The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nana Akufo-Addo

  • AFRIMA withdraws hosting rights from Ghana

    The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) has withdrawn the hosting rights from Republic of Ghana for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, over lack of capacity by the Host Country to meet the financial and contractual obligations entered to on July 12, 2018, necessary to retain hosting the biggest music event in Africa.

    The decision was reached on Monday, July 15 after several months of meetings and consultations with relevant stakeholders to remedy the situation with the expectation that the Republic of Ghana would provide concrete assurances and guarantees to discharge its contractual obligations for hosting the 2019 and 2020 editions of AFRIMA after its disappointing performance on the contract during the 2018 edition of the Awards held in Accra between November 21 and 24 which the organisers successfully put together against all odds.

    It would be recalled that decision of the African Union (AU) and AFRIMA to award a three-term hosting right (2018-2020) of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to Ghana followed the declaration of the President of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo of his desire to host the AFRIMA Awards in Ghana made on May 21, 2018 during the AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling Ceremony held in Accra. After initially complying to some of the host country responsibilities, Ghana’s hosting rights for the 5th

    AFRIMA was publicly announced by the African Union at the African Union Secretariat Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 5, 2018 and a letter signed by the Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union, Mrs. Amira El Fadil dated September 13, 2018 to effect the hosting rights was dispatched to the Government of the Republic of Ghana through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Ghana.

    According to the International Advisor, AFRIMA, Mr. Rikki Stein, while thanking the young people and the media in Ghana said; “It was a hard decision for us to withdraw the awards hosting rights for the next two years (2019 and 2020 editions) from the Republic of Ghana. As an awards owned for the African people, it is structured to travel around the continent giving the people the true African experience. We have some fond memories of our time in Ghana immersing ourselves in the lifestyle and music and we have formed great friendships among the Ghanaian people. We look forward to returning to Ghana at a more opportuned time. However, we cannot afford to compromise the standard of the laudable vision of AFRIMA to create a truly African brand that connects Africans and build the equity of Africa. The situation faced in Ghana has the potential to erode the goodwill and giant strides we have achieved in Africa through the awards”.

    Mr. Stein, a former Manager and friend of Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, added that AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of a host country as the host receives an influx of international and Africa dignitaries, AFRIMA nominees, music stars and executives who attend the four-day programme of activities. AFRIMA further offers 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.

    The African Union had enjoyed a successful and effective hosting partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria that won the right to host the four editions of AFRIMA -from 2014-2017.

    “The support of the Ministry of Information & Culture, Nigeria with sponsorship from the Government of Lagos State, Nigeria as AFRIMA Official Host City in 2016 and 2017 also fostered the smooth execution of the various AFRIMA events and facilitated the seamless engagement of corporate sponsorship/partnership at various facets of event planning and execution”, Mr. Stein explained.

    “Our concerns are genuine and worrying. We must see a commitment from the Host Country government to secure suitable venues in advance for holding the AFRIMA Awards ceremony and events, to provide suitable hotel accommodation in advance for nominees, artistes and guests of the Awards and to provide and process visas -on-arrival in advance and in good time for guests, nominees, artistes, contractors and other relevant stakeholders attending the Awards. If these are not in place, then we have a recipe for disaster on our hands”, he stated.

    The International Committee of AFRIMA has said it is working to determine a new host country for the 6th edition of the annual All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA and this will be announced in August 2019. After five outstanding editions of AFRIMA from 2014 to 2018, the 6th edition will continue in the tradition of celebrating the scintillating musical culture of Africa by featuring exhilarating Pan-Africa events through the lifespan of the calendar year in 2019.

    The events on the AFRIMA 2019 calendar include the ‘Call for Entry/Entry Submission’ opening on May 15 to end on August 2, a process when African music professionals from across the continent submit their musical works, songs and recordings via the official AFRIMA website www.afrima.org for a possible shot at nomination in one or more of the 36 categories of AFRIMA.

    The 6th AFRIMA Main Awards Ceremony, a four-day fiesta of music, glamour, Afrocentricism and entertainment, holds in November in the official awards Host City. The four-day event commences with the Welcome Soiree followed by the AFRIMA Music Village, the Host City Tour, the Africa Music Business Summit, the exclusive Nominees Party and concludes with the live Awards Ceremony. Fans of African music globally can follow along and take part in the AFRIMA 2019 events on social media, livestream on the AFRIMA website, the AFRIMA App and by tuning to over 84 television stations which are AFRIMA partners.

  • Gyan available for AFCON after president intervenes

    Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has bowed to a presidential request to make himself available for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, just 48 hours after announcing his international retirement.

    Gyan quit the national team on Monday, seemingly unhappy at having the captaincy taken away from him in spite of having not played for Ghana since September 2017 due to injury.

