World's 40th most peaceful Country --Ghana

Ghana is the 40th most peaceful country in the world, while Norway is the most peaceful and Iraq the least, according to a study launched today. (read)
New Zealand ranks second and Denmark third on the list, which notably puts Japan near the top and Russia and Israel close to the bottom. While most European countries are more peaceful, half of the league table, the US is nearer the bottom in 96th place, while Russia is fifth from last on 118th.

The Global Peace Index, published a week before a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany, rates 121 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe on 24 factors/indicators including levels of violence, organised crime and military expenditure.

Ghana is ranked the second most peaceful in Africa after Tunisia
A close look at the details of Ghana's peace indicators and drivers (read) shows that the Potential for terriorist acts, Level of violent crime and Number of jailed population per 100,000 people is very low. However, Corruption perceptions, Ease of access to weapons of minor destruction and Likelihood of violent demonstrations are relatively high.

Some statistics used are however mind-boggling. For example, Unemployment in Ghana is listed as 8%. Spending on education is as low as 4% and GDP per capita marked as $409, which is lower than the government's figure. The index is backed by international figures including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US president Jimmy Carter and US economist Joseph Stiglitz, all winners of the Nobel peace prize. It is also supported by Queen Noor of Jordan.

Overall the study found that small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs such as the 27-nation European Union are most likely to be more peaceful. Income and education are crucial in promoting peace, it said.

Ghana gets Tough on Child traffickers

Ghana's government is to prosecute parents who sell their children to traffickers under a law introduced two years ago. Ghana's child trafficking law was passed in 2005 but has not been strictly enforced.

Ghana's Minister for Women and Children's Affairs said the grace period is now over. It makes it illegal to sell a child or to encourage parents to sell their child. The crime will carry a maximum sentence of ten years.

Zimbabwe to make anti-retroviral drugs more accesible

Zimbabwe plans to put 40,000 more people on anti-retroviral drugs to treat HIV by the end of the year. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said the number of people receiving ARV's has already increased from 60,000 in December to 80,000 this month.



HIV rates in Zimbabwe are amongst the highest in the world with more than 3,000 people dying every week. However, the country has seen a marked decline in the spread of HIV/AIDs over the past six years.

Nigeria's New President Sworn In

Umaru Yar'Adua is to be sworn in as Nigeria's new president despite widespread claims of electoral fraud. He will take over from current president Olusegun Obasanjo.



Two opposition candidates are challenging the outcome through the courts and trade unions called a two-day strike in protest. Local and international observers said the voting procedures were not credible.

Kufuor visits Fathia Nkrumah

President Kufuor on Monday visited Madam Fathia Nkrumah, Ghana's premier First Lady at the Nile Badrawi Hospital in Cairo, according to The Accra Daily Mail.Madam Nkrumah, 75, President Nkrumah's widow, has been hospitalized at the facility for the past four months for ill-health.At the hospital to receive President Kufuor were Gamel Nkrumah, President Nkrumah's eldest son, senior members of Fathia's family and a senior priest of the Coptic Church.

Gamel Nkrumah, in a brief interview, expressed his family's gratitude to President Kufuor and the people of Ghana and described the President as the gentleman he is reputed to be.President Kufuor wished the former First Lady speedy recovery.The President is in the final leg of his visit that saw him meet with the European Union (EU), the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations; the African Union (AU) and the Arab League.He was to attend the inauguration of President Yar’Adua of Nigeria on Tuesday.

Ghana's Energy Woes Worsens As Aboadze Hits A Fault

he Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday announced that the steam turbine at the Aboadze Plant has developed a technical problem, since last Sunday, May 27 With the Akosombo Hydroelectric Plant still running on two turbines, because of the low water level in the Volta Lake, there will be no additional power from hydro generation to cater for the shortfall.

A joint statement by the VRA and ECG issued in Accra said this situation will mean that there may be further power curtailment in various parts of the country. “We however, wish to assure our valued customers that this is a temporary challenge and we expect to return the turbine into service by the end of the week. “We regret the inconvenience to consumers of electricity and appeal to the general public to bear with us,” the statement added.GNA

President Kufuor in Egypt

President Kufuor arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo on Sunday for a two day state visit at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart, Hosani Mubarak.

The President during his tour is scheduled to visit Fathia Nkrumah; wife of Ghana’s First President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, at the Nile Badrawy Hospital in Cairo, where Mrs Nkrumah who reportedly suffered a stroke last year has since been hospitalized.

The President, who is being accompanied by Foreign Minister, Nana Akuffo Addo and other top government officials was met on arrival by the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, Mrs Fayza Abul Naga and the Ghana Ambassador to Egypt, Akiliya Olufemi Akiwimi.

The President’s visit would enable the two leaders to review the bilateral relations between them and map out strategies for the way forward.
On arrival at the Cairo International Airport, President Kufuor was taken to the Presidency where he was welcomed by President Mubarak before inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the Egyptian Army.

The two leaders later went into a closed door meeting. According to a programme issued by the Ghana Embassy, President Kufuor will visit the Cairo Citadel and the museum before meeting African Ambassadors to Egypt and members of the Egyptian business community.

Today, President Kufuor will visit the monument of an unknown solider at the city of Nasr, where he will lay a wreath. He will lay another wreath on the tomb of the former Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat.

President Kufuor is also expected to meet the Egyptian Prime Minister, Dr Ahmed Nazif and Amr Moura, Secretary General of the League of Arab States.
He will also visit the Pyramid Site before meeting with the Ghanaian community there.