World will miss Buhari – Akufo-Addo

 

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Africa and the world will miss outgoing Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari. 

“As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari. 

“West Africa, Africa, and, indeed, the world will miss his leadership – the leadership of the military ruler turned consummate democrat, who was extremely solicitous of Nigeria and Africa’s interest, and who sought for principle in all decisions in which he took,” the President remarked. 

He was speaking at the public presentation and launch of two biographies, “State of Repair – How Muhammadu Buhari tried to change Nigeria for Good”, by Anthony Goldman, and “The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari”, by Senator Abu Ibrahim, in Abuja, Nigeria. 

The two new books talk about the legacies of President Buhari. 

He is expected to exit the seat of power on May 29, 2023, when the incoming government would be sworn in. 

President Akufo-Addo, who chaired the event, in a Facebook post, congratulated the Englishman, Anthony Goldman, and the Nigerian, Senator Abu Ibrahim, the two authors, for their industry and scholarship. 

He urged authors, poets and playwrights on the continent “to tell the African story truthfully and with flair, and to give praise where it has been earned, and criticism where it is deserved.” 

In 2015, Buhari (born on December 17, 1942), was elected as Nigeria’s President, the first time an opposition candidate assumed the helm peacefully, following years of political turmoil in the country. 

The former military leader had served as Nigeria’s Head of State in 1984–85. 

Buhari assumed office at a period when jihadist insurgencies had reached their peak, with abductions and kidnappings being reported daily. 

GNA 

‘Ghana Week in DC’ to be launched tomorrow May 21

The ‘Ghana Week in DC' which is set to take place from October 9- 14, 2023 in Washington, DC, would be launched in Accra, tomorrow Sunday May 21, 2023, at the Accra City Hotel. 

The Week would feature a series of activities with a goal of promoting Ghana as the preferred destination for travels, investments, trade, sports and culture for the historical diaspora. 

Last year, a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Beyond the Return Secretariat travelled to Washington DC to engage with key stakeholders involved in planning the historical event.

A release issued to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, said the highlights of the Ghana Week DC would be a football match between one of Ghana's Premier League teams and DC United. 

It said Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia were known as the DMV area and one of the key markets when it came to promoting Ghana for tourism and business opportunities.

The release said Paxton Baker, CEO PKB Enterprises, would be at the Ghana Media Launch to share details on the collaboration. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Mr Akwasi Agyeman, said the “ Authority is excited with the outcomes of the partnership outreach culminating in the organising of the Ghana Week, DC.” 

That, he said, would help cement the gains of the ‘Beyond the Return’.

 “Already we have seen a steady rise in arrivals in the first quarter of 2023”.

Partners of the event are GTA, GIPC, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Ghana Football Association, Embassy of Ghana – Washington, DC, City of DC, Mayor Office and PKB Enterprises.

ECOWAS Court President Briefs Chief Justice of The Gambia on 2023 International Conference

 Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, met with Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow of The Gambia to discuss preparations for the upcoming international conference of the regional court in 2023.

The conference, focused on ECOWAS' zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, will take place in Banjul, The Gambia. The theme of the conference was carefully chosen in response to recent democratic setbacks in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, where military takeovers have threatened the region's democracy.

The conference aims to assess the policy's dimensions, analyze the implications of recent political developments, and propose measures to address the challenges. Justice Asante expressed hope that the conference's outcomes would contribute to democratic consolidation, strengthen the rule of law, and promote human rights in the region.

Chief Justice Jallow commended the choice of The Gambia as the conference host and pledged the country's judiciary's commitment to the success of the event.

EU Ambassador Inspects EU-funded Mango Farms in Ghana to Assess WACOMP Impact

 

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Irchad Razaaly, visited mango farms in Ghana supported by the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), funded by the EU. The purpose of the visit was to assess the impact of the program and its interventions. Accompanied by a delegation, the Ambassador toured Hendy Farms, Akorley packhouse, and a mango nursery in Dodowa.

Mr. Razaaly expressed his satisfaction with the project's progress, emphasizing the goal of helping Ghanaian farmers meet certification requirements and gain access to the EU market. The WACOMP program has provided various forms of support, including training, branding, marketing programs, and certification processes, to enhance the competitiveness of mango farming in Ghana.

Dr. Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor for WACOMP-Ghana at UNIDO, highlighted that WACOMP aligns with the government's industrial agenda and has trained over 30,000 individuals, with a focus on good agricultural practices, certification processes, and decent work.

WACOMP is a partnership between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at enhancing trade competitiveness in West Africa and integrating the region into the global trading system. With an overall objective of increasing production, value addition, and export capacities, the program supports private sector development and aligns with regional and national industrial strategies. In Ghana, the EU is contributing €6.2 million, and with additional funding from UNIDO, a total of €6.35 million has been allocated to support value-addition, sustainable production, and access to regional and international markets. WACOMP Ghana, launched in 2019 and scheduled to conclude in 2024, is in line with the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III) vision and UNIDO's mission to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development.