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Tag: Accra

  • Accra hosts Pan-American liberation conference

    Accra hosts Pan-American liberation conference

    The conference of Progressive Pan-African forces has brought together hundreds of leaders, activists and scholars to deliberate on a unified agenda for reparations, economic sovereignty, and the complete liberation of the African continent.

    The two-day gathering with theme “From Historical Memory to Economic and Political Justice,” marks the 80th anniversary of the historic Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester in 1945.

    The conference is focused on developing concrete strategies for reparations and full compensation for centuries of colonial exploitation.

    Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, recognised within the African Union as a leading voice on reparations formally declared the event open.

    The high-profile gathering attracted prominent political, diplomatic and civil society leaders, including former Ghanaian President John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor; Congolese opposition figure Martin Fayulu; Irvin Jim, General Secretary of South Africa’s largest trade union, NUMSA; and Zambia’s Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe. Also in attendance was the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Ghana, Rolf Olson, signalling international attention to the deliberations.

    Discussions centered on reparations for historical plunder, economic sovereignty, combating neocolonialism, and the repatriation of stolen cultural artefacts. A special exhibition showcasing looted African treasures ran alongside the conference. Delegates also explored the creation of a continental mechanism to safeguard African sovereignty.

    At the end of the event, participants adopted the Accra Declaration a unified programme of action aimed at translating Kwame Nkrumah’s famous declaration that “Ghana’s independence is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa” into concrete steps.

    With this gathering, Accra reasserts itself as a symbolic centre of Pan-Africanism, as leaders emphasize that Africa is no longer making appeals but actively taking charge of its own future.

  • ECOWAS ministers to meet in Accra over Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger withdrawal

    ECOWAS ministers to meet in Accra over Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger withdrawal

    The Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to hold an Extraordinary Session from April 22 to 23, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, to deliberate on the formal withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc.

    According to a statement by Mr. Joel Ahofodji, Director of Communications at the ECOWAS Commission, the session will focus on the modalities of the withdrawal process and its implications for ECOWAS institutions and agencies operating in the departing member states.

    Ahofodji added that the meeting will also address other pressing regional matters, while a source within ECOWAS disclosed that the ministers are expected to endorse a contingency plan of engagement to conclude the exit process of the three nations.

    This endorsement will pave the way for negotiations on future relations between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the new regional bloc formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. 

    Both sides have reportedly assembled negotiation teams to begin discussions on full disengagement and explore possibilities for future collaboration, especially around trade and the free movement of people.

    The move comes after the expiration of a one-year withdrawal notice issued by the three countries in January 2024, which took effect in January 2025. 

    Despite a six-month grace period granted by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for possible reconsideration, recent developments indicate the trio are firm on their decision to leave.

    In a related development, no fewer than 130 citizens of the three countries working with ECOWAS institutions have received disengagement letters. 

    The termination, scheduled for September, is in line with Article 53 of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations, which stipulates that nationals of a country that withdraws from the community can no longer be employed by its institutions. 

    ECOWAS had previously allowed them to continue working as a gesture of goodwill.

    A reliable source in the Commission told The Nation that about 130 thereabout have been disengaged and they have till 30th September to exit the institution. 

    Also, one of the affected staff who also confirmed the report said they have been issued their letter of disengagement.

    The staff who do not want to be mentioned in the print said they have been issued their letter with a September terminal date for all of them.”

    The source said all of them from the three affected countries are expected to leave their job by September. 

    Announcing the official withdrawal of the AES countries, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray said: “The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025.” 

    He said the next step would be the exit negotiations which would involve ECOWAS and the three countries.

    For the meantime, ECOWAS said that passports and identity cards bearing its logo will remain valid for travel within the region for citizens from the three countries. 

    He also said trade and economic activities will also proceed under the existing ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, allowing goods and services from the three countries to move freely.

    He explained: “These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future arrangements to the three countries by the ECOWAS authority of head of state and government.”

    Touray said the pull out of the three countries represents a blight on ECOWAS integration process. 

    Touray feared that the exit of the three countries had overshadowed the gains of the regional bloc, especially when it’s marking its 50 years of its existence.

