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Tag: John Mahama

  • Trump’s withdrawal from climate pledges ‘detrimental’ for Africa

    Trump’s withdrawal from climate pledges ‘detrimental’ for Africa

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement was going to be “detrimental” for Africa, environmental activists and politicians said Friday.

    “It will now be much harder to protect people on the African continent from the effects of climate change,” World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa researcher Jaco Toit told dpa.

    The withdrawal from the accord by the world’s second-biggest carbon polluter jeopardizes financing for mitigation and control efforts across the African continent, according to du Toit.

    “We hope that other countries will jump in to make up for the shortfall,” the researcher said.

    The former president of Ghana, John Mahama, who was instrumental in garnering support for the 2015 pact, said “Trump’s decision … comes from a truly misinformed position.”

    “The world becomes a truly unpredictable place when such global treaties can be reversed by the electoral decision of one nation,” Mahama warned.

    Trump’s administration had “turned its back” on Africa, lamented Greenpeace Africa executive director Njeri Kabeberi.

    “The millions of people living on the African continent are on the frontlines of climate change, and it is critical that polluters are held accountable for the suffering and injustice global warming is already inflicting,” said Kabeberi.

    The African Union meanwhile promised to keep up its “strong commitment to full implementation of the Paris agreement,” in spite of the US’ withdrawal from the pact.

    Climate analytics researchers warn that climate change will have serious repercussions in Africa, including extreme heat waves, lack of rainfall and shrinking water resources, with negative consequences for agricultural production and fisheries.

    Experts expect an increase of the already high rates of undernutrition and infectious disease, flash flooding and food price increases across the continent.

  • Governor of Ghana central bank resigns

    Governor of Ghana central bank resigns

    Governor of Ghana’s central bank, Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku has resigned, sources who asked to be anonymous have revealed.

    According to sources within the central bank, the governor who officially started his four-year term around September last year tendered his resignation on Wednesday citing personal reasons.

    Although the governors of the central bank have been insulated against political risk through an amended Bank of Ghana Act which assures them the security of tenure, speculations have been rife immediately after the December election that the current government would like the governor to leave office so they could appoint a replacement.

    Issahaku was first appointed by former president John Mahama in April 2016 in an acting position when Henry Wampah tendered his resignation six months before the end of his tenure.

    Mahama was defeated at the polls by current president, Nana Akufo-Addo who won the election by 53 per cent.

    Sources within the central bank also named former head of the research department at the bank, Ernest Addison now with the African Development Bank as one of the front-runners to occupy the Bank of Ghana chair.

    The outgoing governor held his last Monetary Policy Committee press briefing on Monday, where he announced a 200 basis point reduction in the bank’s benchmark policy rate from 25.5 per cent to 23.5 per cent.

     

  • Buhari, three other leaders meet over Gambia

    Buhari, three other leaders meet over Gambia

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed-door with three West African leaders in Abuja.

    The meeting is in continuation of discussion on the crisis brewing in The Gambia.

    Among the heads of state at the meeting are the President of Senegal, Macky Sall; President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and ex-President of Ghana, John Mahama.

    But the Vice President of Sierra-Leone was yet to arrive when the meeting started.

    The meeting was still in progress at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the time of filing this report.

  • U.S. congratulates Ghana, President-elect Akufo-Addo

    U.S. congratulates Ghana, President-elect Akufo-Addo

    The U.S. has congratulated Ghana and the country’s president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, on the success of the Dec. 7 Poll.

    Deputy Spokesperson of U.S. Department of State, Mark Toner, in a statement issued on Friday, said the outcome of the election was a proof of Ghana’s vibrant democracy.

    “The U.S. has congratulated the people of Ghana on the successful conclusion of the December 7 general election.

    “We also congratulate President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo. The peaceful and inclusive nature of the election is a testament to Ghana’s citizens and its vibrant democracy,” he said.

    The U.S. also commended Ghana’s President, John Mahama, for demonstrating sportsmanship and statesmanship by respecting the outcome of the election, and the country’s electoral commission..

    “We commend President Mahama for respecting the results announced by the Electoral Commission, calling on his supporters to do the same.

    “We also commend him for demonstrating the leadership and commitment to democracy for which Ghana is known throughout the world.

    “We commend Ghana’s Electoral Commission for administering a credible election process.”

    He said the U.S. has also recognised the civil society organisations that contributed to a peaceful, transparent, and fair election.

    Toner said the Secretary of State, John Kerry, in a phone calls with Mahama and Akufo-Addo, said the U.S. and Ghana had a close and enduring friendship rooted in our mutual commitment to freedom and democratic values.

    “We look forward to working with President-elect Akufo-Addo and his administration on economic growth, health, governance and security in Ghana and throughout West Africa.

    “Ghana has a long tradition of peaceful democratic elections and we congratulate the country on its sustained commitment to democracy.” (NAN)

  • Ghana: Mahama calls to congratulate Akufo-Addo

    Ghana: Mahama calls to congratulate Akufo-Addo

    Ahead of the official announcement of the result of the Ghana presidential election, incumbent President John Mahama has called to congratulate his leading opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.
    Akufo-Addo in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @NAkufo-Addo disclosed the call by Mahama.
    ” A few minutes ago, I received a call from President @JDMahama congratulating me on winning the 2016 Presidential Election. #ChangeHasCome,” Akufo-Addo stated.

  • Buhari, ECOWAS leaders meet on Burkina Faso‎

    Buhari, ECOWAS leaders meet on Burkina Faso‎

    President Muhammadu Buhar and eight other ECOWAS leaders are locked in a closed- door meeting over the political logjam in Burkina-Faso.

    The extra-ordinary meeting which is ongoing is expected discuss the ongoing political crisis in Burkina Faso and the way out of the imbroglio.

