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Tag: African Union Commission

  • Republic of Guinea embraces AFRIMA 2019

    The officials of African Union Commission (AUC) and members of the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) were hosted by the government and people of the Republic of Guinea during the African Union Stakeholders’ meeting which held last week in Conakry, the capital city, to propagate the idea and objectives of AFRIMA in line with the AU Agenda 2063, Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and the Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries.

    The stakeholders’ meeting was in a bid to get the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance ratified among Pan African countries, alongside promoting the AFRIMA objectives and its programme of events for the sixth edition which commenced on May 10 and culminates in a four-day event in November.

    The Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Sports, Guinea, received the delegation of AU and AFRIMA officials on behalf of the government and on hand to meet the delegation were other stakeholders from the creative and arts industry including music professionals, music executives, members of cultural group association, members of Guinea Dance Troupe and the media.

    The African Union and AFRIMA delegation included the Head of Culture, African Union, Ms. Angela Martins; the President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; Director General, African World Heritage Fund, Varissou Shuaib and Director of the Observatory of Cultural policies in Africa (OCPA), Professor Lupwishi Mbuyamba, who paid a visit to the National Museum in Conakry where they were treated to a display of Guinea’s culture and heritage, with artefacts and ancient musical instrument reflecting the cultural journey of the Guineans.

    Read Also: 6th AFRIMA welcomes submission of songs and videos

    Monsieur Fodeba Isto Keira, the Secretary General/Permanent Secretary expressed happiness that the AU and AFRIMA visited the Republic of Guinea for the purpose of entrenching the values and opportunities in the culture and creative industry in Africa. He pledged the support of the government and people of Republic of Guinea to the AFRIMA initiative.

    The team also paid a courtesy visit to the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Guinea, His Excellency, Dr. Claus Kory Kondiano.

    Addressing attendees and journalists, Mr. Dada enjoined participation of African music lovers in the ongoing entry submission for the 6th edition of AFRIMA, where eventual nominees compete in the 36 various categories to win the AFRIMA 23.9 carat gold-plated trophy. He also reiterated that entry submission of songs closes on August 2, 2019.

    AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union, is a music property that recognises and rewards the work and talent of a myriad of African artists from the old to the new generation of musicians. The award show is usually broadcast to over eighty countries around the world.

  • Ghana to host 5th AFRIMA in November

    The African Union Commission (AUC), has announced Ghana as the official host country for the 5th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), following receipt of the Letter of Intent to Host AFRIMA dated April 18, 2018, addressed to the Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Mrs. Amira Elfadil and signed by the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana, Honourable Catherine Afeku.

    By this, spanning four days of activities, Ghana will host the awards holding from November 21 to November 24, 2018.

    The unveiling was conducted at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday, September 6, 2018 by the African Union’s Acting Director for Social Affairs, Mariama Cisse Mohamed; Head of Culture, African Union, Ms. Angela Martins, and  President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada.

    In her response letter dated September 13, 2018 with reference number DSA/CUL/16/341818 awarding Host Country right for the 5th edition of the annual continental awards event to Ghana, Mrs. Amira Elfadil congratulated the West African country on overcoming the competition involved in hosting AFRIMA and winning the Host Country rights through a transparent process. The AU also thanked the Lagos State Government for partnering and supporting the successful hosting of previous editions of AFRIMA.

    “We are counting on the Republic of Ghana to fulfill all requirements and efforts to make AFRIMA 2018 a huge success,” the AU Commissioner stated.

    “The 2018 edition of AFRIMA is also the 5th edition of the continental awards and the 5th AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s values of promoting African unity and celebrating cultural uniqueness through the program of events on the AFRIMA calendar between May and November 2018. Music and Entertainment are key sectors of the African culture industry stimulating the sustainable social development and growth of Africa. It is in this light that the AUC is determined to support these sectors to continue to contribute significantly to Africa`s development and favourable economic advantage on the global stage.”

    Ghana is renowned as one of Africa’s fastest-growing region for music, entertainment, and commerce, with a thriving tourism industry, and a diverse and rich cultural heritage. Accra, the capital city, is also a globally recognized city that boasts of monuments in culture, arts, and craft, with vast growth in business and tourism.

    The 2018 edition of AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of the state as the country prepares to receive an influx of international and continental dignitaries, AFRIMA 2018 nominees, music stars and executives who are attending the program of activities. The AFRIMA program of events provides the opportunity for Ghana to showcase the unique artistic, tourism and economic potentials of her culturally dynamic and beautiful cities. The program goes further to offer benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the Host Country, including an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music.

    Activities scheduled to precede the main awards ceremony include the AFRIMA Welcome Soiree; Africa Music Business Summit; AFRIMA Music Village; Media Interviews/Meet & Greet; and a tour of the historic Elmina Castle in Ghana.

    In partnership with the African Union, the All Africa Music Awards is the biggest music event on the continent and the awards ceremony will be broadcast live to 84 countries across the globe.

     

  • Minister tasks Customs on import levy

    Minister tasks Customs on import levy

    The Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on Tuesday, tasked the Director-General of Nigeria Customs Service and African Union Commission to bring on board the issue of 0.2 per cent import levy and come out with the guidelines for its implementation.

    She based the call for the implementation on making it a permanent source of funding for implementation by all members states as a permanent source of funding activities of the Commission.

    Adeosun made this disclosure at the first extraordinary meeting of the African Union sub-committee of Directors-General of Customs in Abuja.

    The minister also pointed out to the meeting that Africa cannot continue to settle for the position of the biggest world’s buyer without selling to the world market in return.