    He said the Commission is prepared to commence the modalities for their exit from the bloc and future engagement.

    He pointed out that engagement with the three countries will commence as soon as they show commitment, saying that the three countries have already indicated interest to discuss with the Commission.

    He said the expected discussions with the three countries would bother on institutional, legal, trade.

    In the area of security, Touray said: “It is in our collective interest to work together in all areas, including in the area of security. ECOWAS sees the security of each and every one of us to be closely tied. For that reason, security collaboration will continue at all levels, not only in the ECOWAS States but across the region.” 

    Read Also: ECOWAS to officially launch golden jubilee celebrations on April 22 in Accra

    He stressed: “ECOWAS has shown the whole world, and the community in particular, the value of being a member of ECOWAS. This is the region, the only region on the continent, where with a single ID card you can move from one end to another end. I’m not saying there are no problems, but legally you can move from one end to another end.

    “You can pick up your passport, hop on a plane and go anywhere else without having to go through all these visa problems. This is also the region where member states can trade freely among themselves for produce that are qualified under ECOWAS’s trade liberalisation scheme. So this is what we must build on for the benefit of our community, and I believe nobody should have a problem with this.”

    But the AES countries have taken some actions that seem to be incompatible with the ECOWAS approach.

    Only recently, AES announced a 0.05 tariff on all goods coming into their region.

    The three countries have also dumped the ECOWAS passport for the AES passport for its citizens. 

  • Tokyo 2020: Nigeria Baseball and Softball team storms Ghana for qualifier

    A 23-man contingent (20 players and 3 officials) of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball team departed the shores of the country on Tuesday for the West Zone 1 Olympics qualifier billed for Labone Senior High School, Accra, Ghana from March 22 to 24, 2019.

    A total of 17 countries in Africa have been divided into four zones and Nigeria will compete in Zone West 1 alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tunisia and Cote d’Ivoire.

    Two teams will then qualify from the group to play in the Africa Cup and Olympic Qualifier in Boksburg, South Africa from May 1-5. The winner of this continental championship will then move on to compete with the best of Europe at the Europe-Africa Olympic Qualifier in Bologna and Parma, scheduled for September 18-22.

    Whoever emerge winner will get the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games sole ticket reserved for Europe/Africa.

    In a chat with NationSport, the Secretary, Technical Commission of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA), Adeola Omotosho, said the best players were selected after a thorough screening.

    “Our players have been in clamp close to two weeks preparing for the West Zone 1 Olympics qualifier. We have 45 players selected from 10 states in Nigeria where we have Baseball being played. After screening, they were reduced to 30, then to 20 that will be representing Nigeria in Ghana,” Omotosho told NationSport.

    Team manager, Olusola Ogunseye, who called for more support for the team, said a foreign-based players, Jimmy Kolawole who plays for Carpi in Germany will also join the team.

    “We are very optimistic to qualify if we have the necessary support from government, well meaning individual, private sector to help us project this game. We have been sponsoring ourselves through personal contributions from the board members and other club owners in the country,” Ogunseye told NationSport.

    Captain of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball team, Sunday Twaki says the players are in high spirit as they begin quest for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ticket.

    “The players are in high spirit and by the grace of God, we are going to pick the ticket for the next stage in South Africa. We appreciate the technical crew members who have done their best in selecting the right players. We are ready to do the country proud in Ghana because we know what is at stake,” Twaki told NationSport.

  • Waking up from our slumber

    After two days of staying in a hotel in Accra, Ghana, last Wednesday and Thursday, I suddenly realised that I had not experienced any moment of black out or heard the sound of a generator. This was strange to me considering what I am used to in Nigeria.

    In the best of hotels I had stayed in my country, some of which are better than the one I was in Ghana, you can’t miss the sight or the humming of giant generators. Even if you don’t see or hear the sound of generator, you will surly notice the changeovers when public electricity goes off.

    Some hotels are permanently on generators during the day to avoid the embarrassment of light-out which could give them a bad image.

    Does my experience at the Ghana hotel mean that light does not go off in Ghana? No. It does; and in fact, the hotels have generators. What is apparent is that the frequency is not in anyway compared to what we have in Nigeria where ownership of generators by individuals and organisations is a prerequisite for having power supply as regularly as you want.

