year earlier, amid a widened government deficit, massive weakening of the cedi, and rising debt service costs. It is also forecasting debt to GDP of 99.7% and 101.8% of GDP in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The size of Ghana’s economy is estimated at about $72 billion, whilst it is expected to spend about 70% of revenue this year to service its debt. The report is coming at a time the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are conducting a Debt Sustainability Analysis on the country. A country which is highly deb...

Oct52022 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

From the streets to Mandela’s feet – Zahara tells her story

Africa News

Sensational South African singer, Zahara, is in Ghana and has revealed how she was discovered, including one of the highest moments in her musical career. She spoke to Lexis Bill on Personality Profile on Joy FM, last Thursday. According to Zahara, it took some time for her to identify the need to expand her craft and take up newer and bigger challenges. “Sometimes, I would force my brothers and sisters to go with me on the streets because I used to bask (perform with my guitar) on the streets with the poets”, she disclosed. Zahara who started off singing in her village, eventually succeeded in securing a spot at a public space that gave her more exposure. “There was a musical lounge that would give a slot to go perform as poets on Thursdays, [so] I would forc...

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