Category: National

Ambassador Emilia Ndinelao Mkusa, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council for the month of March 2024, has expressed grave concern over the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa and urged African leaders to intensify efforts at addressing the root causes of the coup d’etats.

The AU has always expressed abhorrence towards military takeovers and insisted on ‘zero tolerance’ for violent resurgence, she stated.

Article five of the AU Charter promotes democratic principles, good governance, free, fair and transparent elections, and women and youth empowerment.

She, thus, urged African leaders to strictly adhere to the tenets of democracy and respect the concerns of the citizens.

Ambassador Mkusa, also the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the AU, made the call during the opening of the Second Accra Reflection Forum on Monday.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially opened the two-day forum on the theme: ‘Robust Responses, Deepening Democracy, Sus
tainable Security’.

She made a clarion call on African leaders to sharpen the governance structures at the national level to empower the citizens economically and create employment opportunities for the youth.

She was of the belief that if manipulation of elections and unconstitutional extension of presidential term limit persisted, Africa would continue to face democratic challenges.

Therefore, she entreated the participants to be frank with issues concerning the root causes of military resurgence in Africa and take decisive actions to address them.

Africa has witnessed six military takeovers since 2022, with several abortive coups.

The AU has since suspended the military juntas of those countries from its activities and imposed various sanctions on them.

The Accra Forum II underscores the Union’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring sustainable security in Africa.

Ms Damilien Larbi Tchintchibidja, the Vice Chairperson of ECOWAS Commission, noted that the lack of inclusivity in k
ey decision-making was leading to the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa.

She urged African leaders to respect democratic principles and give free hand to the judiciary and legislative arms of government to work effectively.

Topics lined up for discussion include an Overview of the state of Democracy and Political Governance in Africa, Stocktaking and Accelerating the Implementation of Accra and Malabo Declarations, and Structural Drivers and Root Causes of Unconstitutional Changes of Government: Impact and Retrospection and Sustainable Strategies, Tools and Solutions to Safeguard Democracy in Africa.

In attendance were government officials, policy-makers, civil society organisations, and development partners, who would engage in frank discussions and exchange of ideas in advancing democratic governance and enhancing the rule of law in Africa.

The Second Reflection Forum in Accra stands as a testament to the AU’s dedication to promoting peace, security, and good governance across the continent.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ambassador Emilia Ndinelao Mkusa, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council for the month of March 2024, has expressed grave concern over the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa and urged African leaders to intensify efforts at addressing the root causes of the coup d’etats.

The AU has always expressed abhorrence towards military takeovers and insisted on ‘zero tolerance’ for violent resurgence, she stated.

Article five of the AU Charter promotes democratic principles, good governance, free, fair and transparent elections, and women and youth empowerment.

She, thus, urged African leaders to strictly adhere to the tenets of democracy and respect the concerns of the citizens.

Ambassador Mkusa, also the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the AU, made the call during the opening of the Second Accra Reflection Forum on Monday.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially opened the two-day forum on the theme: ‘Robust Responses, Deepening Democracy, Sus
tainable Security’.

She made a clarion call on African leaders to sharpen the governance structures at the national level to empower the citizens economically and create employment opportunities for the youth.

She was of the belief that if manipulation of elections and unconstitutional extension of presidential term limit persisted, Africa would continue to face democratic challenges.

Therefore, she entreated the participants to be frank with issues concerning the root causes of military resurgence in Africa and take decisive actions to address them.

Africa has witnessed six military takeovers since 2022, with several abortive coups.

The AU has since suspended the military juntas of those countries from its activities and imposed various sanctions on them.

The Accra Forum II underscores the Union’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring sustainable security in Africa.

Ms Damilien Larbi Tchintchibidja, the Vice Chairperson of ECOWAS Commission, noted that the lack of inclusivity in k
ey decision-making was leading to the resurgence of military takeovers in Africa.

She urged African leaders to respect democratic principles and give free hand to the judiciary and legislative arms of government to work effectively.

Topics lined up for discussion include an Overview of the state of Democracy and Political Governance in Africa, Stocktaking and Accelerating the Implementation of Accra and Malabo Declarations, and Structural Drivers and Root Causes of Unconstitutional Changes of Government: Impact and Retrospection and Sustainable Strategies, Tools and Solutions to Safeguard Democracy in Africa.

In attendance were government officials, policy-makers, civil society organisations, and development partners, who would engage in frank discussions and exchange of ideas in advancing democratic governance and enhancing the rule of law in Africa.

The Second Reflection Forum in Accra stands as a testament to the AU’s dedication to promoting peace, security, and good governance across the continent.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The African Union (AU) member states should strive to uphold their respective national constitutions, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised.

The leaders, he said, were also expected to adhere to the presidential term limits in line with the rule of law to engender political stability and democratic governance.

The manipulation of democratic processes, including tampering with electoral laws, constitutional provisions and term limits with the goal of benefitting at the expense of democratic norms and principles ought not to be entertained, he cautioned.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, addressing the Second AU Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs), in Accra, said it was worrying that some member states were bent on undermining the Accra Declaration.

The Declaration acknowledges that the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, expanding threat of terrorism and violent extremism across the continent, as well as transnational organised crime, are negatively impa
cting the peace, security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of some member states.