    When I told one of my hosts of the claim in Nigeria that Ghanaians enjoy 24-hour power supply, he laughed and noted that Nigerians rate their country too high than it is. According to him, they also have their own infrastructural challenges which they are demanding that the government should address.

    If Ghana, whose size and economy is not comparable to our country, has some things that give the world, including Nigerians, the impression that it is a better governed country than ours, we must demand better conditions of living than we currently have.

    The new Kotoka International Airport terminal is another example of why we cannot but insist that governments at all levels in the country live up to expectations. Compared with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the Kotoka is way ahead in terms of the elegance, facilities and services available to travellers.

    The Ghana airport reminded me of the Singapore airport I passed through late last year. On my return on Friday, the environment of the airport was as untidy as usual. The waiting section for arriving passengers outside the airport, not only have some pool of rainwater, but it was littered with cigarette stubs. Where I sat on arrival in Ghana while waiting for my host was as welcoming as it should be.

    While I join in congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election, I wish to urge him to really do his best to take our country to the next level as promised during the campaigns.

    Those of us who complain about what we don’t like about our country are not enemies of the government, what we are asking for are basic things that can be achieved if the government comes up with the right policies and ensures their implementation.

    It is a shame that we have to compare our country with countries that do not have the resources and manpower we have. How do we explain that Nigerians are being deported from Ghana? Why are we usually the butt of jokes by other African countries as being big for nothing?

    We can’t afford to remain the sleeping giant which we have always been. It’s time to wake up from our slumber and take our rightful place not only on the continent, but globally.

  • Ghana’s ex-vice president dies during morning exercise

    Former Vice President of Ghana Kwesi Amissah-Arthur died on Friday during early morning exercise in Accra, local media reports.

    The former number two man of the country under the John Mahama led National Democratic Congress collapsed at a gym at the Air Force base where he had gone to exercise.

    He was subsequently rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he died shortly after.

    The 67-year old, popularly referred to as PK, also served as Governor of the Bank of Ghana between 2009 and 2012 during which time Ghana enjoyed about 30-month long single digit inflation and a stable foreign exchange environment.

    He was last seen in public on Wednesday during a book launch by his wife Matilda Amissah-Arthur.

    President Addo Akufo-Addo, writing on his Facebook wall, paid tribute to Amissah-Arthur as “a longstanding public servant, who discharged his duties with dignity.”

    He described the death of the late former vice president as unfortunate.

    Amissah-Arthur was,at different times, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, Anambra State College of Education, Awka, Nigeria ,and Economics Department,University of Ghana,Legon.

    He later served as a Special Assistant to the Former Secretary (Minister) for Finance, Kwesi Botchway from 1983 to 1986.

    Amissah-Arthur subsequently rose to become a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning from 1986 to 1997.

    He is survived by his wife Matilda and has two children.

  • Training for eight BSU dons

    For participating actively in programmes organised by Tuning Africa Phase II project, Benue State University (BSU) has been selected as one of 14 universities to train academics in capacity building.

    Tuning Africa is a collaborative, consultative project involving academics working in subject groups with employers and other stakeholders in curriculum development to enhance students’ competences.

    The programme is aimed at organising and providing opportunities for African universities with capacity  to design  and  develop curricula,  provide  opportunities for generation of additional resources and support effective and productive networking.

    General meetings have benn held for the project, an initiative of the “Africa-EU Strategic Partnership” in Accra, Ghana; Cairo, Egypt and Brussels, Belgium.

    For BSU, the opportunity came when the organisation provided a window for African universities to compete for a few vacancies in the second phase of the project. The BSU won the award to compete after a keen competition.

    The university won with a proposal on a programme in Masters in Technology Education, following   which Prof Emmanuel Echor, Head Department of Curriculum and Teaching, represented the university in Cairo at the inaugural meeting between October 12  and 14 2015.

    Having successfully participated in three editions of the programme, he was handed the group’s franchise to train more academics with the aim of creating opportunities for staff and students’ mobility within and outside African universities for both learning and employment.