    ECOWAS has since placed Burkina-Faso on suspension, following a military coup which toppled the interim government headed by Michel Kafando.

    ECOWAS leaders attending the meeting which is taking place at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport are – John Mahama (Ghana), Thomas Boni Yayi (Benin Republic), Macky Sall (Senegal) and Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire).

    The leaders of Guinea, Niger Republic and Mali are also in attendance.

    Buhari in his welcome remark said the development in Burkina-Faso runs contrary to the expectations of ECOWAS‎.

    He stressed that the extraordinary summit therefore provides the opportunity to review the development.

    ‎He also commended the process of engagement by the regional body, which according to him, has resulted in some measure of understanding towards the resolution of the crisis.

     

  • 2015 polls: ECOWAS hails Jonathan statesmanship

    2015 polls: ECOWAS hails Jonathan statesmanship

    The Chairman of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and Ghanaian President, John Mahama on Tuesday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship by conceding defeat to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    He conveyed ECOWAS’s commendation while speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, his visit was to extend ECOWAS commendation and congratulations to the people of Nigeria following the successful conduct of this year’s elections.

    He said: “If you recall before the elections on behalf of the authority of ECOWAS I gave a solidarity message to Nigerians to step up to the plate and consolidate your democracy by having a peaceful, free and transparent elections.”

    “And I believe that the whole world is congratulating you on the peace and stability that has continued to endure both before, during and after the elections.”

    “I have been conferring with President Jonathan on several issues in respect of ECOWAS. We are due to have a summit and we discussed issues about the summit and a few outstanding issues relating to ECOWAS.

    He added: “I also took the opportunity to commend him for the statesmanship that was displayed after the election. We all knew that he congratulated president-elect Buhari after the election realities and he conceded, I feel that was a very very great sign of maturity and has earned the respect of all Nigerians and the respect of the international community for all what he did.”

    “We expect a smooth transition and possibly the role that Nigeria plays in the ECOWAS being the biggest economy not only in our sub region but in the whole continent.”

    Stressing that Nigeria was an important member of the sub-region, he said that the body expects Nigeria to continue to play its prominent role in the ECOWAS sub-region.

     

  • West African leaders mull new force to fight Boko Haram

    West African leaders mull new force to fight Boko Haram

    West African leaders will seek permission from the African Union next week to create a multi-national force to fight the Boko Haram sect, Ghanaian President, John Mahama, told Reuters on Friday.

    Such force would represent the most robust international response yet to the militants who have killed thousands over the last year in their campaign for an Islamic caliphate and have also launched cross border attacks into Niger and Cameroon.

    Boko Haram is seen as the most serious security threat to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and its biggest energy producer, but Mahama said the group and militants in Somalia, Kenya, Mali and elsewhere posed a wider risk.

    “Terrorism is like a cancer and if we don’t deal with it, it will keep going. It threatens everybody in the sub region. When it comes to terrorism nobody is too far or too near,” he said.

    It will take months before an AU force could be set up and key issues such as who would command it, the location of its headquarters and its financing remain undecided, he said.

    Once set up, however, the AU could ultimately seek a United Nations Security Council mandate to take over the force as happened in Sudan’s Darfur region, he said.

     

  • B/Faso crisis: Jonathan, two others in Ouagadougou for talks

    B/Faso crisis: Jonathan, two others in Ouagadougou for talks

    President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, for talks aimed at ending the current political crisis in that country.

    Jonathan is joined by Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and John Mahama of Ghana.

    Mahama is the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    The three leaders are members of a delegation of Heads of State and Government raised by ECOWAS to intervene in the crisis triggered by Friday’s resignation of Blaise Compaore as Burkina Faso President, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    Jonathan, who arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Ouagadougou International Airport at 9.50am local time was received by the country’s interim Head of State, Lt-Col. Isaac Zida.

    He is accompanied by Mr. Nurudeen Mohammed, the Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs and some principal aides.

    Also at the airport to receive Jonathan was the Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Mr. David Bala, and other officials of the Embassy.

    The visiting Heads of State are billed to hold talks with Zida, opposition leaders, members of civil society organisations and other political stakeholders in Burkina Faso.

    As at the time of filing this report, Jonathan, Sall and Mahama were holding preliminary discussions behind closed doors at the Libya Hotels, venue of the mediation talks.

    They will later meet with other parties involved in the crisis.

    Compaore resigned and fled to Ivory Coast on Friday following mass protest in Ouagadougou.

    The protest was triggered by Compaore’s plan to amend the Constitution of Burkina Faso to pave way for him to contest for the Presidency again in next year’s elections after 27 years in power.

    On Saturday, the military seized power and named Zida, who was second in command of the Presidential Guard, as the new interim leader.

     

  • No decision on 2015 AFCON yet – Ghana President

    No decision on 2015 AFCON yet – Ghana President

    Ghana president John Dramani Mahama said his government has not decided to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Last week, the Confederation of African Football wrote to Ghana and South Africa to be on standby should Morocco decided to withdraw from hosting the tournament next year due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus, africanFootball.com reports.

    Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga was quoted as saying the country has the wherewithal to step in as hosts and that attracted responses from civil society groups including the Ghana Medical Association.

    But President Mahama has moved to clarifying the issue while speaking to Ghanaian in the United Kingdom.

    “We haven’t taken a decision to host,” Mahama said.

    “I am President of Ghana, I chair cabinet. No such decision has been taken by cabinet advising me to accept to host.”

    He added that: “I want to tell you that we will take the best interest of Ghanaians at heart. As President, I don’t want to see Ebola spread to my country and so if Morocco expresses concern that that is one of the concerns for which they want a postponement, we are going to look at that carefully before we host AFCON or not, but certainly 2017 we are putting in a bid for it.”