Africa continues to face structural challenges in adequately addressing the root causes of terrorism, violent extremism, and unconstitutional changes of government – a development that has exacerbated the continent’s growing political turmoil.

The Second AU Reflection Forum is on the theme, ‘Robust Response, Deepening Democracy, Sustainable Security’.

The two-day Forum is expected to build on the first edition held in March 2022, and on the Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, also known as the Malabo Declaration.

The stakeholders will exchange views on consolidating democratic governance, advancing national ownership of governance processes, and strengthening constitutionalism and the rule of law in Africa.

They will align on coordination and coherence to effectively implement the Malabo and Accra Declarations.

President Akufo-Addo expressed unequivocal condemnati
on of any ascent to power that was outside constitutional provisions and inimical to democratic norms.

The Accra Declaration, he noted, affirmed the continent’s collective commitment on the principles of zero tolerance for coup d’etats.

‘When we gathered here two years ago, four members of our Union had been suspended due to their unconstitutional changes of governments in their territories.

‘Today, two years later, the situation has worsened. As we gather here, six member states of the Union have been suspended for the same reasons .

‘This is an extraordinary occurrence in our efforts to safeguard democracy in Africa,’ he noted.

On the relevance of the Forum, the President urged the participants to take the discussions seriously since democratic governance and the rule of law were cardinal factors to enhance prosperity and development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Nelson Kofi Djabab, the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Krachi East constituency, has organised a free eye screening exercise for over 3, 187 constituents.

The one week exercise was used to provide free medication and eye glasses to those with mild conditions.

The exercise also seeks to identify parents with visually impaired and put them into self support groups to provide support for each other as well as receive constant training.

Mr Djabab undertook the exercise in partnership with the Lifetime Wells Vision, a Ghanaian Non- Governmental Organisation(NGO) based in Accra, in collaboration with Friends Eye Center in Tamale.

The initiatives saw the beneficiaries converging at KpareKpare, Tokuroano, Katanga, Asukawkaw, Dormabin and many other communities, where eye specialists, aided by a number of physician assistants, screened the people for various eye defects, including cataract and glaucoma.

Speaking to GNA, Mr Djabab said as a parliamentary candidate one major
issue he had observed was the increasing number of people with eye problems in the constituency.

He said there was no eye clinic in the constituency, compelling the people to travel frequently to Kpando and Ho to seek medical care.

He further explained that, the exercise would be an annual affair so that those who have benefitted can come back for review and those who may be suffering from new eye problems within the year to also get treatment opportunity.

Some of the beneficiaries told GNA that they appreciated the NDC PC for the kind gesture and pledged to support him to win the seat for the NDC.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commiserated with Hajia Suwera Bawa, the mother and siblings of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa, former Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Alhaji Bawa passed away last Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mr. Mahama, who was accompanied by Mr. Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff, Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Yao Gomado, and Member of Parliament (MP) of Akan Constituency, among others, later visited the Residency of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa in Kadjebi in the Oti Region, to sign the Book of Condolence.

His statement reads: ‘It is with great sadness I sign this Book of Condolence for my friend, colleague and brother, Rashid Bawa. May God grant you peaceful rest.’

‘All we are left with are the pleasant memories we shared of our days as colleagues in Parliament on different sides of the political divide. Meeting at the end of last year during my visit to Abuja, I had no i
ndication that it was my last opportunity to say goodbye.’

The former President Mahama and his entourage, who were in the Oti Region for a political tour, has since left for Worawora in the Biakoye District.

Alhaji Bawa, who was also Ghana’s Ambassador to the Saudi Arabia from 2005-2008, was also the Akan New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the 2024 polls.

He was also the former Independent Candidate MP for Akan Constituency from 2000-2004, after beating the NDC PC, John Gyapong in that election with 12,306 votes, representing 54.9 per cent, out of 22,533 valid votes cast.

Alhaji Bawa, 64, was buried on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Kadjebi in accordance with the Islamic customs.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commiserated with Hajia Suwera Bawa, the mother and siblings of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa, former Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

Alhaji Bawa passed away last Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mr. Mahama, who was accompanied by Mr. Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff, Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Yao Gomado, and Member of Parliament (MP) of Akan Constituency, among others, later visited the Residency of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa in Kadjebi in the Oti Region, to sign the Book of Condolence.

His statement reads: ‘It is with great sadness I sign this Book of Condolence for my friend, colleague and brother, Rashid Bawa. May God grant you peaceful rest.’

‘All we are left with are the pleasant memories we shared of our days as colleagues in Parliament on different sides of the political divide. Meeting at the end of last year during my visit to Abuja, I had no i
ndication that it was my last opportunity to say goodbye.’

The former President Mahama and his entourage, who were in the Oti Region for a political tour, has since left for Worawora in the Biakoye District.

Alhaji Bawa, who was also Ghana’s Ambassador to the Saudi Arabia from 2005-2008, was also the Akan New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the 2024 polls.

He was also the former Independent Candidate MP for Akan Constituency from 2000-2004, after beating the NDC PC, John Gyapong in that election with 12,306 votes, representing 54.9 per cent, out of 22,533 valid votes cast.

Alhaji Bawa, 64, was buried on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Kadjebi in accordance with the Islamic customs.

Source: Ghana News Agency