    Of the 14 universities in Nigeria that are enrolled for the project, Benue State is one of the two state   owned universities, whose proposals admitted them into the prestigious scheme.

    Academics in BSU, who participated in the programme organised by the Department   of   Education   Curriculum and who were presented certificates included, Prof Emmanuel Achor; Dr Joseph Obida; Dr Benedict Labe; Dr Naomi Doki; Dr Terungwa Adzende; Dr Bernard Tyubee and Dr Chris Orngu.

    At a ceremony where the participants were formally presented their certificates, the Head of Department praised their perseverance while on the programme.

    The   Dean,   Faculty   of   Education,   Prof   Batur   Gbenda   Laha,, expressed hope that more lecturers in the university will be accorded the opportunity to participate in the programme.

    He also implored the Head of Department to incorporate aspects of the programme into the course content of the Faculty to enable more lecturers without Professional teaching qualification hone their skills.

    The Vice-Chancellor,   Prof Msugh Moses Kembe, represented by  Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Academic), Prof Edward Agbo Omudu, urged the participants to ensure that their acquired knowledge permeates down the ladder.

    Tuning Africa project is intended to reach out to higher institutions in Africa and the rest of the world to produce graduates that will be comparable in knowledge acquired in their   discipline   by   raising   comparable   objectives,   learning   outcomes   (using   generic competencies) that are focused on what the learner should be able to do.

    With   this, Tuning projects   programmes will create possibility for staff and students mobility within and outside Africa and make graduates generally employable wherever they find themselves.

  • African marketing communication professionals gather for Maxim Festival

    Marketing, advertising and media industry professionals are expected to gather at in Accra, Ghana for a training and motivational discourse organised by Maxim Festival.

    The festival, according to the organiser, is premised around planned and documented growth of business, need for services to support this growth specifically in the continents marketing communication industry.

    In a release to The Nation, the Maxim Festival officials said rewards will be given to celebrate the great accomplishments already achieved by players, though noted that the differentiation and focus of Maxim Festival is around the training and inspiration to succeed.

    “A full day of inspirational talks on issues such as content in Africa, the Digital future of communication, modern business re-invention is an opportunity to consider new options to achieve personal and business success. The event is culminated with an exhibition of award winning short listed entries as well as exposure to selected leading Industry enthusiasts which will showcase their offering and allow for further networking opportunities. This is followed by an evening awards ceremony where the best work across 11 core categories will be recognized and ending off in celebration at the after party,” the statement reads.

    The organiser also stated that Maxim festival has been devised through experiences gained at attending Awards Festivals internationally and also through work and personal experiences in Africa by a wide group of Industry experienced professionals.

    “Maxim’s mantra is ‘Inspire, Educate and Reward’, with the key aim being to empower Africa to compete more effectively with the rest of the world. The attendees will be exposed to both local and global insights as well as the best creative work and most inspiring media and marketing strategies on the continent,” the statement reads.

    However, with the ever-changing and constantly developing media and digital landscape the organiser said: “this insight is important not only for the ad and media industries but for Clients as well.”

    Meanwhile, the regional West Africa Festival will be held in Ghana, Accra over a 3 day period: 23 – 25 November 2016. The regional East Africa event will take place early 2017.

    Maxim Festival is an enhancement and addition to existing in-country and International Festivals and goes beyond just rewarding great work or showcasing great work – its vision is to train and inspire people in terms of creating their own skill set to create great work.

  • DANA Air connects Accra

    DANA Air connects Accra

    As part of its ongoing route network expansion plans, Dana Air has begun daily flights from Lagos to Accra.

    The addition of Accra brings the current route network of the airline to five destinations  including  Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Accra.

    According to the Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, the new service will assist passengers to integrate into other route network with fares that are affordable and competitive .

    He said: ‘’ Business and leisure travellers to the beautiful city of Accra in Ghana, will experience the Dana Air -hospitality as we extend our operations to the cosmopolitan city of Accra.

    “We are working with the objective of integrating other cities from Accra into our  route network and making air transport accessible by developing new routes and linking same to our  existing routes’’

    He stressed that, with  Dana Air’s far-reaching domestic route network in Nigeria, guests arriving Lagos from Accra will also benefit from a choice of onward connections from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Uyo.’’