    But he released a fresh statement on Wednesday, saying he had had a change of heart after being asked to play at the June 21-July 19 finals in Egypt by Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Fit-again Gyan, 33, added that he had accepted the presidential request “in good faith and will make myself available for selection by coach Kwesi Appiah. I remain committed to serving this great nation and the people of Ghana”.

    Read Also: Gyan wants end to AFCON heartache

    Government spokesperson Eugene Arhin in a statement confirmed the president’s intervention.

    “The President urged him, in the national interest, to rescind his decision to retire from the Black Stars, and make himself available for selection by coach Kwesi Appiah.”

    Gyan has netted 51 goals in 106 internationals, both Ghana national team records, including scoring at six consecutive Nations Cup finals, as well as three World Cups from 2006-2014. His six World Cup goals are the most by an African player.

    NAN

     

  • Nigerian traders in Ghana petition Buhari over locked shops

    Delegations of National Association of Nigerian Traders in Ghana (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG) has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the discrimination against Nigerian traders in Ghana. 

    The petition which was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari was received by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in Abuja.

    Presenting the petition, Barr. Ken Ukaoha, NANTS President-General, said that the discrimination against Nigerian traders in Ghana dated back to 2007 when they were subjected to paying exorbitant taxes geared towards ruining their business.

    According to him, the Ghanaian authorities passed a law which compels all foreigners to have a minimum of $300,000 USD in 2007 and later increased it to $1 million USD in 2018 as minimum capital to start a business in Ghana.

    He noted that Nigerian traders were specifically targeted as over 400 shops belonging to Nigerians were locked up since July 27, 2018 till date despite their various appeals to the appropriate authorities.

    Ukaoha said under ECOWAS protocol which Ghana was a signatory, Nigerians should not be branded as foreigners but a community citizen as long as they are carrying ECOWAS passport.

    Regrettably, he said a Nigerian, Mrs Stella Upaleke, had committed suicide, because of the huge bank debts the closure had caused her and still in the mortuary in Ghana.

    He said despite the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari who took up the matter with his Ghanaian counterpart, President Nana Akufo-Addo on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, with a promise that the shops will be re-opened as Nigerians were not the target, the shops however, still remain closed. 

    Read Also: Buhari, APC governors meet in Aso Rock

    “The diplomatic relations between the two countries is being threatened with this Ghana behaviour as they are playing politics with means of livelihood of Nigerians in Ghana’’

    “We have over two million Ghanaians in Nigeria and Nigeria has been treating them well. We had petitioned the National Assembly and ECOWAS on this matter as law abiding citizen who didn’t want to take laws into our hands’’, he said.

    Corroborating, Chief Emeka Nnaji, President of NUTAG said that Nigerian goods worth billions of dollars are being locked up with sizeable number of it as perishable.

    “We are living in palpable fear in Ghana as they after our lives. We were beaten and tortured in Ashante region while incredible taxes imposed on us in order to cripple our businesses’’, he lamented.

    Responding,  Abike Dabiri-Erewa on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari commended them for the matured way the matter was handled and assured them of delivering the petition to the President.

    She was worried that despite the assurance of President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana to President Muhammadu Buhari that the shops will be re-opened, and despite an instruction to reopen the shops on Sept 27, the shops still remain closed.

    ”Let me advise you to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria despite provocation. Don’t even think about retaliation as Ghanaians are our brothers.’’

    The Presidential aide, who commiserated with the family of the deceased Nigerian trader who committed suicide, led others to observe a-minute silence in honour of the deceased. .

  • Buhari commiserates with Ghanaian President over Accra explosions

    Buhari commiserates with Ghanaian President over Accra explosions

    President Muhammadu Buhari has offered his heartfelt condolence to his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo, over the gas explosions that killed several people on Saturday in Accra.

    In a telephone call on Sunday, President Buhari prayed for families of the blast victims.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also told the Ghanaian leader that his personal thoughts and prayers, as well as that of all Nigerians, are with “our Ghanaian brothers and sisters as they mourn their loved ones.”

    He further prayed that Ghanaians, who are known for their extraordinary strength and resilience, would overcome the disaster and rise above the losses the country had suffered from gas-related explosions in recent times.

    President Akufo-Addo thanked President Buhari for his comforting words.

     

     

  • Buhari, Obasanjo, Akufo-Addo laud Okorocha’s education initiative 

    Buhari, Obasanjo, Akufo-Addo laud Okorocha’s education initiative 

    …says Africa needs education to bridge development gap

     

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo Saturday commended the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha for his free education programme for African children.

    The Imo Governor under the Rochas Foundation College Africa awarded scholarship to five children each from fifty five African countries.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the College in Owerri, the Imo State capital,  the African leaders agreed that access to quality education is the fastest way to change the fortune of the African continent.