    According to her, the continent must come to the trade table as an equal partner that is buying and selling in order to correct the age-long embarrassment that has made its economy vulnerable.

    Her words: “But on a more serious note, I really do welcome you. I hope that the conversation would be deep, I hope they would be robust, I hope that they would be patriotic to Africa. We need an African focus.

    “We cannot continue to be the world’s biggest market for anybody who wants to sell anything. We need to come to the trade table as equal partners, selling as well as buying. And we must correct some historical embarrasses that have made our economies very vulnerable.”

    The minister noted that Nigeria is not just African’s largest economy by size but African’s largest economy by impact, stressing that the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali has shown the way that Africans ought to go as the largest economy by initiative- spearheading and hosting the meeting.

    She revealed to the meeting that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is very committed to the ease of doing business and it has recently outlined a number of some radical changes in the expectation of the public for service delivery.

    The Nigeria Customs Service, said the minister, is the is the first part of the changes, which has called for the need to re-engineer some of the processes that the meeting was expected to come up with the strategies for their implementation.

    Speaking, Ali retired, recalled that since the decision to hold the meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe in November 2016, the service had been mobilising personnel and materials to provide a conducive environment and a befitting welcome to make it most successful.

    He said it was the expectation of the Nigerian Customs that the meeting would bring all the African Union Customs Administration together to articulate a common agenda and speak in unison during the World Customs Organization’s Annual General Council Meeting coming up in July 2017.

    The meeting, according to him, would afford the African continent the opportunity to occupy the rightful position in the WCO within the administrative and political hierarchy and exert an authority to influence policies that will be beneficial to the continent and enhance the intra-African trade.

  • UN message on Africa Day

    UN message on Africa Day

    Africa Day 2016 is being celebrated in furtherance of the African Union’s theme for this year: “Human Rights with a Particular Focus on the Rights of Women”. This demonstrates the commitment of Africa’s leaders to place women – as key drivers and enablers – at the front and centre of all efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

    Both frameworks share similar strategic principles, with a focus on people, prosperity, environmental sustainability, justice, human rights and mutually accountable partnerships. The alignment between the global and the continental agendas calls for a harmonized approach in planning, implementation and monitoring.

    Under Agenda 2063, Africa’s priorities include investing in its people, with an emphasis on women and youth; developing, manufacturing and agro-processing; building transport, water, sanitation, energy and ICT infrastructure; domestic resource mobilization and stemming illicit financial flows; ending conflict; promoting human rights; and expanding democratic governance. Africa also has the opportunity to pursue industrialization in a more environmentally sustainable manner, including through climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and arresting deforestation. I encourage African nations and their partners to spare no effort in advancing these priorities. The United Nations is committed in its support.

    Africa’s economic prospects are good, despite the uncertain global economic landscape.  Growth is projected to increase to 4.4 per cent in 2016, from 3.7 percent in 2015.  I urge Africa’s leaders to use these gains to address rising social and economic inequalities, and ensure that no African is left behind. This is crucial for tackling the root causes of conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, and fostering peace and stability. I also commend Africa’s bold initiative on “Silencing the Guns by 2020”, which is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063’s First Ten-Year Implementation Plan.

    The successful implementation of these new agendas will require a renewed partnership for development cooperation among African governments, UN entities, the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency, the Regional Economic Communities and the development partners.  The private sector also has a key role to play in creating jobs, promoting innovation in technologies and services, and supporting the massive infrastructure transition needed to fulfill Africa’s sustainable development objectives.

    On this Africa Day, I urge all stakeholders to rally behind the transformative vision set out in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. What is good for Africa is good for the world.

  • How insurgency affect international peace

    How insurgency affect international peace

    • The Security Council recalls its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security

    The Security Council has reaffirmed Member States’ determination to continue to do all they can to resolve conflict and to deny terrorist groups the ability to put down roots and establish safe havens to address better the growing threat posed by terrorism.

    The Council stresses that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States and international, regional and sub-regional organizations to counter the terrorist threat.

    According to the council, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed.

    Thus, the council expresses its concern at the continued threat posed to international peace and security by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (also known as “Boko Haram” and hereinafter referred to as such) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with A1-Qaida, reaffirms its resolve to address all aspects of that threat, and reaffirms that terrorism, including the actions of the Boko Haram terrorist group, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization.

    The Security Council reiterates its strong condemnation of all the terrorist attacks, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.

    The council also recognized that women and girls are particularly targeted by Boko Haram, expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the peoples and Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

    The Security Council recalls that those responsible for abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable and brought to justice.

    The Security Council takes note of the Communiques of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) of 25 November, 2014 on the threat posed by Boko Haram and the efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria) and Benin to combat Boko Haram.

    It further takes note of the Letter sent by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to the United Nations Secretary-General on 6 March 2015, forwarding the Communiques adopted by the AUPSC on 29 January and 3 March 2015, as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to fight against Boko Haram.

    The Council, while acknowledging the progress made on the ground following joint regional military efforts in recent months, condemns strongly the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group, particularly against civilians and encourages increased regional cooperation.

    The Security Council encourages all actors involved in the response to support recovery programmes and the provision of the necessary protection measures for civilians, and to pay particular attention to the release and reintegration of children abducted by Boko Haram or formerly associated with this terrorist group.

    It recalls that Boko Haram has been designated as associated with Al-Qaida by the Committee established, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and in this regard, expresses its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings and entities providing support to Boko Haram, including those who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for Boko Haram and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida through information and communications technologies including the Internet and social media or through any other means.

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