    Speaking further Obi said: “Accra is a preferred destination for Nigerian businessmen and women and Dana Air’s foray into the city will further boost investments in the city and deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.’’

    He noted that Dana Air’s daily flights to Accra will bring options, comfort and relief to its teeming guests who have been longing for an airline with superior on-time performance and world-class in-flight service.

    The airline has also set an introductory online fare of 22,000 to boost leisure and business trips from Lagos to Accra.

    Meanwhile, Dana Air has bagged the domestic airline carrier of the year award, organised by AES Excellence Club at the City Mall, Lagos.

    The AES award is an initiative designed by the AES Excellence Club to reward, celebrate, encourage and project to the world individuals and organisations which made eminent contributions towards the development of our country in their various fields of endeavour.

    According to the AES Excellence Club :  ‘’Dana Air emerged after a thorough and rigorous screening exercise by our team of assessors which was later subjected to verification through a public survey.”

    Omene while presenting the award to Dana Air said: “ This award is presented to you as a result of your outstanding customer service and efficiency. You came back with impressive innovations and we want you to keep it up’’

    According to Dana Air’s Accountable Manager, the airline is honoured to be named domestic airline carrier of the year by AES Excellence Club.

    ‘’We are honoured to have been named domestic airline carrier of the year by a credible organisation.  The award is a vote of confidence in our service delivery and customer experience and our goal is not only to improve on our quality in-flight service and customer service, but to continue to create innovations that will set us apart’’

    Meanwhile, the airline in its determination to make the Christmas and New Year holidays a special one for kids and guests, has said it is  offering kids travelling on its flights a special in-flight package.

  • DANA Air to begin flights to Accra 

    DANA Air to begin flights to Accra 

    After seven years of foray into domestic operation, DANA Air has concluded plans to begin daily flights on the Lagos-Accra route.

    The operations will begin  on December 1, from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2 ) , Ikeja, Lagos.

    The West African regional flight, according to NAMA Accountable Manager, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, is to consolidate its operations on the routes it was designated by government.

    Mbanuzuo disclosed this in an interview.

    He said: “We are now set to commence daily flights to Accra with a smart plan to bring world-class options to the flying public, in terms of in-flight service, on-time performance and pocket-friendly fares.”

    According to Mbanuzuo, the airline has made significant efforts to maintain her vision as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline.

    He said the airline would continue to review its operations to ensure a hassle-free flight experience.

    He went on: “Part of the initiatives we have launched recently  are the frequent flyer programme to reward our loyal customers, online check-in to reduce congestion at the check-in counters and delays at the airport.

    “We also recently launched the bus service, which enables our guests arriving MMA2 to get shuttle services to certain parts of Lagos State.”

    He  said the airline entered into partnership with Bond Masters Limited to provide affordable shuttle services to passengers while members of its frequent flyer programme Dana Miles would get cheaper bus service.

  • DANA Air to begin flights to Accra

    After seven years of foray into domestic operations, DANA Air has concluded plans to begin daily flights on the Lagos – Accra route .

    The commencement of the West African regional flight by the airline is part of efforts to consolidate its operations on the routes it was designated by the government, the Accountable Manager of the airline, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, disclosed in an interview .

    Mbanuzuo said :“We are now set to commence daily flights to Accra with a smart plan to bring world-class options to the flying public, in terms of in-flight service, on-time performance and pocket-friendly fares.”

    According to Mbanuzuo, the airline has made significant efforts to maintain her vision as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline.

    He said the airline will continue to review its operations to ensure a hassle-free flight experience for its guests.
    “Part of the initiatives we have launched recently are the frequent flyer program to reward our loyal customers, online check-in to reduce congestion at the check-in counters and delays at the airport .

    “We also recently launched the bus service, which enable our guests arriving MMA2 to get shuttle services to certain parts of Lagos State”

    He said the airline entered into partnership with Bond Masters Limited, to provide affordable airport shuttle services to its passengers while members of its frequent flyer programme Dana Miles, would get cheaper bus service.