    They urged African states to make education accessible to every African child “irrespective of their backgrounds”.

    Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, said that African leaders are pushing for greater African integration, which he said the Imo governor has taken the lead “through his Rochas Foundation College which has given opportunity to quality and free education to children from across Africa”.

    He noted that the greatest gift Governor Rochas Okorocha has given to humanity is the charity he has displayed through his Foundation and identifying with the less-privileged in Nigeria and Africa through education.

    According to the President, “I salute your vision. What create the world of visionaries are people who are able to dream big and make a change. This is what we see in Governor Okorocha. Your free education across Africa will help to push for a greater African integration. So I expect the products of the Foundation to be agents of Unity and wealth Creation”.

    Obasanjo on his part,   lauded governor Okorocha for his contributions to the development of education in Nigeria and the African continent.

    He stressed further that the “the extent we take education is the extent we take development”.

    The former President disclosed  that he is marveled by the Imo governor’s free education initiative which he said had offered opportunity to the under privileged and poor children to rise above poverty and relegation.

    He maintained that “the beginning of development for any country is education”.

    The former President, who is also the Chairman of the Board of the College, described Governor Okorocha as “the most resourceful and focused man of his generation”, who has continued to surprise him with his visions.

    He charged the graduating students of the Foundation College to be “job creators and not job seekers”.

    “I have come to share in the Rochas Okorocha vision on how to build African leaders of tomorrow so that they will grow up with African perspective, orientation and understanding, culture and integration because by the time we have Students in this School for five years, we will be having at least 25 Students from all African Countries. This will be the leaders of tomorrow, they will know themselves across Africa and when you talk about anything about Africa, they will understand and they will be the torch bearers and light of Africa”, he observed.

    To the new students, he said “you are very lucky boys and girls. You have a wonderful opportunity here, opportunity of hope away from home, opportunity of mothers and fathers that you might have lost, opportunity of friends you might not have gotten and opportunity of greater future. My advice to you is to take advantage of every opportunity that this School will give you”.

    He Continued “As the Chairman of the Board, I have agreed with Rochas that we will have five children from each African country every year and six from Nigeria, one from each of the Six geo-Political zones of Nigeria to balance the Political sensitivity of Nigeria”.

    Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his speech, stated that the access to quality education is the fastest way to change the fortune of the African continent.

    He insisted that education is a right that every African child should exercise, adding that “education is the equalizer of opportunities”.

    Akufo-Addo, noted that quality education can be made available “if we make the right decisions as African leaders”.

    He disclosed that the reason for his close association with Rochas is because he shares in his passion for development through education and his drive for a common vision of making education accessible to every child irrespective of family or place, adding that “Rochas has fulfilled the Scripture as in Matthew 25:40″.

    He explained that “education can change the fortunes of Africa. It is the equalizer of opportunities. We must all buy into the vision of a United Africa and the best way is through education”.

    The Governor in his brief speech stressed that,   “my dream is to unite and empower Africa through education. The only language we understand in Africa is the language of poverty and this is what bond me and these Children. I strongly believe that out of these poverty situation in Africa, the great leaders of tomorrow will emerge. I just started what I do not know how to complete but God will Continue to direct me”.

    To the graduands, he stated “I pray you keep the Candle on when am gone. I tasted poverty and had sworn to fight the scourge with resources available to him. We have taken five Children from each of the African Countries, who are mostly orphans or less-privileged in addition to the over fifteen thousand Children already in the Rochas Foundation Colleges across the nation”.

    Also at the event which also marked the 10th Graduation ceremony of the Rocahs Foundation College,  were former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the governors of Oyo State,  Chief Abiola Ajimobi, Kebbi State, Usman Saidi Dankingu, Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello and Akwa Ibom State, Chief Emmanuel Udom.

    Others were the Ambassadors of Liberia, Sierralone, Guinea, Congo, Southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Zambia, as well as traditional rulers from across the country.

  • Buhari, Ghanaian President meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Ghanaian President meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started at 3:25 p.m. when the Ghanaian President arrived the Presidential Villa.

    The meeting was held at the new Banquet Hall of the State House.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Osinbajo, Ghanaian President meet in Aso Rock

    Osinbajo, Ghanaian President meet in Aso Rock

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday met with the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akufo-Ado arrived the State House at 11: 09 a.m.

    The meeting was still in progress at the Vice President’s wing of the Presidential Villa at the time of filing this report.

  • Ghana inflation rises to 13.0% in April in higher transport costs

    Ghana inflation rises to 13.0% in April in higher transport costs

    Higher transport costs helped drive Ghana’s annual inflation rate higher to 13.0 per cent in April from 12.8 per cent the previous month, the statistics office said on Wednesday.

    The government of President Nana Akufo-Addo wants to slow inflation to 11.2 per cent by the end of the year as part of its drive to restore macroeconomic stability under a three-year aid deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    In a positive for that target, food inflation fell to 6.7 per cent in April from 7.3 per cent a month earlier.

    Non-food inflation, however, accelerated to 16.3 per cent from 15.6.

    “The marginal increase in the index was mainly due to a rise in transport fares which went up by 9.6 per cent last month,” deputy government statistician Baah Wadieh told a news conference.

    Ghana, which exports cocoa, gold and oil, said in April it was committed to reducing inflation, public debt and the budget deficit.

    It was one of Africa’s best-performing economies until 2014, when it was hit by a slump in commodity prices.

  • Ghanaian President names new central bank governor

    Ghanaian President names new central bank governor

    Three months after he was inaugurated, President Nana Akufo-Addo has appointed a new governor for Ghana’s Central Bank.

    He is Mr Ernest Addison, an Economist. He takes over from Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, who tendered his resignation from the bank on March 29 about 11 months after being appointed.

    According to a statement by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications in the Presidency, the president after received the outgoing governor’s letter decided to appoint a replacement.

    The incoming governor had served as Director of Research in the bank between 2003 and 2011 and Chief Economist for the West Africa Monetary Institute from 2001 to 2002.

    Until his appointment , he was a leading regional economist of the African Development Bank at its Southern Africa Resource Centre.

     

  • Ghana celebrates Nigerian relationship at 60th Independence Day celebration

    Ghana celebrates Nigerian relationship at 60th Independence Day celebration

    Mr. William Awinador-Kanyirige, the High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, says Nigeria played a fundamental role in attaining Ghana’s independence leading to a strong relationship between the two countries.

    Awinador-Kanyirige made this known at the celebration of the 60th Independence Day anniversary of Ghana which took place on Monday at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

    He said “the struggle of Ghana’s independence was a struggle not just by Ghanaians but by all Africans that were in that territorial region.

    “When we talk of the heroes of Ghana’s independence, we are also talking of the Nigerians that assisted us in that struggle although we don’t hear of them often.

    “Our independence is intertwined and when you dig into history, you realise that many Nigerians helped in enforcing the freedom of Ghana.

    “Take for instance the Ghana military, which has Hausa songs used to motivate the soldiers, was gotten from the interrelationship between the two countries.

    “Colonialists created the Officer Corp Training in Accra and the Police Training School in Kumasi where the great Nnamdi Azikiwe enrolled in before his mother took him out prior to his graduation day.

    “The history of our countries has been intertwined for decades and it’s not just the relationship between the military and the government but it is mainly in the relationship between the people of Ghana and Nigeria.

    “We hope this relationship gets stronger as we grow together.”

    Mr. Peter Iyamabo, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, urged Nigerians to continue supporting Ghana in order to improve bilateral trade and economic integration.

    “Like Nigeria, Ghana is currently carrying out reforms targeted at rebuilding the psyche of the people on issues of transparency and good governance.

    “I want to appeal to all Ghanaians present here to support the Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his efforts to transform Ghana.

    “Nigeria and Ghana have both enjoyed economic and international relations as our two countries have signed a number of agreements aimed at fostering economic integration.

    “Nigeria remained determined in its resolve to implement bilateral agreements in order to ensure our people receive the full benefits.

    “The relationship between Ghana and Nigeria remains very promising and full of potentials, we should collectively build on existing political and economic cooperation that has been the hallmark of our partnership,” he said.

    The Charge d’Affaires at the Rwandan high commission, Mr. Protogene Nsengumuremyi, said Rwanda had experienced a good relationship with Ghana over the years and Rwandans were happy to celebrate Ghana’s milestone.

    “This is a big celebration and we wish Ghana a prosperous development ahead and I know that their growth will be beneficial to everyone they relate with.

    “Rwanda has an excellent relationship with Ghana and we have common political views and interests and that can be seen in our bilateral relationship which has grown stronger over the years.

    “We Rwandans are happy to join Ghana in celebrating their 60th independence anniversary and hope to continue such a relationship,” Nsengumuremyi, said.

    Rita Orji, Chairman House Committee on Nigerians in the Diaspora, said: “I must confess that Ghana is one of the countries that we have the best relationship with.

    “They know how to maturely handle and deal with issues that may bring about controversies or problems.

    “Ghana is three years older than Nigeria and the fight for our sovereignty involved similar people like Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other prominent people.

    “There are many Nigerians who migrated from Nigeria and helped develop Ghana, therefore we see Ghanaians as our brothers.

    “Nigerians have come to celebrate Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary because Ghana has been a good friend and ally to Nigeria.”